Carpe Diem Farm

25/06/2024

Inconvenienced
Kathleen Beckham

Years ago, I had a baby horse, and when he was about 18 months old, I had the opportunity to have an equine chiropractor work on him. He was wiggly and squirrelly, and I apologized to the chiropractor for that. “That’s okay,” she said, “Little babies haven’t learned how to be inconvenienced yet.”

That was big for me. So big. “Inconvenienced.” I hadn’t thought of that before, but it was the perfect word for it. We don’t want our horse to tolerate being hurt, or being treated unfairly, but he dang sure needs to be able to be inconvenienced.

From that day forward, “being inconvenienced” became a more thoughtful part of my horse work. I started to see some of the “issues” students were having with their horses as having to do with the horse’s inability to be “inconvenienced” without becoming very anxious. I also saw the stress that some of my students experienced when they knew they were going to inconvenience their horses. It turned out it was, indeed, a “thing.”

The ability to be inconvenienced and be resilient about it, it’s a skill. It’s a skill for people, it’s a skill in dogs, and it’s a skill in horses. It’s a skill that needs to be purposefully taught, and then carefully developed and expanded over time. It should be part of any training process for horses, because it’s something that they don’t necessarily come “from the factory” with, and it’s something they really need to succeed in the human world we insist they live in.

For a horse, “being inconvenienced” can be things like being asked to work while other horses are eating, standing tied, not being fed first, being turned out or brought in a “non-preferred” order, standing next to strange horses and not being allowed to socialize, having their feet picked up, going down the trail while other horses speed by, having veterinary work done, getting in a trailer or other small space, not being allowed to graze while working… I think you get the picture. Once I started thinking about my horse being “inconvenienced,” I saw it everywhere. Gosh, a LOT of a horse’s life in the human world is inconvenience. I also started to see how much stress a horse who had not learned to be resilient about being inconvenienced could experience.

It’s not always possible to remove the inconveniences in our horses’ lives, and I’m not sure that’s the way to go anyway. A horse who is resilient about being inconvenienced develops many other positive qualities because of his ability to be inconvenienced. He learns to self-soothe, he learns to think before he reacts. He learns patience and he learns to be flexible. He learns not to get stuck in patterns and expectations. He learns to be softer and more thoughtful. He learns to be calmer and quieter.

A horse who develops the ability to be inconvenienced as a principle of his training/life is less likely to be herdbound, gate sour or barn sour. They’re more likely to trailer load easily, to tie quietly and to learn whatever we are trying to teach them. It’s kind of the “secret sauce” of horse training, if you know about it.

Being inconvenienced might start very small. The first time one of our youngsters is inconvenienced might be the first time we have him on a lead rope and he wants to go left and I want to go right. Or he wants to eat grass and I want to take him for a walk or take him over to get his feet trimmed. So it might start very small at first. But I’m aware of it. I’m aware of when he’s inconvenienced, and I’m aware of how much inconvenience he’s able to take, for his stage of development. I am carefully and thoughtfully, methodically building his “fitness” to be inconvenienced.

Those little, fleeting inconveniences will turn into bigger ones eventually, like being left outside or in the barn by himself, or standing tied to the trailer all day, or working in the rain, or working while the farm is being fed. Those are much bigger inconveniences than being asked to turn left when you want to turn right. A working horse, or a horse we want to be able to take places and do things with, he’s really got to be able to be inconvenienced. That makes him much safer and more fun to be with.

Being inconvenienced is also about a horse being practiced at changing his mind. So he can practice thinking about one thing (“I want to go sniff that horse over there”) and change what he’s thinking about (“Hey horse, let’s go over here, away from that horse, and do a stop/back/bring our front end around.”). To do that, we have to be able to decipher what our horse is thinking about, and then become proficient at causing him to change his thoughts. Horses who can’t change their thoughts do not deal with inconvenience very well, while horses who are good at changing their thoughts will be much better at being inconvenienced.

This is different from “desensitization,” and it’s not about getting the horse “shut down. It’s not about hurting him, or flooding him, or setting him up to fail. It is literally about building the horse’s mental flexibility, by degrees. It’s methodical and progressive. It’s sometimes a delicate balance, and it can be something that takes some awareness and skill on the human’s part. It’s no different than building a horse’s physical fitness and abilities, it’s about choosing the right size steps for that horse’s fitness level.

A horse whose ability to be inconvenienced has been well-developed will be quieter, less anxious, less ulcery, and more physically and mentally balanced. They will have more brain-space available for things of our choosing.

This ability to be inconvenienced, it’s a gift to the horse. It’s a gift to him, so he doesn’t have to suffer the unnecessary stress and anxiety caused by his lack of mental flexibility. Done mindfully, it doesn’t have to be scary or dangerous. And done earlier, it’s easier. And older horse who has never been inconvenienced, that’s going to be more difficult than a younger horse with no preconceived ideas about things.

At the end of the day, this is a practical thing. We choose to have our horses live in our human world, so if they can be inconvenienced, that makes living in our world a lot easier for them. It’s a gift, not a burden to them.

Coming soon... The Attention Course: an online learning opportunity that will help you get, keep and direct your horse’s attention (thought), and in the process, become worthy of it. This is part of being inconvenienced, because it is not always convenient for our horse to pay attention to us (or for us to have to ask for his attention). If you’d like to be eligible for a discount on The Attention Course when it goes live soon, sign up for your discount here: https://www.ethosequine.com/courses

14/06/2024

how neat is this? Take a look at what it takes to put this on!

03/06/2024

The whole 20 mule team set up is so very interesting. You must see it in person to really appreciate it. I've seen it in person.

30/05/2024

Wow, that's impressive. This is when tandem is used as lots of horsepower in very narrow situations. They are ALL pulling.

30/05/2024

great article on flexion and bending. Same for riding and driving.

29/05/2024

wow, so interesting to see this old film of fire horses!!

14/05/2024

Indeed. Showing is a tiny bit of all of the work and practice for months, weeks, years, to get to the 1 day and a few classes of exhibition. Showing is 2% and practice is 98%, if done well. So all of you ribbon chasers, you MUST put in your time. Also remember that if your horse isn't enjoying himself, then you aren't treating your PARTNER well. Their opinion DOES count!!

10/05/2024

very good article on 'line of draught'. I'm always trying to educate drivers on this subject to get the most from their equines. If the horse isn't comfortable, then it's not able to work efficiently, and will become grumpy about working. Collar fit is also sooo important too.

When you use a collar and hames, with a low line of draft, whether you are dragging a harrow, a log, a tire drag around your field, or a vehicle with a low line of draft, the collar will actually LIFT and then lay back on the animals shoulder, allowing them to push into it using the front of the shoulder and the chest.

When you use a collar and hames with a horizontal line of draft you loose the lift effect and the weight of the collar and hames will lay across the top of the neck for the entire time you are driving. Many animals will react negatively to this. Which often leads to people thinking a collar and hames is a “bad” thing and that their horse hates it. When used incorrectly, that same horse will learn to hate a breast collar as well.

We don’t only look at the line of draft when helping a customer decided whether to use a collar and hames or a breast collar, however. The weight of the vehicle will also dictate which is the best to use.

For instance, forecarts are very heavy, not well balanced and difficult to pull. For the most part the, forecarts have a low line of draft, but once in awhile we see a homemade one that has a horizontal line of draft. Unfortunately for the animal pulling it, we will suggest a collar and hames even when the line of draft is horizontal.

This is because with the weight of the vehicle, and the fact that it is not well balanced, the weight of the collar on the animal’s neck all equal an experience that may not be the best for the animal. Whenever possible we suggest that the customer have the single tree lowered on a vehicle like that.

Why does having a low line of draft on the forecart help? Because when the animal goes into draft, the front of the vehicle will slightly lift, IF the line of draft is low, then the collar will lift and set back along the shoulder and it is actually easier to pull, even when it’s not balanced and it’s very heavy.

Forecarts were designed to be used with farm equipment. The idea was that the farmer could sit on the seat or stand leaning against the front of the forecart and then hitch equipment to the back of the cart and get a lot of work done in a day, without having to walk all day. Hence the name. The equipment hitched to the back of the forecart caused the front of the forecart to lift, which made the vehicle balance. When we use them without the equipment, the entire weight of the cart and the people in it will be ON the horse. When driving a single the weight will be on the shafts, which means the weight will on the on horse’s back. When driving a team the weight will be on the pole which means the weight will be on the animal’s necks. Trying to use a breast collar style harness for this set up would be truly horrible for the animal pulling.

On the flip side, using a collar and hames with a questionable line of draft and a light weight vehicle doesn’t work well either. Because, again the weight of the collar and hames will be constantly pressing down on the top of the animal’s neck.

Whether you use a collar and hames or a breast collar is a great question and one that should be considered whenever you’re driving any equine. Understanding the type of work you want to do and knowing what vehicle you will be using is key to making a good choice for your animal.

To read this full article, Why a Collar and Hames? Please visit the HorseDriver blog at www.chimacumtack.com/blog/2020/11/24/tuesday-tip-why-a-collar-and-hames

10/05/2024

This is why you get a professional trainer and take lots of time to train. Wow. Glad only the cart got hurt.

01/04/2024

27/03/2024

its all too true. I've trained numerous horses/ponies that the owners rarely take lessons. Then all that investment in training is lost, the owner never enjoys their investment, and the horse languishes away. Invest in lessons, as well as training

My unpopular opinion.

Now before anyone comes at me, this isn’t aimed at dangerous horses, too much horse for skillset etc.

For myself it takes me about a year to click with a new horse, and don’t think I don’t have doubts in that time that I haven’t made a mistake. I’m old enough to be of the vintage that if you got a pony, you had to make do with what you had and try and improve on it. Sadly I do think this skill set is being lost as horses become a luxury item. Training doesn’t happen in a matter of days, weeks or even months. It’s a continuous thing, not just for the horse, but for the rider. A lifetime of seeking improvement and answers. A commitment to sweaty saddle blankets before you give up. And this is from me, a rider that is far from perfect.

Once again if the horse is dangerous or it’s very clear that it is too much horse for the rider that’s a completely different scenario. I just get sad seeing horses that aren’t deemed perfect in their owners eyes moved on for the next quick fix ❤️

11/03/2024

this is so true

07/03/2024

26/02/2024

very interesting. I love learning

Interesting read.

👀🧠🐴 Here are 15 interesting facts about a horse's brain:

1. A horse's brain is relatively small compared to the size of its body, making up only about 0.1% of its total weight.
2. Despite their small size, horses have very complex brains, with a highly developed cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought, decision making, and memory.
3. Horses can learn and remember complex tasks, such as navigating a jumping course or performing a dressage routine, through a process called associative learning.
4. Like humans, horses have a left and a right hemisphere in the brain, each with specialized functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for logical and analytical information processing, while the right hemisphere is more involved in emotional processing and creative thinking.
5. Horses have great memories and can remember specific people, places, and experiences for many years.
6. Horses can learn by observing and can often pick up new behaviors and skills simply by watching other horses or humans.
7. Horses have a very sensitive sense of touch and can detect even the slightest pressure or movement on the skin. This helps them respond to subtle cues from their rider or guide.
8. Horses can process visual information very quickly and accurately, allowing them to avoid potential danger and navigate their environment with ease.
9. Horses are social animals and rely on non-verbal communication to interact with other horses in their herd. This communication is facilitated by the horse's brain, which can interpret subtle changes in body language, facial expressions, and vocalizations.
10. Finally, like all animals, horses have unique personalities and individual characteristics that are shaped by their experiences, genetics, and environment, all of which are reflected in their brain function and behavior.
11. Horses have a very strong sense of smell and their olfactory bulb, which processes odors, is relatively large compared to other parts of their brain.
12. The cerebellum, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, is also relatively large in horses. This is because horses must be able to move quickly and efficiently to escape predators or navigate difficult terrain.
13. Horses have a very high pain threshold, which is thought to be related to the way their brains process pain signals. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also mean that horses may not show overt signs of pain, making it difficult for their keepers to detect and treat underlying health problems.
14. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, is particularly well developed in horses. This allows them to remember not only specific experiences, but also general concepts and patterns that they can apply to new situations.
15. Finally, studies have shown that horses, like other animals, are capable of experiencing emotions such as fear, happiness, and anger. These emotions are thought to be mediated by the limbic system, a group of interconnected brain structures that play a key role in regulating mood and behavior.

Info: Megan Bolentini Equine Bodywork

17/02/2024

This is SOOOOO interesting! Such skills. Now you may understand why hats cost so much, and why you should take care of them. This is becoming a lost art. Check out all the specialized shapers to get the rim and top. So fascinating to watch.

15/02/2024

You can use this exercise with a young or uneducated horse, a novice rider, or even a seasoned horse/rider going through stiffness at a higher level of movement.

15/02/2024

This is for the young riders who started riding in the 1980s or after. That period was a major turning point in horsemanship. Before that point, the disciplines were there for the horses. Now the horses are there for the disciplines. This change or inversion is very important to understand. Riders after that point have only known that horses are there for the disciplines and I think that is a problem we need to address.

Before that turning point, people who owned horses used the disciplines to explore their horses' range of abilities. That was the purpose of the different disciplines. You might have had a polo horse. Could that horse do team penning? Horse owners loaded their horse in the trailer and went to find out. When they got there, the team penning people welcomed the new riders and showed them how. I had an Appaloosa mare polo horse that turned out to be better at penning than polo. Got a cutting horse? Will it fox hunt or do endurance? People tried out different disciplines to see what their horses' could do. The disciplines were there for the horses.

Not so today. Now the horses are there for the disciplines and that is all two generations of riders have known. Today horses are specialized for only one discipline, If you bring a dressage horse to a fox hunt or to team penning today, it is likely that your horse would struggle to get the job done in a different discipline. The horses are now there for each discipline and the consequences of this values inversion are not good.

What is important about this change is how it goes against the authentic nature of horses. Horses are incredibly versatile. They thrive on cross training and changes of scene. By contrast, most people love specialization. They can succeed and be a winner in a narrower context, and they love purchasing specialized equipment for a sport, which today includes a horse.

The enjoyment and success with horses used to be about exploring the vast landscape of the horse's abilities. The disciplines served this purpose. Now, it seems, that the enjoyment and success are about the rider winning a $2 ribbon.

We need more local mixed discipline events and competitions so that today's riders can once again explore their horse's range of abilities. We need the disciplines to be there for the horses to try something new. The American Horse Society is working on a group insurance plan that will make more local shows and competitions possible.

10/02/2024

Gloria Austin of The Equine Heritage Institute in Lady Lake, Florida presented her historic and restored Royal Golden Carriage driven by her six PRE Spanish ...

13/01/2024

Does anyone know of a catalogue or shop I can order a pony sized racing hood? I know that in the midwest there are pony trotting races. Also, hackney ponies use hoods, so I know they are out there...

10/01/2024

there is still time to join our Tucson Rodeo Parade and Museum tour. email or call me. I know many people wait until the very, very last minute to commit. Come and join us on Friday meet at 1030a

10/11/2023

Sorry everyone, but I hate the new 'Pages' that FB switched to and can't post to my own Carpe Diem Farm site any longer

26/05/2023

Twenty high-level dressage horses and 20 high-level showjumpers were used in the study in Portugal.