Each year, hurricanes, wildfires, and severe storms force thousands across the country to evacuate their homes. When preparing for a potential natural disaster, it is best to follow the adage of “expect the best but prepare for the worst.” Taking the time now to make an emergency and natural disaster preparedness plan for your family—including your horses and other animals—can be lifesaving.

Startling Natural Disaster Statistics

According to a survey conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more than one in five pet owners (including horses) have evacuated their homes due to a disaster situation, and of those evacuees, nearly half have left at least one pet behind at the time of evacuation.

Of those who left at least one pet behind, nearly 30 percent cited not having enough time when the disaster struck as their reasoning for doing so, further emphasizing the need to prepare for an emergency in advance.

“We want to remind horse owners to always bring your horses and other animals with you if you need to evacuate,” says Christie Schulte Kappert, senior director of ASPCA Equine Welfare. “Leaving a horse or pet behind can expose them to numerous life-threatening hazards, including the inability to escape the impending emergency—such as flood waters, fires, and high winds—as well as having no access to fresh food and water for an unknown period.”

Horse Preparedness Before the Disaster

Your horses should be as equally prepared for a disaster emergency as your facility. The ASPCA’s Christie Shulte Kappert makes the following recommendations to ensure their readiness:

◆ Horses should be accustomed to wearing a halter.
◆ Practice loading on a trailer during calm conditions so horses are on autopilot during an emergency.
◆ Horses should be accustomed to being handled by strangers.
◆ Work with your neighbors or barn mates to practice loading each other’s horses so they are used to multiple types of trailers and handlers.

Horse Identification

In the case that you and your horse become separated during an evacuation, you will need to mark him with some sort of identification so you can be reunited later.

According to Schulte Kappert, microchips become a vital lifeline after times of disaster or other unforeseen events.

Once a chip is implanted, be certain to register it with the microchip’s manufacturer, as without registration, the microchip is not linked to any useful data. If you purchase a microchipped horse, be sure to update the personal contact info.

If microchipping is not an option, in an emergency Schulte Kappert recommends braiding an ID clip or luggage tag into your horse’s mane or tail or painting your phone number on his side with non-toxic paint.

In instances where microchipping is not available, tattoos can make a good second choice during non-emergency situations.

Emergency Kit

The ASPCA recommends that the following items be included in your natural disaster or emergency preparedness kit:

◆ Contact information for yourself and a confirmed emergency caretaker.
◆ Addresses and directions to local or regional sheltering options.
◆ Tack/equipment checklist, extra lead ropes, and extra halters.
◆ Veterinary records, including a current Coggins.
◆ Paperwork proving your ownership of your horse (branding papers, microchip registration, photos).
◆ A seven- to 10-day supply of feed, medications, and water and clean buckets.
◆ An equine first-aid kit that includes items like bandages, bandage scissors, and any necessary medications.

Faster Response Time

Severe weather events are stressful and scary for people and animals.

“Owners should create an emergency plan customized to their animals, location, facility and the likely scenarios that will cause an emergency; wildfire preparation is very different than a hurricane,” says Schulte Kappert. “Having a plan for your area’s possible scenario(s) will help you stay calm and act swiftly when the emergency arrives. Reach out to your county’s emergency management office or extension agents to follow guidelines about the disasters they plan to encounter and how to respond.”

For example, she says that many counties have designated fairgrounds as emergency shelters; you can use this type of information in creating your plan.

Working Together

Working together with your neighbors can also be extremely helpful. Schulte Kappert further recommends creating a phone tree/buddy system with other nearby horse owners and local farms.

Consider teaming up with other horse owners to pool your resources, including sharing trailer space and hay, and share your evacuation plans in advance.

“This is especially important for owners who board at a public facility or don’t own a trailer,” she says. “If you board, check with the stable owner about their emergency management plans and make sure you and your horse are prepared to respond accordingly.”

Schulte Kappert also recommends having a plan in place in the event you are away from home when evacuation orders are issued.

“Identify an emergency caretaker for your horse and other animals in advance and provide them with your plan,” she says.

Trailer Preparations

Another part of your emergency natural disaster preparedness plan should include making certain that your trailer is ready for transport at any time. Any time you may need to haul your horse, it’s important to inspect your trailer and its tire pressure, brake battery, and safety chains or cables.

It’s critical to have a trailer big enough for all your equines, including a place to tether them inside. If you have advance notice of an impending disaster, hook up your trailer ahead of time.

Act Swiftly

Whether it is you or a caretaker, it’s important to act promptly once evacuation orders have been announced. Schulte Kappert advises planning as if you may not be allowed to return home for at least seven to 10 days. She says that you should follow the instructions of local and state officials and evacuate as soon as possible, as it may take additional time to load your horses, other animals, and supplies.

Emergency and natural disaster preparedness does not have to be a daunting task. Instead, having a plan in place can help to make an emergency less frightening for everyone.

Emergency and Natural Disaster Preparedness with Horses: Key Takeaway

Natural disasters can strike without warning, and preparedness is essential to ensuring the safety of both your family and your horses. By taking proactive steps now to create a comprehensive emergency plan for your animals, you can minimize the risks and stress that come with facing a crisis. Stay informed, stay prepared, and stay safe.

This article about horse emergency and natural disaster preparedness appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the continuation of the US Equestrian Safety Awareness Week, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to promoting safety within equestrian sport.

Scheduled to take place September 16-22, 2024, this annual week-long campaign serves to raise awareness and educate members and fans on the importance of prioritizing safety, the use of safety products, and best practices for safe riding.

Throughout the week, US Equestrian will collaborate with industry leaders to provide educational resources, industry standard updates and research, original content stories, and discounts on safety products provided by brand partners of Safety Awareness Week.

“Safety is a paramount concern for US Equestrian,” states US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “It’s imperative our members prioritize their safety when riding and interacting with horses. The information and resources provided during Safety Awareness Week are vital in our continued efforts to keep our community informed and safe when participating in the sport.”

In 2023, Safety Awareness Week was supported by US Equestrian Partners Charles Owen, Dover Saddlery, and SmartPak with other major support being provided from safety product brands.

This year, members and fans will have multiple opportunities to access educational content and information on product discounts by tuning into US Equestrian’s social media channels, Equestrian Weekly, and other platforms during the campaign.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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On March 25, 2024, The J. F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., hosted its highly anticipated third annual Equine Training in collaboration with the OC Fire Authority’s Urban Search & Rescue Team (US&R). This unique event, generously funded by The Gary Sinise Foundation, offered an immersive experience for over 100 first responders seeking to enhance their skills in horse rescue procedures.

Established in 1978, The Shea Center stands as one of the world’s premier equine assisted services providers. With 27 horses and over 700 dedicated volunteers, The Shea Center addresses 87 distinct disabilities through programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, mental healthcare, and adaptive riding.

Firepower Meets Horsepower

The idea for this training followed on the heels of a remarkable rescue in 2021 where OCFA saved Choco, a Shea Center therapy horse. Choco ended up in a very tricky situation while out on a trail ride in the surrounding hills after he was struck by a bird flying into him. His rider dismounted to check on him and the spooked horse got loose, ending up trapped between concrete and rebar on his back in a culvert. He was extracted by helicopter airlift and amazingly came out of the ordeal with just a few scratches.

The first annual training initiative began in the wake of this rescue in March 2022, setting the stage for an ongoing partnership between heroes and horses. Horses and livestock are integral to Orange County’s culture. Firefighters’ proficiency in safely rescuing and evacuating these animals is crucial to ensuring the safety of both human and animal lives.

San Juan Capistrano, where the Shea Center is located, has California’s highest per capita ratio of horses to people, serving as the perfect location for this specialized training. [The OCFA’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of a community where the welfare of residents and their animals is paramount.]

“Our commitment to provide exceptional emergency support services to the nearly two million people we serve includes their pets, horses, and livestock, all of which add tremendous value and joy to our communities,” says Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. “The training necessary to extend our services to these large animals hinges upon the support of partners like the Shea Center and the Gary Sinise Foundation, and I’m grateful and proud that our collective work makes us a national model for large animal rescue.”

Comprehensive Equine Training for Firefighters

Participants engaged in comprehensive equine training, with four stations covering behavior and handling, equine anatomy, situational rescue procedures and equipment, and safe trailer loading and unloading.

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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We worry about our horses being too hot or too cold or exposed to sudden weather fluctuations. We stand in stores reading fly spray labels to determine which might work best and fret about whether a rain sheet, mid-weight, or heavy turnout rug is necessary, only to then worry about our horse sweating or shivering under it if we pick the wrong one.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that our overworked minds might miss something. Problems pop up like pasture weeds. Here are 10 potentially problematic horse care mistakes to keep on your radar.

1. Over-Blanketing

Opinions about blanketing horses are as fraught with emotion as those about keeping newborn babies warm. Is the baby cold? Too warm? Is the blanket too tight, too loose? When should it be removed? The decision to blanket depends primarily upon weather conditions, temperature, available shelter, and your horse’s hair coat.

If your horse lives outdoors and wears a turnout rug, it should be removed daily for grooming while his skin is checked for rubs and his overall body condition is noted. Clipped horses have their natural protection removed, and need heavier blankets than horses with natural coats. Rain sheets and mid-weights are often enough for unclipped horses, while heavy rugs and neck covers are usually needed if the horse is clipped, thin, or used to a warmer climate.

Many healthy animals with a natural coat don’t need blanketing in winter as long as they have access to shelter from wind and precipitation. Blankets should always be removed if your horse is sweating underneath. It’s easier and far worse for a horse to overheat than be uncomfortable from cold or breezy weather, so err on the side of under-blanketing instead of over-blanketing.

2. Moldy Hay

Buying hay is always a challenge and has become more so in the last decade. Small square bales have given way to large ones, and round bales are practically impossible to assess for quality.

Drought conditions have made the supply smaller, with farmers baling fewer cuttings every year. Prices are high, requiring long searches for good hay in a tough market. Too often, when hay prices get high, horse owners are tempted to lower their standards and feed bales they would typically reject. This is risky, since bad hay causes respiratory problems and can be fatal if it is contaminated with blister beetles or toxic plants.

Never mistake tight, heavy bales or a green tint for quality, as weight can indicate that the hay was baled damp and the green color can be sprayed on like a faux lawn. There’s no substitute for your eyes and nose.

Learn what good hay looks and smells like and always inspect a few bales before you purchase. Even if you board your horse, always keep a close eye on what he is eating and insist on quality hay.

3. Dusty Bedding

Dusty bedding, hay, and arena footing can trigger equine asthma, a respiratory disease that is much harder to treat than to prevent. When buying pine shavings, check the wrapper to make sure you are buying the dust-free option. The cheaper products can become very expensive if your horse ends up with a persistent cough.

Shredded newspaper is the lowest-dust bedding available, although it may not be feasible to find in all areas. Straw bedding is the highest in dust.

4. Cluttered Barn Aisles

Your barn aisle is ground zero for your horse activities. It should be de-cluttered periodically and assessed for safety.

A horse may have gone in and out of his stall without incident for years, but it only takes one mistake for a door handle to slice his flank enough to require stitches. Protruding tack hooks and slippery footing are other avoidable accidents waiting to happen.

Cross-ties should always have breakaway hardware fastened closest to the wall so if you need to unfasten it in an emergency, you aren’t as close to a panicking horse. A loop of baling twine between the hardware and the wall hook is another breakaway point that will hold everyday forces but gives in case of a panicked pull-back.

Another potential hazard is the placement of feed containers in the aisle in front of stalls. Many horses are escape artists, and nothing tempts them like available food they know is just inches away.

5. No Pre-Purchase Vet Check

Both experienced and novice horse buyers often skip a pre-purchase exam for a variety of reasons: cost, inconvenience of scheduling, not knowing a local veterinarian where the horse is located, and believing they have the skills to detect conformation flaws or signs of looming disease.

A pre-purchase exam is not a health guarantee because the vet is only examining what exists the day of the exam, but any major issues will be a red flag to a professional who treats horses on a regular basis.

Laminitis has a lingering imprint in the ridges on a horse’s hooves; a heart murmur declares its presence through a stethoscope; and lameness is often subtle and difficult to detect—all are best assessed by a veterinarian. The fee for this service is tiny compared to owning a horse that you can’t sell in good fait.

6. Contracts for Horse Sales or Lease Agreements

The era of closing a horse sale with a handshake is long gone, yet many purchase agreements today have an abysmal paper trail. We live in a world that requires documentation as protection against lawsuits and disputes between parties who can’t remember the details of the original transaction.

7. Failing to Pre-Check Your Trailer

You’ve probably been there before: You’re in such a hurry to get on the road to the horse show or late for that trail ride that you skip the checklist of pre-departure truck, hitch and trailer inspections before starting the engine.

Owning a new trailer does not preclude a safety check on door and window latches, air vents, butt bars (if you have them), tire inflation, trailer lights, hitch connections, and electric wiring. Trailer windows should be open (with grills closed) based on weather and predicted inside temperature once underway. Most of the time, the temperature inside the trailer is much hotter than outside.

8. Buying and Keeping an Unsuitable Horse

Far too many people fall in love with a horse at first sight (or photo), throw caution to the wind and buy it, only to soon discover he’s not suited to their skills or needs. Disappointed new owners may resist selling because they are already emotionally committed. This situation typically ends with the horse as a pasture pet or the owner hiring a costly trainer to fix what usually can’t be fixed—an unhappy owner paired with an unsuitable horse.

Buy a horse for what you want to do with him, not because he’s a fashionable breed or has a flashy coat. Buyers should remember the adage, “A good horse is never a bad color.”

9. Trying New Things While Your Horse is Distracted

Don’t set yourself up for failure by ignoring obvious warning signs when teaching your horse something new. Cold, windy weather is not the best time to introduce sidepassing or trail riding. Impending storms often usher in erratic behavior in horses and cause problems under saddle.

Avoid trying to train when the arena is filled with distractions like jumping ponies and galloping reiners. Your horse learns better when he can focus. Likewise, don’t expect concentration when it’s feeding time and all of the other horses are happily digging into their meal.

10. Spoiling Your Horse

Horses are like children in that they will take advantage of weak leadership, and they occasionally need correction. Failing to assert yourself as the leader of your “herd of two” usually ends in disappointment, if not injury.

If you can’t assert yourself enough to do this, your horse will step right into the role. Watch two horses turned out together and you’ll see they settle who is in charge within minutes, and every breach of that agreement will be challenged. Horse owners should never fall for the myth that horses love those who placate and spoil them. Horses respect clear leadership, not pushover love.

Every horse owner has made one of these mistakes in horse care and horsemanship, and probably asked themselves later why they didn’t listen to their inner voice telling them another day would be better to try something new. There is no need to learn a lesson the hard way!

This article about common horse care mistakes appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Severe thunderstorms with high winds, lightning, and hail are never any fun, but they often pass by without causing any significant damage. Still, there’s always the chance that they could cause a problem. The good news is there are some simple steps you can follow to ready your farm and prepare for loss of power. Here, we’ll look at some ways to ensure your property and horses can safely weather the storm, plus some things to consider if you do experience damage.

Lightning

Before the Storm:

◆ Disconnect the fence charger. Electric fencing is usually connected to some type of grounding poles, which turn the whole fence into a giant lightning rod. If lightning does strike your fence, the high voltage may travel through the wires and blast through your fence charger on its way toward dissipating in the ground.

We had this happen once on our farm: Lightning struck a tree on the other side of the pasture, jumped to the ground and then to the electric fence (burning a great deal in the process), and ran all the way around the pasture before destroying the charger.

To keep lightning from potentially ruining your charger, you can simply disconnect the two wires marked “fence” and “ground” (they might be marked with a “+” and “-”) well before the storm arrives. Don’t forget to reconnect them afterwards. (If horses will be in the paddock with that fence during the storm, then this probably isn’t a wise option).

◆ Consider fencing off pasture trees. You’re probably aware that lighting tends to gravitate toward the tallest objects in an area, so single shade trees standing the middle of a pasture can be targets.

If there are horses in the pasture when a storm strikes (more on this below), they may be more inclined to take shelter near the tree. For this reason, some horse owners choose to fence off pasture trees so that the horses can’t stand directly under them.

Wind

Before the Storm:

◆ Prepare trees. This is a bit more of “big picture” issue (not something you’ll be doing five minutes before the storm strikes), but you’ll want to give some thought to possible damage from trees and branches in a storm. Do you have trees near the barn with major branches hanging over the roof? What about other buildings?

◆ Put things away. If there’s a chance of significant wind, try to secure or store your machinery (tractors, UTVs, et cetera). Also, clear the barn aisles of tools and small items that can easily go flying if strong winds rush down the aisle.

After the Storm:

◆ Check fencing. Take a trip around the pastures after the storm to make sure there are no large branches or trees down on the fencing that could allow the horses to get out. Also, keep an eye out for wind damage to the fencing—it’s not impossible for a strong wind to pop boards and even topple posts in certain conditions.

◆ Look for “spookables.” Check the pastures, walking paths, and barn areas for debris and trash blown around (maybe from neighboring properties) that might cause accidents if a horse is surprised by them.

Hail

Before the Storm:

◆ Bring the horses indoors. Hail of any significant diameter can cause injury, so placing the horses in stalls ahead of time is prudent if hail is in the storm forecast.

◆ Park the machines. If you can manage it, consider moving any valuable machines and vehicles indoors to prevent hail damage. Luckily, some horse owners have a large place perfectly suited for this: the indoor riding arena.

After the Storm:

◆ You might want to wait until the hail/sleet has melted before venturing out again; during a warm-weather thunderstorm, this doesn’t take very long.

Water for Horses During Storms

Before the Storm:

◆ Save water. If you can manage it, saving water before the storm is helpful. Besides filling all of your horses’ buckets and troughs to the top, you can save additional water with simple 5-gallon camping containers. If the storm doesn’t come, so much the better—just use up the water the next day.

After the Storm:

◆ For city water: If your home or horse barn is connected to a municipal water source, a power outage from a storm might not be an immediate issue, as the town’s water system may be gravity fed (from a water tower, for example), and the water will keep working even without electricity.

◆ If your horse property is more rural and the barn is fed from a private well, this may be more challenging. People often have small generators around to power a few lights and the refrigerator, but well pumps usually take a lot of electrical amps to function and require some special wiring to be in place ahead of time.

If your home has a large generator capable of powering the well pump, you should be able to get water to your horses that way, but owners of small generators may come up a little short. This is where saving water prior to the storm can help. For long-term outages, you could also look at hauling water from a neighbor who hasn’t lost power.

Electric Fence Power

Before the Storm:

◆ Asses your horses’ needs. What happens when you have an electric fence, and there is no electricity to run it? Whether or not this is an issue depends on your horses; some never touch the fence whether it’s on or off; others test it frequently. You’ll have to make a judgement call. The good news is that solar fences aren’t effected by an outage.

After the Storm:

◆ Solar/battery-powered fence: With this system, solar panels collect sunlight during the day to run the fence and store it in batteries for nighttime and cloudy days. If you have a system like this, it’s independent from a storm power outage, so you’re good to go.

◆ AC-powered fence uses AC power from a typical power plug. If there is a prolonged power outage, you can probably plug your electric fence charger up to a small generator, as fence chargers don’t use much power. Another alternative is to have a small solar charger on hand for outage emergencies.

Horses In or Out During a Storm?

Should the horses be in or out of the barn during a thunderstorm? If the storm is forecast early enough and you have ample time, you can put the horses in the barn, but not everyone does this. However, there are some solid reasons to do so:

◆ Horses may become frightened. High winds and thunder can upset even normally calm horses, and if the storm is intense, they could potentially run into a fence. The exception might be in a case where a particular horse is much more anxious being indoors during the storm. Again, it’s case-by-case question that only you can answer.

◆ Lightning could be a threat. Horses are large, tall animals in an open area, and lightning strikes are not unheard of. Many horse owners prefer placing their animals inside a structurally sound, grounded stable.

◆ Damage to fencing can occur. If storm damage breaches a fence, it could offer the horses an escape route while the storm is still happening and before you have a chance to intervene.

The tips here are only meant to be a guide and to offer some suggestions, but ultimately the decisions are up to you and will come down to your specific situation. Hopefully, your thunderstorms will pass by harmlessly, but it never hurts to do some preparation and have some backup plans in place.

Here’s hoping for beautiful, sunny weather!

This article about keeping your horses and property safe during a storm appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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State laws tend to allow riding along roadways, but cities may frown upon riding around town. It’s essential to know the laws in your area. Here, we’ll take a look at the general etiquette for safely sharing the road with motorized vehicles when riding your horse.

Road Rules Vary for Riding

You don’t need a license to ride a horse like you do to drive a car, but in many states, horses are governed by the same traffic laws when riding on public roads as motorized traffic. Some states, however, place horses under non-motorized traffic rules, meaning you must follow the same rules as someone riding a bicycle. The difference in wording may impact more areas than you realize—including simple things, like which side of the road on which to ride.

Kathie Troudt Riley, P.C., operates a solo law practice in Loveland, Colo., with an emphasis on equine and agricultural law. She also teaches in the Equine Sciences program at Colorado State University. Riley owns Paint Horses and Quarter Horses, and is an owner of the Flying R Ranch, where they board and train horses.

“Colorado has a specific statute that pertains to horses on our state highways,” says Riley. “Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Sections 42-4-109(8) and (10) provide that persons riding or leading horses along any highway in Colorado should do so on the left side of the road, facing traffic.”

However, Riley says there’s an exception if the horses are involved in herding. Coloradans still move cattle, sheep and sometimes horses by driving them on highways.

“If you’re in a horse-drawn conveyance, you use the right side of the road, like a car would,” Riley continues. “The statute states that every person riding or leading a horse or driving a horse-drawn conveyance on a roadway is granted all of the rights of a driver of a motor vehicle and is subject to all of the duties of a driver of a motor vehicle, such as obeying traffic lights and signs, yielding right of way, et cetera. Under our statutes, they’re considered ‘vehicles’ by definition.”

Carina Lyn Roselli, Esq., has been practicing equine law since 2015 and bases her virtual and concierge law firm, CLR Law, PLLC out of Northern Virginia. She specializes in designing comprehensive equine contracts of all varieties, building and developing new equine businesses and nonprofits, and drafting horse trusts that ensure the care and safety of horses in the event of an owner’s incapacity or death.

“Most states allow horses and horse-drawn vehicles on roadways except where signage specifically forbids it,” Roselli says. “People riding horses are generally treated the same under the law as people riding bicycles. So, people riding horses are expected to ride in the same direction as traffic, in almost all states, and as far to the right of the road as possible. Riders must comply with the state’s traffic laws, so the laws for riding on the roadway would only change if the state’s traffic laws changed based on the type of roadway.”

Motorist Responsibilities

Motorists also have a legal responsibility toward horses and riders. While these laws generally involve common sense, many riders can swap stories about misbehavior that could have gotten someone hurt.

Drivers should always slow down and move over when passing riders and not make any sudden noise or movements that might spook the animal. These rules help prevent accidents and protect the rider and mount. Disobeying these rules could result in serious legal consequences.

“Under Colorado’s law, if the driver of a motor vehicle violates the traffic code in any way with respect to a horse, such as unsafe passing, following too closely, failure to yield right of way, et cetera, the driver of the vehicle can be fined,” says Riley. “Under Colorado civil law, a good claim of negligence could be made against the driver of a motor vehicle who harms the rider—or the horse—by a traffic-related action or omission.”

One Oklahoma statute states that vehicles must be equipped with a horn and shall give an audible warning when reasonably necessary. However, it specifically states that drivers shouldn’t “use a horn when passing a person riding a bicycle, equine or animal-drawn vehicle under normal conditions if no imminent danger of a collision exists.”

“[In some states] it’s illegal to honk your horn or make any loud noises, such as spinning your tires or revving your engine, when passing horses on the road, but it isn’t illegal in Virginia,” says Roselli. “However, if a motorist doesn’t follow the law regarding how to pass a horse on the road, they can be fined, or worse. If their actions cause injuries to horse(s) or rider(s), they could be facing a lawsuit.”

She says that most states regulate the way in which motorized vehicles may pass horses or horse-drawn vehicles. Sometimes these laws are detailed in one sense, but not detailed enough in another.

“In Virginia, motorized vehicles must pass at least 3 feet to the left of the horse or horse-drawn vehicle and not proceed back into the lane until ‘safely clear,’ which can be problematic because drivers who aren’t horse enthusiasts may not understand how much space to safely provide for a horse to avoid injury or spooking,” Roselli says.

Don’t Drink and Ride

“Reckless” riding will potentially get you into legal trouble in Nevada, and riding under the influence (RUI) is illegal pretty much everywhere. Like other modes of travel, drinking and riding don’t mix.

Roselli says you can get a DUI on horseback in some states. In others, including Virginia, you can be fined or arrested for public intoxication if you try to ride your horse home from the bar when drunk.

“It’s unlawful to ride a horse on a highway in Colorado if the rider is under the influence of alcohol, any controlled substance or any stupefying drug,” says Riley. “The violation is a Class B traffic infraction, which may result in a fine of up to $100.

“A rather notorious situation [occurred] in 2013 when a man riding a horse drunk was arrested,” she continues. “He was observed riding erratically, slumped on the side and at one time beating the horse. He was charged with animal cruelty along with riding under the influence.”

No matter the laws in your state, don’t forget that horses have a mind of their own and instincts that may cause them to act in unexpected ways. Some horses spook more easily than others, while some could have a cannon shot off next to them and won’t flinch.

In order to avoid a potentially tragic accident, it’s important that you know your horse well before riding him on any road where unpredictable motorists will be present.

This article about safety for riding your horse on the road appeared in the August 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Trail Riding Safety Factor: Your Horse’s Reaction

If you and your horse have ever come across a wild animal while you’re on the trail, the experience was either enjoyable or terrifying, depending on your horse’s reaction. My most seasoned trail horse has seen coyotes many times on our rides, and he will stop and admire them with me if we come across them hunting in a field or walking across the trail.

On the other hand, the first time we came across a deer, his reaction was anything but relaxed. He was unable to identify the four-legged creature with a head full of antlers, and every muscle in his body tightened. It felt like he was ready to bolt.

After seeing deer several times, my horse is no longer scared—he’s figured out they are harmless. But it’s nearly impossible to expose a horse to every wild critter he might come across on the trail in advance of that real-life moment.

Building Trust with Your Horse

Lory Walls and Jamie Dietrich are two experienced North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) competitors and judges, with thousands of miles of trails around the country under their belts. Both have come across all kinds of wildlife along a variety of trails, and they concur that the secret to dealing with everything from deer to bobcats is teaching your horse to trust you.

“Building trust starts at home, and should be happening all the time,” says Walls. “You can’t expect the horse to be completely unafraid, but you want to be able to channel and deal with the fear. You do his by building that trust and not keeping the horse in a bubble.”

You can earn your horse’s trust by spending time in both the saddle and on the ground, showing him that you can handle anything scary that comes up. Your horse needs to know that you will keep him safe. Time on both the trail and the arena negotiating obstacles can help foster this.

Practice Obstacles

Start by tackling some potentially scary arena obstacles like wood bridges, tarps and poles. Help your horse understand that you won’t ask him to do something that puts him at risk.

Once he has mastered these inanimate objects, expose him to other animals like sheep, goats, barking dogs, pigs—whatever you have access to—while still in the arena. As you help your horse learn to adjust to these animals through regular exposure, he will start to learn to trust you.

Once you feel like your horse is relaxed around domestic animals, go trail riding with someone who has a wildlife-savvy horse for safety and education. Your horse will learn from his trail buddy that wildlife is nothing to fear.

Before you head out on trail alone or with a buddy, be confident that you can control of horse’s feet. According to Dietrich, you want your horse to listen to your hands, seat, legs and voice, even when he’s in a concerning situation.

You also want to teach your horse to wait and watch when he sees something that worries him, instead of just reacting. This takes practice and patience. If your horse stops when he sees an animal or object he’s concerned about, don’t push him toward it until you can feel him relax. It’s important to control you own reaction as well by not tightening your body. If you get nervous, you are likely to produce a fear reaction in the horse.

According to Dietrich, with most wildlife encounters, there’s a momentary startle, and the other critter goes on its way. Big birds like grouse and turkeys make a lot of noise and seem to appear out of nowhere. Even little creatures like rabbits and squirrels can come darting out of a shrub and startle both you and your horse.

In these situations, it’s important to have a good seat to make sure you stay on your horse during that initial spook, and then to work to calm yourself quickly so you can in turn calm your horse.

Dangerous Wildlife While Trail Riding

Most wildlife, like deer, brown bears, coyotes and bobcats, are only a threat if your horse freaks out about them. While these animals will likely freeze or run off when they see horses, a few species are best avoided because of their propensity for aggression.

Grizzly bears are one such animal, and are most often encountered in very remote areas in the northwestern states, Alaska and Canada. Riders in these areas often ride with “grizzly bells” attached to their horses’ saddles or breast collars to help warn bears they are coming and avoid startling them. Grizzlies don’t typically attack riders, but momma bears with cubs nearby can be unpredictable.

Another species that can pose a problem for riders is snakes, specifically poisonous ones. Coming across a gopher or king snake is no big deal, but stepping on a rattlesnake or cottonmouth can prove deadly.

Most venomous snakes only bite if they feel threatened, and most horse encounters with these kinds of snakes are accidental. That’s why it’s important to stay on designated trails and avoid going “off-roading” in snake country.

Many people are afraid of mountain lions, probably because our ancient ancestors were likely prey for similar large cats. But today’s mountain lions rarely attack adult horses, especially ones with riders, because they look even bigger than an unmounted horse.

Mountain lions are good at concealing themselves, and you are unlikely to see one when riding. If you do, your biggest challenge will be keeping your horse calm. Like humans, horses tend to have a visceral reaction to large predators. If this happens, fall back on your horse’s training and let him know he can trust you to handle the situation.

Use Common Sense While Trail Riding

It goes without saying that all wildlife should be given a wide berth whenever possible. Wild animals typically become aggressive if they feel threatened and will always opt for flight over fight if they can.

Keep in mind that female mammals such as bears, mountain lions, moose and coyotes may behave aggressively if they feel their babies are in danger. If you see a mother and her offspring along the trail, turn around and head in the other direction.

Encountering wildlife on the trail can be an exhilarating experience. It is something many trail riders hope for in their journeys, and something they remember for a lifetime. Establish an understanding of wildlife safety and work with your horse to build trust so when you come across a new animal while trail riding, you will both enjoy the moment.

This article about wildlife safety while trail riding appeared in the August 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The tried-and-true school horses spoil us. Have the bomb-proof, solid-citizen horses inadvertently taught us that it’s OK to skip some safety steps? If you’ve only been around well-trained horses, it’s easy to forget what can happen.

You know what your first riding instructor would correct you for: walking under the lead rope, reaching under your horse while facing the wrong way, and allowing the reins to touch the ground, to name a few. You know what you can usually get away with and stay safe, but have you ever thought “it’ll be all right for a second?” If your safety intuition kicks in, listen up and change your ways to avoid these horsemanship close calls.

“When you’ve been around horses long enough, your gut knows best,” says Certified Horsemanship Association CEO Christy Landwehr. “Most of us first learn how to handle horses with a good old schoolmaster. That’s great, but then some of your safety can get a little lazy. If you get lazy in your safety practices, you could get in trouble. Always stick to your safety protocols and listen to your intuition. That ‘what if’ probably won’t happen, but it’s much better to be safe than sorry.”

Here, Landwehr helps us identify some of the most common horse safety issues and shares scenarios she’s gathered from a career of teaching riding and working with horse owners. Read on to find out what can happen if you don’t follow your safety know-how.

Tack Mishap

What Happened:

Jennifer tied her new horse to the post and saddled him up with the main cinch before realizing that the breast collar was going to be too big for him.

“The breast collar was already attached to one side of the saddle,” she says. “I laid the long pieces up over the saddle seat to balance while I went into the tack room to get the leather punch. It was then that the premonition hit me. Would the breast collar stay up on the saddle or could it fall and spook him?

“I thought, ‘Oh, it’ll be all right for a second,’ and went to get the punch. When I walked back outside, the breast collar had slipped and my horse was standing on the loose end, creating tension from where it was attached to the saddle straight to the ground. I walked calmly around him to the side where he was stepping on the leather. I tried to pick up his hoof, but he was already worried. He pulled back with a dramatic spook then stood still, freed from the tension. I was able to get the rope loose quickly and help him calm down, but the incident scared me and my horse.”

Why It Wasn’t the Horse’s Fault:

The horse was in a new environment and on high alert before something felt exceptionally odd. Without a developed trust in his new handler, he was counting on himself. A horse’s instinct is to get away—and if he’s tied, that means pulling back to get away from whatever is scary. He was doing what he knew to do to get safe.

Ultimate Horse Safety Reminders:

Landwehr says that in this case, it was good that the horse’s saddle was attached securely with the main cinch. She says it would have been a much bigger safety issue if the saddle was loose when the horse pulled back.

While the breast collar was loose, it was made of leather and would probably have broken with more pressure. It would have been best to securely clip the loose end of the breast collar or to gather all possible tack tools before saddling the horse.

Keep in mind that any horse can pull back. Make sure that you tie your horse with a quick-release knot or use a tie-ring made to give if needed. Plus, it’s never safe to walk under a tied horse to get your grooming supplies or tack. You may risk spooking your horse or getting hit in the head or pushed if the horse moves quickly.

If you tie your horse with cross-ties, make sure that the quick release part of the snap is on the wall and not near the horse. If you ever need to free a panicked horse, you will be safer unclipping the rope at the wall and having a lead line to catch the horse instead of stepping into the horse’s space to try to unclip.

You may also consider what kind of halter you use when tying your horse. Pulling back with a rope halter on can cause more pain to the horse than if he’s tied with a smooth, flat nylon halter with a breakaway strap, or just a flat leather halter.

Botched Blanketing

What Happened:

Madeline arrived home just as a snowstorm was starting.

“We got home just in time to blanket the horses before they got wet,” she says. “In a hurry, I ran into the barn and got my horse’s blanket. She’s always good about standing still for blanketing, so I didn’t take time to halter her first. I thought it would be OK and faster without the halter. I threw the blanket over her back and then reached under her belly to grab the straps. I got the first strap clipped just as a blast of wind came through the barnyard. My horse startled and trotted away a few steps. Her blanket moved over her back and stayed on, but only connected around her belly. She felt the fabric along her flank and was startled again. Thankfully she was confined in a small paddock, but it took me a few minutes to get her halter, calm her, catch her and get her blanket on correctly. I’m so glad she wasn’t hurt and didn’t get her hind legs caught up in the blanket more than she did. I scared myself and her.”

Why It Wasn’t the Horse’s Fault:

Any horse can get worried and move away from perceived danger. In this case, the horse had no reason not to walk or trot away.

Ultimate Horse Safety Reminders:

Whether it’s a blanket or a saddle, there’s a right order to putting on and taking off tack. For a blanket, the main buckle at the chest should be attached first. If the horse moves away, the blanket will stay on without the other straps. If only the belly or back straps are connected, there’s a high chance that the blanket could shift and spook or entangle the horse. When you take off a blanket, all the leg and belly straps should be undone before unbuckling the chest closure.

For a saddle, it’s important to attach the main cinch and then attach the back cinch and breast collar. When untacking, the main cinch should always be undone last.

“There’s a definite order of go that you should do,” says Landwehr. “Things fall and spook the horse. If the main cinch of the saddle isn’t on and the horse spooks, you can break your saddle tree or severely traumatize the horse if it swings under his belly. Even if you have a great horse, there’s always a hornet or a bee that comes along at the same time as you’re saddling. Make sure your tack is on right, just in case.”

In this case, it wouldn’t have taken too much longer for Madeline to grab a halter and lead to make sure the horse was caught. Landwehr advises catching your horse with a halter or at least putting the lead rope over his neck so that you have some recourse if he steps away or spooks.

Dismount Gone Wrong

What Happened:

After Erin’s knee surgery, getting on and off her horse felt like the biggest challenge to riding.

“I get on using a plastic mounting block,” she says. “I left the block in the middle of the arena so that I could use it to step back down when I was done with my ride. Jumping down was my biggest worry. I was a little worried about how it would work to dismount this way, but I thought we’d be OK. I walked my horse over to the block and he stood in position to help me get down. I swung my leg around and was ready to step onto the block. My foot hit the plastic and made a thud sound. My horse stepped away at the sound. I lost my balance when he moved, and the whole mounting block fell over, too. I fell to the ground and my horse sidestepped away even more. I was lucky to land on my good leg, but the fall was much scarier than jumping down on purpose.”

Why It Wasn’t the Horse’s Fault:

The mounting block made a strange sound and moved right under the horse’s feet. Those are both events that could cause even a steady-Eddie horse to step away and look.

Ultimate Horse Safety Reminders:

Plastic mounting blocks are made for mounting and should never be used for dismounting. Only dismount onto the ground or a permanent ramp that’s made for mounting and dismounting. Many plastic mounting blocks don’t have a lip at the bottom to prevent tipping—and even if yours does, it may not be enough to stop it from falling over. Plus, there isn’t enough room to place your foot without missing a step. What’s more, the blocks move, and can easily get under your horse’s hooves and belly.

Wide Open Gates

What Happened:

Rebecca let her friend ride one of her horses, and they rode out together in her hayfield.

“It was to be a short but nice little trail ride,” she says. “I didn’t want to take the time to get on and off my horse at the gate, so we opened it before our ride and just left it open as we circled the field. I thought it would be fine to leave it open, since we were just doing a short ride. As we reached the far corner, the horse she was riding turned and saw the open gate. He was off at a full gallop, and she couldn’t stop him. He raced back to the barn where his herd mates were eating their hay and only stopped when he was with them. I’m so glad she stayed on, but it wasn’t a stress-free ride.”

Why It Wasn’t the Horse’s Fault:

“Many horses are gate-sour,” says Landwehr. “They want to go home and be with their herd mates.”

Ultimate Horse Safety Reminders:

Always take the time to close gates when you ride in an arena or when you’re leaving home to ride out in a pasture or trail. While most horses will stay with a buddy horse, it may be too tempting to see other horses at home, especially during meal time.

Make sure horses sense you’re in control. Notice the first signs of a horse making his own decisions and correct his nose to look in the direction you want to go. It’s also a good skill to learn an emergency stop so that you have some recourse if your horse takes off.

Even if you do everything right, horses are horses, and will find something new to test you. If you see something that makes you worry, think about what you can do to change it and take the step as soon as your subconscious warns you. Trust your gut!

“You never know what’s going to happen,” says Landwehr. “If something does happen that was unexpected, use it as a chance to learn or to teach others. Humans can’t help but blame, and it’s easy to blame the horse first. But if you learn more about horsemanship and horse behavior, you can give your horse a break and realize what you can do to keep everyone as safe as possible. The problems aren’t going to go away. Education is key. Think, ‘How can I learn from this and make it better the next time?’”

This article about horse safety appeared in the July 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Like the VIN on a car, microchipping provides permanent identification for your horse that’s much less painful than branding or tattooing, and it helps link you as his owner if properly registered. Although microchipping got off to a slow start in the equine world, primarily due to miscommunication and technology issues, it offers a wide array of benefits and increases the chance of lost or stolen horses being returned to their rightful owners.

Permanent ID Options

Jean Anne Mayhall, president of Microchip ID Systems, Equine Division, has 30 years of experience in the permanent animal ID industry. She explains there’s only one type of microchip recommended for horses.

“It’s a 15-digit universal chip known as an ISO chip,” says Mayhall. “Several companies make ISO microchips; however, not all chips are created equally, so do your homework! Look for lifetime warranties and a reputable company that understands and caters to the horse industry. A microchip is a one-and-done item that should last for the life of your horse. Make it count.”

Kris Hiney, Ph.D., an assistant professor and extension equine specialist for the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences, adds that horse owners should also talk to their veterinarian to make sure they’re using a chip that’s compliant with current technology.

Debi Metcalfe, founder of Stolen Horse International/NetPosse.com, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been an outspoken advocate of all types of equine ID for more than two decades. She suggests that horse owners combine microchipping with a permanent visual ID.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect ID that works in every situation,” warns Metcalfe. “Not even a microchip. Each type of ID has pros and cons. Our preferred ID combo is a microchip that can be checked 24/7 and a visible ID, such as a freeze brand, which can be seen easily. You can visually ID the horse and prove ownership to law enforcement with a stroke of a scanner.”

How Microchips Work

Microchips essentially work the same whether they’re inserted into a dog, cat or horse. For equines, a unique 15-digit number is encoded into an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip when it’s manufactured.

This number can’t be altered and is permanently attached to your horse once chip implantation occurs. A chip reader or scanner activates the implanted chip and displays the chip’s number.

“Microchips operate using a radio wave frequency to send a tiny signal to a microchip scanner,” explains Mayhall. “In the past, chips operated at 125 kHz. However, for many years, the only type of chip recommended for horses operates at 134.2 kHz. They are recognized worldwide and can be read by universal scanners across the U.S. and around the world.”

However, it’s important to realize that microchips aren’t GPS tracking devices. These two technologies are very different. GPS devices require batteries and must connect to a satellite-based navigation system, while microchips don’t require batteries and remain inactive until receiving a compatible signal from a nearby microchip reader.

You can scan a microchip an infinite number of times with the same consistent result—your horse’s ID number. The chip won’t wear out and shouldn’t stop working throughout your horse’s lifetime.

Also read – Prepare Your Horse for a Safe Landing

“Construction of the chip is the key to its quality,” Mayhall emphasizes. “Not all microchips are made the same way or with the same care. As with any product, you should choose a chip manufacturer based on your research. Ask questions. Get references from others in the horse industry.”

Inserting the Chip

Microchipping your horse can be done at any age, so the younger you chip, the sooner your equine friend has another layer of identification should he become lost or stolen. The entire insertion process is relatively quick, painless and cost-effective.

Choose from standard microchips or the newer mini microchips. Mini chips are about the size of a grain of rice, allowing for a finer needle and even less discomfort for your horse.

“Inserting a chip is really easy,” says Hiney. “They insert the chip with a needle and syringe into the nuchal ligament [neck] of the horse. It’s very low key, and the process is completely safe. It’s also a very cheap and painless process that gives you security and peace of mind.”

The process is minimally invasive and can be performed in minutes by your veterinarian.

“Once inserted, the microchip can’t easily be altered or removed, making it more permanent than tattoos, brands or other forms of identification,” says Emily Weiss, Ph.D., vice president of ASPCA Equine Welfare. After the chip is placed, you can’t see or feel it.

“Millions of horses are chipped around the world,” says Mayhall. “Microchips for horses are so safe and reliable that equine entities and veterinarians are choosing them as a smart and humane standard of care. If your horse is chipped properly, it’s like any other injection. Most horses don’t even flinch. The key to being sure that the chip can do its job is to register the horse and microchip number—and you—in an equine microchip registry.”

Registering the Chip

Currently, some competitive organizations and breed registries require microchipping to easily identify individual horses. The Jockey Club requires microchipping of all Thoroughbred foals born in January 2017 or later, and the U.S. Equestrian Federation and U.S. Hunter Jumper Association began requiring microchip identification in December 2017. If your horse competes or participates in venues that require microchipping, you must register your chip with these organizations.

“Once the microchip is implanted, the horse’s caretaker needs to register with the microchip’s manufacturer,” says Weiss. “Without registration, the microchip number isn’t linked to any useful data. It’s important to keep your microchip contact information up to date should you move or change phone numbers. If that information is outdated or incorrect, it’ll be difficult for a caretaker to connect with their horse, especially during disasters.

“All ASPCA Right Horse Partner organizations are required to microchip all horses,” she continues. “Our Right Horse Industry Partner, Microchip ID Equine, works with us to help assure that partners not only have access to chips and registration, but that all horses can be enrolled in a safety net program to help keep that horse supported for life.”

In 2018, the ASPCA partnered with the American Horse Council to help fund the development of a database of all registered equine microchips. HorseLookup.org helps reunite horses with their owners during catastrophes by centralizing microchip registration information and flags a horse that’s part of a safety net program. Safety net programs list the people willing to help horses who’ve become at-risk to further the goal of ensuring all equines have good welfare.

“Most importantly, horse owners need to register the chip as soon as they get it inserted into their horse,” says Metcalfe. “You’d be surprised at how often the chips aren’t registered. Also, if you sell a horse, make sure the new owner works with you to transfer the chip into the new owner’s name.”

Metcalfe’s NetPosse ID registry for equines lets users upload pictures, detailed markings, Coggins papers, bills of sale and other paperwork that helps prove you’re the horse’s owner by forming a trail of ownership. This data can be especially useful when there’s a dispute over who owns a found horse.

“There are so many situations that I have seen over 24 years of working with victims in the field where having a microchip would have made ownership disputes so much simpler and less stressful,” Metcalfe says.

Other Benefits

Besides identifying who owns a found horse, there are numerous benefits of microchipping. Protecting against theft, tracking competition eligibility, preventing fraud, tracing a disease outbreak, monitoring a horse’s welfare, and reuniting lost horses with their owners are just a few of these benefits.

“Microchipping is done for a variety of reasons,” explains Hiney. “One is integrity of competition. There are a lot of bay horses in the world, so this ensures that the correct bay horse is competing that day. Beyond the show ring or racetrack, we encourage their use in case of theft or accidental loss, such as in the face of natural disasters. This makes it easier to reunite horse and human.”

In cases where horses are lost during natural disasters, there are usually intake depots where people will scan any found animals for microchips.

“If a horse is lost in a disaster, then the horse can be scanned by people who are running the depot,” Metcalfe says. “I’ve also dealt with many cases where there was a mistake made by workers on large farms or by vets who treat the wrong horse because so many are identical. Think Friesian, for example.”

Microchips act almost like a social security number for your horse.

“It’s a critical, unique identifier that only your horse carries,” says Mayhall. “In cases of loss, theft or natural disaster, a registered microchip can save the day! Microchips are required now for most sporting events, universal equine passports, proof of ownership, adoption, and so much more. In short, given the minimal cost and lifetime benefits, there’s no reason not to chip and register your horse.”

This article about microchipping your horse appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Obvious signs such as biting, bucking suddenly, not wanting to be saddled, reluctance to go forward under saddle, or short strides we can often interpret, but there are times when we have to dig a little deeper and keep our spidey senses alert for other signs of pain.

Case Studies

My three horses have all communicated pain to me in different ways, some obvious and others harder to detect. Bailey Girl, my American Paint Horse mare, is extremely thin-skinned—a field of long grass tickles her belly and makes her uneasy.

She is typically girthy, but at one point she tried to bite me when doing up her girth. In addition, when I lifted her front legs to pull the skin out from under the girth, she reared.

I touched her girth area, she was fine; ran my fingers down her back, no response. Was she just being cranky? Did she not want to be ridden, and if so, why?

An appointment with my equine massage therapist revealed she had sore shoulders, a place I didn’t even think to look. Her saddle was custom made for her, but as she aged, her shape changed. But arthritis in her knees was the No. 1 culprit.

The diagnosis from my equine masseuse, in consultation with the veterinarian:

Due to Bailey Girl’s arthritis in her knees, and lack of flexion in them, she has to lift more from the shoulders (trapezius and rhomboids) to clear the ground with her feet. This resulted in very tight shoulders and lower neck, which in turn caused rearing when the front feet were picked up too high and the knees flexed too much.

My Appaloosa gelding, Bailey Boy (yes, I ended up with two horses named Bailey), had a completely different way of communicating pain. On a typical day on the trails, Bailey wouldn’t mind if the herd was quite a distance ahead of him. Yet all of a sudden, he began to get anxious when they were more than three horse lengths away.

It turns out he was very sore in the spine and neck, an injury caused by a previous trailer accident. Now when he starts to worry about being with the herd out on a trail, I know it is time for his massage and/or chiropractic appointment, depending on the severity of the soreness.

Then there’s my big-boned guy Major, a Paint/Belgian-cross. Nothing seemed to bother him. He is thick-skinned and never cranky as long as his belly is full.

One day while being groomed, he began to nip or head-butt me whenever I walked in front of his chest area. I knew he was trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t figure it out.
After a visit from the massage therapist, it was revealed that he was sore in the sternum area. We had recently started him on small cavalletti training and cross-rails, which was causing muscle strain in that area.

The diagnosis from my equine masseuse, in consultation with the veterinarian:
Major’s snappiness around his sternum originated from the pectoralis and belly muscles being torn slightly from jumping. Due to his size and conformation, these muscles were over-taxed when he stretched out to clear the jumps.

A follow up with my equine chiropractor revealed the following:

Musculoskeletal variations, spinal misalignments. Tight bilateral pectorals. Decreased lateral flexion of the cervical spine right. Sternocostal ribs restricted left 4 and right 3.

Communicating Pain Under Saddle

This made me think about how many other ways horses communicate pain. Signs under saddle, like tail swishing, head tossing, skin twitching, hesitating or refusing fences, trouble bending in one direction, or trouble picking up or holding a lead can be construed as stubbornness, but perhaps we need to slow down and take a deeper look.

Linda Hauck, a lifelong horse woman and designer of the patented Spursuader Spur and Tapestry Comfort Girth, took pain in horses seriously.

“I invented the products to make horses more comfortable when being ridden,” she says. “They are ‘talking’ all the time about what we do with them and what we put on them. I thought about how to make the spur kinder but still effective, and how to make the girth more comfortable than a tight, leather belt so it could breathe with the horse but hold the saddle on securely.

“When a horse dances at the cross-ties or mounting block, he is anticipating pain,” Hauck continues. “Holding his head and neck higher than usual helps with the discomfort. Choppy, uneven movement throughout the ride, holding their breath at a canter, and having difficulty picking up a lead are all ways of communicating pain or discomfort. Rushing is often a key that they are running away from the discomfort of a saddle or girth.”

Keeping an Eye Out for Horses Communicating Pain

When not under saddle, horses can communicate pain by pacing, pawing, rolling or kicking at their sides, but less obvious signals, such as an unusual posture, depressed facial expression, pinched nostrils, sunken eyes or blinking or staring at a particular area can all be signs of pain.

In order to realize your horse’s early attempts to communicate pain, it’s a good idea to study his daily activity and normal routine. If your horse stops rolling in his favorite dirt pile, stands in the paddock with a lowered head, and decreases his normal activity, these can all be early signs of discomfort.

Go online for exercises to help sore or girthy horses with a certified neuromovement trainer at www.horseillustrated.com/working-with-pain.

This article about how horses communicate pain appeared in the July 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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