Horse Behavior Specialist
Licensed 2 Star Parelli Professional
www.nancyslater.com
48 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Tender shoots now start to peek up through the warming earth. Your horse eagerly works the velvety grass alongside his pasture mates. You begin to get excited as you realize that the time has come. It's warm enough to ride!
You head out to the barn to get your tack ready. Your horse lifts his head in your direction for a moment, then continues to munch on the sugary grass tips. When you start towards him with halter in hand, he and his buddies snort, toss their heads, and exit with heels in the air! They abruptly stop to resume grazing.
This little game continues as you approach, until you are no longer smiling about their playfulness. You're over it! What's gotten into them, anyway?
You finally catch your riding horse and lead him out of the pasture, but he is resistant and starts to call out to the other horses! Why is he acting so buddy sour all of a sudden? He's never done that before!
You tie him to the hitching post and he paces and dances. He is so agitated, you can hardly get the saddle on. In fact, it takes several attempts! Whats this all about? He's tossing his head while you're trying to get the bit in his mouth. When you try to mount he's trotting back to the gate before you've landing completely in the saddle! The head tossing continues... This is not the horse you rode last fall!!
You are what you eat
Changes in season can cause changes in attitude. What your horse is consuming might be part of it. Horses have been known to have metabolic issues due to grazing on rich pastures. Certain times of the year, potassium levels can spike and cause behavior changes in some horses. Try to keep your horse on a low sugar and starch diet, keeping his intake high in fat and fiber. Even though your horse is extremely happy on those sugary green pastures, it might not be a good idea to get too much of a good thing. Remember the saying,”He's feeling his oats!”? Slowly
introduce any change in his diet, and remember, everything in moderation.
Horseplay IS allowed
There are many exercises and games you can do with your horse on the ground with halter and lead rope, at liberty in a round pen, and on your horse in an arena with contact on the reins, and also on a loose rein. Exercise the mind, emotions and body. The more you get him moving his feet in a purposeful way, the better. By staying firm and friendly, he will calm down and focus.
The way to a man's (or horse's) heart
Another great way to win your horse's favor is grazing in hand and while in the saddle. You know he wants that grass! Most folks think a horse should not eat when you're holding or riding him. Well, respect has everything to do with it. It's important that YOU be the one to pick the place and the time. If he picks, you're not calling the shots and acting as a leader. And we
always must be the leader...
what they do! You have a chance to offer him something of value. This has balanced the relationship of many horse and rider teams.
Think of it as, “You did something nice for me, and now I do something nice for you”. A little
something special. If you do it right, the horse will ask you politely if he may eat, instead of it
feeling like a disrespectful form of entitlement. I give my horses a verbal cue, “Wait”. And they
do.
“Get a job!”
Standing around without a job over the winter months can cause behavior issues. Idle hooves
are the devil's workshop! This can be trouble for you and ruin a nice ride if you expect your
horse to be the same as he was last fall. Without a pre flight check, things could go south! Play
with your horse on the ground to see if he needs to blow off steam. If you see any negative
changes in your horse's attitude, do not get on yet.
Everybody needs a purpose! What can you do with your horse that is fun and interesting? Can
you keep him engaged with you as a leader, looking forward to your next adventure together?
You have more to offer your horse than his pasture mates. You have a plan! If you don't, pull
one together. You can be so fun and so interesting that your horse can't wait to go with you!
If your horse is getting a good diet, he gets exercised in body and mind, gets to spend
undemanding time with you, is given a purpose that he is bred and trained for, and you are his
project coordinator, there will be no more behavior issues and sassy attitudes!
Now let's get out there and ride!
The Conference at the Parelli Campus in Ocala, Florida