b'LOW-STRESS HORSE HUSBANDRYto these procedures in low-stress settings, using positive stimuli, such as: Teaching the horse to take oral medica-tions by first practicing with molasses or applesauce in a clean dosing syringe.Teaching the horse to accept injections by pinching a fold of skin on his neck while offering him a treat. Ideally, owners would introduce their horses to vets, farriers, and other profes-ISTOCK.COM PHOTOSsionals before needing their help, says Camie Heleski, PhD, senior lecturer at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. When I have the vet or farrier out for an-other horse, Ill have them give the youngConsider incorporating food or physical (e.g., wither scratching) rewards into all your handling.horses a treat or a scratch, so the horse doesnt learn bad things happen whenanyone, then pick the easy way, she says. Most of the time horses are trying to giveseeing and smelling the vet or farrier. Making treatments mundane trans- us feedback with the eyes, ears, and facial Heleski encourages incorporating re- lates to safer, less stressful experiences.expression, she says. Its not magic.wards into all your handling techniques,Most routine veterinary and farrier care not just vet and farrier procedure prep.is only mildly unpleasant, evidencedMaintain a Natural State at HomeWe dont use positive reinforcementby the large number of horses that areKey to a horses well-being is a lifestyle (giving the horse a reward for doing whatindifferent when given an injection orthat aligns with his natural behaviors. we want or ask him to do) often enough,a hoof is trimmed, says Robin Foster,One of my colleagues, Lauren Fraser, she says. Not just good boy, but thingsPhD, CAAB, CHBC, research profes- talks about how if we can give horses that are truly positive for the horse, suchsor at the University of Puget Sound,the three Fs (friends, forage, freedom to as food treats or wither scratching. Thisin Tacoma, Washington. Reducing themove), well make big steps toward their does not, however, mean you need to al- horses distressand increasing humanwelfare status, Heleski says. Its always low mugging. safetyrequires addressing the source ofmy preference to have horses outside as Verbal praise might not mean much toanxiety immediately and directly usingmuch as possible, depending on what the horse, she explains, unless its beenlow-stress positive behavior modificationour goals are for the horse and assum-coupled with concrete rewards in the past. training techniques. Vet and farrier visitsing were not dealing with an injured Additionally, working smarter notare infrequent, so training must be set uphorseletting them have some social harder might pay off when performingbetween appointments. The goal of theinteraction opportunities and foraging, tasks that are uncomfortable or an- training is to change the way the horsewhether on pasture or hay. In the wild the noying for the horse. Heleski suggestsfeels, so they are relaxed during routinehorse would move around a lot, for hours owners have hay accessible, for example,health care procedures. and hours. So when we pretend thats not when treating scratches or soaking hoofHoupt points out that it shouldnt mat- their natural ethology (science of animal abscesses. If theres an easy way to doter what training paradigm youre usingbehavior), it puts the horse in an awk-something, and it causes no harm toif you follow the horses emotional states.ward situation.Even competition horses need time to just be horses. Because researchers have shown that as many as 90% of perfor-mance horses have gastric ulcers at some point, we might want to ask ourselves if we can reduce stressone of the causes of ulcersthrough management prac-tices, says Houpt. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol also interfere with the immune system, she adds. Houpt reminds owners that a happy horse is a horse that can graze most of the time. Consider increasing turnout and forage access, which might increase gut motility and decrease colic and gastric The foraging and social interactions associatedulcer risk. Turnout and exercise can also with turnout might help reduce or prevent stress. increase bone density, enhance immune function, and improve overall fitness. 26December 2019The Horse|TheHorse.comLowStressHandling.indd 26 10/30/19 10:21 AM'