32/ DECEMBER 2020 THE RIDER


The Science of how Horses Think & Learn Responding to pressure – horses and humans.


to hand him to your “groom” (code – mom, dad or signifi- cant other)? Then let’s get going on


how to install some ground control skills. But first, let’s clarify


our terms. When I hear some- one describe their horse as a “real personality”, affectionate or “in your pocket”, I hear code words for pushy. Yet terms such as respect or dominance are misleading because the horse doesn’t equate a human to another horse. It also un- fairly applies human motives and goals to our horses. Having said that, the concept of defer- ring space, or yielding to pres- sure is familiar to a horse in a social context. A horse uses pressure to move a herd mate away from the gate or the round bale. That herd mate steps back and peace returns. Horses understand that physical language 1. Visualize what you want. As with


By Lindsay Grice. Equestrian Canada coach, horse show judge, specialist in equine behaviour.


When I’m feeling squeezed by the world, does it bring out the best or the worst in me? Anyone who works with horses can tell you that


yielding to pressure is the essential element of all horse training – in the saddle and on the ground. Yet, when horses feel pressure their instinctive default is to push back at best – panic at worst. If your horse has a sticking point under saddle, is it possible to “trace the brace” to some area in his ground schooling? I’d hedge a bet that most horse people, describ-


ing themselves as “riders” would say it’s more satisfy- ing to be in the saddle than beside the horse, on foot. But if the reason is because it’s safer on your horse’s back, groundwork would add to the everyday enjoy- ment of your equine partner.


Does your horse ever… • Knock you with his head, smearing your show jacket? • Tetherball around you, calling to his buddies after un- loading from the trailer? • Snatch your arm almost out of the socket, diving for grass?


• Rush through the gate or his stall door? • Swing around at the mounting block? • Chew on the lead shank (or your hand) when you’re holding him at the ring? Do you look for opportunities between classes


Do you look for opportunities between classes to hand your horse to your “groom” (code – mom, dad or significant other) because he's... annoying? Groundwork would add to the everyday enjoyment of your equine partner!


sponds in a calm, soft and attentive manner, the con- cept spills into other areas of training. During this unusual Christmas season, when


any skill, picture the big goal and the interim goals. Envision your horse walking calming beside you as you tour around the show grounds. Standing in his own space as you stop to have a conversation with a friend or change the bit on your bridle. Not mugging you as you fish for something in your tack trunk. Not nipping at you while you eat your lunch-even an apple. 2. Define your expectations. Where


exactly do I expect my horse to stand, or to face when I mount? How fast do I want to walk back to the barn? Define what “walking beside me” looks like. How far in front and behind your shoulder is his free zone before you correct him? 3. Yielding to pressure. Unintention-


ally you may have trained your horse to push back on any pressure you apply – bracing to the lead shank when backing or shoving his head into you while bridling. Use every resist- ance as a training opportunity, asking him to defer his space instead. Back him up several steps. Push his head away from you firmly enough to motivate but not scare him, sending the message move away and stay away. Re- fuse to become his sparring partner. If he keeps coming back into your space, step up the pressure a bit. If a horse can feel a fly, he can be attentive to the lightest pressures. When a horse feels pressured, yet re-


The Fire Horse


tacts, I encourage others to develop closer bonds, appreciation and mutual trust with animals, and a respect for all life in this world.


Chapter 23


The Runaway Pony A client of mine had sold her farm


By Lauren Bode All content copyrighted


My mission statement: Having developed and practiced


my talent for years, I speak for animals. I willingly provide a voice for the


non-human creatures of our world, in the hope that I may assist them to obtain greater health, better understanding of their expected roles, and better relation- ships with their human partners. Through my classes and daily con-


and moved some 50 kms away to a much smaller place. You see, she was getting on in age and had received a good offer from a builder who saw the potential of building multiple homes on the acreage. The story of life on a farm. Some time passed and the remaining ponies which she kept started to settle in on the new property. It was a relief to say the least. It seems as if they all liked their new abode, except one little pony. She had counted all the ponies that


particular morning as she usually did every single morning. She noticed that the little guy, he actually was the small- est one in the group, was not there. He must have crawled beneath the gate or done something with the gate, letting himself out by squeezing through a tiny opening, which normally the dog had problems moving through. Or someone took him, she was quite distraught, blaming herself for not properly check-


we feel squeezed by circumstances, pressured by bills and the daily menu of doom in the news, will we respond with self-preservation, isolation and hoarding? Or with generosity – sharing our stuff, our sympathy , our smile with others (even at a social distance). “There is one who gives freely yet increases


more. Another withholds what is right and suffers want. A generous person will prosper. Whoever re- freshes another will be refreshed.” Proverbs. The Bible.


If your horse has a sticking point under saddle, is it possible to “trace the brace” to some area in his ground schooling? Yielding to pressure is the essential element of all horse training- under saddle and on the ground.


About Lindsay Grice. “Is it me or my horse?” Horse show judge, certified riding coach, trainer and specialist in equine behavior and learn-


ing. Lindsay Grice loves to help riders solve their horse puzzles, prepare for competition and enjoy the process of riding, not just the result! Lindsay enjoys teaching clinics and travelling to Ontario farms as a freelance instructor.


She’s taught the science of equine behavior and learning for horse associations, courses for Uni- versity of Guelph and therapeutic riding facilities. Lindsay judges multiple disciplines and breeds, holding judging certifications with AQHA,


horse trainer.


“Why do horses do what they do?” Lindsay says, “In the horse world, our traditions and the evidence sometimes collide. I love


to communicate the WHYs behind the HOWs of riding. “Equitation Science” – it makes life better for horses when we speak in a language they understand!”


ing the paddock where they lived. He was the only one missing, he had never wandered away, never ever she empha- sized. She and her husband had called and called for him walked up and down the driveway, checked the neighbour’s farms, the pig farm down the way… no luck, no one had seen the little pony. Cold and frustrated she decided to


give me a call. I had helped them with the move, explaining to all the ponies where they were going, some to new homes in that province, some staying with her at the new farm. I managed to calm her down a bit and tried to connect with him via a photograph which she had sent me. I asked her to give me some time


to connect with him. Finally, after trying for about an hour I connected with him, I did. It made no sense what I saw through his eyes, the mud was the norm as you know, on farms there are lots of that, but there were machinery where he was standing and houses and stones. I asked him where he was, he was


in shock and could not tell me where he was, he was very tired as well. I be- lieved he walked all night. He told me he was looking for his friends. I asked him to remain where he was.... to wait, I asked him to look around and give me some information what he was seeing, by this time The traffic was becoming heavy and he was getting scared at the sounds all around him. I asked him how


he got there, he walked back to the farm, he knew the way there as often he was taken on the roads around his farm. He was a good pony he said. I relayed this information to his owners, they with some trepidation told me that they think they know where he is. Half screaming in delight and wonder, they nervously hitched the horse trailer to the truck. I spoke to the humans a couple of


times during their drive. They found their little pony standing beside the buildings, which was once his paddock, where he and his friends lived. He duti- fully climbed into, was half lifted into the trailer, off they went, he was too


tired to eat any hay and I believe he slept most of the way back home. To this day I cannot tell you how


he found his way back to the old farm without anyone seeing him. That is quite the feat as his owner had seen him around 10 pm that night. I am guessing that he took off shortly after she had said goodnight. Walking on the side of the road most of the time he found his way back to the old farm. What grit, what determination. I can only say amazing, never underestimate the power of the pony. In writing this, I hope his owners are enjoying their retirement and telling this story to their friends.


Equestrian Canada. She’s a provincial Hunter/Jumper and dressage judge and also judges mul- tiple breeds and Extreme Trail/obstacle events. She loves to share her own insights and stories learned from 25 years as a competitor and


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