Hands-On Equine Sports Massage

02/09/2024

25/08/2024

23/08/2024

👍👏👏

09/08/2024

Good luck Lesley Wheatley Equestrian👏

09/08/2024

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Positive reinforcement is essential in effective horse training, and understanding what truly motivates your horse can make all the difference. While many trainers use praise and pats as rewards, scratching offers a more meaningful and beneficial alternative for your horse.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴
Horses have unique preferences when it comes to rewards. A simple pat on the neck or enthusiastic praise might not resonate with them in the way we expect. Instead, scratching mimics the natural behaviours horses use to interact with each other. In the wild, horses use their teeth to scratch each other’s necks, which is both a social interaction and a practical behaviour that helps alleviate discomfort.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨
Scratching has a calming effect on horses. Studies have shown that when horses scratch each other at the base of the withers, their heart rate lowers by about 10 beats per minute. This is a clear indicator that scratching is more than just a pleasant gesture; it’s a stress-relieving action that horses find highly rewarding.

𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨
At Pony Club, we emphasise the use of scratching as part of our reward-based training techniques. Here’s why it’s effective:

▪️ Immediate Gratification: For positive reinforcement to work, the reward needs to be given immediately after the desired behaviour. Scratching provides instant, tangible gratification for your horse.

▪️ Meaningful Reward: Unlike loud praise or pats, scratching is something horses naturally enjoy. It directly addresses their physical comfort and mimics the social grooming they experience with other horses.

▪️ Stress Relief: The calming effect of scratching can help reduce stress and anxiety, making it an ideal reward during training sessions.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺
When incorporating scratching into your training routine, keep the following tips in mind:

1️⃣ Be Consistent: Use scratching as a reward consistently to help your horse associate it with positive behaviours.

2️⃣ Observe Preferences: Pay attention to where your horse likes to be scratched the most—some might prefer the neck, while others might enjoy it on their withers or back.

3️⃣ Combine with Other Rewards: While scratching is highly effective, you can also combine it with other forms of positive reinforcement, like treats, to enhance the reward.

In conclusion, scratching is a powerful and beneficial form of positive reinforcement that aligns with your horse’s natural behaviours and needs. By incorporating scratching into your training, you’re not only rewarding your horse effectively but also fostering a deeper bond built on understanding and respect.

Happy training, and remember to keep those scratches coming! 🐴✨

05/08/2024

Why it’s important to wash down after exercise! 🧽🐴

If your horse has worked up a sweat working, it’s vital that you give them a wash off!

💦 In the summer that means cold water (it’s a popular fib that cold water makes them hotter BTW!) applied liberally to remove sweat and help bring their core temp down! NO need to sweat scrape - let it evaporate to zap that heat.

🛁In the cooler months, use warm water sponged over them and then scrape it off before popping on a sheet to prevent a chill as their temperature drops.

02/08/2024

Good luck to my clients who are representing the Border Riding Club!!

30/07/2024

As well as being Team GB’s first gold medal of the Paris Games, the win makes Britain the most successful eventing country in Olympic history with five team gold eventing medals – ahead of Germany and Australia, which each have four.

30/07/2024

❤️And THAT is how you make an Olympic debut!

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb do Team GB proud with 74.938%, they go into the lead in group C with one to go 😍 This means they're guaranteed a spot in Sunday's Freestyle...get your dancing shoes on Bomb!

FEI Dressage

29/07/2024

Great job Lesley Wheatley Equestrian

23/07/2024

Thank you for having me Morpeth Hunt Pony Club

13/07/2024

🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫**Just Say No!**🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫

🐴🐴🐴🐴**Attention all horse owners!**🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴

We’re receiving an increasing number of orders for Equest and Equest Pramox this summer. It’s important to understand why these wormers are not appropriate for use at this time of year, and why I won’t be prescribing them at this time of year.

What You Need to Know:

- Equest and Equest Pramox contain Moxidectin, which treats encysted redworm—larvae that burrow and hibernate in the colon wall.
- The larvae encyst in the cold months (late autumn/winter) and emerge in spring. This mass emergence can cause severe damage to the gut wall, potentially leading to the horse’s death.

Current Treatment Options:
- Fenbendazole (Panacur)
- Moxidectin (Equest and Equest Pramox)

Unfortunately, worm resistance to Fenbendazole already exists, and resistance to Moxidectin is rapidly developing.

The Risks of Resistance:

If resistance to Moxidectin increases, we may lose the ability to treat acute cyathostomosis, resulting in more horse fatalities. Hence, it’s **ABSOLUTELY VITAL** to use Moxidectin only during the **WINTER/COLD MONTHS**.

Important Guidelines:

- **Do not use Equest or Equest Pramox** on a new horse without knowing its worming history. These wormers are not for ‘clearing out’ horses.
- **Follow these practices** to maintain your horse’s health:

Our Recommendations:
1. Perform regular worm egg counts from spring through autumn.
2. Conduct tapeworm testing alongside worm egg counts.
3. ONLY worm based on a positive worm egg count.
4. Poo pick your pasturestwice a week.
5. Cross graze with other species (e.g., sheep and cattle) to help control worm populations.

Preventing Anthelmintic Resistance:

Preventing resistance to Moxidectin is crucial. Without new wormers on the horizon, we must preserve the effectiveness of existing treatments. This requires a collective effort from all horse owners.

Together, we can protect our horses and ensure effective treatments remain available. In the absence of appropriate dispensing, it is up to horse owners to remain educated to help protect the health of horses in the long term.

If you’d like further information on equine worms, check out our blog

https://cura-pet.co.uk/spring-worming-for-horses/

Dr Nicola Endersby MRCVS