Once again someone has finally researched something I've had a strong opinion about for years.

When I was young, riding dressage and working for one of the U.S. World Cup riders I saw horses in nosebands fastened incredibly tight.  How tight?  So tight that a very dense foam pad was added to keep the noseband from making a permanent indentation in the horse's face, and, I was told, so that it could actually be pulled tighter.  I wondered what could possibly be beneficial about this for the horse, and whether the horse could still think and respond with that much pressure on his head.

Now someone has come up with a way to that measure pressure and damage.  Although they are just beginning their studies, the results are fascinating.  See for yourself http://www.thehorse.com/articles/32369/researchers-measure-horses-noseband-pressure .  

After reading,  I was delighted to see that at last there is scientific support for the theory that a tight noseband is actually damaging.  (Something that anyone with any common sense who can apply the concept that horses are thinking, feeling beings would instantly conclude if they thought about applying a similar type of device and pressure to their own head and trying to do anything active.)

The thing about the study and the current state of horsemanship that is disturbing is that such a large percentage of the riders studied were applying the noseband tighter than what is comfortable and functional for the horse. Where is the disconnect from the horse's comfort? How can intelligent riders ignore such an obvious and simple action which is causing horses pain and disfigurement?  And for what reward? These are questions we should all ask ourselves the next time we bridle up our horse.

When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter

Once in a while I read something that makes me think " I wish I'd said that.  This article in the University of Guelph's blog is one such thing.

 In Texas, we often complain about the heat and devise lots of strategies to help us cope with it.  We feel that we are being tortured and that we are "about to die".  If we all understood just how much more intense it is for the horses, we may make our strategies include horse  training schedules and horse care practices which make life much better for the horses and improve performance.

Prof. Lindinger outlines several such strategies in this article. These strategies can help your horse cope with hot weather, prevent heat stroke and possibly anhidrosis, and maybe even save his life.

When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter

Prof says horses feel summer heat 10 times faster than people

BY TERESA PITMAN
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010

Prof. Michael Lindinger compares heat stress in humans and horses.

A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat?

It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress.

Prof. Michael Lindinger, an animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph, explains: “It only takes 17 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in hot, humid weather to raise a horse’s temperature to dangerous levels. That’s three to 10 times faster than in humans. Horses feel the heat much worse than we do.”

And the effects can be serious. If a horse’s body temperature shoots up from the normal 37 to 38 C to 41 C, temperatures within working muscles may be as high as 43 C, a temperature at which proteins in muscle begin to denature (cook). Horses suffering excessive heat stress may experience hypotension, colic and renal failure.

Lindinger, a faculty member in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, became interested in the effects of heat on horses when he was a lead researcher on the Canadian research team that contributed information on the response of the horse to heat and humidity for the Atlanta Summer Olympics. He recently presented a workshop on the topic at Equine Guelph’s outdoor Equine Expo held June 4 at U of G’s Arkell Research Station.

Horses are more susceptible to heat for several reasons, explains Lindinger. First, they are larger and have a higher percentage of active muscle than people do during exercise. When muscles are being used, they produce a lot of heat.

Horses also rely to a significant extent on sweating to cool them off. They can sweat 15 to 20 litres per hour in cool, dry conditions and up to 30 litres per hour in hot, humid conditions, but only 25 to 30 per cent of the sweat produced is effective in cooling the horse by evaporation.

“Because so much more sweat is produced than can be evaporated, the rest just drips off the horse’s body,” says Lindinger. “By comparison, up to 50 per cent of the sweat people produce is evaporated from our bodies during exercise and helps to cool us.”

The salts in horse sweat are also four times as concentrated as in human sweat. Lindinger refers to a photograph of an area where endurance horses had been standing while their sweaty bodies were repeatedly scraped and cooled with water. As the liquids evaporated from the ground, the soil surface was left white because of the salt in the horses’ sweat.

“Those salts have to be replaced,” he adds. “Just giving the horse water will not rehydrate a dehydrated horse. When horses drink plain water, it dilutes their body fluids, and their bodies respond by trying to get rid of more water and more electrolytes.”

Horses also pant to dissipate heat, but Lindinger says this is only effective if the air is at least five degrees cooler than the horse’s body temperature.

His tips for protecting horses from the harmful effects of summer heat begin with teaching your horse to drink an electrolyte solution ― water with the right proportion of salts dissolved in it to replace sweat losses. “Start with a small amount in the water, allowing the horse to get used to the taste, and gradually increase it over days and weeks until you have reached the manufacturer’s recommendation.” Keeping your horse properly hydrated is the most important step in protecting it against the harmful effects of heat, he says.

When Less Is More

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a new horse who really wants connection, but is terrified. Her owner is a sometime student and her most pressing complaint is that catching her horse is usually a twenty minute exercise in frustration. The horse immediately starts walking away when my student L, enters the paddock and continues avoiding L as long as possible. There is a shelter centered in the back of the paddock and the “catching” sequence usually involves several chases circling around the shelter like an old slapstick movie.

This horse is a rescue horse with a history of cruel training in her first training experience. She is quite sensitive and reactive, has strong opinions and can be resistant. She is also quite smart and really wants to be friendly, but is afraid.

When L and I first approached the mare's paddock I noticed she was very tense, out of balance, and high headed. The minute we entered the paddock she turned around and walked away. Wanting to create a new experience for her, I asked L to leave and let me meet her by myself. L agreed, and I followed the mare. Along the way I stopped and talked to the horses along either side of her fence. As we traveled toward the back of the paddock, I watched for her invitation to approach and moved toward her only when invited. At the back of the paddock I herded her quietly and calmly for a couple minutes, always watching for her invitation. Soon, she allowed me to approach, and I touched her with the back of my hand. I spent about 10 minutes doing gentle bodywork with the back of my hand and gradually her head lowered, she started breathing again, and she let me touch most of her body. Then I thanked her, invited her to follow, and slowly walked away.

Gradually she turned and followed at a distance. When I reunited with L she was pleasantly surprised to see that her constantly high headed horse was now standing near the front of the paddock, looking at us

with a lowered head and neck, and a curious expression. This was a first in the years that L has owned the mare.

This is a case where less is more. In every choice that I made in this interaction, I chose the least that I could do and still advance towards trust and connection. Stopping to pay attention to the other horses, only approaching when invited, and stopping when the mare began to think about moving away, beginning to touch in the neutral area of the body and with the back of the hand, stopping after just a few minutes, rather than continuing as long as possible – all choices of less instead of more.

Horses are creature of subtlety. When we see them taking big actions in response to us, they already have been “whispering” and “talking” to us, and we, the dull creatures, have not noticed so now they are shouting. When horses are on high alert, the smallest movement or sound can send them in to dramatic reaction. If we claim to be the leader of our herd, (which is what we do when we domesticate horses) then they need us to be calm for ourselves and for them. That means subtle, soothing, non- threatening interation. If we can provide this “less” kind of communication then we get more. More communication, more trust, more connection.

This is the kind of “training” that produces horses who are big hearted, trusting, and willing to fulfill your requests. Of course there are many factors which contribute to a horse's behavior and performance, and all can be learned. You can create the environment, health, training and bonding process which brings out the best in your horse, and get what we crave in our horse/human relationship – balance, connection and harmony.

Bridle Less Riding Clinics: Sunday April 28 and May 5. IN a series of two half day clinics Penny will teach you how to ride   your horse bridle less..  The first clinic will teach the steps to prepare you and your horse for the unique experience,  the second will give you a chance to practice in an arena with experienced supervision.  This  method uses a lariat neck ring to free you and your horse from the effects and restraints of the bridle.  Bridle less riding can help horses who are heavy on the forehand,  high headed, or constantly playing with the bit lighten up, be calmer and more responsive.  The sensation of riding bridleless is free and blissful. Auditors are welcome at $10 for the morning. If you wish to bring a horse and participate call Penny at 512-917-1866 or email  wholehorsewoman@yahoo.com. Cost will be $65.00 per day. 

Trail Riding Problems Solved

After a few months off to Explore, Expand and Evolve, with a little help from my friends, I'm filled with new energy and purpose. I've got a new website in the works and new courses will soon be online to improve Health, Connection and Performance. My new website will be featuring articles, videos, answers to questions posed by students, and online courses. You'll also be able to purchase my original book “Uncommonly Good Horse Sense”, as you still can at my current website www.wholehorsemanship.com

Here is a recent question and the answer: At hour three into our relaxing weekend ride, my mare caught a whiff of wild pig, added that to hearing unseen voices, and looked into the distance at moving vehicles. Her head went high, she started circling, did not listen to her rider, took her own leadership. The situation became a trail ride challenge. What would you do as a rider here?

This is a question that deserves a detailed and thorough answer. The answer depends on whether or not the rider has had any past TTEAM training. If so here is what I would recommend. (If not, attend the upcoming TTEAM Tools for Riding and the TTOOL Trail Challenge workshops). Also see my article “The Full Bucket Theory” at this blog.

First and foremost is safety for horse and rider. If you can't get your horse's focus and cooperation back while on her back, get off. This is not a battle of wills which you have to win, or a chance to “show her who is boss”. Your horse is genuinely frightened, and trying to coerce her into cooperation is likely to escalate her behavior if she doesn't believe that you can provide safety.

It is imperative to get her to focus on you and lower her head. High headed is high strung, and until you can get her head lowered and her focus on you, she is just a “head spinnning through space” with no connection to what her body is doing. Acknowledge that your horse is trying to alert you to danger. If you can see and hear what is causing her anxiety, name it. Thank her, ( she is trying to protect the herd) and tell her you've heard and “you can keep her safe.”

Both of the following strategies will help you lower your horse's head and return her focus and leadership to you.

Start by holding one rein of the bridle close to the bit and stroking your horse from head to toes in long slow strokes using a TTEAM wand or similar 40” dressage whip. (This length keeps you out of harms way while allowing you to reach all parts of your horse). By working in this way you can stay at the horse's head and calm her with the wand strokes.

If your horse is too anxious to stand still for wand stroking, pick out something along the trail to use as an obstacle – trees, bushes, big rocks, - anything that you and your horse can safely walk around. Using the wand to stop, start and turn your horse, and keep her in her own space, weave carefully around your obstacles with lots of starts and stops. Try to do a bit of wand stroking each time you stop. If your companion's horse's are calm, have them stand around and watch while this is going on. Their calm presence will help your mare calm down.

When your mare can keep her head and neck down and relaxed and she is stopping, starting and turning by following your lead with the wand, try having her stand quietly for a couple of minutes while you stroke with the wand. When she can do all of this you are ready to remount.

If possible have one of your companions hold the side cheek of the bridle, and stroke from her throatlatch down the front of her chest and front legs to the ground with the wand while you mount. Once back in the saddle, you can continue stroking you mare with the wand by lying it across her back just behind the saddle, then stroking as far down the hind leg as possible. Do each side of the horse. You can also use neck jiggles, modified inch worm and TT circles on the neck and shoulders to relax and refocus her while you are riding.

All of this could change the horse's attitude and behavior in 5 minutes, but it may take longer. Take however long it takes. It is time well spent, as each time you provide safety and soothing you are expanding your mare's trust, confidence in you, and self confidence so that fewer and fewer things will be able to upset her and throw her out of balance. When they do, she'll look to you for leadership.

Some other tools from the TTEAM system that would help in this situation would be:

Wraps. If the horse is accustomed to wraps in the arena you can wrap a horse like this before you go out on the trail. The wraps give the horse a sense of being in their body, their boundaries, and safety. As the horse gains self confidence and confidence in you, you could take the wraps along on trail rides, “just in case”.

Balance Rein. This helps the horse telescope the neck and stretch the back – postures of balance and relaxation. It also helps the rider keep their balance, and gives them another tool to stop the horse instead of trying to do it all with the reins and bit. It can easily be tied to the saddle so that it will not slide down the horse's neck and will be there when you need it.

The most effective leadership is chosen, not coerced. Using these tools to become a source of soothing, safety and balance will refocus and relax your horse, defining you as a desirable leader. If applied with perfect presence and authority, you'll be creating leadership that your horse WANTS to follow.

NEW WORKSHOPS FOR RIDERS  

TTEAM TOOLS FOR RIDING  SAT APRIL 6, 2013  10 AM TO 1 pm

Many  people who attend TTEAM workshops or read the books or videos never get to the riding part, but TTEAM has many great tools to make your riding safer, more connected and more fun. In this workshop we'll explore some of these tools, in prerparation for going out on the trail.  First will be a demonstration of the tools,  followed by time for you to try them out on your own horse. Sign up now, attendance is very limited.  Call Sheila  512-293-4297 or Penny 512-917-1866                  

TRAIL TTOOLS CHALLENGE  SAT MAY 4, 2013  10 AM TO 1 PM

Using the tools we worked with in the April workshop,  we'll head out on the trail.  We'll be working with a variety of obstacles, both man made and natural on a beautiful ranch near Dripping Springs, TX. Attending the April TTEAM TOOLS or other TTEAM workshop previous to this is required.  Call Sheila 512-293-4297  or Penny 512-917-1866.

Longeing, the Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Longeing, 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Longeing has become a dirty word in the new "Natural Horsemanship" world, where "join up" through "round penning" is now in vogue.  For many years I and numerous other trainers have used the round pen and  done "round penning" but called it "free longeing" .  This practice, whichever name you give it,  is just a small sliver of what is possible with longeing.

In free longeing things like leadership,  voice commands, and body language can be taught, and horses who are kept in pens can get some much needed exercise. However, horses can and usually do, go around out of balance, bent  to the outside,  heavy on the forehand, high headed,  dragging their hind end,  dropped back and many other issues. Until some equipment is added, and used with skill and compassion,  these postures and balance challenges cannot be addressed, except with a rider on the horse;'s back.   For all except the really skilled rider, recognizing and correcting these issues from the horse's back is difficult if not impossible.  Learning to see and correct poor balance,  which appears as disobedience, stiffness or heaviness in riding can more easily be done by a person on the ground. 

Out of balance, dropped back, dragging hind end

 When the use of a longe line attached to the bridle or a longeing cavesson,  possibly side reins, and a longeing surcingle is is added and used correctly,  so much more can be done to teach those things mentioned above, and balance, understanding of rein cues, engagement of the  back and hind end,  great body language and voice cues for humans,  understanding of horse body language,  softening of rein aids,  improved flexibility in horses, and the list goes on and on.  That would be Good, yes?

The good

Neither longeing or free longeing should be done for more than 20 minutes at a time.  Longeing is inherently demanding on the shoulders and the joints of the hind legs.  Longeing for longer periods of time, or longeing every day can contribute to discomfort and degeneration. Nor should the horse be longed in a pen that is too small for it. The minimum size of a longeing circle should be 40 to 50 feet for a small horse and 60 to 70 feet for a large horse.  Any thing smaller than that puts added strain on the horse's body.  If your horse is very advanced in Dressage and has learned to carry their weight on the hind and  is conditioned and strong through out his body  longeing a larger horse on a smaller circle could be useful for practicing the beginnings of voltes or  pirouettes without the added weight and strain of the rider  But using a small round pen and longeing endlessly, or pointlessly; that would be Ugly.

 Using side reins without knowlege or understanding of their biomechanical effect on the horse can be downright cruel. Using a longe line that is heavy on a bridle or cavesson or using heavy hands is at worst unkind, and at best not useful to the horse's understanding and development.   That would be Bad.  Learning the uses of various types of side reins, how to use a longe line to help the horse to bend and to teach the horse to give to the bit,  how to use your whip as an aid improve pushing power ; all these and more can be taught to the young horse or the horse who needs training without the distraction of the rider.  Learning to longe correctly, kindly, compassionately, and knowledgeably can open a whole new world and provide exercise, connection, and training advancement to the horse and rider. 

The bad, the very bad.

I encourage you to learn about  good longeing.  It is another  step towards refinement and and mastery. Watch for the upcoming online course on Longeing at www.wholehorsemanship.com. With lots of audio and video  in addition to written descriptions of good longeing practice,  you can learn to use this safe and effective training methodology from your own computer.  You can watch and then go do as many times as needed.  See your horse get softer, easier, happier, more flexible and more fun to ride as you longe.  

What's Love Got to Do with It?

Life on the Barn Side

What's Love Got to do With It?

Report from Horse Shows by the Bay

Watching all the work, support staff, owners, riders, trainers, horse show staff, amazing facilities, and money spent on all this, the question comes to mind “What's love got to do with it?” Nearly everyone who works with horses, either professionally or as a hobby does so because they love horses. When we get to a high level of competition that pure feeling can get lost or forgotten. I found this to be an interesting phenomenon, so I did a brief survey.

I asked a variety of owners, riders and trainers “What percentage of your horse's perfomance is talent, what is training, and what is love and affection? The answers varied widely, as did the definition of what love and affection is.

Paige and her Hunter Pony

The youngest person I asked, 11 years old, who has been with her pony for 6 years, said, without any trace of doubt. “Oh, it is 90% love and 10 % training! I love my pony and she loves me. I can even ride her backwards, bareback and at the canter!” At the other end of the spectrum, was an amatuer adult who said “We love our horses here. We don't make them go out when they are injured.”

One of the teen riders I polled

                                                                                     

One older rider rated it at Talent at 75%,

Training at 10% and Love and Affection at 15%. The teen riders agreed that it was Talent 50%, Love and Affection 25%, Training 25%.

 A couple of sucessful adult riders including Katie Lambert Boone, said 33%, 33% and 33%. All the adult riders wanted to make it clear that all are necessary. But consistently, Talent was voted most important, with Love and Affection equal to or more important than Training.

Gretchen

Gretchen, stable manager at one of the large stables lumped Training, Love and Affection all together. Her opinion was that only 2% would make it in competition without Love and Affection.

Luksor, a bit of a clown, loves people

                                       

A great illustration of this was Kara Andrew's horse 

Luksor. Kara was able to get him at an affordable price

 because he wouldn't jump water. Her training 

consisted of taking him to the water and “loving on him

 and reassuring him” until the day when she took him to

 the water jump and he said “Oh, you want me to jump 

this?” Now he'll do anything for her. 

Kara and the two young show vets

Kara's opinion is that Talent and Training are 50%  and Love and Affection

 are 50%. It was notable that all the horses in Kara's stable were very happy and relaxed and people friendly.

An unusual sight at big horse shows. Several horses in Kara's stable were napping, and those that weren't were at the front of their stalls looking for attention.

So after my brief survey it occurs to me that the thing that makes up a large percentage of a horse's chance for success is the thing that costs nothing. That all the other things we do and buy contribute less than the Love and Affection that we give, and in return we get all that they have to give. That's what love's got to do with it.

Elder Riders Competing in Dressage

Life on the Barn Side

Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage Competition

Elder Riders in Dressage

One of the trends in the US today is an aging population.  As the boomers age, they want to stay active and many even take up a new sport.  There were many elder riders at Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage.

Ingrid's groom braids her horse

The elder rider:   She is fulfilling her dreams and trying to stay on and ace the test, but that is just what happens in the show ring. On the barn side, she spends time in lessons, watching her trainer ride her horse, grooming, dressing and redressing, learning those tests, more grooming, having her horse braided, unbraided and rebraided. Trying to understand her horse, trying to keep her own anxiety level down and listening to other riders for clues about how to make it all happen just right.

Ingrid and her horse

Ingrid is a good representative of many of today's elder Dressage riders. At 69 and ½ years, she was one of the oldest riders at the show, but many riders were in their 50s and the average age of Dressage competitors is now 42 years old. She adores her sensitive and reactive Arabian mare, and respects her anxious personality. They are somewhat alike.

Trainer, groom and Ingrid,ready for warm up
at Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage

Ingrid has had many injuries. Some were horse induced, and some were from other sports and thrills she has had in her life. She's decided that one more time off and she is finished with riding, so she has high hopes and a bit of trepidation with each ride. But she's determined to show and reach her goals, so there she goes for one more class.

in the  dressage ring

Thumbs up! She reached her goal.

In this show she met her goals. First of all

she had fun, second she didn't fall off, and third she got through her test successfully without any major screwups. You can seethe joy and pride in her eyes.

Women are tough. They have their share of injuries but they stick in there. I guess it is a trade off, as riding helps keep hips moving, improves core strength, and keeps us on track with staying in shape. Dressage is a sport you can do your entire life.

Well deserved break at the Dressage show

Job well done 

Good pony! Denise leaves the dressage ring after a good ride.

Another white haired elder, Denise, rides with a well know trainer, and was at theshow schooling a pony she hopes to sell later on. A more experienced horse woman, she exuded a calmer more confident vibe.  She and her husband were returning to the Traverse City area for the horse show after having had their honeymoon there 24 years ago. They love

 the show. He golfs while she spends the day working, 

riding and hanging out with other horse addicts at the 

show.  This year her daughter came along for one 

last show before going off to the Naval Academy.

Suzi and Sam

Suzi has been her daughter Susanna's greatest supporter.  They have been to every Horse Show's 

by the Bay with Sam, Susanna's 20 year old dressage horse.  This is Susanna and Sam's last year to show together and Suzi will take over showing Sam next year.  Suzi has passed the 60 year mark, but is ready to take on a new challenge.  Suzi said “ I see other older women riding and having fun, so why not me?”  Indeed, why not?