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How to Read Your Horse’s Body Language

kfrank — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:46:51 +0000

: A horse's ears offer some of the clearest signals about his mood.; Photo © EQUUS

Chances are pretty good you understand what your horse is saying when he nickers as you bring him his feed. The meaning of a pinned ear and cocked hind hoof are also pretty obvious.

But not all equine communication is quite so clear. Do you know what a clamped tail indicates? What a foal is saying when he clacks his teeth? Even more important, can you recognize subtle signs of fear or frustration before they escalate into a blowup?

Because people rely so much on verbal communication, it’s natural to focus on a horse’s vocalizations when trying to figure out what he is saying. But like many animals, horses communicate much more through postures, gestures and expressions than they do with their vocal cords.

The ability to read and respond to this equine body language is what sets great trainers apart from the rest. From a distance, it may look like these experts are “mind reading,” but in reality, they’re noticing and responding to the subtlest of cues from the horse, both on the ground as well as in the saddle.

This isn’t a mystical skill. Anyone who spends time around horses can learn to tune in to their unique forms of nonverbal communication. It may take some time and attention, but a better understanding of the language of horses will improve your horsemanship skills, and you’ll be able to read your horse more clearly and fine-tune your training and handling accordingly. Here’s what you need to know.

What His Ears Say
One of the first lessons a novice rider is taught is that when a horse’s ears are forward he is alert, paying attention and/or interested in what’s in front of him, and when his ears are pinned back close to the neck he is angry and about to bite or kick. But the ears have more to say than just that:

• Turned out to the side. The horse is asleep or relaxed and may not be attuned to what’s going on around him. You don’t want to march up to this horse and pat him because he may be startled and react by running over you, whirling or striking out. Instead, call his name or make some noise, and don’t approach until he turns his head or otherwise indicates that he’s paying attention to you.

• Turned back. If your horse’s ears are pointed backward but not pinned, it often means he’s listening to something behind him---he may be deciding whether to run away or turn around and check out the sound. When combined with a swishing tail or other signs of tension in the body, turned-back ears may be a precursor
to pinned ears.

• Rapidly swiveling. Ears that are flicking back and forth are a sign that the horse is in a heightened state of anxiety or alertness. He may be trying to locate the source of a frightening sound or smell, or he may be overwhelmed by too many stimuli.

What His Head Carriage Says
The position and movement of a horse’s head are easy to see and can tell you a lot about his mood and what he’s thinking:

• Lowered. A dropped head is a sign your horse is relaxed and feeling good, and his ears will often hang to the side as well. If he’s standing in his stall or pasture with a lowered head, he’s probably either resting or asleep; call his name and make your approach obvious so you don’t startle him.

• Elevated. Your horse is focused on something in the distance, and he’s probably trying to figure out whether he should flee, investigate or ignore it. As his handler, you need to realize that he is not paying attention to you, and he may be about to spook or bolt; to prevent that from happening, you must regain his focus.

A horse who raises his head while being ridden may be in pain, especially if he also hollows his back, pins his ears or wrings his tail. Carefully examine your tack for protruding screws or other sources of discomfort and check for proper fit. If the behavior persists, have a veterinarian check your horse for back pain.

• Snaking. Lowering the head slightly and waving the neck from side to side is an aggressive act, often used by stallions who are fighting or herding an uncooperative mare. If you see a horse do this, it’s a red alert. You need to ascertain why the horse is aggressive and defuse the situation. This may mean refocusing his attention, moving him out of the area or just getting away from him.

What His Forelegs Say
We’re all trained early on to watch out for a horse’s hind legs because that’s where the kicks come from, but the front legs can also communicate quite a bit:

• Standing splayed. A horse spreads his front legs out to the sides and leans back a little when he is scared---he may be seconds away from a spook or bolt.

Injuries or health issues, such as weakness from malnutrition or neurological impairment, can also cause a horse to stand with his forelegs splayed. Call in a veterinarian if a horse standing splay legged is unwilling or unable to move.

• Pawing. Horses paw---an arcing action with the foreleg that may dig a trench in soft ground---for a number of reasons. The bored or impatient horse paws when tied---he’s saying that he’s tired of standing around and he’s ready to go! Stressed horses may paw in the trailer or at feeding time, and the behavior stops when the source of the anxiety is past.

Pawing to indicate anger is rarer, but it is a signal you need to heed: In these cases, the pawing is more forceful and is often combined with pinned ears. In a loose horse, pawing like this often precedes a charge or some kind of attack. If you see this, get out of his way and make sure you’re not between him and another horse who may be the source of his aggression. In a horse who is tied or in hand, forceful, angry pawing may proceed a bite or strike. In this scenario, move other horses away, correct him with a sharp “No,” then refocus his attention by moving him from the area or putting him to work.

• Stomping. Unlike pawing, stomping is raising and lowering a foot forcefully in place. Horses stomp to indicate irritation. Usually, it’s something minor, such as a fly they’re trying to dislodge. However, stomping may also indicate your horse is frustrated with something you are doing, and if you don’t address it, he may resort to stronger signals.

• Striking. A strike is a forceful, forward kick with a front leg that can be either aggressive or defensive. This is a dangerous action. If you’re very lucky you’ll walk away with only a bruise, but a strike can break a bone. If the horse rears and strikes your head, he can kill you easily. Fortunately, horses rarely strike without warning, such as stomping or pawing, wide eyes, an elevated head or pinned ears. That’s why it is important to listen to those signals so that you can change your horse’s focus or prepare for worsening behavior.

What His Hind Legs Say
The hind legs of a nervous or frustrated horse are a danger zone to be heeded:

• Cocked. When a horse cocks his leg, he rests the leading edge of the hoof on the ground and drops his hip. When combined with a lowered head or ears hanging to the side, this is the sign of a horse who is relaxed and resting. You may see him occasionally shift his weight, uncocking that back leg and cocking the other one. However, if your horse shifts his weight rapidly from one foot to the other, he’s probably in pain and cannot get comfortable; you need to call your veterinarian.

A horse may also cock a hind hoof when he is irritated or defensive and considering kicking. In that case, he may also elevate his head and turn his ears back, and he may be looking back over his shoulder to keep an eye on the perceived threat. The best thing you can do then is steer clear of his back end and move him forward and away from whatever is bothering him.

• Raised. Your horse may lift a hind leg off the ground to signal irritation. The cause may be something as minor as a horsefly, or it could be that he’s annoyed with a horse or person behind him and is threatening to kick.

At the more aggressive end of the spectrum, many of the warning signs will be similar to a horse with a cocked leg: He may elevate his head, pin his ears and possibly even snake his head back and forth in warning. Your goal will be to move him away from whatever is bothering him and refocus his energy by putting him to work.

What His Muzzle Says
Even beyond nickers and whinnies, a horse’s nose and mouth can tell you several things about what he’s feeling:

• Drooping lip or slack mouth. A horse standing quietly with his lower lip drooping may be relaxing or even asleep. If you approach him, do so cautiously and call his name to avoid startling him. Once he’s awake and moving around, his lip should return to normal. However, if the slackness in his mouth persists while he’s alert, he may have an injury or a neurological problem. Ask your veterinarian to investigate.

• Chewing. It may look a little funny to see your horse chewing when you know he’s not eating, but this is a good sign when you are training him. It indicates he’s relaxed and thinking, and that in turn means he’s learning.

• Clacking teeth. A foal will sometimes raise his neck, push his head forward, curl his lips and click his teeth together. It can look comical to us, but it’s an important behavior for him: This is how the foal tells other horses, “Hey! I’m a baby! Please don’t hurt me!” You’ll see this most often in foals and weanlings and occasionally among more submissive yearlings. Normally, they stop by the time they’re 2 or 3 years old.

• Flehmen. Flehmen is another of those behaviors that looks humorous but serves an important function: When a horse smells something he’s unsure of, he raises his head, curls his upper lip, breathes in and blows air back out. This allows him to push the scent particles through a structure in his nose called the vomeronasal organ (VNO).

The VNO enables horses to better detect chemicals in the air, often pheromones emitted by sexually receptive horses. You most often see stallions flehmen when they’re determining whether a mare is in heat and ready to breed, but all horses will do this when they smell something unusual and they’re trying to get more information.

• Flared nostrils. A horse will stretch his nostrils wide to draw in more air as he exercises, and the flare may continue for a short time afterward. At other times, a horse’s nostrils may flare and even quiver when he is startled or nervous---this is one of those quieter communications that can develop into something more serious if you don’t take heed right away.

• Tight, pinched or pursed mouth or muzzle. This is a subtle sign and can be easy to miss. Tension around the mouth tells you your horse is worried, stressed or scared. When you notice his muzzle tighten, take action to either remove your horse from the situation or help him work through the stress or fear so he won’t have to resort to “louder” messages like biting or running away.

• Gaping mouth with visible teeth. This gesture can signal different things, depending on the context. If the horse also pins his ears and you can see white around his eyes, he’s angry and probably seconds away from biting you or another horse---move out of his way immediately to avoid being hurt. If a horse’s mouth gapes while he is being ridden, he may be in pain. Check the fit of your bridle and bit, and schedule a dental examination to make sure his teeth aren’t hurting him. Last, if your horse stops eating and stands with his neck stretched out and his mouth gaping, he may be experiencing choke, an obstruction in his esophagus. This is an emergency; remove the uneaten food and call your veterinarian immediately.

What His Eyes Say
The movements of your horse’s eyes tell you not just what he’s thinking but also where his attention is focused:

• Tension. As with tension around the muzzle, tightening of the muscles around the eyes is a subtle, early sign of stress, fear or discomfort. You may see this as a wrinkled upper eyelid or tightness at the corner of the eye. If you learn to notice this cue and respond promptly, you can avoid bigger problems.

• Rapid darting. When your horse’s eyes are flicking from side to side, he’s probably scared and looking for a way to escape. This sign may precede a spook or bolt, but if your horse feels trapped he may react by biting or kicking in an attempt to get away. Remove him from the situation or calm him down to keep yourself safe.

• Whites of the eyes showing. To interpret this sign correctly, you need to know your horse and what’s normal for him. In some horses, the sclera (the opaque white portion of the eyeball surrounding the cornea) is always visible, especially in Appaloosas and pintos with lots of white on their faces. In some horses, the sclera is exposed when they are only startled or mildly alarmed.

Usually, however, by the time a horse has gotten worked up to the point that you can see the whites around his eyes, he’s extremely upset. If his ears are also pinned, he’s angry. If he’s trembling or snorting, he’s scared. Either way, you’ll need to take quick action to reassure or distract him to prevent a spook, bolt or defensive move.

What His Tail Says
More than just a fly swatter, the tail is one of the more mobile methods of equine communication:

• Raised or “flagged.” A tail carried above the level of the back is a sign of excitement. This behavior is often associated with Arabians, but any horse will do it if he’s energized enough---some will just get keyed up more readily. A horse who is so excited that he’s flagging his tail isn’t paying much attention to you, and he’s probably prone to spooking, bucking or bolting. You may need to put him to work to regain his focus.

• Clamped down. A nervous or stressed horse will press his tail down, and he may tuck in his hindquarters. This is a good time to reassure him and try to build his confidence. If your horse clamps his tail when you are riding, he may be in discomfort or pain; you need to make sure he’s sound and his tack fits well. Call your veterinarian if the behavior persists for no obvious reason.

• Rapid swishing. Slow slapping of a tail is all about fly control. But when a horse’s tail is jerking quickly from side to side or up and down, he is irritated or angry. This is often a pretty clear warning sign that he’s about to kick or buck, and you need to heed it immediately.

If your horse swishes his tail often while you are riding, check your tack to make sure everything fits properly and no sharp or protruding edges are hurting him. If he continues with the behavior, have your veterinarian examine him to look for pain or lameness.

What His Whole Body Says
Sometimes you need “the big picture” to get the full story of what’s going on with your horse:

• Tension. When your horse’s muscles are rigid and his movements are stiff, he’s either hurting, nervous or stressed. If he’s scared, you can work him through the problems with some desensitization---this is easier to do if you start before the point where he has to bolt or buck to get your attention. If you don’t think fear is the problem, have your horse examined for back pain, lameness or dental problems.

• Trembling. Shaking is almost always a sign of fear. Extremely nervous horses may tremble when exposed to something new, but I see it most often in rescued horses who were abused in the past and are very frightened of being handled. We had one mare whose entire body tensed whenever we moved toward her, and when we first tried picking up her back legs, the anxiety turned into trembling so severe she nearly fell down. At first I was afraid that something was physically wrong with her, but she showed no other signs of illness or injury. It was simply fear.

A horse who is so scared or nervous that he trembles is on the verge of either running away or fighting to protect himself. If you see this, stop whatever you are doing and give your horse a few minutes to calm down. When he’s relaxed, slowly reintroduce the thing that scared him. Be quiet and calm with him, and he’ll pick up on your attitude. Working with a horse who is this scared or nervous takes a lot of time and patience. You might want to enlist an experienced trainer to help him work through his issues.

• Touching you. If a horse reaches out to touch you with his muzzle, he could be trying to nip or bite you. Or it may be that he’s curious and checking you out. Another possibility is that he’s nervous and needs a little reassurance. This is one of those times when you need to know your horse to distinguish the difference.

I once worked with a little filly who was nervous and high strung. After a day or two, when she felt comfortable with me, she began to reach out and gently touch me with her muzzle if something scared her. That was my signal to slow down, reassure her and let her get used to the new thing. If I hadn’t known her well enough, I might have thought she was being pushy and “corrected” her to discourage biting---which would have made her more nervous and might have caused her to escalate to bolting from things that scared her.

• Swinging hindquarters. When your horse swings his rump from side to side, it can mean one of two things. Usually, he’s warning that he’s about to kick. In that case, his ears will probably be back, he may be wringing his tail, and his body will be tense. Move him away from whatever he’s mad at and put him to work.

A mare in heat will also swing her rump slightly from side to side, trying to get the attention of any stallions that might be around. She’ll also likely raise her tail and turn it to one side, and she may urinate a little.

Learning the body language of horses takes time. As you work with your horse, observe how his postures and expressions change as he interacts with you as well as other people and animals. Before long, you’ll start to understand the more subtle signs that he’s getting annoyed or fearful, and then you can start a more proactive “dialog,” responding to his cues and keeping his focus on the work at hand. One day, the intuitive, “mind-reading” rider everyone envies may be you.

This article first appeared in EQUUS issue #424.

6 Barn Hazards

Cate Lamm — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:31:54 +0000

: Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco

Is your barn safe for your horse? Take a look at the following six barn hazards, then tour your barn. If you spot a hazard, fix it today!

Hazard #1: Sharp protrusions. If there’s anything sharp in your horse’s stall — such as nails, splinters, or sharp edges on a broken plastic manger — he’s likely to scrape, puncture, or lacerate himself. His eyes are particularly at risk. Action steps: Visually scan stall walls, then run your hands over all surfaces, including feeders, waterers, and feed buckets. Check the ceiling, too. Remove splinters, and replace any broken boards. If the sharp object is hard plastic, remove it, replace it, or wrap it in duct tape. If you find sharp nails, pull them out, or whack them in.

Hazard #2: Unsecured feed. Rodents and birds can contaminate feed with urine and feces, which can make your horse ill. Mice might chew on the insulation around any accessible wiring, which can cause a barn fire. And if your horse gets into the grain, he could colic, suffer laminitis, or both. Action steps: Keep pellets and grain inside heavy metal containers. Make sure the lids fit tightly. Look for locking lids. For maximum protection, keep feed in mouse-proof cans inside a horse-proof (closed and locked) feed room.

Hazard #3: Improper hay storage. Hay dust interferes with your horse’s breathing and can harm his respiratory system. Hay is also a major fire hazard. Action steps: Store hay away from your horse, preferably in a separate, well-ventilated building. Keep hay on pallets to keep it safe from ground moisture. Stack bales on their sides, and leave spaces between bales to promote air circulation, which helps keep the bales dry. If necessary, make a “floor” with pallets, stack the hay, and cover just the top two-thirds of the stack with tarps, so air will circulate.

Hazard #4: Electrical wiring and cords. An exposed electrical cord can electrocute your horse or cause a barn fire. Horses will chew anything. Action steps: Enclose your permanent wiring in PVC conduit. Use extension cords

: Photo by Heidi Nyland Melocco

only when absolutely necessary, and then use only heavy-duty models designed for outdoors. Be very careful with fans and water heaters, and protect these cords with conduit. Avoid heat lamps, which can start a fire. Don’t overload your circuits.

Hazard #6: Cobwebs and dust. The cobwebs that accumulate in barns are dangerous because they’re flammable, and they trap dust, bits of hay/straw, and bedding particles. Action steps: Routinely dust and remove cobwebs. A long-handled feather duster is ideal for dusting light fixtures; a light broom is useful for stall grilles, walls, and corners. Pay special attention to light fixtures, outlet covers and switches, and panel boxes.

Jessica Jahiel, PhD, is an internationally recognized clinician and lecturer, and an award-winning author of books on horses, riding and training. Her e-mail newsletter is a popular worldwide resource.

Dental Problems Can Masquerade as Training Problems

Cindy Foley — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:24:16 +0000

: Dr. Grant Miller uses a power-float. Note that the horse's jaw is resting on a padded sling.

Consider this . . . When your teeth, gums or cheeks cause you pain from cavities, infections or cold sores, it distracts you from work, recreation or relationships. The pain may even keep you from going to work, school, or even riding. And it can cause headaches, along with pain in your neck, shoulders or back.

The same things happen to your horse, but he can’t tell you, so you probably won’t let him take the day off because you don’t see an obvious cause for his behavior. Watch for subtle signs of discomfort or pain and consider dental care as a possible solution, such as we found with Spock and Fiona.

Spock, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, worked hard to avoid contact between the bit and the right side of his mouth, but when the two met, you could be sure he’d plant his feet, veer to the left and rear. And if you managed to stay on and get him going forward again, you’d either have 100 pounds of pressure in your right hand or his head constantly would flip like a flamingo sifting water and food through his beak.

Fiona, a 5-year-old warmblood mare, had a less violent reaction when she felt bit pressure for a downward transition. She’d just slam on the brakes, as if she were a reining horse doing a sliding stop. And when she jumped, her efforts were rushed and flat, as if she were in a race to get to the other side.

The power-floating Dr. Grant Miller, of Petaluma, Calif., did on Spock’s teeth dramatically changed his attitude toward working into the bridle—really, toward cooperating with his rider at all. He had sharp points on the pre-molars and molars on the right side of his mouth, as well as rostral hooks and caudal ramps, which were inhibiting his ability to chew both his food and accept the bit. (Note: Dr. Grant Miller is now one of Horse Journal’s Contributing Veterinary Editors.) See sidebar equine dentistry has come a long way.

Fiona had never had a dental exam, and the work Miller did on her was extensive. In addition to power-floating the sharp hooks on both sides of Fiona’s jaw, Miller removed two unusually large wolf teeth from her upper jaw. Quickly, Fiona started to work into the bridle with greater confidence and she began to jump fabulously—like a deer, using her neck and back in a bascule like never before. “It’s simple: She felt a lot more comfortable. The bit contacting her wolf teeth was like you banging a metal spoon on one of your incisors,” said Miller.

Miller, a graduate of the University of California Veterinary School, practices at the Sonoma-Marin Veterinary Service in Petaluma, Calif. While at veterinary school, he studied extensively under Tony Basile, a master equine dental technician who practices and lectures around the world.

“A dental problem is no different than a lameness,” said Miller. “It’s going to limit their performance because they’re going to spend a lot of time thinking about the pain coming from their mouth and how to avoid it. And that’s the biggest reason to give your horse a dental exam annually—to keep the pain or discomfort they’re feeling from distracting them from their work.”

Rider to Rider: What’s the best advice you’ve received from Practical Horseman?

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:39:24 +0000

Practical Horseman's first issue cover from January 1973

In honor of Practical Horseman's 40th anniversary issue, we asked our readers to share the most memorable columns and articles they've read throughout the years.

I have read Practical Horseman for many years and have picked up so much knowledge. I still enjoy George Morris’ column. He is a wonderful instructor—one of the best I know—and a true horseman. I also like Jimmy Wofford’s column. His emphasis on classic riding will always hold true regardless of the discipline you choose.

A series of articles that come to mind was many years back with Betsy Steiner about training your young horse. I have ridden for years, shown hunters and jumpers, am a graduate H-A pony clubber, have foxhunted and been a professional myself. Steiner’s articles really helped me in working with young horses correctly. I would love to be able to read them again.
Susan Wilde, Nebraska

There was a series of articles on schooling your hunter back in the early 90s that I still pull out and reread every so often.
Monica Celizic, Michigan

I’ve learned a TON from the conformation and George Morris’ rider-evaluation columns. I’ve subscribed to Practical Horseman since I was 10 years old, and I am now in my 30s. Happy 40th!
Tara Tibbetts, Texas

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Jimmy Wofford’s column is by far my favorite. His practical and down-to-earth yet often technical advice has been very helpful to me as I’ve made the transition from decades of riding hunter/jumpers to eventing in the last 21 months. I also SO appreciate his sense of humor and total lack of political correctness.
Andi Stockton Fox, New Jersey

I’ve been reading Practical Horseman since I was a small girl in a town filled with Western riders. My enthusiasm for English riding was satisfied by years of subscriptions, most of which are still in boxes in the attic. My most favorites are Jumping Clinic and Conformation Clinic. They’ve shaped and sculpted my knowledge through the years and created the horsewoman in me. How can you pick just a few things through years of reading? It’s all so ingrained in my mind. I’m thankful for the gift in the magazine. The gift of comradeship in others is highlighted in your pages as well as the gift of proper care and riding for a happier and healthier horse. The one thing I can take away from this is a lifetime of enjoyment in the horse world.
Kris Calvert Fisher, Oregon

Read more answers to this question in the January 2013 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

2012 Articles Index

jpreble — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:04:41 +0000

Need help finding your favorite H&R article from 2012? This complete list of 2012 articles should help.
Have a favorite training article you want to refer back to? Or maybe there was a money-saving Solution you want to implement at your barn? Maybe you want to order a boot that was featured in the Style page. Look up all the past editorial material here!

Al Dunning’s How’s My Riding?
"Sitting Pretty,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 32
“Hard-Working Pair,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 32
“Trail-Course Prep,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 32
“Al Says, ‘Relax’” Practice Pen, May, pg. 46
“Small-Fry Horsemanship,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 28
“Rail Work,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 38
“Fence Work,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 40
“Reining Prep,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 40
“Schooling Session,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 34
"Sit Up in the Saddle," Practice Pen, Dec., pg. 34

Barns, Property Maintenance
“Melt Ice Safely,” Your Horse, Your Life, Jan., pg. 18
Stable Gear: “Stall Fronts,” Jan., pg. 64
“Savvy Storage,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 20
“Spring-Clean Your Barn,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
“Messy Job Made Easy,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 20
Special Advertising Section: “Barn & Ranch Makeover,” March, pg. 57
Stable Gear: “Barn Carts and Caddies,” April, pg. 78
“Nip It in the Mud,” May, pg. 80
“How to Handle a Hay Shortage,” June, pg. 56
“Three-Pronged Fly Control,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 30
“Small Size, Big Benefits,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 28
“Tack Theft—Now What?” July, pg. 68
Stable Gear: “Barn Fly Control,” July, pg. 78
“Winter-Prep Steps to Take Now,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 26
“Easier Hay Soaking,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 24
Stable Gear: “Winter Water Options,” Oct., pg. 70
“While You Wait,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 20

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Behavior
“Sore Back; Foal Eats Manure,” Whole Horse Q&A, March, pg. 14
“Hematoma; Saddling Woes,” Whole Horse Q&A, April, pg. 14
“Rearing to Go—In A Bad Way,” Problem Solvers, June, pg. 88
“Club Foot; Sometimes Spooky,” Whole Horse Q&A, July, pg. 20
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Pasture Predator?” Your Horse, Your Life, Aug., pg. 19
“Clinician On Call,” Aug., pg. 43
“Keeping Kelly,” Aug., pg. 62
“Trailering Fears; Bowed Tendon,” Whole Horse Q&A, Aug., pg. 12
“Popped Splint; Trail Fears,” Whole Horse Q&A, Sept., pg. 14
“Barn Sour; Shoe Boil,” Whole Horse Q&A, Oct., pg. 15
“Eye Discharge; Pulling Back,” Whole Horse Q&A, Nov., pg. 12

Bob Avila’s Winning Insights
“Breeding Time Machine,” Practice Pen, Jan., pg. 30
“How Not to Lose,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 30
“Don’t Skip the Basics,” Practice Pen, March, pg. 30
“Tire Kickers,” Practice Pen, April, pg. 33
“Industry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
“Horse Divorce,” Practice Pen, June, pg. 45
“What You Need to Succeed,” Practice Pen, July, pg. 36
“Know When to Quit,” Practice Pen, Aug., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 1: Introduce the Concept,” Practice Pen, Sept., pg. 34
“Neck-Reining: Part 2: Introduce the Curb Bit,” Practice Pen, Oct., pg. 32
“Neck-Reining: Part 3: The Romal Advantage,” Practice Pen, Nov., pg. 28
"Rules of Engagement," Practice Pen, Dec. pg. 26

Breed, Show Associations
“Did You Know? Surprising Facts About 10 Breeds,” Jan., pg. 50
“Once More, for the Memories,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“New National AQHA Championship for YOU!” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
“Important USEF Drug-Rule Changes,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Gallop Poll: “If Wishes Were Reiners,” Your Horse, Your Life, Feb., pg. 18
Have You Tried: “Entry-Level Reining,” Practice Pen, Feb., pg. 38
“New Show Options for All Breeds,” Your Horse, Your Life, March, pg. 18
“Happy Birthday, APHA!” Your Horse, Your Life, April, pg. 18
“PtHA, AQHA Innovations,” Your Horse, Your Life, May, pg. 20
“Inudstry Update,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 38
Have You Tried: “Saddle-Log Programs,” Practice Pen, May, pg. 48
“Save Big at AQHA Novice Championships,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Painted ‘n Pretty,” Your Horse, Your Life, pg. 24
“Genetic Test for Appaloosas Now Available,” Your Horse, Your Life, June, pg. 26
“Arabians Slide to Paychecks,” Your Horse, Your Life, July, pg. 24
“AQHA Video Delux,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Find a Trainer, Help a Youth,” Your Horse, Your Life, Sept., pg. 20
“Philanthropy at Pinto World,” Your Horse, Your Life, Oct., pg. 22
“Numbers Up at Quarter Horse Shows,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
“ACTHA Rides Benefit Service Members,” Your Horse, Your Life, Nov., pg. 18
"Not Too Common: Grullas," Your Horse, Your Life, Dec., pg. 16

Rider Fitness Tip of the Month: Develop a Quiet Seat in Dressage

admin — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 20:09:00 +0000

Heather Sansom is the author of rider fitness ebooks Complete Core Workout for Riders, and a regular columnist in several equestrian publications including Dressage Today. Equifitt.com offers personalized coaching through clinics and convenient online coaching available anywhere. Clinics available include fitness, yoga and fitness, and sport-psychology and fitness. You can get a free subscription to monthly rider fit tips, or download the ebooks at Equifitt.com.

"A self-going horse is only possible when the rider is quiet." --Reiner Klimke

I was recently reviewing some old Reiner Klimke videos. When he said this sentence it jumped right out at me: What an excellent way to summarize so much.

In last month's piece we discussed how to get more flexibility along your spine in order to be able to follow the wave of the horse's motion in your back. Quietness as a rider is often misinterpreted as stillness--absolute lack of motion. Now that we have tools like YouTube, we have many more opportunities to watch top-level riders and they do indeed look motionless much of the time.

Apparent motionlessness is achieved in your back by the ability to absorb and carry the motion of the horse up through every joint between every vertebra in your spine, and not by stiffness or rigidity. Flexibility and softness in your back is critical if you do not want to block this wave of energy from your horse. Flexibility and softness become suppleness when they are combined with adequate strength for you to support your body in alignment. On its own, flexibility results in either a floppy body or a physically 'busy' one that is too pushed here and there. We want to follow the motion of the horse, but always with the ability to also lead.

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When we watch high-level riders and they appear to our eye as motionless, it is common mimic that in our own riding. However, as with many aspects of correct riding, there is an outside and an inside. For example, on the outside, a rider who's size is well matched to their horse will carry their hands slightly above and slightly ahead of the pommel with nice bend in their elbow to achieve that straight line from elbow to bit.

However, when a rider who's proportion to their horse does not work out so neatly sees this and tries to put their hands in that exact spot in relation to the pommel, they may end up with long arms and locked elbows. They have achieved the outer guideline, but not the functional requirement for riding which is to have soft elbows and a nice line from elbow to bit.

The functional requirement is based on biomechanics. If the rider is short on a long horse, or long on a short horse, their posture when functionally correct, will not match the visual expectation for hand position. The same would apply for a rider with a structural limitation such as different limb length. A rider with different physical leg lengths may be tempted to ride with one stirrup shorter to achieve visual symmetry, at great cost to their seat position due to very different femur and hip angles. The important aspect for the horse is not the leg length, but balance and straightness in the seat bones. The seat bones are the base for a rider. The way your middle, shoulders and head stack on top of your seat bones in a balanced way is what the late Sally Swift referred to as the "building blocks" in her famous book Centered Riding.

"You can't have control over your horse's balance until you have control over your own balance. To be balanced.you need to be sitting equally on both seat bones and strong in your middle section so that your horse can't displace you." --Kyra Kyrklund, Dressage Today article "Smaller Steps for Greater Balance"

Turning flexibility into real quietness requires two more components: strength in your core, and balance. This month, we look at balance because the strength you need depends on your balance. For example, if you are not well balanced (you shift to the side, tip forward, lean your shoulders back, or your feet creep forward), you will find yourself trying to use strength to fight your own body in order to achieve alignment or apply aids. The result of the biomechanical argument going on in your body will be tension. Tension blocks motion.

Flexibility and softness in your spine are only a part of the equation for quiet riding. Your back will not stay supple if your body is tilted forward or backward and not correctly vertical. Try standing on your feet, tipping forward as far as you can and holding the position without stepping forward for as long as you can. Observe the strain beginning to build up in your back. If you rock forward in the saddle, your back muscles and facial tissue will tighten up to support you.

Respiratory Problems? Help Your Horse Breathe Easy

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:38:35 +0000

Your horse is a natural show hunter, but you take him to the jumper ring. Why? He’s a “roarer.” Hunter judges won’t pin him because his breathing is noisy.

Your talented young event horse used to drag you around cross country, but now you’re pushing him to finish.

Your dressage prospect has Grand Prix talent, but he can’t seem to master the degree of collection needed for the higher levels. When you ask for it, he’s willing—but then he makes a weird gurgling noise, tenses up and shuts down.

Different horses, different problems—but all have conditions that affect their breathing and limit their careers. In this article two leading veterinarians explain how some common problems in the upper and lower airways can lead to poor performance and noisy respiration.

Every cell in your horse’s body (including those of the muscles that power performance) depends on the oxygen he takes in with each breath. So the more you ask of him, the harder his respiratory system works and the more significant these problems become.

Restricted Airflow
Abnormalities in the upper airway can restrict the flow of air and sometimes produce odd noises. Roaring is by far the most common of these noises in sporthorses, says Eric Parente, DVM, who specializes in performance evaluations and upper-respiratory surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. Your horse makes a high-pitched, raspy sound when he inhales, especially when he draws deep breaths at the canter or gallop. The noise is typically louder with effort, fatigue or when your horse is flexed at the poll (which restricts his airway like a kink in a hose), and it may worsen over time.

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Laryngeal hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the larynx) causes roaring. During exercise your horse normally expands his airway to draw in more air by pulling back the two arytenoid cartilages at the opening of the larynx. In this condition, one of the two cartilages doesn’t move or may even sag into the airway as he breathes in. The vocal cord just behind it, which would normally be pulled flat, stays in the airway and vibrates. Usually, it’s the left cartilage, and the root cause is nerve damage. As the nerve supplying the muscle that moves the arytenoid degenerates, the muscle weakens and atrophies.

If the narrowed airway restricts airflow enough, your horse tires more quickly and takes longer to recover because he can’t deliver enough oxygen to his muscles in hard work. How big a problem this exercise intolerance is depends on the degree of restriction and the work he does.

In dressage, your horse may tire in collected work, when his airway is more restricted, and this may limit him at the upper levels.

An event horse may be limited in cross country, which calls for maximum effort over an extended time. Fatigue will set in—and as it does, his airway will become even more restricted. But the same horse may do well in jumper competition, where peak efforts come in short bursts.

Even without exercise intolerance, roaring is a problem in the hunter ring, where the noise is considered an unsoundness and will keep your horse out of the ribbons.

Other sounds—gurgling, fluttering, rasping—appear with some less-common problems that may also affect performance. They include

epiglottic entrapment. Loose folds of mucous membrane surround the opening to the larynx. In this condition the membrane slips over the epiglottis and traps it so it can’t move to cover the opening when your horse swallows. Besides noisy breathing and poor performance, coughing during exercise is a sign, Dr. Parente says. Inflammation, cysts, abscesses and growths that involve the epiglottis can produce similar signs.

displaced soft palate. Except when your horse swallows, the soft palate should stay flat on the floor of the pharynx, under the epiglottis. Sometimes, though, it flips over the epiglottis and partly blocks the nasal passages as the horse exhales. Often this happens only in intense work or when your horse is tightly flexed at the poll.

Jim Wofford: The Times They Are a-Changin’

Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:46:27 +0000

There is not much to like about this photo. You would have a hard time getting the recommended two fingers under the straps. When this poor, unfortunate horse’s noseband is finally loosened, you will see grooves cut into his sinus cavities by the overtightened noseband. His open mouth and the tension of the reins tell us he is not in self-carriage. Strapping your horse’s mouth shut usually produces the sort of deadened response we see here.
© Dusty Perin

If you are a horseman, chances are you are extremely conservative. I do not mean this in the political sense of liberal and conservative, but in the literal sense that you are disposed to preserve existing conditions. You have very good reasons for this conservatism when it comes to the welfare of your horse. The penalties for change without contemplation can be severe, and your horse pays the penalty with his health and soundness if you are wrong. If wisdom is the anticipation of consequence, then we all labor to be wise when it comes to our horses, because they trust us so completely with their well-being.

Looking back over my career, I find I have always been resistant to fads and changes in the horse world. Some fads, especially when it comes to apparel, do little harm to our horses, although bling says something about the rider’s need for attention rather than the attention she should pay to her horse. Other fads are more abusive (rollkur comes to mind) and some, like the now outmoded use of a true interval system of conditioning (short bursts of maximum exertion), injure horses with sickening regularity. Unlike humans, horses do not self-monitor their own soundness. If you ask a good horse to gallop until he is exhausted, he will cheerfully injure himself for you. Modern eventers may speak of using an interval system to condition their horses, but what they really mean is they use an intermittent system of exercise and conditioning.

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Although conservatism has its benefits, we must always be open to improvement in the care and training of our horses, especially when that change is supported by scientific research. I am speaking of two topics I have discussed previously: the use and abuse of tight nosebands in dressage and the unsafe and unsteady galloping position that has crept into our teaching.

One Noseband for All?
Nosebands are one of my many irritants when coaching. For example, flash nosebands are ubiquitous in the eventing world. Almost every horse I see is wearing one. Flash nosebands are inherently ill fitting—a flash is basically an inefficient figure-eight noseband—so they are invariably overtightened, causing a pronounced indentation in the flesh of the nasal bone and, occasionally, small sores on the lips. In addition, these nosebands can interfere with the horse’s normal swallowing mechanism, producing the very resistance they are intended to cure.

I can’t decide which irritates me more: overtightened nosebands or the mindless application of equipment, regardless of whether it is suitable for this horse at this stage of training. Not every horse in the eventing world needs or goes well in a flash noseband. Yet when I ask riders whether they have tried other nosebands, or even no noseband, they look at me as if I had just stepped down the ramp of the mother ship. Obviously, it has never occurred to them to try something else. After all, everybody tacks up their horses this way, so it must be correct. Sigh.

In the past, I have spoken out against the use of overly tight nosebands on pragmatic rather than scientific grounds. My reasoning was that both the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and U.S. Equestrian Federation rules consider it a good sign when a horse softly chews the bit, and judges reward this behavior during the dressage test with favorable marks. A good working definition of classical training is that we do not ask the horse to do anything he does not do in nature. Clearly, strapping a horse’s mouth shut is unnatural and will not produce classical results in terms of acceptance of the bit, softness of contact or self-carriage. Naturally, we want the best possible score for our horses, but by cranking the noseband as tight as possible, we actually prevent them from accepting the bit correctly.

Given all this, you can understand that a recent series of articles at www.eurodressage.com got my attention and led me to scientific studies regarding the effect of tight nosebands on equines. The researchers’ findings—that tight nosebands are abusive to horses—are not surprising. However, new scientific knowledge means that we now can prove something that was merely alleged in the past.

If our current practices are proven to be abusive, even unintentionally, then we must immediately adopt new practices based on the latest findings. What surprises me is that this is not happening: Riders and trainers are not changing their practices in response to new information. We do things a certain way because we have always done them this way and it is too much trouble to learn new techniques. This attitude is prevalent in the horse world and is a huge barrier to improving the health and training of our horses.

An Olympian Overcomes Dressage Show Adversity

Hilary Moore — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:42:41 +0000

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to get ahead at a dressage show. You think your dressage horse is going really well at home, and then at a dressage show your plans fall apart. It’s a hard nut to swallow and it’s not fun, but it’s part of competing at a dressage show—not just in dressage but in any sport. We must accept defeat because defeat teaches us many things. An example of this was my ride on my dressage horse, Rafalca, at the 2009 FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas. After entering the dressage arena, she became frightened and refused to perform her dressage test. Each time she got close to the dressage judge, she would not go forward. As a pupil of the German riding system, I know that going forward is fundamental, but at that moment it was all I could do to complete the test. It was the ride—in front of thousands—that no one wants to have, and it was one of the biggest disappointments of my career.

I should mention that my journey with Rafalca has been long and emotional with ups and downs and more than a few bumps along the way. This is typical in the career of an international dressage horse, and many of my colleagues have experienced similar frustrations, but I will tell you my story.

In 2007, Klaus Balkenhol [former U.S. dressage chef d’équipe] had dedicated much of his time to working with some of the top riders in the country, focusing on the developing horses. I’d spent a lot of time working with Klaus, and I was encouraged and proud that he thought it fitting that Rafalca and I do the test ride at the 2007 World Cup in Las Vegas. At the end of our ride, we received a standing ovation. I could not have had a more exciting time, as we were not really expecting to wow the crowd. Rafalca wasn’t bothered by the people, the proximity of the seats, the clicking of the cameras or even the occasional burst of applause. Klaus and I had wanted her to get some valuable experience, and now we knew she had the ability to be a top contender internationally.

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After that performance, I obtained a U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) training grant to train with Klaus in Germany and compete in Europe. Our goal was for Rafalca to be a top contender for the 2008 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the trip started in disaster. On her third day at Klaus’s, Rafalca took a bad step and sustained an injury, and it took 60 days before she could be worked again. That set her training back about a year. Although we were able to compete in 2008 at Grand Prix, Rafalca was ranked 13th and just missed the cut to compete in the dressage national championships, which also served as the Olympic selection trials. Rafalca’s owners—Beth Meyer, Ann Romney and my wife, Amy—were very disappointed. Nevertheless, I stuck to my schedule and set as my next goal qualifying for the 2009 World Cup. I was excited when Gil Merrick, then the USEF director of dressage, called to say that I’d received a wild card to compete in Las Vegas at the Final. I felt that my hard work was paying off and that, finally, Rafalca could show the world the brilliance I experienced every day at home.

At the Final, when we came down the chute into the Thomas & Mack Arena, I thought we were going to have a super ride. She was forward and went in nicely, but when she hit X, all of a sudden, it was over. And that happens—either your horse loses it or you as a rider lose it. People said later they thought it was the smoke in the air or the judge in the white outfit or the noise or the photographers or the lighting—everybody had a reason for her refusal. I never knew what it was and I don’t really care. My horse shied and refused to go—end of story.

I received a lot of positive press for finishing my ride and smiling. That’s part of who I am. I don’t quit. I got a lot of support afterward from rider friends like Robert Dover, who was there when I came out of the arena. He said, “Do you remember at the Los Angeles Olympics when I could not get my horse out of the piaffe? Stuff like that happens to all of us. Be done with it, and get on with life.” My coach, Wolfram Wittig, told me, “That’s horses. Today there was nothing you could do.”

The 2009 World Cup was a very dramatic event for my wife, Amy, because she’s so supportive of what I do and puts so much effort into it herself. I think she almost took it harder than I did. I was certainly upset, mostly with myself, but I would never blame the horse. The horse is an animal, and she was afraid of something, and it’s my job to train her so that she is not afraid even of something that’s really scary. It was my failure. I went back and thought, What can I do so this doesn’t happen again? Of course, you’re never really covered 100 percent. Your horse can always shy or make a mistake. But after reflecting on the previous few years, I saw a trend: I’d get close to reaching a goal, but I wasn’t able to finish. I had to take a hard look at my program and make some important changes.

I believe in every rider’s life there comes a moment when you have to be brutally honest about the structure of your program. If there’s a problem, you have to probe deeper instead of just chalking it up to bad luck. You make transformations that make a difference.

Trailering Safety

jpreble — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:10:53 +0000

In the July 2012 Gallop Poll, 60 percent of our readers said they hadn't had an accident, breakdown, or horse-health problem while hauling. Review our tips for trailering safety below.

Horse-travel season is upon us. That means it’s time to load up and hit the road again—and again and again. If you haul horses on a regular basis, chances are you already have a story to tell about some trailering nightmare—plus a list of dos and don’ts you now follow every time you load.

If you’re new to the hauling game and haven’t yet established such a list, give it time. The fact is, hauling horses is an unpredictable endeavor, which is why taking steps to avoid disaster is the name of the game.

As an equine veterinarian, I’ve seen just about every horse-hauling wreck imaginable. And, many times, I’ve thought to myself, if only they’d....

In this article, I’ll relate some of my trailer horror stories (all true). I’ll also share the safety precautions that some well-seasoned road warriors use to help keep their own horses safe in transit. If you heed their advice, it might help keep a future hauling experience from becoming one of my frightening trailer tales.

Disaster #1: The Great Escape
The caller was panic-stricken. She’d loaded her young horse into the trailer, only to watch in horror as he immediately plunged through the front window in a desperate attempt at escape. Now he was trapped, half in and half out, hanging from the trailer window. My assistant and I arrived on the scene just in time to administer sedation strong enough to allow us to pry him free. He was one of the lucky ones—he survived the ordeal with some signs of trauma, but lived to be hauled again.

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Avoidance tips: Believe it or not, I’ve seen this particular scenario happen not once but twice...and it’s really scary. Western pleasure and longe-line specialist Robin Gollehon (see more info on all our experts in “Meet the Road Warriors,” page 3) recommends a simple precaution that will prevent a horse from making such an unplanned exit “out the front.”

“If you have a trailer with drop-down doors, make sure they have grates or screens over the openings,” she advises, adding that you should keep these grates or screens closed—even when you’re parked—to avoid escape attempts.

Almost as frightening as a front-window dive-through is the horse that tries to run out of the trailer backward. Clinician Julie Goodnight reminds anyone who hauls to remember the importance of closing the trailer’s doors before you tie your horse up front when loading, and untying prior to opening the doors when unloading. This helps to avoid the panic response that can result should your horse attempt a sudden back-door exit and hit the end of his rope.

Julie also suggests that you outfit your horse in a breakaway halter for trailering rather than a rope one. That way, if something does go wrong, he won’t get hung up in his halter.

Of course, careful trailer training and making sure your horse is comfortable to stand quietly in the trailer is the most important underlying safety measure you can take. A horse that hauls quietly and feels secure in the trailer is much less likely to make an unplanned exit attempt from either end.

Toward this end, Julie advises you to load your horses “as the very last thing you do before putting your vehicle in drive and leaving. If horses are loaded before you’re ready to go,” she explains, “they become fussy, claustrophobic, and impatient in the trailer,” thereby increasing the risk of a breakout attempt. Another way to keep your horse happy about hauling, suggests cow horse trainer Sandy Collier, is to drive carefully at all times and decelerate around corners. “Your horse needs to learn to relax while being hauled, so make hauling a good, comfortable experience in every way you can,” she says.

Disaster #2: Down Under
All seemed well during this trip until my client pulled over and opened the back of her trailer door...to discover a disaster scene. Her horse had fallen and slid under the divider, and was being trampled by his traveling companions. Amazingly, this horse also survived the trauma, but not without some fairly intensive and expensive therapy for his multiple wounds.

Avoidance tips: All our experts agree that slippery floors are a major hauling hazard, and that bedding the trailer floor to add traction and soak up urine and manure is generally a good preventive measure, particularly on longer trips.

Sandy does offer a caution, however, about the risk of bedding fragments in the air contributing to an increased risk of shipping fever/pneumonia. For this reason, she prefers to use larger-chip shavings from soft woods such as fir or pine, as they have less potential for lung irritation. She also suggests watering down the shavings to minimize the extent of dust and shavings particles in the air.

Robin recommends another air-quality measure—adjusting the windows and overhead vents to make sure there’s enough air movement in the trailer, while of course taking into consideration the temperature outside.

Julie, also mindful of respiratory risks, beds her trailer only for long trips, where horses are likely to urinate, leading to slippery floors. Otherwise she prefers to leave floors bare.

Should you outfit your horse in shipping boots or bandages to prevent injury to the lower legs? As the veterinarian who sutures wounds, I say bandage when you can—particularly for short hauls, because most of the injuries I see occur during loading and unloading. For long hauls, however, especially when it’s hot, boots or bandages may not be ideal. They can make your horse even hotter, plus have a tendency to slip or fall off, either of which can cause other problems.

Sandy prefers well-fitted shipping boots, “unless the person is well versed in wrapping properly,” in which case she believes wraps are best. Julie prefers quilts and wraps with bell boots to protect the coronary band. For very long trips, Julie even duct tapes blue construction Styrofoam (available at a lumber outlet or big-box store like Home Depot) to the bottom of each foot to prevent foot soreness and possible laminitis.

All-around trainer Karen Banister uses only standing wraps when hauling, and only on horses that are used to wearing them. She also suggests placing tape over the wraps’ fasteners to keep horses from chewing on the wraps.

“I think hauling boots are OK,” she explains, “but often they end up in a pile with the other ‘piles.’”

Clearly, the decision whether to apply leg protection depends on a number of factors, including the length of your trip, the behavior of your horses, and your own wrapping abilities.

Once again, good driving is critical, in this case to help keep horses from slipping and falling. Julie suggests you learn to drive “as if you were hauling milk without a lid.”