Pre-Training Checklist

Have you fully ruled out physical pain? Your vet may say your horse is ok but you know your animal best! There are subtle signs that indicate pain in horses and, as they are prey animals, they will not readily show pain.

Consider the following: 

• Do you need to treat for ulcers - over 90% of horses have ulcers!

• Could there be other health issues such as EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) or PPID (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction)?

• Is your horse overweight? You should be able to feel their ribs with very light pressure.

• Are there signs of lethargy or are they slow to shed or tender on gravel - if in doubt, emphasize these symptoms to your vet.

Get these things checked out and treated with medicine and diet changes as appropriate.

Consider analyzing your hay to ensure it is low in sugar and starch.

Feed companies market to the owners making it sweet and smell great to humans, but this is not best for the horses.

Regularly check your horse for correct hoof trimming balance, kissing spines or poor saddle fit as this can cause physical (and mental) issues that could deter motivation to train.

Look at your horse’s history and learn from it. Set up your training so that it doesn't trigger past associations and start a new relationship; showing your horse that the world and humans can be different.

Do the best you can to provide the right environment for your horse and remember the 3 Fs - friends, forage, freedom.