Bit o Gold Equestrian

10/25/2024

YES 💕🐴

Dominance theory was a terrible mistake, that even the scientist who cataloged it, regrets doing. The deep level of misunderstanding that happened based on inappropriate studies just spiraled out of control into a culturally accepted excuse to train and work with animals with force and punishment.

Dominance theory was the idea that animals, horses included, have a linear dominance and set roles within the herd. The idea that there is a set leader, a decision maker, who controls the other horses' behaviors through threats and the other horses love this horse as their leader. The idea that horses have a linear set hierarchy that determines who's in charge and only changes if overthrown by someone stronger. These deeply flawed ideas have lead people to believe that they can be the leader horse by mimicking equine behavior, they misunderstood, justifying their use of forceful physical control and punishment to train behavior. All under the idea of being a "good leader".

The thing is, science is constantly growing and self-correcting. As we spend more time actually studying horses in various scenarios and environments, and each species individually, their family units, their herds, packs, groups, etc... We have learned this concept of dominance is wildly inaccurate and deeply unhealthy, only seen in extreme, inappropriate environments (like old overpacked zoos with many unrelated animals, as the original studies were based on).

What's really going on then? What is Dominance really? Do we need to be dominant?

Horse herds really work in a much more fluid and dynamic manner, it's not a linear hierarchy. Horses make decisions based on need, if someone has a need, they satisfy that need, the other horses stay with them out of social bonds and safety in numbers. A secure, confident horse will be more likely to make decisions that lead away from the group, while insecure, nervous horses might be less likely to make decisions, sticking more closely to the center of the herd. This isn't leadership or dominance, just confidence, in themselves and their world. This changes constantly. A confident horse may be more clingy and insecure if they have a pain problem, if they're pregnant, or if they're sick. This dynamic is constantly flowing. Who makes the decision, is up to how much the individual wants something. Who stays or goes in the herd is based on social bonds, friendships, familial relationships, and resource needs.

What was frequently mistaken as "dominance" was actually determined roles of priority access to resources. If a resource is limited, the herd knows who has first access, usually the bully. This varies by resource, my sweet itch mare has priority access to the shelter, while she doesn't care about defending food resources. She may shove everyone out of her way for shelter from bugs, but someone else may shove her out of the way for food. A group of 2 might pair up to move off a single horse who would typically move either of them individually. This access to resources is determined with little squabbles, but usually is limited to just some body language threatening gestures. It would be unhealthy if the herd were to compromise each other in fights over resources, when they have the bigger threat of predators they need to remain safe for. We only see extreme linear resource guarding in domestic settings where resources are limited. If hay is fed in limited supply one horse may always get priority access. If there isn't enough shelter, one horse may not let the others in it. This isn't dominance, but resource guarding. This isn't leadership, but the opposite, a horse who is deeply insecure in their resources, in their safety, violently defending themselves. If one horse resource guards excessively, most of the other horses avoid them, ignore them, don't want to groom with them, and don't want to risk dealing with them. They're like a human child bully, so insecure in themselves they act out against everyone else to try to soothe their need.

Ethology has also shown that horses do not think humans are horses. Even if we mimic their body language, they do not equate us as horses. We don't have a place in their access to resources, because we aren't sharing their resources. We are their PROVIDERS. We are the ones giving them their resources, it's our job to understand herd dynamics and ensure our horses have adequate resources in appropriate ways so there is no need to fighting, insecurity, or herd stress. It's not our job to challenge our horses for access to the very resources we are giving them! We are their caretakers.

Dominance and access to resources has nothing to do with training, only knowing how to provide care and management without creating unhealthy or dangerous equine interactions.

Training should be done with a compassionate understanding of behavioral science and how to apply positive reinforcement. It has nothing to do with herd dynamics or dominance, or even strong leadership, but rather clear communication, compassionate care and gentle behavior training.

Additional resources
https://www.awla.org/uncategorized/alpha-dogs-dominance-theory-fact-or-fiction/

https://www.clickertraining.com/node/2297

https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/dominance-when-an-outdated-theory-wont-go-away

https://news.asu.edu/20210805-discoveries-myth-alpha-dog

https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/horse-dominance-1-28/

https://www.thewillingequine.com/post/dominance-leadership

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/debunking-the-alpha-dog-theory/

https://positively.com/dog-training/article/ethology-why-pack-theory-is-wrong

https://www.rover.com/blog/alpha-dog-meaning/?msockid=323ef8c5489068da23bbeaa549916988

https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/dominance-when-an-outdated-theory-wont-go-away

10/15/2024

💕🐴

This might sound harsh to some but, If you wouldn’t have a horse in your life simply for the love of keeping a horse, you don’t deserve to have one.

Being a horse's guardian is a sacred privilege, but somewhere along the way, we lost sight of that.

We started valuing horses only for what they could do for us—riding, sport, competition—using them as tools for our ambitions.

We stopped seeing them as the deeply feeling, wise beings they are.

Sharing your life with a horse should be an honor and a commitment that goes beyond what they can do for you.

It’s a promise to love and care for them, no matter what.

When horses were no longer building our cities or carrying us, they became status symbols—something to ride, display, or win prizes with.

We turned them into trophies, proof of wealth and success, and in that shift, we lost the chance to see them for who they truly are: powerful, ancient companions with their own spirit and purpose.

We overlooked the magic of simply being with them.

I’ll be honest, I fell into this mindset myself.

I used to think that because horses are expensive, I couldn’t justify having one if I wasn’t riding.

But then Phantom came into my life and shattered every belief I had.

I realized how wrong—how selfish—I had been.

Being with him is everything.

Just standing beside him, I feel a peace and connection I can’t put into words.

He owes me nothing.

We may never ride, and that’s perfectly fine.

His place is still with me because I chose to be his guardian, and that means honoring him for who he is, not for what he can provide.

I owe him that—and so much more.

For those who say they can’t justify keeping a horse if they aren’t ridden—consider this: horses owe us nothing.

They are not here to serve us, and their worth isn’t tied to their usefulness under saddle.

If we choose to have horses in our lives, it should be because we value them for who they are, not what they can do for us.

They deserve to live peacefully, respected, and cherished simply for being themselves.

Let’s honor them as the sentient, wise beings they are, not as tools for our ambitions.

True guardianship is about choosing love over expectation, offering safety, care, and devotion purely for the horse’s sake.

It’s about respecting their boundaries and letting them be who they are without demand or pressure.

It’s knowing they are sentient beings deserving of reverence, not tools for riding.

If we approach horses this way, we step out of the ‘power-over’ mentality that has dominated horsemanship for too long.

We begin to honor them as the magical, wise souls they are, committing to building bonds rooted in love, respect, and reciprocity.

Let’s normalize having horses simply for the love of being with them—no riding required.

09/29/2024

Hi Horse Community,
I am devastated by the western North Carolina and Tennessee hurricane disaster and can’t imagine what some of our friends are going through. In the midst of the destruction.
People are coming together to take care of each other. Let’s be those people!
I’m organizing a large and small animal supply drive, focusing on everyday things the evacuated animal community needs.
Think gently used (or new) halters, lead ropes, buckets, brushes, leg wraps (pillow, no bow, polo, standing etc), hay nets, wheelbarrows, pitchforks, clorahexidine wash, temp fencing, fly spray, first aid supplies/kits, bleach, bug spray, kennels, dog, cat, cow, pig, chicken and horse food, and etc.

I have a truck and trailer on stand by, so let’s fill it up, if you want to participate, let’s fill your truck, too!

Pick up or drop off (Johns Island, James Island and West Ashley so far, message me to add a location), tag your favorite feed store too (maybe they want to help!), and we’ll send love and supplies to our neighbors in the north.

Don’t have any animal supplies, but want to help? Message me, call or text 803-439-8664, Venmo to help with gas, or contact Fleet of Angels.

Know a specific rescue/drop off location in the NC/TN area with specific needs? Please message me or tag them so we can coordinate meeting up with them.

09/24/2024

I love this SO much!!!

HORSES CAN RECOGNISE THEIR KEEPERS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

Research has found that horses presented with photos of humans can recognise their keepers at a rate much better than chance.

Ethologist Léa Lansade of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, conducted an experiment to find out how well horses can recognise individuals from photographs. Their results showed that horses can remember a keeper’s face even six months after having seen the person.

The research team used two computer screens to display a random selection of unfamiliar human faces. 11 three-year-old Welsh mares were trained to choose between two side by side images by pressing the touchscreen with their nose, then being given a food reward. Then over a course of 32 sessions, the team started to introduce photos of the horses' handlers into the selection of unfamiliar faces.

The researchers found that the horses correctly identified their current keeper and ignored the unfamiliar faces about 75% of the time – a rate significantly better than chance. The horses also selected photos of previous keepers – people they hadn’t seen in six months.

These results are surprising for several reasons. They suggest that horses can understand that photographs – two-dimensional images – represent real people, without being given any other cues like voice, behaviour or scent. They actually performed better at this task than dogs have done in previous research.

The findings also suggest that horses form emotional attachments to their human keepers and have advanced facial recognition abilities. On an ethological level this would be very important as of course they would need to learn who to trust so they could alter their behaviour accordingly – knowing who to avoid or who they can approach safely. Of course these results also show that horses have a good long-term memory for human faces.

Study: Lansade, L., Colson, V., Parias, C. et al. Female horses spontaneously identify a photograph of their keeper, last seen six months previously. Sci Rep 10, 6302 (2020).

09/08/2024

Getting underway at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center with Topline Animal Services, Spotted Ponie Therapies, Fox and Cedar Farm, Simply Equine, and Palmetto Equine Dental Group!

We’re so happy to help organize this event and love how these professionals are coming together for the good of the horse 🐴

08/20/2024

💕

Feeling guilty for not doing much with your horse lately?

Are you wondering if you’re “wasting your horse’s potential” or if they would be better off in a different home?

I hear these doubts from horse lovers everywhere. And truthfully, I have struggled with these same questions.

Here’s what you need to ask yourself 👇

1️⃣ Does your horse have FRIENDS (shared fence or same pasture), FORAGE (24/7 access), FREEDOM (to move around as they choose around the clock), SAFETY (from the elements and from danger or frightening things), COMFORT(physically, mentally, emotionally), and FUN (opportunities to engage in enrichment, play with companions, changes of scenery from time to time)?

2️⃣ Can you afford to support these needs? Even if you can be there every day or even if it’s not high end/luxury accommodations (which horse’s don’t care about anyway), are you financially and physically able to support providing them these needs in the first one?

If the answer is yes to both of those, or you’re working on it/providing a version of it, then the answer is …

NO 🙅‍♀️

➡️ You’re not wasting your horse’s potential

Horses are designed to be horses. Their wish in life is to live as a horse is supposed to live. Not to compete, not the achieve medals and trophies, not to backpack across the country, not to do anything other than *be* a horse. 🐴

NO 🙅‍♀️

➡️ Your horse wouldn’t be better off in a different home.

You are already a one of a kind, rare home tbh. There are not many homes that offer horses those two things. Don’t fool yourself into believing there’s better out there. There *might* be, but usually those homes are already full with other horses who didn’t have what your horse already has with YOU. ❤️

Does this mean there’s never a time where a horse should be rehomed? No, it doesn’t mean that. There are exceptions, but in general you are probably providing the home your horse most needs.

I would love to see the equestrian community as a whole to shift towards meeting the needs of the horse being our primary goal as caregivers. And as long as we are doing that, everything is as it should be.

So stop beating yourself up equine caregiver. You are doing an amazing job. 👏

08/16/2024

My heart is full. 💕

S***f doesn’t often lay down when I’m around, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her lay down next to in the field. I love we were allowed to quietly share some space with them on this beautiful morning in South Carolina.

08/06/2024