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?
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"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
Amen!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sounds like you may have worked at a barn before.
DeleteI certainly agrre with the behavior of the stable hand and the barn manager. Horses are our friends but their size make them potentially dangerous to those of us around them when they misbehave.
ReplyDeleteTrue that!
DeleteQuite true AND owner's need to observe behaviours in their horses that are potentially dangerous and correct the actions as well. Barn hands would have an easier job if the owners would not allow their horses to get away with unruliness. A huge example is invading personal space!
ReplyDeleteYes! Couldn't agree more.
DeleteThis blog post rubs me wrong. To get this out of the way first... I've given my horses a good smack on the barrel a time or two to get their attention.
ReplyDeleteWith that said....
This post only speaks to one issue, and unfortunately, seems mostly written to make it acceptable to use physical force over corrective behavioral approaches for training. That form of discipline should be reserved for when all other 'training' options have been exhausted. And IF even then! jmo
The post states it is the barn managers "... responsibility for training employees on how to get and maintain mannerly behavior from horses..." OK I definitely agree with this! It's equally their responsibility to train their staff how to, lead them safely, apply boots, blanket appropriately, make sure feed is correct and not mixed up with other horses, check the horses over when turning in and out for injury, identify unsoundness's, make sure there is always feed, hay, and water, etc. The post does not speak to any of that. But the title is "Thoughts on Our Individual Responsibilities" and only stamps approval on smacking a horse! Please!!!
Untrained barn-staff/horse handlers LEADS to horses developing poor and dangerous ground manners, injuries, horses being brought in and standing for 10 hours with the toe clip jammed into its' sole (OUCH), horses getting loose and running wild, bolting through gates, etc...on and on...
Sorry for the rant! But the truth is, generally (yes there are exceptions), if a horse is bad or misbehaved, in most cases some human fostered that behavior, or created that behavior through their handling or training.
My two cents!
Yes, I am speaking on the one particular issue of disciplining horses. And, yes, barn managers are responsible for enough things to fill a book... or two or three or four. I did not intend to mislead with the title, but really there's only so much room for the title. It's the best one I could come up with at the time.
Delete