EQUINE CASES AND CLIENT FEEDBACK

BASIL - THE CASPIAN STALLION WHO FEARS CONTACT

HORSES, like humans, can inherit fear from their parents. There is a strong and well-documented interaction between memory and emotions, and this link between the two has a highly important purpose from an evolutionary perspective. Emotional memory has taught us how to evolve, and forms the basis for what is often referred to as instinctive behaviour. Something that is experienced as an emotion or a feeling is also a mechanism for triggering activity simultaneously throughout the brain and the body, this then generates a behaviour involving the whole creature. This emotional memory may be as much a part of a horse's genetic makeup as their conformation and temperament. I witnessed this phenomenon first-hand several years ago when working in Montana on a Paso Fino ranch with Linda Tellington Jones. A mare that had been ill-treated was rescued by the owners of the ranch and was, understandably, extremely frightened of humans. She would start shaking when approached - so much so that her hooves would clatter on the ground. If people continued to approach her, and she was unable to flee, the mare would go to the faint reflex and drop to the ground. This response to stress occurs when all other options are removed. It is not a case of the horse throwing itself down in a temper tantrum, which is something I often hear. Fainting is one of at least five responses to stress, and one that is often grossly misunderstood. The central nervous system at this point is so overloaded that it literally shuts down. The owners of the mare decided to turn her away to run with their herd in the mountains to reduce the stress of human interaction, and to give her time to recover from her poor start. The mare bred and produced a filly foal who, later, went on to produce a daughter of her own. Despite a peaceful four years on the ranch, it appeared however that the mare had passed on her fear of humans to her offspring. Although the daughter and granddaughter had never experienced rough

handling, nor witnessed ill-treatment of their mother and grandmother, they too would start shaking when approached by humans - which is why we had the pleasure of working with them.

WITH TTEAM, it is possible to give these horses a different emotional memory. It was therefore with great interest that I went to see Basil, a lovely six-year-old Caspian stallion, owned by Jane Scott. Basil was bred by Jane at her home in Wiltshire. He has a lovely eye, no malice whatsoever, and is a good example of the breed. However, he cannot tolerate being handled at all. It is a testimony to Jane and her family that Basil is so friendly. He genuinely wants to be a part of the social scene and happily comes when called. He doesn't panic when stabled and is even happy to eat in the presence of people, provided no one tries to get too close. Jane and her family have spent many hours sitting with Basil, trying anything to help him overcome his concerns. He is lucky. It is likely that the Paso Fino mare started life like this. Perhaps she was labelled `difficult'. Certainly she was misunderstood, and it is when understanding stops that violence begins. Forcing contact on an animal like this can push them over the edge, driving them to the flight, faint or fight reflex. The central nervous system needs to learn that contact can be enjoyable, which it cannot do if tension, pain or fear is present. TTEAM uses several techniques to promote relaxation, self-confidence and self-control. Horses like Basil are often born with a high level of tension in their body This tension is often responsible for over-reactive behaviour to contact. By reducing the tension, associated behaviour diminishes. Stress triggers negative memories, and relaxation recalls pleasant ones. When working with a horse like this, it is important to keep stress levels as low as possible to ensure that any concerns about being handled by humans are not constantly reinforced. It is also important to respect that, for whatever reason, this pattern of habitual behaviour has served a purpose for Basil. It may be that this memory stems from his ancestors who ran wild just a few generations before him. However, this reaction has ceased to be functional for Basil in his life as a domesticated horse, as it obviously has huge implications from a health point of view.

I STARTED trying to work with Basil in an outdoor fenced yard, but the area was too big. Jane then moved Basil to a stable. This was perfect as it gave Basil room to move but meant that I could begin working with him without chasing him around. As Basil does not like human contact, I began by using two, four foot long, white dressage sticks which served a dual purpose. His initial concern at having me in the stable was immense. He was rearing, and would have clambered over the back wall of the stable had the structure of the building allowed. I used the sticks as extensions of my arms to contain him a little, and also to start making contact with Basil. Animals that dislike human contact are often more accepting of contact from an inorganic substance. Jane had already told me that, if cornered, Basil would jump over the top of me, and the sticks meant that I could start working with Basil without overcrowding him. When he became upset, I stepped back a little and held the sticks out to form a pen within the stable to prevent Basil from charging around the perimeter and potentially injuring himself. It was important to let him move around a little, however, to prevent his stress levels from rocketing and triggering a different reaction. Tension patterns within the body can determine to a certain extent how a horse behaves. Fearful animals carry a great deal of tension in the hindquarters and tail area, and animals are more defensive of the areas that carry the greatest tension. Basil's tail was tightly clamped and any contact in this area made him shoot forward as though `he had been electrocuted. Emphasis was therefore on working on an area that held less tension. Stroking under the neck, down the chest and fore limbs can be quite reassuring for some animals. It helps to ground them and can dramatically quieten a nervous horse. Basil not only allowed contact in these areas, but actually settled. It was not long before I could use both the sticks to stroke Basil down both front legs. Once one part of the body begins to relax, tension patterns throughout the rest of the body begin to change. After half an hour, I could touch Basil on the tail and, although he still jumped, his reaction was less marked. He could walk past me slowly instead of shooting straight past me, and was happy to eat his hay slowly while I stood relatively close to him. It is important to allow horses time to process each step, and Basil was given plenty of breaks. It is often in these moments that the animal makes the most change. I worked with Basil on and off for approximately 40 minutes, and was very pleased with the results. The focus with TTEAM is on what the horse can achieve, rather than what he cannot achieve. To have Basil standing quietly while being touched with the dressage sticks, without rearing or desperately trying to escape, was a positive step forward. Although the changes may be small they are significant and, from my experience, extremely promising. One of the many benefits of TTEAM techniques is that they are relatively easy to pass on to the owners. Jane and her family can continue to work with Basil between my visits, stroking with schooling sticks to change his perspective of what human contact might mean. When Basil is happy to be touched all over his body with the sticks, we can start trying to establish contact with the hand. The central nervous system is like water it will follow the path of least resistance. With TTEAM, Basil will quickly learn that the stress of avoiding contact is far greater than the actual contact itself. It is not about making it unpleasant for him when he avoids contact by chasing him or punishing him. It is about teaching him that being handled can be a truly enjoyable experience.

BASIL, the young Caspian stallion, is doing well. I went to see him two weeks ago and this time he allowed me to stroke him with the schooling sticks straight away. He didn't automatically rear the minute I entered the box and I actually touched him once on the neck with my hand. It was a fleeting moment but a definite step forward, and I am looking forward to working with him today. Jane, his owner, told me last week that she mucked out his stable without him doing the wall of death around the box. Although Basil kept a very wary eye on the proceedings, he stood calmly, eating his hay while Jane was in the box, barrow and all. Jane's daughter Fleur has been able to stroke Basil with the sticks over his back and even though Basil is now fully aware of what to expect when people enter his stable, he is comfortable with the work and improved little by little each day. These small steps are so important. And not just for Basil. Starting any horse, regardless of its age, should be done slowly - allowing plenty of time for the horse to process, rather than merely put up with, what is happening to them. They need time to mature both physically and mentally. Bigger horses mature more slowly than their smaller counterparts and should therefore be left until later, rather than being started earlier.

A large framed body is harder to organise and it is no coincidence that the majority of top gymnasts are relatively small. While the growth plates in the horse's lower leg settle at the age of two, the growth plates in the back don't settle until six years of age. The rapid period of growth that horses go through in the early years greatly affects balance and co-ordination. Horses that are significantly croup high during their growing years adopt a certain posture to accommodate the the length of hind limb. They get tight around the shoulders, girth area and back, and have a tendency to swing the hind leg out, particularly when moving downhill. Unless this posture is changed and the horse is taught a more effective way of moving his body as he levels out, the habit is set and the horse may continue to hold this posture into adulthood. Tension in the back can make the horse reactive to the saddle and rider, giving rise to behavioural problems such as bucking and napping. During this time, however, there is a lot that can be done with a youngster in-hand to stimulate his mind, start his education, and keep him active. TEAM ground exercises focus on improving self-confidence, self carriage and self-control. The horses are taught to work quietly and slowly, through and over patterns of poles laid on the ground, over and under plastic sheeting, and to negotiate a variety of obstacles including low wooden bridges and even a teeter totter - a low level seesaw. Body work helps promote a sense of calm, improved flexibility and reduces tension patterns that can arise as a result of growth spurts and dental changes. Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last baby teeth come in at about eight months of age and these teeth begin to be replaced by adult teeth at around two and a half years of age. By five, most horses have their full complement of permanent teeth ranging from between 36 to 40 teeth, depending on the sex of the horse. (Mares generally do not have canine teeth). Unshed caps and general dental changes can cause discomfort in the mouth at the exact time when a bit is being introduced. An uncomfortable mouth can make a youngster reluctant to accept the bit and/or move forward from the leg, and can trigger reactive responses such as rearing. Dental changes can also set up tension around the withers and shoulder areas causing girthing issues during this time. Young horses often lack body-awareness and have poor co-ordination. They may therefore be mislabelled as `bargey' and/or `dominant' as they have a tendency to crowd the handler. Adolescents in any species are often ungainly and clumsy and, while it can be frustrating and downright dangerous to have a strong, gawky three-year-old leaping all over the place, there is a lot that can be done to improve the situation without using fear or force, or starting them too early. If the horse is struggling with his own balance, it is unlikely that he will cope easily with the added complication of a rider. A horse that is never taught self-carriage from the ground will often go on to balance on the riders hands when under saddle. Ground work in-hand for young horses builds solid foundations for later life and will make the backing process easy and stress-free for both horse and handler. All the exercises can be repeated once a saddle is introduced to ensure that the horse is truly at ease with carrying something on its back. If they are at all concerned about the saddle they will not be able to work through the ground exercises, even though they may move happily in a straight line or on the lunge. It is far safer to recognise a potential problem before a rider is introduced. It is also important to teach the horse during these early years to lead from both sides to minimise a horse's natural one-sidedness. With some of our equestrian knowledge stemming from the days of the cavalry, we are taught that it is correct to handle a horse from the near side. This was the only way to lead and mount a horse when swords were carried, since a clash between horse and sword would not have been a particularly healthy one. However, swords are no longer carried by riders, and our habitual handling of horses from the left makes it hard for them to work in balance in the school. It is no coincidence that the majority of horses are stiffer on the right rein. One of my resident clients at Tilley Farm at the moment is a lovely five-year-old Dartmoor pony who is with me to bring on. Backed briefly at four by his previous owner, and then turned away to mature until five, he is sweet natured and easy to handle. However, he is extremely cautious about movement around his right side and, although he negotiates poles on the ground with ease when led from the left side, he freezes when signals start coming from the off side. He finds it hard to move forward and his gait becomes rigid. He trips over the poles that he stepped neatly over before and does his level best to re-educate the handler and place them back on his left side. He is not stubborn, nor stupid, and his easy manner shows that e had a good start in life. He has simply not learned that information can come from both sides. He is also more cautious about contact on the right side of his body, and this one-sidedness will naturally give him problems when under saddle. Ground driving and working between two handlers, however, will quickly teach him to become more balanced without causing him any undue concern, and will make further schooling more enjoyable. Of course, every horse is different and no rule applies across the board, but resistance only comes from resistance and time spent in the beginning saves time later on. By watching the horse, having an awareness of where he is holding tension and working with him from the ground you will know when he is truly ready to be backed -You can contact Sarah at the UK TTEAM Centre, Tilley Farm, Farmborough, Bath BA2 OAB or telephone 01761 471182.

In the space of six short weeks - the length of the summer holidays - Caspian stallion Basil has been learning that contact with humans is not so bad after all. Using the Linda Tellington-Jones Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method, SARAH FISHER has been working with Basil during the summer with amazing results.

EVEN though I work with horses on a daily basis, the success of TTEAM (the Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method) work never fails to amaze me. Competition riders repeatedly report a marked improvement in the athletic ability of their horse, and owners who have their horses for pleasure consistently find their equine friends more co-operative, happier and easier to handle. Some of my clients with performance horses that were on the verge of being written off, due to previous injuries or patterns of behaviour, ring with news that, not only is their horse back competing, but achieving greater results than ever before. Obviously TTEAM cannot save every horse. Sometimes the horse carries congenital deformities or such a high level of pain that its quality of life is in question. In these cases TTEAM can only serve to reduce stress, to enable the horse to be handled safely, and to give the owner a greater understanding of how they can best help their horse.

If a significant physical problem is the cause of difficult behaviour, it is usually evident very early on. Although, initially, the horse may make massive changes in the first sessions, he either reaches a plateau quickly or keeps reverting to unwanted, although often less marked, patterns of behaviour between visits. In Basil's case, the changes between the early sessions were so great and so consistent that I felt confident we could bring about some seemingly impossible alterations to his behaviour over time. But, even I have been amazed at the speed with which this has come about. For six years, Basil has not been able to tolerate contact. He wears a headcollar that was put on when he was doped to have his hooves trimmed at his last health check, and he hasn't been touched since. The prospect of having humans in close proximity was enough to have him jumping over the top of anyone who was in his way, and someone walking into his stable was enough to set him rearing and scrabbling against the walls. In six weeks, the length of the summer holiday Basil has completely turned around. He has learned that it is safe to stand quietly in his stable, calmly eating his hay while Fleur, the daughter of his owner Jane, strokes him gently over his shoulder, neck and body with her hand. Every time I have been back to visit Basil there has been a dramatic shift in his behaviour. He has gained weight, has less tension through the body, and settles really quickly with the work. He stopped rearing after session two, and Jane can muck him out without having to keep a careful eye on him in case he panics and tries to escape. The first session was broken down into 10-minute segments, giving Basil plenty of breaks to process what was happening. Now Basil is happy to be stroked for 30 minutes at a time. He genuinely seems to enjoy contact and almost seems relieved to be touched. All these changes have come about through a careful, quiet approach and are down to the pa duce stress, to patience and understanding of his owners. After showing Fleur how to use the two schooling sticks to initiate contact, we then moved on to working with one schooling stick, covered in a sheepskin buff so that Basil could become accustomed to a softer, warmer touch as a stepping stone towards contact with the human hand. When Basil showed real concern, we went back to the work he already knew - stroking with two schooling sticks - to reassure him. It is all too easy to keep pressing forward and to continue until the horse accepts the new information. But there is real value in going back a few steps if the horse begins to struggle with what is being asked of him.

Top of page