Broad Equine. Massage, Coach, IR Imaging.

10/01/2024

Welfare is subjective - not a one size fits all approach. And I find this fascinating.

We think about metrics for equine welfare, about their need for friends, freedom and forage, because that will make them happy.

And then we think about the domains model: ample opportunity for species-specific expression, good quality nutrition with varying forages, different environments, horse-centred humans and a healthful life because this level of enrichment should support their mental state.

And then we talk about consent - because consent should make horses happy because they can choose. 'Yes' or 'no' - it's simple...right?

But the thing thats only starting to be talked about is that your horse can have all of the above, but still be unhappy. Because what many horses don't have is agency.

"One's independent capability or ability to act on one's will"

The ability to choose. Because 'yes' or 'no' isn't really a choice. Especially if it's a game you have chosen.

So when we're all up here on social media getting pedantic about right or wrong (and I'm guilty like the rest of them), the thing that we are missing here is the horse's perception.

It isn't kind if your horse doesn't perceive it that way.

So if we're watching the latest FEI competition and the horse is literally grimacing - there's no way we can percieve that to be kind.

And if you get your treeless saddle out because you feel tree'd saddles are cruel, yet your horse hides from you... we can't see that as kind.

Likewise if you're training with treats and your horse offers all the frustrated behaviours because *they just want the darn food*...

Yep you guessed it, it's not kind.

And I understand that there is much more nuance than a hedonistic, instant gratification of "this approach is right vs. this approach is wrong"

But I feel that if we get better at analysing our horses and reading their feelings... we might start making more progress ❤️

05/01/2024

30/09/2023

"So every animal, and people too, are continually losing -- and then regaining -- their balance with every step they take.

First they tilt one way, then they tilt the other; but in between those left and right tilts, they must pass through the middle, which is the point of perfect equilibrium or balance.

Thus, the problem that your horse is having is not that she loses her balance; it's that she loses it and then cannot regain it.

Two factors make it particularly difficult for horses to regain their balance: they are going too fast, and they are stiff."

Recently, I was struck anew by the gift Dr Bennett has for making things clear and easy to understand.

For the rest, click on the link below and read the forum member's question about her mare and the ensuing discussion.

I posted a little quote to grab your attention but the depth of information and the logic with which it is presented is well worth your time.

I first shared this in....2010! And it does not get old.

http://esiforum.mywowbb.com/forum1/653.html?fbclid=IwAR1nqg2HpeFOb_6qrYz8ys64dXxT2Kov46acWCYi-dHlK97z4nq4KXQDZxg_aem_AZBHvivnYXjzExxQz_Apkj0r1cCnq_mj_0K93F_xSh2Zg2rq0Sa2vq0p8FwRBrwBhUQ

19/09/2023

A conversation with a horse.

Human: Hello nice pony (touches horse)
Horse: What the heck?
Human: It's ok, I am nice I won't hurt you.
Horse: Don't touch me, I do not know you
Human: Why are you being defensive with me? My intention is to be your friend!
Horse: I don't know you. You're not entitled to touch or access me
Human: Hey (To owner)... your horse is kind of dominant right? They are behaving really pushy
Horse: Would you get out of my face I have not even smelled you yet
Human: Stop being naughty, stand still, let me touch you
Horse: Sigh. Go on Monkey, touch me. Apparently you own me.
Human: I am going to ride you.
Horse: What?
Human: (throws saddle on)
Horse: Oh s**t wait what's happening
Human: (Mounts). Ok horsey, give me your body. Exactly how I want it when I want it
Horse: Get the **** off me.
Human: You're so pushy and defensive! Give me that behaviour!
Horse: ...

A friendly reminder, that nobody on God's green earth is entitled to another. No matter what your intentions are. Your intentions are about you and often have nothing to do with another.

It behooves us (pun intended) to really take the time to build rapport and trust with a horse before we can expect anything from them, or even expect access to them.

If I were a horse, I would be labelled difficult too.

31/08/2023

Yasmin Stuart

Equine Physiotherapist & Trauma Informed Horse Trainer

19/08/2023

18/08/2023

Horses need the 3 F's !
🔹️Forage
🔹️Friends
🔹️Freedom

"A typical amount of daily training is probably between one and two hours a day for most days – leaving a whopping 22 or 23 hours in a day, and only approximately four of those will be sleeping, and not all at once. Therefore, if we can ensure the horse’s needs are met outside the training, we can minimise the impact of less than ideal training situations." - Equine Behaviour in Mind by Suzanne Rogers 📚

15/08/2023

03/11/2022

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅
Everyone likes to talk about the harm caused when a horse is ridden behind the vertical... but have you ever wondered why?

One (of the many) problems with a BTV position is that encourages incorrect flexion in the neck. In a healthy horse, the head will flex up and down at the first cervical vertebrae. This bone is known as the atlas or C1.

In an effort to avoid excessive pressure caused by a harsh bit, rider or gadgets (especially draw reins) many horses will begin flexing at the 3rd vertebrae (C3). "Broken at the 3rd" creates incorrect movement throughout the body and will quickly lead to pain and damage. Once a horse begins moving in this manner, it is extremely hard for them to unlearn and they may continue this harmful posture even when at or above the vertical.

26/10/2022

12/09/2022

With F***l egg counts, the Equisal tape worm test and a new blood test for encysted worms strategic worming is easier than ever!

06/09/2022

“WE ARE CONDITIONED THAT MANY HORSE BEHAVIORS ARE NORMAL, BUT THEY ARE NOT. WE NEED TO APPRECIATE THAT WHAT WE CALL ‘NAUGHTY HORSES’ ARE ACTUALLY THOSE IN PAIN.” – DR. SUE DYSON

Infrared Imaging is an effective way to identify areas of the horse that may be painful and require further investigation and / or treatment. If your horse has had a change in behaviour with no obvious cause then IR imaging with Vet-IR could help. Images are interpreted by Veterinary surgeons with a full report provided.
Call or message to book a consultation +44 7765 861919

The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain will be released for viewing on 30th September 2022
https://www.24horsebehaviors.org/?fbclid=IwAR2IsL7LWNBPYEDlozAu5aPSqBokLo043y-jijiQp_oK5enAzyzBofSgNFw

“WE ARE CONDITIONED THAT MANY HORSE BEHAVIORS ARE NORMAL, BUT THEY ARE NOT. WE NEED TO APPRECIATE THAT WHAT WE CALL ‘NAUGHTY HORSES’ ARE ACTUALLY THOSE IN PAIN.”– Dr. Sue Dyson Shifting the paradigm of how we see lameness.The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain is a film that dares to...

13/08/2022

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S TRUST OR OBEDIENCE?

Trust is one of the features of any good relationship and a lack of trust is a hallmark of a soured relationship. We trust people we like and get along well with, but don’t trust people we don’t like or who have proved untrustworthy. The caveat to this is that trust (like most other behavioural determinants) is on a sliding scale and never absolute. There are always limits to trust - but that’s a different topic.

According to the most authoritative source I could find, ‘The Ross Jacobs Definitive Dictionary of Horsemanship Terms’,

Trust is when a horse does something because it believes it is a good idea.

But

Obedience is when a horse does something because it believes not doing it is a bad idea.

That’s a big difference between trust and obedience.

We all like to believe that our horse(s) trusts us. As proof, we can point to the fact that it loads into a trailer without fuss or is steady on a trail ride or comes up to us in the paddock, and a million other behaviours that confirm in our mind that our horse trusts us.

Some people believe liberty work is proof of a horse’s trust. The premise is that a horse could run away if it didn’t like the work. But that’s a big assumption because some liberty training can make a horse feel just as trapped as if it was in a prison.

So how can we know if what we believe is our horse’s trust is not just obedience in disguise? How can we know if it is doing things for us because it believes it is a good idea or because it believes not doing it is going to result in trouble?

When a horse stands quietly for a needle injection, how can we know it is from trust or obedience? When a horse is taken away from his paddock friends without complaint, how can we know it is because he thinks it is a good idea or that making a fuss is a bad idea? When a horse does not buck on its first ride, how can we know it is because it feels okay about it or because it has had submission drilled into it?

If our horse’s actions themselves can’t be the judge of whether it is acting from obedience or trust, how can we know? What can we use to judge it?

It is an important concept to keep at the forefront of our minds whenever we are interacting with our horses. Keeping in mind that trust and obedience are on a sliding scale, we all want to establish a trusting relationship with our horse. But to do that we must have a clear measure that distinguishes trust and willingness from obedience and submission.

Do you believe your horse trusts you? What considerations do you use to be sure of that? I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Photo: Are police horses trusting of their rider or simply obedient to their rider? How can you tell?