Problem Horses
The first in a three-part series by horse trainer Doris Eraldi
Horses are sent to trainers for a variety of reasons. Young horses are sent to be started, and show horses fine-tuned for competition. Or, the horse is a "problem horse" - one that has developed bad habits. From down-right dangerous behavior such as kicking and biting to the every-bit-as-frustrating, horses who panic or simply won't go, the first step for the trainer dealing with a problem horse is figuring out why the horse is acting that way.
There can be many reasons for problem behavior; lack of training or experience, fear and confusion, poor rider habits, or the horse has learned he can bully his handler. When dealing with a problem horse, it's also important not to overlook the "painfully obvious" - situations where the horse is in pain, causing misbehavior.
Often, these are the easiest problems to fix. A large gelding that was violently throwing his head, turned out to be wearing a pony-sized mechanical hackamore. Simply using a bridle that fit fixed the problem. A mare who would lay down when her owner mounted, had pinched nerves in her neck and withers. She needed time off and rest, not more work. Horses that refuse to take a lead or who rush at the lope might be reacting to soreness in joints or back. Back spasms can turn a polite horse into a farrier-kicker.
While some situations really are painfully obvious, sometimes it takes some sleuthing to uncover the reasons for a horse's misbehavior. Consulting with a veterinarian, being aware of equine body language and being willing to give the horse the benefit of the doubt, can go a long ways in diagnosing pain related problems. We owe it to our horses to consider that misbehavior could be the horse's way of telling us he hurts. A horse in pain will not respond well to the additional strain of training, which could lead to even further problems. Ruling out pain-related causes, be they equipment issues or physical injury, puts the trainer one step closer to actually solving the horse's problem.
Next month: Identifying fear-related problems.
E-mail Doris at: dyan@eraldi.net.
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