Equine Observations - Uruguay

It is said that Uruguay was founded by 35 Gauchos (horsemen).   

Firstly, José Gervasio Artigas Arnal (1764 – 1850) is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".   At the age of 12, he moved to the countryside and worked on his family's farms.  His contact with the customs and perspectives of gauchos made a great impression on him.   

Secondly, Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784 –1853) was an Uruguayan revolutionary and political figure.   And there were 33 gauchos from the eastern side of the country, whom he led.   These 35 cowboys made a nation.

Today, the Gaucho is central to Uruguayan identity.   From the pony tail type quiff (which Artigas himself wore) and now is proudly worn by young adolescents, and also used to warn you of that a horse is not yet tamed or broken.   To the drinking of maté and the generally ‘informal’ way of dealing with life.  

At the end of February I went to a local horse show  where the Gauchos get together and strut their stuff, and testosterone – so amusing seeing their posing and posturing.  They had 3 events, lassoing a young cow on foot, where this young thing runs through a group of gauchos on foot and it’s the one that manages to lasso the feet and tumble the cow that wins.  Pretty daft really, but I understand the use.   So there’s these ten guys (5 each side) all chucking their ropes as the thing runs down the middle.   There was a new motor-cycle for the one that did it more than rest.  It went on for hours!   Fortunately in the next ring there was barrel racing.   5 barrels (those blue big plastic ones) in a line and two on either side in the shape of a T.   Run up to then end then slalom back to the T point – do a figure of 8 and then slalom back to the top and run back past the post wins.   Great agility.   I noticed that the ones that hit and forced their horses rarely won.   Quite a few girls and young kids.   (Even tiny ones – the youngest was about 5 yrs old).  The final attraction was rodeo riding; wild horse stuff.   Silly and stupid.   I left at that point!

The nice thing was that the crowd, horses and riders all mingled.   No helmets – no nervousness and no horses misbehaving or worried about cars, people or noises (and there was lots of hullabaloo .   I notice that they all use fixed Weymouth bits with chain chin strap.   One handed riding.   Some with a nose band and some with a crossover bridle between the eyes(?) and a lot without either (nose-band). 

Most animals look well on a grass and alfalfa diet.   No rations.   No extra fat, sleek and tight on body with extra fat on lower chest and rear thighs and buttock.   Small hooves and seemingly short cannon bone.   Straight backs, and if anything higher at the front than the back.

Of course, I have yet to go inland, where the 'real' working gaucho lives and works with huge herds of cattle.   I have an invite pending to go to a breeder of appaloosa and criollo horses (what they deem as indigenous) but its right to mention here that the criollo  horse seems to be the Sorraia breed or a close relation – almost certainly.  Not only that but Uruguay is very much a Portuguese territorial conquest, which is the general area where these beasts come from. 

I also noted, and forgot to mention, that they don’t move their heads much – separate from the neck – but are very bendy on the neck, and hold it low down – with small mouths.   I also noted that they communicate very clearly by gently stamping their front hoof to show displeasure or unease, as opposed to impatience as in the UK animal.  

Pat the dog but only stroke a horse – www.theliberatedhorse.com

I recently wrote about the horse and his skin – coat.   The use of rugs desensitises the skin, which is an important ‘touch’ receptor.   When you rug a horse, you are in effect – blanketing or removing and interfering with one of its most important senses.  

Another way to traumatise the skin of a horse is to pat it.   Horses are not for patting.  The skin, as mentioned above, is the receptor for the delicate sense of touch.   Patting a horse is so overwhelming to this sense that it really overloads the system.  [Equally you don’t ‘kick’ a horse to get it to go; you squeeze (and lift).]

The messages go from the nerve receptors in the skin to the vagus nerve, by-passing the brain or ‘conscious’ mind, they cause responses in the fight or flight mechanism – you can understand the seriousness of this.

You often see lots of people patting their horses on the neck and shoulder, often as a reward or acknowledgement for a job well done.  This is really wrong.   You should stroke (preferably in a small circular motion) or just a little scratch.  Your hand or knuckle or fingers should always make clear firm contact with no hesitation or dithering.  

By patting a horse you send a message a little like an earthquake erupting with immediate aftershocks.  It’s too violent and without warning.  Horses only scratch (nibble) or stoke each other.

Maybe you can choose one of the horses ‘sweet-spots’.   A ‘sweet-spot’ on a horse is usually a small area where they really like to be scratched or stroked.   Commonly on the withers or up the neck, you’ll usually find one, just below the mane, or behind the ears.   Each horse is different, but it’s a spot that just relaxes them completely.

Horse Rugs

www.theliberatedhorse.com

Today, I was approached by a young East European girl as I was walking near the high street.   She asked, very politely, if she could use my dog as a model for a photo-shoot for a range of dog ‘hoodie’ style coats.   My dog accompanies me everywhere, and apart from being a working dog; I must admit he is rather handsome.  

Although, flattered by the request, I did point out that dogs, have their own ‘built-in’ fur-coat and I did not agree with dog coats.  I declined the request.  She insisted and seemed hurt and surprised that I would not cooperate.   I had to be quite firm and just say, no.

Horse rugs – I say ‘no’ to these too.  There is no conceivable reason why you should ‘rug’ a horse.   Horses too have their own built-in fur coat, and any rug is just as ridiculous as a ‘hoodie’ for a dog.

I am a natural horseman and with that I believe in providing the most natural environment for a horse – as is humanly possible.

When I comment on this subject to horse owners, they usually respond that their horse gets cold or gets covered in mud.   Both arguments are rubbish.   As horses have very efficient metabolism and are quite apt at making themselves warm.   In the wild plains of the savannahs, or on the arid deserts of the eastern continent, temperatures are persistently much lower than those in the UK, and you’d never see a rug on a horse.   Mud glorious mud contains many minerals and active ingredients that fend off bugs and infection as well as acting as a self grooming lotion, conditioner, lubricant, insulation and a lot more.  You're also depriving your horse of Vitamin D.

So ‘rugging’ a horse can only be justified as something that satisfies a human need.   Perhaps a psychological need to remedy a feeling of guilt?   Maybe, ‘rugging’ means that you don’t have to groom your horse much; as he’ll be clean?

I have seen many injuries as a result of ‘rugging’.   Tenderness to the the chest, shoulders and neck are the most common, and affects the whole movement and carriage of a horse.  And that’s not because the rug was ill fitting.   No rug is, or will ever be, a good fit compared to the skin and coat that the horse already has.   How can such rugs even begin to compare with what nature has already perfected over 45 million years ago.

Do you know that it will take four years for your horses’ coat to return to its natural state after it has been rugged?  So if you have been ‘rugging’ your horse, it’s not just a question of removing the rug. 

The changes (by ‘rugging’ your horse) that you have created will take time to return back to its own natural and perfect condition.   Inadvertently, you have interfered with one of its key senses (touch) by desensitizing the horses’ skin.  The nerve receptors of this organ, which belong to the autonomic nervous system (and subsequently belong to the sympathetic nervous system) and transmit to the vagus nerve (or cranial nerve) which in turn directly affects issues of cardiac function; respiration; gastrointestinal motility and influences the emotional fight or flight response.   Changes instigated will have repercussions.

The change from “to rug or not to rug”, requires serious planning, additional care, attention to diet (to boost natural oils and amino acids) and treatment (like equine massage) as well as shelter from wind and driving rain (if you turn out over night or adopt field livery).   Call me for advice before you throw away the rug.

The Liberated Horse - Time, Feeling and Connection

The name of my horse whispering assistance reflects my philosophy of approach.

A liberated horse is one that through physical, psychological and holistic care is as close as it can be to a horse being completely free.   It would choose to be with you, rather than be free of you.  That choice is repeated every waking moment.

Liberation is neither a reckless pursuit nor a trade-off of benefits.   It’s a sense of belonging, a feeling of contentment, a sense of connection.  It’s a willing acceptance of limitations and a mutual respect of differences and boundaries.

I don’t teach a language of ‘equus’ nor do I pretend to ‘think like a horse’; tricks, treats, training systems and quick fixes won’t help you in the long term relationship with your horse.   Likely you’ll end up in dead ends; always asking for help or frustrated and exasperated wishing you were somewhere else.

To learn about your horse, you’ve got to learn about yourself.   Horses aren’t inanimate objects that you get out ‘to play with’ for an hour a day.   They are not ‘Barbie dolls’ to groom, plait and dress or perform for your pleasure – they have needs and they have feelings.   They’ll do wonderful and beautiful things for you (way beyond your imagination) - if you let them.

To introduce you to the most rudimentary elements of my philosophy:

Time

Time is not ‘universal’ and it is not ‘seconds’ ticking on a dial; nor is it biological or the rising dawn or the fading sunset.   It’s internal and it’s subjective; it’s different for every being.  An easier way to understand time, it to view its absence! Without constraints or social considerations – “how late or early would you normally arrive” to ··· an appointment.   Time has a value.

Time is also a cultural phenomenon, amongst humans; The Japanese are known to make business decisions in terms of generations, the ‘Mañana’ attitude of Latin’s completely frustrates the punctiliousness of northern Europeans.   But each is valid and has evolved to suit their needs.

When dealing with horse, time has no value – it is crucial to accept that.

Horses and nearly all animals ‘live in the moment’.  For them “Time” is like that being experienced by Buddhist Monk on the most serene meditation.  Other than the external constrains of day and night – time has no value.

Unless you can walk into that ‘space’ – you’ll never be at one with your horse.   As horses cannot become like us – we have to accept and respect their terms.

Horses and nearly all other animals don’t have self-awareness like we do.   The curse or gift of self-awareness is a profound difference.   Apart from being able to recognise yourself in a mirror (the basic test of whether you have self-awareness) it has huge implications.   Valuing time is just one of them. 

Feeling

Awareness of feelings or emotions is one of those ‘implications’.   Very, very few authorities on horses discuss the importance of feelings.   It may be because of a fear of being ‘anthropomorphic’ (giving human attributes to animals or things) which is a serious mistake.  But animals and plants have emotions.   And especially because they are not ‘self-aware’, they express them freely.   Plants grow better for people with green-fingers.

Emotions are ‘primeval’ and not thoughts controlled by the brain.   They are physical manifestations arising in the body which stimulate the vagus nerve and help ‘our’ survival.  A hard-wired ‘reaction/action’ often unconsciously detected by our senses.

Fear, Love and Anger (basic contrasting emotions) as well as Sadness, Joy and Grief are just the tip of the iceberg of what horses feel – all the time – in differing degrees.  Emotions are subjective, and what, fear is for me and fear is for you is different – just as again its different for one horse to another horse and logically, for every other individual horse.

Being emotionally aware is essential.   Specifically important as horses (in their natural chosen environment) do not exhibit ‘leadership’ nor are they ‘dominant’.   The band (and it is not a herd) of horses act ‘together as one'.   Depending on, replicating (transmitting) and responding to each others emotions.  They synchronise emotionally.  They do this with their highly developed senses.   

Be aware that they will 'mirror' your emotions and even those you have consciously or unconsciously 'hidden'.

This is the way to communicate with your horse.

Connection

The connection or communication between you and your horse is not  enough nor efficient or fluid through ‘aides’ or words or cues.   They don’t communicate this way.   Doing this requires them learning your ‘language’.

Everything is connected – be it through the: unconscious, thin-air, touch or stardust.  This connectedness is the means to communicate.  Just as with horses who are closely connected in their natural band – through their senses; you can also share this connection and subsequent communication.

You can share in their emotions; empathise with their emotions and communicate through their emotions.  Just as they do and they will listen to you and respond to you and communicate with you on an equal level and with the respect that you deserve, just as they would with anyone in a society that has no leadership nor dominance.

This method of enhancing communication with your horse will be completely beneficial and will change your relationship.   Your cues, 'aides' and commands will be more fluid, exact and even unnecessary...