PM #40009439 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Suite 201, 2400 Bevan Ave., Sidney BC, V8L 1W1
IN THE SHADOW OF EQUUS
A
Sanctuary FOR
DONKEYS Holy Land
IN THE BY MARGARET EVANS
T
wo thousand years ago in Bethlehem, a tiny donkey carried Mary to that famous Grotto now beneath the Church of the Nativity, and which provided sanctuary for Jesus’ birth. Today, just 76 kilometres away near the coastal town of Netanya in Israel, another sanctuary, Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land, provides protection and care for donkeys that have been abused, beaten, malnourished or injured. “T h e sanctuary in Israel is a four-acre site, currently home to just over 220 donkeys,” says Wendy Ahl from the Sanctuary’s UK office in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. “It is in an agricultural village known as a ‘moshav’ [a cooperative community of farmers]. There is left: Safe, well cared for, and loved at Safe Haven for Donkeys.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAFE HAVEN FOR DONKEYS
below: Fundraising is ongoing in order to continue providing the essential services to animal owners, and to feed and care for the animals residing at the sanctuary.
10
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
above: Playful donkeys at the sanctuary are relaxed, healthy, and happy. left: Horses are luckier than donkeys, and generally receive better care. Animal owners who do not know how to do basic equine care and cannot afford to pay for it are grateful for the charity’s help. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAFE HAVEN FOR DONKEYS
a dedicated team of local staff caring for the animals, all of whom have been with the charity for some years. Feeding and mucking out is a full-time task and a veterinary surgeon visits daily to check on the health of the donkeys. A farrier and a donkey dentist also visit the sanctuary regularly.” Safe Haven for Donkeys was started in 2000 to help some of the thousands of donkeys facing neglect, cruelty, and abandonment in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The most common situations the donkeys face are neglect, lack of food and water, overwork, and poor harnessing, causing wounds. “Often the owners are not unkind. They just have no idea how to care for their animals,” says Ahl. “For example, they often do not realise that daily grooming is not just cosmetic. It removes parasites from the coat. Many owners believe it harms the animals to drink water in the day, whereas of course we know the opposite is true. The owners are often so poor that they make the harnessing out of whatever material comes to hand. It is poverty, not cruelty, which is most often the cause of the donkeys’ problems. However, as in any country, there are sometimes cases of direct cruelty to the animals.” Barnie was found abandoned by the side of the road, probably because he was blind. Philippa was found overworked and beaten, and the donkey’s owners were persuaded to hand her over to the sanctuary. A local man called the sanctuary after witnessing Toffee being beaten by a gang of youths. Murphy was rescued from the Palestinian village of Jbara on the Israel/Palestine border when he was about two years old. His tiny body was covered in dents and wounds and he had lost an eye due to being beaten with electric cable. He was rescued, his health eventually recovered and, except for the lost eye, he is now a healthy, happy donkey. Little Dusty was found abandoned on the streets of Qalqilya in the Palestinian territories. He was only about a month old and calling for his mother when he was brought to the sanctuary where he settled in with many new friends. Burnie was rescued in 2007. As a stray, he had wandered onto someone’s land and, rather than calling the sanctuary, someone deliberately set him on fire. No one was identified as everyone denied all knowledge of the incident. “Burnie was brought back to the sanctuary where visiting British veterinary surgeon Dr. Stuart Easby treated his wounds,” says Ahl. “He had such severe burns that it was touch and go whether we should have him euthanized, but we decided to give him a chance and applied intensive daily treatments to his burns, including Manuka honey. Eight years on, Burnie is a different donkey. Some of his fur has even grown back and he is kept in an enclosure near the entrance to the sanctuary where he greets every visitor as though he were a large dog rather than a donkey.” The sanctuary also operates a mobile vet clinic, which visits around 20 different locations every month, mainly in the West Bank, which
left & inset: Burnie arrived at the sanctuary in 2007 with severe burns from being deliberately set on fire when he strayed onto someone’s land. After intensive nursing and treat-ment he recovered and now, eight years later, some of his fur has grown back and he greets every sanctuary visitor happily. November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
11
HORSE HEALTH
Understanding
Colic
PHOTO: ©SHUTTERSTOCK/PIRITA
Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention BY HAYLEY KOSOLOFSKI
M
ost horse owners have their own personal stories to tell about colic — but chances are that everyone’s tales about the dreaded disease are different. Episodes of colic can range from a mild case of abdominal pain that resolves with pain medications to a life-threatening event that requires emergency surgical treatment. With such a variable condition, it can be difficult for horse owners to determine the right course of action for their horse’s situation, says Dr. Carolina Duran, a resident in large animal internal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
The veterinarian may perform an ultrasound exam to help determine what is going on inside the horse’s abdomen. Dr. Fernando J. Marqués, a specialist in large animal internal medicine at the WCVM, is shown carrying out an ultrasound examination on a horse. 14
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
PHOTO: CHRISTINA WEESE
The veterinarian will begin by physically examining the horse and assessing its vital signs including gut sounds, heart rate, temperature, and respiration rate.
As Duran explains, colic is generally defined as pain that comes from the abdomen or any structure in the abdomen. Colic is typically caused by a problem in the gastrointestinal tract, but other organs can be the source of the pain. As well, horses that are tying-up or foundering (experiencing laminitis) can often show clinical signs that are similar to colic. Colic can affect any age, breed, or sex of horse, and in many cases, the cause of the condition is never determined. Mild cases of colic can be difficult to identify. Affected horses may be uninterested in food or seem to be dull or lethargic. More classic signs of colic are sweating, pawing, and watching the flank as well as lying down and rolling. Some horses may curl their lips, arch their necks, or posture as if to urinate. “If your horse is colicky, you should call your veterinarian. But before you do so, check your horse and gather some information,” says Duran. She adds that the more information horse owners can provide, the better idea veterinarians will have of the horse’s situation. Horse owners can gather the following details for their practitioner: • Take your horse’s vital parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. • Look in your horse’s stall to see if it has passed any feces. If so, note the consistency and the amount. • Think back over the past day or two; have there been any recent changes that could explain your horse’s
Horses Helping Veterans BY MARGARET EVANS
“It was 2007 when my ex-girlfriend brought home an off-the-track Thoroughbred named Sozo who had gone through several owners and had many issues,” recalls Cpl (ret) Christian McEachern, CD. “We kept him at a friend’s acreage, which was along my commuting route to my work in the mountains. At first I only stopped by to check on him and see how he was doing, but that soon changed. After a few months I was learning about horses from my ex and taking more interest in them. It became pretty clear after a while that Sozo had chosen me as his human, and soon I was riding him and regularly enjoying his company. Up to this point years of leadership training and experience, and those traits needed to be a good leader came in handy when working with Sozo. Basically [it Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and medically released after 14 years of military service, Christian McEachern earned his Bachelor of Applied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership degree at Mount Royal University in Calgary. He became a Professional Adventure Guide and a Wilderness and Remote First Aid/Survival instructor. Now a dedicated horseman, Christian is also an Equine First Aid instructor. “I’m not sure where I would have ended up if I hadn’t got into horses,” he says. 18
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
was] a veteran race horse with PTSD and a problem with authority meets army veteran with PTSD and a problem with authority. The rest is history.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN MCEACHERN
I had no experience with horses, but I did have
T
he value of horses as therapeutic animals able to connect with veterans suffering the mental injuries of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has made significant traction in recent years. In July, the Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced funding for two new research studies on how effective equine therapy is for veterans with mental health conditions. The Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) will receive $250,000 to conduct an Equine
registered psychologist and equine assisted learning facilitator with over two decades of experience working with inmates and those in solitary confinement. Can Praxis represents “can” for can do and “praxis,” which is to take a theory and put it into practice. Since there is little existing evidence on the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions for mental health, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is investing in the two-year programs which will provide guidance on when it is appropriate to integrate this type
HEALING HIDDEN WOUNDS of adjunct therapy into a veteran’s mental health treatment plan. Many people don’t realize the extent to which people with PTSD have a serious mental injury that can be terminal. Nothing about it can be treated lightly and the many steps toward a level of recovery are deliberate, focused, and precise. In the three-day equine assisted program that Can Praxis offers, Critchley and Marland will see the veteran more than they would be seen by a therapist in a year. “When PTSD occurs it becomes a daily occurrence of conflict and crisis in that person’s life,” says Critchley.
below, left: Jason and Courtney Anderson from Ontario have completed the Phase One program at Can Praxis. below, right: Both Elaine Kearney and Mike Rude from Newfoundland have completed Phase One, and Mike went on to complete Phase Two.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAN PRAXIS
Assisted Intervention Study. In addition, Can Praxis will receive $25,000 to continue its equine research. Can Praxis’ new research study will build on its 2013 equine therapy pilot study. Both studies will assist in establishing an evidence base on the use of equine therapy for veterans with mental health conditions. Can Praxis, located in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, is a not-for-profit organization run by Steve Critchley and Jim Marland. Their programs are also operating at WindReach Farm at Ashburn, Ontario. Critchley is a 28-year veteran with close to two decades of conflict management as a mediator. Marland is a
November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
19
Christian McEachern Looking at life through his horse’s ears
“Charme is a Bear Valley rescue Percheron/TB mare that was bought from a meat supplier,” says Christian McEachern. “I adopted her at five months old [she is eight this year] and trained her myself. While Sozo was my first horse, I spend by far the most time with Charme as she has turned out to be a great trail partner and a true gift.” 26
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN MCEACHERN
BY MARGARET EVANS “I joined the PPCLI cadet corps at the age of 12 and soon realized that a career in the army was what I wanted to do,” says McEachern. “At 17 I enlisted in the reserves and did my first tour overseas as a peacekeeper in Croatia (former republic of Yugoslavia) with 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. After the tour, I transferred to the regular force with the same battalion I served with overseas. In 1995, I was sent to Central Africa with the Disaster Assistance Relief team as security for the medics, headquarters, etc. I also served in several natural disasters here in Canada, firefighting in BC, the 1997 Manitoba floods, and the 1998 Quebec ice storm. It was after Africa that I started experiencing nightmares, panic attacks/anxiety, and life at home started to unravel. I was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder in 1998, and subsequently medically released in 2001 after 14 years of service.” Growing up in Calgary, McEachern was into outdoor pursuits. But he hated anything to do with the cowboy/ country life. The military beckoned and, after 14 years of duty, he attended Mount Royal University and took the Bachelor of Applied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program. A career as an outdoor guide was logical given his years in mountain warfare, and he was soon doing white water rafting, mountain biking, hiking, advanced wilderness and remote first aid, survival training and team building. Back then he would say horseback riders were lazy and taking the easy way up the mountain. Enter Sozo, his off-the-track Thoroughbred who forced an attitude change. And it was prophetically appropriate that Sozo’s name in Greek means to save, to heal. By another twist of fate, a friend’s family had a ranch near Taber. They needed some over-winter help with their cattle/lamb operations and, given his newfound abilities with horses, he was offered a job. “How the hell did I end up being a cowboy?” he asked himself a hundred times as it dawned on him that he loved the work and the lifestyle. It was as much a shock to him as
Christian McEachern on the Zone of Separation in Croatia, 1994.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN MCEACHERN
A Leading Canadian Provider of Insurance Products tailored to the Equine Industry Horse Mortality Plans Offering:
to his friends who wondered what happened to the old anti-cowboy Christian McEachern. But he had many things going for him. He loved the outdoors and he had learned to love horses. “My background in the army totally helped with my backcountry experience, but I’ve always been into the outdoors,” he says. “I say the biggest factor was working in the outdoor industry as a guide with civilian clients. It was here I noticed that while normal outdoor pursuits have many safety courses, how-to courses, and generally a good attitude to being prepared for backcountry travel, the same standards and availability of training is largely missing in the equine industry. A guide for river activities needs the provincial whitewater guide certification, advanced wilderness and remote first aid, swift water rescue level 1 and 2, and other advanced certifications, as well as well-equipped first aid kits and rescue equipment. On the flip side, a horseback guide for a regular tourism operation doesn’t need any certification. In fact you would be lucky that your guide has any background first aid training or human/ equine first aid on the trail with you. Essentially the horseback riding industry is years behind normal outdoor pursuits in safety and training. I gained a lot of equine experience in the backcountry just by getting out and doing it. Things like what to bring, wildlife encounters, difficult terrain, and training my horses for backcountry travel have only added to the wide range of experience I have in the outdoors.” McEachern certified as an Equine First Aid instructor with Equi-Health Canada/USA and
• Full Mortality • Waiver of Depreciation • Medical and Surgical • Disability • Agreed Value / Guaranteed Renewal • Comprehensive Personal Liability • $10,000 Equus Line Clause • Lease Fee Protection Plan, for Leased Horses
Commercial General Liability Plans For: • Riding Facilities / Academies • Boarding Stables • Coaches / Riding Instructors • Horse Shows / Events
• Farriers • Associations / Clubs • Clinics • Charity Events
The Henry Equestrian Insurance Plan is offered throughout Canada. To obtain a quote contact the office nearest to your location. ALBERTA AgPro Insurance Brokers
ONTARIO – AURORA, Head Office Henry Equestrian Insurance Brokers Ltd.
1-780-638-1557
Dr. Maurice Stewart – mstewart@agpro-insurance.com Amanda Stannard – astannard@agpro-insurance.com
www.agproinsurance.com
1-800-565-4321 • hep@hep.ca www.hep.ca ONTARIO – BELLEVILLE McDougall Insurance & Financial
BRITISH COLUMBIA Westland Insurance
1-800-361-0941 ext. 1246
1-800-899-3093 ext. 138 • 778-545-2126
Brenda Erickson – berickson@westland-insurance.com EquineInsuranceSpecialist@Westland-Insurance.com
www.westland-insurance.com
Scott Zurrer – szurrer@mcdougallinsurance.com
www.mcdougallinsurance.com
QUEBEC Leclerc Assurances Et Services Financiers
MANITOBA Oldfield Kirby Esau Inc.
1-800-567-0927
Kelly Fawcett-Neufeld – kfawcett@oldfieldkirby.com
SASKATCHEWAN Chaben McPherson Agencies Ltd.
serviceshep@leclercassurances.com
1-877-653-4357 ext. 326 • 204-943-1446 www.oldfieldkirby.com
MARITIME PROVINCES Brooklyn Insurance Agency
1-800-735-4614 • 902-757-0269
Sherri Greenough caib – sherri.greenough@huestis.ca
www.huestis.ca
www.leclercassurances.com
306-244-3020 Fax: 306-665-2667
Doug Chaben, Hugh Sutherland & Joanne Lipinksi chabenmcpherson@sasktel.net
www.chabenmcphersonag.saskbrokers.com
UNDERWRITTEN BY AVIVA ELITE INSURANCE COMPANY November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
27
PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNITIES FOR VETERANS FOUNDATION
THE RIDE ACROSS
Journey’s End LIGHTING CANDLES COAST TO COAST Paul Nichols (front, left) has ridden all the way from Victoria, BC, finishing The Ride Across Canada after 211 days on November 9th, at the National War Memorial in St. John’s Newfoundland.
30
On April 13, 2015, Canadian Forces veteran Paul Nichols set out on the ride of a lifetime. His plan was to ride from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to raise awareness of the challenges many veterans face when transitioning from military to civilian life. His goal was to visit communities across Canada, share stories with veterans, and heighten awareness of the contributions military people have made and the special needs they face. The vision had been triggered by a chance encounter with a woman who had survived the almost four-year Siege of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the former Yugoslavia. She shared with him her story of how she, along with others, lived for two years in an
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
BY MARGARET EVANS
underground parking lot. Every time she crept out looking for food and water, she faced sniper and machine gun fire. They were shelled almost every night. But it was the Canadian troops who had rescued her. When Paul told her that he had served in Yugoslavia with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, she had burst into tears and hugged him, still grateful for the service of the Canadian soldiers. Paul was so profoundly moved that he wanted to share all veterans’ stories with Canadians. For nine months he and his wife, Terry, planned The Ride Across Canada in minute detail. It would entail Paul riding with a few veterans at a time, who would join him along the
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL AND TERRY NICHOLS
PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNITIES FOR VETERANS FOUNDATION
CANADA
above: Paul Nichols starts the Communities for Veterans ride as he leaves the BC Legislature Building in Victoria, BC.
way after receiving some riding coaching from Terry, a therapeutic riding instructor. Their daughter, Kirsten, would take care of the horses, which included four of their own as well, as donated horses on free lease arrangements that would join the ride as it moved across the country. Some would stay for the entire trip and others would journey part of the way. “We were quite strict with what the ride would look like,” says Terry. “(The riding group would consist of) my husband, Paul, and a maximum of three veterans who have gone through a lesson and been approved to join the ride. We would be having events, so when we ride into a community we would have a gathering at a cenotaph, a beach, a park, or a community place. At that point, there is an invitation for veterans and community members to join us to talk and share thoughts.” As for the route, their number one choice was to keep to as many trails as possible. The second choice was a road with wide shoulders and a pilot car. “When we’re in a big city we have a police escort, motorcycle veteran club escorts, or mounted escorts,” she says. “When we’re in city streets, these are short days. We have to think of the horses’ safety and the welfare of everyone.” Top priority is the health and welfare of the horses. They have been on a special diet approved by their veterinarian, and they have regular visits from the farrier. In the places where they stay, people recommend farriers and they organize a vet check. They are continually buying new saddle pads and equipment. “So far [by mid-October] we’ve done about 8,000 km. I know that we have already covered the distance across Canada and we’ve added thousands of kilometers to incorporate communities that have asked us to come. Because of that, we have had to trailer certain areas where
PHOTO: LINDSAY CHUNG
above, right: Paul Nichols, Graham Ridley, and Drummond Fraser ride by Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON.
there were not a lot of people in order to make up that time because we only have so much time (for the trip).” To say the trip had a positive effect on the horses’ fitness and health is an understatement. Paul’s horse Zoe, an 18-year-old 15.3 hand bay Trakehner mare with one white sock and a white star, is still ready to go at the end of a 40-kilometre day. Fit as can be, she gets quite upset if Paul takes another horse out to give her a break, and paces and paws to be saddled up and go to work. “People believe in the cause and they believe that their horses can be helpful for what we are doing. We have had 12 other horses added to the ride. Some have been with us for a certain amount of time then go back to their owners. For the free lease horses we have with us, the owners have allowed us to take them to St. John’s, Newfoundland. We are absolutely on schedule right now and we will be in St. John’s on November 9.” By October 18, Paul had finally reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, having ridden Zoe over 8,000 kilometres. “We both got to ride yesterday [October 17] and Paul put his horse’s feet in the Atlantic Ocean,” says Terry.
above: Veteran Sandra Morisette of Saint-Christophed’Arthabaska, QC, steals a quiet moment with Skip before her ride. Sandra served 20 years in the Army as a Communicator Research Operator and did five tours, including two to Alert, one to Haiti, one with HMS Northumberland, and one to Afghanistan. During her career, Sandra was posted to Gander and Ottawa.
November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
31
Saddle Fit AND THE
Changing 3-D Back OF THE
Maturing Horse
By Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CSE ‘Tis the season for buying young horses. Along with bringing the new prospect home come questions of when to start the youngster, and whether it makes sense to invest in a custom saddle. First, I will clarify the term “custom saddle.” I believe that true adjustability in a saddle is more important than whether it is “custom.” An adjustable saddle can be changed to accommodate the horse’s conformation as the horse matures, and that saddle is a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, you will likely have to buy several saddles over the course of your horse’s lifetime to make sure the fit remains optimal. If you do a value calculation based on investing in an adjustable saddle and paying for annual adjustments and maintenance vs. buying a new saddle every two or three years, you will come out ahead with an adjustable saddle, even if the initial outlay seems much larger. Consider that you can invest the money you would have spent on replacing the saddle several times, and earn interest on that money for 15 years. The adjustable saddle will also retain much of its value, allowing you to continue to 40
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
“trade up” as new technology results in new models. What does “custom” really mean? One of our competitors in the North American market – the company which uses the concept of “custom saddles” eponymously – was absolutely brilliant in its choice of name. But when people talk about their custom saddles you never know whether they are referring to the brand or the actual saddle type they are riding in. Simply purchasing a saddle that may have been customized to fit your horse with a narrow, medium, or wide tree and panel flocking that has been somewhat moved around to accommodate the horse’s back shape does not make it a custom product. Neither does your determination of seat size (anywhere from 16 to 19 inches) with special colour combinations and bling or leather types of your choice. There is nothing truly custom about these very superficial choices. These are personalized options that will be based on your tastes and requests; however, true customization begins inside the saddle with the tree itself. For a truly custom saddle, the considerations need to
Join our Ranch Team for a 4 to 9 Month Working Holiday!
RANCH
A working ranch in Manitoba’s Assiniboine Valley
WORKING HOLIDAYS INCLUDE:
Tennesse Walking Horses For Sale • twhorse.com
TW RANCH
Riding • Cattle Drives • Natural Horsemanship Calving • Foaling • Training Foals Colt Starting • And More!
Box 1209, Russell, Manitoba R0J 1W0 (204)773-2711 • trinder@xplornet.ca
PHOTO ©ISTOCKPHOTO/ZUZULE
twranch.ca • facebook.com/twranch • youtube.com/twranch
go beyond those mentioned, especially for the rider. Do not underestimate the importance of saddle fit to the rider. If the saddle is not right for the rider, it doesn’t matter how well it fits the horse. The rider’s discomfort will translate down and hinder optimal performance for both horse and rider. Specifically, watch for the following essentials to be correct: • Twist (that part of the saddle that you feel between your upper inner thigh) to accommodate the articulation of the hip bones, to allow the leg to hang straight; • Stirrup bar placement (women tend to need extended stirrup bars to allow their legs to hand straight because most women’s upper legs are longer than their lower legs, which causes them to have a centre of gravity further forward and tends towards the “chair seat” position); November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
41
HORSEMANSHIP
Building Confidence with Tarps
BY JONATHAN FIELD
T
46
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
his is the first of a two-part article about a special horse of mine named Bellagio (barn name Geo), a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding I’ve had for about three years. He is super sensitive and doesn’t have a lot of natural confidence. When he came to me he was very explosive, would react at the slightest thing, and was becoming very dangerous to ride. Over the past few years, I have done a lot of different exercises to help build his confidence with anything that is “out of the norm” for him. Over the past three years, Geo has made remarkable changes and now allows me to ask new things of him without all the fight or flight responses he had in the past. Although he still becomes worried, he allows me to have the conversation rather than violently bolting away. In other words, he will now listen to me even when he is scared, which is a huge step forward for him. Geo is a very friendly horse; he likes people and is often the first one to meet you in the pasture. However, if he sees something that is slightly out of the norm in any way, even if it’s 100 yards away, his head goes up and he’s gone. Just as each horse is an individual with his own unique characteristics, Geo’s story and the way I approached his training offer
PHOTO: ANDREA HECIMOVIC
Helping a Worried Horse
Geo is becoming more confident. He is getting closer and has a softer look. Recognize that a horse communicates with body language. What we might try to say with words, a horse says with expression and posture.
Now I have set the tarp on the ground and will ask Geo to cross it. You can see Geo going up for a sniff. Notice how I stand to the side and send him over. I don’t lead him over it towards me. This avoids having him jump on top of me if he bolts across it. Always remember that none of this works if you don’t have good personal space established with your horse. The horse must know he cannot simply run you over to make this lesson end. Respect for your personal space needs to be established in prior training sessions. 50
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
“I touched it, I’m out!” After a sniff you can expect that the first touch with his hoof will cause a reaction. Allowing Geo to jump back and take another approach will slowly increase his try to risk it again. A safety note about shoes: Barefoot is the best option. If a shoe hooks on to the tarp it can turn into a big wreck quickly. Geo’s shoes are quite tight to his heals and I know Geo well enough by now to handle a reaction if one came.
PHOTOS: ANDREA HECIMOVIC
Keeping things changing. Here I pull the tarp away, which helps Geo see the tarp do different movements. I don’t want him to be okay with it only doing one thing, like dragging away. If I don’t change it a bit he will quickly make a deal with me that as long as it stays the same, he won’t explode away. Changing movements will also help him when I go back to dragging it because he will realize he knows what this is all about.
confidence building happens inch-by-inch, with breaks for thought and processing in between. The timing of the release is key for the horse to be willing to try the next time. If a horse gets the opportunity to realize that something like a tarp will come and go with hurting him, he will most likely be willing to give more of a try next time because things worked out well last time. This article includes a series of photos we captured awhile back when Geo had his first training session with a tarp. The goal was for him to walk over it and eventually stand on it. In part two (in the March/April 2016 issue), I will share how I went about getting him to carry it, and also allow me to rub the tarp over his body. You may be wondering why you should bother doing this. If you are asking that question you haven’t experienced a horse that is scared of everything. Helping horses like Geo realize that large, moving, unpredictable things like tarps are okay can help resolve many other issues he may have as well. Keep in mind that the horse does not always make direct connections. If the horse learns to confidently cross over a blue tarp, it doesn’t mean he will now confidently cross over all plastic objects such as plastic bags, but having a positive experience can help him face the next challenge. If you approach each challenge like it’s an opportunity to build enough trust and leadership with your horse that he will still hear you when he feels the need to go into flight mode, you’ll have a safer and more predictable horse – or at least as safe and predictable as a horse can be (which isn’t very)! One final important point: When you reach any given point in your horse’s training, never make the mistake of thinking that your horse will be the same tomorrow. I’ve heard it said countless times: “He did it just fine yesterday – what’s up with my horse today?” Remember: Horses are different from one day to the next, and some will take much more time than others to gain a high level of confidence in a variety of situations. On his own schedule and when he is ready, the horse will put the tarp or other object in the “good/safe” category. Much of that schedule depends on the trainer
Rider Self-Shaming 5 ANTIDOTES BY APRIL CLAY M.Ed., REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
I am not good enough.
I don’t have an equitation body. rvous.
I’m too ne
I’m such a wimp.
H better riding with discouraging
PHOTO: ©THINKSTOCK/MOODBOARD
ave you ever tried to shame yourself into
54
www.HORSEJournals.com • November/December 2015
statements like these? Shame goes beyond garden variety negativity. The message you send yourself is: “I am useless” or “I am worthless,” and the implication is that there is something wrong with you as opposed to you having done something wrong. You label yourself, so that every time something goes wrong with your ride, you can say, “I knew it, I am just hopeless.” This is why shame is so destructive. It creates a loop of thinking that leads you into negative anticipation, lack of or poor decision-making, and then more labeling. That’s exactly where Breanne, a rider who recently returned to horses, found herself: Because I could not “get” things as fast as I had in the past, the worst memories and thoughts exploded in my head. All I could hear were the words of an old coach who told me I had no natural talent and I would have to work hard at it. So I started to just freeze up. Rider shame can be created through poor coaching and/or parenting experiences. If someone tries to criticize, judge, and shame you into change, chances are you will learn to do the same with yourself. This is especially true if this person is someone you count on (a parent) or someone you respect for his or her knowledge (a coach). Not unlike the culprits who planted the seed, we mistake self-shaming for motivation when it’s actually the opposite. Self-shaming is demotivating and demoralizing and no positive change will result. Here are five antidotes to self-shaming:
Ill-fitting saddles cause back & behavioural issues.
#1
Does your saddle fit? Be sure.
PHOTO: APRIL CLAY
Lectures Seminars Diagnostic Evaluation
by Jochen Schleese
“The industry needs this education.” Gerd Heuschmann DVM
ANTIDOTE #1 Put the critic on a short leash Figure out how you will respond to your inner shame maker. It might be something like: “Get back to me when you have something useful to say. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to problem solving.” The critic is not a helpful coach by any means; their only function is to label and shame. So decide that you will only listen to constructive feedback, then shift focus and ask yourself: What do I need in order to move forward? Ask for feedback, study the problem systematically, and then identify goals.
Saddlefit4Life.com
protecting horse & rider from long term damage info@saddlefit4life.com 800.225.2242 x 45
SLOW BALE BUDDY
Defy the critic with a solid plan for better riding.
ANTIDOTE #2 Define yourself When you give into shame, you allow old voices and not-so-nice new internal ones to decide your riding ability, which isn’t fair or productive. Instead, take the task of defining yourself into your own hands. Do you want to know yourself as a fearful “Chicken Little” with multiple phobias, or a competent rider who knows how to get the job done? Think about it. It’s time to relabel yourself. Write out three or four statements describing the qualities that define you, such as: • I am the type of rider who loves to solve challenges. • I am the type of rider who is known for her strong work ethic. • One word I would use to describe myself under pressure is “focused.” • When unexpected things happen, I can always be counted on to keep moving.
Quality Tested Horse Hay at a Reasonable Price
• By the Bale, the Ton or the Trailer Load • Serving the Lower Mainland & Vancouver Island • Low Sugar Hay Available
Slow Feeder Mimics grazing, controls gluttony and eliminates waste.
PAYS FOR ITSELF IN SAVED HAY. 604-539-2304 • wrayton@telus.net 118 224th St, Langley BC V2Z 2V6
DON’T FORGET TO “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK
AVAILABLE IN 4 SIZES • ONE YEAR WARRANTY
www.BigBaleBuddy.com 866-389-9952 November/December 2015 • Canadian Horse Journal
55
24th Annual Celebration of Horses PHOTO CONTEST
s.com • November/December 2015
Album of Winners
This photo contest is one of our favourite features all year. We love to see your special moments and memories of beloved equine friends, hardworking heroes, and the beautiful babies delivered by the stable stork. Thank you to everyone who entered our 24th annual photo contest. Our generous sponsors make this contest possible. This year’s first place winners will each receive a $200 gift certificate from F.O.A.L. Equestrian, where every piece of clothing is designed with the emotions we feel when we are with our horses: Freedom, Optimism, Adventure, Love. Two runners-up in each category will each receive a $25 Online Credit from System Tack & Apparel – just in time to start your holiday shopping! Thank you to our amazing sponsors, and congratulations to our winners!
STABLE STORK Beautiful Babies of 2015
G
WINNER Eyes of the Next Generation While visiting her grandparents’ farm, Mackenzie Anderson captured this little American Miniature stud colt playing in the tall grass.
To view all our Winners, Runners-Up, and Honourable Mentions, please visit www.HORSEJournals.com
1st RUNNER- UP Eevi “This is my dream filly,” says Sue Kosh, who bred her beloved Norwegian Fjord mare, Elly, to the beautiful stallion, Mogly. Eevi was born on May 20th and was photographed at two weeks of age by Adam Kosh.
2nd RUNNER- UP Reidell Oliver “He is a wee sprite of a Welsh Section A foal, very friendly and full of fun and curiosity,” says photographer Nancy Leask of the colt owned by Rose Reid of Reidell Farms, Ashburn, Ontario. November/December November/December2015 2015 •• Canadian CanadianHorse HorseJournal Journal 59
jh
elt
g
PHOTO:©SHUTTERSTOCK/RITA KOCHMARJOVA
x
Looking for the Perfect Holiday Gift?
You’re Holding It!
Treat the Horse Lover on your list — or Treat Yourself to a Personal Subscription during our…
HOLIDAY SUBSCRIPTION SALE
Get 3 Years for the Price of 2! Until December 31, 2015, order a 2-Year Subscription to Canadian Horse Journal at the regular rate and we’ll add 1 FULL YEAR to your subscription at NO EXTRA CHARGE!
Get 18 BIG ISSUES (3 years) for the 2-year rate of $37 + tax.
25
Sp iversary th 25 Ann
ecial Edi
tion
Add a Gift Subscription Just $18 each if you already subscribe
You’ll save 58% off the cover price! “Best equine magazine available. I am always pleased with the editorial. They are always reaching new heights and covering the difficult questions.” – SOPHIA, BC
“I use this magazine as a reference for my own horse activities. It provides me with great brand names for products and tips and tricks I can use on my own horses.” – EMZ, ON
“There’s always something new for me to learn in the magazine. It covers all disciplines so it’s not always focussing on the same areas. Always keeps me waiting for the next issue!” – CLAIRE, AB
Subscriptions include 6 BIG BIMONTHLY ISSUES PER YEAR, both print and digital editions, and the Annual Equine Consumers’ Guide.
TO ORDER: • Call 1-800-299-3799 and ask for our “Holiday Subscription Offer.” • Visit www.HORSEJournals.com – Subscribe link. • Look for the Subscription Flyer in this issue – Select the 3-year Subscription – Pay the 2-year regular rate of $37 + tax until December 31, 2015
b