Exploring topics on horse training & welfare
From the category archives:
From the moment you so much as consider owning a horse, a series of ethical dilemmas ensue unrelentingly until the horse dies.
There follow a few dilemmas for you to consider…
The horse’s need for company
Rider needs vs horse’s needs – competition
Time
Breeding & unwanted horses
Training method & coach selection
Gear selection & use
Horse choice
Lameness vs company
A horse requires [...]
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Negative reinforcement gets a bad rap – after all, why would someone want to beat a horse? Why indeed! When asked about if they use negative reinforcement in their training, riders frequently assure one that they do not… ‘no, I only use positive reinforcement’ comes the earnest reply.
But in fact, negative reinforcement is indeed the [...]
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It’s about time this blog had a spark of positivity – and here it is! Today I share with you the principles of permaculture and how they relate to horse training.
“What is permaculture?”
I hear you ask…
Permaculture is a way of providing sustainable food and shelter for people, whilst not harming the environment, the soil [...]
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Downhearted and disheartened with equestrianism, exasperated by recent competition world developments including Patrik Kittel’s ‘blue tongue’ incident, and then, shortly after declaring that they serve the welfare of the horse, equestrianism’s governing body – the FEI’s proposed acceptance of anti-inflammatory/pain relief medication “bute” – phenylbutazone – for competition.
It seems that when humans compete, the horses’ [...]
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Questions to a horseman…
What does the horse want?
What needs must be fulfilled for his survival?
What are the horse’s needs for happiness?
Does the horse feel pain?
How can he inform us if he experiences pain?
How are your needs impacting on his needs?
What does our world mean to him?
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