IF you are going to own a horse then it should be an enjoyable experience for you and your horse, a relationship comprising harmony and happiness. Unfortunately though it is not always as straightforward as the printed word would have it seem and practical difficulties can manifest, things can and do go wrong. Although the cause is not always immediately evident, it is usually due to a breakdown in communication between horse and trainer/owner - each not understanding what the other requires and signals given out by each not being recognised and acted upon.
IT may also be simply that a person is not sufficiently experienced to train a young horse, is unsure how to deal with certain behavioural manifestations or lacks suitable skills in the saddle; perhaps it is a case of not wishing to be involved with certain aspects of training or suitable facilities are not to hand. Whatever the situation, however inexperienced or experienced someone considers themselves to be, everyone needs assistance at some time or other, so no-one should ever be afraid to seek help and advice. The sooner the slightest indications of change are acted upon, the easier the "problem" is resolve for both owner, trainer and horse.
WE believe that at the base of successful training lies the absolute necessity to have the ability to relate to a horse, to form a bond with him, so that he is at ease and relaxed. From this sound and solid foundation a successful 'working relationship' can be built.
TRAINING is not just about what happens outside of the stable or field; it comprises the bigger picture of every aspect of a horse's life.
HOW
can a horse be expected to give
of its best or learn properly if
there are causes of stress, etc.
in its home life?
HORSES
whether stabled or living out 24/7
are totally reliant on their owners.
An owner's duty is to ensure
the daily physical and pschologcal
welfare of their horse. |
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We are here to help you get the very best from your horse through correct management and training but most importantly by working in a language that he understands and can relate to. |
Horsemanship/Equine Psychology
NOT all the horsemen of old used cruel, forceful methods to achieve results but worked with their horses rather than against them. The so-called modern techniques of training horses which are much promoted at present and termed 'natural horsemanship', etc. are not really new; it is more a case that at long last more trainers and owners have come to realise the importance of understanding equus. However, although generalisations can readily be made, every horse must be treated accordingly to his own unique psychological make-up.
THE statement that "a horse should be treated as an individual" is readily quoted but how many people really do act on this statement? Ok, so whilst many more people do accept nowadays the important of feeding the individual, how many of those people then address other aspects of management and training. For example, some horse are happy turned out in a group, others prefer just a single companion whilst some actually prefer to be on their own (provided they are not isolated from visual contact with either other animals or people). How many people adjust their training techniques from horse to horse? Just because one method worked with one horse does not automatically mean that is the best way for another.
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BY studying horses interacting with each other a great deal can be learned as to how they "think", how they communicate with each other in their natural environment (the wild) and live together as a herd. This better understanding enables training to be far more successful and rewarding and a whole lot more beneficial to the horse as he is more relaxed and attentive as you are communicating in a language he understands - "equi-speak".
SUCCESSFUL training is not achieved by bullying, force or absolute dominance. The relationship between horse/trainer or horse/rider is a partnership based on trust and understanding.
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WHATEVER the training being undertaken, a horse should not be frightened into doing anything; it must be allowed to work and develop at its own pace.
TRAINING should be a positive experience, not a negative one with the trainer literally controlling every move the horse makes, this being achieved by taking control of the mind - we want respect from a horse but not via rough, brash or noisy behaviour and gesticulations.
OF
COURSE some horses are much
more challenging and require firm
handling but this does not mean
inflicting fear or pain. |
THE behaviour a horse exhibits during its training, whether a youngster or an older horse, is a vital indication of its attitude and understanding of what it is being asked to do; aggression, resistance, napping, and so on are all signs that trainers should acknowledge and act upon. Such behaviour is usually because the horse is confused, is not physically capable of executing what it is being asked to do or it does not understand what it is being asked to do. Horses can soon develop bad habits but in the majority of cases it is through poor handling, training and riding. Naughtiness however must not be confused with high spirits, playfulness and good physical well-being; take advantage of this and direct the exuberance into an enthusiastic worker.
HORSES should be content in their environment at all times and if not, steps should be taken immediately to correct the situation.
IT is automaticaly assumed that a horse will always be content within its grazing environment whether turned out for a couple of hours during the day, all day or all the time, but this is not always the case and the individual should be closely observed for signs of stress.
THERE is absolutely
no reason why a horse should not be content within a stabled environment but this of course is dependent upon how successfully his physical and mental needs are addressed.
PLEASE read the 'Management' section for more information on this subject and also refer to articles posted in Horsetalk, in particular "The Environment in which we keep horses".
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FOR training to be successful the lines of communication must be opened and remain open at all times; the trainer must be attentive and be able to 'read' the horse he is working with, anticipate its reactions, know when to ask it to 'give' a little more and when it cannot absorb any more on a particular occasion; this is the secret of successful training and horsemanship.
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WE consider it is vitally important to spend 'social' time with the horses in our care.
THIS not only helps maintain a relaxed state of mind but also is an invaluable part of the developing relationship required for a successful training partnership and of course is a major part of working with behavioural and anti-social issues.
BEING
able to spend time with a horse
in its most vulnerble state i.e.
laying down is testament to a successful
relationship being established. |
THE TRAINING of any horse should not to be undertaken by the inexperienced, but especially the young horse just starting out, but unfortunately this is where so many people go wrong; they have the idea of breaking their own youngster but sadly all too often, things go terribly wrong. It takes considerable time and patience to train a horse but he does not ever forget the basics of what he is taught, even if he does become a little 'rusty'; what and how he is taught remains with him throughout his life, so it is our responsibility to give each horse the best possible training.
OF COURSE many people are understandably wary of sending their horses away from home for training. This is not just because they have heard unpleasant stories about inappropriate treatment and training but they are also concerned that their horse may lose its character or that it will stress too much. Our training encourages the development of the individual character; we work with that character not against it. And we have not had a horse yet that has not settled in within 24 hours.
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THIS 3 year old Warmblood clearly shows that he is not at all worried by his training. He obviously feels at ease with himself, his surroundings and indeed life itself!
A lOOK at all the photographs within this website will show horses that are happy and content. |
NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP is a term that is that is part of everyday equestrian language these days but what is really meant by this term? It is wide open to individual interpretation and there seems to be much diversity between those who allegedly practice it so we are very wary about some who proclaim to train in this way. And of course much of what is advocated by "NH" Practitioners is just not realistically practicable particularly for the competition horse but this does not mean its welfare is compromised or that it is not a happy horse.
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WE owe the horse a tremendous debt of gratitude.
JUST think how many horses have given their lives or suffered hideous injuries in the course of all the wars. Man has treated this most loyal of servants dreadfully; it was a compansionate soldier that put his horse out of its misery on the battlefield rather than leaving it to die in agony.
HORSES have also been the providers of food - and man cannot always ensure that has been/is achieved in a stressfree, painfree manner. And over the centuries and indeed today, horses (as with so many animals) are continually exploited in some countries in the name of sport; it is not only the bulls that suffer in the bullring! |
SO is it not the least we can do to ensure that our horses are managed and trained in a humane and sympathetic way? Is that too much to ask for our faithful friends?
In Conclusion
HAVING had many years of experience handling and training a wide range of horses from all equestrian spheres, we have built up a training system which connects with the natural instincts a horse has. By drawing on that wealth of experience and knowledge we produce horses that are forward-going, polite and well-mannered, but above all are confident, happy and full of character and personality because we understand their psyche, their rules, their language.
WHATEVER YOUR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
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