Putting the Horse First

We all know how much “free time” an equestrian has, sometimes it seems like none. There are days that seem like they will never end; there are stalls to muck, horses to turn out, a strict feed schedule, hand walking, lessons, training, washing blankets, cold hosing, leg wraps, barn upkeep....you know the drill, and don’t even get me started on if it’s a show day! As it stands, it is exhausting to be a successful equestrian and the days are long. The work can be grueling, but we do it for the love and the passion of our horses.

So, if we are doing it for the love of the horse, it must be remembered that no matter how tired we may become, no matter how busy our day was, the horse comes first. Period. The horse's needs always come first.

One of my favorite quotes in the equestrian world is that the horse owes us nothing, yet we owe them everything. No horse has to let us ride them, dote over them, or to be our companion and teammate for competition. Really, they don't have to comply with anything we ask of them. Yet here we are, equestrians with otherworldly bonds with our horses.

But how? How does a successful equestrian build this bond and become successful? Dedication, a lifelong quest for knowledge, perseverance and patience are a handful of traits towards this pursuance. More than this though, is kindness and compassion by always putting the horse first. A healthy, happy and successful horse is a horse that is always put first. It is not the horse’s job to make us happy, it is our job to keep them happy and to put their needs and comfort first. We ask so much of them and they ask nothing of us.

So, how can we put the horse first in regards to the horse’s needs?

· Food and water. Horses are grazing animals and, on their own accord, a horse would graze for nearly 17-20 hours per day on forage. When it comes to meals, horses should always be fed and cared for before we are worried about rushing out of the barn for our own meal. Even if it has been a long day at a horse show, before you leave to get yourself a meal, your horse must come first. For your pastured horses at home, when it’s raining and you don’t want to feed, it’s not an option to skip a meal. The horse does not understand why you are late and why their food isn’t there. Skipping a meal, or not having a consistent routine, will cause unnecessary confusion, anxiety and stress to the horse. Horses are intelligent creatures. They learn schedules quickly and a consistent schedule is vital to a healthy and happy horse.

· Shelter. Shelter doesn’t necessarily mean a stall in a barn, but when it does, keeping the stall clean, dry and well bedded is extremely important. Wet and dirty stalls can lead to thrush. A stall that is poorly bedded can lead to discomfort and unsoundness. The horse's health, well-being and comfort must come first. For your pastured horses at home, does your pasture provide shelter from the blistering summer sun or freezing winter sleet? Pastured horses still require basic needs of shelter. They may also need additional care such a turnout blanket when the temperature plummets, if their winter hair coat is not adequate. On sunny summer days, they may need sunblock applied especially for horses lacking pigmentation with pink skin. Sun burns not only are extremely painful and preventable but they can lead to long term serious damage and ailments.

· Companionship. Horses are herd animals and find their safety in numbers. It is unnatural for a horse to be isolated and unable to socialize with other horses. In keeping a horse, this should always be considered, putting their needs for safety and companionship as a top priority. As we build a bond with our horse, we can supplement their social needs with both leadership and companionship.

However, this is where kindness and compassion comes into play when putting your horse first.

Horses need daily exercise, but all too often many riders rush to get into the saddle and little time is spent on the ground with the horse. The horse can become frustrated when the only time that they are handled is when they're quickly saddled, just to be worked hard. Their tempers can flare up as we rush to get into the arena or out on the trail. Horses are very perceptive and sensitive. Having the kindness and compassion to take the time for a thorough grooming, or taking the time to not rush the horse from the stall to the mounting block is a large part of building a bond with your horse and showing compassion to our equine companions.

Compassion

Compassion not only involves having patience with the horse and always keeping our emotions in check, but also in considering our own personal health for the horses well being. Training a horse to ride is essentially training them to carry us, but learning to ride is essentially learning how to be a good load to carry. Remember, a horse does not have to allow us to ride them, nor do they owe us a good ride. The horse owes us nothing but we owe them everything.

In order to put the horse first, you need to always consider the horse's comfort, as well as their physical or mental limitations and not just what you are wanting the horse to do for you. If the horse has had a great length of time off, they may not be fit enough for the long trail ride that you want to go on. If they are having an "off day", which any horse is allowed to have, despite what you are wanting to accomplish, their needs come first and today may not be the day to work on a flying lead change. The horses well-being, their needs, comforts and limitations must always be respected.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, or at the crack of dawn, the horse must always come first. We all get into this whirlwind equestrian lifestyle for the love of the horse. However, sometimes when life gets crazy and the initial honeymoon phase of getting a new horse wares off, we all sometimes need to keep ourselves in check. After all, they are here, in your stall or in your pasture because you wanted them to be, not because they chose to be. So, it is up to us to always put them first.