mutual bond

e q u i n e A Resilience-Friendly Lifestyle

Kathie Gregory discusses the importance of putting a resilience program in place to ensure horses have access to a range of activities that cater to their individual physical, psychological and social needs

For many of us, the term ‘resilience program' implies that there is a set timescale and an endpoint when, in reality, what we really want to implement is a ‘resiliencefriendly lifestyle.’ After all, the mind is not the same all the time. It develops through life and is subject to experiences that change perceptions. How resilient we are can also change depending on our age, experiences and perception. Promoting resilience, then, cannot be simply a case of completing a program.

Establishing a strong bond with your horse can go a long way towards teaching him resilience, or the aspects of it that can actually be taught, at least. None of us know everything or are good at navigating all aspects of life, nor have we experienced all the possibilities. But if we have some emotional resilience, we are better able to cope with the things life throws at us.

Stress

Whatever the species, some individuals are naturally more resilient than others. But however much natural resilience we have, we can all find that it reduces over time if we are in ongoing stressful situations. Making sure our lives are set up to minimize the impact of stressful situations and events helps us to deal with them more efficiently, and remain able to cope during longer term difficulties.

As I mentioned in my previous article, Understanding Emotional Resilience (see BARKS from the Guild, November 2020, pp.52‐54), the three elements of emotional resilience are physical, psychological, and social. Each of us will find it easier to naturally look after one element over the other two; one element will be in the middle, and the other will be least considered.

For humans, this is often a choice – albeit not necessarily a conscious one. However, many of us are in the position where we can do the things we feel we need to in order to stay healthy. For example, if you are the type of person who enjoys activity, you are more likely to make exercise part of your regular routine. But you may not pay as much attention to the psychological and social elements. Sometimes our circumstances dictate which of the three elements we are able to utilize and which one is pertinent at present, as in the ongoing restrictions necessary to keep us safe during the pandemic.

Natural Preference

Let’s now consider our horses. They, too, will have a natural preference. Knowing what that is tells us which of the three elements they find most important and will, thus, take the time to engage in for their own selfcare. At the same time, we need to be sure we understand what we are seeing. For example, does a horse engage in one of the elements because he has a preference for it, or because of a lack of it? It is important to know the difference because what we do about it needs to be based on the individual animal. To break it down, then, a horse that engages in one element due to personal preference means that, as long as he has access to that element, we don’t need to do much more. On the other hand, a horse that engages through a lack of exposure means we need to find a way to make this element a part of his life.

© Can Stock Photo / Antonio_Diaz Just like humans, horses need social interactions and it is important for them to interact with humans as well as other horses

While many of us are now living under restrictive circumstances due to the pandemic, some, or even many, horses experience such restrictions for most of their lives. Some will have one element provided for over the others, with the others being far less accessible — or perhaps not being addressed at all. And some, unfortunately, may not have any of the elements of emotional resilience catered to at all. Now, while we may be unable to change the place where our horse is kept, it doesn’t mean we are helpless to improve his situation. Indeed, caring for our horses by doing everything we can to promote the three elements of resilience will make an enormous difference to their quality of life.

Physical Activity

Let’s start by looking at the physical element of emotional resilience. Ideally, we need to provide an environment which allows our horses to move about and exercise freely. How much this is possible depends on the individual situation, of course. Some horses will have huge environments while others will only have limited access to small areas. So we need to compensate for this and provide specific exercise opportunities. We also need to be aware that just because a horse has the ability to exercise, it does not mean he will. Just like us, horses have preferences but can lack motivation. Think of how many times you have decided to get fit and enthusiastically taken up some form of exercise only to lose the motivation for it a few weeks later. This is often compounded when we are in a limited environment.

Due to the current situation with COVID19, many of us have found

...just because a horse has the ability to exercise, it does not mean he will. Just like us, horses have preferences but can lack motivation. Think of how many times you have decided to get fit and enthusiastically taken up some form of exercise only to lose the motivation for it a few weeks later.

ourselves newly appreciative of the downsides to being contained in a small space. There are always those of us, me included, that find committing to an exercise program difficult, and we are probably going to find it even more so when we are in the same space all the time. It can really sap your motivation and enthusiasm. So here’s an idea: how about combining your exercise with your horse’s exercise? Doing physical activities with your horse gets you both motivated and fit. There are also plenty of static strength and stretching exercises you and your horse can do together. Or you may just be spending time with him while you do some other physical activity, which ties into the social element of resilience.

Just like humans, horses need social interactions and it is important for them to interact with humans as well as other horses. This will really strengthen the bond between you and your horse. Just spending time with him, not asking anything of him, is an important part of contentment.

Adapting

Many of us have busy lives. As such, it could easily happen that the time spent just being with our horses and doing nothing is the one thing that suffers. But rather than that time being wasted, we can use it to our advantage. For example, I split my time between writing and static exercises when I am out with the dogs or horses and am not actively engaging with them. It has taken me a long time to figure this out! My friends have all heard me say that I don't have enough time to get things done, as I have to spend a good portion of my day with the dogs and horses. There is no real solution to this — other than not spending the time with them, thus compromising their lifestyles and happiness.

We can all be selflimiting, but I think for some of us, the COVID19 situation has highlighted this. If we are resourceful, we have found ways of addressing it. This is a good thing. Taking myself as an example, I tend to be selflimiting in the sense that I think to myself, ‘I can't change where I am. I also have to spend time with the animals, so am not able to be at my computer. Therefore I cannot write.’ I also have trouble seeing myself being able to adapt to a different way.

It's only recently that I was highly motivated by a new writing project and started to explore whether I could write on my phone while I was out. I did start, but my mind resisted, saying, ‘Well, you can do a bit, maybe make some notes, but you really need to be at your desk and on the computer to write properly.’

© Can Stock Photo / nazarovsergey By becoming aware of a horse’s preferences for selfcare, we can make changes to his environment that can be enormously beneficial to his physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing

Perception

Fortunately, I have been so motivated by this project that I have continued to write while I am out, and now I see that I am not limited at all. It was just my perception that told me I was. I can write whatever and whenever I want to. And of course, I now have a solution to the feeling that I didn't have enough time to do anything as I can combine activities. There's another benefit too. When I am at the computer I feel I must write. This puts stress on myself, which leads to the displacement activity of looking at Facebook every couple of minutes because I can't think of what to write! And I don't progress well because the pressure means inspiration does not come easily. But if I am not inspired when I'm out in the fields, I stop and do something with the animals. My mind is then free to ponder, which means it usually finds some inspiration, as I'm not trying to force it. I find I am much more productive like this.

We all need variety in life and the current situation has shown many of us how difficult it can be when we don't have that. It seems obvious that our mental health will suffer. The lack of a change of environment can make us feel despondent or withdrawn, and that there is no point in doing anything. This can stop us looking after our physical health, affecting if and how we exercise, what we eat, and whether we make an effort over our appearance.

Getting up and going out, filling our days with the things that need to be done along with what we want to pursue gives us a sense of satisfaction and achievement. It helps us feel good, gives us a sense of purpose and, in turn, a more interested perspective on life in general. While, obviously, the specifics of what we need to do to boost our own resilience are not what exactly what horses need, there is some overlap in that they too need variety, a range of activities, both physical and psychological, and social interaction, to feel content. So look at their envi

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If the mind is to be resilient, the horse must feel able to cope and this is not going to happen if he is afraid. Just like us, horses need time to adjust to new things, process the information and find a way of coping. You can aid in this with how you support your horse when he is faced with something he is not sure about, doesn't like, or is outside his experience.

ronment, and take inspiration from yourself. We've all had to make changes and adjust to spending most of our time at home, and this has resulted in some creative thinking and changes that are better for us. Now apply this mindset to your horse’s environment and ask yourself what you can do to provide him with a situation that better serves him.

If the mind is to be resilient, the horse must feel able to cope and this is not going to happen if he is afraid. Just like us, horses need time to adjust to new things, process information and find a way of coping. You can aid in this with how you support your horse when he is faced with something he is not sure about, doesn't like, or is outside his range of experience. You can also build new experiences into your training sessions in a familiar environment, and give him choices and ways to cope, along with your support. Then, you can start to apply those strategies when you are faced with new situations together. Essentially, you are giving him the knowledge that there is always more than one option, and that he can adjust and adapt.

Structure

A resilience program is not a set of rules or exercises. Rather, it is how you live your life and how you structure your time. It is making time for selfcare and building coping strategies for dealing with stressful situations. It's about managing how you react to stress, anxiety, and fear when things go wrong. It is also knowing that you are not alone. There is always support, whether that's just taking your mind off things with friends or finding someone who can help you deal with a specific situation. It's also knowing that you are better off finding a solution than ignoring a problem and hoping it goes away. These same principles apply to your horse, and these are the things that build the parts of emotional resilience that we can influence, ultimately leading to a more content and healthy life. n

Resources

Gregory, K. (2020, November). Understanding Emotional Resilience.

BARKS from the Guild (45) 52-54

Kathie Gregory is a qualified animal behavior consultant, presenter and author, specializing in advanced cognition and emotional intelligence. Passionate about raising standards and awareness in how we teach and work with animals, she has developed Free Will TeachingTM, a concept that provides the framework for animals to enjoy life without compromising their own free will. She has authored two books, A tale of two horses: a passion for free will teaching, and A Puppy Called Wolfie: a passion for free will teaching, and her work is currently divided between working with clients, mentoring, and writing.

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