A Natural Living Area
?When the draft colt first arrived, navigating the uneven, rocky natural terrain was a challenge. Coming from a small pen with soft footing, he never had had the chance to worry about where to place his feet. In fact, he had never been able to move faster than a couple steps at the trot. His muscles were sore, his hooves chipped badly, and he was at a complete disadvantage in the horse play games.?
A natural living area for our horses provides enough room to be in almost constant movement except during rest and sleep. However, many horses are confined in small pens or
even worse, box stalls. Not only does this hinder the horse physically, for example improper circulation in the legs and hooves, but it also adversely affects him mentally. This can show
up in a variety of vices like cribbing, pawing and pacing, just to name a few. These behaviors are often taken for granted, as supported by the many anti-cribbing and other vice-breaking
devices. Instead of addressing the horse's emotional and physical needs, some owners look for a quick fix, often finding a temporary solution in a physical device.
Remember that horses are very perceptive and curious creatures. Standing in a stall all day and night becomes very boring and unsettling. Having nothing to do to occupy his mind, the
horse turns to "vices" to relieve his boredom and eventually these behaviors become a habit. However, once the horse is liberated from this jail, many of these vices disappear. Even if a horse's area is not as natural and challenging as it could be, toys can often be used to stimulate the horse's mind. There are numerous horse toys available on the market, though homemade toys work just as well. Orange traffic cones, plastic garbage cans, balls, plastic barrels, baby pools and even plastic milk jugs hung from above will stimulate most horses. Use your imagination and try to see it from a child's point of view. |
For the horse, almost constant motion is natural. Horses in a natural environment will move ten to fifteen miles a day, as this is what they are built for. When a horse is not able to
exercise in a natural way, body circulation is hindered. When a horse moves, the blood from the lower legs is pumped back through the body to the heart by the hooves, tendons and
muscles. In order to have strong, healthy feet and legs, freedom of constant motion is needed. The movement also stretches and strengthens the muscles and joints in the entire body. Furthermore, this activity also promotes healthy gut activity, helping to cut down on chances of impaction colic.
Give your horse as much room as possible to move with uneven ground, hills, rocks, fallen logs, shrubs and trees. It is human nature to assume that what we find comfortable is for the good of the horse. We often level our ground, remove the rocks and other "dangers" that we perceive, and many horses could navigate their living area with their eyes closed, mindlessly wandering between their feed and water areas. How can this be physically or mentally stimulating at all ?
We ask our horses to go out on trail rides and expect them to be sure-footed when we may never have given them a chance to learn how to place their feet and find their balance before
hitting the trail. We add the additional weight of a saddle and rider (often unbalanced), and expect them to keep us safe. What a burden to place on our horses.
A natural environment is easily created just by using your imagination. Obstacles can often be obtained for free, as friends and neighbors always seem to have cut-off branches from
trees and shrubs as well as rocks "growing" in their yard. Natural logs of all sizes can be obtained from specialized lumberyards, often for free from their scrap pile. Just remember to
only use natural logs and branches, no lumber or wood that splinters or has been treated with chemicals. Native plants, many of which have excellent beneficial properties can be planted. Keep in mind that horses enjoy to scratch; trees and shrubs of various heights and sizes make great scratching posts.
By creating a natural and challenging environment and by giving your horse a chance to run and play he can learn how to use his body. This learning is paramount both for his sake and his rider's sake. Finding his balance and knowing how to move his feet independently around ground obstacles is not necessarily inborn in him. Only by practice and trial and error does the horse learn to be handy with his body. Remember, in order to learn, there must be a challenge.
Environmental Changes Naturally
?Although the previous winter had been a harsh one, our ragtag herd had actually enjoyed the reprise from the summer heat and insects. Their long, wooley coats protected them from the biting winds and feed had been generous allowing some extra fat for warmth.?
As the temperature changes, humans feel that they need to help their horses adjust to this change. In the summer months many horses are kept in a climate controlled barn. In the winter months, blankets and heaters are used. Again, what we consider comfortable is not what is healthy for horses. Eventually they may be caught out in the elements without their man-made protection and, due to our interference, their bodies will not be ready for it and they may have trouble dealing with it. There is just no substitute for a natural hair coat.
If left to their own accord, horses don?t normally seek out closed-in shelters as they are naturally able to deal with climate changes because their coats provide insulation against both heat and cold. In addition to having seasonal coat changes, horses can actually raise, lower, or turn the coat hairs to warm or cool themselves and caretakers should allow them the benefits of this natural process without interference.
Blanketing not only interferes with this process but may also cause the horse to overheat and sweat even in cold weather. Since the legs, belly, and head are not covered and are exposed to the cold air, these areas feel the chill. In order to warm them up, the whole body must be warmed causing sweating under the blanket. Furthermore, blanketing interferes with the horses' ability to grow a proper winter coat. By clipping, blanketing and controlling their indoor climate, we are taking away their natural defenses against the elements.
?An impending storm was brewing in the distance, large dark clouds billowing from the sky. Being able to feel this weather change with his super sensitive whiskers, the lead gray
began to move his herd toward a more protected area. Because the humidity was quickly going up, the blood sucking ear bugs began to look for victims. However, the fuzzy eared natural herd were too well protected by mother nature and her grand design.?
Another common practice is clipping the horse's ear hairs and whiskers, as well as trimming the mane and tail. Our attempts to clean up our horses have taken away their natural defenses. Clipping ear hairs allows dirt, foreign matter and insects to enter the ear canal. Many types of gnats often feed in the inner ear causing a horse to violently shake his head and sometimes work himself into a frenzy. Trimming the mane and tail limits the horses' ability to combat flying insects, while trimming the whiskers takes away the natural ability to feel their surroundings. All this we do in the name of what we consider beauty.
All of these natural boarding practices are very easy to apply. Just allow your horses room to roam on natural terrain. Even a small natural paddock, a round pen, or a small arena is better for your horse than a box stall. Give him horse companions to play with and let him learn the much-needed social skills, even if that means adopting a retired or senior horse. Help stimulate your horse mentally with objects and new toys and allow him to deal with environmental changes without any hindrances. Just remember to think naturally and the
changes will come easily.
Naturally,
Lisa.
http://www.ifyourhorsecouldtalk.com
http://www.naturalhorsetalk.com
Lisa Ross-Williams is a natural horse care consultant, freelance writer, clinician, and host of the If Your Horse Could Talk show. Lisa has immersed herself in extensive research, hands-on experience, and attending many clinics and seminars including natural horsemanship, hoof care, massage & stretching, essential oils, animal communication, iridology, and nutrition. She has completed the Basic Veterinary Homeopathy course through the British Institute of Homeopathy and working on her certification course in Iridology. Her herd of six have been some of her best teachers.
Lisa has dedicated herself to educating horse owners to a more natural approach through her company, If Your Horse Could Talk, including her extensive website, www.naturalhorsetalk.com , the show webcasts, consultations, and clinics. She is a regular
writer for both Natural Horse Magazine and Animal Wellness Magazine as well as a resident expert on the popular websites, www.naturalhorsepeople.com and www.allabouthorses.com .
She has positively influenced thousands of horse guardians and grateful horses by sharing this invaluable information. |
