Saucy Pet

Training a horse can only start after you have first caught him. When you first attempt this you may be surprised at how frustrating it can in fact be. This step is of primary importance when training your horse. The foundations of trust are laid in this step. During each stage of horse training remember the importance of using the three P's - patience, persistence and positive reinforcement. Each step of horse training will involve the use of these three elements.

You will be more efficient in approaching your horse if the enclosure you use is of a manageable size. A round pen is ideal, but if you don't have one a paddock or other large fenced enclosure will work.

To begin with, use a casual demeanour to approach the enclosure. You should try hard to relax and remain calm. Don't allow your stress to enter the pen with you. Any stress or aggression will intimidate a horse easily, as in nature they are prey animals. This represents a possible threat and the last thing you want is for your horse to see you as a threat. Trust needs to be built between you and the horse.

Go in with the horse but not to catch him yet. This will happen in good time. Your aim for now is to familiarize yourself with the horse and more importantly, for the horse to become familiar with you. Walk inside and just stand around for a couple of minutes. Don't look straight at the horse. Predators eyeball their prey and stare into their eyes to intimidate them. A predator you are not, and your horse must know this. You must be seen as part of the herd.

Take a fork or rake into the enclosure next time and just tidy up a little. Check the gate to see it's in tact. Do anything but approach the horse at this point. The horse will approach you eventually and will want to see what you are doing. Horses are curious animals by nature. When the horse realises it's you again, he will come to check you out with a good sniff.

This first step can take a long time if the horse is unfamiliar with human contact. There are some horses who will not feel too shy and approach immediately. Either way is acceptable. The trust is built when you allow the horse to become accustomed to you in his own time, whatever time that may be. Patience!

Don't see this as an opportunity to grab the horse. Bear in mind that patience here is the key. It can take a long time to build this foundation for training and a lasting bond with your horse. Rushing this step simply will not work.

When the horse at last approaches you, turn your back and walk away. Make sure that you walk away before your horse does. By walking away first, you will indicate that he is not in charge of you.

Once you feel that you and your horse are comfortable in each other's presence you can approach your horse from the side. Walking slowly, remember to also have a loose and relaxed posture. Stepping sideways can be a good approach for a skittish equine. Go toward the side and don't stare. Glancing sideways, move towards your new friend. Never sneak up on or surprise your horse with the halter. What will you do to hang on to the horse once you "catch" it if it's frightened? Your mutual trust will be breached and you'll have to start all over again. You could also be seriously hurt. Have both patience and persistence.

When the horse allows you to come close, it's time for positive reinforcement. You should try to forget about training at this point. This step is about bonding. Simple grooming, brushing, scratching behind the ears, conversation, stroking along the neck area are positive reinforcement tools. This first interaction should be enjoyed by your horse. The two of you will now be ready for training.

A note on safety around horses:
Never approach a horse from behind unless you are very familiar and the horse knows you. A swift kick can connect long before you can contemplate moving away. Horses are much faster than humans, particularly if they feel threatened or surprised. Always approach where you can be seen.

Whether it is your own horse, or you are training the horse on somebody else’s behalf, it is always advisable to ensure that there is adequate equine insurance in place to protect you both should an accident occur during training. Horses, while very beautiful animals, are strong and powerful with the capability of delivering an incredibly debilitating kick. A good horse insurance policy will include third party liability, and it is definitely worth checking this before you begin with your training.

Although cushings disease occurs in different animals (horses, dogs, even people), the symptoms for each species are different. For example, in horses it causes the coat to grow longer and thicker, often becoming curly, whereas in dogs it has the opposite effect of causing hair to fall out and produce bald spots. The equine (horses, ponies, etc.) version of this illness is known as ECD (Equine Cushings Disease).

ECD is the result of excessive steroid production by the adrenal glands. This is caused by the pituitary gland producing too much hormones and thus over-stimulating the adrenals, which is usually the result of either tumor growth on the pituitary or age-related growth of the pituitary gland itself. Both changes of the pituitary are age-related, so ECD is most common in older horses (over 15 years) but has been found in horses as young as seven.

Cushings was first identified in explained in’21, by Dr. Cushing, after whom the disease is name. ECD is the equine variation of the disease first identified in humans by Dr. Cushing.

The symptoms of cushings disease vary somewhat from horse to horse, with the more common symptoms including: – Changes to the coat. It may become longer and curly. It may not be shed in Spring. In some cases the color becomes lighter. – Increased sweating. This is often due to the coat become longer and thicker, and retention of the winter coat into summer. – Weight loss despite increased appetite and food consumption. Changes to the body shape, with loss of muscle in back and neck, and development of pendulous abdomen. – General depression, loss of coat shine, horse looks ill. – Development of diabetes and a resulting increase in water consumption. This can be difficult to detect with pastured horses, but with stabled horses one may notice an abnormal amount of urine (or soiled bedding) in its box. – Development of laminitis. The most common cause of normal laminitis is carbohydrate overload due to eating spring grass, whereas ECD-caused laminitis is more frequent in autumn and winter since ECD is worse when the days are shorter (this is because the pineal gland is light-sensitive and as daylight decreases it stimulates the pituitary gland). – Immune system declines, leaving the horse more prone to infections and slower to heal from external injuries. – The depressions above the eyes fill in. These depressions are most evident when a horse is chewing, but gradually fill in with fat in ECD horses.

Any of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of illnesses other than ECD. Consequently, blood and urine tests are normally used to confirm that the cause is ECD (e.g. by measuring hormone levels and hormone response levels) and to rule out other possible diseases. Studies have shown that many horses with ECD are either not diagnosed or incorrectly diagnosed (the symptoms are incorrectly attributed to a different disease), with the result that they do not receive appropriate treatment.

Unfortunately it is not possible to cure ECD. However, one can slow the disease by the use of medication to reduce hormone production to normal levels. Note that some of these medications have strong side effects, so appropriate testing and control is required to prevent secondary illnesses (e.g. liver disease).

One also needs to watch for symptoms of secondary diseases, such as laminitis or diabetes, which are more common in horses with ECD. These need to be treated promptly to prevent them from further damaging the horse’s health.

Finally, one should make the horse more comfortable by treating the individual symptoms. If the horse is over-heating due to a heavier coat, one should clip the coat to make the horse more comfortable.

Horse riders need to remember the three p's - patience, persistence and positive reinforcement - when beginning to train a new horse. It is necessary to understand these basics before attempting to teach your horse to do what you would like. Following these basic tips will provide the foundations of a great relationship between horse and rider.

Let's start with patience, as that may be the most important quality in a good trainer. Teaching your horse anything new will always require patience. Horses in nature are prey animals and they are aware of this. Watch horses in pasture or pens as the sun is setting. If there are a few horses together - a herd - you will notice them group for safety. You may see them standing tail to head and side by side. This allows them to see from all directions as a team, lest a predator be lurking. A rider could be thrown if a horse unfamiliar with water were to rear up. At worst, fatal injuries could occur to both horse and rider. Your horse needs to learn the trust that he will not be put in danger, and thus it is important to use patience in training.

Horse and rider can develop a mutual trust and a confident partnership when due patience has been employed in training. It can come as a surprise to some that it is possible to reduce a horse's fear when presented with alien objects or situations. It may sound crazy, but to a horse the simple flapping of a shirt on a washing line could be enough to scare him. If you can gain your horse's trust through patient training, he will respond to your relaxed approach to the evil flapping laundry and will walk by without incident.

Great rewards may be reaped in horse training by displaying persistence. Repetition when practicing your exercises helps to build trust and confidence between horse and trainer. The ground work that professional trainers use when they begin training for horses and their riders may seem tedious at first look. Groundwork isn't really getting up there and actually riding, after all. But trainers understand that horses are no different than children learning to walk. A horse is like a baby and must learn the basics before he is ready to start being ridden.

For your horse to understand what is expected of him, you will need to be persistent and practice tasks together many times. Your horse will need to know just what is expected. When you bring out the tack, for example, he needs to know that he must always stand still for you. For your horse this is not natural. It needs to be taught, which requires persistence. Ensure that you are more persistent than your horse. You need to remain persistent, or else he will think that he can get away with resisting or avoiding you. Persistence could also be referred to as consistence.

The powerful tool of positive reinforcement should be used often when training your horse. Horses generally love to please; they should see you as the herd leader. Lifelong friendships can be developed between horse and rider where each understands their role in the relationship.

Positive reinforcement can be very simple gestures or words of approval, of making your horse feel appreciated. Horses are extremely perceptive creatures who can pick up on emotions. If you are happy with the way a training exercise is going, exude that attitude.

As a word of warning, it is unwise to try to train your horse when you are in a bad mood or stressed out. Your horse will sense your mood and may decide not to cooperate. This is usually more down to the horse's fear than to rebellion. The horse may not know you well enough yet to predict your behaviour when upset and could be wary of you because of this.

No matter what type of riding or event you wish to persue, it is the ultimate goal of the horse trainer to build a bond of trust between horse and rider. The basics are the same regardless of whether you choose English or Western style, or whether you will be riding for pleasure or competition. The 3 p’s principles – patience, persistence, and positive reinforcement – can be applied to any breed of horse for a successful training experience.