36/ DECEMBER 2017 THE RIDER The Science of how Horses Think & Learn


and asking lots of questions! Researchers


inter-


Tack and training aids: sifting through truth, tradition and emotion - Part 3 behaviour. Startle the horse: Megaphones are helpful to


viewed at a recent confer- ence of equitation science agreed that horse people should rely less on tools of “force” or “relentless pres- sure”, but rather, learn to ride and communicate more consistently. Folks on both sides of


By Lindsay Grice Eques- trian Canada coach and judge. Last month, we cov-


ered the polarizing subject - the use of training aids – spurs, whips, nosebands and martingales. Some say they’re useful tools in the hands of an educated rider, while others assert they’re


abusive gadgets, designed to force a horse into submis- sion or to compensate for a lack of skill. As a coach and trainer,


in a sport where truth, tradi- tion and emotions fre- quently collide, I’ve learned to sift through divisive is- sues by watching, reading the research, experimenting


the controversy meet in the middle when they agree that it’s not so much the equip- ment as much as careless operators of the equipment. Used incorrectly, training aids desensitize, confuse or stress our horses. We’re careless opera-


tors when we… Have poor timing: A com- mon abuse of artificial aids is missing the moment; by failing to release the pres- sure when the horse re- sponds. Conversely, by relaxing the pressure when he hasn’t responded, we ac- cidently reward the wrong


amplify and clarify instructions, or they can startle and intimidate. Surprising the horse with a spur jab before “asking” with the calf and we may be riding out a buck. The hasty fastening of a tight martingale may panic a horse to rear. Trap the horse: “I can’t get away!” When a


horse’s correct response isn’t reinforced with free- dom, he becomes desensitized and stops trying to find the right answer. Learned helplessness is that apathetic state in which the horse feels trapped be- tween options. Take the controversial racing whipping issue


– what behavior will turn off this sting? Studies have found while most horses are whipped in a race at some point, it seems that frequent whip use doesn’t lead to winning. While some racing asso- ciations mandate the use of cushioned, shock ab- sorbing whip, we must ask, “Is the solution to alter the tool itself or the method? Whip rules dic- tate how many strides jockeys may strike in a row. But do the rules make sense to the horse if not re- lated to his acceleration response? “In racing, jockeys may use the whip when


the horse cannot go any faster; they sometimes stop the whip when the horse has not gone any faster or continue to use the whip when the horse has already gone faster. Small wonder that whips can be ineffective for some racehorses.” Dr An- drew Mclean. Draw reins can be abused by trapping a horse in


Study found 91% of leisure riding horses had behavioural issues as reported by their owners. 78% were ridden with artificial aids — such as martingales, whips, or flash nosebands — to control their behaviour.


place, achieving a headset by continuous, girdling pres- sure. Used correctly, a rider’s elastic arm provides relief when the horse finds the ‘Sweet spot”. Learning comes when the training wheels come off. Determine not to “babysit” your horse with nagging aids.


Sidebar: A recent study in the UK found 91% of leisure


riding horses had behavioral issues as reported by their owners. Researchers said that of the 1326 horses, 78%


were ridden with artificial aids — such as martingales, whips, or flash nosebands — to control their behav- ior.


“Poor riding may lead to the development of be-


Used correctly, a rider’s elastic arm provides relief when the horse finds the ‘Sweet spot”.


havioral problems or learned helplessness in ridden horses, and these problems may be exacerbated as the owner attempts to address the problem by increasing the intensity of the aids or the complexity of the tack used to control the horse,” researchers said. Food for thought.


About Lindsay Grice: “Is it me or my horse?” Coach, trainer and show judge Lindsay Grice in her


25 years as a professional horsewoman is a self-described “horse observer”. “I’ve learned so much by watching horses – from the


end of a longe line, the view from the saddle, or the judges’ booth – and I love helping riders solve their horse puzzles based on the science of how horses think and learn,” she says. Lindsay’s love of teaching shows up as coach, clini-


cian and even when judging – giving tips and encourage- ment as appropriate. She’s taught classes and seminars on Equine Behav-


iour and Learning for provincial equine associations, ther- apeutic riding facilities and courses offered by University of Guelph. She teaches clinics on showing, training and judging


for horse clubs and teaches riders at various farms. She is an AQHA specialized judge, Equine Canada


judge and a Provincial Hunter/Jumper judge. Serving on an Equestrian Canada judging committee,


she teaches seminars in General Performance (multi dis- cipline, multi breed) judging.


Diary of an Equi-Bow Student Practitioner Part Two: Finding the Balance


with questions. My analytical brain wants to understand the exact reason behind each one of these positive results. And so I began ask- ing questions and searching for answers... which led me to more questions, many of which did not have answers. The equine body is comprised of an extremely intricate network of systems that


changes. Horses that would threaten to bite and kick for just looking at them are now learning to trust and allow the work. Owners are sharing that their horses are now show- ing more affection or cantering to the gate to greet them when called. And stories that get me really excited about horses that are more willing to do their jobs and seem happy in their work again. All of these results leave me reeling


limb would seize if he stood for too long who hasn’t had that issue since his third ses- sion. A mare with a ‘functional club foot’ is now wearing that hoof normally. Horses that present as ‘cow-hocked’, ‘base-narrow’, ‘toed-in or out’ are now back to standing straight. And then there are the behavioural


many horses during my time as an Equi- Bow Student Practitioner, including some who presented as very interesting cases. I worked with a gelding whose hind


By: Angela Saieva I have had the honour of working with


take time to discover, I take great solace in knowing that the equine body knows what to do, and the Equi-Bow work empowers the body to restore itself and return back to bal- ance.


Angela Saieva, CEBP/CEMT info@elevationequine.com www.elevationequine.com Facebook: Elevation Equine


2017 Equi-Bow Fall Graduates


nounce our 2017 fall graduates. Our practi- tioners come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have many talents as well as Equi-Bow. Please check our website to find an Equi-Bow practitioner serving your area. www.equi-bowcanada.com Contact


Equi-Bow Canada is pleased to an-


work together in perfect unison to produce the stunning creatures we call our friends, family, and partners in athletic pursuits. It might be impossible for me to understand every moving part in my lifetime, but as a recent graduate of the Equi-Bow program, I feel it is my responsibility to continue to learn as much as I can in order to best serve my clients. When the answers aren’t clear or they


us for a demo. Congratulations to the fol- lowing:


Laura McCormack Sharpe 519-766-2147 lmccormacksharpe@gmail.com Based in Guelph, serving Southern Ontario


Angela Saieva 905-246-7513 info@elevationequine.com www.elevationequine.com Niagara, Hamilton, Guelph, Serving South- ern Ontario


Jenny Bridge, Alternative Solutions, h2alternativesolutions@gmail.com 226- 923- 1233 Bruce, Grey & Simcoe Counties


Jeanette Meyer Grace Farms 519—233-3165 or gracefarms_horse@hot- mail.com www.gracefarms.ca Consultations throughout southwestern On- tario


Katherine Curran 905-699-7223 craftykat70@hotmail.com Halton Hills, Erin, Rockwood and surrounds


Angela Saieva


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