Equinamity-A Revolution in Horse and Rider Training
Equinamity-A Revolution in Horse and Rider Training
How does this come about? To begin with forcing the horse’s head and neck into a contrived position causes stress. The horse reacts by showing its discomfort in a variety of ways. The following quotes reveal some further aspects.
“Under Pressure-The body language of the horse reveals much about his state of mind. It is possible to recognise whether a horse has completed its dressage training mentally relaxed and balanced. Or if it had been simply placed under pressure and has had to learn not to try to help itself.
The physical posture and facial expression of the horse, the movement of the ears and the expression of the eyes provide information about its well-being or discomfort. This assumes that the person can understand the body language of the horse.
Put another way: some physical positions into which the horse is placed put it into a particular mental state. For this reason classical training considers it to be particularly important that the rider, with his seat and aids, doesn’t disturb the horse or cause it pain. But brings it into positions in the movement in which it feels comfortable. It should be in balance, not only physically but also mentally”.
“Simple Summary: The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) comprises 24 behaviours. The majority of which are at least 10 times more likely to be seen in a horse with musculoskeletal discomfort than a non-lame horse. A RHpE score of eight or more indicates the presence of musculoskeletal pain. The most frequent RHpE score for 147 competitors at World Cup Grand Prix events from 2018 to 2020 was 3/24 (range 0–7). This ndicated that the majority of horses were working comfortably. The aim of the current study was to apply the RHpE to 38 competitors at the Hickstead-Rotterdam Grand Prix Challenge. And to 26 competitors at the British Dressage Grand Prix National Championship in 2020.
The most frequent RHpE scores were 4 (range 0–8) and 6 (range 1–9), respectively. These scores were significantly higher than the World Cup competitors. This was associated with a higher prevalence of lameness and gait abnormalities. Which were shown in canter and more frequent errors in passage and piaffe, canter flying changes, canter pirouettes and rein back in the non-elite horses compared with the World Cup competitors. There was a negative correlation between the RHpE scores and the judges’ scores. Appropriate investigation and targeted management of horses with musculoskeletal discomfort may enhance both their performance and welfare”.
“Although the role of psychological stress in horses is unclear, chronic stress has been implicated in many deleterious conditions. These inlude gastric ulceration, colic, recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis, decreased growth rates and reduced reproductive capability.
Correlations between heart rate, heart rate variability, behaviour scoring parameters and stress have been identified in ridden horses. Heart rate variability has been used as a measure of shifts in para sympathetic and sympathetic influence on heart rate during times of stress. This applies both in humans and in horses undergoing low-intensity, non-ridden exercise.“
“Much controversy exists among riders, and in particular among those practicing dressage, regarding what can be considered an ‘‘appropriate’’ Head-Neck-Position (HNP). The objective was to assess the prevalence of different HNPs in the field, the behavioural reactions of horses during warm-up and competition rides in relation to HNP and the relation between HNP and marks achieved in the competition.
Horses (n = 171) were selected during dressage competitions according to their HNP (3 categories based on the degree of flexion), and their behaviour was recorded during 3 minutes each of riding in the warm-up area and in the competition. Scans were carried out on an additional 355 horses every 15 minutes to determine the proportion of each HNP in the warm-up area. Sixty-nine percent of the 355 horses were ridden with their nasal planes behind the vertical in the warm-up area, 19% were ridden at or behind the vertical and only 12% were ridden with their nasal plane in front of the vertical. Horses carrying their nasal plane behind the vertical exhibited significantly more conflict behaviours than horses with their nose held in front of the vertical.
A HNP behind the vertical was penalised with lower marks in the lower but not in the higher competition levels. Competitors in higher classes showed more conflict behaviour than those in lower classes. In conclusion, dressage horses are commonly ridden during warm-up for competitions with their nasal plane behing the vertical.”
It should be noted that there are 166 studies quoted in the references in the above study. Most of these studies have been conducted during the last 20 years as awareness of this problem has grown.
“Analysis of combined data from years 2005 and 2018 showed 47.0% (n=570) of the horse sample population were advertised with HNPs BTV. BTV HNP was observed as the predominant HNP (57.8%) (n=268), in the warmblood/eventers/show/performance (WESP) category.”
It is also important to note that betwen the years shown in the above image that a substantial decline in the numbers of horses behind the vertical has taken place as awareness of this problem has increased. This is confirmed in the next image.
(n-268 in 2005 and 303 in 2018)
“Current definitions of horse personality traits are rather vague, lacking clear, universally accepted guidelines for evaluation in performance tests. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to screen behavioural and physiological measurements taken during riding for potential links with scores the same horses received in the official stallion performance test for rideability and personality traits.
Using the coefficient of determination, regression analysis revealed that about 1/3 of variation (ranging between r = 0.26 “constitution” (i.e. fitness, health)) and r = 0.46 (rideability)) in the personality trait scores could be explained by selecting the three most influential behaviour patterns per trait. These behaviour patterns included stumbling (with all traits except character), head-tossing (temperament, ride-ability), tail-swishing (willingness to work), involuntary change in gait (character) and the rider’s use of her/his hands (constitution, rideability), voice (temperament) or whip (constitution)”.
The above photos are examples of each of the three conditions. They are not meant to indicate that this behaviour is exclusively the consequence of rollkur. These conditions can frequently have more complex origins.
A great deal of attention has been placed on dressage horses. However, it is important not to omit the treatment that jumping horses have also been subjected to. The following images show that jumpers also receive rough treatment. However, it also needs to be pointed out that jumping is a strenuous and demanding sport, but of a different type. It involves many rapid changes of speed and direction. Accidents and stressful situations often happen. The author is by no means suggesting that they are always the consequence of rollkur.
As a result of the strenuous nature of many equine sports, it is difficult at times to separate the physiological from the psychological effects.
However, the above studies have shown that it is entirely possible to distinguish the causes. This will enable firm conclusions to be drawn by owners, trainers and riders for the benefit of improved horse welfare.
This will become a major focus in subsequent blog posts.