5 Things I Will Always Do for My Horse
I have had horses for most of my life and I am amazed at how much I am still learning about how to train and care for them. This new learning has caused me to rethink a lot of things that I have routinely done with horses and inspired me to make some changes. Here are 5 things I will always do for my horse, Boston. She means the world to me and I want more than anything to build a trusting relationship with her that will last a lifetime.
I always fed my horses a flake of hay and some grain twice a day. After realizing that horses are naturally a grazing animal and learning that they are designed to have food intake nearly 24 hours a day, I have changed my feeding routine. Boston always has hay available from a slow-feeder net and she has access to pasture most days. She also gets free-feed minerals. If I feed grain, I will feed at different times of the day. I also learned that horses can easily develop an ulcer if they are expecting food at a certain time and it doesn’t arrive.
Typically, horses are expected to do certain things for us, like letting us ride them, for one. I worked with trainers who always had expectations for horses to be our partners, learn new moves, and be compliant. When I stopped and thought about how amazing it is that horses allow us to do anything with them, my attitude shifted. My new attitude is one of appreciation for all that they are willing to do for us. So, the second thing I will always do for Boston is appreciate her, especially when she tries to figure out what it is I’m asking of her. But even in her moments of confusion (which is what my previously held notion of disobedience was), I will appreciate her.
I had always given my horses a treat at the end of a training session, but I never considered giving them treats during training. I was always told that this would create a “cookie monster” with no manners. Boston is very sensitive and just cannot be pressured into some things. This caused me to experiment with other methods. I have found that Boston is very receptive to positive reinforcement. She is given a treat only after responding correctly, and she has learned that treats are earned, not taken. She has not become aggressive or rude. Therefore, the third thing I will always do for Boston is offer positive reinforcement when she is learning new concepts.
I have witnessed many riders expressing frustration with their horses. Through the years I can remember many instances of being frustrated with a horse. I’m sure that’s a normal part of trying to communicate with any animal, but acting out because of the frustration is not necessary. When I become frustrated with Boston, I will stop, acknowledge that I am frustrated, and ask, “Boston, how can I help you?” (This nugget is from Dressage Naturally.) This will put me in a frame of mind to see things from her perspective and look for a new way to ask. Replacing frustration with a question will be the fourth thing I always do for my horse.
I was taught that in order to get a horse on the bit, it was necessary to use a running martingale, side-reins, draw reins, or a bitting-rig. At the very least, it required a lot of pushing and pulling. (One Andalusian stallion I rode literally ripped the skin off my fingers during our rides.) I have since learned that a horse will reach for connection with the bit and carry herself correctly if she has the right combination of balance, energy, and relaxation. The fifth thing I will always do for Boston is help her search for that right combination, which Karen Rohlf calls “the sweet spot.”
Leaving behind old beliefs and ways of doing things is both scary and exciting. I am so grateful that I have found horse trainers who are putting out information that is leading me in a new direction on my horse journey. This podcast, Horse Training in Harmony, put into words everything I’ve been feeling lately. I urge you to listen. I am hopeful that Boston and I will continue to develop the relationship I have always dreamed of having with my equine partner. It turns out that it is possible to learn and adopt new ways of doing things, even after years of working with horses.
