naughty horses: what are they trying to tell us? · •take ownership of your lessons and the care...
TRANSCRIPT
NAUGHTY HORSES:
WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL US?
Jenny Nell Hartung and Saebra Pipoly
“SHE’S OK FOR TODAY;
IT’S ONLY AN HOUR…”
naughtyadjective
1a: guilty of disobedience or misbehavior as in a naughty child
b: archaic : vicious in moral
character : WICKED
2: lacking in taste or propriety
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naughty
WHAT BEHAVIORS HAVE YOU SEEN OR EXPERIENCED
IN EAAT HORSES?
NAUGHTY? OR
COMMUNICATION?
This photo was taken during necropsy. The horse was euthanized
for aggressive behavior.
Photo Source: https://thehorseaholic.com/this-horse-was-euthanized-for-aggressive-behavior-then-his-necropsy-photo-showed-why/
NAUGHTY?OR
COMMUNICATION?
Normal ovary on the left. Granulosa Cell Tumor on the
right. This mare was behaviorally just like a stallion
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…
• Bit sores
Image Source: http://mouthofthehorse.com/en/educational/problems/
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…
• For this mild girth gall to turn into …
Image Source: https://www.proequinegrooms.com/tips/grooming/galls-ouch
This!
Image Source: https://schleese.com/saddle-fit-and-girth-galls/
AND THEN THERE ARE CHRONIC ISSUES LIKE ULCERS…
Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/AllHorsesVeterinaryServices/posts/we-have-another-equine-gastric-scoping-day-coming-up-on-september-11th-of-most-i/1857721577578011/
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…
• Unbalanced riders
• Crooked saddles
• Excessive tack
• Halter
• Noseband
• Flash band
• Chain on nose
SHOULD 20% BE
THE RULE?
Conclusions:• Horses exhibited more
lameness when ridden,
especially when heavy (15.3-
17.9%) or very heavy (23.6-
27.5%) riders were on board
• Saddle fit to rider may have
been a factor
• Horse was more lame in
faster gaits
• Horse fitness a huge factor
***Study was abandoned for
all horses when very heavy
riders were on board
A GOOD ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING… BUT ARE THEY BORN WITH IT?
OR DOES IT COME WITH GREAT CARE AND HORSEMANSHIP…
NAUGHTY OR NORMAL?OR DID WE JUST GET SO USED TO IT, IT SEEMS
NORMAL?
THE IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM
WHEN UNSOUND
HORSES ARE ASKED TO WORK
• Risk to riders, volunteers, and staff
~ sore horses can bite and kick (or worse)
~ difficult to ride (undermining self esteem of riders)
~uneven stride, not rhythmic
(negative impact on riders with neuro deficits)
• Demonstrates a lack of horsemanship to public and community
• Instructor Code of Ethics is not honored
~Principles 1, 2, 3, and 8 (ethical treatment of equines)
WHY DO WE DO THIS WHEN WE KNOW BETTER?
Pressure from parents for a mounted lesson
Pressure from Center Not enough time to
re-do lesson planNo budget for vet
work and body work
Not enough good saddles that fit each
horse
Not enough horses
Instructor not experienced at
determining soundness or reading
body language
Not enough trained volunteers
What else?
WHAT IS THE RIDER ACTUALLY LEARNING…
OTHER THAN POSTING TROT AND LOPING CIRCLES?
COMPASSIONRELATIONSHIP BUILDINGRESPECTKINDNESSSPORTSMANSHIPGENEROSITY SELF-ESTEEM
WHAT ELSE?
STOP THE BLAME GAME
• Start during the intake assessment with the idea of unmounted horsemanship as valuable
• Take ownership of your lessons and the care of the horses you interact with
• Train volunteers to recognize signs and symptoms of an unhealthy or unfit horse
• Use a chart or log to track horses on a daily basis
• Empower someone (or more than one) to advocate for the horses daily
• Pre plan unmounted lessons so you are prepared
• Teach horsemanship from the very first interaction (volunteers and riders)
• Avoid blaming the horse
• Emphasize positive wording
SOUND OF BODY AND MIND…
• Symptoms of an unsound horse:
•Lame (unlevel, off, limping, uneven, short, stiff, asymmetrical)
•Negative Attitude (grouchy, crabby, antisocial, depressed, lethargic, lacks energy)
WEIGHT BEARING LAMENESS(FETLOCK AND BELOW)
“DOWN ON SOUND”
NON WEIGHT BEARING LAMENESS(ABOVE THE FETLOCK)
“DRAGGING A BRICK”
ATTITUDE AND
BEHAVIORaffecting a horse’s ability
and willingness to work
WHAT AFFECTS ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR?
1. Pain 2. Environment 3. Nutrition4. Workload
RECOGNIZING STRESS
#1 PAIN
• Illness/injury
• Chronic saddle fit issues
• Unbalanced/heavy riders
• Hoof issues
• Teeth and jaw issues (bits & bitting)
• Influence of the riders aids
RECOGNIZING STRESS
#2 ENVIRONMENT
• Herd/pecking order
• Shelter and grazing
• Stalled
• Turnout
RECOGNIZING STRESS
#3 NUTRITION
• Grazing
• Free choice hay/forage & water
• Concentrates
• Supplements and Minerals
• Medication as prescribed
RECOGNIZING STRESS
#4 WORKLOAD
• Appropriate number, frequency, and type of lessons
• Characteristics of riders and specific supports needed
• Frequent saddle/tack fitting
• Well documented daily record of horse’s condition/behavior/demeanor
HOW DO WE BEST IDENTIFY STRESS IN
OUR HORSES?
*Look, Listen, and Feel…
DAILY CHECKLIST FOR EACH EQUINE
• Hands on spine, legs, and feet (heat, swelling, injuries)
• Eyes on whole equine (behavior, lameness, demeanor, condition)
• Record appetite, water intake, *elimination, daily exercise
• Check for incident or behavior reports from the day before
Tues 1/16/19Jenny 10:15am
Pee and poop
EyesEarsNose Mouth
NeckBackCroup Tail
Legs HoovesAttitude &Behavior
Appetite&Water
# Lessons day before
Schooling ride day before?
Turnout
Cakes Y/Y Both
eyes
cloudy
Sore
behind
withers
Heat
LF
Heat LF Lethargic ½ hay 4 Y N
London Y/Y X X X X X X 3 N Y
Bill Y/Y X Bite on
right hip
X Heat RR Grumpy X 2 Y Y
Sarah Min/Y Bite on
jaw line
X X X X No
water?
2 Y Y
Friendly Y/Y X X Swelling RF
fetlock
X X X Lay up Hand
walk
Stall
Rest
Tango Y/Y Rub on
corner of
mouth
X X X X X 3 Y Y
Andy Y/Min X X X X X X 3 N N
Example Equine Wellness Checklist
CREATE A SHIFT IN THINKING TO BENEFIT THE PROGRAM AND PARTICIPANTS
• Check each horse daily, prior to work• Track attitude, soundness, nutrition
• Empower the advocate to make decisions about the horses (including taking the horse off the list for the day)
• Compare documentation to determine trends, causes, and solutions
• By Creating a culture of open communication, we give the horses a voice!
THANK YOU!Tomorrow we will be in the arena so
please dress accordingly!