Equine Emotional Distress- areas of conflcit

Most of us would like to keep our horses free from emotional turmoil and conflict. In this continuing series discussing equine emotional distress (EED), we will look at the major areas of conflict. By having a total picture as to where conflicts arise, it will be easier to guard our horse from unnecessary stress. It will also gives us a foundation on which to implement the specifics of correcting this problem in future articles.

Not understanding the natural laws that govern horse behavior
During the training process the horse is especially vulnerable to becoming distressed, especially if the trainer does not understand the natural laws that govern horse behavior. In many cases, training techniques and principles actually work against these laws creating tremendous conflict in the horse. The more these unnatural methods are used the more the horse becomes resistant. In time the horse shuts down, no longer able to perform correctly. At this point, they are just trying to survive.

Conflicting behavioral expectations
Another area of turmoil is during the normal handling and care of the horse. Horses do not differentiate between a formal training sessions and just being led from one place to another. When behavioral expectations are different, because the horse is "just" being led, it sets the stage for the deterioration of trained responses. Because the horse is not expected to produce the same responses all the time, they become confused as to what is truly expected of them.

Engaging the fight or flight instinct
Prey animals are hardwired to be fearful, engaging the fight or flight instinct in the blink of an eye. Anytime the horse shows either it means they are in survival mode and fearful for their life. It is a time of high energy and fraught with dangers, both physical and mental. In fact, it only takes one time, with the horse motivated by fear and driven by adrenaline, to permanently link something as simple as walking into a trailer with stress and fear. Any time fight or flight is engaged there is a high risk of permanent conflict being instilled in the mind of the horse. 

Under prepared horse
Requiring an unprepared horse to enter a trailer or putting them in situations without the proper training is like asking a two year old toddler to drive a high powered NASCAR car. Nothing but a crash and burn. Everyone knows or has heard of trailer loading episodes that have ended in similar burn and crashes. Asking and then forcing a horse to do something they are mentally and physically unprepared to do is a common source of conflict.

Interpreting the actions/reactions of the horse incorrectly
Horses do things for one of two reasons- it is a trained response or it is instinctive. If it is instinctive they have no choice over what they do. Yet time and again they are punished for what comes naturally, being called all sorts of ridiculous names in the process.

Of course many instinctive behaviors need to be trained away, but this can only be done successfully and without conflict by understanding the naturals laws of the horse and then working with them not against them. 

If the behavior of the horse is not instinctive then has been trained or learned. In either case, the responsibility of what they learn falls squarely on the shoulders of the human.  If it is good behavior then all is well, however when it is unwanted behavior the fault is usually thrown to the horse. They are then punished or treated as if they were purposely trying to make things bad for their owner. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Improperly evaluating your horse's learning
Is your horse ready to move on? Can they take that next step in their training program or are they ready for that big trail ride? How do you know? Guessing at what your horse knows will only lead to making mistakes. Knowing how to properly evaluate a horse's training will keep things moving along faster and smoother without conflict then by using a "let's see if it works" approach.

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