Imagine being 'you' (a feeling, thinking human being) and living 24 hours a day, 7 days a week standing on your dinning room table all day long!
(The above is a real photo taken to show the lack of space we allocate our 'beloved' horses!
Imagine that your only break from life on that table top is when a 10 stone (or heavier) human comes along, slaps tight and heavy tack across your face and back, takes you off the table, gets straight onto your back (piggy back style) and then asks you to run!
Most of us would say that as a 'way of life' the above is at best uneducated, at worst its physical and mental abuse.
I pick a table top to imagine standing on simply to convey the feeling of restriction we humans would feel, and how akin that experience must be to a horse living in a stable, versus a natural pasture environment.
A stabled existence does sadly describe life for many domestic horses. For what ever reason horses are kept in a stable all day long, there is no need for the so called 'more intelligent' of the two of us (i.e. we humans) to ignore basic physical and emotional needs of our equine partner.
How could we treat our horses more intelligently?
Step 1: Lead your horse out of the stable in a halter - no tack - round the yard for a few laps. Let him move his body and wake up his mind!
Step 2: Lunge him (tack free) for 10 minutes to gently warm up his muscles and give you the chance to observe his movement and pick up on his mood!
Step 3: Tack up!
Step 4: Before Mounting.... lead him round the menage/ school for 3 or 4 laps. Let him feel the tack around his body. Spend this time grounding yourself, breathing deeply, warming up your body, creating a focus and plan for your session.
Step 5: Mount - knowing by now your horse is more ready to accept you mounting and is more physically capable of working with you on his back.
Step 6: Warm up in the saddle - take 5 minutes once mounted to get in 'sync' together with a warm up in walk, working him low and long, doing simple gymnastic lateral moves.
Step 7: Enjoy! Have a healthy, successful ride!
(The above is a real photo taken to show the lack of space we allocate our 'beloved' horses!
Imagine that your only break from life on that table top is when a 10 stone (or heavier) human comes along, slaps tight and heavy tack across your face and back, takes you off the table, gets straight onto your back (piggy back style) and then asks you to run!
Most of us would say that as a 'way of life' the above is at best uneducated, at worst its physical and mental abuse.
I pick a table top to imagine standing on simply to convey the feeling of restriction we humans would feel, and how akin that experience must be to a horse living in a stable, versus a natural pasture environment.
A stabled existence does sadly describe life for many domestic horses. For what ever reason horses are kept in a stable all day long, there is no need for the so called 'more intelligent' of the two of us (i.e. we humans) to ignore basic physical and emotional needs of our equine partner.
How could we treat our horses more intelligently?
Step 1: Lead your horse out of the stable in a halter - no tack - round the yard for a few laps. Let him move his body and wake up his mind!
Step 2: Lunge him (tack free) for 10 minutes to gently warm up his muscles and give you the chance to observe his movement and pick up on his mood!
Step 3: Tack up!
Step 4: Before Mounting.... lead him round the menage/ school for 3 or 4 laps. Let him feel the tack around his body. Spend this time grounding yourself, breathing deeply, warming up your body, creating a focus and plan for your session.
Step 5: Mount - knowing by now your horse is more ready to accept you mounting and is more physically capable of working with you on his back.
Step 6: Warm up in the saddle - take 5 minutes once mounted to get in 'sync' together with a warm up in walk, working him low and long, doing simple gymnastic lateral moves.
Step 7: Enjoy! Have a healthy, successful ride!
Respect yourself and your horse. Keep it simple; be fair and considerate.
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