Ar-Ais Horsemanship

17/01/2025

Aggression in the stable

This title is difficult for me to type, because I don't actually believe that we are dealing with aggression, but defensiveness.
I work with a number of horses that fall into his category, but chose not to use photos of any of them, as the owners already have a hard enough time with other liveries labelling their horses as "problem horses".
Some of these horses with stable defensiveness have been through rough handling, but not all.

So where does the behavior come from?

There is no "once size fits all" answer, but I do want to discuss some possible reasons, and how to address them.

When dealing with undesirable behaviors we always have to address the motivation, rather than trying to suppress the behavior. Suppressing a behavior, without addressing the cause, will result in further problems.

The most obvious cause of stable defensiveness is the fact that horses have reduced ability to escape scary stimulus.
I know this is why people often do things in stables, because the horse can"t get away.

Horse runs away from the saddle? Just saddle in the stable.
Horse runs from farrier? Trim in the stable

Vet, dentist, phsyio... The list is long and too often the " solution" is the same.
This never addresses the cause of the problem, it just removes the option of escape.
So the horse consistently has scary things happen to them in the stable. It shouldn't surprise us that they start trying to prevent humans entering their stable.
I often hear people say that their horse ISN'T scared, because once the horse is on a halter they are " fine". In the best case scenario, this is obedience overshadowing their fear, and worst case, freeze or fawn response because their body tells them it's all over, they are captured.
In the latter case, a horse can have the procedures done with the halter repeated 1000 times and they will never learn it's ' not threatening'. This is because both those states are a function of the sympathetic nervous system, which is not a learning state. Your horse isn't present for anything happening to them once they enter that state.
Obedience is a different kettle of fish. Less anxious horses tend to cope with obedience, but if an anxious horse is suppressing that anxiety to avoid punishment, it is going to come out elsewhere, or at another time, and probably be amplified. Pressure contained is pressure amplified.

So how do we address this?
Going into the stable armed with weapons is a bad idea. I don't care what certain " Natural Horsemanship" trainers say. This is still obedience-based suppression. If you're happy with the fact that some horses will cower with their head in the corner, you probably aren't the audience for this piece, but you should know that I deal with this behavior often and I would say more than half the horses that have people try using fear to correct the behavior get MORE defensive.
They are already scared. The fear is the reason for the behavior in the first place. Adding more fear works far less than people think.
My first suggestion is to have all management happen outside of the stable, with plenty space.
If the horse can't be saddled, trimmed, groomed or receive veterinary care in a round pen with space, they need training, not containment.
Secondly, reduce interactions in the stable.
Even after you stop all the management tasks that cause stress in the stable, your horse will be expecting unpleasant interactions for some time.
Often they associate their owner with pleasant stable interactions, and everyone else with traumatized interactions.
Having others interact positively over the stable door can start to make a change in the horses perception, but it will take time.
Remember, what you call a pleasant interaction might not feel that way to a horse. Even grooming is often seen as something done to them, rather than for them.
We have exercises like the forelock massage, or even just being with them without expectations.
It is, however, important to find workarounds to avoid being in the stable with a defensive horse. It is incredibly dangerous being in a confined space with a 600kg animal that feels it is fighting for it's life. It has no way of escaping(flight) and only has fight left.

I often have clients have the food put in the stable before the horse goes into the stable, and,if loose feed buckets are used, have a way to remove it without going in the stable.
A hole drilled into the feed bucket with a string attached is not as ridiculous as you might think, once you have seen the injuries I have.
If the horse can't be haltered over the stable door, I strongly recommend having an empathetic, learning theory educated professional assist with the early stages.

In an ideal situation I would recommend horses be turned out 24/7 , but I do know that quality 24/7 turn out facilities are not common as yet.

Gareth Mare'
+27724703358
heartfelthorsemanship.org

26/11/2024

Taking my 2 lovely boys out for a ride with my mom, and what a treat. The boys behaved so well with all the other horses being out and about along with a scary sable and let's not forget the guy on a ladder.

26/10/2024

All horses can go bitless, not all owners can.

26/10/2024

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

08/10/2024

08/10/2024

What does the word horsemanship mean to me?
Words are funny things. Their meanings evolve based on our perspective. Yes, they always maintain their original meaning and we can't go around changing what words mean based on our moods, but their meanings can change for us, on a personal level.
For me the word horsemanship has come to represent the change in my approach to horses.
It's about a coming together and meeting in the middle.
Humans are predators, and have predatory behaviors. These behaviors supercede what you eat. Even if you come from 10 generations of vegans, you will still have predatory behavior.
Horses are prey animals. They have an intrinsic desire to avoid predators.
Much of what we do as horseman is about reprogramming those predatory behaviors to be less worrying to our equid partners.
Equally, through this process, a horses desire to avoid us is reduced.
So, for me, horsemanship is the union of horse and human, with the horse dropping some defensiveness, and the human dropping some predatory expectation.
( I believe it is a unisex term based on broader humanity, so I hope the amazing women horsemen forgive this reference)

26/08/2024

Romeo has been passed over to Mavis. She is a lady I work with, and she really wants to learn natural horsemanship. Now she did do a Parelli course but didn't understand it, and now she has started to understand the fundamentals.

Romeo is now her project, and they have a road that they will work together.

20/08/2024

Life is good as a stable cat.

04/08/2024

Working the youngsters and then even the giraffe wants a spot.

29/07/2024

Manchado is a recently career changed stallion, and this was our 4th session. I absolutely love this horse for his attitude and personality. He is so willing to learn and trust my guidance.

We had a bit of a spook because my jacket had fluttered in the wind while hanging on the fence, and his reaction was so cute. Manchado jumped out with his feet and looked at the jacket and walked by it without rushing, and I sent him past the jacket 2 more times on both eyes.

22/07/2024

What counts as foundations?
When the topic of foundations comes up everyone sings in chorus about how important they are, but it turns out we are often talking about something completely different.
I don't think "inside leg to outside rein" is a foundation concept. Isolated response to each individual cue needed for this would be foundational, but 3 cues simultaneously before the horse or rider understand them individually might have something to do with why it's such a misunderstood concept.
I don't think carrying a contact is foundational either. The ability for a horse to be able to stand, walk, trot and canter on a loose rein needs to come before a horse is asked to carry contact. It also needs to be revisited in every ride, like all foundations.
Then there is the stuff that comes before riding.
Having a horse understand what's expected of them when they are being lead.
Calmly having their feet handled.
Standing for saddling without the need for restraining devices.
Standing for mounting without the need for ground support team.
How about a horse being happy about being fetched in a large paddock without running off?
If these things aren't solid we actually have no business climbing on a horse.
If the horse is running away when we go fetch them, are they present when we ride? If they need to be restrained to get a saddle on, how can we expect them to be relaxed about a rider?
These are the things that should be seen as bare minimum preparation for a horse and rider.
I would add an understanding of stress indicators from the riders perspective.
Before we get lost in "heels down" "shoulders, hips, heels" and knowing what boots to strap on so a horse doesn't injure itself over jumps, we should ensure riders CAN consider their horses. We can't point fingers at riders for missing stress and discomfort in their horse , when the signs of stress and discomfort don't come up in any conventional equestrian education system.
One of the most common reactions to the discussion on foundations is the "yes, when we were in pony club we did xyz". The thing is, I don't think pony club addressed any of these issues.
Pony club might have taught a great deal of understanding of how to tack up, some responsibility about the care of horses and their housing, but it's not a case of the "good old days". We have to acknowledge that our current set up doesn't put the horse first.
There is more emphasis on clean tack, arenas and movements than how a horse feels, and what they understand.
How about we add an extra level to foundations. The little stuff that gets overlooked so we can do more fun stuff.

22/07/2024

Ever heard that saying : "A tired horse is a good horse?"
I don't agree with it. If you want to know why, keep reading. If you're dead set on that opinion save yourself the time and frustration of how wrong I am and scroll on by.
Firstly, I am well aware that yawns don't mean fatigue in horses, but are a sign of tension release. The photo of just fit the topic too well not to use.
So why don't I feel tiring a horse is a good tool to "make them behave?".
It relies on a common misconception that energy is a bad thing.
Energy doesn't cause behavioral issues, anxiety does. If there is energy and anxiety, in other words, anxious energy, you will get some short term, extremely limited results by tiring the horse out, but if you don't address the anxiety, every time you tire them out, they get fitter to fight you.
So, wet saddle blankets may work for the horses that resign themselves to defeat ( the broken horses), but this approach is one of the reasons there are so many "problem" horses. We don't actually address the reason for a behavior, or build the horses understanding, we just try ride them through it until they're too tired to argue.
I don't know
about you, but I am the least cooperative son of a gun when I'm tired.
If energy is paired with understanding, cooperation or happiness it's a good thing.
Cooperative energy
Happy energy.
Give me that in buckets, and don't spill a drop.

15/07/2024

The most amazing place is on the back of a horse in a saddle and just being connected. Calmness and serenity while just taking a step back from a busy life.

08/07/2024

What an amazing sight. This is Napoleon getting his feet done with a new tool, and next to him is Chad. As you can see, Chad is not being held and wasn't given any indication to look at the new thing. He did it completely of his own free will.

Having your horse open and curious about something new shows how much horses can evolve and the potential they hold.

🐎

24/06/2024

It's always fun to take things slow and build a bond with the babies of the herd.

20/06/2024

Thought for the day:
Never punish a horse for being confused.
It causes them to panic every time they don’t understand what you are asking of them.

13/06/2024

Starting my new adventure at Horseback Africa.