BARN MANAGERS, STAFF & BOARDERS: Thoughts on Our Individual Responsibilities

It's late afternoon in a busy barn. Stable-hands are bringing horses in from turnout while several students are in the aisles tacking up their horses for lessons. Suddenly, a large warmblood spooks and barges through the door, shoving his young handler in the process and almost knocking her down. In a flash, the girl gives a yank on the lead rope and strikes out, landing a solid backhand to the center of the horse's chest. The horse settles down almost instantly and she leads him calmly to his stall. 

This incident happened several years ago at a barn I was managing. As I happened to be standing by the door, I witnessed the entire thing. So did a brand new boarder. Horrified and concerned, the new boarder pulled me aside to tell me that she didn't want anyone treating her horse in that manner... she didn't want my staff thinking it was okay to smack her horse for any reason. I told her I could understand her concern, but I couldn't guarantee it wouldn't happen.

From my perspective, the young employee handled the incident quite well. She didn't hurt that horse, but she surprised him. She got him to settle down quickly, unemotionally. She prevented him from bolting down the aisle... successfully averting potential injury not only to herself and to him, but to all the students and horses that stood between that horse and its stall. That's something I fervently applaud. 

Would the employee have acted so quickly if she was worried about others' opinions of her? Oh, absolutely not. She would've hesitated... and that's where trouble begins. One of the main reasons stable-hands (or anyone, for that matter) get injured by horses is because they hesitate to correct dangerous behavior for fear someone will think they are mean. That is a load of crap nobody needs to suffer, especially the horses. 

Well-trained horses are smart enough to know what mannerly behavior is. Whether any of us likes it or not, horses get downright anxious when mannerly behavior is not enforced!

On that note, here are some thoughts I shared with that new boarder on the subject:

Barn managers have, in my opinion, a responsibility for training employees on how to get and maintain mannerly behavior from horses...and for having their employees backs on the subject. Specifically, and most importantly, that means educating boarders on the fact that correcting unmannerly behavior is not cruel but necessary for everyone's well-being.

Stable-hands have a responsibility for keeping themselves and others as safe as possible by learning what mannerly behavior is and insisting on it. By all means, they have a right to defend their own bodies by giving a serious reprimand when needed.

Horse-owners should trust that nobody (at least no one I've met) seeks employment at a barn for the opportunity to hit a horse. But every now and then a horse might need a serious reprimand. Somebody better step up for everyone's safety. I truly believe if you can't bear the thought of others correcting your horse in ways they deem necessary, you should take on the responsibility of being the only one to handle it.

That new boarder had every right to question the way I ran that barn... and every right to receive an honest response. I wouldn't have been offended if she decided to leave. Transparency fosters understanding though. I'm happy she chose to stay and trust me and my staff to care for her horses for many years.

Horses fare best when barn staff and horse owners work together to get and maintain mannerly behavior. We humans fare best when we cut each other some slack and remember that we are all in this together for the love of horses. A fact we all should keep in mind is that the more we work together to maintain mannerly behavior, the less likely the need for any of us to have to dole out serious reprimands. 

Those are my thoughts on our individual responsibilities. What are yours?

_______________________________________

"Best book on the market. I recommend it to all my clients. Easy to read and understand. Highly recommend this book for all equestrians."

-Susan Dudasik

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR

COPY TODAY AND SAVE 15%!

Good Reason to Get Comfortable Carrying a Whip

Do you hesitate to carry a whip for fear of your horse's reaction to it? If so, I encourage you to get yourself and your horse over it by viewing the whip simply as an extension of your arm. Why bother? Because, my friend, it is infinitely easier to offer clear guidance to horses when you have a really long arm.

To illustrate, here is a progression of pictures in which I'm teaching 10-month old Haven to walk on my right side. As you can see, when we started out she was walking well behind me and to my left. All I had to do was use a little body language to move her to the desired position...easy-peasy because of my super long arm. 

I didn't even have to touch her with the whip, but rather just reach it toward her. How is that, you ask? Well, when these photos were taken, I'd already been working with Haven for a couple of weeks. (She is quite young yet, so we're only focusing on ground manners.)

I introduced the whip in the second session, taking time to get her comfortable with it by letting her sniff it, rubbing her with it, etc. Then, each time we worked on her moving away from pressure from my hand, I made sure the whip was in the asking hand. 

Once she caught on to moving away from pressure, she began moving at just the hint of a touch, rather than an actual touch. Since I'd been carrying the whip the whole time, she naturally began to see it as part of my hand; therefore, she began moving away from just the hint of a touch from it as well.

Horses speak in body language and we must do the same if we're to make any sense to them. Having a super long arm helps make your body language crystal clear. So, begin thinking of your whip as an extension of your arm and you'll be surprised how quickly your horse follows suit.

___________________________________________________________

"Just got your book and I can't put it down! Packed with knowledge and instruction, can't wait to pass on the gold!"

-Katie Keller Trosclair

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR

COPY TODAY AND SAVE 15%!

Who Am I To Say, "This Isn't the Right Horse For You?"

Twice in my career I've played a part in convincing riders that their horses were not the right horses for them. Neither incident sat well with me. Both felt "off" somehow. The second one, in particular, changed me dramatically as a professional. It happened several years ago...

A young woman brought in a horse on a pre-purchase trial. In the course of getting to know him, she discovered that the horse was not adverse to striking out at her on the lunge line. When neither she nor her riding instructor could solve the issue, they asked for my help. I gave it a go, but the more pressure I put on the horse to move forward, the more violently he'd strike out with his front hooves.

The riding instructor thought the young woman should search for a different horse, and I agreed. My words to her were something like, "There are a lot of horses that don't have this habit. Go find one of them." She was really disappointed because she already felt some sort of connection with this horse. She decided to pass on him, though, based in part on my advice.

A couple of months later, a different instructor brought that very same horse back to the barn to try him out for one of her young students. I was concerned but, lo and behold, the striking-out was no longer an issue. The parents purchased him and he turned out to be a great horse for their teenage daughter.

It was a thoroughly humbling experience for me...and priceless. Here are just a few things I learned:

• My once poor opinion of that horse was not an accurate reflection of the horse. It was, however, a perfect reflection of where I was at as a trainer at the time. (I remind myself of that every time I even think of forming a negative opinion of a horse.)

• No matter how much I think I know, there is always more for me to learn... so much more. 

• Telling someone "this is not the right horse for you" is really an inaccurate way of saying "I don't know how to help you succeed with this horse." It's inaccurate because it implies there is something lacking in the horse or the rider; whereas, the latter statement places the insufficiency where it truly lies...in my current training/teaching ability. (No wonder both incidents felt "off" somehow.) 

Knowing what I know now, I'm loathe to say a horse "isn't right" or is "too much horse" for anyone. I feel like there is an over-abundance of that going on as it is. It discourages riders from exploring their potential as horse-handlers and trainers, and plenty of good horses fall through the cracks because of it. I prefer to support the "you can succeed with any horse you choose" mindset because it's the truth for every one of us.

I'm grateful things turned out well for that horse. He found a good home because he ran into a better trainer, one that drew out the best in him and got him over that aggressive behavior. He found a good home despite me, but I'm well aware of the fact that he could've wound up in a kill-pen had he kept running into the type of trainer I was at the time. Not my proudest moment, but one that impelled me to check my ego on a regular basis to give every horse a chance... and one that impelled me to up my game big time. 

In the years hence, I've met many horses that presented the same striking-out behavior. I've gotten them all past it simply by being more assertive in asking them to go forward. If I had it to do over again, I would not give up so easily on that horse, or myself.

I'm glad things turned out well for the young woman, too. She wound up purchasing a different horse and is very happy with her decision. Just look at her, though...

Ashley Tittle and Lyon, Hunters Run Horse Trials
(photo credit, here and above: Madison Collier)

... it's not like she's some shrinking violet. How could I have ever doubted she could succeed with any horse? Again, not my proudest moment, but one that makes me strive harder to keep my ego out of the mix... to not saddle others with my own fears or inadequacies. If I ever have to say "I don't know how to help you succeed with this horse," you best believe I will follow up with, "...but I bet someone else does."

I know other professionals have thoughts on this subject, and I look forward to hearing them. How do you go about balancing your responsibility for the safety of your students while encouraging them to extend their boundaries as equestrians? 

_______________________________________________________

" I am a huge supporter of your book.  I had been thinking about selling my horse due to her behavior and my fear.  Got to the point where I would have severe anxiety whenever I thought about riding.  Saw an ad for your book on Facebook and thought, "What do I have to lose?"  and purchased it.  I have been working with her ... for a little over a week and the change in myself and her is amazing.  Thank you."

-Shannon Guinan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER & SAVE 15%

SCARED OF YOUR NEW HORSE?

You buy what seems like a perfectly nice horse, but shortly after bringing it home it begins acting spooky, pushy, anxious and aggressive. What's the deal, you wonder, as you begin feeling afraid of your new horse. Were you duped by a less-than-truthful trainer? Was the horse drugged when you went to try it out? Were the folks who sold it to you flat-out lying about the horse's mellow nature? The answer to those questions is probably not. 

Perhaps there are some unscrupulous horse sellers in the world, but from what I can tell, they are far outnumbered by good people seeking good homes for good horses for a variety of reasons. For example:

• riders go off to college and can't afford to take their horses with them;
• they switch disciplines and have to sell in order to buy horses suited to the new disciplines;
• they have come upon hard times financially;
• they can no longer ride due to health problems;
• they simply lose interest in riding; or
• they are trainers who train and sell horses in their everyday course of business.

I'm writing this article on behalf of two young riders who sold their horses because their riding skills outgrew their horses' capabilities. The sales were made through their trainers' assistance. 

Since I personally know the girls, the trainers, and the horses, I know first-hand that both animals were very well-trained and the girls enjoyed riding them safely for years. I witnessed it with my own eyes. The buyers, both adult women, were seasoned riders who had owned horses previously. By all rights, the sales should have gone smoothly, but they didn't.

Within weeks, both buyers were frightened of their new horses, questioning the trainers' ethics, and asking for their money back. One of the buyers, apparently terrified, felt her only option was to put the horse down if a buy-back couldn't be arranged. What should have been win-win situations for all turned into really awful ordeals.

Now, if you are feeling for the buyers because you too are frightened of your new horse, I totally understand. But I'm guessing you never would have bought your new horse if you hadn't seen some proof of its training...with your own eyes...whether on video or in person. Considering this, surely some part of you is thinking there's a chance your issues have nothing to do with the horse. I'm betting there is a 99.99999 percent chance of it. 

It doesn't matter how long you've been riding or how many horses you've owned in the past, if you can't get this horse to behave calmly, chances are you're missing a part of your education... and you're not alone. It is incredibly common for people to learn all kinds of things about riding horses, yet little to nothing about how to keep well-trained horses behaving like well-trained horses. 

Even if you took a bunch of riding lessons, chances are you never received a fundamental leadership education. An unfortunate truth about the riding lesson industry is that most students don't, and that needs to change. I wrote The ALPHA Equestrian Challenge to help facilitate change because far too many riders wind up fearing good horses.

If you're wondering how to get your new horse to behave like the well-trained horse it is supposed to be, this book is for you. Please, before giving up on this horse... before badmouthing the trainer or the former owner... before inciting a distraught teenager to start a GoFundMe campaign to save a beloved first horse from death... I urge you to buy this book and take the The ALPHA Equestrian Challenge for yourself.

_______________________________________________________

" I am a huge supporter of your book.  I had been thinking about selling my horse due to her behavior and my fear.  Got to the point where I would have severe anxiety whenever I thought about riding.  Saw an ad for your book on Facebook and thought, "What do I have to lose?"  and purchased it.  I have been working with her and the steps for a little over a week and the change in myself and her is amazing.  Thank you."

-Shannon Guinan

CLICK HERE TO ORDER & SAVE 15%

HANDLING HORSES ON STALL-REST: Tips for Keeping it Calm

When extended stall rest is prescribed to help a horse recover from injury, eventually there comes a day when the horse must come out of its stall and get moving again....usually for short periods of limited exercise. This often turns into a time of high anxiety for horse owners. They want their horses to behave calmly so they don't re-injure themselves, but the horses have a bunch of pent-up energy and are itching to blow off steam.

A friend of mine is currently in this stressful predicament. On vet's orders, she is supposed to walk her horse and have him do a few two-minute sessions of trot each day. The walking part goes smoothly, but the horse starts bucking and rearing whenever she asks for trot. Here are some tips I shared with her.

Hedge your bets beforehand by keeping your horse's mind and body as active as possible the entire time he's on stall rest. Spend lots of time grooming him. Move him to a stall that allows him to see the activity going on in the barn. Spend time teaching him something, like various stretches or an easy trick. Perhaps get him a toy and teach him how to play with it.

Provide as much company for your horse as possible. Rotate other horses into an adjoining stall. Clean your tack next to his stall, or pull up a chair and read a book.

Don't give up asking for mannerly behavior from your horse during this time. I can't stress that enough because it happens a lot when folks start feeling sorry for horses. Bear in mind that your horse needs your attention, care and guidance, not your pity. By all means, correct his behavior if he starts crowding your space, nipping at you, etc.

Make a conscious effort to chill out about the idea of your horse re-injuring himself if he blows up. Sure, there's a chance of it happening, but there's also a chance of it not happening. There is a chance he can blow up like crazy and be just fine. Think about that and give up worrying. It creates nervous energy in you, which is completely unhelpful. Besides, if worse comes to worse and your horse does wind up hurting himself, you are perfectly capable of handling the situation at that time...at that moment in the future.  The best you can offer your horse in this moment is as much calm, confident energy as you can muster.

Choose ahead of time to face any blow-ups with an "oh well" attitude.  You can do your very best to keep your horse calm, but understand that's ALL you can do. Come to terms with that, and make an agreement with yourself that if your horse happens to lose his sh**, you won't lose yours.

Insist on mannerly behavior exiting the stall. If your horse starts to fire up just because you put his halter on, take it off and put it on again a few times, and then just stand there until he relaxes. When you begin leading your horse out of the stall, correct him if he tries to push past you. If he does manage to push past you, take him back into the stall and start over.

Once you get going, insist that your horse walk 3 or 4 feet behind you.  I've found this to be one of the easiest ways to settle an excited horse. Use your body language and flicks of the lead rope to keep him back, and be as assertive as necessary. Ask nothing else of your horse until he relaxes into this, has lowered his head, and is consistently maintaining a respectful distance behind you. Only then should you move on to the next step.

Do as much as your vet allows to engage your horse's mind and body at the walk. Shoulder-fore, shoulder-in, leg yield, counter-flexion through the corners, whoa to walk transitions, and stepping over ground poles are just a few examples of the things you can ask for at the walk. All of them require the horse to focus and use more energy than simply walking around...thus, they help dissipate excess, excited energy.

We put this theory to test with my friends horse and it proved helpful, although he still presented a couple of little bucks and a rear when asked to trot. While not perfect, it was a huge improvement over the bucking and rearing she'd been dealing with...and that's a good start.

________________________________________________________

"Just got your book and I can't put it down! Packed with knowledge and instruction, can't wait to pass on the gold!"

-Katie Keller Trosclair

CLICK HERE TO ORDER & SAVE 15%