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Hello everyone!
Since this is the first in a series of 10 blogs for the beginner equestrian I find it imperative that we start with:
Predator vs. Prey
Horses are solid hoofed prey animals. They are hunted and eaten. There are also cloven hoofed prey animals which are goats, sheep, deer, elk, cows etc. All of these hoofed prey animals are flight animals. Hoofed prey animals also lack muscle below the hock and knee. It is all bone, ligaments and tendons. If they get injured in these areas they have a high propensity for infection as circulation is poor which prohibits white blood cells from combating infection. Take special care if your horse is wounded below the hock or knee. Call a veterinarian for evaluation and possibly start antibiotics as a prophylactic for infection. Instinctually they know their lower legs are vulnerable. If they get injured here it could mean trouble. They would much rather run away from danger than turn and fight it. Some horses have a bigger flight response than others. Knowing how your horse and YOU handle fear will determine not only if the horse is suited for you but are you confident enough for your horse. I will discuss “Thinking Through Fear” in a later blog.
Horses brains are the size of an avocado. They are not known for their overwhelming abundance of intelligence. They can however, be taught fairly complicated instructions from you, on a level they understand, with hundreds if not thousands of consistent repetitions and reward. I will discuss “Release is Reward” in a later blog. For the most part their food source is at their feet. So a hunting strategy such as a feral cat would need to survive is not necessary for the horse. Their brains are not as complicated as a cats and certainly no where near the capability of a humans.
Three Things a Horse Thinks About
1. Food food food food and did I mention FOOD! A horse has a small stomach. It empties out quickly. They are meant to graze all day long. Their TDN’s, Total Digestible Nutrients, that they can actually get out of their food source is poor. We measure our food in Calories etc. Predators eat foods that are rich in nutrients which allows them to go days between meals. You are a predator and horses know this. They eat grasses and legumes. Grain is actually a man made feed as they don’t eat them naturally in the wild. A lot of things that we eat can actually kill a horse. Rhubarb for example is poison to a horse. Ask before you ever feed your horse table scraps. It could be deadly. Horses produce stomach acid all day long. Our stomachs produce acid when we smell food cooking or we see that yummy dinner commercial on TV. The bottom 1/3 of their stomach is covered with a thick layer of lining that is the color of the palm of your hand. This lining can handle stomach acid that sits in their stomachs. The top 2/3’s of their stomachs are the color of oxblood leather or a dried red rose pedal. This portion of the stomach can not tolerate the acid and horses can and do get ulcers often. We put them in stalls or paddocks and feed them twice a day leaving them with painful empty stomachs. We get them out to ride them and after a few minutes of them trotting around they are grumpy because the acid is splashing up onto their sensitive parts of their stomachs. Some horses are flawed in that their stomachs don’t actually have a solid 1/3 covered by this tough lining but in fact they only have a small patch. These horses can generally be grumpy at feeding time, or the type that never wants to stop eating and will get obese and possibly develop laminitis or heaven forbid actually founder. I will go into these subjects in a later blog. Choose to ride your horse about an hour and a half after feeding for best results. If you board your horse be sure to ask what their feeding schedule is so you may work around it. Also, when hauling horses be sure to bring hay for them to nibble on when you get to your destination or every 3 to 4 hours. So you can see why horses are so driven to eat.
2. Water. Horses drink 10 to 12 gallons of water per day. They also need salt available at all times. The choice between a mineral block and plain white salt will depend on the amount of supplements you are giving your horse in the form of grain and/or vitamins. Consult your veterinarian.
3. WHAT WAS THAT?? Horses are always aware of the potential danger around them. Even if it is a garden hose or a bag blowing in the wind they will think it may be out to get them. Always think ahead by removing any obstacles that may potentially scare your horse BEFORE you even pick up your halter to go get him. Horses like things in the same place all the time. Anything new in their familiar daily surroundings could startle them. They have their “animal” turned all the way up. We live in our safe houses. Going from our safe cars to our safe work places. We tend not to spend enough time outside. This can dull our senses. My suggestion to you is to go outside and feel, see and hear everything going on around you. Which way is the wind coming from? Judging by it’s bark, is that dog in your neighborhood alarmed, angry or lonely? What vibrations if any do you feel in the ground? Learn to turn your “animal” all the way up because I guarantee you your horse’s is never turned down.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. Join me again here at Sharon Preston’s “Horses Have Opinions Too” where empowerment replaces fear and knowledge creates options. Learn to ride horses and unlock your inner strength.
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