BY LUCY PETERSON
Many equestrians spend their riding careers addressing behavioral issues with temporary solutions. Maybe they add a flash, a stronger bit, or a martingale. Or maybe it is excessive spur and whip use, a more rigorous training schedule, or an explosive reaction to small behaviors.
These fixes can produce short-term results, earning rewards for tense dressage tests and points in the jumper ring while pushing horses beyond their limits. Many equestrians are competitive and dedicated to their sport, but are they equally dedicated to the well-being of the horse carrying them to blue ribbons?
In a recent interview, Shelby Dennis, the founder of Milestone Equestrian and an IAABC certified Equine Behavior Consultant, discussed training techniques, cognition, equine behavior, and competition.
Dennis explained how our sport rulebooks are intentionally vague and enable competitors and judges to overlook malpractices, which allows for poor training techniques to continue with no repercussions. “Horse welfare is paramount and should never be compromised for commercial or competitive interests,” said Dennis.
She believes that riders should not be rewarded for obedience when their horse is showing signs of stress and discomfort. Dennis thinks judges should be trained in horse behavior and mark lower scores for horses that appear to be really stressed, making it difficult for trainers and riders to rely on force and equipment to make their horses go nicely. Having independent equine behavior specialists on the show grounds would ensure that the welfare of the horses competing does not go unnoticed. An independent, separate party would ensure an unbiased opinion.
But fixing problems on the showgrounds will only go so far. When riders start to notice repetitive bad habits in their horse or behavioral issues that are abnormal to their horse’s regular demeanor, it is time for the rider to examine their horse’s life as a whole and try to find the root of the problem. “Accessing resources on horse behavior and stress behavior will also keep you safer,” said Dennis. According to Dennis, the source of a lot of behavioral problems that equestrians face begin with unmet needs that horses have in other aspects of their lives.
By finding solutions to discomforts and problems your horse is facing, their willingness to perform under saddle and at competitions will also improve. Dennis views that part of the problem is that a lot of people in the equestrian world don’t fully understand the science behind their training methods. This makes it hard to understand what needs to change.
Doing research about operant conditioning and equine behavior through books, videos, and webinars that are widely available and inexpensive makes these training practices available for anyone who is willing to learn them. “It is really useful starting on a foundation that isn’t based around equipment,” argues Dennis in support of positive reinforcement training and tackless riding.
While all of these changes would make a huge difference in riding, stepping away from tradition and changing practices isn’t easy. “Any movement away from tradition is going to feel extreme when we have clung to tradition for centuries,” said Dennis. She shared a bit about her own experience of coming up into riding in a very traditional fashion and eventually transitioning to positive reinforcement training, which is something she also talks about in her book The Secrets of the Horse.
As a call to action begins in our industry for a stronger focus on horse welfare and ethical training practices, it is important to remember to be patient while we push for change in others. “As advocates for the prioritization of happier and healthier horses, it is our job to not hold judgement for people who are still learning and discovering science-based horse welfare studies and training methods,” Dennis explains.. Sharing personal experience and our own findings about how focusing on the well-being of our horses has improved our riding and connection with them can help encourage more people to do their own research.
A huge part of our industry is the competitions we are in, but it is also important for us to remember that our horses are the reason we are able to hold equestrian events in the first place. Advocating for change in our community to prioritize their welfare and comfort is paramount for the survival of equestrian sports. As Dennis says, “Growing and changing your perspective as you know more is part of changing as a person and bettering yourself; we aren’t supposed to stay the same forever.”
