One of the most common problems that affect
horses is spooking. The horse may suddenly jump, shy at an unfamiliar (or even familiar
object), bolt without warning or may spin and try to shoot off in the opposite direction.
Spooking can be very dangerous for both horse and human and unless appropriate steps are
taken to reduce the horse's concerns, this problem will often escalate.
There are many differing views in the equine
world on how to address this behaviour. Some people advocate beating the horse, some
recommend that the horse is repeatedly exposed to the fearful stimulus so that it becomes
de-sensitized to, and no longer scared of, the trigger and some say that it is an
instinctive, reflex action and therefore impossible to change.
Suggestion one would obviously be wholly
unfair as the horse is being punished for being genuinely scared. How many arachnophobics
would overcome their fear if they were whipped every time they saw a spider?
Suggestion 2 has some logic in that
familiarity can of course give a horse reassurance but in reality this would mean that you
would have to consistently put yourself and your horse in a potentially dangerous
situation in the hope that he just gets over it. In any event it is unlikely to work as
repeated exposure to stress can actually trigger more fearful behaviours and it would take
a high skill level to keep the horse and rider/handler safe. Besides, to repeat the same
behaviour and expect a different outcome is a definition of madness.
Suggestion 3 is partially true in that even a
horse deemed to be bomb proof may spook at some point in his life but it does not consider
the many contributory factors that are linked to this problem. It is possible to
significantly reduce spooking and in many cases, eliminate it altogether, with patience
and a calm understanding approach.
The link between posture and behaviour
Linda Tellington Jones, founder of the
Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method (TTEAM), recognised an inextricable link between
equine posture and behaviour over 30 years ago and developed a series of simple body work,
ground work and ridden exercises to help release tension, improve performance and reduce
unwanted behaviours.
The premise of TTEAM is simple. The aim is to
improve physical balance and to teach the horse true self carriage. This in turn improves
confidence and self control. Through carefully orchestrated exercises TTEAM releases
tension, increases circulation through the body, improves proprioception and posture,
whilst encouraging the horse to become thoughtful and active, rather than simply
re-active.
Tension in the neck and back is usually
present in horses that habitually spook and a high headed horse for example is already
starting in the posture commonly associated with the flight reflex. Horses that are
consistently ridden behind the vertical can also spook since this unnatural outline
creates tension through the neck and inhibits free movement.
A tight tail can also be indicative of a tense
and nervous horse and the horse may react to sudden movement behind him and bolt. He may
have cold ears, cold patches over his hindquarters and on the nasal bone and cold lower
legs. He may also find it hard to settle in the stable or paddock and his weight may
fluctuate as his digestive system is likely to be compromised due to physical and
emotional stress.
The set of the eye has some bearing on how the
horse processes visual stimulation and the appearance of the muzzle can also give you
valuable information as to how your horses is likely to respond. A tight chin and tight
muzzle are usually indicative of an emotional horse and it is a myth that a horse with a
permanently floppy bottom lip is always relaxed. Usually these horses are shut down and
the hanging lip is actually associated with damage to, or tension around, the upper part
of the neck. The eye is likely to be dull and these horses often plod along quietly, then
suddenly bolt without any warning and are sadly labelled as un-predictable and difficult.
Tension and stress can be created by
inappropriate training, an unbalanced rider, the reliance on gadgets to force the horse
into an (incorrect) outline, poor saddle, bridle and bit fit, unbalanced hooves, injury,
disease, dental problems, diet, growth patterns, the environment, the day to day
management and handling of the horse and so on.
Even if it is not possible to address every
possible contributory factor you can still help your horse stay calmer and improve his
recovery rate using these simple exercises. If you are not struggling with spooky
behaviour TTEAM techniques will still be of benefit as they will help your horse to become
more balanced, more consistent in his performance and easier to handle in every aspect of
his life.
Case History
Barney is a ten year old part thoroughbred who
came to Tilley Farm here in the UK for rehabilitation. His owner, Sue, had bought him from
a horse sale in poor condition two years before but after only three weeks in his new
home, Barney started to become difficult to ride and to lead. He threw several riders, and
would spin and run off when being led in hand. He became so difficult and dangerous that
no one would ride him and Sue faced a daily challenge leading him to and from his field.
Sue is a dedicated horse owner and was desperate to help her horse. Thankfully she ignored
the well meaning advice of acquaintances who told her the horse should be sent to the
slaughter house; instead she responded to an advert placed by a production company who
were looking for a spooky horse that they could film at Tilley Farm for a popular
television show. In August of 2009 Barney's TTEAM journey began.
When Barney came to Tilley Farm he was a
little underweight, despite Sue's fantastic care. He would only snatch at grass when in
the field and was reactive to any movement and any noise. Even the rustling of paper in a
pocket would send the horse into a panic. He couldn't tolerate any contact around his
head, was tense through the back and had not been ridden since the beginning of the year.
He was filmed on his first day at Tilley Farm
and we had four weeks to work with Barney before the crew were due back to film the
resolution.
Our first step with Barney was to lead him
between two people on loose lines to ensure that there wasn't any pressure on his head.
The horse uses his neck and head to balance. Pulling on a horse's head will create more
tension through the body and can panic the horse and no human can out muscle a horse. It
is far more appropriate to teach the horse to work in self-carriage and this is more
easily achieved if the handlers are forward and ahead of the horse's nose as opposed to
being back by the shoulders.
We also introduced Barney to the TTEAM wand; a
long, white dressage stick that we use for the handling and leading exercises. Horses that
spook tend to have poor spatial awareness and stroking them all over the body with a wand
can help to calm them and influence the connection between their mind and their body. As
is typical with a nervous, tense horse, Barney was extremely concerned at first. The aim
is to work below the threshold at which the horse has to react and Barney could initially
only tolerate the wand on his front legs.
We continued with this exercise over several
days and by the end of the first week we could stroke him along his back and belly and
down his hind legs. We led him through the labyrinth, which is a pattern of poles laid on
the ground, and he became calmer and more focused in his work. He also started to gain
weight.
We taught Barney to walk over rubber matting
and noisy plastic sheeting, under bright yellow pool noodles and past flapping coloured
bunting attached to jump standards. We used the brilliant and simple TTEAM sliding saddle
pad exercise to teach him to stop should he ever feel anything slipping on his back and
increased the complexity of the pole work to improve his top line.
Out of the four weeks that Barney was with us,
we only had three difficult days where he really struggled. Stiff horses can panic when
asked to turn and when Barney found something difficult he would try to run through us,
then shoot backwards and half rear. His reactions were met with our usual response.
Complete calm. We moved with him, asked him to stay in balance and let him settle. Had we
escalated our behaviour, he would probably have done the same and lost control.
Body work sessions initially started in the
stable. They released tension and taught this beautiful horse that contact around his head
and along his back was pleasant and nothing to fear. Mouth work formed a vital part of his
education and if he came in from the field tense, a few minutes of body work would help
him to settle before the in hand session began. We taught him to chest line drive, be led
by one person from either side and to stand quietly in the arena whilst we circled his
legs, and worked all over his body. As the film date neared we started working Barney
tacked up but still in hand.
My assistant, Tina Constance, who is a
beautifully quiet rider, then sat on Barney while I led him around the arena, repeating
all the ground exercises that he had learnt over the course of the month. When she
mounted, he stood like a rock. Something that we learned later, he had never been able to
do before.
Each step was taken slowly, giving Barney time
to process all the new information and his confidence grew. At every stage we watched him
for any small signs of concern such as him holding his breath, tensing his neck and back,
hardening his eye or going into freeze. If you pay attention to the subtle language of the
horse, you can take immediate action to minimise his concerns and adapt the exercises
accordingly. This approach builds trust and understanding and a true partnership is
formed.
When the crew came to film the resolution
Barney was no longer being led when under saddle. Sue watched her horse being ridden
quietly for the first time in seven months. Tina rode him over the plastic sheeting and
under an arch made from the pool noodles. A big ask for a horse that only four weeks
before would bolt in hand at the sight or sound of anything that rustled or moved.
When Barney went home he remained relaxed. Sue
was able to lead him past large stacks of silage bales wrapped in shiny black plastic, and
under hanging boughs of the apple trees in the orchard without any problem. He would have
previously bolted in both situations. If he started to out walk her on his way to the
field, Sue would ask Barney to stop and he would stand quietly and wait for her to catch
up.
Barney returned to Tilley Farm to participate
in a TTEAM clinic taught by Robyn Hood. As Sue was leading him to the trailer to bring him
to my yard, a flock of new ducks shot across his path. Barney didn't bat an eyelid and
loaded like a dream. He spent the week with us teaching new comers to the work how to
lead. He remained totally calm and was a patient and willing tutor. Robyn started teaching
Barney free work and he continues to amaze us all. He is a wonderful ambassador for TTEAM
and has become quite the star. He enjoys a fan club of admirers who saw him on the
television show and on an equine website that also charted his progress. Sue has also
started riding Barney again with our help and when I watch her with him I am not sure who
smiles the most out of me, Tina, Barney or Sue.
As Barney's story shows, you do not need to
resort to inhumane methods nor give up. Aside from the many benefits of TTEAM, an
important part of this extraordinary technique is that it teaches the animal true self
confidence which will have a positive and profound effect on every aspect of his life. It
is not necessary to generalize the new behaviour by repeating every part of the process in
every situation that the horse finds difficult. TTEAM gives horses and their owners
choices. And choices offer hope.
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