Holt Your Horses

24/08/2024

08/08/2024

30/07/2024

As there is still a huge emotional response from current equestrian news events of recent days it is important to not get stuck in the negativity of these events. I am sure that there is much disappointment, sadness and shock from what has come to light however blaming, shaming and arguing amongst ourselves is really not a productive way forward. We need to take the situation and turn it into something positive. We need to learn some lessons here, we need to think about what is the way forward in Horse sport before it gets lost completely. I truly believe it is possible to find a way forward for the good of the Horse and to enable top level sport to continue, with the emphasis on welfare and happiness of the Horse, instead of getting stuck in this unproductive negativity let’s use this to find a way forward for the sake of our horses

What are some changes that could be made to the sport in order to put welfare in a much higher regard

Changing rules regarding tack, especially bitting and nose bands (much more in depth than current vague not adhered to rules) and giving/rewarding the opportunity to wear less tack rather than more controlling aspects of equipment

Developing a new scoring system which focuses more on correct function and biomechanics and less on extravagant flashy movement will enable a focus to be more on soundness and longevity of our Horses. It would help develop correct muscle structure, relieve stress and promote a more relaxed way of going. This would also require complete elimination of rollkur/BTV etc. developing a marking system in this way would make the sport less subjective because it could actually be marked on a more scientific biomechanical aspect eliminating the biases we currently see.

A focus on facial expression and an understanding of what these mean during competition and in warm ups could be used to enhance and develop a happier athlete with higher reward for those looking more relaxed and enjoying their work. Harsher marking/elimination for those looking unhappy or struggling

Using age restrictions for levels would prevent young horses being pushed to fast up the levels and being over faced with movements they are not strong enough to do yet.

All of these would promote better knowledge and training methods and restore priority to The Horses well-being. Just some thoughts on turning this around Yes, implementing new rules, regulations and guidelines would take time and effort however we have ended up in a place no one wants to be so I’m sure making changes would benefit everyone especially The Horses

🐎

29/07/2024

Effective, lasting, training occurs when you find the balance between enforcing boundaries and kindness. We don’t do our horses any favors when we don’t have boundaries. However, enforcing those boundaries does not need to mean physical harm to your horse! Vocal and other sound-related corrections are extremely effective (I’ll hit myself before I’ll hit a horse). Stopping and backing will go a long way! All contact you make with a horse should be in communication…not punishment. Treat them with kindness and you’ll receive kindness and trust in return ❤️

06/05/2024

“Horses are ‘too dangerous' to train with food”

But did you know?

🐘African Elephants, the largest land mammal, have been trained to take injections and many other husbandry behaviours.

🐻Bears, who have a bite force of over 1,200 PSI, have been trained to have their teeth cleaned and to give hair and blood samples.

🐯Tigers, with claws 4 inches long, have been trained to back up their tails into their handler to get injections and to accept fly spray on ears.

🦓Zebras, who have been known to kill lions in a single kick, have been trained to voluntarily walk onto a scale, stand still and get weighed.

🦛Hippos, the worlds deadliest mammal, have been trained to have their teeth brushed and blood drawn.

🦧Chimpanzees, who have 5 times the arm strength of a human male, have been taught to get their temperature checked and teeth inspected.

🦒Giraffes, the tallest mammal in the world, have been trained to have their hooves handled and trimmed.

This is just a small sample of the amazing things that have been taught with clicker training / positive reinforcement (R+). No force or fear needed! All these behaviours have been taught with food. If these larger, more dangerous animals, can be trained safely with food, so can your horse! 🐴🦄

Note: Just like all types of training there is a learning curve and methods of ensuring the safety of both the animal and the trainer. Sometimes that requires protected contact but most importantly requires a thorough understanding of the animals needs/body language.

Inspired by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin(included in comments!)

25/04/2024

Good training is boring and takes longer…but it will always last longer.

22/04/2024

Hey howdy hey everyone! I got the approval from the facility I work for to start taking haul-in clients. We have lesson horses available too, of course! Reach out to book your session here or email me at [email protected]

03/04/2024

This. All of this.

Have you ever just come to the abrupt realization that you don't see anything the same anymore?

The two year old that you once would have approved of starting under saddle now looks like an incredibly immature baby that you can't imagine asking to carry a load.

Physical issues that lead to training and performance issues you no longer view as the problem but perhaps the solution to the actual problem.

All of the things you would have considered behavioral issues you can now see as the balance issues that they are. You no longer want to address the behavior but instead the reason for the behavior.

You are no longer fooled by words. Anyone can say anything about their training and approach...but the horse will tell you a lot about whether the words match the action, if you're educated enough to see it. Some things are debatable...other things definitely aren't.

You now recognize that you are a nervous system and your horse is a nervous system...and that the priority is to keep you upright and alive. That matters, A LOT.

You recognize that developing a horse is an endeavor that takes years. YEARS. Years of a lot of time and a lot of commitment. There's truly no substitute.

You also realize that getting here has meant admitting that there were times when you were wrong. That there were times when you did harm with the best of your intentions. That you had to walk away from circles of people whose beliefs and approach no longer lined up with what you now know...or maybe they walked away from you? Either way, it's hard to stand alone sometimes.

You realize you've had to become a beginner a thousand times over...and you'll continue to find yourself in that spot a thousand more times in the future, plus some. Maybe even at some point today.

You realize that even when it feels like you haven't grown at all...you actually have. That growth is something to be proud of, no matter where you're at on your journey.

- Terra

29/03/2024

They had me for a bit there

Ultimate Checklist: Why Every Jumping Rider Absolutely Needs Draw Reins

1. **To Be One of the Cool Kids:** First and foremost, nothing says "I'm a pro" like a pair of shiny draw reins. It's like high school all over again, but with horses. Fit in or miss out!

2. **Because Head Position Is Everything:** If your horse's head isn't touching its knees, are you even riding? Remember, aesthetics over athletics!

3. **To Make the Hind Legs Decorative:** Who needs all that power from behind when you can have a beautifully useless trot that's all show, no go? Plus, those hind legs make great accessories.

4. **To Give Your Horse a Reason to See the Physio:** Let's face it, we all know physiotherapists need love (and business) too. What better way to support your local equine physio than by creating some totally avoidable back and neck issues?

5. **To Complicate Simple Tasks:** Anyone can ride a horse using balance and mutual respect, but it takes a real genius to make it complicated and gadget-dependent. Why keep it simple when you can keep it interesting?

6. **For That 'Instant Dressage' Look:** Instantly transform your jumper into a dressage diva with just the tug of a rein. Who cares about years of training and communication? Instant results are where it’s at!

7. **Because Who Needs Trust Anyway?:** Building a relationship based on trust and understanding is so last century. Let's fast-track to obedience with the magic of draw reins. Instant respect, right?

8. **To Never Actually Improve:** Because true improvement requires change, and who has time for that? Keep doing things your own old way (whether it works or not), and you're guaranteed to stay exactly where you are.

😆 Remember, this is satire. For real horse pros, the real shortcuts are the long, hard hours of dedication, understanding, and respect between horse and rider. 😘

08/02/2024

“She’s such a mare!” - said about the tail swishing, ear pinning mare who is kicking out at leg because she doesn’t want to go forward.

“Oh my god, look at her mare face!” - someone laughs at the mare who is ear pinning and snaking her head at those passing by her stall, threatening to bite.

“Thats definitely a mare!” A commenter jokes on a video of a horse who tries to kick and bite while doing up the girth.

The amount of internalized misogyny that we project onto mares is really sad, especially when so many of those doing it also have uteruses and likely understand the experience of having similar hormones and know what it’s like to cycle.

I’m not always feeling my best. Sometimes I have cramps that make me uncomfortable enough that work becomes harder.

The difference is that I have the autonomy to go and take pain killers, take a sick day or at least articulate my pain to those around me so they can understand why I’m having a harder time.

When mares attempt to do that, we brush off their feelings and blame their gender, reducing their discomfort to the fact that they’re a female.

When geldings offer the same behaviours, it is never blamed on their s*x.

Did you know that in the studies they have done on horse s*xes and whether there is actually a notable difference between mares and geldings, mares actually tested higher for having more amiable behaviours?

Overall, mares and geldings proved to be quite similar with very marginal differences, though.

Despite being an industry made up of an abundance of participants who know what it’s like to have a uterus, we still remain extremely discriminatory to mares, despite the fact that we should understand their experience better because of our similarities.

I, too, used to buy into the mare stereotype and “didn’t like” mares.

Now, I have more mares than geldings.

They’re dependable, they’re friendly, they’re brave, they’re sweet and they’re kind.

And if they ever deviate from this norm, it’s my job to explore why.

My OTTB mare, when she arrived to me, was the stereotypical mare.

She would try to kick me and bite me when I brushed her.

She was moody and disagreeable.

She was also riddled with stomach ulcers and extremely body sore from the racetrack, having been trained in an elevator bit and having substantial poll discomfort because of it.

Want to know what happened when I addressed this?

She became one of my sweetest and most easy to handle horses who is so incredibly consistent in her behaviour that she tends to be more dependable than a lot of my geldings.

Anyone who is perpetually running into mares who are “b*tchy” should work to consider what it is in their training and care program that is making them that way.

The fault is ours, not the entire gender category of mares.

This bias against mares and how many of their attempts to communicate their discomfort are simply attributed to their s*x is archaic and embarrassing.

It serves no one and it does mares a massive disservice while perpetuating the similar undertones of misogyny that are so harmful to women and other uterus having people.