THE POWER OF QUESTIONS

Learning to Analyze Problems and Find Solutions

First, a note of caution.
This article presents information for your consideration. This article does not attempt to suggest to you how to approach any individual horse in any individual situation. Each horse is different and each situation is different. Horses can be dangerous, and there is inherent risk associated with working with horses. You must use your own judgment to decide what is appropriate or inappropriate for you and your horse at any particular moment. You assume all responsibility for the risks involved in the horse related activities you choose to pursue. By reading this article and using the concepts it presents, you agree to the above statements and agree that the laws of the State of Texas will apply to any dispute.

The publication of this article is an act within in the Equine Liability Law of the state of Texas. That law and all other immunity provisions apply to the publication and use of this article .Authors note: For simplicity and readability, I refer to the rider as she and the horse as he EVALUATING THE HORSE'S PHYSICAL CONDITION When I encounter a problem or resistance from a horse, the first questions I ask relate to the horses physical condition. The horse communicates to us through his behavior. It is difficult for us to concentrate and perform well when we are in pain; the horse is no different. The only way a horse is able to let us know that he is experiencing pain or discomfort is through his behavior. We need to develop the habit of constantly assessing every aspect of a horse's physical, mental and emotional condition. If a horse has been performing willingly and then suddenly begins having difficulty, I look for physical causes.

A gradual change in behavior can be indicative of a gradual or degenerative type of physical issue the horse is dealing with. It can also indicate an equipment problem, which will be covered in more detail in the section on evaluating equipment. A sudden change in behavior, assuming other factors have not changed, can sometimes be the horse's way of communicating acute physical difficulty. Sometimes folks will say to me I haven't been riding my horse hard or asking very much of him, so I don't think the problem is physical. From my view unless we are spending every minute of every day observing our horse there is no way we can be certain the horse hasn't had some physical strain or injury we aren't aware of. I've seen horses trip and fall in the pasture and get right back up without a mark on them, but I could tell by the way they were moving they were going to be sore for a few days. It makes me wonder about all the things they do that I don't see. Just because the horse didn't strain himself while we were riding him and just because we don't see an open wound doesn't mean that he isn't be experiencing soreness somewhere in his body. The horse may be dealing with acicular syndrome, arthritic hocks, a strained ligament, a bone chip, or any of a wide variety of degenerative diseases or chronic conditions. If I start seeing indications that a horse may be having a physical problem, I will involve my veterinarian and my furrier. I want to be certain that I am not attempting to work with a horse that is hurting. For no matter how wonderful the quality of training and riding may be, it isn't going to fix a problem like arthritic hocks. When the horse is asked to continue working through physical pain it can develop into a mental and emotional problem for the horse. I always like to rule out the physical aspects first and make sure the horse is sound before I continue. Living Conditions, Feed, and Medical Care What is the horse's living situation the ideal living situation for a horse is to be turned out 24 hours a day in a very large, grassy pasture with a herd of other horses for companionship and socialization.

In reality, most of us are unable to provide this type of environment for our horses. There are quite a few behavior problems that can be created because of the living conditions of the horse. Most books on horse behavior devote quite a bit of discussion to stable vices and other behaviors created by the horses artificial living conditions (some examples would be stall weaving, cribbing, etc.), and it is important to understand how this can affect the horse physically, mentally and emotionally. Increasing the horse's turnout time as much as possible and making sure he has pasture mates to socialize with can make a significant difference in his attitude and behavior. Is the horse on an appropriate feed program for the level of work he is performing Overfeeding can create quite a few behavior problems. A horse that appears to be very hyper may just be trying to work off excess energy from his feed, or even the treats we feed him. Horses will increase their physical activity to burn off excess energy. These problems can typically be easily corrected by adjusting the type and amount of concentrated grains and high energy feeds in the horse's diet. A very simple overview of basic equine nutrition is: Meet the horse's energy needs as much as possible with long stem forage from pasture or hay Fill in any deficiencies with a balanced grain mixed for the horse's age, sex, physical state and performance level A good rule of thumb is that horses consume 2% of their body weight per day in feed, and at least 70% of that should come from long stem forage.
Although it is much less common than horses that are overfed, a horse that appears to be very dull and sluggish may need additional feed or supplements. Does the horse have any prior injuries or medical conditions that might be affecting his ability to do what is being asked other medical conditions or old injuries may be a factor in a horse's ability to do what is being asked of him. For example, ovarian cysts can be a cause of back pain in mares. Let's say I'm working with a horse that has old scar tissue on his right hind leg, indicating a prior injury. I'm asking the horse to do a turn on the haunches to the right, which would require his right hind foot to be the pivot point and he would need to balance more of his weight over that leg. If his having trouble planting his pivot foot it could be that it is physically difficult for him to balance on that leg because of damage from the old injury. It could also be my balance or the way I'm presenting my cues, which will be covered in the section on evaluating the rider.

Does the horse have any physical limitations or conformational defects that affect his ability to do what is being asked of him Different people have different athletic strengths and weaknesses?

A gymnast and a football player aren't typically built the same and don move the same. This is also true in horses. You don't often see a cutting horse competing with top level jumpers. It isn't that a jumper wouldn't be able to do some work with cattle or that a cutter couldn't jump some fences, but the build of each horse is going to make one sport easier for him than the other. Conformational defects can also have a significant impact on a horse's ability to perform. A post-legged horse may have some difficulty producing a sliding stop. A horse with a downhill build (croup higher than withers) is generally going to have a little tougher time shifting his weight back over his hindquarters and staying off the forehand. It is important to take the horses physical strengths and weaknesses into account when asking the horse to do different types of work. He may be doing the best he is able to do given his physical structure.

Is the horse current on vaccinations and deforming could the horse be dealing with an illness?

Horses that are fighting disease or experiencing stress of any type are not going to be able to give us 100%. A slight case of the flu or seasonal allergies will have us feeling a bit off and I believe the same can be true for our horses. Many diseases have neurological symptoms which may cause a horse to begin to struggle or have difficulty performing the work we are asking of him. The horse may not necessarily be uncomfortable or in pain. When the horse is fighting a disease or illness we will usually see a change in the horse's behavior all of the time: while his in the pasture, during feeding time and while were leading, grooming, and riding him. Notice if the horse has shown any changes in eating such as leaving feed/hay uneaten, consuming less water, or consuming more water than normal. Is the horse urinating more than normal/less than normal Is the horses manure normal in appearance and volume Know what is normal for your horse. Then when you see something unusual it will alert you to a possible problem.

Has the horse been receiving professional dental care how long has it been since the last dental exam?
Equine dentistry is a field which has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last several years. Professional equine dentists are documenting many cases of back soreness, body soreness and other conditions being significantly reduced or eliminated entirely with quality dental care. Dental care should be considered basic healthcare for any horse, but it is especially critical for the performance or riding horse. A horse that has issues with his mouth or teeth may display some of the following behaviors: dropping grain or wads of hay while chewing foul odor from mouth or nostrils difficulty during bridling head tossing (especially when pressure is applied to the bit) chewing/mouthing the bit excessive drooling evading the bit (above the bit, behind the bit, tongue over the bit, opening his mouth, etc.)Pushing or rooting on the bit if a horse is opening his mouth when the rider picks up a rein and the rider uses a noseband to hold the horses mouth closed the real problem has not been addressed at all. The symptom has been eliminated. But the horse's ability to give us feedback that something is not right with his mouth or with the bit has also been eliminated. Often times the horse will simply try new behaviors to let us know they are still having trouble, so it is likely the problems will escalate. It is important to find the source of the problem and focus our efforts on resolving the true cause of the problem. Determining if a problem is dentistry related or equipment related can sometimes be challenging. If the horse has been receiving regular dental care I will sometimes try a few different bits or even a bit less bridle to see if that makes a difference for the horse. If the horse doesn't show any improvement I will have the horse evaluated by an Equine Dentist to make sure that the horses mouth is sound before I continue working with the horse. Has the horse been receiving professional hoof care how long has it been since the last trimming or shoeing. If you've been around horses for very long chances are you've heard the old saying No hoof, no horse. Quality hoof care plays a crucial role in preserving a horse's soundness. Improper hoof angles and improper trimming or shoeing can create a wide array of physical problems for a horse, ranging from back pain to joint damage to founder. If you have ever experienced sore feet or worn shoes that don't fit, it should be relatively easy to imagine how your horse feels if he is experiencing the same thing. However, the horse is unable to kick off his shoes and sit down in his easy chair to rest his feet!

SOUNDNESS/SORENESS

Is the horse showing any signs of soreness. Our horse is communicating with us at all times. Take a moment to listen. It is a good idea to observe the horse before attempting to catch him. We should notice how the horse is behaving as we approach him. Being difficult to catch can be a learned behavior. But it also can indicate a horse that is sore and is attempting to avoid work that he knows will cause him pain. Warning bells should be going off in our head if our horse is typically easy to catch and he suddenly becomes reluctant or elusive. We should pay attention to how the horse responds as we walk him to the grooming area. Leading the horse provides another opportunity to assess our horse's physical condition. Did he lead up freely Was he walking rhythmically and evenly on all 4 feet This gives us a considerable amount of feedback on how he is feeling  both physically and emotionally. Is he alert, calm, responsive and normal Are his ears up, his eyes soft, his lips relaxed and his musculature soft Or does he seem grumpy, introverted, reluctant, detached or simply not his usual self. When we notice changes, it is a good idea to look for the reason for them before saddling him up to work him.Grooming provides an excellent opportunity for hands-on evaluation. We can develop the habit of making grooming a time to evaluate the horse for any new bumps, cuts, bruises, or hot spots that might indicate soreness. We can memorize the horse with our hands and eyes and learn what is normal for him. We should pay special attention to how he reacts to having his back curried with a rubber curry and brushed with a brush. If we notice that he is suddenly flinching or dropping his back away from our curry he may be experiencing back pain. We will also want to pay special attention to any areas that have had soundness problems or injuries in the past. We can notice how the horse reacts when we pick out his feet. Does he has trouble lifting his legs for us Does he seem uncomfortable this can be another indication of soreness, stiffness or even injury in his legs and back. There are several good books and videos available on stretching exercises and massage techniques for horses. Simple stretching exercises during or after the grooming process can be another effective way to evaluate him for soreness. It also prepares his muscles for the upcoming work. If a horse begins acting uncomfortable or worried when you are saddling him, he might be associating pain with being ridden. A horse that is normally quiet while being saddled becomes fidgety.
A horse dropping his back when the saddle is set on him.
A horse with a strong reaction during girthing.
Negative reactions also may indicate that the saddle does not fit and is causing pain. This is covered in the section on evaluating equipment.

Did the horse seem comfortable when he was bridled?

If a horse is throwing his head, attempting to turn his head away as you bridle him or is difficult to bridle, it may be indicating that the horse is experiencing soreness in his mouth that isn't necessarily related to his dental care. Some examples include: Sores in his mouth caused by hay with stickers or foreign objects kick to the jaw from another horseman abscessed tooth rider with rough hands this is especially something to consider if it is a sudden .Change from the horses normal behavior during bridling Negative reactions to the bit also may indicate that the bit itself does not fit, is uncomfortable or is causing physical pain. This is covered in the section on evaluating equipment. Did the horse stand quietly for mounting? A horse shows distress or discomfort during mounting (tossing his head, turning his head to nip at the rider, pinning his ears, walking off, etc.), it can be an indication of back soreness. This behavior may also be related to a poorly fitted saddle, or an awkward rider. If a horse that normally stands quietly for mounting begins moving away or walking off, we should look into the reason his behavior changed.

How was the horse during his warm-up?

The warm-up at the beginning of every ride is yet an excellent opportunity to evaluate the horse's physical and mental condition. We can ask questions like: Is the horse's stride fluid, even and rhythmical Does the horse feel stiff to one side Does the horse seem worried, concerned or distracted Compare the horses movement to the last ride, last week, and last month. It is important to memorize how the horse moves and feels so that we will be able to notice when something changes. If I notice a difference in the horse I will usually begin by removing as many variables as possible. I start with the horse unsaddled and loose in the round pen. This eliminates possible equipment issues and rider issues from the picture. It gives me a baseline that I can compare against as I re-introduce the equipment and the rider. Is there a difference when comparing the same task from right to left it can indicate soreness if a horse has a significant difference in his movement when doing a particular task to the right as compared to doing the same task to the left, Some examples include: horse that picks up one lead at the canter, but has difficulty or won't pick up the other load a horse that will do a nice. Turn on the haunches to the right, but struggles when going to the left a horse that leg yields fluidly to the right, but seems uncomfortable and awkward when going to the left a horse that bends nicely on circles going to the left, but is stiff or counter bends when going to the right. These examples could be training issues or a result of an imbalanced rider, but there could be a physical reason the horse is having difficulty.

Is the horse's level of fitness appropriate for what is being asked?

Any training program should gradually and methodically develop the horse's body to perform the work the horse is being asked to do. This is relatively easy to understand for sports that require significant exertion such as racing, cutting, reining, barrel racing, endurance riding or jumping. It may not be as immediately obvious that the same principle applies to a horse being asked to walk on a 6 hour trail ride when his regular routine involves a 30 minute ride in the arena twice a week. If we are asking for athletic performance from our horse, we need to understand cyclical training and cross training principles. Improper training demands can create injuries that are easily prevented. Good training should increase the horse's soundness, not jeopardize it.

Is there no other explanation for the horse's difficulty or problem behavior?

There are times when there is no obvious physical issue, and I feel I have exhausted everything else I can think of and the problem is not improving or is getting worse. It may be time for a trip to a good diagnostic vet for a complete soundness evaluation. If the soundness exam is inconclusive, I may consider a trip to a university clinic or another large specialty clinic. There are quite a few other alternatives that can also be explored. These include chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, or a number of other alternative treatment approaches that can be very effective. Ask for the practitioners credentials, get several references and check them carefully, and do some research on the treatment approach you are considering for your horse.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

There are numerous wonderful books and resources available to help you learn more about horse anatomy, conformation, behavior, care and general training. Below are a few of my favorites:
Principles of Conformation Analysis Volume I, II, III by Deb Bennett, PhD
Conformation and Performance by Nancy S Loving, DVM
Anatomy In Motion: The Visible Horse by Susan Harris (video)
Understanding Equine Lameness by Les Sell now
Lameness in Horses by O.R. Adams
Beating Muscle Injuries for Horses by Jack Meagher
Release the Potential: A
Practical Guide to Myofascial Release for Horse and Rider by Doris Kay Halstead
Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners by Captain M. Horace Hayes, F.R.C.V.S.
Horsekeeping on A Small Acreage by Cherry Hill
For The Good Of The Horse by Mary Wanless
The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon
Considering the Horse by Mark Rashid
A Good Horse Is Never A Bad Color by Mark Rashid
Horses Never Lie by Mark Rashid
True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill Dorrance
True Unity by Tom Dorrance
Think Harmony With Horses by Ray Hunt
Make the Most of Your Horse by Jan Dickerson
Why Does My Horse... by Paul McGreevy
Making Not Breaking by Cherry Hill
Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin
FINAL THOUGHTS ON EVALUATING PHYSICAL ISSUES
The only way the horse can communicate to us that he is experiencing pain, discomfort or that things just aren't right is through his behavior. Physical issues can sometimes be subtle and challenging  To uncover. Anyone that has experienced a migraine headache or a sore back should be able to understand that just because we see anything visibly wrong doesn't mean there isn't pain. It is important to keep in mind that most physical problems are not going to be solved using training techniques.

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The Power Of Questions

Intro
Jodi Denning.
All rights reserved.

No portion of this article may be reproduced, copied, transmitted or stored in any mechanical or electronic form for commercial use, without written permission of the author. Jodi Denning has a varied background with horses, including competition in both Western and English disciplines. Jodi considers herself to be a lifelong student of good horsemanship, and she has had the opportunity to study and work with several top horsemen and horsewomen over the years. Jodi currently resides in Texas with her husband and their 5 horses, and will soon be relocating to New Mexico. She teaches riding lessons, occasionally takes horses in for training, and also volunteers at a therapeutic riding center schooling therapy horses and working in therapeutic riding classes.

Jodi can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it