WHAT IS
Teff Hay?
A close look at teff as a forage option for horses.
By Madeline Boast, MSc. Equine Nutrition
Hay comprises the majority of a horse’s diet. Therefore, when owners are able to source a forage that complements their horse’s nutritional requirements, there are numerous benefits. These benefits range from ease of management to better equine health and even lower feed bills. Teff is a species of grass that is gaining popularity for use as horse hay. It is thought to be a great option for both easy-keepers and metabolic horses.
Equine Obesity & Nutritional Management
A prevalent concern across the industry is equine obesity, with research reporting that 40-50 percent of sampled equine populations are considered obese. This is a serious welfare issue that predisposes horses to a plethora of health issues such as metabolic syndrome. Consequently, sourcing forage that better matches the nutritional requirements of these horses is becoming increasingly critical to their management.
Owners of these horses understand
annual grass,
a species
the earliest plants domesticated, it is believed to have originated in Ethiopia between 4000 BC and 1000 BC. A fine-stemmed tufted grass, teff is cultivated for its edible seeds, and is an important cereal crop in Eritrea and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia teff straw is also used as cattle feed and as a building material when mixed with mud.
About Teff
how challenging they can be to optimally manage. Oftentimes, hay must be restricted to prevent unnecessary weight gain. In metabolic cases, hay that is too high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) can be detrimental to the horse's health, causing issues such as laminitis. When hay that does not match the horse’s nutritional needs is being fed, it puts a strain on management with challenges such as soaking hay and safely restricting the forage intake. Could teff hay provide a solution to this complex management issue?
Teff grass (Eragrostis tef), also referred to as Summer Lovegrass or Annual Lovegrass, is a warm-season grass that originated in Africa. Historically, teff has been used as a grain crop in many countries, but in recent years has gained popularity as a forage. This grass species tends to thrive in warmer conditions but adapts well to varying environments. A key difference between teff and other common plant species used in horse hay, such as timothy or alfalfa, is that it is an annual not a perennial, which means that it must be replanted each year. Additionally, teff is very sensitive to frost; when the temperatures drop, the plants will die.
In most cases, horses that are fed teff hay consume it well. In palatability trials, it has been documented that horses prefer alfalfa and timothy over teff, but once acclimated to the teff they readily consume it. While this grass species is fibrous, which can contribute to the reduced palatability, the softer stems generally make it sufficiently palatable for most horses.
A nutritional consideration that should be made prior to feeding teff is
that some varieties contain synephrine, which is a vasoconstrictor. This is important to remember as any FEI (International Equestrian Federation) competing horses or racehorses could produce a positive drug test. Additionally, teff hay may contain oxalates, which impact calcium absorption and can cause deficiencies. A nutritionist will account for this when balancing the horse’s ration if they are on teff hay that contains oxalates.
If you are considering growing teff as a hay crop, there are a few key considerations. Initially, due to its sensitivity to frost and being an annual crop, planting cannot commence until the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 12 degrees Celsius. Additionally, weed control presents a challenge when growing this forage as broadleaf weeds can be controlled, but annual grass weeds can negatively impact the crop since there are no herbicides available to control them.
The climate that the forage is grown in will determine how early in the season it can be planted. Teff is easily established and when growing conditions are ideal first cut can take place as soon as 40 days after planting. With optimal management, teff crops can be cut three or even four times in a growing season to produce an annual yield of about four to seven tonnes per acre, depending on the growing conditions of the season.
With teff being a warm-season grass species that is adapted to a variety of growing conditions, it continues to gain popularity in Canada and across North America. Teff is typically lower in NSCs and digestible energy, which makes it sought-after for many easy-keepers, metabolic horses, and horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).
PHOTO: ADOBESTOCK/VPROTASTCHIK
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/ROBIN WEEKS IMA GES
PHOTO: WIKI/RASBAK
An
teff is
of lovegrass native to the Horn of Africa. One of
EQUINE Rehabilitation
UC Davis
Anyone involved with horses is likely to encounter the challenges of equine rehabilitation. From minor health issues to major injuries, the journey to recovery is rarely smooth or predictable.
While equine rehabilitation can be challenging and at times frustrating, we are progressively gaining a better grasp of how to tackle these health problems and, more importantly, how to prevent them.
As equestrian sports continue to expand on local, national, and international levels, the field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation becomes increasingly vital to ensuring our horses remain happy, healthy, and at their best.
Exercise Therapy
By Amy Young, UC Davis Center for Equine Health
Immobilization or stall rest is sometimes necessary for an injury to heal, especially in cases of severe tissue damage (such as tendon or ligament damage and fractures), but other times keeping horses moving is actually a better approach. The key is choosing the right exercise for the type and location of the injury. We cannot just tell horses, for example, to engage their core. We have to design exercises that achieve the desired result.
The goals of therapeutic exercise are to increase tissue strength, improve range of motion and quality of tissue healing, and prevent scar tissue formation.
Although controlled exercise is an important part of equine rehabilitation, there are few well-designed, randomized studies
investigating therapeutic effects on musculoskeletal injuries. As with many other equine rehabilitation approaches, treatments are often based on what is known from human physical therapy.
The key is choosing the right exercise for the type and location of the injury.
Steady Beginnings WALKING
Controlled exercise often begins with walking activity, which can include hand-walking or walking on an automated horse walker or exerciser. A 2018 international study regarding the use of rehabilitation modalities in horses reported that 97.3 percent of respondents utilized controlled hand-walking and 56.7 percent used automated horse walkers (Wilson et al. 2018). The goal of walking is to improve mobility, reduce swelling, facilitate tissue repair, and promote cardiovascular fitness and bone strength. In some cases, this can be achieved on a land or underwater treadmill, which may be preferred if turning or circling is not advised based on the injury.
As horses progress through the healing
PHOTO: ISTOCK/ROSSHELEN
process, new, targeted exercises may be introduced.
On the Way Up INCLINES
Inclines may be incorporated into rehabilitation programs to facilitate activation of abdominal muscles and strengthen other muscles, particularly in the hind end. Exercises may include walking up and down hills or utilizing inclines on a land treadmill.
Up and Over POLES AND PEDESTALS
Walking or trotting over ground poles and raised cavalletti activates the full range of motion of the front and hind limbs. These exercises are useful for rehabilitation of neurological cases by training proprioceptive skills and visuomotor coordination. It is also beneficial for improving or restoring joint range of motion through increased flexion (Brown et al., 2015). Trot poles strengthen propulsive muscles including hip flexors, without overloading musculoskeletal tissues or increasing the extension of fetlock joints. Importantly, beneficial effects persist throughout the course of the exercise, unlike the use of proprioceptive stimulation devices in which the effects decrease over time.
Obstacle work may also include pedestals. Horses can be asked to walk up onto and over a pedestal, or to stand on the pedestal, simulating collection. Similar to poles and cavalletti, this strengthens abdominal muscles and proprioceptive skills.
On the Line ROPES, LINES, AND BANDS
Systems of bands or ropes that are positioned across a horse’s back and/or around
A Note on Stretching
Stretching exercises may be indicated to decrease pain, improve range of motion (Haussler et al. 2020), strengthen muscles (Stubbs et al. 2011), and prevent injuries. Research suggests that passive stretches held for 30 seconds provide optimal results. Dynamic mobilization exercises (i.e., “carrot stretches”) are useful for horses with back pain or on stall rest to help maintain core strength. Research has shown improved joint movement, improved muscle symmetry, increased core strength, and improved lateral bending.
their hindquarters have become popular in equine rehabilitation. Some are used while longing and others are used while riding. These include the Pessoa training aid and Equiband®. When using these tools, it is important to avoid inducing hyperflexion of the neck (i.e., the head needs to stay in front of the vertical).
The Pessoa training aid is an array of ropes, pulleys, and straps intended to assist with building muscle and increasing the horse’s use of its back muscles during longing. While working in this rig, horses are collected, with a raised poll and decreased stride length. The system allows for different positions that put horses in various frames, from “long and low” to an upright frame. It may improve posture, stimulate core muscle activation, and improve gait quality without increased load on lower limbs.
The Equiband® system is comprised of
abdominal and hindquarter resistance bands attached to a saddle pad. It is used to promote hindlimb engagement and may aid dynamic stabilization of back muscles (Simmons et al. 2015), as well as strengthen core muscles.
Tissue healing is a complex and variable process, but it does follow predictable phases. An appropriate exercise program complements and enhances the healing process of the injured tissue.
Many horses suffer complex injuries, so it is important to have a full, accurate diagnosis prior to starting a controlled exercise program. Rehabilitating one injury while neglecting another can lead to incomplete healing or reinjury. It is important to work with a veterinarian and equine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist throughout your horse’s rehabilitation. n
PHOTO:
The girth
Between the knees
The flank/hip region (holding the treat approximately two feet away from the hip region)
Between the fetlocks Toward the hock
The middle of the chest (chin to chest)
Build Your EQUINE TEAM This Winter
By Riley Swanby, CF, Phoenix Farrier Services
The shorter, cooler days of autumn herald the approach of the cold winter months. We’ve all been racing around since the spring to participate in shows, rodeos, or backcountry camping trips. Now that those exciting events are winding down, we can focus on all the tasks we’ve been putting off — those “before winter rolls around” jobs.
Your To-Do list may include purchasing and storing the winter hay supply; cleaning and winterizing the trailer; mending blankets and fences; testing and repairing water heaters; cleaning and conditioning tack; maintaining footing and shelter. There’s an abundance of information available on how to prepare for the winter months, but one winter chore often goes unaddressed. Let’s talk about building your horse’s health care team.
Whether you own a show champion, a working ranch horse, a trail riding buddy, or a retired old best friend, the right team is crucial to your horse’s health and well-being. Each of the professionals you have chosen to work with has their jobs coming into the winter months. Your veterinarian is getting ready to administer fall vaccinations. Your dentist is gearing up to float the herd’s teeth. Your nutritionist is planning a ration to get hard-keepers through the cold weather. Your bodyworker is preparing to work out some tightness your horse accumulated during the show season. Your farrier is considering the best option for footing on snow and ice, pulling shoes for the off-season.
With winter on the horizon, every member of your horse’s health care team can contribute to preparing your horse for the off-season.
Each member of your horse’s health care team makes an important contribution, and I believe if all those involved could learn to communicate more openly and more often, it would immensely benefit the horses they work with. If there is a member of your horse’s team who does not want to be an active, positive part of this collaborative approach, now might be a good time to start searching for a replacement. For your horse’s sake, don’t wait until the spring to find a new farrier.
Professional Values
Before we get too far into inner working relationships, we should define the important values of your professionals. I want to mention a few of the aspects I look for when choosing my own team and what I have observed in the industry in my daily work as a farrier. Of the professionals I have truly
PHOTOS: CLIX PHOTOGRAPHY
By Jec A. Ballou
While dressage and other arena-based sports place relatively low aerobic demands on horses, emerging studies indicate that improved muscle function may come from occasional exercise in higher heart rate zones. It is worth exploring the use of heart rates during arena training, and how riders can use it to improve physiological responses.
The purpose of conditioning across different aerobic zones is to acquire fitness adaptations that are missed when remaining at one intensity every day. These include energy metabolism, fatigue resistance, and improved blood circulatory capacity to skeletal muscles. It is this final adaptation we should pay particular attention to, mainly for the fact that it happens when exercising at a heart rate of 150 to 160 beats per minute (bpm). As a comparison, the average dressage horse rarely works in this zone during his or her routine training. This is considered a moderate aerobic zone with the heart rate at 70 to 80 percent of its maximum. For most horses, a brisk canter or riding crosscountry is needed to enter this zone. Increasing blood circulatory capacity
means working muscles receive more blood and oxygen. This makes them capable of working stronger and harder. They can generate more power and, just as importantly, adapt to clear away metabolic waste generated from that exertion. This allows them to keep firing in a fresh state while avoiding the effects of sustained effort: loss of force, delayed firing patterns, discomfort.
Heart rate data collected from upperlevel dressage horses in competition hovered between 110 and 140 bpm. It can be assumed that the bulk of daily schooling falls in a similar range. Exercise in this range is categorized as light intensity. While it contributes to overall health and well-being, it does not create the same conditioning effects for muscles
as the higher zones referenced previously. Most notably, these effects include lactate shuttling, improved blood supply to muscles, and stronger neuromuscular signals. It can be argued that when strength development matters, occasional exercise at higher zones becomes crucial. If heart rate parameters are new to you, the basic aerobic zones for horses are as follows:
• Resting/inactive — 25 to 35bpm
• Very light exercise (walking, trotting, slow canter on flat ground) — up to 140bpm
• Moderate exercise (brisk trot/canter, riding hills) — 150 to 160bpm
• Hard/Intense exercise (gallop, sprints, hills) — up to 180bpm
• Maximal heart rate — approximately 200bpm or higher, only used for horses in sprinting sports.
To be clear, horses in arena disciplines do not need to spend a majority of time working outside their normal aerobic zone. For most, the bulk of training will remain at intensities below 140 bpm. One or two
PHOTO:
provides data to
Without a heart monitor, it is common to incorrectly guess a horse’s heart rate based on other factors.
strategic sessions per week at a higher zone provides adequate stimulus to improve skeletal muscle function. At this point there is not an exact prescription beyond the general goal of accumulating several minutes in this higher zone per week.
For some riders, a weekly trail outing on hilly terrain will push the heart rate into this zone for several minutes. For others, one-minute intervals of galloping will do the trick, with the number of intervals and rest in between dictated by a horse’s age and development. A favourite routine of mine, due to its simplicity and the ability to perform it nearly anywhere, is to canter briskly for one minute followed by one minute of easy jogging. This sequence is repeated without walking or stopping for a total of at least eight times. More seasoned horses will do 10 or 12 reps. Any conversation about heart rate needs to include accurate data collection. Assessing aerobic zones does require riding with a heart monitor, but the good news is that nowadays these are both easy to find and affordable. They do not need to be used every ride. It is only necessary to gather heart rate readings every few weeks at various paces to maintain an accurate interpretation of your horse’s actual
aerobic demands at different efforts.
Without a heart monitor, it is common to incorrectly guess a horse’s heart rate based on other factors — sluggishness, heavy breathing, and so on. These tend to mislead riders. There is also the possibility for riders to falsely assume that just because something feels challenging for them it is also a hard effort for the horse, which is often not the case. Consider a big Warmblood with an enormous ground-covering trot that has a lot of suspension. As the rider secures her balance and absorbs all the motion of this springy gait, it gives her quite a workout. It can be tempting to think the horse, too, is working hard. In reality, this energetic and bounding trot might occur at 95bpm.
The other helpful — and sometimes surprising — feedback offered by monitors is the demands of each gait for individual horses. Monitors tell you which gait is more efficient for the horse, which sometimes differs from what we feel in the saddle. While some horses’ heart rates might spike during a brisk canter, for instance, others might have a lower heart rate when cantering as opposed to trotting.
Collecting occasional heart rate data also informs riders when their horses have adapted to the conditioning effects of exercises and routines. As they gain fitness, they can perform once challenging exercise with greater ease and therefore lower heart rates. To continue making fitness gains it is important at this point to modify or change exercises. b
> Jec A. Ballou is a regular contributor to this magazine — read her bio on page 102.
A heart monitor
track the progress of fitness, allowing the rider to train the horse at the appropriate intensity. The horse pictured is wearing a heart monitor by Enduro Equine.
Mobility & Flexibility
By Sandra Verda-Zanatta
SVZ Dressage & F2R Fit To Ride Pilates for Equestrians
Key Ingredients to Enhancing Rider Performance
Do you have trouble keeping your legs long and sitting deep in the saddle?
Do you sit unevenly on your seat bones or weight your stirrups unevenly?
Does your horse consistently misunderstand your aids especially going one direction?
Do you have pain or stiffness in your lower back?
Do you tend to ride with rounded shoulders or rigid arms?
Many of these common issues are due to a lack of mobility and flexibility. Regardless of your equestrian discipline, becoming more supple and flexible can improve your rides and promote longevity in your chosen sport. So, let’s get started!
Flexibility and mobility are essential ingredients for rider success both in and out of the competition ring. Equestrian sports require sustained periods of correct, upright posture, dynamic balance and total body control, all of which are directly affected by the flexibility and mobility of muscles and joints.Horses are highly sensitive, sentient beings who react to external stimuli and have an innate flight instinct. To achieve optimal performance, riders need to develop cohesive partnerships and clear communication systems with their horses. Focusing on maintaining a centre of balance, following the horse’s movement fluidly, and applying subtle, accurate cues are necessary to build a solid foundation of trust and confidence.
As discussed in previous articles, a strong core and lower back are integral for maintaining a stable mounted posture. However, mobility is also necessary in order to follow the horse’s movement. For example, the Hip Roll exercise helps to mobilize the lumbar spine, allowing riders to deeply and securely connect their seat to the saddle and the horse’s back during sitting trot. A deep, balanced seat facilitates smooth communication from rider to horse through subtle weight shifts for changes of direction, increases or decreases of tempo (speed of the rhythm), and to shorten or lengthen strides.
Flexibility of the legs and ankles is also essential to giving clear, effective aids at precise moments. If a rider has tight hamstrings or hip flexors often their leg will draw up when applying aids making them unclear, inefficient, and at times uncomfortable. Tightness can also impede coordination and smooth application of rider
aids; this causes difficulty especially when riding a sequence of advanced technical movements such as half passes, multiple flying changes, or riding a line of jumps. Additionally, with tightness often comes weakness, so while we need to stretch these areas, we also need to identify if strengthening exercises are necessary. The Lower & Lift on the Bosu requires the hip flexors to activate from an extended position helping to build strength.
Another area requiring specific focus is the shoulders. Range-of-motion in the shoulder joint, scapula position, and stability directly affect a rider’s ability to maintain correct spinal alignment and posture, as does arm postion. Correct arm position which is an important factor for consistent, elastic contact and application of smooth, effective rein aids. The foam roller supports spinal alignment and causes the shoulders to relax into a neutral position, opening the front of the chest.
Overall, a rider’s goal should be to enhance their horse’s movement, not hinder it. As previously mentioned, flexible muscles and improved joint range-of-motion facilitate shock absorption and fluidity, allowing the horse to move with maximum ease and efficiency. This in turn reduces risk of injury, chronic pain, and poor movement patterns. Incorporating flexibility and range-of-motion exercises into daily routines can significantly improve comfort, safety, and effectiveness, ultimately supporting a harmonious partnership of the human-horse dyad. I encourage all of you to start today — your horse will appreciate it!
Following are some easy exercises to get started at home or at the barn.
Mounting Manners Standing still during mounting.
By Lindsay Grice, Equestrian Canada coach and judge
PHOTO:
It doesn’t affect the score on the judge’s card or change a barrel run-time, so many riders don’t devote training time to mounting manners… until it starts to become a problem. Before things escalate to Butch Cassidy style “mount-on-the-fly,” budget some mounting training into each riding session. I’ve learned that thoughtfulness in one area of horsemanship spills into others.
Speaking of thoughtfulness, an important consideration is the effect of mounting on the horse’s back. Technology has enabled researchers to measure and quantify pressure to a horse’s withers and spine while riders mount using various methods.
No matter how light and agile the rider, getting into the saddle is going to displace that saddle somewhat. During mounting, the saddle torques toward the rider and presses against the horse’s spine and the withers on the far side. Yet, research reveals there are sound ways to minimize pressure.
Unsurprisingly, mounting from ground zero exerts the most torque on the saddle. Nevertheless, of greater concern than the method of mounting is the manner. Mounting clumsily done is tolerated by many stoic horses. I’ll offer some tips to make the process less annoying for your horse and more efficient and balanced for you.
Stepping aboard your horse can be done in several ways:
Mounting From the Ground
PROS: You can get on anywhere.
CONS: It can be less safe if your foot gets caught in the stirrup. If your horse moves, you’re more likely to lose your balance and spook your horse. Finally, as mentioned, mounting from ground zero applies the most torque through the saddle to your horse’s back.
TECHNIQUE AND TIPS: Grabbing the saddle horn or even the pommel will certainly pull the saddle over more than holding the withers or grasping a chunk of mane if it’s not braided. Even holding the front of the saddle pad near the withers will minimize torque. Because holding the pommel is the obvious choice for the novice, when learning to mount from the ground have an assistant hold your horse. You might even lengthen your stirrup leather a few holes to shorten your stretch. Readjust it when seated in the saddle.
As a coach, I will often get on my student’s horse to demonstrate or feel
This rider is dispersing her weight to the far side as she mounts.
what the rider is feeling. To minimize my mounting time and maximize their lesson time, I typically choose to get on from the ground. I’ll have my student hold the stirrup on the far side to stabilize the saddle and equalize the weight distribution. For extra precaution, I’ll have them hold their horse’s outside rein.
Mounting From a Block
PROS: Using a block tends to be physically easier on horse and rider. CONS: Blocks aren’t always accessible.
A foot too far into the stirrup leaves you vulnerable if you lose your balance or the horse moves.
By Alexa Linton, Equine Sports Therapist
As I write this article, I am days into the arrival of my new pony Gwynna, the third member of my little herd, with a herd integration in our near future. It seems somehow fortuitous to be riding the various waves of emotion that this transition can present — trepidation, fear, anticipation, and uncertainty — as I unpack what it takes to successfully introduce a new herd member or move from a barn with horses on their own to one where the herd lives together. By virtue of my ongoing passion for horse track systems and species-specific horsekeeping, this topic is important. For those who want to shift their way of keeping horses but are getting stuck on how to do it, understanding how to manage the transition can be a deciding factor. My main motivation for writing this article is to help horse people feel more
comfortable making shifts that support happier horses. As equine behaviourist Lauren Fraser says, horses thrive with friends, forage, and freedom, in that order. Friends are first on this list because other horses are literally the most enriching, interesting, connecting, comforting element possible in a horse’s life. Horses are naturally social herd animals, wired for connection and community, much like humans. They thrive in environments where they can touch, interact, attune, play, groom, eat with, walk with, sleep with, and be with other horses. Even the most successful performance horse is wired this way.
Can all horses live in a herd environment? Sadly, no. Some horses, separated and isolated from other horses from a very young age and lacking in social skills, may never be able to live
safely in the same area as other horses — but this doesn’t mean they can’t have healthy interaction over a safe fence-line. Fortunately, this is rare. Even with underdeveloped social skills, most horses can learn to live happily with other horses, and those that do benefit in countless ways physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this article we will look at how to integrate horses with varied social skills as successfully as possible.
First, let’s talk about the barriers to integration. If your horse has never lived with other horses and is currently living alone, take a moment to think of the reasons why. Your reasons may include fear that the horse might become herdbound, exhibit dangerous or uncontrolled behaviour, or suffer potential injuries and create additional expenses. Perhaps you have a fear of change. Maybe your horse
lives at a boarding barn that doesn’t offer group turnout, has no facilities supportive of shared living, or employs a restricted feeding regime. When we look closely, most barriers to herd living are born out of fear or a need for control. Yes, having horses in stalls and/or individual small paddocks can feel safer and easier, but who benefits? If we reflect on why we are choosing a certain way of horsekeeping, we might be more open to a change that prioritizes the species-specific needs of our horses.
Next, let’s talk about the nitty gritty of integrating horses into a herd. For the longest time, before my deep dive into the function of the autonomic nervous system, I employed the “pull off the Band-aid quickly” technique when it came to horse introductions. Putting horses together with very little preparation and hoping for the best was quite anxiety-provoking for all, including me. I now see the error of my ways, even with a well-socialized horse like my mare, Diva. With my newest herd member, Gwynna. I'm putting into action a slower and much more thoughtful approach gleaned from conversations about integrations with many trainers and professionals.
The first key to successful integration is regulation, meaning that the nervous systems of humans and horses involved feel safe, settled, and relatively at ease. We want to start from a place of neutrality, which may mean first working with the horses to help them find this state. To do this you must first find this state of responsiveness and settled presence within yourself, as co-regulation is a key element of helping your horses settle and feel safe.
For my new mare, I created a smaller temporary paddock to allow the horses to interact safely over a fence and for her to be able to take space as needed. It took about two days to find neutrality where the horses could eat next to each other, were connecting calmly, and were aligning their spines in the same direction (a sign of attunement and a clear signal that we are getting ready to move to the next step of integration). Remember, some stress is inevitable and that’s okay as it’s a big change. What we want to limit is distress, where stress levels become harmful.
Creating a space that is safe for integration is important. Blocking off any corners where a horse might become trapped, closing stalls, and generally preparing the space well will reduce stress. I prefer a fair amount of room so horses can take space, but not enough to encourage them to gallop as we want them to stay in a
First, Focus on Yourself
Sometimes, the fastest way to change something in your horse is to focus on yourself.
By Annika McGivern, MSc, Sport and Exercise Psychology
During a clinic I taught last year in Ireland, a rider entered the ring on an extremely tense horse. Head in the air, tight back, I’m sure you can picture it. As I watched this rider warm up, I could see she was doing her best to relax the horse with little success. I asked her to let go of thinking about her horse for a few minutes and focus on her breathing instead. Over the next three to five minutes, we watched the mare change. Her head lowered, her back softened, and her step got longer and more fluid.
Horse people are often great pursuers of learning. We learn a little about a lot to ensure our horses’ well-being, safety, and soundness. We take clinics to learn multiple perspectives and approaches to training. We eagerly seek out knowledge on feeding, hay, shoeing, trimming, and trailering. We hire many types of professionals to give us insight into our horses’ mental and physical experience. And yet, despite this interest in learning, we often neglect developing our knowledge of one of the most important influences over our horse and outcomes: ourselves!
What is self-knowledge, and why does it matter?
Self-knowledge is the information we use to answer the question: Who am I? This type of knowledge is gained through an interest in self-discovery, the process of seeking to understand yourself more clearly and completely. Riders can use their selfknowledge to manage themselves more skilfully in the saddle. Knowing key pieces of information about yourself, such as emotional triggers, patterns of self-talk, and personal beliefs, can increase self-confidence, emotional intelligence, your ability to regulate your nervous system (i.e., manage your response to fear and stress), and your ability to learn effectively.
In my work with equestrians as a mental performance consultant, I have observed that when asked, few equestrians can easily call to mind important information about themselves such as values, purpose, strengths, limitations, emotional triggers, patterns of self-talk, and personal beliefs that form the foundation for confidence, motivation, and consistent progress. The tendency to focus almost entirely on the horse is common in
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/JJ
Your beliefs impact your confidence and self-image, shaping how you see yourself as a rider. Choose your beliefs, instead of allowing unhelpful beliefs to shape a limiting perspective of who you are and what you are capable of.
most horse sports. Because of this, many equestrians don’t develop the habit of considering themselves as an athlete or even as an important part of the picture. We usually approach problems by trying to change something in the horse instead of first considering if anything can be changed in ourselves. These cultural norms can be an obstacle to developing self-knowledge in the context of equestrian sport.
The interesting thing is that, of course, the human in the horsehuman partnership matters quite a bit. An individual’s ability to work with and train horses is vastly improved by integrating selfknowledge when problem-solving training challenges. Research now shows that horses are so tuned in to the humans they interact with that they smell our emotions, read facial expressions, and respond immediately to changes in their human’s nervous system. Recognising this, it becomes clear that the inner state of the human has a direct and sizeable impact on the horse. Sometimes, the problem you are trying to fix by changing your horse is solved more effectively by checking in with your own thoughts and emotions so that you can make changes within yourself. Having self-knowledge helps you understand your inner experience and become skilled at recognising when your thoughts, emotions, or tension are impacting your horse.
Examples of helpful inner states while riding are calm, patient, curious, trusting, positive, and attentive. When our self-knowledge
Equine Assisted Learning
Changing Lives Through Horses
By Jacqueline Louie
From tragedy, trauma, repeating nightmares, and substance abuse, to healing, wholeness, and helping others. Ross MacInnes, co-founder of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Canada, is living a life of purpose. Horses have helped him get there.
For more than 20 years, EAL Canada — an organization that provides instruction to those working in the EAL field — has been changing lives through horses. EAL Canadacertified coaches help people whose goal is personal development and growth through hands-on work with horses.
“The horse is a partner in this endeavour,” says EAL Canada national training director Ross MacInnes, who cofounded the organization with his wife, Dee. “A horse is really good at picking up the subtleness in a person’s answers. It opens the door for more introspection.”
The ancient Greeks knew about the therapeutic benefits of horses, as did the Bedouins. In contemporary times, research has confirmed the efficacy of equine assisted learning in improving mental wellness and assisting in skills development in people of all ages and abilities.
Here is how EAL Canada-certified coaches across the country describe how EAL Canada has impacted them and the people they work with:
Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities
“EAL Canada can help us introduce people to horses for the first time and [learn] how to be safe around horses,” says Michelle Ingall, executive director of Langley, BC-based Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities, which uses equestrian therapy and activities to enhance quality of life and life skills for individuals of all ages.
EAL Canada offers programs to help people of all ages and backgrounds learn to understand how the power of the horse-human bond can lead to meaningful, lasting change.
“We use those skills all the time because they are useful and you can apply them in many different situations, including how to participate if someone doesn’t want to touch a horse,” explains Ingall. “Simple exercises can bring people to tears. Because horses are prey animals and vulnerable, they can tap into our own vulnerability. An animal like that, that allows us to be in their presence, is a gift. That’s something that makes people feel good about themselves. The connection that people find with horses is real and valuable.”
Lasting Strides Equine
“There’s a sense of calming. EAL Canada helps coaches harness that peace through exercises guiding them in that journey,” says Jade Dykstra, owner and lead facilitator at Lasting Strides Equine, located in the Delacour area northeast of Calgary, Alberta (AB).
“Horses instill a sense of confidence and self-esteem, as well as help people
“It’s almost like you’re looking in a mirror and the horses are showing you things you can work on,” says
Beatrix Strebel of Classical Equitation
PHOTO: DREAMSTIME/KATARZYNA MAZUROWSKA
The March West
The Birth of the RCMP
150 Years Ago
In October 1873, after Canada’s Prime Minister John A. Macdonald approved the formation of a North West Mounted Police (NWMP) force, adverts like this one (left) in the Halifax Chronicle appeared in newspapers across what is now Eastern Canada. They encouraged recruits to sign on to what Tony Rees writes would become “one of the greatest chapters in Canada’s national mythology; as rich in absurdity as glory, every bit as foolhardy and reckless as it was colourful and proud.”
On July 8, 1874 — 150 years ago — 275 NWMP members began their 2,500-kilometre march west from Dufferin, an
PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA/SKEEZIX1000
By Tania Millen, BSc, MJ
Portrait of Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod (1836–1894), a Scottish-born militia officer, lawyer, and politician who played a key role in Alberta’s early history. He served as the second Commissioner of the North West Mounted Police from 1876 to 1880. Macleod, for whom Fort Macleod and Macleod Trail are named, was later appointed to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in 1887 and served until his death. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Calgary.
inconsequential fort located south of Winnipeg, Manitoba to Fort Edmonton, Swan River, and what became Fort Macleod, in Alberta.
The recruits battled thunderstorms, floods, drought, hordes of locusts, lack of feed for their horses, lack of firewood for cooking and warmth, saline water, kneedeep mud, grass fires, and illness. Many horses died but every man survived, and the NWMP “Mounties” became known for their ability to rise to the toughest occasions and survive long odds that others didn’t. Their origin story is tied to the creation of Canada.
Before the March
In 1869, the future of the western portion of what soon became Canada dramatically changed. The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), which had been collecting and trading furs from the vast area that now covers about two-thirds of Canada, sold the “Northwest Territories” (Manitoba westward) to the fledgling Canadian government. Free traders took advantage of this news and — in the absence of HBC fur buyers — started plying the Indigenous Peoples with powerful whiskey in exchange for furs.
The massacre of an Assiniboine encampment of men, women, and children in Canada’s Cypress Hills (in presentday Saskatchewan) in June 1873 by whiskey-emboldened American wolf hunters who crossed the unsurveyed,
Site of the Cypress Hills Massacre which occurred June 1, 1873, near the Battle Creek region of Saskatchewan.
PHOTO: TANIA MILLEN
My Scenic Winter Ride
with The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch
By Shawn Hamilton
The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is a highly successful rural Western riding getaway nestled near the small town of Shell, Wyoming, an hour east of the Cody airport, and east of Yellowstone National Park at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains. Outside of their regular season, which runs from April to October, owners Peter De Cabooter and his wife Marijn host an annual winter ride where, by invitation only, repeat guests come to enjoy the ranch during its quieter time. Peter, Marijn, their son Victor, and other various staff members join the loyal patrons on rides, pre-dinner drinks at the bar, and scrumptious meals in the dining area of the main lodge. I was elated to be included in the 2024 event held in February and was quick to accept the invite. Envisioning
bounding through white fluffy snowdrifts on one of their amazing horses, I was prepared for the cold winter weather of the mountains with newly acquired batteryoperated socks, enough hand warmers for every day, layers of warm clothes, and insulated winter riding pants. I was ready for everything. But just to tease us, the snow waited until seconds after our last day’s final dismount. It was a winter ride without snow — but what a week! Every day was spent enjoying the vastly diverse scenery surrounding the ranch, as well as getting to know our equine partners and each other. Evenings were spent sipping wine, laughing, and talking horses over homemade meals in the lodge. I arrived as a stranger to most of the guests and departed feeling part of a family.
An Equestrian Palace
The Living Museum of the Horse
By Li Robbins
It’s sometimes called an “equestrian palace,” and the nickname is no exaggeration. The first glimpse of the Grandes Écuries (Great Stables) in Chantilly, France is truly jaw-dropping. To see for yourself, take a 30-minute train ride from Paris to Chantilly, home of famous lace, cream and horses — some consider the town France’s “capital city of the horse.” Next, walk through a woods so peaceful it feels like something out of a fairy tale. When you reach the end of the path you’ll be at the edge of a grassy racecourse. Gaze across the track; et voilà, that stunning view.
The Great Stables was built between 1719 and 1735 for Louis-Henri de Bourbon-Condé, a French nobleman and politician who, according to legend, believed he would be reincarnated as a horse and therefore would need suitably lavish surroundings. In his human lifetime Louis-Henri was more preoccupied with riding a horse than being one, and he loved to hunt. The massive stables were not just home to some 240 horses,
Aerial photo of the Grandes Écuries (Great Stables) in Chantilly, France.
PHOTO: MARC WALTER
