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.