Laurel Manor Equestrian

09/21/2025

DO HORSES GRIEVE WHEN THEY LOSE A COMPANION?

Many horse people sense it. Now, recent research provides more evidence that yes — when a companion horse dies, many horses exhibit grief-like responses that can last for months.

This study examined behavioural changes in horses following the death of a companion. Of 325 owners who responded to the study survey, many reported noticeable changes in their surviving horse’s behaviour after the loss.

What the study found:

• Within the first 24 hours after the death of a companion, most horses showed changes in behaviour: heightened arousal (≈ 89 %), altered interaction with other horses (~78 %), changed behaviour toward humans (~78 %), increased alertness to environmental stimuli (~73 %), and more vocalisation (~69 %).

• Many horses continued to show shifts in behaviour, mood, or social engagement up to six months after the loss.

• The strength of the bond matters: horses in close “affectionate” relationships showed more pronounced changes — especially around feeding, interacting, or being around others.

• Whether a horse could stay near the body of the deceased companion also influenced how certain behaviours (like vocalisation, excitement about feeding, or interaction) evolved over time. Those unable to access or witness what happened showed more persistent distress, especially heightened vigilance and arousal over time.

Grieving the loss of a companion has real welfare implications. Grief isn’t just a nice sentiment or a human emotion we project onto horses — for survivor horses, loss can cause real, lasting effects that have long-term impact. Mood, appetite, energy, social behaviour, and interest in human interactions can all be disrupted.

The way death is handled on a yard makes a difference. Allowing time and presence with the deceased, recognising behaviour changes early, and offering extra care can help reduce the impact:

• Watch for changes in the first 24 hours and beyond: look for changes in feeding, sleeping, social behaviour, mood, vigilance and interaction with people.

• Be aware that healing takes time: six months or more is not uncommon.

• If possible, allow surviving horses to be near the body or to witness (if safe and feasible). This seems to reduce some prolonged stress.

• Give the surviving horses an opportunity to acknowledge the loss: presence near the body, opportunity to witness or experience what happened (safely and appropriately) seems to help.

• Provide extra care, enrichment, predictable routine, and gentle handling — especially for horses with strong bonds.

Remember that grief is individual. Some horses bounce back quickly, others need more time. Both deserve care and compassion.

Study: Ricci-Bonot et al (2025). Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

09/14/2025

🐴DRESSAGE SOLUTIONS!🐴 To encourage your horse to travel around turns and circles in an upright balance …

Imagine his head, shoulders and hips as three connected train cars. All the parts have to follow each other along the same track. And the cars need to stay upright. To do this, put more weight in your outside stirrup while maintaining a level pelvis, and stay lifted in your core to allow your shoulders to follow the direction of travel, pointing your belt buckle up the track as your horse enters the turn.
— David Marcus

🎨 Sandy Rabinowitz

09/08/2025

"Judges have to strategically choose what they ask of these riders in a test, because they all have ability, talent, and determination to win. What can they ask riders to execute that’s equally a challenge and a demonstration of good riding?

In many testing phases of major equitation finals, the answer is a counter canter. Riders have been extensively asked to demonstrate the counter canter as a means to w**d out a winner. Two counter canter jumps were required in the final testing phases of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal Final 2021 and 2023, the 2021 ASPCA Maclay Final, and in the 2024 WEC Equitation Cup. The WEF Equitation Championship has also required a counter canter in the test for the past couple of years, and in 2023, Carlee McCutcheon set herself apart by being the only one to land, and hold the counter lead–resulting in her winning the class.

But why is the counter canter the deciding testing factor in an equitation final?

Our equitation division is intended to prepare riders for competing successfully in the jumper ring. It’s designed to be a pipeline for going on to represent our nation at the FEI level. There are many equitation finalists who have gone on to do that; however, they didn’t win 1.50 m or higher classes by doing a counter canter.

In the equitation ring, when asked in a test, is the only time a rider would ever intentionally approach a jump in a counter canter. In a hunter class, doing so would merit a score of 55-60. In the jumpers, a counter cantering horse is likely unbalanced and will probably take down rails. So, why is it asked for in practically every final testing phase at the major equitation finals?

Counter canter has its value, and should be mastered by equitation riders on the flat and over fences as a demonstration of using aids correctly and balancing their horse. Since a rider would not qualify for the finals without demonstrating capability of it in some of the many qualifying classes, it therefore seems unnecessary to use it in the finals testing phase. It wasn’t not used in the 2023 Maclay final, and that resulted in arguably one of the more agreeable placings.

Difficult counter canter turns and jump approaches are really more of a test of the horse’s experience, training, athleticism at that particular task, and even just luck. The 2021 Maclay and the 2022 Medal both featured very tricky back-to-back counter canter, over two jumps in a row, which resulted in a significant change in the order. This sort of testing becomes disadvantageous for a rider on a slightly less experienced horse, or one that is just not quite as balanced at the counter canter. Final testing should be a rider test, as much as it possibly can."

🔗 Continue reading "R" Judge Susan H Lohmann's article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2024/09/27/counter-canter-overused-in-equitation-finals/

09/03/2025

Misty's Twilight, published in 1992, was the last Misty book written by Marguerite Henry. She wrote this letter to our friend Kendy Allen about finishing it. Marguerite was very excited about her new book!

Read about the real Twilight on our website: https://www.mistysheaven.com/twilight.html

08/30/2025

Wednesday Wisdom - Today, we quote Erik Herbermann... "Our riding will more consistently embody beauty and joy when we are motivated by respect and love for the horse. This outlook, above all, helps us to overcome the inevitable difficulties encountered on the way."

This seemingly simple quote exemplifies the essence of a good rider, horse trainer and horse owner. If the rider trains from a place of love and respect, the horse will respond in kind. He will be much more willing and capable. Negative tension will be minimized and the horse will be able to perform optimally.

Photo taken from the Dressage Formula.

08/29/2025

Top trainer and "R" judge Geoff Teall answers the perennial question about what judges are looking for in a winning horse-and-rider combination.

08/26/2025

08/20/2025

08/19/2025

When riding corners, you should only ride them as deep as the smallest circle required for the level at which your horse is currently working.

For example, if you are working at British Dressage Introductory level, the smallest circle you’ll be expected to perform is 20-meters. Therefore, the corners you ride will be fairly shallow, not much deeper than the arc of a 20-meter circle. Elementary horses are expected to negotiate 10-meter circles, so the corners you ride will be correspondingly deeper.

This rule ensures that your horse stays relaxed and well within his comfort zone. He’ll be able to maintain the correct rhythm as he moves through the corners without variance in the tempo. He’ll also be less likely to lose his balance and fall onto his inside shoulder or his forehand, and he won’t swing his quarters out in an attempt to evade a degree of bend that is beyond his capability.

However, this rule is temporarily broken if you are preparing to turn down the center line or ride across the diagonal. In which case, you may need to ride the corners fractionally deeper.

02/19/2025

What you need to know about blanketing.