There is a massive emphasis on mental health these days, but what about our horses? It is normal for a horse to be challenged mentally and physically throughout the course of his training, this is how the horse develops his skills. However, what happens when too much is asked of the horse and the pressure gets too much for him to cope?

At certain times in a horse’s training, the going gets tough, and the horse will become mentally overwhelmed in what is being asked of them and they will mentally ‘shut down’. Subtle behavioural changes such as – Lethargy, reluctance to work, disinterested in everyday activities, standing at the back of stable, not eating up, aggressive behaviour, spooky or nervous, napping, rearing. An owner or rider that is working with the horse everyday may not notice these subtle changes and may put it down to bad behaviour. Getting another professional onto the yard to observe is a good idea, putting a fresh set of eyes on the situation.

Many people will recognise obvious physical indicators like refusing to jump a fence, bunny hopping a fence, twisting in the air or becoming crooked in collection work, if this persists this could lead to muscle soreness or even more catastrophic injuries. As a therapist I look at the whole horse’s body language, if they are relaxed, Therapy can take place, performing treatment on a tense horse is counterproductive. We must remember that horses are flight animals, they are mentally and emotionally wired for forward motion when they are stressed, a rider or handler blocking this natural reaction can ultimately add fuel to the already raging fire. It is important that we also control our own emotions, it is easy to get upset and take this out on the horse. Remove yourself from the situation for a few minutes, take deep breaths, I find it helps to place a hand on the horse and try to sync our breathing.

For a horse to be able to train and learn, they must be in a relaxed state of mind to be able to process and carry out tasks. A horse that is mentally overwhelmed will not be in a capacity to learn. If you suspect your horse has fallen victim to a mental ‘shut down’ it is recommended that you move down a gear and go back to basics. This does not mean you are any less of a rider or trainer or the horse is no good. It’s like hitting the reset button. Giving the horse (and rider) some breathing space to emotionally and mentally reset.