OVERCOMING FEAR IN A GREEN HORSE

There are various approaches and techniques to help and teach a horse to overcome fear. For the purpose of this article I shall focus on one approach. There are other ways to approach it, which are directly opposite to this.

The principle which we apply here is to let the horse turn to you for protection and security. The technique we apply is to turn the horse loose in a round pen about 2 meter (6 feet) high and 50 feet (16 meters) in diameter. Spread 4 or 5 people evenly spaced around the outside of the pen, each with a tin or plastic bottle with a few stones in it, making as much noise as possible, while walking at a normal pace around the ring. These people walk at the same pace, thereby staying the same distance from each other.

Initially the horse will freak out. After 5 to 10 minutes it will be drenched with perspiration. No matter which way it turns, it runs into this awful noise.

In general it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the horse to decide it needs a companion, someone to bond with, who can offer security and protection against this “dangerous threat”. It will first start chewing and playing with its tongue and lips – a sign of willingness to co-operate and negotiate. Then it will select one of the group around the pen, staying close to and following that person. During this period all the people continue walking and shaking the bottles.

Once it becomes obvious that the horse has selected its companion, the selected person enters the pen, still shaking the bottle, but walking in circles towards the horse. At this stage you keep your gaze towards the ground, avoiding eye contact. Eye contact is seen as a sign that you want to chase the horse away from you (aggression). You also turn your shoulder towards the horse as you approach it. Turning your shoulder and lowering your gaze are signs that you are prepared to allow it into your area.

At this stage the horse will normally desire to stay close to you and see you as a form of security and protection against the “danger” on the outside.

You can now walk in circles, serpentines and in all directions, and it should follow you. This is also the time to let the rest of the company enter the pen slowly, moving around inside the pen while they continue to shake the bottles, moving closer all the time.

At this stage you should stand still in the middle of the pen, rubbing the horse all over its body, from the head to the hind quarters, over its back and croup, its ribs and belly, while the others keep on shaking the bottles more softly and walking around the horse. Pay lots of attention to carefully rubbing its most sensitive parts (and its most valuable): the eyes and ears. 

You have now bonded. The horse has selected you as leader and as its protection against the things it feared. It has also become accustomed to noise, and realizes

1. That noise will not hurt it, so it need not fear noise
2. That it can depend upon you when it feels insecured

 You can read the entire process from here up to where you put tack on, mount and hitch to a cart, and start riding or driving, in the complete horseman’s manual EASY HORSE.

Visit http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/ 

and order your copy on 

http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/order/                                                                                                                                                                    

     

WHY HORSES SHY AND HOW TO APPROACH THEM

One of the areas in which horses are most often misunderstood, is in the area of shying.

      There are four reasons why horses shy: ·     

    

• Some horses (some bloodlines) are more prone to shying than others – it is a case of breeding and inherent disposition.       

• Too little work and too much energy feed cause excessive playfulness. This is often desirable in certain show horse breeds. Otherwise more work is an obvious solution.·         

• Horses might shy deliberately to get the upper hand over the rider – a case of being spoilt.

• Genuine fear of an object, which might have been caused by an inexperienced trainer.

It should be borne in mind that any foreign object looks scary to a horse. Bear in mind that it is a horse’s natural instinct to flee from danger to protect itself. It always makes good horse sense to give a horse enough time to familiarize itself with anything of which it is frightened. Let the horse get assurance that it is not going to get hurt. Never put pressure on the horse when it is frightened, unless you are sure  that it is only trying to belittle you. This you should be should be very sure of, and inexperienced riders should be very hesitant to force the horse towards the object it fears, since it is more likely than not to aggravate the situation. It can cause permanent distrust between horse and trainer.

Confidence between horse and trainer should be established ON DAY 1. Once a horse has confidence in its trainer, progress is unbelievably fast. As soon as the horse accepts the trainer as his leader, it will “lean on the trainer” for protection and guidance. One gets to a stage where the horse trusts the trainer to the extent where it will almost accept everything the trainer wants to do with it.

This is not done in the way one would establish a relationship with a human. A horse responds to certain techniques and has its own language, which is totally different to that of man. There are various ways (definite techniques) which accomplish this trust. This, and a very broad spectrum on horsemanship, are explained in detail in the very practical manual EASY HORSE. View its contents on http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/contents/.

You can order this e-book online on http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/order/

UNDERSTANDING THE WAY A HORSE THINKS

To me one of the surest signs of a lack of understanding of equine psychology, or the way a horse thinks, is “He will do as I tell him“, a sure sign of arrogance, but not of horsemanship, unless it is said by a true professional, who knows why he says it, and what to do. It is amazing that this attitude will mostly be found among amateurs with little or no experience, and who normally ruin most of the horses they get involved with.

It is just logical that a young horse which comes in for the first time, will be suspicious of EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING is new and strange to him. Even being stabled is a foreign experience.

So what does the inexperienced horseman do?

Instead of realizing the fear and uncertainty of this young horse, they try to overpower him, thereby causing more doubt and uncertainty. They (stupidly) expect him to accept and to familiarize himself with anything new within seconds. ANYTHING is a threat to this young horse. EVERYTHING is unfamiliar. He doesn’t know WHATEVER to expect from even the most common things. It is almost unthinkable that so many people will try to overcome this problem by trying to dominate the horse, instead of giving it time to investigate the object unfamiliar to him. Does he know what a harness, a saddle, a curry comb, a towel, a bridle, is, or, more importantly, what (harm) it can do to him? Can we expect him to know that we intend no harm? What goes on in his mind? In his natural state he has to either flee or defend himself against danger. To him these things are as scary as a ghost to us at midnight. Common sense - but is sense always so common?

So what does the ignorant, inexperienced (sometimes after involvement with horses for most of their lives, still “ignorant“), arrogant horseman do when the horse shies or gets uncomfortable? Shouting, even as bad as beating, even kicking. Such people are too stupid to realize that the horse is trying to defend himself against a danger which, in HIS mind, might injure or even kill him. So they prove his fears well grounded!!! And cause PERMANENT doubt and mistrust. It is about as sensible as, when a small boy has difficulty carrying a packet of flour, to add a packet of sugar to his load, instead of making the load lighter. Just as stupid!!!!

Someone once said: “All horses are horses; all men are not horsemen“. How true!!!!

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, CLICK HERE

EQUINE PSYCHOLOGY - BASIC COMMON SENSE

SOME POINTS ON EQUINE PSYCHOLOGY

The first and most important point to bear in mind in horse training, is TO TEACH THE HORSE THAT HE CAN TRUST YOU AT ALL TIMES. IF HE LEARNS THAT THE FIRST DAY , YOU’VE LAID A FOUNDATION WHICH WILL BE PRICELESS FOR THE REST OF THAT HORSE’S LIFE. THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IS THE FIRST. THEN HE EITHER LEARNS TO:

A. TRUST , or

B. DISTRUST, or

C. HATE YOU.

I therefore want to EMPHASIZE that it is mostly not something I have figured out because of my savvy or horse sense, but which I have had the privilege to learn from smart horsemen whom God brought over my path over a period of more than forty years, and mostly, because of what He has revealed to me by grace.

I’ve read quite a few books on Natural Horsemanship, and watched quite a few DVD’s, but the problem with many of these is that they show you the end product and result, but NOT the step-by-step way of getting there from Day 1. In this book I endeavour to guide you step-by-step, from the day the foal / young horse is brought in from the veld, the individual which has never been handled before, till completion of the process of bonding. For the purpose of this course explained in the training manual, EASY HORSE, we also assume that the horse is of the spirited type. Many horses will allow you to proceed much faster, BUT I WANT TO HELP YOU, THE NOVICE, THE AMATEUR, TO BE ABLE TO BOND WITH ANY TYPE OF HORSE. It normally took Bulletjie (my beloved son and one of the most gifted horsemen I’ve known) twenty to thirty minute to sit in the saddle of horses which have never been handled before. However, don’t expect to do this from the start. Bulletjie has a lot of experience at this type of bonding. Won’t you feel good if you can do that?

To me one of the surest signs of a lack of understanding of equine psychology, or the way a horse thinks, is “He will do as I tell him“, a sure sign of arrogance, but not of horsemanship, unless it is said by a true professional, who knows why he says it, and what to do. It is amazing that this attitude will mostly be found among amateurs with little or no experience, and who normally ruin most of the horses they get involved with.

It is just logical that a young horse which comes in for the first time, will be suspicious of EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING is new and strange to him. Even being stabled is a foreign experience.

So what does the inexperienced horseman do?

Watch this blog for the continuation of this discussion, or if you would like to learn much more immediately, visit http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/ to order a complete course on horsemanship which will enable you to do with horses what you never dreamed you were capable of.

We recommend visiting and “Like” our Facebook page to get regular updates and newsfeed 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Easy-Horse/114294241995983?sk=wall 

LEXINGTON JUNIOR LEAGUE HORSE SHOW 11 TO 16 JULY 2011 VIDEO

View Lexington Junior League Horse Show 11 - 16 July 2011 Video http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/articles/

PART 1 OF ACUPUNCTURE IN HORSES

ACUPUNCTURE IN AMERICAN SADDLEBRED HORSES
by
Dr Jan Still

Acupuncture is a therapeutic method originating in Eastern-Asian countries. It has been practiced both in China and, increasingly so, also in many European countries and Northern and South America. Acupuncture is highly effective in alleviating pain and certain other medical conditions in man and animals.

According to traditional theories, acupuncture alleviates pain and cures disease by harmonising the flow energy Qi in the body. Modern scientific research has confirmed that acupuncture operates via selective stimulation of the nervous system. A variety of chemicals such as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators are released in various parts of the nervous system in response to acupuncture stimulation. These and other physiological changes induced by acupuncture then assist in pain-relief and other forms of healing.

INDICATIONS FOR THE USE OF ACUPUNCTURE IN HORSES
So-called soft tissue injuries characterised by pain, stiffness, muscle spasm or wastage, altered movement or lameness are the main indication for the use of acupuncture in horses. Acupuncture has been used successfully in managing various riding problems, in which horses resist (and often just cannot) carry out certain tasks because of the underlying pain and discomfort. The major indications for acupuncture in sport horses, including American Saddlebreds, are:

SORE NECK
Manifested by loss of flexibility and resistance to bend sideways; high or low carriage of the neck; tripping of front limbs etc. In American Saddlebreds in particular, neck muscles are often tender and in spasm, causing numerous performance-related problems.

SORE BACK
This is a very common yet not always timely recognised condition. Sore back can be a major cause of discomfort to the horse and a reason for numerous riding problems. General loss of mobility; change of temperament; tail swishing; uncontrollable running away; bucking; or rearing and many other signs can indicate pain in the back region. Low back area in particular is under stress in American Saddlebred horses. This condition can be associated in particular with reduced propulsion from behind, as well as with generalised lack of suppleness.

INCORRECT LIMB MOVEMENT AND LAMENESS

Acupuncture treatment is efficacious in managing soft tissue injuries located in the shoulder, elbow, hip and stifle areas. These injuries can be a cause of uni- or bi-lateral limb stiffness, shortened stride, “choppy” or uneven gait, or lameness.

Because of the breed-related nature of the movement and methods of training, muscle strain and other types of injuries in the low neck and shoulder are common in American Saddlebreds. Other frequently encountered problems are stiffness in the upper neck and hamstring muscles on the back of the hind limbs. Strained muscles or ligaments, or irritated (‘pinched”) nerves are diagnosed and treated effectively with acupuncture in these situations.

GENERALIZED BODY PAIN AND STIFFNESS
Some horses showing poor performance or difficult behaviour are subsequently diagnosed with generalized muscle pain and spasm. This distressing condition can develop as a result of excessive body strain associated with training, competitions, or as a consequence of accidents. There seems to be a constitutional predisposition for the condition in particular horses.

SOFT OR HARD MOUTH
Some horses develop extreme sensitivity in particular nerves of the head. The sharp pain can cause a range of riding problems such as excessive sensitivity on the bit, bridle lameness, head throwing or shaking, as well as resistance when turning the horse to a particular side.

SENSITIVE CHEST
The condition is manifested by excessive sensitivity of the horse when the girth is tightened. Often, the affected horses tend to run uncontrollably away or refuse to go forwards.

As a rule, whenever a horse starts to refuse to carry out his usual tasks in training or in competition, or when he behaves in an unusual/distressed way, an underlying pain within the musculoskeletal apparatus should be suspected. It is crucial for the horse’s well-being, as well as for the rider’s safety to properly manage the underlying causes of pain. Successful pain management, whether using acupuncture or other veterinary methods, can be highly rewarding in terms of the horse’s improved performance. More details about these and other issues can be found on my website www.animal-acupuncture.co.za

Visit our site for information on easy, practical, gentle and effective training methods which even beginners and novices can apply with ease. http://www.greenhorsetrainingbook.org/home/

Join us on Facebook. "Like" us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Easy-Horse/114294241995983 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Easy-Horse/114294241995983and get regular updates on horsemanship




WATCH FOR OUR NEXT BLOG POST FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE. 

WHAT THE GREENHORSETRAININGBOOK IS ALL ABOUT

EASY HORSE

THE GREENHORSE TRAINING BOOK

PERHAPS THE MOST PRACTICAL, EASIEST , FASTEST , MOST GENTLE HORSE TRAINING BOOK EVER WRITTEN, AND ARGUABLY THE MOST GENTLE, BUT EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE, BOOK ON HORSEMANSHIP LESSONS  AVAILABLE.

THIS E-BOOK IS NOT ABOUT "HORSE BREAKING", BUT ABOUT "HORSEMANSHIP LESSONS" OR "HORSE SCHOOLS", ADDING VERY VALUABLE RIDING LESSONS.

Unlike most books on horse training, this e-book explains in step by baby step detail, yet in the most simplistic way, every step from the first moment the green, wild young horse, which has never seen a human, is approached, right up to where you ride and drive a well mannered, confident, reliable horse, which you and your family can really enjoy.

These horse training methods require almost no skill, gift or exceptional talent. You don’t need years of experience training horses. No need to be an experienced horse trainer. Beginners and novices can apply these easy, but extremely effective, practical natural horsemanship lessons and riding lessons.

This is one of very few horse training books which describes natural horsemanship methods so easy and simple that novices and beginners (this is truly a book on horse riding for beginners) can successfully apply them. Within an hour YOU, the novice, will know how to let a young, green horse follow you calmly and confidently after twenty to forty minutes.

It is especially ideal for “groom trainers” – perhaps the only way most of them will not ruin a promising young horse.

Perhaps the greatest value of this course is as a manual for riding schools. Courses offered on the internet are extremely expensive, and additional CD’s and DVD’s need to be acquired to make it complete. This course is complete: no additional CD’s, DVD’s or equipment are required. In addition it covers many other aspects of horsemanship, such as equine dentistry, acupuncture and other subjects which are in the process of being worked on and which will be added continuously. This makes this very cheap course the easiest, fastest and most complete way novices and beginners will get background knowledge on horsemanship anywhere. It is designed around simplicity, efficiency and completeness, at a price any horseriding child can afford.

These techniques are equally practical for farmers who use ranch horses on cattle and sheep ranches. The simplicity of this course makes it practical for any purpose.

The advantages of EASY HORSE are numerous:

1.      It works equally well on any type and breed.

2.      Probably the fastest way of training a horse.

3.      Probably the easiest way of training horses ever described. Horsemanship lessons you can understand

4.      Probably the most gentle of all horse training methods - horse schools. not horse breaking.

5.      It gives you insight on the way a horse thinks – a course in equine psychology.

6.      The end result is a well mannered, reliable horse which the whole family can enjoy.

7.     A discussion forum where you can discuss the horsemanship lessons and horse problems you experience.

8.    24 / 7 consultation on horse lessons.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE:

1. How to bond with a wild horse within twenty to forty minutes.

2. How to mount a horse for the first time without any bucking - and enjoy the ride !!

3. How to prepare a horse for hitching so it will walk off like an old harness horse.

4. How to treat a horse which shies.

5. How to  get a  responsive mouth and a horse which is light in the bridle.

6. How to take the fight out of a horse, and how to calm a nervous horse down.

7. How to develop balance in the saddle within a week with a few easy exercises.

8. How to treat a head shy horse.

9. Riding lessons which will help you develop balance in the saddle within a week.

DO IT YOURSELF THE EASY, FAST, GENTLE AND MOST PRACTICAL WAY.

SOLVE YOUR HORSE TRAINING PROBLEMS FOR EVER.