The Optimistic Equine

05/16/2024

A Terrific blog post from ILLIS Animal Behaviour Courses. 🙏

Shaping, targeting, luring, mimicking, capturing, moulding and releasing pressure

04/10/2024

Our first release of the Positive Reinforcement Myth Busting Series - "My horse will not learn that way".

Welcome to our Positive Reinforcement Myth Busting Series, where we delve deep into the world of animal training to debunk common misconceptions and shed light on the power of positive reinforcement. In this series, we'll explore the science behind positive reinforcement training methods, dispelling myths that may hinder its effectiveness or understanding.

03/15/2024

Once you start looking for “consent” behaviours, you can’t un-see the subtle signs when the animal says “no thanks”.

03/15/2024

03/03/2024

https://horse-canada.com/magazine/equine-welfare/starting-off-right-equitation-science-kids/amp/?fbclid=IwAR2D_scqKyt4X72JEuyzDyxFhsaGs8ELH7DTmTEvHKo6yCcHa1K91E3OIwc_aem_Ad3QsAVUC02PPYLObxGeqTChEZ-Qq0WYYtJpvG8HIGdDeskZ5FjJkdl-0LNOGtiLJUE

If you have a horse-crazy child who is starting to ride (or wishes they were), then a series of informative books by British Columbia-based author and EC

02/13/2024

I forgot to say Happy Darwin Day today 😊

We tend to think of empathy as a uniquely human trait. But it’s something apes and other animals demonstrate as well, says primatologist Frans de Waal. He shows how our evolutionary history suggests a deep-rooted propensity for feeling the emotions of others.

02/12/2024

I’m joining.

The ABMA is excited to launch a community aimed at those that are managing Behavioral Husbandry Programs at their facilities.

We will be launching this community on Wednesday February 21st 8am PT with a zoom presentation and discussion.

If you or someone within your facility is responsible for managing people and programs related to welfare, enrichment or training - please see or share the details below:

Register for the zoom: https://buff.ly/3STPbkW

Register for recording and updates;
https://buff.ly/3SPLqwK

If you are an ABMA member, the conversation continues in the Behavioral Husbandry Management Community within the member community site:
https://buff.ly/48bzhXa

01/17/2024

Here’s a new face for Ruby’s. Yearling gelding “Oak”. I’m very pleased to have this fellow to raise and train. Buckskin blanket Appaloosa colour. Mystery sire, out of a rescued qh type mare. ♥️. Can’t wait to see his summer coat.

01/09/2024

We don’t have to accept the rationalizations for the use of force in training. Modern knowledge of biomechanics, learning theory and animal sentience should keep motivating practical change. And yea, it is important.

• What does a noseband do?

• Do riders know WHY they use them?

• More importantly, is the desired outcome truely being achieved by the action of using them?

I have found all cases of horses nashing, opening the mouth, being inconsistent or heavy in the contact, head tilting, hollowing, etc, is about having the correct bit that the horse finds comfortable. It is also about the riders hands & the way they use them to communicate via the horses mouth. These are the two things that need correction/attention & NOT the addition of a noseband.

So to correct a horses ‘mouth’ you shouldn't try to ‘stop’ an undesirable trait with restriction (i.e.: tighten the noseband, or worse still, tighten a secondary strap below the bit) - this would cause further discomfort & resistance for something the horse is already expressing is not comfortable, therefore it cannot accept it with a quiet mouth.

And a quiet mouth is NOT a ‘shut mouth’. No living mammal on earth goes around with it’s jaw closed & teeth together - it must remain relaxed & open. Optimum performance cannot happen any other way.

Therefore the conclusion is simple - the noseband really should be a fashion piece, treated like a browband - it serves no purpose/benefit to be ‘used’ to do anything, as any tightness or restriction from a noseband simply makes peak performance impossible. Any horses ‘winning’ with this gear…. imagine how amazing they would truely be WITH A LOOSE NOSEBAND! & here is why:

Did you know:

– On an equine dissection (yes, like an autopsy) any pressure applied in the horses mouth or to the jaw (which causes the hyoid bone at the base of the tongue to move up and/or back in the jaw) renders the hind legs restricted (difficult to move by a human) with effects also evident in the hips, yet the leg can be freely moved when the jaw is released (when the hyoid bone is allow to sit lower & forward in the jaw/mouth). This is fact.

– The job of the jaw is to act like a pendulum to give the horse correct balance & allows the horse to have awareness of limb placement. This relies on the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) of the jaw to be pain & pressure free.

– The jaw of the horse is a reflection of the pelvis. If the jaw is stuck, the horses pelvis will be too. This is seen in the obvious evasion of head tilting to allow the pelvis to move if the jaw cannot.

– closing the mouth & closing the gullet (over-bent) when riding causes the hyoid bone of the tongue to become blocked, which is directly connected to & tightens the muscles at the base of the neck through to the chest. This also makes it hard for the horse to swallow - causing excessive saliva/foam to pour from the horses mouth.

So in light of these facts - here is the positive side of having a loose, caveson noseband (or none at all!):

+ The horses mouth becomes a reflection of it’s acceptance of the reins aids & how much they understand the communication of their rider

+ The horse has nothing to resist against - as there is no restriction.

+ A calm yet mobile mouth means they are light on the reins & relaxed through the neck so they can easily swallow

+ Freedom to the jaw will allow freedom in the pelvis & hind legs

+ Your horse has 100% chance of giving you it’s best performance!

It’s time we all stopped just using items of gear, because that’s what they sell in the shops ~ but really think about how we are trying to train our horses to understand us & give them the best chance of producing what we really want ~ HARMONY

© Love Your Horse

12/09/2023

It’s not enough to be able to recognize fear and pain. Everyone involved in management/treatment/care of horses ought to understand how to adjust their approach to care to reduce anxiety and elicit cooperation. Every horse is different in their learned experience and you can’t expect them all to be “easy”. But we can easily understand how to shape behaviour. Collaboration between care-givers is crucial for humane treatment and to avoid fearful, potentially dangerous interactions.

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://thehorse.com/1118256/positive-reinforcement-in-practice/?fbclid=IwAR3IaNoxT95deGEzKcoyCmcXNSi1MgE_B3HlkMcXo4nTwhENMNRevU0CZTE_aem_AUGFYt4bsguoCHGNe1FtwocB1b3drEgjQOY8YfIvXkxunlzaLBVMCYKwOEqKXZre-3I

By focusing on positive training tools, vets can help horses see health interventions as less threatening.

11/12/2023

ENGAGEMENT....

Classical dressage tells us to slow down, traditional dressage tells us more forward? So which is it?

In my opinion, the truth lies in the middle...BUT with an understanding of how all the parts come together.

More forward on a horse that is blocked in the front end, base of neck or jaw, will rarely if ever lift properly.

Understanding how to PREPARE the forehand to RECEIVE the hind end to elevate is key.

This almost always means SLOW DOWN. Unlock the horse in the front and then carefully add engagement over time.

This is why I personally don’t talk about adding more engagemnt in the hind quarters UNTIL the horse is ready to recieve. And that is a dynamic process.

11/02/2023

Farm residual management (Or: what could you do with your manure pile 🤷‍♀️).

Problem: Horses, manure, small acreage, sanitation, pasture management, horse-health, land-health, farm improvement, environmental care.

Rubys farm Equine Management in Saanich has completed development of our aerated, self—contained, manure composting system. The finished compost will be put back on the pastures for biologically active soil amendment/organic fertilizer. The health benefits to the land and horses is huge.

Before and after photos:

08/24/2023

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Unveiling the ISES 10 Training Principles with Dr. Andrew McLean and Jody Hartstone. Discover how these principles shaped their approach to their interactions with horses and strengthened their careers, to ultimately enhance horse welfare. Unravel the secrets behind addressing behavioural...

08/11/2023

Terrific afternoon in Victoria catching up with Jody Hartstone. I only wish we could do it more often. Thanks!! She’s teaching a clinic in Duncan this weekend for anyone wanting to audit at highpoint.

07/27/2023

Requiring double bridles at FEI Grand Prix level is not in the best interest of horse welfare; use of noseband taper gauges also recommended.

07/26/2023

Look at the lovely posture and sublime expression of this horse. I’m proud of Kathy Jackson and her Sam. Thanks Erica Poseley for coming back to Vancouver Island with your amazing work with rider position and biomechanics. 🙏🙄🌻

06/12/2023

Making welfare a true priority in horse sport requires our attention on the regulations. Take a position. Help your horse have a voice and make change happen for all horses. 💪🏼

Link to easy-to-read blog of section IV. Tack and Artificial Aids
https://concordiaequestrians.org/tack-artificial-aids/

Recommendation #7:
Improve the controls against the excessive tightening of nosebands and curb chains: Provide a more calibrated check, performed randomly during training sessions and systematically when entering or leaving each event, using a 1.5 cm ISES taper gauge placed on the nasal bones (which allow one adult finger to slide between the noseband strap and the hard nasal bone) and apply a penalty in the event of an infringement.

Link to easy-to-read blog of section IV. Tack and Artificial Aids
https://concordiaequestrians.org/tack-artificial-aids/

Please sign and share the petition - make Paris '24 the Olympics of Horse Welfare https://www.change.org/p/enforce-welfare-rules-for-horses-paris-olympics-2024?source_location=search

06/09/2023

08/24/2022

A refresher for understanding hay analysis.

Part 1 of 2: Interpreting an Equine Hay Analysis

A hay analysis can help you determine if your horse is on a well-balanced diet and can also be useful when managing horses diagnosed with nutrition-related disorders. When reading a hay analysis, values will be reported "As Sampled" and "Dry Matter". Dry matter values allow for direct comparisons between nutrients and simplifies balancing rations.

🌱 Moisture should ideally be between 10 to 15%. Hay with less than 10% moisture may be too dry and brittle. Whereas hays over 16% moisture (without a preservative) are at risk of molding. Hay greater than 25% moisture is at risk of severe heat damage and potential fire hazard.

🌱 Equine Digestible Energy (DE) measures the digestible energy in the hay and can help you balance the energy part of your horse's diet. Hay tends to range between 0.76 to 1.1 Mcal of DE per pound. A horse in light work needs about 20 Mcals of DE each day. Make sure to request equine DE when having horse hay analyzed.

🌱 Crude Protein (CP) measures the protein content in hay. Most idle, adult horses need about 10 to 12% CP. Crude protein content varies with hay type and ranges from,
◾️8 to 14% in grass hays
◾️14 to 17% in legume-grass mix hays
◾️15 to over 20% in legume hays

07/25/2022

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787822000685?dgcid=coauthor&mibextid=zGKedc&fs=e&s=cl

Across the globe, the welfare of sport horses is of growing concern, prompting the International Equestrian Federation to state that at all times the …

07/16/2022

Bees can be optimists too!! 🐝🌸

We all know these busy insects are good for crops and biodiversity, but proof is emerging that they are also clever, sentient and unique beings

07/08/2022

Infected puncture wound on 3 year old needs disinfecting, irrigating and ointment. The wound is painful and swollen and this pony doesn’t have much experience with individual treatment so is flighty and nervous. I motivated her to cooperate with molasses sprinkled with sweet feed on a paper plate. When she was tense I offered the licking treat, when she relaxed I treated the wound. That’s the essence of cooperative care 😊

07/05/2022

Before and after 6 months - BCwildie “Splash” turned into a healthy, friendly and sporty yearling.

07/04/2022

Highly recommend - Have you watched the movie “my Octopus Teacher”? https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81045007. Reminded here of how amazing it is by this opinion piece in the globe and mail.

How do you think of the ethics around keeping animals in captivity?

“Even our love, Dr. Dave points out, makes the animal’s life about the strength and sustainability of our caring attention: “What does that mean for ethics if it requires us to care about everything first?” she asks. “Because that is just impossible. We cannot care about everything.”

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/appview/canada/article-octopus-eating-meat-ethics/

Octopuses are smart, playful and emotional in ways humans haven’t begun to understand until recently – just as companies are about to farm more of them than ever for food

06/21/2022

This is my most recent hay bill😳. For me, this begs the question how can we support our horses better by managing our land better (or how might the health of the land better support the health of the horses). Mostly, horse owners have land because they want a place to keep their horses and have little knowledge around land management let alone land improvement. So if managing your costs can be supported by managing your land then this might interest you too - have a listen to this podcast (not mine) https://media.whooshkaa.com/show/3082/episode/661080.mp3
I have made a terrific improvement in just a single season on my pastures. Hopefully this will help manage the cost to keep my horses too ☘️