HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
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Topics in this issue:
1) Feature: Training systems
2) Questions and answers
3) Fun and educational websites: equine behavior
4) Horsey Humor: How to take a photo of your foal
5) Free item exchange: breeches

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Documentary update
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Itıs nearly complete! The Path of the Horse is a 60 minute documentary
exploring the future of horse-human relationships. In the past year I have
gone around the world to interview people working on the leading edge with
horses. Interviewees include Mark Rashid, Carolyn Resnick, Linda Kohanov,
Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, and Alexander Nevzorov.

The documentary should be available sometime in June and while Iım looking
for the right marketing and distribution plan, I want to make special
pre-release copies available to the readers of this newsletter. I need to
know how many copies I will need to make though so if you would email and
let me know if youıd like a copy I can get a head start on that. These
pre-release versions will be $25 for the first copy and $20 for additional
copies with $5 flat rate shipping but please do not send money yet, I just
need a count of how many to get made. You can reply directly to this
newsletter or send it to my email at: stormy@... .

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Feature: Training systems
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by Stormy May

Last month I began a series of articles with one entitled "Primum non nocere
- Do no harm". The aim of this series is to re-evaluate what we're doing
with horses. This way each person can have the information they need to
decide whether or not they want to continue in a traditional way with
horses, or to make the leap to a way which doesn't compromise the body or
spirit of a horse.

This month's focus is on training systems. For whatever reason, for over 20
years, my horse-training livelihood had been based on starting young horses
for competition and pleasure careers. In the beginning, I learned how to
start horses from other trainers, books, and plenty of experimentation.

Even though it seems that there are hundreds of trainers and training
"systems" out there, their fundamentals are the same in nearly all cases.
Each might employ different exercises and tools to achieve the goals, but in
order to truly know a system we must first strip it down and ask, "What is
the horse's motivation?"

To proceed, it will help to know what ³operant conditioning² is. Even if
youıve never heard the term before, if youıve trained anything in your life
including a horse, child, dog, or dolphin, you probably used a form of
operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is defined as, ³the use of
consequences to modify the occurrence and form of behavior². In operant
conditioning, there are only 3 terms to consider, these are: reinforcement,
punishment, and extinction.

Reinforcement is a consequence to an action that results in the action being
performed with greater frequency, punishment is a consequence to an action
that results in the action being performed with less frequency, and
extinction refers to when there is no response to a behavior, which will
ultimately lead to the behavior occurring with less frequency. The terms
³positive² and ³negative² are added clarify the procedures. In this context
³positive² only refers to something being added, while ³negative² refers to
something being taken away.

So, the four main possibilities in operant conditioning are:

Positive reinforcement (abbreviated as R+) adding something desirable to
make the behavior more likely to happen again
Negative reinforcement (abbreviated as R-) taking away something undesirable
in order to make the behavior more likely to happen again
Positive punishment (abbreviated as P+) adding something undesirable in
order to make the behavior more likely to happen again
Negative punishment (abbreviated as P-) taking away something desirable in
order to make the behavior more likely to happen again

Now to simplify it, I need only to give examples.

Positive reinforcement: giving a child a treat after he has cleaned his room
Negative reinforcement: ³grounding² a child without privileges until he has
cleaned his room
Positive punishment: hitting a child when he has spilled his milk
Negative punishment: taking away a childıs toy if heıs not sharing it nicely
with others

In the horse world, these examples might look like this:

R+: giving a horse a carrot after she has come to the gate
R-: pulling on the right rein until the horse turns her head right
P+: whipping a horse when she refuses a jump
P-: not giving a horse grain after she was naughty during a ride

Now that weıre familiar with operant conditioning we can return to the
question, ³What is the horseıs motivation?² If we extrapolate from these
examples, we can see that, stripped to their essentials, the horseıs
motivation in most equine training systems is the avoidance or minimization
of pain. These systems rely heavily on negative reinforcement and positive
punishment to motivate a horse to perform the behaviors we desire. The one
exception I can think of is ³clicker training² which focuses on positive
reinforcement to create the desired behaviors.

Think of your favorite trainer. If you want your horse to go forward,
whatıs the first thing youıre taught to do? Probably squeeze with your
legs. If that doesnıt work? Kick. If that doesnıt work? Kick harder. If
that doesnıt work? Whip or spur the horse. And what are these examples of?
Negative reinforcement. The horseıs ³reward² is that the discomfort or pain
caused by the rider will (hopefully) stop when she goes forward. And what
have you been taught to do when your horse refuses to go in a stall, in a
trailer, or across a stream? Probably some combination of pulling on the
halter or bridle, kicking, hitting, whipping, or spurring. All of these are
examples ofŠ? Positive punishment.

Now, if youıre a rider who has never trained your own horse and you have
been blessed with a horse who seems to ³get with the program² and to
cheerfully do what you request, then with all likelihood you havenıt gone
into any deep questioning of your methods. You found something that works
and you stick with it. The difference between a horse who is considered
³trained² and one who is ³green² or ³difficult² is that the first horse, is
at a stage where the riderıs cues can be refined and very subtle, perhaps a
simple nudge or shift of weight is all it takes to make the horse stop, go,
or turn. The ³green² or ³difficult² horses are ones who are either still
unsure of what response will bring the least amount of pain, or they are in
a greater physical pain or state of fear that makes it easier to deal with
the blows from a whip or bit than with the pain of their own movements or
the fear of what theyıre being asked to do.

Over the years I was sent many horses who needed to be ³tuned up². These
were horses that were typically great for the new owner for the first month
or so, and then they started to have ³problems². In the past I would
explain it to the owner using gentle phrases like, ³the horse has learned
that he can get away with that² or ³ yes, you canıt expect the horse to
maintain his level of training without some professional help². Sounds
logical right? What did that mean in plain English? ³Either your timing is
off or your cues have become too soft and the horse needs to be reminded
about what the painful consequences are if he doesnıt respond to a light
signal². Some trainers are better than others at telling it like it is and
they have no qualms about drawing blood with their corrections if the horse
isnıt ³getting it². Others, like me, would half-heartedly make corrections,
constantly questioning themselves as to if it had to be this way,
particularly with the horses who seemed to need a heavy hand. Itıs hard to
be successful in the business with this type of questioning always going on,
always stopping the whip or tug on the rein before it reaches its full
force. This is what got me the reputation of being a ³gentle² horse
trainer.

During my most intensive period of questioning over the past year and a half
I had to question my own motivation. Why did I want to be with horses? The
most fundamental answer always has been that I want to experience a true
partnership with horses. Looking back from my current perspective, it seems
distorted that I could consider that I would have a true partnership if I
could only control a horse through pain or threats of pain. To be honest,
that was all I knew how to do with them. True, I was good enough that the
cues could be refined down to mere nudges and shifts of weight, and even
bitless and bridleless riding, but the consequences of the horse disobeying
would always be to escalate the pain again until they decided it was better
to respond to a light cue.

Secondary and tertiary motivations crept in over the years. I wanted to
make a living with horses; I wanted to win at competitions. Somehow I
figured these would all fit together nicely with my primary motivation of
experiencing a true partnership with horses. That assumption couldnıt have
been farther from the truth. During the time I spent working on the Path of
the Horse documentary, I gave up all of my motivations except the most
fundamental one, which is what initially drew me to horses. I could no
longer fool myself; I didnıt have the partnership I wanted so I set out to
find people who did and to learn from them.

The person I found who seemed to have it all was Alexander Nevzorov. But it
wasnıt good enough for me to simply see his videos and read his articles, I
needed to meet him, to watch his students in Russia and to find out for
myself if this was just a more subtle form of physical control, or if he did
indeed have a true connection with his horses without it being a result of
pain-inducing methods.

It felt like an initiation rite to be asked to give up bits, competitions,
and ultimately all forms of controlling the horseıs head and the styles and
pleasures of riding that I had known in order to work with Alexander. At
the time I couldnıt conceive of why a horse would want to do anything with
me if I was stripped of all my tricks of manipulation. But there he stood,
Alexander Nevzorov, with his horses leaping around him like overjoyed
puppies.

What sort of training system is this, where there is no common spoken
language and yet there is also no force, pain, or threats of pain? Where
did it fit in the operant conditioning model? It seemed to go beyond even
positive reinforcement and clicker training. It actually seemed like the
horses had learned to do movements that made them bigger, more free, and
proud of their own accord. What ways had this man found to bring all that
out in a horse?

His method is deceptively simple. A person is never allowed to harm a
horse, especially for their own pleasures, and a person must study the
systems of a horse minutely so that she can be sure that she is never
harming a horse. After that, itıs a matter of spending time together, first
developing games and ultimately a communication system between horse and
human that is much stronger than any pain-induced training.

As I started to study the horseıs anatomical, physiological, and myological
systems, I was startled to find that commonly accepted practices such as the
use of bits, shoes, and even the pressure of a rider all have negative
effects on a horseıs well-being. The results of some of these studies will
be detailed in future articles.

I had found the way to develop a true partnership with a horse, and it
wasnıt a training system at all, itıs a way to develop two-way
communication. The human steps into the role of educator; it is the human
who learns how to develop and bring out the horseıs innate talents. What is
the horseıs motivation? To play, run, leap, rear, have fun, as well as to
work on more disciplined elements to build strength and flexibility, and to
do it all with a human who understands her and will protect her, having only
her best interests in mind. Truly this is the future of horse-human
relationships for those of us who can recognize the spirit of a horse.

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Questions and answers
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Hi Stormy May,

Your newsletter used to be full of good info and training tips, in the past
couple of newsletters you are getting a bit ³out there² Why donıt we just
turn the horses back out on the range where they came from and then they
wouldnıt have to have those oh so mean bits and saddles, ah yes that is
right,
the wolves and coyotes would eat them, or they would suffer and possibly
even
starve from having to fend for themselves, or injured from a wound not being
not tended and gangrene setting in.

Or why donıt we just spend a bunch of money to pamper this horse as our
³hobby² as they are put on this planet for us to care for but not shudder
ride
or train.

If a person has a love of horses, wants to learn to train him so she is safe
on his back, and puts the best saddle she can afford on his back, a
specially
designed moisture wicking pad under it, soft protective boots on his fetlock
joints and an oh so gentle kk ultra French link snaffle bit in his mouth to
steer him with, what is the problem! That horse is better cared for with
chiropractic, dental, massage therapist, routine vet exams, daily brushing,
vitamin and mineral supplements, glucoasamine supplements, hooves picked and
conditioned than most household pets, children or husbands.

I am not sure what medieval training methods you employed before this new
found soul searching, but my horses nicker to me on sight, leave off eating
their hay and put their nose right into the halter in my hands to be tacked
up
and ridden daily.

Your articles go out to many pony club families and with that comes
responsibility. If you could tone down the propaganda in the future that
would be great, otherwise please take me off your email list.

Sincerely,
name withheld

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, I know you speak for many
others as well. I knew that being honest about this unexpected turn my
life has taken would alienate a lot of people. We all sincerely try our
best in each moment to do what is right. There is a saying in Pony Club
that ³Pony Club isnıt for everybody². There are some kids and families that
thrive on the discipline, high expectations and standards and there are
those who donıt. I think what Iım doing now could have the same credo, it
isnıt for everybody.

Sometimes our biggest gifts come from the most difficult situations. As a
trainer, I was in the position to see more of the "problem" horses than the
average rider might come across. It's true that some horses seem to get
with the program and very quickly and can give us a lifetime of pleasure.
Others make us question everything we're doing. I had plenty of the second
type.

I started this newsletter to spread information to help what I was most
involved in at the time I started it in 2003, and that was Pony Club and
horse training. Now, in 2008 my life is centered around a documentary that
led me around the world to find answers to some nagging questions. The
newsletter has to follow my life, perhaps the Pony Club subscribers will
dwindle and people who want a different relationship with their horses will
grow, I donıt know. What I do know is that I can only write about what is
important to me in the moment. The number of subscribers isnıt as important
as being able to express what Iım learning. It sounds like you are happy
with your relationship with your horses so I will wish you happy trails and
remove you from the mailing list.

To unsubscribe you can just send a blank email to:

HorseManagementNewsletter-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

or click on the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the newsletter.

For those of you still reading this newsletter I feel a responsibility to
share the direction I see it going to give each person a better idea of
whether they want to remain subscribed or not. I've gained many things in
this past year of following my dream to meet and interview the people I most
respect in the horse world. One of the things I've gained is an inner
strength to follow my own guidance without worrying about whether it's
popular, going to get me a big paycheck, or win me friends.

One of the things that people respected me for in Pony Club was that I was
kind, thoughtful, fair, knowledgeable, and an inspiration. None of those
qualities have gone away. If anything, they have grown stronger and more
clear. I see a bigger picture now, and I see how it is hurtful to each of
us to continue deluding ourselves about our relationships with our horses.
This is certainly not a popular opinion, and the person I was in 2003 would
shudder to think that I would say such things and alienate so many people.

I understand that the current readership of this newsletter mostly comes
from my Pony Club background. You are horse owners and lovers who truly try
your best, believe me, I understand that. It is now my responsibility to
you to share what I have learned. My greatest wish is that people will be
able to hear the information...it might be gritty, it might be
uncomfortable, it might feel too "out there"...I have no way of gauging how
it will be received. As a teacher of mine says, "Take what you can and
leave the rest".

As for the actual direction the newsletter will take in the next few months,
I plan to share some of the scientific findings that I've come across
regarding the common practices that we do with our horses. I also will
detail some of the theories we use in working with horses that deserve a
second look.

My intention will never be to put anybody down or become mean or nasty about
anything. I am here to shine a light on what is happening and to inspire
people to take a closer look into their own relationships with their horses,
and to find another level that is possible. I couldn't be so sure about
this path if I hadn't walked it myself and seen the places it leads. As
always, use your own judgment, your own feelings, your own research, your
own experiences to test it all out. If it doesn't ring true for you,
continue with what works for you. There are thousands of horse trainers out
there who can help.

If you can hear what I'm saying with an attitude of "Hmmm, that's
interesting, I wonder if it's true or if it might help me with my horse?"
rather than "Stormy's lost it, she thinks we're all abusing our horses."
then you have already taken the first step, let's continue this exploration!

Thanks for being real,
Stormy

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Dearest Stormy,

I hesitate in giving you my thoughts. Your horse management emails must be
like fishes and loaves... multiplying...in a good way that many put to good
use and feel empowered by.

I was distressed by the Derby. My farrier, a good ol boy of 58 years who
carves wood as well as trims hoofs, said we race way too early for these
young
fillies and colts to contend with. I see it in humans. Kids blow out their
knees in 9th grade playing sports. My farrier tells me in Europe that they
don't race until they are 5 years old. What can we do to change things...to
enlighten
everyone? It's really a difficult task because the public at large sees
horses in a benign setting and have no idea that a 1,000 lb animal is just
as
dangerous...scared...as a 1,000 lb prey animal on the prowl.

I know you are doing incredible work in the video world to enlighten us.
One
light lights another. What can you inspire in me to do...what can I inspire
an
already enlightened person to do?

Julie

Hi Julie,

Thank you so much for your thoughts and concern. In a sad way I am glad
about what happened in the Derby, it will help shine a light on what is
really going on. There are websites that track the statistics of racehorse
breakdowns and it is truly frightening to see. One of the arguments that
was being used to justify horse racing is that horses love to run. Well in
that case, we can justify using pain to force a 9 year old child to be an
Olympic gymnast because as we all know, children love to run and jump.

The first step is not to point a finger at someone else, it is to point it
at ourselves and to see where in our own lives we do the same things. Where
do we compromise our own well being in exchange for money? Where do we make
it more important to win or achieve something rather than to allow ourselves
to develop naturally and find the sweetness in the little moments of our
lives? Through understanding ourselves in each moment (a lifetime task)
what rests at the end of that journey is an ability to see other peoplesı
struggles and feel compassion for them. It is by rooting out all of our own
obstacles that we will finally be able to see what is needed in any
situation to truly help another being. Until this happens, it is like one
drowning person trying to save another. Yet what Iım talking about is also
the hardest task at all. It is infinitely easier to write letters to
senators, petition governing bodies, even to organize a protest and get
coverage on the evening news. But who has the strength to see the seeds of
all violence within themselves? Stay tuned for the documentary and it will
help make sense of this all.

Do take care,
Stormy

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Fun and educational websites
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The following is an interesting equine behavior site. Be sure to look at
the free articles link.

www.equine-behavior.com

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Horsey humor: How to Take a Photo of Your Foal
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from Beth Glass

1. Remove film from box and load camera.
2. Remove film box from foal's mouth and throw in corner of lot.
3. Remove foal from corner and brush dirt from muzzle.
4. Choose a suitable background for photo.
5. Mount camera on tripod and focus.
6. Coax foal into pre-focused spot and return to camera.
7. Find foal again.
8. Forget about pre-focused spot and remove camera from tripod.
9. Chase around after foal, trying to look nonchalant.
10.Focus with one hand and fend off foal with the other hand.
11.Get tissue and clean nose print from camera lens.
12.Find foal again.
13.Unfold tripod from scrambled mess in dirt.
14.Find foal again.
15.Put cat in tack room and put peroxide on scratch on foal's nose.
16.Find foal again.
17.Try to get foal's attention by squeaking a toy over your head.
18.Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.
19.Fix a drink.
20.Sit back, relax and drink and resolve to teach foal "whoa" and "stand"
first thing in the morning.

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Free item exchange
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**FREE**FREE**FREE**

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I have quite a few pairs of breeches looking for a good home. They are
mostly size 28 with some 30 and one a bit larger, perhaps 34. They are
various colors, brands and styles ranging from schooling sweats to name
brands like Pikeur and Euro-Star. Iıd prefer to send all of them to one
home and then they can be distributed as needed. Send an email to
stormy@... if youıd like to be the lucky recipient!

Also, once I get a chance to go through my things Iıll have lots of training
equipment to give away so stay tuned to this segment in the coming months.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Submit your free horse-related items or services here. If you or your club
has items they are willing to pass along to a new family, this is a great
place to list them. Listings can come from any part of the country, or even
overseas!

The recipient may be expected to handle any shipping costs.

Please provide a phone and/or email contact with each listing. Items will
be listed in the next HM Newsletter and will not be renewed unless an
additional email is sent asking for the listing to be continued.

So...clean out your tackroom and make room for more stuff!

To submit your items, simply reply to this email or write to:
stormy@... .

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Call for submissions
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Help make this newsletter the best it can be. Do you have any issues you'd
like to see addressed here? How about ideas for recommended products, books,
or videos? Want to submit your own article, or a question for the questions
and answers section? Send them to: stormy@... and I'll keep a log
of topics and articles for upcoming issues.


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