IS YOUR HORSE ROADWORTHY?

When I was 3 years old I was involved in a serious car accident. I was the least injured in the crash. In the chaos after they had cut my mother out of the wreckage, I went and got back in the car. I wanted to go home and I had no concept that our smashed up car would not be going anywhere.

However, in time I learnt that cars need maintenance and various types of repair...and that sometimes they need to be put on hoists, have their tyres changed, parts replaced and regular doses of oil, water and fuel.

Fast forward nearly 30 years and I had a horse that was "hard" in the mouth, struggling to do flying changes, was prone to rushing and would regularly "run through" my hands. I had another "sensitive horse" that would spook at everything and I used to only be able to ride him in a 20 metre circle at the top of my arena.

But I continued to ride them and struggle along continuously frustrated…

However, in time I learnt that horse's respond in a way that is a function of what they know and how they feel. I learnt to communicate with them better and re-train their responses and care a great deal about their soundness and developing their confidence.

I learnt that breaking things down and teaching them to get balanced and confident in groundwork made things so much easier for them and then they learn't so much easier when I got back in the saddle.

I also learnt to identify unsoundness and discomfort in horses way before they started limping, being hard in the mouth, rushing, being "lazy" or being spooking.

So, I get why people can so easily see that this car is not safe to drive and why they struggle to see the risk they are putting themselves in thinking their horse is just being "frustrating", "sensitive", "difficult" or all the other labels we give horses when they are simply telling us they are confused or uncomfortable.

If I say a horse needs to go backwards in it's training to learn something less difficult, get something good on the ground, wait for it grow in strength, confidence or develop balance - BEFORE progressing it's training - I am advising this because I have experience "repairing" and "maintaining" many horses.

If I say I suspect a horse is unsound, because of inconsistent training responses, anxiety, gait disturbances, difficulties or bodies with warning signs - and recommend thorough veterinary investigations - I am advising this because I have seen how "horses that carry damage and unsoundness" communicate their pain and discomfort.

I am saying it because I am trying to stop you from making the mistakes I have made and to do the things that I have worked out - work and help these beautiful animals!

Once you learn to SEE horses that are simply struggling and not being "difficult", "frustrating" or "sensitive" - you will NEVER be able to un-see it!

So, are you someone that can see?