Horse Behavior Specialist
Licensed 2 Star Parelli Professional
www.nancyslater.com
The Right Brain Extrovert (RBE)
When upset, this horse acts crazy. He can't stop fidgeting, prone to go, go, go and not relax. High headed, bulging eyes, 'j’ tail, can't stop moving his feet. All we can think is, “Oh, come on, just settle down!!”. He can't focus and is a ‘lookyloo’ all the time. If you're a good rider, you might try to stay on and ride him, telling yourself you can use him as an endurance horse, but pulling on the reins gets tiring, and so does feeling a bit out of control!
You can own this horse his entire life and every day is like the last. You tell yourself you'll have to deal with it. That's the way he is. He's not mean, just crazy!
The RBE doesn't like feeling this way. He is hopped up on Adrenaline and Cortisol. All he knows is he's not safe, feels anxious, like something is about to get him. Imagine feeling this way everyday of your life. It is unpleasant, to say the least.
*What would you say to someone who is wondering if their horse showing displaced behavior is normal?
“So many horses have displaced behaviors it has become normal! For example, horses needing nosebands to stop their tongue coming out or mouth opening… frothing and foaming at the bit… swishing tails with the use of spurs… tie downs and martingales to stop the horse throwing and tossing its head. Many people see these as quite normal and expected behavior because it is so common. These are not the signs of a happy, relaxed horse in harmony with its rider or environment. We have to look at things from the horse’s point of view and know that we can TEACH them to do things rather than FORCE them.”
How horses live and cope with natural stressors in the wild is interesting to me. They graze most of the day, sleep a little, procreate- and feed predators! They are designed by nature to live in the moment, because any moment might be their last. They are meat on feet. Yet, living wild doesn't cause displaced behavior. A domestic life does!
As caring horse owners, we give our domestic horse everything we THINK he needs: A clean stall, a new slant load trailer, and 2 square meals a day... We train our horse ourselves, as best we can, or send him to a local trainer for 30 days, as finances allow. Since everything in our life is hurried, we hurry the horse. We put him in cross ties because he won't stand still for fly spray, saddling and baths. We micromanage the reins because he's not listening to us. He's arguing about leaving the barn and the other horses, so we get after him. We don't have time for nonsense, so he is forced. He gets angry, frightened, stressed. When a horse becomes stressed for long periods of time, displacement behavior is born.
Living in our fast paced world is stressful for both horses and humans. Day after day, we feel pressured by time, restricted by movement, and frustrated with our situation at work. Horses are stress relievers for us. We think we owe it to them to return the favor!
When we see a horse acting strangely, ask yourself what is bothering your horse. To extinguish the behavior, (or prevent it in the first place), we can work to make our horse feel successful, reward all good behavior, give him something fun and interesting to do. We can provide a more natural living environment, room for playful movement, free choice hay or grass, and social interaction. Horses need to live like horses as naturally as possible. Spending undemanding time with your horse will help sooth his nerves. Hand grazing, belly scratches, and hanging out quietly together under a big shade tree works wonders for calming nerves in both the horse and you!
Your awareness always comes first before your application. Listen to your horse when he is not lowering his head, licking and chewing, blowing out, or yawning in your presence. You will know when he is happy because he will be reaching out to you, looking you in the eye, and showing you his playful personality; interacting with you in a friendly way. Train your eye to recognize the difference between happy and stressed. Think how you might help your horse live a more happy, stress free life by educating yourself about their true needs. Your horse will be grateful!
oss between two individuals, and get a job done, whether you are a horse or a person! Horses and people who get confused can walk off thinking, “Don't know what the heck that fella was talking about, but I'm outta here!”
44 / Sport and Trail Magazine
The Right Brain Extrovert
Part 1 of 4