The Top 6 Reasons Why Horse Lovers Love the Earth

It is Earth Day, and as I think about the virtues of this planet, I begin to make profound connections between horses and the earth.

Caring for and riding horses must be among the most earth-dependent activities left to us (aside from farming and other such activities).

Here are the top 6 reasons why horse lovers love the earth:

6. The beauty of mother nature that never ceases to amaze.

What is better than a scenic view with horses leisurely grazing in a luscious green pasture? Or how about the trail ride you went on that wove its way through paths, up and down hills into unknown territory?

From quiet sounds dampened with new white snow, to dripping icicles on a warming early spring day, to wildflowers blowing in a meadow breeze, to the scorching heat of the summer sun - each season brings its own marvels in the cyclical mystery that is life.

There must be millions of memories etched in our minds of beautiful horse-related scenes that stimulate the senses and feed the soul.

5. The trees.

Trees are essential to the very basic needs of life; they provide shelter and purify the toxins we emit into the atmosphere. If you are lucky enough to have a (safe for horses) tree stand in your pasture, you know very well about the functional shelter they can provide from all the elements. They are also useful as snacks and back scratchers for some of our horses!

Trees are also master recyclers because of the very fact that they absorb the carbon in the air and release oxygen back into the atmosphere? We continue to have fresh air to breathe thanks to the trees that silently work their magic on the earth.

4. The crops.

One year, crops became a hot topic of discussion after a long, lingering drought that prevented the growth of most horse feed, including the basic staple of hay. Farmers were devastated by the lack of precipitation and although we were only somewhat affected locally, that small change in production was enough to highlight the importance of our farmers and food production networks.

Everything a horse eats can be traced right back to the earth - even the attractive designer bags filled with processed feed.

3. The air.

What we breathe provides us our very sustenance. Horses are as much affected by pollution as we are - maybe even more so. What we pump into the atmosphere stays in the atmosphere. While we expect our horses to perform athletically outdoors in the open air, we need to keep in mind our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.

2. The ground.

The earth itself provides foundation for so many equestrian-related needs. You know what it feels like to ride in good footing. You also know how necessary the earth is when it acts as a base for a barn or an indoor arena. The type of footing affects moisture absorption, rendering a riding surface useless if conditions are not suitable - from frozen ground to muddy bogs, riding can be restricted or enhanced by the ground.

1. Raw materials.

Absolutely everything we have comes from the earth. This includes the metal that forms a horse's bit, the trailers that haul the horses and the gasoline that fuels our vehicles. Our homes and barns are made from materials that come from the earth. Our electricity, natural gas and running water originate in the earth.

There is simply no getting away from it. We owe our existence to the Earth. And our horses depend upon it.

Let us know in the comments below: in what horse-related way do you love the Earth?

Listening to “Hoofbeats”: A CD Especially For the Equestrian in You

Horse riding is all about rhythm and musicality, but rarely do you find a music CD that is dedicated to horses and their people.

Rarer still is the musician who has personally ridden and knows horses well enough to truly understand and appreciate what it really feels like to ride, care for and love horses.

All of the songs are wonderful in their own way, but the one that immediately struck a strong chord for me was Emily Flies. Let me show you why.

And when Emily’s lifted up into the saddle
she gets this look on her face
Sal thinks it might be joy
or at least some kind of grace

And she could swear as she leads them round
when she looks at Emily’s eyes
that though Cody may be only walking,
steadily, patiently walking,
Cody may be only walking,
but Emily flies

The song is about how horse riding brings a sense of freedom to a 14-year-old girl named Emily. It is also about a Standardbred horse named Cody, who is being used as a therapeutic riding horse. This is where I have my own personal connection to the song.

My very own Standardbred mare, Kayla, now 31 years old, once tried her hoof at being a therapeutic riding horse.

Although she did possess the calm, steady characteristics that Cody in the song displays, her one downfall as a therapeutic riding horse was that she walked too fast! The riders didn't have a concern about Kayla's speed, but a rider needed a side walker on each side of the horse, and a person who led the horse around. As it so happened, my Kayla was a speedy walker (which made her an ideal endurance horse but that is another story). In fact, she was so speedy that she was soon retired from being a therapeutic horse because the side walkers would end up being too tired by the end of the half-hour! (True story!)

My however brief brush with therapeutic riding was enough to encourage me to volunteer at a therapeutic riding center for some time, and then to follow the paraequestrian events locally and internationally.

If you listen to Emily Flies, you might be moved to tears like I was, mostly thanks to how truthfully the lyrics portray Emily's experience and Cody's unswerving dependability. We all know how it feels to be lucky enough to "fly" on the back of a horse. It's even more significant from Emily's perspective.

But after I listened to Emily Flies, I found so much more to relate to on the other songs.

Several songs are dedicated to specific horse breeds: the Newfoundland Pony, the Quarter Horse, the Draft horse and the Canadian. Each song has its own musicality and instrumentation that relates to the characteristics of the breed. Not only do you learn all about the breed's attributes, but you also become privy to what makes each type of horse unique.

Two White Horses reminds me of two white horses that I drive by every day going to work. Complete look-alikes, they wander around their paddock side by side, leisurely munching on hay and grass. There is a sense of comfort and calm each time I spot them as I drive around the corner.

Flying Changes reminds me of one of my all-time favorite horses, a 17.2h Percheron-Andalusian cross that I had the pleasure to train for some time. Although he was entirely "too much horse" for me, I will always remember his long-strided rolling trot that taught me how to truly sit deep in the saddle (and he DID learn to do flying changes).

In Hoofbeats, Marie-Lynn Hammond has assembled twelve stirring songs that delight, educate, entertain and celebrate the horse. Check it out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Here are three complete tracks for your listening pleasure:

Flying Changes

My Little Quarter Horse

Sergeant Reckless

Purchase the CD here: http://marielynnhammond.com/music/purchase/

*****

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Here are more articles, just for fun!

Living in Flying Changes: I wrote this short poem after a wonderfully exhilarating night ride.

10 Ways on How NOT to Buy Your Dream Horse! Tongue-in-cheek and just for fun! Helping future horse owners the world over!

Horseback Riders Do Nothing Anyway! Well, at least, that’s what “they” say. But we know differently, don’t we?

A Song and My Very Own Chestnut Mare: You will find me bristling at the suggestion that chestnut mares are unworthy.

Because of Horses: What has changed in your life because of horses?

How to Improve the Sewing-Machine Trot

trot stride — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

It's called a sewing-machine trot because of the up-and-down movement of the legs. We sometimes call the horse a "leg-mover" and basically mean the same thing.

Essentially, the horse lacks adequate length of stride in the movement.

The legs move but the body does not go anywhere. The horse does not use his torso in the movement. Rather, he is often tight and tense through the body, and there is little swinging in the gait. Sometimes, we mistake the lack of progress as smoothness, but it really is rigidity in horse's the back and joints.

It is easy to get fooled into thinking that the sewing-machine trot is a good trot. When you are on the horse, the frenetic movement might make you think that the horse is working well. It is moving, after all!

But what is sometimes less apparent is that all the movement happens without support from the hind end.

Clues

In fact, the back is often hollow and the energy does not flow back to front. The head may be held high, the base of the neck low, and the majority of the horse's weight falls to the forehand.

One of the easiest identification factors of the sewing-machine trot is lack of "tracking up". The hind leg stride is so short that it falls one or two footprint lengths short of stepping into the front footprints.

You might also notice that the front legs take a bigger stride than the hind legs. In pictures, the hind legs appear close together underneath the hind end area, rather than drawing equal an upside-down "v" with the one made by the front legs.

What To Do

First, slow the legs down. Reduce the tempo and allow the horse to get better balance. Let his feet catch up to his body, so he doesn't feel like is constantly running away.

Second, once you feel the tempo become more reasonable, address the hind end. Ask for more engagement by using the canter-trot or a similar exercise. Just be careful to not allow the tempo to increase again. Speed is not the intention.

Third, after you feel the burst of engagement, use a half-halt to balance the energy. Don't let it go "out the front end" - rather, contain it and allow the energy to create a longer stride and more movement over the back.

Look for a slower rhythm, but a stronger energy surge. Feel more bounce to the movement. Notice the horse naturally want to round more and reach better for the bit.

Through it all, avoid pulling back. Instead, keep working on half-halts, impulsion and a resulting slow(er) rhythm.

How do you improve the quality of the sewing-machine trot?

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

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Please enjoy other articles here:

Secrets to a Great Turn (a.k.a. Shift Out to Turn In): Can you tell if your horse uses his hind end before taking the first step in the new direction, or does he feel stiff and awkward, almost like he’s leaving his legs behind the movement?

Don’t Mistake the Halt For a Stop! Don’t do it! Don’t mistake the halt for a stop. They are two entirely different maneuvers.

How the “Not Canter” Can Drastically Improve Your Transitions: Every time you ask (with the correct aids), the horse resists. The situation becomes ugly – you have a hard enough time just sitting the bounciness, never mind getting the transition. What to do? This article remains one of our most popular posts of all-time.

The #1 Problem of the Year: The Outside Rein! The outside rein is the most underused and poorly understood of all the aids, and here’s why.

6 Ways to Unleash the Power of Your Riding Seat: As you become more subtle in the aiding process, you will begin to discover just how powerful the seat can be in guiding the horse without disturbing and interfering in his movement.

3 Questions to Consider Before Riding Bareback and Bridleless

Last weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of watching Stacy Westfall work her horses and riders in some demo rides during Ontario's "Can-Am" weekend event. It was fabulous to watch her and listen to her words of wisdom. My take-home from her sessions: safety around horses is essential at all times.

You've probably already seen her 2006 video. You know, the one with her amazing horse Roxy going bareback and bridleless during an unforgettable ride that she dedicated to her then recently passed father. I'd be willing to bet that most of us didn't have a dry eye once it was over. The ride was emotional, sensational and technically correct enough to win them the championship at that show. If you haven't already seen it, here is the ride:

Shortly after the video became a YouTube sensation, many people thought it was a good idea to try and do this with their own horse.

Can you predict what happened after that?

Well, people got hurt.

The reason? Not all horses we ride are trained as impeccably as Roxy was, nor are we all Stacey Westfalls (although maybe we are in our wildest dreams).

I'm not saying that you should never try riding without a bridle. And riding bareback is surely on the bucket list for most riders as they grow and develop their skills. There is simply no feeling like sitting directly on the horse's back while he goes through his paces (assuming the horse has kind and accommodating withers).

Coming out of the sessions, I was reminded yet again about the themes that become evident to me every time I consider safety around horses, regardless of riding discipline.

Before you jump on the "no tack" bandwagon, please consider the following three questions so you can be very, very careful. You might decide that riding without tack might simply be a long-term goal to be risked only after you have considered the following stipulations:

1. Are you going to be safe?

This one is a no-brainer! Chances are, if you sit on someone else's four legs - without tack for balance and communication - you might part ways! Before you throw away your saddle and bridle, please consider: can you get your horse to do everything you need without the use of a bridle?

Would your horse respond to you during unpredictable situations 100% of the time? Can you stop him before he spooks/rears/bucks/spins? Until you can, play it on the safe side. Wear the saddle so you can balance better. Keep the bridle on so you can use it if necessary. And wait until your horse is ready.

2. How will the horse's quality of movement be affected?

We might not want to hear this, but that doesn't make it less true: not all horses are built well enough to carry the weight of a rider. This means that if we throw away the bridle and saddle, we are pretty much guaranteed that these horses will have more trouble moving correctly under our weight.

We use tack to direct the horse's movement, whether to flow energy forward or to contain movement. We can reduce tension, stiffness and imbalance through correct riding, which is usually easier to do with the help of our equipment.

Consider what less-than-perfect conformation will do to the joints, muscles and skeletal body if ridden poorly over long term. Then, you might opt for the tack before you get on.

3. Will your own riding position be compromised?

There is a purpose to stirrups, saddle seat design and saddles sized to your derrière: balance. The stirrups are not just to keep you from falling off; once you have achieved basic torso control, stirrups help you maintain optimal balance while your horse moves underneath you. Let's face it: without a saddle, you rock 'n roll on your horse's back more than it appears to the observer.

Of course, with a little practice, you could probably stay on the horse (most of the time) when riding bareback. But as your balance shifts in the movement, the horse's balance also changes. You might get thrown forward/backward, your knees might rise or you might lean to one side to counteract the effects of gravity.

The horse might fall to the forehand or tighten his back in response. His footfalls may become heavier or more labored, and he might need to drop the base of his neck (and lift his head and neck) to keep you both from really losing balance.

Well, you get the idea. The point here is to consider all the consequences of bareback and bridleless riding. If you want to be the next Stacy Westfall of your riding discipline, go through a step-by-step process that can keep you safe and your horse healthy.

Keep in mind what it will do not only to you, but (almost) more importantly, to your horse.

Because although you have a choice in the matter, your horse does not.

Have you ever seen Stacy Westfall and what was your take-away?

*Please note: The opinions in this article are solely the author's and do not represent any promotion or endorsement for either Stacy Westfall or the Can Am event.

*****

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Horse Listening

Read more here:

What Responsible Horse Ownership Really Means: We need to keep in mind that horses are prey animals and long-time domesticated livestock. If we listen well enough, we discover that what we think of as giving might not be what the horses truly need.

10 Tips for the Average Rider: Are you an average rider? Then join the club!

Do You Want to Own A Horse? Answer ‘yes’ to these questions and you are on your way!

5 Life Lessons From Horses: If we can learn anything from horses, it is that many concepts hold true as clearly in life as they do in the world of horses.

Ride Backwards, But Ride Effectively! Although the rider had developed the correct “look”, the horse was telling a different story.

What To Do When Your Horse Isn’t Being Cute

As we identified in the last post, some horse behaviors that we might think of as being cute might carry different connotations when deciphered from a herd animal's perspective. This time, we will analyze examples of specific behaviors and what you might be able to do about them.

What NOT to do:

Don't get mad.

Don't get even.

Don't lose your cool.

Although these are just suggestions, remember that there is rarely a need to get mad and become physically aggressive to get a result. Stay calm, be purposeful and most especially, be consistent.

****Please always remember: when working with, on or around horses, always make decisions that ensure your safety as well as the horse's safety. If in doubt, back off and reevaluate before things escalate.****

Pawing

Horse Speak Definition: In general, pawing is a sign of impatience or anxiety. The horse wants to move.

What To Do: If the horse is being held by a handler (for example, in a show environment), then by all means, allow the horse to go for a walk. Better yet, use the energy to teach or perfect something while the horse is walking. Try getting the horse to step away from you as he is walking. Can he cross his legs (front only, back only, both front and back) while he is walking?

Walking off might not be suitable in all situations. If the horse is in cross-ties in the barn, you can still easily stop the pawing by picking one foot and asking it to step forward/back/ forward/back until the horse is ready to stop moving. Then give the horse the opportunity to stop. If he isn't ready to stop, go to it again!

Head Nodding

Horse Speak Definition: Head nodding is also another sign of excess energy or tension.

What To Do: Change the topic and do some of the same things suggested for pawing. Always aim to get the horse to step away from you rather than step into you so that you demonstrate your leadership to him.

Pushing you out of the way

Horse Speak Definition: This one can become very dangerous since every time the horse gets you to move away from him, he will become more and more convinced of his leadership over you. As you may notice in any turn-out field, the dominant horse usually gets his way and tells all the other horses what to do and where to go. Becoming the secondary citizen in your herd of two may not suit you well since you are also one-sixth the size of the horse and can be very easily hurt!

What To Do: Once again, be sure to assert your leadership. Decide on a personal space "bubble" around you that the horse should not enter. Then, before the horse steps into that space, push him out - first, with your body language (step into his space) and if he does not respond to that social cue, then follow through by pushing him away with the lead rope or bridle reins. He must never get closer to you, even while walking beside you, than what you've decided is a safe personal space around you.

Dragging you along on the lead

Horse Speak Definition: Something else (other than you) requires much more urgent attention of the horse. He is knowingly or unknowingly disregarding your communications and going where he needs to go.

What To Do: This behavior is the opposite of the one above. Should your horse drag you, do your best to stop and assume one position. Then swing his head around in a way that makes him turn to face you. Maybe you can back him up a few steps after he stops and looks at you. Maybe you ask him to step sideways away from you for a set number of footfalls.

Try walking ahead after you feel he is softly compliant. If he goes to drag you off again, go back to moving his feet where you want them to go. In all cases, do not allow him to continue taking you for a walk! Treat this behavior seriously as there is great danger of you getting hurt.

Nibbling on your hat or hair

Horse Speak Definition: Isn't it so cute when your horse reaches forward with a lovingly stretched out neck and gently nibbles on your hair or hat? NO!

Again, in the herd, the dominant horse is the one that does the nibbling. Please be assured that what you think of as being cute is a completely different message to the horse: that he is boss and you should do what he says.

What To Do: This one is easy to prevent - just don't tempt him with your hat, hair, or anything else for that matter! Stay out of his nibbling zone and consistently establish your personal space bubble.

Begging for treats

Horse Speak Definition: As humans, we get a pleasure rush when we do something nice for someone else. We especially enjoy sharing meals and treats together - sharing food is simply in our nature.

Unfortunately, herd dynamics don't follow human social norms. The only time one horse gives another horse food (or gets out of the way) is when the second horse is dominant over the first.

Every time you give a treat to your horse, you are communicating to him that he is the leader in your herd of two. This might not be a problem for some time, but should your normally gentle and sweet horse start becoming demanding and pushy, you can blame it on the repeated communication you've been giving him.

What To Do: One option is to refrain from ever giving your horse treats by hand. Some people always stick to this rule. If you must hand feed treats, be sure to avoid giving the treat at the first sign of aggressive behavior from your horse. Establish clear parameters and be consistent. If in doubt, go back to option 1!

Stomping feet or turning your way when you touch an area

Horse Speak Definition: The horse is uncomfortable for some reason and is making it clear that you should get out of his space.

What To Do: First, find out if there is truly a physical discomfort. Perhaps you will need a veterinarian to check the horse and see if there is a problem with that area.

If it is likely that the horse is being aggressive, then look to either change the behavior (redirect the energy and get the horse to move specific feet, as in pawing and head nodding above) or simply push the horse out of your personal space. Make it clear that you can move his feet and assume the leader position in the "herd" dynamic.

In all the above examples, the key thing to remember is that the horse is simply communicating to you in the way he knows how. It is your duty to understand "horse speak" and negotiate through all the herd dynamic social rules. The better you understand the "horse" definitions behind your actions, the quicker you will be in knowing how to prevent unwanted behavior, and knowing what to do about it.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

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It’s All About Listening: Where it all began for this blog.

The 99% “Lucky Rule”: The 99% Lucky rule is very simple – when you’re around horses, and particularly in dangerous situations, you are lucky 99% of the time. That is a good rule – unless it happens to be the 1% of the time that you might be ‘un’-lucky! Then, it’s no fun at all.

Speaking “Horse” (a.k.a. “Pushing the Envelope”): Horses send messages out as much as humans do. Once you know how to listen to your horse, a whole world of communication can open up for you.

How To Be An Active Horseback Rider (a.k.a. Riding With Intention): What do you do when your ride isn’t going as planned? How do you respond when your horse scoots out from under you, spooks at the horse-killing object, or flat out ignores you?

Take the Credit, Bad AND Good: In our quest for balance (not just on the kind on the back of the horse), it is essential for us to look at our achievements from both angles.

When Your Horse Isn’t Being Cute

There is something special and attractive about a horse's magnificence and grace, his beautiful eyes and even his smell - at least, for those of us who are "horse crazy." We are often so taken by his beauty and presence that we overlook his herd animal mentality. Instead, we interpret his actions through humanizing eyes that explain away their actions in sometimes less than accurate ways.

You have probably seen it so many times - the horse being pushy and the handler either letting the behavior go or honestly not being aware of the problem.

The horse might paw. He might perk up his ears and give us a loving look for more treats. Or he might nod his head up and down. Maybe he pulls away while being led. Sometimes, he might nibble on our hat or hair.

At the very least, it can become irritating. At the worst, it's unsafe for both horse and owner. The most serious consequence is when the behavior escalates and problems develop. Then suddenly, what was cute becomes dangerous and people and horses get hurt.

If the horse owner isn't aware of what the horse is truly communicating, then the risk increases for both human and horse.

Understanding The Language of Horses

The number one rule for all things "horse" is safety. In all circumstances, the horse's sheer size is reason enough for us to set guidelines for our interactions with horses, and to follow them to the letter. Any time we bend the rules, or let the little things slip by, not only do we become inconsistent in our interactions with our horses (and therefore "lying" to them), but we also increase the physical risks to ourselves and to those around our horses.

The biggest problem is when someone misinterprets the horse's intentions and ascribe "herd-naughty" behavior as being something cute. The mistake isn't in the interpretation itself; it is that the person is indicating to the horse that the behavior is acceptable. Although they might be unaware of the language of horses, by not responding to the behavior, the person is assuming a subservient role.

Knowing when a horse communicates dominating behavior is the first step toward becoming a responsible horse owner. Once we know what the horse is saying, we begin to learn how to respond and eventually prevent the conditions that allow for such thoughts to go through our horses' minds.

What To Do

Your response does not need to be harsh or punishing. You can approach these situations from an educational perspective. Every situation is an opportunity to train your horse. Try to identify what works without causing the horse to lose confidence in you.

Stay calm, be confident and consistent in your responses. You must demonstrate your leadership skills in order to gain the respect of the horse. Once the horse knows that he can respect (and therefore trust) his humans, he will happily assume a following role.

In the end, it is our responsibility to make sure the horse understands what is expected of him. If we either willfully ignore or really and truly don't know how to teach acceptable behavior for horse-human interactions, we can be setting up conditions that can some day escalate into seriously dangerous situations.

Next post: suggestions on what to do about specific behaviors.

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The Truth About Balance: We all strive for balance – in our position, our seat, our movement with the horse.

On Enjoying the Path: I can hear you now – you’re groaning… the path?? How can “the path” be fulfilling?

When “Good Enough” Just Isn’t Good Enough In Horseback Riding: We come up with all sorts of excuses to explain why we don’t want to or can’t get past the problem.

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Why A Release Is Not A Let Go in Horseback Riding

Release your seat after the half-halt.

Release your legs when the horse moves away from pressure.

Release your aids to reward the horse.

Release the inside rein to allow the horse to bend deeper to the inside.

Sometimes, we use the word "give" in place of release. Please use it interchangeably here.

In horseback riding, we can release any aid at any time: the reins, the seat, the legs. Regardless of riding discipline, we have to release our horses for hundreds of reasons. We use that word so many times in so many ways. But do we know what it really means?

Many people interpret the term literally as it sounds like it should be - a freedom, a giving away or a letting go of the aids. But in riding, a true release is more complicated than simply dropping everything!.

****

Let's change topics for just one minute to illustrate the point.

Do you watch any of the world figure skating championships? As I admire the exquisite coordination of the pairs and dance skaters, I am reminded of the level of harmony we need to produce with our horses to show a similar fluidity of movement (of course, anything I watch becomes somehow related to horseback riding - hehe).

So here is the scene: the guy lifts the girl, they do an intricate twist and thingy in the air, and then he "releases" her back to the ice. When you watch them, you see how carefully he carries her back down. What he doesn't do is drop her - or, simply let go.

****

The horse has four legs and he won't fall when you let go. It is true. We see riders "let go" of their horses all the time, and rarely do the horses fall to the ground (although some might stumble or trip). Thankfully, the horses hold their own and make up for the rider's lack of timing or aids or knowledge. But what does suffer is the horse's (and by extension, the rider's) balance.

Some horses lose confidence in their riders. Others learn to tune their riders out and just truck along on their own. Many plod along on their forehand year after year, doomed to some sort of lameness due to incorrect movement.

In any case, communication suffers, sometimes without the rider even knowing it.

What to do?

What not to do: let go.

Don't let go of your reins. Don't let go of your seat. Don't take your legs off the horse. Don't flop in the saddle.

Instead, work on a gradual giveaway.

Slowly reduce the pressure.

Leave your legs on but become less active.

Hold your own body but go more with the horse.

Keep a soft, delicate finger contact on the reins so your horse knows you are still talking to him.

Under all circumstances, maintain your balance.

Look for any and all reasons to release your aids.

Don't we all wish we could ride in lightness and complete balance? Just be weary of stopping or giving away or letting go completely.

Try to ride with the horse and work towards harmony and connectedness. Listen carefully to discover when your horse needs your support and when you should allow him to find his own way. There is a happy medium somewhere in between let go and absolute control.

If you can find it, you may also find a happier, more confident horse!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

If you liked the above article, you might also enjoy:

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Riding Straight Through the Turn: Although it sounds like an oxymoron, travelling straight through a turn is essential in maintaining the balance of the horse.

Stepping Out of Rein Lameness: Often, problems caused by riding can be fixed with riding. It is just a matter of knowing what to do in order to counteract the problems.

Do You Make This Timing Mistake When Riding Your Horse? Have you ever given your horse an aid and got nothing in return? There could be one other variable that you might not have considered…

Getting “in touch” with your horse’s body

At Horse Listening, we are emphatic life-long learners of all things horsey. You will be reminded time and again about how there is so much to be learned from horses and other horse people, if only we listened.

This guest post is by Lindsay Day, who is a Registered Equine Massage Therapist with a special interest in injury rehabilitation and performance issues. Besides her equine massage therapy practice, she also writes on equine health and science topics for magazines such as Canadian Horse Journal, Horse Sport and Trot, as well as on her website blog at www.EQmassage.ca.

This article was originally posted here.

Getting “in touch” with your horse’s body

All of us are born with the sense of touch and a set of feeling hands.

You don’t have to know the names and function of every muscle, bone and joint in your horse’s body to garner benefit from, well, quite simply, feeling your horse.

Some of my fondest memories during my equine massage therapy studies at the D’Al School (at D’Arcy Lane in London, Ontario) are the times I spent out at the barn alone with my horse after school, just gently palpating and feeling and sensing. He gave me some pretty priceless looks and it was a unique experience to interact and spend time with him in this way.

Familiarizing yourself with how your horse’s body feels is a great way to become more familiar with their anatomy and can help you detect changes and signs of strain or discomfort early on. It’s also a neat exercise in developing your sensitivity and awareness, and can provide some quality bonding time as your horse begins to show you where and how he or she likes to be touched.

The four T’s

As you touch your horse’s body, feel for differences in the “four T’s”. Some areas of your horse’s body will naturally feel more tight, firm or warm to the touch. When accompanied by pain or discomfort, or if representing a change from your horse’s “normal”, these may be early warning signs of an issue.

Temperature: Are there areas that feel particularly warm in comparison to the surrounding tissues? Does one hoof tend to feel warmer than the others? Do the flexor tendons feel warmer in one place or on one foreleg more than the other?

Tension: Are there areas that feel tighter than others? Does this differ from one side of the body to the other?

Tenderness: Are there areas where your touch evokes a protective reaction from your horse (flinching, moving away, tail swishing, ears back, increased tension)? How does this compare to the same area on the other side?

Texture: Are there areas with a boggy feel to them? Swelling? How organized do the tissue fibers feel? Can you feel scar tissue under the skin?

Some guidelines for your practice

Starting at the top of your horse’s neck, slowly work your way over their entire body, from front to back and down to their hooves. Over muscles you can add an ever so slight squeezing pressure. While over the joints of the legs simply place a hand on either side and feel for heat or tenderness.

Use a gentle touch, keeping your hands relaxed, with a slight bend in the knuckles. You want to allow your palms and finger pads to do the feeling (where we have the most sensory receptors). Excess tension in your hands will also limit your sensitivity.

Avoid putting pressure on areas that feel hard — if something doesn’t yield to your touch it is likely bone. The cervical vertebrae in the middle of the neck, for example, are often mistaken for ominous bumps or “knots” by those unfamiliar with the anatomy.

Remember to use caution when touching areas where your horse might be sensitive (like their girth area) or where they might not be used to being touched (like the inside of their thigh). If there are areas where your horse doesn’t accept your touch, gradually work up to it over a number of sessions.

As you proceed, try to keep an open mind so you can be attuned to what you are feeling in your hands, rather than what your brain is thinking. The more you practice the greater your sensitivity will improve and the more adept you will become at deciphering what “normal” is for your horse.

Happy feeling!

*****

Horse Listening

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Getting “in touch” with your horse’s body

Getting “in touch” with your horse’s body

The four T’s

Some guidelines for your practice