cat-astrophe during home isolation

e q u i n e The Right to Freedom

Kathie Gregory considers the social restrictions imposed by COVID-19, finding similarities with the experiences of some domesticated horses, and examines what can be done to set up the environment so horses have more opportunities to express and engage in natural behaviors

In these unprecedented times, at the time of writing, people all over the world were facing isolation due to lockdown procedures aimed at combating COVID19. In the U.K., where I am based, people were being advised to stay at home and not go out unless absolutely necessary and, as a whole, were adhering to this advice – but we also saw that some were not. It led me to wonder what is the impact of staying at home, and why were there people who were not following the guidelines despite a very real risk to their lives? Let's put aside the issue that if we are at home, many of us are unable to work (which obviously has serious consequences of its own), as this is not pertinent to this article. Instead, I will concentrate on a couple of other issues.

One, isolation. We are confined to our homes. We are only able to go out once a day for exercise. We cannot meet up with friends or family. We can only shop if necessary. The reality of this is that we are missing social contact, and that can be particularly difficult when we have an innate need to see family or friends but are not allowed to do so. There is also the need to interact with other people. Without this social aspect of life people may start to feel lonely. They may not know what to do with themselves, and I imagine there are quite a few people who are unable to always put the time to good use, as the situation we now find ourselves in is upsetting, worrying, and emotionally distressing.

Two, being unable to change the environment. This may not seem like a big deal, but people can literally feel they are going a little crazy if they are confined to a space with no choice of going somewhere else. People need a change of scenery, different environments, and different things to do. Being made to stay in the same place with no new stimulation can create boredom and frustration.

I believe this is why some people are not staying at home. I believe they choose to go against official guidelines because they find it too difficult to remain in isolation and cannot cope with the situation that has been thrust upon them. I find this interesting because, what we may not realize is that the circumstances we now find ourselves living in are a lifelong reality for many horses. For us, once the pandemic is over, we may well go back to living our lives as we did before, but horses will not have that option. Take a moment to appreciate what a big deal that is. Does anyone want to remain in this current situation of restrictions for the rest of their lives? Of course not, but this is exactly how many horses are kept. I hope

© Can Stock Photo / juniart Horses are a social species who form strong social bonds and will join different groups at different stages of their lives

In a natural setting, horses roam great distances and are able to move in all gaits whenever they wish. Their innate desire to roam is essential for internal homeostasis and the freedom to move about the land allows them to exercise freely, keeping strong and fit for purpose.

that from this experience people will have a greater awareness of the impact of making other species live in isolation and/or confinement.

Every being has a right to freedom, but how exactly do we define it? It can mean many different things to many people, and personal perspective may result in some freedoms being more important than others.

What Is Freedom?

We might say that freedom is the ability to live life as you want, to be able to express yourself, choose what you do, what you eat, where you live, where you go, etc. In other words, to feel safe and secure in the environment, in yourself, and in the life you lead.

The reality is that, whether human or animal, this ideal is not always possible. There are almost always constraints, stresses, pressures, and circumstances that mean there are a range of aspects to freedom which are outside of our ability to control or change, resulting in compromise. The compromise might be small and an inconsequential part of life; we adjust for it and live happy lives. We might even have to live with a big compromise but exercise our freedom in other ways. However, certain compromises, both big and small, can have a devastating impact on quality of life.

In horses, the obvious starting place is the freedom to express natural behavior. Straightforward enough, but when you examine this more closely you realize it involves every aspect of their lives. When we consider the different ways horses are kept, we can see that the level of freedom the horse enjoys is completely dependent on the environment he is in and the management system in place.

Roaming

In a natural setting, horses roam great distances and are able to move in all gaits whenever they wish. Their innate desire to roam is essential for internal homeostasis and the freedom to move about the land allows them to exercise freely, keeping strong and fit for purpose. They can choose when to be active and when to rest, when to be out, and when to find shelter from the weather. Being able to roam also satisfies their inquisitive nature in that they are free and able to investigate and explore new places.

Moving around enables horses to find the right type of food at the right time of the year. Their diet is seasonal to take advantage of what is available. This not only ensures they do not suffer from malnutrition; it also means they receive a rich variety of foods which supports a healthy digestive system. The equine species is a grazer, meaning they may eat for up to 90% of the time. The gut requires an almost continuous supply of food going through it in order to function properly.

Social

Horses are a social species. They have strong social bonds and form several types of groups. In a natural setting, they have the freedom to choose who to accept into their group, and who not to. The groups serve more purpose than just a prey species living in a group for safety too. Horses will join different groups at different stages of their lives, depending on the group’s makeup being right for individuals of a particular stage. This gives them the ability to play with other horses, which is essential for youngsters, adolescents, and young adults. Play is also important for practicing and honing motor skills and movement patterns

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active part in their own safety. Having the ability to make decisions and able to manage their own safety. There are stabling options that range from being completely inappropriate to those that address a horse’s needs more adequately, even if in a somewhat limited way. Wherever possible, avoid isolation. This is the worst stabling situation a horse can be in. The more open the stable the better, as this at least allows horses to see and have contact with each other. The best option is, of course, a field shelter, where the horses are free to come and go as they please, but understandably, this is not possible in some situations. So, we must compensate. Look at how you can minimize the time spent in a stable. This is always the starting point as it means the horse is not just standing there with nothing to do. Look at how the stable environment can be made more interesting. How can you address the need to graze for a significant part of the day when the horse is in a stable? For some, the solution may be to find a new place for the horse to live. For others it is thinking creatively so that they can redress the lack of natural living.

Grazing

© Can Stock Photo / olgait Horses need access to fields for grazing, time The ability to play with other horses is essential for the development of youngsters, adolescents, and young adults to slowly roam around, and then to relax. They require spaces big enough to gallop about and play in. This also helps their sense of safety, as which are utilized in other aspects of life. Older horses also enjoy play, there is room to distance themselves from potential threats whilst they although not as often. Play also supports selfdevelopment and the soassess a situation. Again, this is not always possible, so what alternacial aspect is part of learning to form friendships. tives are there? You may be able to rent a field to give your horses time Safety There is also the freedom to keep themselves safe, one of the most important aspects of freedom for a horse. Immature beings of all species look to adults to keep them safe, but once they are adults they play an once a week, it is better than not at all. Horses can also graze as you walk them along lanes. This may not be what your usual ride looks like but just as we should spend the time letting our dogs stop and sniff as we walk them, a grazing walk is also beneficial to the horse. to wander about. Even if you are only able to get your horse onto a field choosing to act on them, or not, to keep themselves safe is essential for emotional security. All the above aspects of freedom contribute to the physiological and psychological health of the horse, and a good life. While giving a domesticated horse this kind of freedom is not always possible, setting up their environment to mirror their natural life as much as we can most definitely is. However restricted your circumstances, there are always things you can do – it just takes a little creative thinking. Companions Do your research when looking for companions for your horse. There is more to buying a horse than just assessing the needs of the person and what the horse will be doing. What personalities will complement the horse(s) you already have? What age horse will be best for your existing one(s)? Unfortunately, it does happen that horses who do not actually get on with each other have to live together. This kind of situation is stressful and can impact every aspect of their lives. Taking the time to match a new horse with your existing one(s) will pay dividends going Stabling Firstly, we must recognize the detrimental impact of keeping horses stabled for the majority of their time. Stabling removes many aspects of freedom, from the ability to roam, to eat as their digestion requires, to be sociable and form friendships, to find security in the group and be forward. Horses do have to comply with whatever reason we have bought them for and what we do with them. This may be a particular sport or activity where the horse is trained to the level that is necessary for him to take part. It may be that the horse is not used for a formal sport, or he is simply a field companion. Again, look at the type of horse and how his attributes match what he will be doing. Whatever the level and Horses are a social species. They have strong social bonds and form several types of groups. In a natural setting, they have the freedom to choose who to accept into their group, and who not to. amount of training he does or does not need to do to support the person’s choice of activity, he will always need to comply with being handled to keep him healthy. To this end, time activities to when he is most receptive to them. If he is busy in the morning and quiet in the afternoon, engage him in training activities in the morning, then let him rest, and make appointments for professionals to see him in the afternoon. Be mindful of hormones and how they change perceptions and motiva

tions. Mares in season are less likely to want to stand still, so regular things such as hoof trimming can be organized between seasons. Also adjust training and activities according to how your horse copes with hormones.

You might think that making changes to how the horse lives, what he is able to do, and what he has access to will have immediate and positive results. However, this is not always the case. Some horses will take the changes in their stride while others will need time to adjust. Many animals like routine and changes can make them anxious. Horses are no different. Added to this, some horses may be in a state of learned helplessness. The more intensive the management the less the horse has a say in what he does, so he learns not to rely on himself but to look to those handling him to tell him what to do. For example, imagine that a horse kept in an isolated stable 24/7 for many years suddenly has a change in circumstances and moves to somewhere with a field barn and 24hour access to fields. He can come and go as he pleases. What does he do in the first few weeks? He most likely spends most of his time in the barn. It takes time to adjust to the new situation and for the horse to realize that he can do as he pleases.

Here's another example. You may find that a horse who has been tied up for years and then suddenly gains freedom may now feel that being tied up, even temporarily, is unacceptable. Again, it takes time to adjust and to feel safe in the new situation. How does he know that he is only being tied up for a short time and that in a few minutes he will be free again? He needs time to trust the new routine.

Whenever we make changes for our horses in order to improve their welfare, we must take things slowly and look out for a range of responses that we may not expect to see. We should constantly assess the motivation for his responses, make adjustments, and reassure the horse as he transitions to a new way of living. n

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Resources

Eisenberg, J. F., & McKay, G. M. (1971). The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management. In The behaviour of ungulates and its relation to management (Vol. 1). Morges (Switzerland): International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Gregory, K. (2019, May). Stable Life. BARKS from the Guild (36) 46- 48. Available at: bit.ly/3dKTkQw Gregory, K. (2018, September). Equine Social Structure. BARKS from the Guild (32) 39-41. Available at: bit.ly/2NKZh6G Murray, M.J., & Eichorn, E.S. (1996). Effects of intermittent feed deprivation, intermittent feed deprivation with ranitidine administration, and stall confinement with ad libitum access to hay on gastric ulceration in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 57 (11) 1599-603. Available at: bit.ly/2KkgHBO Ransom, J.I., & Cade, B.S. (2009). Quantifying Equid Behavior—A Research Ethogram for Free-Roaming Feral Horses. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 2-A9, 23. Available at: on.doi.gov/2IEO4lu

Kathie Gregory is a qualified animal behavior consultant, presenter and author, specializing in advanced cognition and emotional intelligence. Passionate about raising standards and awareness in how we teach and work with animals, she has developed Free Will Teaching TM (facebook.com/freewillteaching), a concept that provides the framework for animals to enjoy life without compromising their own free will. She has authored two books, A tale of two horses: a passion for free will teaching, and A Puppy Called Wolfie: a passion for free will teaching, and her work is currently divided between working with clients, mentoring, and writing.

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