High expectations

We expect so much of horses and treating them this way is so normalised that we don’t even realise it. This is most prevalent when a horse moves to a new home.

We rip a horse away from everything they know, their friends, their home, their people, their routine, they have no idea where they’re going or if they’re ever coming back, no control over anything that happens to them. This sounds absolutely terrifying and yet we are encouraged to have very little empathy for their feelings and are expected to put the horse to use straight away.

Sometimes the horse starts “acting out” and we are told we have been conned and the horse must’ve been doped when we tried them. Completely disregarding the fact that this is a sentient being who has just been through an extremely stressful, perhaps even traumatic, experience. Then we’re cross and feel hard done by because they don’t behave like a robot.

When horses have been through numerous homes and perhaps through a few dealers yards you’re dealing with a horse who has gone through this traumatic experience again and again, they have no idea they’re not just going to be moved on again. They’ve perhaps never known what it feels like to really settle somewhere and be safe, they’re going to be anxious.

I often meet owners who have run into problems with their new horse and been encouraged to get right to work as the horse is “testing” them and they need to start as they mean to go on. What you actually have is an extremely stressed horse who is trying to cope who is then stressed further by having a flag flapped at them to move their feet or being lunged/ridden hard until they comply. We’re told this is showing leadership and helping the horse feel better. Its not, its shutting them down and adding to their stress.

When you get a new horse or move your horse to a new home the best thing you can give them is time and empathy. Of course making sure their needs are met and they feel safe in their environment. Allow them to be a horse and settle into their routine, then when you do spend time with them keep things really simple and pleasant for your horse. Hand grazing walks, enrichment and quietly exploring.

I think we really underestimate how stressful moving is for so many horses, safety for a horse is familiar surroundings and their herd, how many horses get to keep that long term? When you get a new horse, spare a thought for what they may have been through before they came to you and give them the time and care they need regardless of what they were being made to do in their previous home. Horses don’t need to have been intentionally abused to be traumatised. 🐴