Using "One Step Horsemanship" in Handling the Difficult Horse

1. Introduction

In our daily veterinary practice we occasionally have to deal with a difficult horse. One difficult horse can certainly have an impact on that day’s schedule. However, I now find that I have fewer and fewer of these horses for several reasons. Some of them grow old and die, some are sold out of the area by their owners, some just mellow, and some, I would like to think, have changed because I have changed.

The highly acclaimed horseman, author, and advocate of the horse, Tom Dorrance, was once paraphrased as saying, “If you take care of the little problems the big problems will take care of themselves.” I understand this to mean that we are responsible for all our actions around the horse. If we can modify our behavior around the horse in such a way that the horse views us as a companion or friend, the horse will then more than likely allow us to work with them to everyone’s benefit.

Before explaining a technique of administering injections to unruly horses it may be useful to understand the basic concepts of “One Step Horsemanship.” This is an applied working horsemanship philosophy that I developed from experience, study, and understanding during my many years as an equine practitioner. It is so utterly simple that it is all too frequently overlooked. When applied in everyday veterinary practice “One Step Horsemanship” will shorten that list of “difficult horses” by taking care of those little problems and often resolving the big ones.

There are a few basic concepts about horses, of which we should all remind ourselves. Horses typically outweigh us 6:1, frequently 8:1, and sometimes even 10:1. Horses are 20 to 40 times more powerful, and react 3 to 4 times faster than us. Veterinarians are usually not able to out-muscle horses. However, the human brain is approximately 6 times larger than the horse‘s brain and, frequently, somewhat more intelligent.

Visualize the horse as a brain, much like our own, and a body merely dressed in a horse skin. Honor the horse as an animal which thinks, feels, understands, and has emotions. This is paramount to understanding the horse.

Relate to a horse just as you would to another person. You have friends you enjoy. You like being with them. You also know people who upset you, who “push your buttons.” You don’t like being with them. If given a choice, you always choose the people who make you feel good.

It is the same with horses. Give the horse the opportunity to choose you as a friend; give him a reason to be with you. You should treat your horses as you would your friends. Always be honest, always tell the truth, never be rude, let the horse know when he has done something unacceptable and, especially, tell him when he has done a good job. Praise and reward for a job well done. Build a solid relationship based on praise, good feeling, and honesty. This is the key to “One Step Horsemanship.”

Envision a horse contained within an imaginary frame or box. The horse is relaxed; his head, neck, and spine are longitudinally straight and in “neutral.” He is comfortable. Then consider the spine of a horse much like a long spring (analogous to the long thin spring attached to the old-fashioned screen doors.) The spring is always seeking straightness. If you put pressure on one end of the spring by pushing or pulling it out of straightness, it pulls or pushes against you. By placing the spring in an abnormal position you create energy within the spring and that energy seeks straightness.

Thus it is with a horse. If you move a horse out of its neutral position, out of that imaginary frame, and change the position of the spine out of straightness (bending the spring), energy is created that wants to regain the “neutral” straightness. “One Step Horsemanship” is based on this concept.

It can be challenging when you ask a horse to take a step forward, and the horse is not at that level of education or due to previous experience puts up resistance. It seems a horse’s natural tendency, based on survival instincts, is to be cautious and resist when being pulled. The challenge for you is to show the horse that by taking a step forward he will be rewarded and find comfort.

2. Stocks

Let’s assume you are attempting to get a balky horse into a set of exam stocks. The horse doesn’t want to go; he is being difficult.

Before starting, it is good to make sure your adjustable rope halter fits properly, the throat-latch is snug and centered, the noseband lies just below the facial crest, and the cheek pieces avoid the eyes. The medium-sized rope halters with a balanced long enough lead rope attached without a snap works well for the average-sized horse.

Initial correction and education of the horse should not be associated with the stocks, so move away from the stocks to a neutral area. Stand a couple of yards from the horse and slowly pull on the lead rope, either straight ahead or to the side, until you move the head and neck “out of the box.” The spine is now “out of straightness.” Do not continue to pull, but merely hold the rope in that position and wait. And wait some more. (This is a true test of patience.)

If this request of walking either forward or to one side is either new to the horse or he is just resistant, he may not understand or cooperate. The horse may pull on the rope, twist his neck, stick his nose out, roll his eyes, and maybe even jerk backwards.

But maybe, just maybe, the horse steps forward. Because you are only holding the horse out of position, not continuing to pull, the forward step loosens the rope. The horse has found relief in the release and that relief initiates understanding.

To better this lesson, you do the same again, only this time you respond more quickly. Your goal should be to provide release not merely when the horse’s foot has moved and hits the ground, but before, when the hoof is leaving the ground. Even better, you should be giving release when the horse mentally decides to move the foot. Movement is initiated in the mind and the faster the relief is given, the better the lesson.

You are merely asking for a step. One step, and only one step. You are helping the horse seek the reward of release. Release is the initial reward, but better yet, is the praise you give after the release. Verbal praise combined with stroking of the horse’s head and neck reinforces the success. Make the accomplishment a big deal for the horse and show him praise and love.

Then ask the horse again. Move his head out of position and hold. Wait for the desired movement. When done correctly, the hold and waiting period will become shorter than before. The horse is beginning to understand and is searching for that good feeling you provide. When releasing on initiation of the step, you might even “push” the rope back to the horse, making the release even faster. The faster you respond, the faster the horse understands.

Allow the horse a short time between your requests. Let the horse process what has just happened. Give the horse time to think and relax. The horse will often lick his lips, soften his muzzle, or lower his head in understanding.

Then ask again. A few steps forward, maybe one step back, a few steps forward, always waiting, always rewarding. With each succeeding step you may be able to lighten your request. Instead of asking with 5 pounds of pull and holding, you ask with only 2 pounds, and now with only 1 pound of pull. Now with merely half a pound, then hardly with a feel. Finally, maybe with only a thought!

You are instilling a desire in the horse to respond to the lightest possible request by putting praise and good feeling into the end. You ask for nothing more at this time. This is his reward and the horse soon begins seeking ways to find this reward. The horse is now working with you, he is now thinking with you, he wants to be your friend. He is now your partner, not your slave.

Using his newfound understanding and realization of comfort and praise, introduce the horse to the exam stocks. Be patient. The horse may stop before reaching the stocks. That’s acceptable. Now ask the horse for just one step towards the stocks. When the horse gives it to you, lavishly praise him. Now ask again. Remember, patience and praise. Then ask for another step, always just one step. Up to the stocks, now a few steps into the stocks. [...]