Sin pecado

From HorseMac Maart '08

When talking to other people about horses, I notice there are misunderstandings and lack of knowledge in subjects that are very important when dealing with horses. Even horse owners are not always aware of some basic things that are essential in understanding horses. So I made a top 10 list of a few things that first came to mind. I want to give some guidelines to people who have never dealt with horses before, or some hints to keep in mind when you are dealing with horses on a daily basis or you only deal with them once in a while. If you are interested in understanding this animal, then reading this list also might be a good start. Knowledge takes away fear, and wouldn't it be nice to feel comfortable around these precious beings?

1. A horse is not a bicycle
When I see inexperienced horse owners or people that are starting with equitation, I very often see them treating the horse like bicycles. With this expression I mean punching their ribs, pulling hard in their mouths, hitting them with a whip, etc... Of course everybody has to get a chance to learn, and when you have an instructor that tells you to keep punching the horses ribs to keep him going, it's easy to see how you could think this is the way it should be done.

Well you know bicycles have pedals, but horses have ribs. Try to imagine someone punching you a hundred times in the ribs, would you even care about what he really wants from you? No, of course not, first you want him to stop poking you, and maybe then after a while you would be willing to hear his question (horses are very forgiving in this matter).

Did you know that a horse feels a fly on its skin? So it doesn't make sense to keep punching him to start running. I can tell you this is absolutely not what equitation is about.

It is true that a lot of horses used for training (in riding school) have become numb. And it's not easy to keep them going on soft impulses. But please always keep in mind that this is not how it's supposed to be.

Remind yourself that you are dealing with a sensitive animal, with feelings and pride. If that idea is too complicated for you please keep away from horses. Go ride a bike or something.


2. Feeding sugar and bread is unhealthy and dangerous
A lot of people think it's a good idea to feed a horse sugar as a reward, and I know it's meant well. But sugar is not healthy for horses, not only for the horses' teeth (they are not able to brush their teeth like we do, so the sugar could cause great damage) but also for the body (just like too much sugar is not healthy for humans). Of course feeding sugar once in a while won't hurt. But the problem is like for example, in big riding schools with a lot of visitors, you don 't know who visits your horse and you don't know how many people have given him sugar.

So, if you want to give a horse a treat give it carrots or horse candy. Another option is bread, but bread involves another risk: bread that's not completely dried out is very, very dangerous. Fresh bread lumps could cause congestion in the bowls which could result in colic. And if you know that colic is one of the biggest causes of death for horses, you can understand that this is not a good idea. Dry bread is harmless, unless it is mildewy. In that case you shouldn't give it either.

Keep in mind: never ever feed bread that is not completely dried out, but give carrots instead.


3. Stay calm around horses
Horses are prey animals, they can react violently to unexpected events and things they don 't know (or that are unnatural to them). When my horse was still stabled at the riding school, very often people with little children in strollers passed very near my horse.

I often warned them about the fact that I couldn't predict my horse's behaviour (he's the nervous type). And I know you can get in a very dangerous situation in a jiffy. II also know that when something happens I will be held responsible. To my surprise (well.. Surprise..) people tend to react offended or angry when I inform them about the risk.

I guess, in their opinion I am the one who needs to have my horse in 'control'. And sure, in a way they are right, but you should know a horse is an animal, and all animals can react unpredictably. So to all parents I would recommend: if you want to see animals in a safe place, take your kids to the zoo. But please stay out of the stables, unless you know how to deal with horses yourself.

Lesson to learn: never run around horses, please behave calmly, and teach this to your children too.


4. Horses have the intelligence of a 3 year old child
Researchers are trying to measure the intelligence of a horse, which seems to be a difficult matter. So far the results say that a horse's intelligence could be compared to the intelligence of a three year old child.

You might know that most children at the age of three are not dumb at all. So next time you see a horse remember that it is not simply gazing at you but might be considering an evil plan :D (just kidding, horses don't make evil plans)

Things to remember: a horse is not stupid, give it enough variation in training and also beside training.


5. You can't fool horses
A horse is not only quite intelligent, they are also very sensitive. A strong sensitivity for your moods, for tension, and in particular for your fear (like dogs, they smell it somehow). I told you that a horse is a prey animal, they live in a herd to feel protected. In a herd they follow their natural leader.

When you are dealing with a horse you have to act as its leader (not through dominance, but by giving it confidence). When the horse has accepted you as its leader, it will give you confidence. But when your horse senses your fear (and really, you can't fool them), it will no longer listen to you and will take initiative to get itself back in a safer situation. A possible reaction could be fleeing or looking for the company of other horses.

Lesson to learn: don't try to fool your horse, if you feel insecure, nervous or angry that day, leave it in the field or stables and try again the next day.


6. If a horse is rubbing its head against you, it's not because it likes you.
This is a very common misunderstanding. When a horse is rubbing its head against your back, shoulder, leg or whatever. It's not because it loves you, likes you, or wants to show affection. No, at that moment it thinks you are a nicest tree to rub against. :D

This is a very clear sign (in horse language) of dominance and disrespect. So don't allow it. A horse should always respect your personal space. You can enter its space, but it should never ever be allowed to enter yours. Keep that in mind!

7. Giving a horse a pat is not rewarding
Giving a horse a pat on the shoulder is not interpreted as a reward, although we tend to think so.
It's a habit we use among humans and we project this behaviour on horses, and above all expect them to understand it as well.

Ok, after a while the horse could link this habit with rewarding. Like giving candy could also become an award.
But the correct way is to stroke it gently, this will remind it of its mother's caresses. Oh, how cute :D

Remember: stroking not patting!


8. There's a difference between a gelding and a stallion :)
This one is a bit funny, but I often come across people that don't know the difference between a stallion and a gelding (of course a mare they know).

A gelding is a castrated stallion. The reason why stallions are castrated is because stallions are very difficult to keep.

You have to be a really experienced horse(wo)man to deal with them. And it 's difficult to keep them together with other horses because they can become very temperamental or aggressive. And they might even break through a fence when they smell a mare.

A very clear article about stallions can be found on wikipedia.
This one is so easy, I'll bet you never forget it again.


9. Horses don 't sleep at night
We think that horses sleep at night, just like us. This is again projection of human behaviour on horses. Horses have micro sleep phases. Mature horses sleep for about 3 hours each 24 hour period. The period of each phase is very brief, lasting only a few minutes. This is a defence mechanism, because in natural conditions they have to be able to flee at any time.

Some horses also sleep stretched out on the ground. This means they trust their environment completely. (My horse even snores :p)
So, this could explain why they sometimes look at you a bit hazily when you get them off the field or out of the paddock.

Try to remember that horses do not behave like humans, so don't try to project human behaviour on horses. Instead try to see the world through the eyes of a horse, and try to understand their behaviour.

10. It's never the horse's fault
One other thing I often have to tell myself: if something goes wrong when you are working with a horse, it's NEVER the horse's fault, but ALWAYS your fault. And that's a difficult one to accept, but just think about it. ;)

I hope these 10 tips were meaningful to you.. and that you remember at least one. ;)
Please don't hesitate in giving comments or asking questions.
I will try to answer them.

Javanish