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If you are starting to feel frustrated because something is not working out during training, then it is best to stop, take a break and start again tomorrow. Horses are highly social animals and great at sensing emotions, this is why they can be part of mental health treatments. Horse behavior might be simple, but it is not simple, so do not overwhelm them.Īlso, as most of the problems our horses face have to do with us in some way, it is important for us to learn about emotional control. You will find interesting: Do we really need ear covers on show jumping horses?Īs much as we think we know our domestic horse, we always learn something new about them. Give him some treats, play with him, give him a good scratch… in order to build your relationship with your horse and help him focus on you. If the case is the opposite, and the horse prefers going towards something they like, then become something your horse likes as well. However, be aware of doing this one at a time. If horses do not enjoy erratic, noisy and moving objects, then for instance pick an umbrella and slowly get used to approaching them. When kept in stalls we prevent them from engaging in many natural activities such as grazing, walking, or playing with other horses. To build confidence, you can slowly introduce an object at a distance and with rhythm. Vices are negative activities that occur due to various causes, including stress, boredom, fear, excess energy, and nervousness. This helps them build confidence as horses learn to live with a point of fear and to expand their comfort zone. Moreover, you should gradually get them used to the object they are nervous about. However, if you are not sure what the issue is, it is best to ask an expert in behavioural problems or call your vet: “Someone that’s an expert Dressage rider is not necessarily an expert jumper rider or reiner - the same goes for dealing with behavioural problems.” -Tik Maynard Related article: Horses relax around humans they know Pay attention to your surroundings, and once identified, you could try removing or reducing it so your horse relaxes more during training. To solve the problem, you should try to understand what is the object that is bothering your horse. You will find interesting: Horse riding help women tone core and lower muscles This could be grass, new horse friends, a ball they want to sniff… However, on the other hand, if this is something they like, they might get curious and want to go towards it. “Horses tend to be afraid of things coming towards them, things moving quickly, things that make noise, things that are new or unusual, things that they have had bad experiences with…” -Tik Maynard This can be a dog that is running nearby, a tractor closeby or another horse that is acting strangely. Horse attention can get distracted if something approaches them quickly and they want to stay away from it. Let’s find the keys to helping your horses stay focused during training or competitions and help horse confidence improve. Keeping your horse focused and concentrated might be complicated sometimes, but it is essential to help them pay attention in order to build trust with your equine partner.Īccording to trainer Tik Maynard, when horses are distracted, there is something making them nervous.
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PHF resembles several other diseases so immediate veterinary care and diagnostic testing are strongly recommended.Easy tricks to help distracted horses focus Horses can be infected by drinking contaminated water or by eating feed that has been contaminated by insects from aquatic environments. PHF cases are more frequent in late summer and are characterized by fever, laminitis, and often, diarrhea. This may include a late summer booster vaccination, in addition to vaccination in the spring.
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Eliminate or treat all standing water in the horse's environment to discourage mosquito hatching.Horse owners can do 3 things to lower the risk of WNV infection:
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Mosquito numbers often soar in late summer, as larvae hatch from warm water pools. WNV causes neurologic signs and muscle trembling, killing almost a third of the horses that develop signs. Two important diseases in this category are West Nile virus (WNV) and Potomac Horse Fever (PHF). Hot weather brings an increased risk of infectious diseases that involve mosquito transmission to horses. You should still monitor the horse during training and competition in hot and humid climates. Acclimation increases the horse’s tolerance to heat and exercise. We recommend a 15- to 21-day acclimation period for horses from cooler or drier climates traveling to compete or reside in hot, humid climates.