Trooper and Sarah

On The Vertical

2010-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

One feature that attracted me to classical dressage is the science behind it. Personally I do not have a strong commitment to a given theory and I am open to new ideas and try to continuously question my beliefs. This approach is a great way to continue learning, but faced with conclusive scientific research I find myself committed to the evidence. One area where I've found myself drawing a hard line is "on the vertical".

Vets have known for decades that when the horse's face approaches the vertical the horses' ability to breath decreases. Cook, in 1981, was the first to comment on the relationship of the vertical to a decrease in the ability to breathe. In 1995 Petsche and Derksen conducted research on head position and breathing obstruction. The findings of the study conclude that as the horse approaches the vertical the horse's ability to breathe will decrease proportionally. The study reports that a horse on the vertical will have 50% impairment in breathing. Derksen later comments on going behind the vertical and rollkur, "An increase would make a big difference. So, for example, if you double the bend you would more than double the resistance. (Horses For Life)" A later study by the University of Bristol confirms Petsche and Derksen's research, "The findings of this study demonstrate that dynamic obstruction of the URT is a common cause of poor performance in sport horses and is frequently complex in nature. Excessive poll flexion is an important contributing factor.”

These studies have found that the angle of the poll changes the shape of the trachea. The trachea becomes long and narrow as the poll angle increases and impedes the horses ability to breathe. The studies found that the horses can breathe out, but not in. 

At A (138 degree poll angle), the position of the head held during running, the horse has the least obstruction to the airway. As the poll angle increase from A through to C the horse's ability to breathe will be reduced. At D the horse's ability to breathe will have been reduced by 50% . At E the horse's ability to breathe will have been reduced exponentially past 50%. In other words, the behind the vertical position seriously obstructs the horses ability to breathe.

The heavy horse can tell us a great deal about the effects of the poll angle on the horse. The heavy horse, like other horses, are a completely hind driven breed as their impulsion motor is located in the rear of the horse. When a heavy horse pulls a light load such as a plough or a cart the horse naturally goes into collection. The driver exerts no force on the bit but simply takes up the slack in the reins. In exerting force to pull a plough the horse will begin by pushing off with more force in the hind legs and stepping under so that leg lands at the centre of the horse's body. The increase rear force will cause the rear joins to flex and the hip to lower. The spine will then rise at point were the withers connect to the neck. The lifting of the withers causes the neck to hang relaxed in an arch and the horse's head will hover around the vertical.

Since the horse is allowed to work in any position that it chooses, this tells us that a head position that hovers around the vertical, but does not go behind it, is a position that the horse is conformable with. As long as the horse is allowed to choose the position itself and the nose is allowed to move back and forth from the vertical to ahead of the vertical the horse is happy with the position and is comfortable working in this position.

The classical head position is the same as the one chosen by the heavy horse . If you watch the Spanish riding school or dressage from decades ago, such as the dressage demonstrated by Klimke, you will see the horse's head bobbing in front of the vertical, but never behind it and never held in position.

In summary, these studies have shown that behind the vertical will cause serious breathing problems for your horse. Although it's been the fashion in show dressage for at least three decades to ride the horse behind the vertical or with the head held in place, these teachings will cause harm to your horse. The horse is comfortable with the classical view the vertical and will be comfortable with working in this position.

Behold the Cuteness!

2010-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Sputnik's Baby Pictures

Wild Iberian horses played part in horse domestication

2010-01-13T20:12:00.001-08:00

January 8, 2010

A feral herd of modern Northern Iberian horses. © Carlos Puga

Workers dig at the Portalón archaeological site in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain). © Jaime Lira, Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII

A modern lusitano. © US

Scientists have found evidence that wild horses from Iberia played a part in the domestication of the horse.
The earliest known domestic horses date to 4600 years ago. They originated on the steppes between modern Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Two different hypotheses have been suggested:

That domestic horses spread from this area over the rest of Eurasia;
That horse domestication was a multiregional process, having occurred several times in different local places.
"Previous analysis on mitochondrial DNA from modern Iberian horses pointed to the D1 haplogroup as the most likely group involved in an independent domestication event, maybe in Iberia or in North Africa" explains Anders Götherström, from the Department of Evolutionary Biology at Uppsala University, who headed the project, together with Juan Luis Arsuaga of the Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII from Madrid, Spain.
The researchers compared ancient DNA sequences from Iberian horse remains from the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Middle Ages obtained in this study with more than 1000 modern horse sequences from different Iberian and non-Iberian breeds, as well as with ancient sequences from other studies.

The researchers found the earliest occurrence of the D1 group in Iberia in a medieval horse. "We have not found sequences from the Neolithic or the Bronze Age period associated to the most important modern Iberian haplogroup, the D1 group," says Jaime Lira, of the Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII from Madrid, and the main author of this study.

"That means that D1 group can be a foreigner group, which entered in Iberia during historical times."

The researchers unearthed evidence that wild horses from Iberia contributed to the domestication process, and the Lusitano group C is a witness from this event.

"The Lusitano C is a small group constituted only by modern horses from Iberian origin," explains Arsuaga.

"We have found that maternal lineages from this group were already present in wild Iberian horses from the Early Neolithic, continuing through the Bronze Age until nowadays."

These results suggest the possibility of a completely independent domestication episode, or the use of Iberian maternal lineages in a restocking process from the wild.

Collaborators on the research included scientists from Centro UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos in Spain, Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain, Stockholm University in Sweden, Universitat Jaume I in Spain, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Copenhagen in Denmark and Uppsala University in Sweden.

Ancient DNA reveals traces of Iberian Neolithic and Bronze Age lineages in modern Iberian horses Jaime Lira, Anna Linderholm, Carmen Olaria, Mikael Brandström Durling, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Hans Ellegren, Eske Willerslev, Kerstin Lidén, Juan Luis Arsuaga and Anders G�therström

Horses can count, new study says

2010-01-13T13:59:00.001-08:00

By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent, 04 Apr 2008

Horses can count, according to a new study that suggests they are more intelligent than previously thought.
Researchers found that, when offered a choice, they consistently choose buckets containing higher numbers of apples.

Babies aged from 10-months-old have been shown to have an innate tendency to opt for containers holding larger numbers of food items, as have many non-human primates such as rhesus macaques and lemurs.   Dr Claudia Uller, of the University of Essex, was inspired to investigate whether horses could count by the story of Clever Hans, a horse that caused a sensation 100 years ago with his apparent abilities to simple arithmetic and keep track of the calendar.
In public performances in Germany he is said to have communicated the answers to questions by tapping his foot.
However psychologist Oskar Pfungst carried out an investigation and reported in 1911 that Clever Hans was not performing arithmetic, but had learnt to obtain the required answers by interpreting the reactions of his maths teacher owner and other observers.
Dr Uller, speaking at the British Psychological Society conference in Dublin yesterday said: "Nobody has been able to show any mathematical abilities in horses since then.
"However our results suggest that horses too, and not only primates, are able to spontaneously discriminate between two small numbers.
"It shows horses are more intelligent than we thought. This may be another piece in the jig saw explaining the evolutionary origins of our ability to count."
Dr Uller and colleague Jennifer Lewis carried out a series of experiments involving riding school and privately owned horses stabled near Colchester, Essex.
In one task, 11 of 13 horses consistently selected buckets containing three plastic apples over another containing two when offered a choice. Fake fruit was used to ensure no difference in smell.
Researchers then showed 12 different horses a box holding either two identical small apples or another containing one large apple with double the surface area. Again, all but two selected the greater number of apples.
In a study published in February, Italian researchers found certain species of fish can count up to four.

Dressage Physiology: Uphill Part 1

2010-01-11T15:26:00.001-08:00

In the following articles I will focus on horse physiology to explain form and function of body types in regards to dressage. This will, hopefully, dispel myths about movement and breeds. In these articles I will discuss the basic concepts of classical dressage and discuss myths surrounding the heavy horse or, as some prefer to call them, the draft horse.

There has been much discussion whether a horse should be determined to be uphill by looking at how the (1) seventh cervical vertebrae connects to the spine or should a horse be diagnosed as uphill solely by (2) drawing a line from the top of the withers through to the top of the hip. It should be emphasized that the (3) slope on to the fore has to be considered as well to get the full picture.

Method 1
Connection of the cervical vertebrae to the spine
In the first image of an Arabian horse skeleton, a red line is drawn to show the spine and a purple arrow indicates the seventh cervical vertebrae (the vertebrae that connects the neck to the spine). Notice that with the Arabian skeleton and the Clydesdale skeleton the spine runs strait on to the seventh cervical vertebrae. Now compare the Arabian and Clydesdale to the Thoroughbred. With the Thoroughbred the seventh cervical vertebrae is below the line of the spine. This indicates that the natural build of the Thoroughbred leans forward and places more weight on to the fore. The purpose of the Thoroughbred's lean on to the fore is to place more weight on the front allowing for a more powerful take off while running (see image below).
Other horses who do not have the heavy fore of the thoroughbred will not dip down and dig into the ground during running.
The Spanish horse, in the above image, is shown at the same phase of the stride. In comparison to the Thoroughbred, the Spanish barely dips down. This is a desirable trait in a dressage horse, but not on in a race horse.

When the seventh cervical vertebrae connects straight to the spine the result is a horse with a high stet neck. The high set neck more desirable for dressage horse as it lightens the fore and makes collection easier. Horses with a high set neck are cobs, Spanish horses, Classical horse, Baroque horses, Medieval horses, Heavy horses, Morgans, Saddlebreds etc.

The Warmblood is unusual for a Thoroughbred based breed in that some possess a high set neck.

More Paca Fun!

2010-01-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

CCC, I found you the perfect paca stud. The breed is called an Olama

2010-01-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

2009-06-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

NCC was asking about my house. My house is a Victorian., c. 1880, with the classic Toronto red brick. It look like this house except that each floor is much higher and the third floor is a complete floor in length and height. The third floor has a balcony. The second floor has a large balcony that spans the width of the house and has the same area as a living room. I enjoy my balconies because the street is gardened and tree lined. The balconies are nestled in a tree canopy which gives the feeling of being in a tree house.

The downtown neighborhoods in Toronto are similar in that the areas contain a high density of artists and urban chic. This creates vibrant neighborhoods with the feel of a small village. The residences walk to the local shops for groceries. The shopping is wonderful with designer shops of all sorts with in a walk or a 15 minute street car ride. Cinemas, theaters, galleries, top restaurants, and innovative cafes,in one of North Americas larges art centres, are with a half hour street car ride.

2009-05-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Just my twisted sense of humor.

2009-04-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

When is the correct hand position wrong?

From the moment we first begin our riding instruction the fundamental of the properly placed, giving hand is stressed. The reins must be held loosely but firm between the fingers so that the thumb pressing gently on the rein tops to prevent slipping and with the tips of the fingers just touching the palm. A rein that touches the palm is gripped too tightly as the fingers, squeezed closed, causes tension in the reins.

The neutral arm position sets the hands at a 45 degree angle and allows the hands to fall somewhere over the withers forming a straight line from the bit, through the hand, to the elbow. The spacing between the hands should be about the width of the horse’s mouth to prevent seesawing on the bars of the mouth with the bit. The hand should be straight from the wrist along the back of the hands and flex towards the area just below the rider’s navel. Also, in the neutral position the arms and elbows line up along the centre of the body so that a straight line can be drawn through them from the shoulder through to the hip.

The Shire in this photo is at a walk without ventroflextion. This head position does not require the hands to be raised. The shoulder elbow, hip and foot line up if you were to draw a line through them. The rider's heels are giving an aid so they are slightly turned in. The hands are checking so they are also slightly turned in. However, the rider needs to straighten his neck.

When we learn to jump we learn that the neutral hand position must change to accommodate the addition movement of the horse and rider. So, are there other times that the neutral position must change to accommodate the horse? The answer is yes, and the time to change the neutral position is when the horse is moving with a high head set as is seen in the gaited horse, the Saddlebred, the Friesian, and the Draft. Contrary to what Fugly may say, the saddle seat position is not silly or pointless, rather it is necessary to the well being of the horse.

In the high head set, the horse’s mouth moves above the withers which requires the hand to move higher to accommodate the change in the position of the bit and to keep the direct line of contact through to the mouth. If the hands remain in the old neutral position, at the withers, the hands will be below the mouth. The hands will no longer have a direct line of contact from the elbow, to the hands, through to the bit. As a result the bit will pull down on the mouth and head.

The downward pulling of the bit will stress the horse’s mouth, neck, back, and shoulder causing the horse to be uncomfortable, stiff, and out of balance. The resulting stiffness will interfere with the horse’s movement in such away as to stop the horse from performing any quality action and to cause excessive ventroflextion. Also, the horse, now unwillingly give to the bit, will fight the bit and rider in one of two ways. Firstly, the horse maybe forced bend the head downwards in an unnatural and stiff position. Secondly, the horse may fight the bit by throwing the head up in avoidance. In both cases the hand position has caused the horse to fight the rider and has broken the horse’s connection to the rider. In fact, many gaited horses, if ridden in a low hand position, will lose their gait and may start performing a hard trot.

The best position for a high neck set is the saddle seat position where the hands are held high. In this way, the hands cease to pull down on the bit and the neutral position of elbow, to hand, through to the bit contact is resumed. This position allows the arm to hang relaxed from the shoulder, puts no excess pressure on your wrist and allows instant, clear signals to pass from the horse's mouth to your fingers and from your fingers to his mouth.

The Saddlebred in this picture is showing correctly ventroflexed spine. When correctly ventroflexed the spine will remain straight thus producing a strong bridge to support the rider. The ventroflexing occurs in the loin and shoulder area, yet it does not interfere with the with the powerful impulsion from the hind quarters. In the correct ventroflex the whole shoulder area rises above the spine. This intern places the neck further back on the shoulder and straightens it upright. A straight line, parallel to the ground, runs from the mouth to the riders hand. The hind and fore legs are squarely under the horse and the joints are highly flexed giving the horse impulsion.

The above horse is moving correctly, however, the rider's position needs adjustment. The riders elbows are stuck out and too far ahead. Her stirrups are too short causing the rider to over bend the knees and forcing the rider too far back in the saddle. The rider needs to straighten her neck by stretching her upper sternum, ribs, collar bone, and neck muscles at the front.

In the above photo the Saddlebred is beginning to learn the high step. The horse is still too heavy on the fore which results in the hind legs being pushed out behind the horse. When the hind is pushed out behind the hind become disengaged and lacks power (Compare the hind to the first Saddlebred photo). A horse in this position can not flex it's hip, hock, and ankle joints which are the mechanism of impulsion. Notice that the front leg does not run straight to the ground but is slightly set back.

Although the above rider has not risen her hands, she is in a better saddle seat position than the first Saddlebred photo. Notice that her arms are at her side so a straight line can be drawn from the ear, through the should and elbow, and to the hip. This rider shows an excellent sitting position with her seat slightly back to accommodate the risen shoulder and the new centre of gravity the risen shoulder produces. Her stirrups are at the proper length and she has the correct bend in the knee. However, this rider could straighten the neck area.

This photo is of Percherons high stepping. Notice that the spine is straight, the shoulder area has risen, the joints are flexed, and the head is set high. The lines are attached the top of the hames high over the withers so a direct line, parallel to the ground, runs to the bit. When riding a draft horse in the high step the riders hands must be raised high so that a straight line runs from the bit to the hands.
This photo of Percherons ventroflexing at a halt shows how high the horse's mouth has risen above the withers and how high the lines are attached to the hames. The position of the line attachment on the hames gives the rider an indication of the height of correctly placed hands.

These Shires are not ventroflexing at the trot so there is not need for the riders to raise their hands.

Friesians, during high stepping, straighten and ventroflex the spine, rise the shoulders, and set the neck back and over the shoulder. A Friesian moving in this way needs the rider to raise her hands to form a line directly from the horse's mouth to the hands. The line between the rider's hands and the bit should run parallel to the ground.

This Shire is ventroflexing at a halt. Notice how the reins, held in the standard position over the withers, is to low. As a result the reins slope downwards from the bit to the hand. If the horse continues to move in this way the downwards pulling on the bars of the mouth would interfere with the horse's movement.

A Shire, shown in harness, will have the lines placed high on the hames to accommodate the hight head set.

The Gypsy is another breed that high steps. The horse will ventroflex, straighten the spine, raise the shoulder area, and raise the head. The Gypsy in this picture would need to be ridden with the hand placed high in the saddle seat position.

This is a beautiful example of a powerful high step. Note how flexed the joints are and how straight the spine is. The high set of the mouth over the withers would demand that the rider raise her hands.

2009-04-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Introduction

To preface this entry I will say, that although it’s not my intention, I will probably offend everyone, their beliefs, and their favorite breed be it Draft horses, Warmbloods, Spanish breeds or Baroque horses. Offence is not the focus of this article; however I will make a radical departure from many equestrian norms. These articles will focus on examining the function of the horse and dressage through an analysis of draft horse conformation and movement. Please feel free to correct my grammar and spelling and check back regularly for new additions to this article.

(Article under construction)

2009-04-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

The Belgian Draft

2009-04-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

I had to cut myself out of the picture because I was covered in dirt and very messy. This shows Trooper with his winter woolies. He's wet because I just rinsed the mud off him. In this photo you can see his front muscles and his back connection to the withers and neck. The angle of the photo makes his neck look short but he has a long neck.

2009-04-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is Trooper when I first got him. He needed work on his top line and that hay belly, oh dear.

2009-04-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Does My Bum Make My Bum Look Fat?

These photos are the worst conformation shots ever. They are taken downward so it makes Trooper look short and squat. Trooper isn't clipped, he wearing an old fabric halter that I use when bathing him, and T. has decided to roll so he covered in white, wet sand. Although not perfect, this photo is useful to examine the hip area. To me the hip looks muscular and along the top line there a bit of a bump where the point of his hip joins with the loin. It this good or bad?...maybe ok? To me the loin looks connected and muscular are there any opinions? At the bottom of his shoulder and chest area it looks well muscled. Along the bottom line there's a slight bulg in the middle. I think this will tighten up and smooth out the more I work his back and body muscles...any opinions?

2009-04-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hey You, Stop neck Reining That Draft Horse!
Just stop it! Get off that draft horse or he'll explode!...The style of Doma Vaquera or western riding, as it is known today, has been around for thousands of years. Originally, the style evolved to allow one free arm to carry a sword or spear in war or in the hunt, but later found an application in the herding of cattle. This style was used exclusively on a horse with a sloped croup, powerfully muscled hind quarters, up hill build, high set neck, and occasionally gaited. Examples of neck reining horses are Classical and Baroque horses such as the Andalusian or the Friesian, draft horses, high stepping and/or gaited horses like the Saddlebred or Florida Cracker, and Latin horses like the Criolla and the Paso Fino. These horses shared a common build with the war horse as both were bred to preform agile tight turns in confined spaces. The quarter horse, most commonly associated with western riding, is a creation of the late nineteenth century. However, outside the US and Canada the old style horse is still used.

2009-03-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

Archaeologists Find Earliest Known Domestic Horses: Harnessed and Milked

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2009) — An international team of archaeologists has uncovered the earliest known evidence of horses being domesticated by humans. The discovery suggests that horses were both ridden and milked. The findings could point to the very beginnings of horse domestication and the origins of the horse breeds we know today. Led by the Universities of Exeter and Bristol (UK), the research is published on Friday 6 March 2009 in journal Science.

The researchers have traced the origins of horse domestication back to the Botai Culture of Kazakhstan circa 5,500 years ago. This is about 1,000 years earlier than thought and about 2,000 years earlier than domestic horses are known to have been in Europe. Their findings strongly suggest that horses were originally domesticated, not just for riding, but also to provide food, including milk.

Through extensive archaeological fieldwork and subsequent analysis, using new techniques, the team developed three independent lines of evidence for early horse domestication. Their findings show that in the fourth millennium BC horses in Kazakhstan were being selectively bred for domestic use. They also show horses were being harnessed, possibly for riding, and that people were consuming horse milk.

Analysis of ancient bone remains showed that the horses were similar in shape to Bronze Age domestic horses and different from wild horses from the same region. This suggests that people were selecting wild horses for their physical attributes, which were then exaggerated through breeding.

The team used a new technique to search for 'bit damage' caused by horses being harnessed or bridled. The results showed that horses had indeed been harnessed, suggesting they could have been ridden.

Using a novel method of lipid residue analysis, the researchers also analysed Botai pottery and found traces of fats from horse milk. Mare's milk is still drunk in Kazakhstan, a country in which horse traditions run deep, and is usually fermented into a slightly alcoholic drink called 'koumiss'. While it was known that koumiss had been produced for centuries, this study shows the practice dates back to the very earliest horse herders.

Lead author Dr Alan Outram of the University of Exeter said: "The domestication of horses is known to have had immense social and economic significance, advancing communications, transport, food production and warfare. Our findings indicate that horses were being domesticated about 1,000 years earlier than previously thought. This is significant because it changes our understanding of how these early societies developed."

The steppe zones, east of the Ural Mountains in Northern Kazakhstan, are known to have been a prime habitat for wild horses thousands of years ago. They were a commonly hunted animal. This may have set the stage for horse domestication by providing indigenous cultures with access to plentiful wild herds and the opportunity to gain an intimate knowledge of equine behaviour. Horses appear to have been domesticated in preference to adopting a herding economy based upon domestic cattle, sheep and goats. Horses have the advantage of being adapted to severe winters and they are able to graze year round, even through snow. Cattle, sheep and goats need to be to be provided with winter fodder, and were a later addition to the prehistoric economies of the region.

This study was carried out by the Universities of Exeter, Bristol and Winchester (UK), Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, USA), and Kokshetau University (Kazakhstan) and was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council, British Academy and National Science Foundation of America.

Journal reference:

Outram et al. The Earliest Horse Harnessing and Milking. Science, 2009; 323 (5919):

2009-03-30T03:37:00.000-07:00

In Horse Play, Adult-to-young Ratio Is Key

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2009) — Adults of many animal species play a crucial role in the social development of youngsters. A new study reveals that the ratio of adults to young plays a much more important role in social development than the mere presence of adults.

Marie Bourjade, Alice de Boyer des Roches and Martine Hausberger of the University of Rennes 1, France, studied the effects of the adult-young ratios in naturally-formed groups of Przewalski horses on aggression rates and social cohesion of young horses. Previous studies led by the laboratory have shown that this ratio plays an essential role in song acquisition in songbirds (which has parallels with human language development) and so the authors sought to find a more general principle regarding the effects of adult-young ratios on social behaviour.

Bourjade and colleagues explained, "Przewalski horses constitute a very adequate model for investigating the educational roles of experienced adults as the species forms year-round stable groups with both maternal and paternal carers as well as the presence of unrelated adult females."

The results revealed striking differences, depending on the adult-young ratios. "When in a group in which adult-young ratios were low, young horses were more aggressive and more segregated from adults and they established tighter bonds with other young," the scientists remarked. "Tighter bonds between young in groups with low proportions of adults could be a factor which decreases the attention paid to adults and probably reduces their influence as regulators of the behaviour of young, in particular their aggressive behaviour."

Beyond fundamental questions raised by these findings about modalities of the influence of adults on the development of youngsters, the authors argue that, "adult-young ratios appear to be an important feature of social settings that must be taken into account as a potential modulator of social influence when evaluating developmental processes."

Selective attention towards social partners may enhance or inhibit the influence of adults. This study, which builds upon previous results regarding vocal development, suggests there is basis for a very general phenomenon with important implications for the social settings of captive and domestic animals. It may even lead us to question the best social environment for childcare and education.

Journal reference:

Giurfa et al. Adult-Young Ratio, a Major Factor Regulating Social Behaviour of Young: A Horse Study. PLoS ONE, 2009; 4 (3): e4888 DOI:

2009-03-30T03:35:00.000-07:00

Sweets Make Young Horses Harder To Train, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2008) — Young horses may be easier to train if they temporarily lay off the sweets, says a Montana State University study where two-year-olds wore pedometers, wrist watches and Ace bandages.

A commercial mixture of corn, oats, barley and molasses -- sometimes called "sweet grain" or "sweet feed" -- gives horses the glossy coat and lively spirit that makes them attractive to prospective buyers, said Jan Bowman, an animal nutritionist at MSU.

But the extra energy provided by sweet grain during the early stages of training made the horses in MSU's study more disobedient and fearful than horses that only ate hay, Bowman said. The grain-eaters spent more time resisting the saddle. They startled easier. They bucked and ran more during training.

Early training, which usually lasts about 30 days, gives young horses the foundation they need for more advanced training, Bowman said. They learn to move sideways on command, for example. They learn how to move their front or hind feet in any direction.

"Results suggest that trainers under time constraints could increase their training effectiveness during the early stages of training by not feeding excess dietary energy," Wade Black wrote in a paper that will be submitted later this year to the "Journal of Animal Science."

Black -- a horse trainer, instructor for the MSU Colt Starting class and one of Bowman's graduate students -- came up with the idea for the study when he was an undergraduate in her equine nutrition class, Bowman said. She and Black then conducted experiments during the summer of 2007. Black presented their findings to the American Society of Animal Science in June this year. He is still analyzing some of the data to see how the grain affected the horses' adrenaline during training.

The study involved 12 closely-related quarter horses that came from one Idaho ranch, Bowman said. Black trained the horses for three weeks, five days a week at MSU's Miller Livestock Pavilion. Half the horses ate only hay. The hay was a mixture of grass and alfalfa. The other horses ate five pounds of sweet grain a day in addition to the hay. Both groups ate as much hay and drank as much water as they wanted.

Each horse wore a pedometer adjusted to its stride and attached with an Ace bandage to its left front leg above the knee, Bowman said. Each horse also had a combination wristwatch-heart monitor hanging from its saddle. The watch displayed minimum, maximum and mean heart rates detected by an electrode belt.

Black trained the animals for 30 or 40 minutes a day without knowing which animal had eaten grain and which one hadn't, Bowman said. She and Black then recorded heart rates and the number of steps the horses took during training. They scored behaviors like obedience, get-up-and-go and separation anxiety.

Horses that ate both grain and hay became more upset when they were separated from the herd, Bowman said. They whinnied more and were livelier and less submissive than the horses that ate only hay.

The study doesn't mean that trainers should keep grain away from horses forever, Bowman said. They might consider withholding it just during the early weeks of training.

"We don't want to give the impression that you should starve them in order to enhance their good behavior," Bowman said. "That's not the point of it."

Wade wrote in his paper that, "Horses, being ridden by less experienced riders, need to be calm and easy to handle, characteristics that may be enhanced by more effective early training."

Bowman noted that all of the horses in MSU's study gained weight during the study. It didn't matter if they ate hay alone or hay with grain.

2009-03-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

2009-02-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

Trooper, Brett, and Blue.
No Trooper, you can't play with the camera! Stop begging!

2009-02-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here's the handsome boy after he's finished rolling in the sand. What's the point of grooming as he's just going to roll the first chance he gets. Yes, you look awfully guilty Trooper!

2009-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Mr. T. has taken an interest in the camera and loves to turn the dials with his lip. Brett is trying to hold him back and keep him away from the camera.