Working with owners to resolve horse behaviour issues, bit and bridle fitting consultant inc bitless
(5)
Devon availability 7th September
Cornwall - space on the waiting list is available
I am arranging the diary at the moment, Cornwall days and Devon days, most nearly full
If you want an appointment then let me know
Behaviour Consults
Bit/Bridle/Bitless fittings
www.brighterequines.com
An important topic, would a tool to help make these decision help? Is it just too complex? Is a healthy vet and owner relationship, where open non judgemental conversations can be had about this difficult topic one of the most important factors?
Making the decision when clinical factors are in play is hard. Often behavioural euthanasia is considered differently, but, behaviour is in everything. The behaviour of your horse will be a deciding factor in any pts decision, from dullness to innapatence all the way to dangerous behaviour such as rearing or aggression.
But all of these behaviours are, in the majority of cases, linked to a clinical issue at some point, but maybe just one that hasn't been found yet.
Earlier discussions between vets and owners about equine quality of life could aid difficult euthanasia decisions, it has been agreed. In May the Animal Welfare Foundation hosted the panel discussion Euthanasia: better a day too early than a day too late? to tackle the “complex difficulties” in ...
Achieving a standardised measure for bridle pressure, that is easily used in real life situations will support moves towards protecting horse welfare. It will also give clear aims for makers and riders when choosing bridles.
Horses were studied wearing five different bridles using two different pressure measuring systems in an effort to standardize the method.
A good resource here from World Horse Welfare about what some of the more common, and sometimes subtle, behaviours that your horse may show actually means.
Our horses are communicating with us all of the time, we need to listen and understand what they are showing us.
Are you aware of the subtle signs your horse might be trying to tell you there is something wrong? Download our horse behaviour checklist to see if your horse is trying to tell you something.
If you're reaching for the flash, your horse won't take up contact or is avoidant then there is generally a reason! The hard bit is often working out what's going on,
🦷 Not your average wolf tooth 😳
This was a case of a young mare with a history of resenting contact in the bit and large swelling in front of her right upper cheek tooth was identified.
Radiographs confirmed our suspicion of a blind wolf tooth but even we were surprised by the size of it. ‘Wolf teeth’ are in fact pre-molars, so we do occasionally see ‘molar like’ wolf teeth, but this is definitely the largest one we have seen to date! 🐳
"Optimism is infectious. It is characterized as the persistent expectation for positive outcomes, interpreting negative events only as temporary setbacks (Seligman 2006)."
Yes, let's celebrate and highlight the positive changes that we see, but with balance where necessary.
Abstract. In this era of unprecedented environmental change, optimism could help unite people to act. In the present article, we bring together insights fr
A recently published paper titled "Gut microbiome characteristics of horses with a history of cribbing behavior: An observational study" explored the differences in the gut microbiome between cribbing and non-cribbing horses, a behavior associated with gastrointestinal issues and stress.
The study found significant differences in the f***l microbiota between cribbing horses (CBH) and non-cribbing horses (NCBH), with cribbing horses showing a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria in their f***s.
There were no significant differences in the gastric microbiota between CBH and NCBH. There were no significant differences between horses receiving gastrointestinal support supplements or placebos.
There was no difference in cribbing rate or gut microbiome in horses receiving the digestive support supplement.
The findings support the theory of a gut-brain axis in horses, where gut microbiota influence a bidirectional communication pathway linking the central and enteric nervous systems, thereby connecting behavioral functions of the brain with intestinal functions of the gut. This could mean that managing the gut microbiota through diet, environment or probiotics is likely to influence cribbing behavior.
The study also notes that since cribbing horses have a different microbiota composition, probiotics might be useful for reducing cribbing by altering the gut environment.
Since the gastro supplement did not affect cribbing behavior, the research suggests that other management strategies, focusing on environmental enrichment and stress reduction, likely would be more effective as cribbing management strategies.
The study highlights the need for further research to explore the causative relationships between microbiota and cribbing and suggests looking into other potential factors that could be influencing the gut microbiome and behavior, such as diet, housing conditions, and broader management practices.
📑 Ana Margarita Arias-Esquivel, Kwang Cheol Jeong, Peixin Fan, Jill Lance, Sally DeNotta, Carissa Wickens. Gut microbiome characteristics of horses with history of cribbing behavior: An observational study - Journal of Veterinary Behavior
It's World Donkey Day 🫏 and I couldn't let this one slip by without a post.
Let's celebrate that donkeys are different, from their feet to their coat and certainly their behaviour they are different to their horse relatives.
Although they show slightly different behaviour responses to horses they still learn in the same way. With good and consistent training donkeys are very trainable.
Donkey behaviour is more subtle than horse behaviour, they hide their fear and pain. Our ability to read Donkey behaviour improves with experience.
They hold a mirror up to us and our training abilities, that's for sure.
If you're working with donkey's you will also need to be thinking about their friend. It is common for donkeys to form bonds, so in many training, management, or travel plans, you will need to accommodate their friend.
Chronic pain has huge welfare and economical impacts and is rapidly advancing as an important specialism in the fields of human and small animal medicine. This course is the first to offer a comprehensive, evidence based, practical toolkit specifically addressing chronic pain in horses. Upskilling c...
A lovely pair of mules looking for a home
Wally and Milo are friendly boys who are looking for a very special home where they can live out their lives with lots of attention and love. Both mules are very well handled, and good for the farrier, vet and dental treatments.
The use of horses in sport is under scrutiny from the worldwide public audience. Opinion is being formed, and the social license to operate is in question for many equine sports.
It is recognised that public trust in an industry is needed for a positive social licence to be maintained. This trust cannot be built by fancy words or trying to indicate that the public don't know what they are talking about, defensiveness will not win trust.
Across all disciplines, judging, points scoring and ultimately winning drives competitor behaviour, which has a direct impact on horse welfare.
This article is an overview of how dressage judging is positively rewarding behaviour that undermines horse welfare in sport. Studies cited within this article show that this judging trend is increasing the amount of time a horse spends BTV during a test from 1992 to 2008.
Without genuine, cohesive and collaborative change across all levels of competition, in all disciplines, which demonstrates a genuine desire to improve horse welfare, then horse sport does not have a bright future.
Stricter dressage judging guidelines are needed, as current trends in FEI judging practices undermine equine welfare.
World Horse Welfares next webinar Wednesday is about equine sleep 💤 super important subject for our equines in a domestic environment
In a slight change to normal proceedings, we will be hosting a Welfare Wednesday Webinar on a Thursday! Join us on Thursday 15th February to discuss all things equine sleep with researchers and lecturers, Dr Sebastian McBride and Dr Linda Greening. They will explore the importance of sleep, potentia...
Kheiron Biotech, owned by Argentine Polo Player Adolfo Cambiaso clones about 100 horses each year — more than just about any company in the world — including about 10 clones of his deceased mare 'Dolfina Cuartetera'.
Next year, the company expects to double its output. Although clones are still not permitted in horse racing, cloned horses sell for upward of $1 million to the best polo clubs in Argentina, to endurance riders in the Middle East and to show-jumping equestrians around the world.
What began as an effort to immortalize champions has now become a massive, multimillion-dollar industry with Argentina imposing few rules on cloning, and polo association leaders placing no restrictions on how many cloned horses can play in a game, leaving it up to the companies and the teams to define their own limits.
Kheiron Biotech have also now begun combining cloning with gene editing.
In mid-December, they successfully implanted seven cloned, genetically modified embryos. If the pregnancies are successful, the world’s first genetically designed horse will be born next year — a horse whose genes have been edited to be stronger and faster, a sort of polo superhorse.
If he gets the green light from Argentine regulatory authorities, the company hopes to take this technology to the next level — changing the s*x of a clone, for breeding purposes or perhaps to make an even better animal - asking the question, if an elite stallion was cloned, could that same horse be even more powerful as a mare?
The possibilities of this experiment — and its long-term risks — are yet to be fully understood. What are your thoughts on cloning and genetically editing horses?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/29/horse-cloning-polo-argentina/
Worming resistance, it could effect everyone all too soon.
Do you do FEC and worm according to need?
What about other parasite control strategies such as cross grazing and poo picking?
I manage mine through cross grazing with sheep and alpaca and FEC.
What do you do?
It is critical that horse and yard owners and vets work together to delay further resistance to wormers, as research finds “vital clues” to aid the fight. Two surveys were organised by Project WORMS (Working to Overcome Resistance and Make for a Sustainable future). The aim was to investigate pa...
I will be back on the road for a Cornwall Day on January 20th
Behaviour consults
Bit and Bridle fitting inc Bitless and the transition to bitless
PM or email for more information or to discuss your needs
www.brighterequines.com
Good to see equine welfare and the social license to operate being discussed in a real way, with understanding, to organisations that are influential.
A blueprint for the way forward to ensure the future of equestrian sport was set out at the FEI general assembly, following 18 months of work and research by leading figures. Professor Natalie Waran presented the FEI-appointed Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission’s (EEWC) final report at the gen...
What a busy week! There aren't many of us (5!) That have achieved CCAB in Equines and it was great to finally all get together to share knowledge and our experience of the CCAB process with this great group of behaviourists looking to become accredited.
Big thanks to The Horse Trust for hosting and to the horses that helped make it happen.
I wanted to share the story of Pedongi with you on Rememberence Sunday. The story of a bay mare mule who was initially only known as hoof number 15328. In 1962, she was inducted into the Indian Army Animal Transport Company, where she served for many years, carrying food and ammunition to remote posts. In the 1970s , whilst serving on the front line, it is told she was captured by the enemy.
But mules are loyal companions, and after just a fortnight, she crossed noman's land on her own, still carrying the enemies ammunition, to return to her known unit. The return was celebrated, and then she returned to the front line.
In 1987, she was recognised for her long service to the army, 25 years, and was given a name, Pedongi. Pedongi continued to serve until 1992, becoming the world's longest serving mule, and then she was retired to pasture.
Mules have served in numerous wars, having a lower injury rate than horses and being said to be hardy and tolerant of harsh conditions. However, they were not always well understood, and they had specific handlers, mule skinners or muleteers, men who understood mules and could work with them.
We owe them so much, we will remember them and all who they served with.
I have very limited appointment availability until January 2024, just two dates available amd just for Cornwall appointments.
November 18th and December 9th
Behaviour consults
Bit and bridle fit inc bitless
Evening online behaviour triage appointments have more flex until 15th December.
www.brighterequines.com
This is something that came up quite a lot yesterday. There is often focus on the bit/bitless or noseband. But, other parts of the bridle have significant effect on the horses comfort and how they can use their back effectively
**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**
Todays meme relates to browband fit.
Correct bridle fit is essential. Attention is given to the fit of the noseband but, other bridle features are also important to consider.
A browband which is to small, will pull the headpiece forward and cause localised pressures at the base of the ears and in the region of the TMJ. Previously we have demonstrated the effect that increased pressures at the base of the ears and TMJ can have on equine Locomotion.
All bridle features should be considered and reinforces the importance of correct bridle fit and working with a qualified bridle fitter.
🤓
www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/
DUE TO A CANCELLATION SPACES AVAILABLE
Cornwall Day!
I am out on the road Saturday 28th October. Travelling between Liskeard and Penzance. Taking on limited bookings in those areas, behaviour consultation or bit and bridle fitting bookings taken.
www.brighterequines.com
Working with owners to resolve horse behaviour issues, bit and bridle fitting consultant inc bitless
Do you own a livery yard in the south west? This event might be useful to you
⭐️📣 CALLING ALL PROPRIETORS/OWNERS OF RIDING CENTRES AND LIVERY YARDS ⭐📣⭐️
The British Horse Society plan to hold their South West Proprietor's Conference at Budleigh Salterton Riding School in Devon on Wednesday 27 September.
Currently, there has been very little interest in this event and we are in danger of having to cancel unless more bookings are received by 12noon tomorrow.
If you own or run a riding centre or livery yard and would be interested in attending please find further details and booking link at:-
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/approvedcentres/939496?fbclid=IwAR0DzExTw_B873dIxg7rgygFlQFu35lbdUSouXCgPrsZqy5C38r0iKQ8ACM
A fantastic opportunity for someone to join the behaviour team
The Donkey Sanctuary Careers, Jobs, Search and Apply
Great to see this really important subject getting into Horse & Hound. We know a lot more now about the physical and mental effect of stabling on horses. Alternative housing options to stables can bring huge benefits to horses, if stables cant be completely avoided then there are adaptations that can be made to optimise the stable environment
Keeping horses happy and healthy indoors means ditching some of the more outdated ideas about stabling...
Read more in comments below
I am looking forward to this webinar with Loni,
Maximising positive emotional welfare is a vital facet of good holistic welfare. Book now for our upcoming webinar "Inducing and Measuring Positive Affective State in Horses: A Delphi Approach" with Loni Loftus. https://fabclinicians.org/webinars
An interesting topic, I will be registering for this. It's important to keep considering the global welfare of working equids and how equine and human health and wellbeing interact,
Resilience - the ability to cope with challenges or stress
How is your horses resilience? Does it matter?
How horses, or people or dogs or anything, cope with stress is dependant on a range of factors which all interact and affect each other. I developed this image with Veterinary Practice journal to demonstrate some of the factors that could affect a horse, donkey or mule. I am not the first to use the concept of the stress bucket but I find it a really useful way to explain how resilience can be affected by life.
The size of a horses stress bucket is individual to each animal and affected by factors that are hard for the individual and us owners to control. The horses genetics, the maternal environment before birth and in the early life all affect how the stress response is shaped, or how big the bucket gets. As life continues the bucket will be further changed, either growing or shrinking dependent on the individuals experiences in life.
Each and everyday we can consider what might be going into our horses buckets. But don't despair, the bucket has a tap! Stress doesn't need to overflow (often seen as stress behaviours or explosive behaviour) we have a tap at the bottom.
The tap allows the animal to decompress, release some of the stress and work back to have an empty bucket. By engaging in natural behaviour, taking the pressure off, by having affiliative and positive experiences the horse can feel good and empty that bucket.
The more space we give our horses in the bucket the better chance they have of coping with those unavoidable moments of stress in life. If we are always helping to empty the bucket then it may even just grow a little too.
There is always stress, it's just how we cope with it that counts.
Available to purchase as a recording!
I really enjoyed presenting my case study last night with Talk Equine with The Horse Trust We had a great conversation about the complexities of a jam sandwich.
I will do my best to update the page with progress reports, any more questions please feel free to pm me
Great to see that Gemma Pearson is now recognised as an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (Equine).
This really confirms that behaviour knowledge for equinea is a specialist subject and you should be looking a suitably accredited professional when your horse has a behaviour concern.
Always look to see if a behaviourist is accredited through a recognised independent organisation such as CCAB Accreditation
https://www.ccab.uk/
Or look on the ABTC register for a Clinical Animal Behaviourist, you can search by area, level of accreditation and species.
https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners/
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Separation Anxiety is a huge subject and affects a huge amount of horses and ponies. But should we focus on the negative or should we be aiming to train for what we want? Separation Confidence #nappyhorse #behaviourist #thinkadifferentway
Sometimes it's the little changes that can make the biggest difference. Like making sure they have enough turn out before you ride Offering that extra haynet so they don't have to share Reducing the hard feed or spreading it out for more natural foraging behaviour Giving them a straw bed to rummage through Moving the haynet to a different corner Just switching the routine slightly But the hard bit is knowing which small change or combination of small changes will make the difference for your horse. Only by understanding the motivation of the behaviour can you understand the change that is needed. Even the most complex behaviour which needs training as well often shows improvement with a few small changes to start #behaviour #behaviourist #figuringitout #horse #pony #horseriding
Take a pause - or not? If horses have been without forage for a period of time they will show 'rebound' behaviour when they are next able to eat. Essentially they will eat as fast as they can without pause. So the pony who has had a grazing muzzle on will eat at an excessive rate when the muzzle is removed If a horse has been in a paddock with little grass during the day they will eat their nightly ration quickly, potentially leaving them with nothing, starting the cycle again. It is easy to see how frustration can occur. Rebound behaviour is shown when a behaviour that they are strongly driven to do is restricted. Restricting horses and ponies food to help them loose weight or avoid laminitis is hard. It is hard to reduce their calorific intake and yet meet their behavioural and physiological need to have ad-lib forage. It is a balancing act, but there are strategies and ways to increase movement and reduce intake without causing frustration. Adding other types of forage such as straw or soaking hay can help increase forage availability for a pony on a diet. #horse #laminitis #pony #horsebehaviour
Saturday morning there is time to play! Today Bubs has been out doing some scent work, she still hasn't totally got it but we are building it up slowly. It is brilliant enrichment to get her exercising and using her mind, what's interesting is how much more I notice her using scent when we are out and about #scentwork #pony #enrichment #horsesense
We spent a little bit of time working on loading into the trailer today, Willow has never had to travel anywhere since she was a foal, so this was a new experience for her. I felt it was time she learnt to load so if she had to load in an emergency situation she is now better prepared. I think she did pretty well for a first time. #clickertraining #liberty #loadinghorses #noforcenofear #desensitising #horsebehaviour #clickertraininghorses #traininghorses
With today's stormy weather some horses may be spending extra hours stabled. How have you made your horses life more interesting? Enrichment is a crucial and often overlooked part of horse ownership. One of the best ways to enrich your horses life is to create choice, hay nets at different levels, small holed, large holed and free access. This can replicate natural grazing and browsing behaviours and encourages movement in a stable or paddock. There are numerous food orientated horse toys or puzzles that are available to buy, ensure they are introduced slowly so they don't cause high levels of frustration. Itching posts or soft pillows for eye rubs can help horses that haven't got other horses to mutually groom with or suitable trees for scratching on. Adding clicker training to your horses life, with free choice for them participate. If they decide to engage it is a great enrichment activity, creating choice, empowerment and increasing confidence. The ideas for enrichment are endless and they don't have to cost a fortune. I would love to hear any of your ideas
A good way to provide enrichment is to create opportunities for natural behaviours to be exhibited. By providing several piles of hay on the floor Frankie is encouraged to move whilst foraging, just as he would whilst grazing. Adding variety by including some haynets at different heights is also beneficial and can increase the length of time the hay lasts. This can be set up on a yard, in a stable, in a paddock or on a track. #equineenrichment #horsebehaviour #horselife #horsewelfare
These 2 really enjoyed having their fly rugs off last night when the flies had gone to have a good groom and a good roll in the dust.
A short video showing how far Pippy longstockings has come since being here, when he arrived he was totally untouchable and showed signs of fear based aggression if he felt any pressure. We have worked at his pace, staying well under his threshold and his confidence has really grown in the last week. This is quite a big step for Pippy, having touch across his body and down his legs, with me moving around him. I am rewarding every try he is giving me and I will shape the behaviours until we get a good foot lift and hold when he is ready.
Here we have some supervised free investigation of the trailer, this horse hasn't travelled very much and he was keen to investigate this novel object. Horses are naturally cautious of new objects but will habituate to them with time. Allowing your horse to get used to a trailer in their own time and creating positive associations with the trailer before they are required to load should result in a more positive experience for your horse. #horses #positivetraining #habituation
Allogrooming is incredibly important for horses, it has been related to lowered heart rates and increased beta endorphins which essentially means that it helps them cope with stress and stay calm and happy. Giving your horse a good wither scratch is a great way to increase your bond with them and can be used as a reward in training for some horses.
This week we have a little feral Dartmoor pony in, as you can see he is curious but not willing to be touched at present. He will allow scratches on his bum and back. I will start with positively reinforcing him showing interest in approaching me and remaining facing me as I approach him. I will keep you updated with his progress
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