& Application to Domestic Life

By

Mary Ann Simonds ©

Horses evolved thousands of years ago on the North American continent and proceeded to adapt and expand into almost every major habitat in the world. It is not surprising that humans wanted to domesticate horses and use them for human endeavors. Horses were beautiful and strong, could travel fast and perhaps most importantly were curious to understand another “social species” like humans.  Hundreds of years ago horse and human social cultures were not as different as they may appear today. Horses and humans both are social mammals and in many ways have very similar desires for survival.

Horses want to live in the safety and comfort of friends and family and so do most humans. Horses find simple joy just being with their friends, eating, sleeping and hanging out together. Horses and humans start to differ in their desires for life when it comes to thinking.  Horses have simple thoughts centered around their social lives in the herd, while humans seem to have a desire to expand their existence from human beings into human doings.

Domestication has altered horses’ natural ability to direct their lives and choose their friends and living environments. Although a lovely barn with cobblestone floors and beautiful wood 12 X 12 foot stalls may seem appealing to humans, horses may not find the same comfort. Gaining a better understanding of how horses would live socially and ecologically without any humans, can help people better comprehend what in domestic life may cause stress for horses.

The following outlines simple points to keep in mind to understand horse ecology and culture and how it may relate to domesticated horses.

1.     The most important thing to a horse is they safety of the herd, ie its friends and family. Horses often will die or become severely injured trying to reach their friends. The social bond between herd mates is the foundation of horse survival. Separation from friends, family and familiar places is often a major cause of stress for horses.

2.     Horse society is based around the awareness of “space”. The horse with the largest space and respect of this space by other horses is usually the leader. “My space, your space” is the learned even when a foal is several hours old. Although, there may be equal and shared roles in the herd, the social structure is a loose “hierarchical” structure. Horses rely on the leader to define and protect their space which gives the horse a sense of belonging and safety. Horses often feel stressed if they are with humans who do not provide a feeling of safety for them.  Horses worry about sights, smells, sounds and situations humans are frequently not aware are causing the horses to worry.

3.     Horse culture is predominately a “matriarchal” society in the sense that mares  are the social facilitators and maintain most of the strong social bonds in the herd. However, stallions will often form very strong bonds as well, but typically act as protectors forming “harem bands”.  Equine culture appears to vary depending upon the habitat, temperaments, and learned behavior of group members. Mares often set the “rhythms” of the herd and facilitate strong social bonds with other mares and offspring. Horse leadership is earned through courage, intelligence and respect. Friendship and strong bonding between lead mares and stallions seems to support the most sustainable herd. Both leaders are responsible for the herd’s security, with lead mares being often more sensitive to danger, than stallions. Good family stallions will defend and help protect both mares and their young, often showing as much nurturing to foals as the mares.  Domestic “lead mares still want to be in charge and many do not like changes made in the barn without their permission. This can cause mares to have ulcers and often act out if they feel that the “barn herd ” changed without their permission.

4. Horse temperaments and intelligence usually determine the position the horse will have in the herd’s social structure. Dominant animals usually have dominant offspring. This is supportive by the fact that alpha mares usually will not allow other mares to be bred until they are “settled” and thus will have their offspring first. Increased communication and worry in “lead mare” temperament horses are frequently mistaken by humans as bad behaving or “aggressive mares”, when in fact the mares are following their natural instincts.

5. Horses are free-roaming social herbivores. They often eat 20-22 hours out of the day covering several miles a day for food and water.  Although mostly grass eaters, horses eat a variety of plants including shrubs, tress, lichens, and a wide variety of broad leave plants. Because their digestive system is not very efficient, they can eat  many types of low protein and nutrient plant materials and still do very well. Horses have adapted to a broad range of plants and habitats from cold climates to desserts and from rocky mountains to sandy coastal areas. Only having food at regulated times of the day instead of being able to eat low protein diet all day long can cause stress in horses. This is particularly true at night when a horse would spend the night time hours in its natural state eating. Many domestic horses worry during the night because they are awake and want to be eating and they have no food. Not all domestic horses have the mental capacity to comprehend that food will be delivered in the morning.

6. Smell and sight are extremely important to horses and are the major tools they use to make decisions of safety and comfort.  Horses depend on smell to ensure their safety and to make decisions. Horses move away from fear and toward safety by use of their smell, visual and energy associations. Horses who work alone in the arena or travel to a new place with no friends frequently feel stressed. The horse’s brain is processing many new sights, smells and sounds by himself/herself with no other friends around for safety or for interpretation.

7. Horses have excellent “associative memory” and poor deductive reasoning compared to humans. Horses literally think in pictures of smell, sight, sound and “ feel”. Most behavioral problems are caused from bad associative memory in the horse and can be solved by changing the association from negative to positive. Food and friends make wonderful positive associations.

8. Horses are very sensitive and energetically receptive creatures. They require and often seek out continual re-assurance using eye contact, smell and touch in a familiar herd from other herd members. Horses living alone frequently have behavioral problems and do not know how to make positive social communications with other horses. Horses must learn horse social etiquette and humans sometimes must become the teachers. Gentle head bumping, nose sniffing and soft eye contact are normal behaviors for reinforcing social bonds among friends. Horses that are not allowed to demonstrate social bonding can become stressed.

9. Wild horses today live in family bands usually with a stallion and several mares with offspring. However large horse herds in the Western United with several hundred horses were recorded in past times. Breeding is a social activity done all year long. All foals are usually welcomed into the herd and recognized by the stallion as his offspring. Horses that breed and never are allowed to spend time with their offspring can become stressed. It is unnatural that mares have their foals weaned at young ages and stallions never see their young.

10.  Often male horses spend their whole lives in a bachelor band of other stallions. This is particularly true for stallions with timid or shy temperaments. In functional herds, stallions may stay with mares for many years and often do not acquire the right to breed until they are 13 years old. Stallions who do not have the temperament, the courage or the experience to breed mares can become stressed in under domestic circumstances.  Horses do not instinctively understand what to do, they learn from watching other horses. Hormones may cause extreme agitation in domestic male horses and the stallions are unable to understand this anxiety. This can cause stress and affect performance. Timid stallions usually make wonderful geldings.

11.  Temperament type seems to dictate herd status and leadership. Horses that are leaders have offspring that become leaders. Intelligence, courage and awareness play a significant role in developing leadership qualities. Lead mares frequently experience the most stress in domestic circumstances. Lead mares often want to be responsible for the safety of the herd, which usually includes all other horses in the stable or pasture. When the mares cannot take action to control the herd, the mares become stressed. Gentle but timid horses have the most difficulty separating form other horses and frequently develop ulcers.

12. Although instinct is important for survival in horses, learned behavior may play a much stronger role in adaptation and survival than pure instinct. Horse culture is learned from older horses passing on their knowledge to younger horses. Each herd may have unique characteristics that have allowed the horses to adapt to the herds’ environment. Domestic horses who have grown up with little exposure to other domestic horses, humans or confinement easily become stressed when trying to learn about humans and confinement without the advantage of other horses. Allowing a young or inexperienced horse to watch an older or experience horse can help reduce the novice horse’s stress.

13.  Horses are a “prey” species and have highly developed awareness and sensitivity to danger. They cannot turn this instinct off although they can learn to over ride “danger signals” in the brain. Horses born into domestic lives may still have very strong “wild instincts”. Obviously these horses will experience more stress than well adapted domestic horses. Through the use of kindness and positive associations, combined with relaxing the “back brain”, horses can learn to override their natural instincts.

14. Horses have very little capacity for advanced thinking compared to humans. Their “forebrains” use sensory input from smell, taste, vision, and sound to make decisions. They integrate sensory input in their thinking. When a horse’s sensory brain is over stimulated with pain caused from tight nosebands or strong bits, the horse literally cannot think. This causes stress and may be the number one reason why so many dressage horses have ulcers.

15. Functional horse herds have a natural rhythm to their daily lives. Eating, resting and social interaction. Continue disruption of these natural daily rhythms can cause stress in confined horses.

In summary horse culture has similarities and differences compared to humans. Although horses are a “prey species” and humans are a “predator”, we both are social mammals and share many similarities in our emotional lives and in how we process stress.  The more we understand the world of horses ecologically, biologically and sociologically the easier it is for humans to help prevent and relieve stress in their horses’ lives.

This material is copyright protected. No part may be re-produced without permission of author. For more information or permission contact Mary Ann Simonds at 360.573.1958 or www.maryannsimods.com or maryann@maryannsimonds.com

By

Mary Ann Simonds ©

Just a quick summary from one of my clinics.

A = Awareness, Assessment, and Acceptance- Become more aware of yourself and your horse and how you interact and affect each other. What is your personality and what is your horse’s “horsenality”?  How do you perceive differently from your horse? How aware is your horse?  Have you assessed your horse and yourself?  Can you accept the limitations of yourself and your horse?

Six Step Assessment

Sensitivity, Awareness, Intelligence, Confidence & Cooperation  ( See the S.A.I.C.C. Evaluation ).

B – Beliefs, Breath and Balance- What are your “Beliefs” about yourself and your horse?  What you believe to be true, whether it is or not, often becomes the foundation for what you create in life.

Learn to breath with your horse. Breath can help regulate energy in the body and connect horse and rider together.  Herd synchronicity; in a wild, well socialized herd, the horses will often synchronize their breathing when at rest and when in “hiding” from danger. Try Yoga for horse and rider exercises. Learn to feel when you breathe. Become more aware of your breath and your horses. Many horses hold their breath when they jump or run or work. Do you know why? Determine how balanced you are when you ride. Find your center of gravity. The whole body can be balanced using the breath.

Weigh yourself with two scales and your eyes closed. See how balanced your body is with regard to weight distribution. Sit on your hands and feel your “seat bones”. Do they feel even? Does your saddle fit? Are you balanced from side to side?

C – Communicate, Concentrate, and Collaborate- Learn to communicate “with” your horse. Do not talk “at” your horse or “look” at your horse. Think “with” your horse. Learn the O.F.F.E.R. Techniques for communication; Openness-Friendly-Focused-Empathetic-Respect.

People and horses can learn to concentrate and focus together. Use counting exercises to increase concentration in you and your horse. Stand in front of your horse and synchronize your breathing as best as you can. Then, when you have your horse’s attention, count out loud using the number of breaths you are taking. If your horse does not seem interested in this, then motivate with a carrot or food reward and hold up the reward and tell your horse she/he will not get the carrot until they concentrate with you for a certain number count, i.e. 1,2,3,4,5. As your horse gets the idea, increase the counting by increments of five. See how long your horse can hold its attention. Give a bite of the treat as a reward.

Riding is a relationship between horse and human-it is a collaboration between willing species seeking social interaction together. It should not be a forced situation and your horse must be a willing partner.

S – Stress- Manage your stress and your horse’s stress.

It is critical to understand how horses perceive and process stress. Horses, like other social species have various temperaments and personalities or horsenalitites. Shy horses have more difficulty adjusting than curious confident horses. Assessing your horse’s general temperament can help you prevent stress and develop a training program to fit your horse’s learning style. Although there are as many “horsenalities” as there are personalities in people and each one is related to its environment and experience, generally, it is easiest for people to think about how their horses respond or react to situations and stimuli.  In assessing your horse’s temperament you can refer to the S.A.I.C.C. Evaluation or you can determine dominant characteristics about your horse to gain more insight in determining your horse’s individual temperament.

Group Learner vs. Individual Learner—group learners become very stressed by separation from friends, but learn very well with others. Individual learners are distracted by their friends as they want to disrupt and play all the time. They learn best in one on one situations with little distractions.

Eager vs. Cautious, or Curious vs. Fearful- Horses become curious when fear is low. However, some horses are naturally more curious than others with an eager temperament. Often these horses will seem brave because they are curious, but they will frighten themselves because their curiosity is higher than their confidence. Fearful, cautious horses usually have high sensitivity and some have high negative associations with stimuli. Fearful horses usually do better with strong confident friends around to help them learn.

Demonstrative vs. Passive or Internalizer vs. Externalizer- Although most horses who have dominant horsenalities communicate well and express to you if they are upset, some have learned not to communicate. Usually this is do to bad training that does not allow the horse the freedom to communicate if it hurts or feels unsafe. These horses often develop resistance problems associated with anger. Horses with passive temperaments often develop physical problems such as navicular disease or ulcers because they worry when they are stressed, but do not show it out outwardly.

Confident vs. Timid –Confident horses usually have very little stress. They are brave and take everything with a sense of adventure and interest.  Confident horses who have been  mis-treated or badly trained will be difficult to asses because their confidence might appear low. Timid horses have the most difficult time with stress. They are generally more sensitive to what goes on around them and need support form other horses. However, even timid horses can learn to be braver horses.

Resistive vs. Cooperative – Humans expect cooperation from horses, but smart horses want a reason to be cooperative. Usually the smarter the horse, the more resistive they are to doing things that from a horse’s perspective seem dangerous or not worth their time. Resistive horses require positive motivators. Cooperative horses sometimes have the “I-Want-to-Please Syndrome” and you must watch them for signs of stress

Examples of Common Behaviors

Related to a Few Temperament Types

• Demonstrative – Confident – “lets you know when stressed.”  Bucks, kicks, bites, etc. displays behavior.  Usually curious and into everything.  If abused or unfairly treated, these horses will turn into real troublemakers. The best temperament for managing stress as there usually is very little to worry about, and if there is you will know about it.

• Demonstrative – Fearful – Shies at everything the first time.  Needs time to make sure everything is all right.  Worries about things. Usually highly reactive.

• Passive – Confident – More “inward” horse, doesn’t display much.  Often friendly and calm.  “Doesn’t understand what the other horses get all worried about.”  When stressed, shows little if any behavioral changes.  These horses tend to internalize stress and “hold it in,” but are not stressed by many things if trained by understanding humans.

• Passive – Fearful – Won’t show fear openly.  Seems very willing and often have the “want-to-please” syndrome.  These horses tend to have tight muscles and lips, but will not display fear related stress until “pushed over the limit”.

• Curious- Worrier-Internalizer –These horses are often misunderstood, because their curiosity is mistaken for confident. They often get ulcers because they are in conflict with their curiosity to investigate and their fear about the object or situation when they do investigate it. They want to “know” and understand everything around them.

• Dominant/Leader –Wants to be in charge of other horses and is concerned when they are not organized.

Summary: PREVENTING STRESS IN HORSES – We can’t always prevent it, but we can understand what causes it in horses and help them better cope with stress.

How to help your horse cope with stress:

1. Understand how your horse perceives it’s world:

a.     Instinctual/biological needs.

b.     Personality and psychological make-up.

2. Limit stressors for your horse.

a.     Feed well balanced diet, horse systems are designed to handle about 8-12% protein and the Calcium/Phos ratio is critical – natural grass mix, legume hay, a natural diet as much as possible.  Herbal supplements help to “de-tox” toxins in hay.  Allow free grazing and browsing of such plants as dandelions, (make sure they haven’t been sprayed with herbicides) and other palatable herbs and grasses.  Provide nutritional mineral/vitamin supplement if needed.

b.     Maintain good health program, regular health checks before something happens – ideal health checks are four times a year at the beginning and end of each season – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.  Reduce exercise and showing during winter.

c.     Provide pleasant natural environment with as much space as possible.

d.     Regular, varied exercise – mix ring work with hills and trails.

e.     Allow play time for your horse and for you.

f.      Prevent boredom – varied toys and smells – rope toys, textures, sizes, shapes.

g.     Prepare your horse for travel or other changes – increase B complex vitamins, use relaxing herbs and flower essences.

h.     Allow your horse to meet other horses and animals, smell manure and engage in as many “horse” activities that you safely can allow.

i.      Allow your horse to roll every day.

j.      “Know” your horse’s stable mates and its relationship to them – stable next to friends.

k.     Keep yourself happy and healthy – limit your stress – your thoughts and feelings are picked up by your horse and can be reflected in your horse’s behavior and physical well being.

3. Teach yourself and your horse how to properly cope with stress.

a.     Conduct some form of bodywork on your horse and have some done on yourself on a regular basis.  This trains you to relax and listen to touch, i.e. acupressure, TEAM, physical therapy, etc.

b.     Before you get on, stretch yourself and your horse – yoga, tai chi, etc.

c.     Teach your horse confidence with safe-space training.

d.     While warming up at the walk,

1.     Center yourself with our horse – focus your thoughts with your horse

2.     Take several deep breaths and try and synchronize your breathing with your horse’s breathing

3.     Feel your horse’s muscles as energy and visualize the flow of energy

4.     Use your thoughts and breath to move energy while you ride

5.     Relax and enjoy your horse.