Don’t Desensitize your Horse!

Howdy Friends,
 

We’ve all seen it, owners, trainers or friends working in round pens or rings, with a worried, sometimes terrified horse, waving a bag, a towel or some other object at the horse to “Desensitize the horse.” I understand some reading this think I’ve described an exaggerated scene, others will think it’s got to be done, and still others think they would never do that. I’m in that last camp—I would never do that or anything close. Nor could I recommend it.

“But they need to be taught a bag can’t hurt them,” some say. Or a pile of other explanations why “desensitization” is an important part of “training.” Training, another word I’m not real fond of. I don’t want to be “trained,” or “desensitized.” Do you? I’d rather be educated, or coached. Semantics, you think? No. Words should mean things, and they do. Take just a second here and truly ponder the difference you feel when you think, “train” ... or “educate.” They make you feel different inside don’t they?

So how do you help a horse understand flying bags and blankets, falling branches, loud noises and a mountain of other scary things won’t harm her? Easy. Education and confidence building. When a horse has confidence not much will frighten her. When she’s confident in herself, and her person, the scary things are simply, things—not life threatening monsters.

Confidence building is a long term strategy, and we can make it happen by being confident ourselves, and consistent in our manners, actions and support. Yes it takes longer than a weekend clinic on desensitization—which will surely get a horse less worried about the bag, flag, bucket or bang the weekend was designed to make unscary ... But in most cases it will not build confidence. What it most often builds is a worried compliance. I must point out that many horses are skilled in hiding their worry with compliance. But worry and fear can resurface in the blink of an eye, in a most dangerous way, when the next “scary thing” that had not been used to desensitize, suddenly appears out of nowhere. The weak link is the lack of confidence building.

It is totally impossible to desensitize a horse to every scary or worrisome object a horse and rider might ever encounter. And that is the flaw. And it is a big flaw, for when the desensitized horse has an incident after training, and the rider momentarily gets scared themselves and disciplines the horse for what is a natural reaction, the bond between horse and human suffers a strain, a little damage. That’s not a good thing. Not for the person, not for the horse.

Building self confidence within the horse is the answer. Conducting one’s self in a manner steeped in confidence, support and I might say mentorship, builds confidence in the horse.

Take time to understand the horse, as much time as she needs. When riding, doing groundwork, playing games, never push beyond what the horse is comfortable, confident with. Ever. In everything you do make sure the horse is ready to go to the next level. Revisit often things she has mastered, and enjoys doing. This will create layers, upon layers of confidence. Those layers of confidence will build a suit of armor ever present for any scary, unexpected or surprising thing that suddenly appears. And she’ll handle all the never-before-seens with inner strength of self-confidence—not suppressed fear.

Don’t desensitize your horse ... Empower her!

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

 To have a look at my latest book, "It's For The Horses, An advocate's musings about their needs, gifts, spirit and care," CLICK HERE.

"Practices For A Healthy, Happy Horse - Just My Thoughts"

Practices For A Healthy, Happy Horse

Howdy Friends,

These practices are offered as my point of view, as a horse lover, advocate and admirer. Not a clinician, veterinarian, or specialist of any kind.

Kessy, Miss Kitty and Saturday together at one of  Kessy's slow hay feed nets. They stroll the paddock paradise known as "Kessy's Wood" together.

Horses will get along, as many of them prove over and over again, with less than ideal conditions and treatment, but that does not mean they are happy, healthy or thriving. In my opinion we owe it to our horses to provide for them with as natural a lifestyle as we can possibly provide. Each of us as owners or caregivers have limitations placed on us by such things as economics, lifestyle, jobs, property, riding disciplines, and more. Our efforts must be to do the best we can within our own circumstances for the physical and mental health of our horses.

Basically we could sum up a lot of the healthy, happy needs for our horses in one sentence. "No shoes, no stalls, no grain, limited grass, and seeing everything from the horse's point of view." That's pretty much my focus; to me those are the most important things to the secret of a happy, healthy horse.

No shoes. Friends who've been following me here on our Coffee Clutch, or on facebook, already know I'm adamant that all horses can go barefoot – and will be healthier for it. All the arguments against it, to me, fall short, and lay in the camp of seeing it from the human's perspectives, not the horses. Of course a few things must be done differently, and that may take more effort than some are willing to devote. See Why Barefoot?

No stalls. This includes no stalls with small paddocks or pastures. The only time a horse should be confined to a stall is illness, traveling (shows, performances, etc) or other special short time circumstances.  Even if space to roam is an issue, the Paddock Paradise or track system can turn an unhealthy half-acre paddock, or unwholesome 2 or 5 acre toxic lush grass pasture into a playground for health and contentment. This only takes a little effort to set up, and then it's there forever, and can be constructed anywhere, even with limited funds. See Paddock Paradise.

No grain. That's it, simple. Horses are designed to be forage eaters. Grain, and today's high potency grasses, do bad things to the insides, and the attitudes, of a horse. Again they can deal with it, but it will eventually take its toll. Don't you think it's odd the epidemic of ulcers? Slow hay feed nets positioned at several locations offering low sugar hay around the clock, will promote movement, health and clear headedness conducive to solid relationships, health and happiness .

Limited grass. We've touched on this, but the normal pastures filled with lush grass, or patches of grass mixed in weeds are as toxic to horses as fast food and overstuffed couches in front of televisions are to humans. Again, make it your mission to have horses under your care thriving in a track system. Horses, even in big pastures with other horses, move about 5 miles a day, or less. Horses in the wild move 20 and more miles a day ... Horses benefiting from a track system mimic the movement of wild horses. Health benefits are seen within weeks of making the change.

Seeing things from the horse's perspective. Housing, feeding, riding, training, everything ... the horse must come first.When that drives every thought and action of a horse owner or caregiver things take a paradigm shift toward a healthy happy horse. When that shift occurs, everything becomes easier, no matter the discipline the horse and human play in. I see having a horse as a part of my life as a privilege, and every horse I've ever known has given freely to me their friendship, time, energy, willingness and spirit ... I feel I owe them nothing less.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry