Q. I’ve taken my horse to a few clinics. She is nervous around unfamiliar horses, so I usually scratch and talk to her in a soothing voice when she gets tense, but am worried that the attention might actually be rewarding her fear. Should I ignore her instead?

—Via e-mail

A. Many horses experience tension and social anxiety around unfamiliar horses, especially at clinics and shows where the location is also new. Other common fears include novel objects, and sudden movements and sounds.

Fear and anxiety are automatic responses triggered by something in the environment that the horse sees as a potential threat. Reassuring the horse with a scratch on the withers, and talking to it in a soothing voice, can calm the horse and help it cope with the stressful situation. Touch can be therapeutic and is believed to reduce physiological arousal and provide relief from anxiety; when the horse is relaxed it can function more normally. In a study presented at the 2015 International Society for Equitation Science conference,1 horses that were scratched on the withers for one minute showed more relaxed behaviors, such as a lowered head, compared to horses that were patted on the neck or not touched at all.

Touching and talking to the horse do not always have a soothing influence, so it’s important to observe the horse’s body language for signs of increasing tension. Anxiety might increase because fearful animals often do not value social attention, some horses become irritated when they are touched, and some sounds and touches that seem reassuring—such as neck patting—are actually stimulating.1 In these instances, petting the horse can heighten fear or cause the horse to become agitated. Another caution is that some owners scratch and talk to the horse to reduce their own anxieties and can telegraph these negative emotions to the horse.

It’s a common myth that petting a nervous horse will reward the fear. One reason for the misconception is that attention can function as a reward for voluntary behaviors, such as attention-seeking, but not for involuntary reactions, such as fear and anxiety. For example, if a horse nose-bumps the owner (a voluntary behavior) and the owner scratches the horse’s withers (reward), the nose-bumping behavior will be repeated. Voluntary behaviors like nose-bumping persist as long as they are rewarded and disappear when they are ignored. In contrast, fear and anxiety are involuntary reactions elicited by perceived threats in the environment; they persist as long as the threat is present, and disappear when the threat is gone.

Petting and talking to the horse in a soothing voice can have a calming effect that reduces tension, but are not always necessary. Ignoring a horse’s fear when the situation is mildly stressful also has value. Exposure to stressors that toughen the animal can be protective, because these experiences help the horse develop resiliency for coping with future challenges on its own.2 In addition, when there is a strong and trusting relationship between the human and animal, the owner can become a safety signal for the horse. A safety signal is a cue associated with protection from danger, and simply being near the owner can inhibit the horse’s fear and anxiety.3,4

References

• 1Thorbergson, Z. (2015) Physiological and behavioral responses of horses to wither scratching and patting the neck when under saddle. International Society of Equitation Science Conference Proceedings, Abstract 16.
• 2Lyons, D.M., Parker, K.J., Katz, M., and Schatzberg, A.F. (2009). Developmental cascades linking stress inoculation, arousal regulation, and resilience. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 3, doi: 10.3389/neuro.08.032.2009
• 3Christianson, J.P., Fernando, A.B.P., Kazama, A.M., Javanovic, T., Ostroff, L.E., and Sangha, S.  (2012). Inhibition of fear by learned safety signals: A mini symposium review. The Journal of Neuroscience 32: 14118-14124.
• 4McGreevy, P., Henshall, C., Starling, M., McLean, A., and Boakes, R. (2014). The importance of safety signals in animal handling and training. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 9, 382-387.

When turned out on a brisk winter day, does your horse race around the paddock, bucking and kicking up her heels? Or after a spell of rainy weather, is she spirited on the trails and hard to stop? People often declare: “My horse is frisky because it’s cold out!” But how is a horse’s behavior really affected by the weather?

How Horses Stay Warm

When it’s cold, wet, and windy, conserving body heat can be a matter of life and death. Ancestral wild horses adapted to climates with frigid winters and limited food. Some domestic breeds are better suited for cold and wet conditions than others, but most healthy horses can maintain their normal body temperature of about 100°F over a broad range of outside temperatures. When the thermostat dips below 5-10°F—the lower limit of their “thermo-neutral zone”—horses need to adopt various strategies to prevent dangerous loss of body heat.

Lively running, bucking, and other fresh behavior burns calories and isn’t a strategy horses use to stay warm when it’s cold out. Instead, they conserve energy, huddle together, and seek shelter.1, 2 During the summer horses tend to use shelters to protect against biting insects. During winter, they’re more likely to use them to prevent body heat loss when it’s rainy. But they don’t tend to use shelters  for warmth when it’s cold and dry.2 Smaller horses and ponies are better suited for cold weather because they have less surface area that’s exposed to the elements. A dense winter coat and body fat also provide insulation from the cold; clipping and blanketing keep the horse’s hair short and clean but might interfere with the coat’s natural insulating properties.

Findings from several research studies suggest horses are actually less active when the weather is cold and wet. For example, compared to other times of the year, during harsh cold and rainy Norway winters, Icelandic horses spend less time running and playing but the same amount of time eating, walking, and sleeping.3 Wild Przewalski horses4 and Shetland ponies5 are also less active in winter. Interestingly, they are able to conserve energy by slowing the body’s metabolic processes—a condition called winter hypometabolism—which could be an adaptation to conditions of food shortage and harsh weather. With regular access to food and shelter during winter, most domestic horses have no difficulty maintaining normal body temperature even in locations where the thermostat regularly plunges to frigid levels.

Exercise and Socialization

Horses are often stabled more and exercised less during cold, wet winter months, and in many areas, show season peaks in the summer. Rather than serving as a restful break, winter time-off can create a significant change in routine, with a steep drop in physical activity, mental challenge, human attention, and socialization with other horses. Day-length is also shorter in winter, which could mean more time confined to a stall and less time for turn-out, training, and riding. This relatively impoverished winter lifestyle probably explains why some horses are fresh and more spirited at this time of year.

Your “fresh” horse might be entertaining to watch and lively under saddle, but this burst of energy during cold and rainy weather could be a warning sign that she’s not getting enough activity, in general. A winter routine should include daily opportunities for exercise and turnout. If all-day turnout isn’t possible, a few hours a day in an arena or pasture can help, especially if it includes time with other horses.

When winter conditions limit or prevent training, substitute that time with more environmental and social enrichment. Spending “quality time” with your horse will help strengthen the human-horse relationship and could include trick training, which is fun and mentally engaging. Some horses will play alone with safe, rugged toys, especially if the toy also dispenses treats. A slow feeder is a healthy enrichment item that will give your horse something to do for hours; she will spend more time grazing and less time standing, which more closely resembles the natural activity of free-ranging horses.

References:

1Heleski, CR, and Murtazashvili, I. (2010) Daytime shelter-seeking behavior in domestic horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 5; 276-282

2Mejdell, CM and Bøe, KE. (2005) Responses to climatic variables of horses housed outdoors under Nordic winter conditions. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 85; 301-308.

3Jørgensen, GHM, AANensen, L, Mejdell, CM, and Bøe, KE. (2015). Preference for shelter and additional heat in horses exposed to Nordic winter conditions. Equine Veterinary Journal 48; 720-726.

4Arnold, W, Ruf, T, and Kuntz, R. (2006). Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) II. Energy expenditure. Journal of Experimental Biology 209; 4566-4573.

5Brinkmann, L, Gerken, M., and Riek, A. (2011). Adaptation strategies to seasonal changes in environmental conditions of a domesticated horse breed, the Shetland pony (Equus ferus caballus). Journal of Experimental Biology 215; 1061-1066.

Holiday gifts ideas for horse lovers are flooding my electronic media and filling the pages of my favorite horse magazines. They advertise mugs with clever phrases like, “A woman’s place is on her horse,” and t-shirts for the horse owner’s lonely—yet resigned—partner. But if you’re looking for a gift that your horse will appreciate, consider an enrichment toy or activity.

What is Enrichment?

Enrichment items and activities are the standard of care for zoo animals and have more recently been developed for horses. Even when a horse is provided with safe housing and ample food, stabling restricts his natural behavior. In some cases, a horse’s physical and emotional welfare can be adversely impacted because opportunities to freely graze, exercise, and interact with other horses are limited. About one-quarter of all domestic horses develop problems and stereotypies related to aspects of equine management,¹ including depression², anxiety, aggression, cribbing and weaving, self-injury, gastric ulcers, colic, and others. Enrichment can reduce or prevent these problems by increasing behavioral diversity and the expression of normal behaviors, promoting interaction with the environment, and improving the animal’s ability to cope with challenges.4

Enrichment objects and activities are categorized by what needs they meet, and include nutritional, sensory, environmental, interactive, behavioral, and social. Some enrichment items that would make a perfect holiday gift for your horse are listed below. Not only will your horse enjoy the gift, it will could also help improve her physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Enrichment Gift Ideas for Your Horse

Every healthy horse loves to eat, so a food-based enrichment gift might be an appealing choice. The amount of time spend foraging is one of the most striking differences in the activity of free-ranging and individually stabled horses. Free-ranging horses spend about 14 hours and travel up to 50 miles a day grazing;³ by comparison, stabled horses spend only a few hours a day eating and are often fed once or twice a day. A food-based enrichment gift can offer your horse a more varied diet while increasing the time it spends feeding.

A simple and festive treat toy is the “carrot garland,” which can also second as a holiday barn decoration. The garland is hand-made by braiding three sturdy lead ropes, connected at one end by the clips and tied at the other end with twine or a thin rope. Entire carrots and other treats are secured in the woven strands, and the garland is hung where the horse can browse from it.

Another food-based enrichment gift to consider is a treat dispenser. These will engage your horse’s mind and increase her activity as she manipulates the object to get the treat. A slow-feed hay delivery system will benefit your horse every day by reducing the rate of food intake and increasing time spent grazing. Setting up multiple slow feeders in a pasture or paddock will also keep your horse active as she moves from one feeder to the next. Many different styles of slow hay feeders are available, and there are a few safety features to consider. Check your horse’s mouth for damage to the incisors that can sometimes be caused by metal grates, or for abrasion to the gums caused by rubbing them against netting. Feeders that are close to the ground simulate natural grazing, but make sure your horse’s hoof or shoe can’t become caught in it.

Not all enrichment items are food-based. Horses naturally scratch and roll, so a scratching post to rub on is a holiday gift that your horse will appreciate. Brush scratchers can be made from old natural fiber push brooms screwed securely to the sides of a post. Position the broom heads at the height of your horse’s most itchy areas, often the rump and head.

Rolling is another natural activity that promotes coat care and comfort, and a layer of dirt protects against insect bites. Rolling also increases your horse’s flexibility and strength, by stretching and engaging muscles in the back, neck, and barrel. If you have the space, time, and ambition, consider creating a designated rolling area. In one study5 horses readily rolled in a 15-by-15-foot area, and preferred soil over sand or straw. Horses also seem to roll more in the morning, when sweaty, and after being bathed or groomed, so these might be the best times to offer your horse access to the area.

This list of enrichment gifts will close with an interactive activity that can benefit both you and your horse—such as the starter kit offered by The Clicker Center, which includes the a booklet Getting Started: Clicker Training for Horses by Alexandra Kurland. Positive reinforcement training is mentally stimulating and can expand your relationship by doing something fun with your horse that goes beyond riding and formal training.

Take-Home Message

When deciding on a holiday gift, consider what motivates your horse. Some are curious and will readily explore and play with new objects and toys. Others are more social and take pleasure from interactive activities. Whatever enrichment gift you choose, make sure that it will hold up to rough horse-play. Some toys should only be used with supervision, and all should be inspected routinely to insure your horse’s safety. Happy holidays!

References

^¹ McDonnell, S. (2003). The Equid Ethogram: A Practical Field Guide to Horse Behavior. Eclipse Press.

^²  Fureix, C, Jego, P., Henry, S., Lansade, L., and Hausberger, M. (2012) Towards an ethological animal model of depression? A study on horses. Plos ONE 7(6): e39280. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039280

^³ McGreevy, P. (2012) Equine Behavior. A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists. Sauners-Elsevier.

4Young, R.J. (2003) Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. Wiley-Blackwell.

5Matsui, K. Khalil, A.M., and Takeda, K. (2009). Do Horses Prefer Certain Substrates for Rolling in Grazing Pasture? Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 29(7), 590-594.

Q: I bought a horse at auction with an unknown training history. When I rode her, I found that she’s saddle broke but has an incredibly hard mouth when ridden in a snaffle. Any time I put pressure on the reins, she responds by pulling 10 times harder. She’s difficult to steer and stop, and don’t even think about trying to “collect” her or set her head. What can I do to soften her mouth and make her more responsive?

A: Horses develop a hard mouth for many reasons, including pain, stress, and learned behavior. To resolve the problem, consider each possible cause, starting with pain.

Is your horse experiencing discomfort or pain?

A veterinarian can determine if your horse’s resistance to rein pressure is due to pain. Checking the oral cavity is an obvious first step; a problem as simple as sharp points on the molars can lead to painful ulcers of the buccal membranes (the inside lining of the cheeks).¹^,² Poorly fitting tack can also cause discomfort. A bit that doesn’t fit properly can cause bruising and ulcerations on the bars and corners of the mouth² and a tight noseband (sometimes used to prevent the horse from evading the bit) can impede breathing and cause bone microfractures.¹

Tack-fit issues should be evaluated by a veterinarian or experienced trainer, who can make informed recommendations about equipment (for example, trying a bitless bridle or different bit). In general, avoid using mechanical devices, such as a severe bit, draw reins, or martingale, which may offer a short-term solution but won’t ease discomfort or teach the horse to respond to a light hand.

Is your horse anxious?

An anxious horse is more likely than a relaxed horse to ignore rider cues. Anxiety can be triggered when a horse is worked in a new location, is around unfamiliar horses, or is ridden by a new or inexperienced rider. If anxiety is an issue, give your horse plenty of time to adjust, and start with basic exercises at the walk—more challenging exercises will only amplify problems.

A horse might also become anxious if expectations for performance and “collection” exceed its level of training and conditioning. When forced into hyperflexion (also referred to as “rolkur”) horses show signs of stress³ and their movements appear rigid and choppy.⁴ Softening your hands and letting the horse stretch its neck can help.

Has your horse learned to be hard-mouthed?

Horses learn to stop and turn through the release of rein pressure. Constant tension, without release, will teach a horse to become hard-mouthed.⁵ The problem might begin innocently enough: The rider applies rein pressure, and when the horse fails to respond the rider increases the pressure, or bumps and saws on the mouth, waiting for the horse to slow down or turn.

This heavy-handed “tug-of-war”⁴ is a futile game; if the pressure is constant or increased, the horse will learn to evade the bit, ignore rein cues altogether, or respond only to heavy pressure. On the other hand, if the rider releases the rein pressure while the horse is still pulling against the bit, then resistance will be rewarded. Instead of repeating the same ineffective pattern over and over, set the horse up for success by structuring situations where the horse yields—even slightly—to a light rein cue that can be rewarded with a release of pressure, and then build from there.

Take-Home Message

Horses become hard-mouthed for various reasons, and professional help is often needed to resolve the problem. A veterinarian can recognize and treat causes due to pain, and an experienced trainer can develop greater sensitivity and responsiveness in both the horse and rider.

REFERENCES

• ¹McGreevy, P.D. (2015). Right under our noses. Equine Veterinary Education 27(10) 503-504.
• ²Tell, A., Egenvall, A., Lundström, T, and Wattle, O.   (2008). The prevalence of oral ulceration in Swedish horses when ridden with bit and bridle and when unridden. The Veterinary Journal 178, 405-410.
• ³van Dierendonck, M., van Dalum, M., Beekmans, M., Christensen, .W. (2012). Acute stress responses of dressage horses ridden in three different head and neck positions. 8^th International Equitation Science Conference Proceedings.
• ⁴Heuschmann, G.. (2009). Tug of War: Classical versus Modern Dressage (revised edition). Trafalgar Square Books.
• ⁵McLean, A.N. (2005). The positive aspects of correct negative reinforcement. Anthrozoös 18(3) 247-254.