Horses Have A Pause Button

Howdy Folks,

Horses do have a pause button, and they'll push it themselves. Sure sometimes we push it for them, but however it gets pushed, it works. And they pause. Sometimes they pause a little, sometimes they pause a lot. Pausing is an important part of being a horse. Perhaps some people should get their own pause buttons, but that's a story for another day … Why are pause buttons good for horses? And how can we understand them?

So much is said about the "flight mode" of horses, frankly I think that's overstated, overworked, but that's just me. You bet that fight mode is imperative to the safety of horses' survival, but don't we all kind of get that? When confused, scared, or just unsure, in kicks the fight mode and off they go, or at least they try to, if we don't stop them. Pretty self explanatory.

But the pause button. Now there's an interesting, and far too often, misunderstood intricate part of the horse's make up. Often mistaken for stubbornness, refusal, laziness, uncooperativeness, attitude and a whole pile of equally negative and unkind thoughts and projections, the pause button is exactly the opposite. It is total cooperation, willingness and eagerness. How could I say that? You ask. – They are totally eager and willing to cooperate in helping us to understand communication.

A horse will push the pause button when they don't understand, need to make sense of a cue, a request or situation. That pause is their request for more time to process the situation. It is not a request for more and stronger cues. In fact, more and stronger cues at this time will most often turn the polite pause into something negative such as refusal, or misunderstanding. It is important to allow the pause button all the time it needs to do its job.

"But you must keep the pressure on," Some say. In my mind those who say that are very wrong. Remember the flight mode? Too much pressure invites the fight mode, even if they can't flee. That's a hair's breadth from "shut out" mode. I believe it is wrong to pressure a horse beyond its comfort zone. Rather we should keep the horse well within its comfort zone, a safe distance back from their limits, and grow from there. When your horse pushes her pause button, back off, give her time to process – then when she's ready, gently cue again.

Kessy's smiling eye

The remarkable thing about the pause button is, the more keenly tuned into it we become, the shorter the pauses become. And the fewer times your horse will push it. Go ahead, give it a try, allow you horse to teach you to honor the pause, you'll be amazed at the softness you'll both enjoy.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – FOSH President Teresa Bippen testifies in Congress on the - Prevent All Soring Techniques Act.

Howdy Folks,

 

Today we are honored to have the President of Friends Of Sound Horses (FOSH) drop by as a guest blogger to tell us all about her trip to Washington, D.C. to testify before a Congressional Subcommittee regarding the PAST (Prevent All Soring Techniques) Act. ... FOSH has been, and is on the forefront of the effort to stop the horrible practice of torturing Tennessee Walking Horses known a soring. This very important bill is gaining support in the halls of Congress but, if you can believe it, there are elected officials who oppose it. Please read Teresa's story and then share it, and contact all your legislators and tell them to enact the PAST Act (H.R. 1518, S. 1406). – Many horses are counting on us to end their pain and suffering ... We can do this, for the horses.  … Thanks ~ Dutch Henry

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Dear Friends,

On November 13, I was honored to testify about the PAST (Prevent All Soring Techniques) Act before the Congressional Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.  The PAST Act amends the federal Horse Protection Act (HPA 1970 and 1976) which was enacted to prevent the soring of Tennessee Walking Horses.  (Soring is the deliberate infliction of pain upon the front hooves and legs of a horse to create a highly animated gait in the show ring).   Despite being illegal for over 40 years, soring is still widespread in some show rings.

I was invited as President of Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH).  FOSH is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization that focuses on ending soring.  My contribution that day was to present the bleak picture of the current soring situation in the Tennessee Walking  Horse industry.  Luckily for me, FOSH has collected and analyzed data for many years that reinforced the urgency of this animal welfare issue.  With my testimony, I shared with the Subcommittee that soring is thriving and even more brutal than ever. 

 

Despite the industry’s claim that there are only a few bad apples, the Subcommittee was informed that the FOSH-produced Repeat Violators list, single-spaced, is 260+ pages in length—quite a bit more than a few bad apples.   They also learned that the industry’s claim that self-regulation works was totally false—when the USDA oversees inspections of some show rings, violations shoot up dramatically, sometimes 300% greater!

Whenever the industry explains how “clean” they are, I like to point out that 76% of the horses swabbed by the USDA at the 2012 Celebration tested positive for foreign, prohibited substances!  Let me mention that using these substances is cheating.  How many equestrian sporting venues have that many people cheating?

PAST provides three major changes.  First, it eliminates stacks and chains on big lick horses.  Why is that relevant?  93% of all USDA cited violations this year were on big lick horses.  Another major change is an increase in penalties for violations and to make soring a felony.  This will have a major impact on those repeat violators and also the Rider’s Cup contenders where the top 5 share 94 Horse Protection Act violations!  Finally, no more industry self-regulation which has been a disaster from the beginning or else there would not be hundreds of violations every year along with horses suffering from raw and scarred pasterns.

On a lighter note, my best memories are from the many well-wishers who sent emails cheering me on before that big day.  I was stunned.  I was also astounded that day in Washington, D.C. to meet many of those well-wishers for the very first time—they drove and flew to the hearing to support the efforts to fight soring.  Most of them went onto meet their very own legislators that day and ask for them to cosponsor the PAST Act, and I thank them for their passion and efforts to work towards the end of soring. 

I encourage all horse lovers to keep the pressure on their legislators to enact PAST (H.R. 1518, S. 1406) and to support FOSH in its battle against soring by becoming a FOSH member.  For more information on FOSH, please visit our website, www.fosh.info.

Thank You,

Teresa Bippen

Why Would Anyone Annoy A Horse?

Howdy Folks,

About a week ago I came across a YouTube video about loading your horse on the trailer. As most Coffee Clutch followers know, Kessy and I have a wonderful "on again off again" (no pun intended) relationship with the whole trailer loading thing. Thinking I might enjoy the video I set aside 15 minutes to watch it and found it very interesting. Kessy and I have somewhat, sort of, mastered loading by me leading her in, but because ours is a step-up trailer and that's hard for me, I wanted her to learn to self load. That's what this video was about. Cool!

It proved to be a very well done video and was so much fun to watch and easy to comprehend I was excited to try it myself. It did work – sort of. The trainer demonstrated how to stand by your horse behind the trailer keeping the horse focused on looking into the trailer, and with the long end of the lead, tap, tap and tap the rump of your horse. "Not hard, just enough to annoy her," the trainer said. He also said, "It may take some time. Just be patient." Kessy and I tried it; it did take some time, about 30 minutes. We just stood there, her looking inside, me tapping. The second and third loads went much better. The next morning we started over again, about 20 minutes for the first loading, then the next a few seconds.

Knowing we were close, but not where we needed to be, I sent the link to the video to my mentor Diane Sept. She too found it very interesting and well done but replied with a simple, but extremely important question, "Why would anyone annoy a horse?" Oh my gosh, she is so correct! Frankly she always is … and after she asked that of me I was instantly embarrassed. She had taught me better than that. Years ago, very early on in our relationship she'd taught me there's a difference between "sending clear signals," and "annoying." Horses understand clear signals – unclear signals quickly become annoying.

I've never really understood training that suggests making something uncomfortable for the horse produced desired cooperation. Such as outside the trailer is uncomfortable, inside is comfortable. Or if she misbehaves under saddle do circles, or not letting her stop in the round pen, "until it's your idea," (I'm no fan of any round-penning, but that's just me). All these are forms of "annoying" your horse, I think. And there are many other ways folks believe are communicating with their horse, but are too often annoying. Why would anyone want to annoy a horse? Great question Diane.

I took Diane's question to heart, and Kessy and I had another go at self loading. Much of it I did the same way, led her to the trailer and focused her on loading, then gave her clear signals to "walk on." Much better, not perfect, but much better. We've still got some work to do, but a big improvement.

Kessy ready to go

But this is a story about more than trailer loading. It's about a much broader thought. Why would anyone annoy a horse?

Kessy's eye

 Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – Family, Friends, Love and Helping

Howdy Folks,

On this day after Thanksgiving I think it's wholly appropriate to think of love, helping, family and friends. Family is the backbone, the structure, the spirit of who we are. But by family I don't mean to suggest mom, dad, brother, sister and so on only. Family, for folks who understand love and helping is much broader than that.

From the roots and strength our families give us, we can reach out to help others. Perhaps we've never met, and never will meet them, but they are family, and we know them, hear them, and love them. Animal and human. And we want to help them.

Sometimes it's an adoption. Sometimes it's a donation. Sometimes we volunteer at a hospital, a nursing home, a rescue or therapeutic riding center. Sometimes we just call someone in the hospital, or nursing home. Sometimes we send cards, photos or gifts. Always help is offered. Love is given. Support and kindness is given – and felt.

Kessy and Dutch writing about "People & Horses Helping Horses & People"

On this day after Thanksgiving we thank all those who hear the calling to share love, healing and encouragement.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Coming Home - Pt-9

Howdy Folks,

On April 9, 2013 I posted the first installment of "Coming Home" and then followed with Pt 2, on April 10, Pt 3 on April 11, Pt 4 on May 8, Pt 5 on May 21, Pt 6 June 18, and Pt 7, July 31, Pt 8, Oct 15... If you're just joining us you can find Pt 1 (HERE), and each segment has a link to the next (If you'd like to revisit Pt 8 CLICK HERE) … In Pt 8 we left Billie and Hector alongside the road at the second crime scene of the day … I hope you'll enjoy this next installment.

Kessy, Saturday & me - writin' in the barn

Coming Home - Pt-9

     

She put her hand on his shoulder and gave her most assuring smile, "Hector, why don't you call me, Billie? After all we are equals, quite possibly going to be partners." She had a pang of guilt for saying that last part. Poor Roy was supposed to be her partner and he died before they ever worked together.



"Billie," he tried it out. Shook his head. "No, I do not think Billie sounds right. I think I will stay with Miss Weston. If you approve, Miss Weston."

      

"I approve, and I don't mean any disrespect when I call you Hector. Hector."

      

"Hector was my grandfather's name. It is a good name."

      

"Okay then, Hector, now that we know who we are, let's go examine our second crime scene for the day. I could have stayed in Nashville if I wanted to be this busy."

       

The car was nothing worth looking at out here, and even if she wanted to, it was still too hot. But the body, way on the far side of the road, that called for her attention. She outpaced Hector and squatted next to the body dressed in an above average looking suit, lying face down, almost comfortable looking. Her eyes were drawn immediately to the little patch of dried blood beside the dead man's face. Then she saw the little dark red, almost black spot in the back of his head. Just like the wound Juan del Paso had. And exactly the same location. She would roll him over, to look at his face. But she already knew who it would turn out to be. Andrew 'Quiet Man' Kent. She shook her head, well he's a quiet man now alright.

       

Hector rolled him, then looked at Billie with a big question mark on his face.

      

"I know," she said. "Why go to all that bother, kill Roy, kill Juan, just to bring him way out here, and shoot him too?" Billie rocked back, then sat on the road. One of the firefighters called out.

       

"Could you go see what they want?  I need to think about this."

       

"Sure Miss Weston," Hector said and started away.

      

Billie's phone rang. She looked at the screen.

      

"Hello Sheriff ... Yes, we're here. How's the family holding up?"

      

"It's rough. Been in law enforcement twenty-five years, never had anything strike in my own back yard before. Mary … Well the doctor gave her something, she's asleep now. Wish I was." He stopped, Billie could hear him sob. After a second he started again, "I don't feel much like this Sheriff crap anymore."

       

"I understand." Billie said.

      

"Oh Christ, Billie. I can't focus. I wanted to say, your Mom and Dad are on their way here. He called about ten minutes ago, I tried to talk him out of it, but your father's a determined man when he … Anyway what the hell did I want to say?"

       

"Ask about this mess I suppose."

      

"Yea that's it. What happened, a bad wreck?"

      

"Under the circumstances, I wish I didn't have to tell you now, but, we found the prisoner Roy was transporting." She paused, but not long enough for Sheriff Lovell to speak. "He's the dead man on the road in your phone call. Shot, small caliber, in the base of the skull. Just like Juan del Paso. Why would someone spring him, to kill him a few hours later?"

      

She heard the Sheriff take a long breath, then a few steps.

      

"Sheriff?"

     

"I'm trying to think. Listen Billie, if I hand this to you. What are your plans. I mean, I don't think I can handle this tonight. Understand?"

      

"Completely. You take all the time you need. Right now, I'll call the coroner and have Deputy Montoya wait for him. I was planning to visit Sara Muguara tonight. If I get bogged down tomorrow I might call Under-Sheriff Calhoun. Thought about the State Police, but you want to keep it home-grown. Honestly though Sheriff, I think it is more than a local crime."

       

"Dale Calhoun is a hard man to get along with, but you go ahead. I gotta go. Sit down … But you tell me everything every step of the way."

      

"Sheriff, who called you? How'd they get your home number, or your cell?"

       

A long pause, then, "I'm… don't know."

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      Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry