ANXIETY UNDER SADDLE

Thank you for your question! Horses showing anxious behaviors in their work is a chronic problem across the industry in all disciplines. The best approach I have found is to break everything down into all the layers, to try and find the cause of the stress in the first place. Once this is identified and solved, you can then slowly help the horse rebuild their confidence and feelings about work. It can be simple and straightforward, but more often, quite complicated, with several factors contributing to the problem. Things to consider and dive into off the top of my head would include:

Are they on an appropriate diet for age, breed type, and workload. Do they have forage available at all times? Are there any ingredients they could have an allergy to that could cause digestive upset/stress?

Have a Veterinarian or reputable body worker assess them physically. Are they sound in their gaits without a rider? Are they holding tension anywhere in their body? Do they palpate sore anywhere on their body? How are their teeth/mouth comfort? Have they been checked for stomach ulcers? Are their feet comfortable?

Do they get adequate turnout? How is the energy in the barn/facility? Are they showing stress signs anywhere else in their daily routine? Do they connect with you, or are they a bit ‘shut down’ in their day-to-day behaviors? Is their stall or outdoor accommodations comfortable and safe? Can they lay down somewhere clean and dry to sleep soundly and get into REM sleep every day?

Are they on individual turnout? Do they have one friend? Or a small herd of friends? Do they get along? Are they being bullied? Are they the boss, constantly feeling they have to be on guard? Are they herd-bound?

Does your saddle fit properly? Does your bridle fit comfortably, and are you using a bit that fits the anatomy of their mouth and education level?

Is your horse connecting with you? Do they feel heard? Do they feel seen? Did they consent to what you are asking of them day to day? Do you know what ‘consent’ looks like (many do not!)? We must learn to understand their body language and the tiniest little gestures to help our horses feel safe, comfortable, and respected. This totally sets the stage for them to have a wonderful work ethic and builds their desire to participate and engage with us. When a horse trusts 100% that you will keep them safe, they will do absolutely anything for you. They are so remarkable!

These are all the questions that I start with when horses are showing anxious behaviors. The solutions, well, that could be an entire series of novels! Hopefully, this set of questions will help you understand all the different things that can affect our horses and their daily behavior. From there, working through each layer and problem-solving one by one will set you and your horse up for success in feeling better about life and work!

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