Prioritizing Lifestyle for Horses
The relationship I have committed to, cultivated and sustained with my horses is built on the foundation that my horses basic needs and lifestyle will always come before my aspirations of riding and training them.
four principles, one Foundation
As someone who has chosen to own and care for a domesticated species, and ask unique things of them, the least I can do is make sure they are happy and healthy by adhering to four principles that are apart of that foundation. And they are…
Friends
Forage
Freedom
andFunction
function of mind, body, hooves
Function, being the most widespread, and difficult to achieve, and maintain,
pertains to the function of their mind, body, and hooves,
in their day-to-day life.
As their owner, and primary caregiver, I am the one who decides if, and when, they are ready to participate in ‘extra-curricular activities’ outside of their day-to-day life. This is hugely contingent upon that fourth principle of function.
When it comes to my horses, it’s an all or nothing mindset and I have incredibly high standards.
until the promise of
prioritizing basic needs,
enhancing herd happiness,
addressing each individual horses functional requirements,
addressing hoof landings,
addressing body comfort,
and achieving rehabilitative goals with sustainable biomechanics,
while developing an authentic connection,
has all been taken care of, well, then I won’t be asking for much more.
So, it might take some time until we get to the next trailhead.
But, I have plenty of time.
And a hell of a lot of patience.
Authenticity of connection
The fourth principle of function as it pertains to the mind continues to expand and translate directly into the horses genuine willingness to explore new trails with me, beyond their day-to-day life. After they have offered me an invitation to connect, they will always be met consent-based and least invasive minimally aversive [LIMA] training principles from me. We never use escalating or excessive amounts of pressure and aim to steer clear of force, manipulation and persuasion. Sure, sometimes there are things that need to be done with our horses, so we do them strategically, with unconditional love and respect for the individual horse that is in front of us. This sustains and preserves healthy function of the mind across the board.
prioritizing lifestyle
The way my horses live their lives is of the upmost importance to me and has been the key to a secret door. I am beyond grateful to now be in a position where I can offer them an ‘unusual’ living arrangement and have full control over the intricacies that are all designed to provide them with a more natural habitat.
It is absolutely amazing to see how organically this mental and physical function improves when their day-to-day life resembles something closer to their undomesticated relatives and ancestors.
“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it”.
The Track System & paddock paradise
Several months ago, we moved our horses onto our new track system to provide them with a ‘paddock paradise’. This had been our plan for a long time coming. As soon as I discovered this ‘alternative’ living style, I knew that I would make it happen for my horses as soon as I could. It took a few years but then the perfect opportunity opened up at the perfect time and everything fell into alignment. With all the prior research I had done, it made the expansion of the existing track on the property much smoother.
The track system living concept is designed to provide horses with not only 24/7 turnout but consistent movement in an enriching herd environment. This design encourages them to explore, move, and naturally condition their bodies. Along our track there are multiple rest areas, including a run-in shelter, multiple feeding stations, and water troughs. They also have a well loved sand-pit for sleeping, which also doubles as a small training arena when needed.
The Introduction with continued attention to detail
Transitioning from a more sedentary lifestyle to one that is so much active was a big change for them. So I have been incredibly observant of their tendencies, and preferences, and carefully experimented with many of the ‘minor’ details. Paying that much attention to detail can be a double edged sword, really, but it has been essential for this introduction to this new lifestyle. This innate observation develops rapidly whilst simultaneously taking the time to seek an integration of yourself into their herd, and not the other way around.
Everything on our track is spaced in such a way that the horses are encouraged to move, and explore, but their necessities are not so far that they would feel confused, lost, helpless, or stressed. We strategically expanded upon the offerings that we have given them by gradually opening up more parts of the track and tweaking whatever is needed… be it feeding times, methods (hay nets, loose, slow feeders), locations, water stations, footing, shelter, seasonal changes, and so on.
Horses shouldn’t have to wonder if we are going to show up to feed them. With the constant access to slow-fed forage offered at multiple stations (2x the number of horses), in addition to everything else, we have eliminated any feeding anxiety. The horses finish their hay slowly, in increments, and do a lot of exploring and relaxing in the time between.
Pain. is. stress. & Stress. is. pain.
We observe, assess, and address - all of the things - all of the time. We never allow any space for stress. Be it physically, mentally, or emotionally. This again goes back to that principle of maintaining healthy function throughout the whole horse. Therefore, I prioritize their comfort above all else. Especially, before I go asking anything more of them.
I flat out refuse to work my horses if they are landing uncomfortably, or toe first, as their primary method of biomechanical motion, because all this does is perpetuate a dysfunctional cycle that can spread like a quiet smoldering wildfire across the body. This wildfire will slowly choke out the function and mobility in the small and large facets of the body, until they can no longer take up the slack. The body directly influences the feet, and the feet directly influence the body just as much. So, if I’m not doing my part in caring for the feet, then I have no business asking the horse to ignore that and continue performing on behalf of my delight.
If I notice that one horse is having a difficult time navigating a certain area of the track, I make sure that they don’t have to take that route for a necessity (food, water, shelter). I would also provide hoof comfort via temporary boots, or shut off parts of the track, until they are more fit for trekking along.
hoof health
In a very short period of time, the track has proven to be incredibly beneficial for my mares mostly self-trimming hooves, fit bodies, and calm minds. They have been able to condition themselves at their own pace and are eagerly climbing up and down the mountain more often, stepping over logs, rocks, and so on. Across the track, they have many types of footing to walk on including rocky slopes, grassy patches, and wooded hills to hike up and navigate. The rocky footing is rarely an issue for their increasingly strong hooves.
A whole horse
Since introducing my younger mare to the track, her hoof angles have changed profoundly, and it happened rather quickly. For nearly 6 months prior to the track introduction, I had been treating deep central sulcus thrush, and trimming at least every 4-5 weeks, with much slower progress. She seems to be naturally balancing herself out from body to feet, and feet to body, with minimal intervention or micromanagement on my part. As the tension unwinds from her body, it also unwinds from her mind. Meeting these “basic needs”, while maintaining that authentic connection with her, has allowed her to become much more emotionally available to connect with not just me but anyone else who comes to visit.
Motion is lotion
Motion is something all bodies deserve to have access to as they please. Motion is not something anyone should have to earn or ask for. When motion is inhibited, it wreaks havoc on the body. As an Osteopath, I firmly believe that mobility is the most important thing for a body, on all levels.
And because of the increase in motion that my horses now have, I no longer beat myself up for not exercising them as much as I felt I “should”. Because the life they live outside of their time with me, gives them far more than I could ever offer them during the comparatively short time we do spend together.
On average, horses probably spend approximately 1 of their 24 hours of their day with humans. If they’re lucky, they get to spend several hours of their day with other horses, not just sharing a fenceline. Regardless of whether or not they’re provided with a buddy, or some sort of group turnout, a lot of times you will see these horses just standing around with nothing better to do than eat hay, or graze on grass, when, and if, it’s available.
Undomesticated horses walk upwards of 25+ miles a day. Sure, you could argue that most horses are, let’s not forget - bred - into captivity - and because living in a stall or small area is all they’ve ever known, what difference would it make to provide them with something else? Well, a lot, it turns out.
The need to work horses,
and condition their bodies,
for our demands,
largely exists because of the restrictive lifestyles,
that are so often in place for them.
micromanagement
Why does is it seem that so many horses struggle with their hooves, fitness, and proprioception? Could it have anything to do with the fact that they are often limited in their exploration of movement, and are only consistent, challenged, or conditioned under our tethered micro-managerial ways, as they make their way over our thoughtfully placed poles, cavalettis and jumps, or around the barrels, and through the fancy movements that we force them through?
Transcendental Transformation
Much of what I have learned about horses in recent years has plagued me in detrimental, catastrophic, and beautiful ways.
Detrimental - in the sense that I’ve lost all I thought I had known about horses over the last thirty years.
Catastrophic - in the sense that I’ve completely lost the urge to utilize horses for my desires, benefits or as a way to feed my ego by riding and “training” them.
Beautiful - in the sense that I’ve stumbled upon many new perspectives, and formed my own, after opening my eyes to a wide open landscape that has thus far led me to a world rooted in the development of authentic partnerships with authentic equines.
I am thrilled to tell you that my horses and I have never been happier than we are now. Removing and releasing the pressure placed upon us by a large amount of equestrians, their preconceived notions, and outdated ways of thinking, has allowed us so much space to receive far more than we could have imagined.
~ Cheers ~
the magic lies within the trails we ride
