NAUGHTY HORSES:

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL US?

Jenny Nell Hartung and Saebra Pipoly

“SHE’S OK FOR TODAY;

IT’S ONLY AN HOUR…”

naughtyadjective

1a: guilty of disobedience or misbehavior as in a naughty child

b: archaic : vicious in moral

character : WICKED

2: lacking in taste or propriety

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naughty

WHAT BEHAVIORS HAVE YOU SEEN OR EXPERIENCED

IN EAAT HORSES?

NAUGHTY? OR

COMMUNICATION?

This photo was taken during necropsy. The horse was euthanized

for aggressive behavior.

Photo Source: https://thehorseaholic.com/this-horse-was-euthanized-for-aggressive-behavior-then-his-necropsy-photo-showed-why/

NAUGHTY?OR

COMMUNICATION?

Normal ovary on the left. Granulosa Cell Tumor on the

right. This mare was behaviorally just like a stallion

IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…

• Bit sores

Image Source: http://mouthofthehorse.com/en/educational/problems/

IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…

• For this mild girth gall to turn into …

Image Source: https://www.proequinegrooms.com/tips/grooming/galls-ouch

This!

Image Source: https://schleese.com/saddle-fit-and-girth-galls/

AND THEN THERE ARE CHRONIC ISSUES LIKE ULCERS…

Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/AllHorsesVeterinaryServices/posts/we-have-another-equine-gastric-scoping-day-coming-up-on-september-11th-of-most-i/1857721577578011/

IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…

• Unbalanced riders

• Crooked saddles

• Excessive tack

• Halter

• Noseband

• Flash band

• Chain on nose

SHOULD 20% BE

THE RULE?

Conclusions:• Horses exhibited more

lameness when ridden,

especially when heavy (15.3-

17.9%) or very heavy (23.6-

27.5%) riders were on board

• Saddle fit to rider may have

been a factor

• Horse was more lame in

faster gaits

• Horse fitness a huge factor

***Study was abandoned for

all horses when very heavy

riders were on board

A GOOD ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING… BUT ARE THEY BORN WITH IT?

OR DOES IT COME WITH GREAT CARE AND HORSEMANSHIP…

NAUGHTY OR NORMAL?OR DID WE JUST GET SO USED TO IT, IT SEEMS

NORMAL?

THE IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM

WHEN UNSOUND

HORSES ARE ASKED TO WORK

• Risk to riders, volunteers, and staff

~ sore horses can bite and kick (or worse)

~ difficult to ride (undermining self esteem of riders)

~uneven stride, not rhythmic

(negative impact on riders with neuro deficits)

• Demonstrates a lack of horsemanship to public and community

• Instructor Code of Ethics is not honored

~Principles 1, 2, 3, and 8 (ethical treatment of equines)

WHY DO WE DO THIS WHEN WE KNOW BETTER?

Pressure from parents for a mounted lesson

Pressure from Center Not enough time to

re-do lesson planNo budget for vet

work and body work

Not enough good saddles that fit each

horse

Not enough horses

Instructor not experienced at

determining soundness or reading

body language

Not enough trained volunteers

What else?

WHAT IS THE RIDER ACTUALLY LEARNING…

OTHER THAN POSTING TROT AND LOPING CIRCLES?

COMPASSIONRELATIONSHIP BUILDINGRESPECTKINDNESSSPORTSMANSHIPGENEROSITY SELF-ESTEEM

WHAT ELSE?

STOP THE BLAME GAME

• Start during the intake assessment with the idea of unmounted horsemanship as valuable

• Take ownership of your lessons and the care of the horses you interact with

• Train volunteers to recognize signs and symptoms of an unhealthy or unfit horse

• Use a chart or log to track horses on a daily basis

• Empower someone (or more than one) to advocate for the horses daily

• Pre plan unmounted lessons so you are prepared

• Teach horsemanship from the very first interaction (volunteers and riders)

• Avoid blaming the horse

• Emphasize positive wording

SOUND OF BODY AND MIND…

• Symptoms of an unsound horse:

•Lame (unlevel, off, limping, uneven, short, stiff, asymmetrical)

•Negative Attitude (grouchy, crabby, antisocial, depressed, lethargic, lacks energy)

WEIGHT BEARING LAMENESS(FETLOCK AND BELOW)

“DOWN ON SOUND”

NON WEIGHT BEARING LAMENESS(ABOVE THE FETLOCK)

“DRAGGING A BRICK”

ATTITUDE AND

BEHAVIORaffecting a horse’s ability

and willingness to work

WHAT AFFECTS ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR?

1. Pain 2. Environment 3. Nutrition4. Workload

RECOGNIZING STRESS

#1 PAIN

• Illness/injury

• Chronic saddle fit issues

• Unbalanced/heavy riders

• Hoof issues

• Teeth and jaw issues (bits & bitting)

• Influence of the riders aids

RECOGNIZING STRESS

#2 ENVIRONMENT

• Herd/pecking order

• Shelter and grazing

• Stalled

• Turnout

RECOGNIZING STRESS

#3 NUTRITION

• Grazing

• Free choice hay/forage & water

• Concentrates

• Supplements and Minerals

• Medication as prescribed

RECOGNIZING STRESS

#4 WORKLOAD

• Appropriate number, frequency, and type of lessons

• Characteristics of riders and specific supports needed

• Frequent saddle/tack fitting

• Well documented daily record of horse’s condition/behavior/demeanor

HOW DO WE BEST IDENTIFY STRESS IN

OUR HORSES?

*Look, Listen, and Feel…

DAILY CHECKLIST FOR EACH EQUINE

• Hands on spine, legs, and feet (heat, swelling, injuries)

• Eyes on whole equine (behavior, lameness, demeanor, condition)

• Record appetite, water intake, *elimination, daily exercise

• Check for incident or behavior reports from the day before

Tues 1/16/19Jenny 10:15am

Pee and poop

EyesEarsNose Mouth

NeckBackCroup Tail

Legs HoovesAttitude &Behavior

Appetite&Water

# Lessons day before

Schooling ride day before?

Turnout

Cakes Y/Y Both

eyes

cloudy

Sore

behind

withers

Heat

LF

Heat LF Lethargic ½ hay 4 Y N

London Y/Y X X X X X X 3 N Y

Bill Y/Y X Bite on

right hip

X Heat RR Grumpy X 2 Y Y

Sarah Min/Y Bite on

jaw line

X X X X No

water?

2 Y Y

Friendly Y/Y X X Swelling RF

fetlock

X X X Lay up Hand

walk

Stall

Rest

Tango Y/Y Rub on

corner of

mouth

X X X X X 3 Y Y

Andy Y/Min X X X X X X 3 N N

Example Equine Wellness Checklist

CREATE A SHIFT IN THINKING TO BENEFIT THE PROGRAM AND PARTICIPANTS

• Check each horse daily, prior to work• Track attitude, soundness, nutrition

• Empower the advocate to make decisions about the horses (including taking the horse off the list for the day)

• Compare documentation to determine trends, causes, and solutions

• By Creating a culture of open communication, we give the horses a voice!

THANK YOU!Tomorrow we will be in the arena so

please dress accordingly!