Comments on: Can you tell when a horse is stressed?

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 06:22:10 +0000

It makes sense the horse would be more stressed out when he is flexed in longitudal suppling, because horses can’t see where they are going when they are flexed like that. It’s harder for them to do it on a straight line too than on a circle. What line of travel was used in this experiment? I think perhaps there should be two experimental groups in the future where one group tests on a straight line and the other on a circle.

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 07:46:17 +0000

Is this only when ridden?

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 18:03:05 +0000

If you’ve ridden an Arabian for any length of time and know them well, these findings will come as no surprise. Higher head carriage is not only genetic in terms of conformation, but also a sign of high spirits. Most people aren’t stressed when they’re having fun.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 06:40:54 +0000

Jane- this research would actually support the anti-hyperflexion side of the debate. The horses with their noses behind the vertical (overflexed) were found to be more stressed, based on cortisol and temperature measurements.
Ana- head carriage and nose position were observed separately, so the head carriage isn’t necessarily related to whether the horse was in front of, at or behind the vertical.

By: Ana

Ana — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:35:51 +0000

ok, let’s just clarify what you mean by low head carriage, because if when nose is in front of vertical, the stress is lower and when low head carriage stress is higher, it means that the low head carriage you mention is with nose behind the vertical, and THAT is not a natural posture, its a learned/forced one, and as such, will cause stress. You need to be more specific about study parameters.
Horse related studies in general are so far from being anything that even resembles proper scientific protocol that no wonder no credible results ever come out of them and only serve to generate even more controversy. If I believed in the conspiracy theory I would say it was on purpose, because I’m not sure the horse would would like to face the actual facts.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 23:58:05 +0000

Research surveys are so subjective. This one in particular, which shows all the signs of being motivated/instigated by Hyperflexion enthusiasts! For use as defence ammunition in future anti-hyperflexion debates?

By: Audra

Audra — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:24:05 +0000

I have found that if my horse aggressively takes his treat (or anything I offer him) with his mouth open wide and using his teeth he is stressed…. otherwise he is gentle using his lips and taking the offering slow and gentle

By: juni

juni — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:39:48 +0000

makes a ton od sense horses don’t go around with their noses behand the vertaial in paddocks, only when the stress of showing off might A horse arch the neck to passage for another horse and usually the nose is still in front of the vertical

By: Rod

Rod — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:33:53 +0000

I find it interesting that almost any discussion about stress and force with horses ends up with people discussing head and neck position, and totally ignores many other indicators such as,
strained or relaxed muscles
How the feet are moving,
Here is a blog with a few examples of horses that are stressed with high heads and low heads and relaxed horses with both high and low heads.
JMO, but any expert that relies only on head or neck position to make a point is not much of an expert.
http://behindthehorsestable.blogspot.com/2014/06/unwilling-horses-bad-riders-and-know-it.html

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:24:35 +0000

I hate the lower head set, especially in western riding. It’s so unnatural and yet it’s championed as a natural way of riding. Movement is clearly impeded by this position and obviously that would cause stress.
Interesting and not so surprising that the instructors came out on top!