Yearly candy cane time. When feeding things like this do so in moderation
๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐
Thank you everyone for your patience I am attempting to go back work but I am not 100%.
I am seeing the consultant on Tuesday so will confirm appointments then for those of you waiting.
I am still working reduced hours but yesterday, I met Dippy and Daisy for loading practice. It is crucial to always recognise just how stressful loading and travelling can be for horses for a whole host of reasons. Both of these Lovely girls are due to move on Tuesday. They both tend to be a little nervous so it was great to see their confidence grow. So we did not have a lot of time to practice. On the day, they will be travelling in a 3. 5 ton lorry, but allowing them to explore elements of the process still has benefits. Ideally we should allow horses to explore the vehicle loose but this is not always possible due to constraints of the environment, we can still give them the opportunity to investigate by following their lead and not taking them directly to the horse box or trailer and allow them to approach in their own time. However, keeping out of their way and not interfering can be challenging for us. Typically, I would re-create some elements away from the lorry or trailer but we didn't have time for this step. Instead, after allowing each horse to investigate the empty trailer (unfortunately, we were unable to remove the partition), I introduced a treat search in and around the vehicle. Treat searches are a brilliant way to encourage investigation, without making food contingent on a particular behaviour. They also had the opportunity to use their noses and explore.
To do this I used a combination of
๐Pure feed original horse treats
๐Mr Farleys treats
๐Apple
๐ฑCamomile (this was also offered in the safe haven area we created).
๐Dried mint
Each horse was allowed to explore the trailer at their own pace and from any direction they chose. Daisy being quite a big girl found the narrow space particularl
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
This is Princess with one of her humans. She finds proximity to people difficult, which, of course, impacts her response to touch and basic handling. If she feels threatened, she can become defensive; this has led to minimal handling over the past year. I first met Princess in December, and since then, her dedicated caregivers have worked hard and patiently to help her to feel safe. One of the most important questions to ask ourselves when with our animals is what will make them feel safe right now and recognise that what creates safety might change depending on the moment.
Some of the steps we implemented to help Princess feel safe include protected contact where there is a barrier between Princess and the person she is with. This helps everyone feel more secure and the three-second rule. For the three-second rule, Princess is touched or scratched for the count of three, followed by a break to assess her response; if she leans in, the scratching is repeated, if she leans away the scratching STOPS. As Princes was relaxed, Abbey continued with the grooming.
Well done Abbey and Princess.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฟ?
We can use the three second rule not just for fearful or traumatised animals but also when meeting them for the first time. As humans we tend to be incredibly touchy-feely but for horses touch is ALWAYS mutual (Kieson et al,2023,Mendonca et al,2023,Shimada & Suzuki,2020), therefore, the three second rule can assist us in assessing how a horse feels about touch.
๐ดTouch or scratch your horse for the count of three or less if three seconds is too much.
๐ดPause and observe. If your horse leans towards you ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง
๐ดIf your horse moves away ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฃ
๐ดThe thre
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
This is Princess with one of her humans. She finds proximity to people difficult, which, of course, impacts her response to touch and basic handling. If she feels threatened, she can become defensive; this has led to minimal handling over the past year. I first met Princess in December, and since then, her dedicated caregivers have worked hard and patiently to help her to feel safe. One of the most important questions to ask ourselves when with our animals is what will make them feel safe right now and recognise that what creates safety might change depending on the moment.
Some of the steps we implemented to help Princess feel safe include protected contact where there is a barrier between Princess and the person she is with. This helps everyone feel more secure and the three-second rule. For the three-second rule, Princess is touched or scratched for the count of three, followed by a break to assess her response; if she leans in, the scratching is repeated, if she leans away the scratching STOPS. As Princes was relaxed, Abbey continued with the grooming.
Well done Abbey and Princess.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐
๐ช๐ต๐ผ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฟ?
We can use the three second rule not just for fearful or traumatised animals but also when meeting them for the first time. As humans we tend to be incredibly touchy-feely but for horses touch is ALWAYS mutual (Kieson et al,2023,Mendonca et al,2023,Shimada & Suzuki,2020), therefore, the three second rule can assist us in assessing how a horse feels about touch.
๐ดTouch or scratch your horse for the count of three or less if three seconds is too much.
๐ดPause and observe. If your horse leans towards you ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง
๐ดIf your horse moves away ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฃ
๐ดThe thre
It has been such a rough week but I finally made it to see Prince this afternoon to hang out just as the light was fading. Do not forget the quiet moments where we ask nothing of each other are so crucial to our relationships, they underpin everything else we do. Enjoy some horse ASMR #horses #horsefriends #sharingspace.
I got to spend time with gorgeous Prince today, who is still on pen rest for a little while longer. It is extremely common, for the focus to be on food related enrichment either taste or food acquisition (how the hose acquires their food), however what is of crucial importance is ensuring social enrichment and support. Ideally this should include familiar horse friends but human company can also be of help especially if we share a positive relationship with our horses. Research by Kieson et al, (2023), has shown that horses have preferred partners with whom they will mutually groom during stress so Prince identifying who and how Prince engages with his two horse friends has been a big part in supporting him. This is known as a tend and befriend strategy. In addition we engaged his other senses including offering a small amount of oils (animal safe) and his mum has been playing meditation music. some forms of music in particular classical music have been found to promote relaxation (Huo et al, 2021). Both confinement and 'isolation are hugely stressful to horses.
The video below is of Prince and Rosie sharing space and a haynet today.
References
Huo, X., Wongkwanklom, M., Phonraksa, T., & Na-Lampang, P. (2021). Effects of playing classical music on behavior of stabled horses: https://doi. org/10.12982/VIS. 2021.023. Veterinary Integrative Sciences, 19(2), 259-267.
Kieson, E., Goma, A. A., & Radi, M. (2023). Tend and Befriend in Horses: Partner Preferences, Lateralization, and Contextualization of Allogrooming in Two Socially Stable Herds of Quarter Horse Mares. Animals, 13(2), 225.
ยฉ๏ธ Jessie Sams (2023) Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service
Show me your equine problem solvers !!
Notice That โฆ.
As some of you may know I am passionate about observing horses and dogs to better understand their body language, behaviours and the choices they choose to make . One of the main things I help my clients to do is learn how to read their animals. This isnโt always easy like learning anything new ! Horsesโ and dogs body language and responses arenโt a simple checklist of a always means b etc . The context in which we notice a sign of tension or relaxation matters . It is also important to observe the whole animal not just one body part .
When practicing observing focusing on one area can be useful in spotting nuance such as the face , ears, tail position or weight distribution of their limbs. Initially it helps to observe without attempting to interpret what you think is happening . All animals are unique and they will express themselves in different ways. It ALWAYS depends !!
Being able to notice signs stress and tension early can allow us to support our animals and take action to AVOID them becoming overwhelmed . Including spotting signs of shutdown or withdrawal .
One of the most useful ways to do this is through taking slow mo video ! I am not very techie and I only discovered this a year ago but it was a game changer . It allows us to see signs we can very easily miss in real time. Make sure the phone or camera is propped up to capture your animal and anything you want in the environment .
Below is slow motion video of my share horse Prince see what you notice about his :
๐ดMouth
๐ดNostrils
๐ด Lips
๐ด Ear position
๐ด Eyes
๐ด The grass and plants he is selecting
I hope you find this helpful
ยฉ๏ธJessie Sams (2023) Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service UK
Harry had his second session with me on Thursday. I am loving getting to know this older gentlemen. Exploration and novelty seeking behaviour is typically higher in younger horses as opposed to older horses, this pattern of behaviour development is common to many species. (Liehrmann et al, 2022, Sherrat & Morand-Ferron,2018). In addition, elderly horses can experience changes in their vision as a part of ageing, this can contribute to wariness of unfamiliar objects or situations (Berryhill et al,2017). Enrichment has benefits for aging animals so it can be an important addition to their lives as research demonstrates it reduces age-related decline (Zentall,2021,Birch,2019).Therefore it is important that Harry is given as long as he needs to process the environment in his own time as well as given equine and human support. As his confidence grows we will progress to scent work and tracking this is an incredible activity created by @Rachael Draaisma. In the video while Harry has Prince for company his other friend is still in the big field. He had become a little anxious about his absence. So he wanted to go over and have a look. We stood by the gate having a chat and then I went to retrieve his friend so he could settle. Ensuring our horses have their needs met in order to engage with their environment and learn is crucial to building their confidence.
If you are interested in enriched environment, spook- busting or scent work sessions please get in touch. These are suitable for horses of all ages and abilities and are great for enhancing your observation skills and building a relationship with your horse
#traumainformedhorsecare #enrichment #enrichedenvironments #equinebodylanguage
I love my job so much it is an immense privilege to do it and it is not a job really but a passion . I had the most incredible update today from Apolloโs family. They have been through so very much together. Their dedication to him and willingness to listen and respond to his needs even when they were also overwhelmed by his behaviour was second to none. When I first met him having people near was overwhelming and leading had become scary he would rear or bite. He also went through the los of an eye which I have no doubt added to his anxiety. Here Apollo is being lead by his second mum. His behaviour had impacted not just him but that of his humans, understandably his behaviour was intimidating and she had become wary. This is such a testimony of patience and time. Both Apolloโs leading and sense of safety is generalising and growing. # traumainformedhorsecare # traumainformedhorsetraing # equinehumanrelationship #safetyfirst
I love my job and I will be glad to get back to it . I just had a lovely update from a client and her gorgeous youngster . They have been through so much but come so far in a comparatively little time . Give me a calm horse who can mooch and graze when led over one that looks like a person is flying a horse kite . Leading in general is a bigger ask for horses than we give them credit for . The activity of leading involves for the horse loss of control over their body and their direction of travel in addition to in the beginning getting used to the headcollar and the lead rope. Apollo in this video had struggled with leading and people in close proximity as a result of a number of painful veterinary treatments making him wary. He also lost an eye relatively recently which only exacerbated this for him. In this case leading was not so much the problem as being close to and physically attached to people when he was unsure of the outcome. So where did we start
๐ดInitial break from leading and associated equipment to allow him to relax
๐ดStarted to rebuild his safety with people through no agenda time in as close proximity as he could manage . If he showed tension he was given a break and allowed to come back down . Choice for him about who to interact with and how .
๐ดAdded predictability into all of his interactions so he would know what to expect so everything happened in the same order .
๐ด We discovered early on he loved a massage brush so we used this to support rebuilding trust and positive associations
๐ดExploration and slow reintroduction of equipment in minuscule amounts and always again allowing for the stress cycle to complete and for him to have settled . For example
๐ดPracticing standing with him in different positions near him just whilst he quietly eats so he gets used to people in different positions
๐ดHeadcollar on and then immediately removed
๐ดLead rope clipped on and then immediately gently unclipping it
( I am no
More of a work update tomorrow . So just a quick one . I caught up with the adorable Caspian and Apollo . Their caregiver has put tremendous effort into helping them to feel safe and to offer them reassurance that any no or worry will be heard. As they are youngsters we have also added in some enrichment to help with curiosity, learning about the world and to build on their sense of safety . They both have each other and their wonderful caregiver for reassurance . No food is used in this enrichment with exception of some leaves floated in water which it turns out they were more interested in playing with than eating . Exploring is always better together . #traumainformedhorsecare #traumainformedhorsetraining #younghorse #EquineBehaviour #animalbehaviourntraumarecovery #pawinspiringequine
Provides behaviour , training and enrichment consultation for your horse, via veterinary referral, u
