Renegade Equine

03/09/2025

03/07/2025

So many accidents and injuries in the horse world could be avoided if riders were handling horses from a more behaviour informed lens.

There is this narrative that’s being pushed that is self disabling, where people claim that dangerous situations cannot be avoided because horses are simply “unpredictable.”

Meanwhile, these same people reject the concept of trigger stacking and argue with anyone who points out the stressors that can lead up to explosive reactions in horses.

If we don’t want to think deeper about how we can avoid dangerous situations and reduce reactivity in horses, then what are we doing?

People justify use of harsh training methods like hitting horses for punishment, using aggressive bits and training gadgets under the guise of “safety.”

But, in the same vein, they mock anyone who brings up behaviour informed concepts like trigger stacking, species appropriate care and avoiding use of behavioural suppressants like punishment.

Harsh bits, training gadgets and hitting horses to “correct” unwanted behaviour are not proven to increase safety.

Punishment is actually linked to an increase in reactivity and aggression across numerous species, including horses.

Harsh bits and coercive training methods are linked to higher instances of stress.

Stress is linked to more explosive and unpredictable behaviour in horses.

Avoiding trigger stacking and being mindful of what triggers our horses is an informed approach that works to reduce stress threshold and thereby avoid pushing horses so over threshold that they react dangerously.

It is proven to work.

On the flip side, the majority of what our mainstream horse industry claims is for “safety” is based off of anecdotes that are easily disproven just by watching what’s going on.

If bits were single-handedly keeping people safer, we wouldn’t be seeing so many accidents at all riding levels.

If hitting horses as the primary form of correction was the most successful means of reducing dangerous behavior, that would be shown in studies.

It would also be shown in practice, but it’s not.

A lot of the trainers who most loudly promote physical punishment as a form of correction are also the very same trainers who are posting the most evidence of horses reacting dangerously in their program.

The horse industry has a way of gaslighting people into believing that methods that actually are resulting in a lack of safety are the ones that are protecting safety.

And in doing so, we create a self perpetuating cycle that will never stop until we address the factors that are causing safety issues.

Stressed horses are dangerous horses.

But, instead of having a big discussion about what is promoting stress in horses, the most, and how we can start to fix it and model competition in a more horse-friendly way, our industry continues to promote attitudes that keep us stuck.

If we address the stress that we see in the average horse, whether they are a pleasure horse or a competition, it is a means of harm reduction for the horse and also ensuring further safety for the human.

Everything that makes horses dangerous is related to their flight response.

When they are frightened, they act unpredictably and they are large animals so naturally, this will be dangerous.

When they are chronically anxious and stressed, it does not take very much to set them off because they are so triggered stacked.

And then this leads to a chain of events that can make for a horse who has a very explosive “personality,” or, at least what people interpret as a personality when really it is the inevitable result of unmet needs.

Simply just by providing species-appropriate care and learning how to read Horse behaviour from an unbiased, fact-based perspective, we can improve the safety of both horses and humans astronomically.

03/07/2025

Love this. We wear helmets for ground work, training on the ground, always when trailer loading, and of course when mounted. I’ve worked with several vets who have opted for a helmet when we were working with particularly challenging behavioral horses, and training with farriers/ trimmers too! You only have one brain, please buy a helmet that’s so comfortable you forget it’s on your head and protect it!

You may have noticed our clinical teams wearing hard hats when treating your horses. This is a move being implemented by equine vets globally to help mitigate the risk of serious head injury.

Statistics show that out of the serious injuries sustained by vets and support staff, most injuries are not caused by the patient itself, but by environmental factors. Examples would be a sudden movement or a kick, either of which result in a loss of balance and then a fall. This can cause injury by colliding with a fence, stable wall, hard surface or equipment, which has the potential to result in a serious head injury.

We fully respect most of our patients are amenable and well-behaved. Yet as prey animals, horses are often at their most vulnerable when sick or injured. So, it is unsurprising that they may react out of character and then purely by accident create a scenario which could lead to a life changing injury.

When our teams wear helmets, it is by no means a reflection on the behaviour of your individual horse or pony, instead our aim is to make the working environment safer for all concerned.

03/05/2025

🙌🙌🙌

Just a PSA…

If you are yanking, cranking, spanking, holding, pulling, tying down, draw reining or using martingale aparatuses to get your horse “round” or “in a frame” it’s not correct.

Not only is it doing physical damage to the horse, but it’s doing irreversible mental and emotional damage, too. They can’t feel safe in their body or with you if they feel trapped.

If ridden correctly, softly, compassionately your horse should willing work over its top line and into the contact.

Sincerely,

Someone who has unintentionally made a career out of helping yanked and cranked horses.

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

02/28/2025

We find this to be true, too! Build Communication and confidence on the ground, first .

“Horses regularly trained with ground work are more relaxed when ridden”

A recent study of dressage horses in Germany that looked at rein length and tension revealed a surprising finding: horses who were regularly trained in ground work/in-hand work had lower heart rates during ridden work than all of the other participating horses. This wasn’t what the researchers were investigating, but it was clear in the results. From this, the researchers concluded that, “Perhaps horses trained in ground work had more trust in their rider.”

So why would it be true that horses who regularly learn via ground work/in-hand work are more relaxed? There are a few possibilities.

1) Horses trained regularly with ground work are more relaxed because their trainers are more relaxed. It’s possible that humans who take the time to teach their horses from the ground are less goal oriented and more concerned with the process. They may be more relaxed in general and foster this same relaxation in their horses. As you are, so is your horse.

2) Horses trained regularly with ground work have trainers who are more educated about a horse’s balance.

Their horses learn to move in correct balance which allows them to be healthy and sound in their bodies and, therefore, more relaxed. Physical balance is emotional balance.

3) Horses trained regularly with ground work understand the trainer’s criteria better. They have mastered the response to an aid before the rider mounts and know the “right answer” already once under saddle. They don’t experience any conflict when the rider asks for a behavior because the neural pathway has already been installed. They are more relaxed about being ridden because it rarely has caused confusion for them.

For us highly visual humans I think that ground work is often a better way to begin exercises because we are much better at seeing our horse doing the right thing than feeling it from the saddle. Often, my feel in the saddle is enhanced by the fact that I have watched my horse perform an exercise over and over in our in-hand work. It feels how it looks. In-hand work is also a good way to teach our horses because our own bodies are often more in balance when we are walking beside our horses. With the ground under our feet we are able to be more relaxed if something goes wrong and less likely to be so busy wrapped up in our own balance that we give our horses conflicting or confusing aids. It’s a good place to figure things out. I am a huge fan of in-hand work.

I’m glad to learn research revealed ground work is good for horses. Horses with a low heart rate are relaxed and relaxed horses perform better and live longer. In this day and age of people starting horses under saddle in under an hour and increasing monetary rewards for the “young horse dressage program“, everything seems to be done in a hurry. The entire horse culture seems to privilege “getting up there and riding your horse”. But as one of my favorite writers and accomplished horsewoman, Teresa Tsimmu Martino writes, “In today’s horse culture there are clinics that brag about starting a c**t in a day, as if the quickness of it was the miracle. But old horse people know it takes years to create art. Horses as great masterpieces are not created in a day. An artist does not need to rush.” We need more scientific studies like this one to encourage us to slow down and take our time with our horses.

So why were the horses in the study more relaxed? Likely it was a combination of all three factors – a relaxed trainer, better overall balance and clear understanding of criteria.

These are things that matter to your horse, and yes, will allow him to trust you when you ride. Take some time to slow down and work from the ground, learn a bit more about equine balance and teach new things in-hand before asking for them under saddle. You can take your riding to a whole new level and help your horse become more healthy and relaxed in the process.” - from the article by Jen of Spellbound Horses https://spellboundhorses.com/2013/03/07/horses-regularly-trained-with-ground-work-are-more-relaxed-when-ridden/

02/20/2025

Rub don’t pat…and better yet just take a moment to stand next to them, inhale gratitude and exhale love to show your appreciation to your equine partner!

Horses are not born understanding what a pat, or even our petting, means. They have absolutely no idea that this is to bring them pleasure, or that it means we are pleased with them.

When we humans stop and think about this, it is something of a lightbulb moment.

We pat our horses for our own enjoyment, nothing more. Our love spills over and so, we reach for them. We pat.

I’ve learned that wild—or any highly-reactive—horses will be startled by such a thing and sadly, to get along in this world, they are expected to accept it. To submit. In nature, horses will understand a stroking, a little rub or a neck or tummy scratch, for they do this for themselves and with other horses.

They absolutely understand a little squeeze of comfort along the crest of the neck.

When they are fully relaxed, our horses will simply stand with their heads in a level position, exhaling with a sigh and then, breathing evenly. Knowing this, I’d venture to say that when we want to show our horses that we are pleased with their response to our demands, probably the kindest and sanest thing to do is to simply relieve them of the burden of our asking!

We might also relax, sigh and breathe evenly, ourselves to show the level of our relationship and understanding.

A little rub on the neck or a scratch, along with a kind word, will feel natural to a horse and therefore, is easily understood. I’m just saying that we might want to start choosing a touch that is not needing to be endured, or figured out.

The whole notion of kinship—of 'speaking' the equine language—is something to think about, the next time we yearn to say ‘thanks and well done’ to our good friend and teacher, the horse.

Here I was, once upon a time on the late, great Cisco, doing the very thing that no longer feels right. I'm not saying that I was in any way meaning to be thoughtless, or heavy-handed... patting her just feels cruder than I would now like to be. This good horse certainly deserved my sensitivity, in light of the quiet beauty of this shared moment.

I will always remember it.

But what is horsemanship, I ask, if not for allowing us the space to change our minds?

Photo: Bar U Ranch.

02/14/2025

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01/31/2025

Proud to be a part of this journey 💗

You know the saying, “There’s someone for everyone”

We believe in that wholeheartedly when it comes to our horses!!!

It might take a year, two or ??? but when it happens it’s gold 💛💛💛

Congratulations Madi and Anyssa! A match made in heaven.

We could not be happier for this once wild, slaughter bound mare and her amazingly patient guardian!

A lot has gone into getting Madi to this point. Thank you for all the love and kindness showed to this mare. Not on any timeline but Madi’s!

Adoptions are special to us and this one is for the ages. Wild should not be a death sentence. of the horse

01/20/2025

A wonderful VT resource for those in need.

If you or someone you know is a Vermont horse owner and going through a hardship and in immediate need of hay to feed their horses, our hay assistance program can help! All applications are confidential. Please visit our website for more information and to find the Vermont Hay Bank guidelines and application:
www.dorsetequinerescue.org

01/18/2025

01/17/2025

We’ve got some cold weather coming after the weekend! Our herds are able to stay happy and warm living out together with access to:
-free-choice hay
-heated water
-warm mashes
-shelter access
-blankets as needed

Fun fact, most of the herd (all but 4) prefer to be without blankets unless it’s cold, windy and wet. With daily access to the above list, the horses always seem warmer than me!

🌬️❄️ Cold Weather Alert! ❄️🌬️

Arctic air is heading our way this weekend! Make sure your horses are ready and have:

🏡 Shelter from the wind
🌾 Extra forage for energy
🐴 Blankets if needed

For more info, visit: z.umn.edu/winterhorsecare

01/07/2025

Bridle fit matters!

12/01/2024

Winter has arrived at Renegade!

11/27/2024

11/23/2024

"Above all, we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place – or not to bother." – Dr. Jane Goodall

📸: KATHERINE HOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHY