Fundacion Bienestar Equino EPONA

04/10/2024

IS YOUR HORSE HAPPY TO BE MOUNTED?

In recent years there has been several studies into the facial expressions of horses in relation to pain and stress. Recognising the horse’s subtle body language signals may lead to better communication between people and horses, which is essential to ensure the safety of both.

A 2022 study examined horses’ emotional state and facial expression during leading and standing next to the mounting block. Researchers from Poland assessed eleven leisure horses from 6 to 12 years old when leading and standing next to the mounting block both with and without a saddle.

Photographs were taken every 5 seconds when the horses were led and then when standing next to the mounting block.

The photographs were reviewed and each horse’s facial expression was analysed. The signals the researchers looked for were lowered ears, contraction of the upper eyelid, tensed facial muscles, tensed muzzle, strained and dilated nostrils and whether the eyelids were half-closed.

The team found no significant signs of stress when the horses were led – which suggests that saddle itself had no impact on the horses. However, the horses’ facial expression changed significantly to show clear signs of stress when they were brought to the mounting block.

These results suggest that horses may have negative associations with the mounting block. This could be caused by horses having an unpleasant experience when being mounted, anticipation of pain from pressure on an ill-fitting saddle or indeed anything associated with riding or the riding process.

Again this confirms that horse owners, riders and riding instructors need to learn about equine behaviour and body language. They also need to pay more attention to horse-friendly mounting and riding to ensure better welfare of working horses.

This study was presented at the ISES conference in 2022: Recreational Horses’ Facial Expressions Prior to Mounting: K. Olczaka, N. Łazarczykb from the National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Horse Breeding, Balice, Poland and University of Agriculture in Krakow.

Post by Justine Harrison - Equine Behaviourist

03/10/2024

27/09/2024

Nuno Oliveira told us: ‘If the horse is happy, everything will be all right; if he is constrained everything will go wrong. And in case that it is necessary to use force, then one enters a domain that does not fit the equestrian art, neither for that matter, in the circle in which civilised people dwell’.
“I urge my readers to apply the aids to help the horse, not to put him in a mould.”
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2021/10/the-aids-and-the-horse-a-classical-approach/

17/09/2024

23/08/2024

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/buying-guides/bitless-bridles/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE1ZQ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXtwGX74jDYtR4vuEXalB42M7LkloT3heNreHJaUEvXsaalIno2mvepMEQ_aem_A5C_PiqvZ3bmRFIR9gQu4A

Many horses accept bitless bridles and can be more comfortable in them. Read our guide to some of the most popular designs

13/08/2024

Paul Belasik reminds us…
“In the 1600’s, the Duke of Newcastle said the whole objective of schooling the horse is to get the horse upon the haunches. When the hind end comes down and under, the rider will also feel a lift in the horse’s back, the intended consequence will be the lightening of the forehand, the strengthening of the core, back and hind legs. “
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2023/03/collection-and-the-neck/

05/08/2024

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

04/08/2024

30/07/2024

26/07/2024

11/06/2024

Mientras Johnny Depp estaba grabando la película "Sleepy Hollow" (La leyenda del jinete sin cabeza - 1999) se enteró que el caballo sería sacrificado una vez finalizara el rodaje debido a su avanzada edad.

El actor quedó espantado con la noticia, y decidió tomar el caballo en adopción para cuidarlo durante la última etapa de su vida.

¡Así se hace!

18/05/2024

18/05/2024

There’s a small foster-based horse rescue in the Pittsburgh area called Flying Changes Equine Rescue. I’ve been on the board of directors for almost a decade and often foster rescue horses, one at a time, as they await adoption. 

10/03/2024

How do bits and bit-less bridles work? A bit is a metal piece (at the exception of the leather bit) that goes inside the horses mouth and is used to control the horse’s movements. There are many types of bits and depending on the design, they work by inflicting some discomfort/pain to different pa...

16/02/2024

28/10/2023

Comparative neurobiology

The size of the brain isn't what determines the intelligence of the animal, the amount of wrinkles do!
If it was the size of the brain that determined the intelligence, then a German Shepherd would technically be more intelligent than a Chihuahua, which we know is not the case.

The more socially complex the animal is, the more wrinkles they have. We know dogs are socially complex, they have social skills that often challenges human emotional fitness.

Now compare the dog brain to the horse brain!

We all know how intelligent dogs are, maybe we're not giving horses enough credit for their intelligence?

Why is it then that horses don't often offer us cognitive behaviours like dogs, such as problem solving, reasoning, impulse control, etc?

Because, for the brain to access these areas, the individual needs to FEEL safe. If the brain doesn't feel safe, all brain functions will be carried out automatically using the deeper structures of the brain. These deeper structures are subcortical, meaning they're under the wrinkly stuff (neocortex) you see in this picture, and their role is designed to help the individual stay safe and alive.

This area of the brain is called the limbic system (AKA primal brain, survival brain, flight/fight brain, emotional brain).

I refer to it as the primal brain. This brain is automatic and unconscious. It doesn't require thought process and is not concerned with responsiveness. It's job is to react and it is best friends with the sympathetic nervous system (stress response nervous system).

When you, your horse, or your dog receives sensory input or a memory and perceives it as unsafe, ALL behaviour, movement and body language will be coming from the primal brain, NOT the wrinkly stuff you see.

We expect our fellow humans, horses and dogs to be operating out of the wrinkly thinky stuff, but that can ONLY happen when the brain feels safe.

Most humans, horses and dogs in today's world are suffering with chronic stress, which means their brains are not only perceiving their world as unsafe, but they are in this state for the entirety of their waking hours.

This has major physiological, mental and emotional repercussions.

How can we help downgrade this chronic stress and start accessing the wrinkly stuff in ourselves, our horses and our dogs?

🧠 Consciously communicate in a way that creates a calm brain 🧠

A calm brain will downgrade the sympathetic nervous system and stress response hormones and allow access to all the juicy cognitive performance areas of the brain that we ALL want access to!

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 😊

25/10/2023

Join Nina as she demonstrates and explores different bitless bridles.

16/08/2023