The Horse Industry
The horse industry is slow to change, but changing it is! Some of the changes have significantly improved the horse's well-being. Initially, most of those changes were in the tack industry. Remember when saddle fitting was the topic of the day? Although this was a positive step forward, more had to be done. Uneducated, imbalanced riders with archaic training methods are still common. And harsh bits, draw reins, and knotted rope halters still plague the industry.
More of the current changes are science-based. That is a blessing! Research has opened the door to more effective, horse-friendly methods that engage the horse's brain. The science that supports these methods is not new, but the application to the horse is. Hopefully, these methods will permeate the horse industry completely. In the meantime, embrace and promote them. You won't be disappointed!
Learn More
Use your brain, not your brawn, to train your horse. Tap into your horse's mental capabilities. Your mental connection will complement your physical connection. Learn more about this concept in the section below: "Satisfy Your Horse's Needs."
Testimonials
Donna Hawkins has helped me gain a greater understanding of the horse. She is an enthusiastic teacher that loves to help people and their horses. She wants what is best for the horse, and I have seen horses respond and improve with her gentle methods. She is an innovative thinker and a result-based practitioner.
Donna is a wealth of information that we can all benefit from.
Elaine Smith
re: Donna Hawkins
Donna has a wealth of information about how to keep horses happy and well, both physically and mentally. Thankfully, she is generous with her knowledge that continuous studies and work with professional horse people over many years has given her. Her treatment methods are kind to the horse and get results, as my horses have been privileged to experience. I am delighted that Donna is working on this website to share her insights and skills with all.
Muriel McMullan
First Things First!
Physical and Mental Needs
Before we get involved with the training, let's examine part of your care program. Proper care is the foundation of all successful training programs. You are the trainer. Even if you have limited experience in caring for a horse, being within sight, sound, or touch of the horse automatically deems you a trainer. All horse owners are trainers. As a trainer, you must address all of your horse's needs.
Many trainers lack knowledge about the horse's anatomy and how its body functions.
Many more trainers don't realize the importance of satisfying the horse's mental needs. Both the physical and mental needs of your horse must be met if you want your horse to be healthy, active, and content while reaching its peak performance.
Most horse owners religiously address their horse's physical needs. But not all owners do the same for the horse's mental needs. Mental needs are most easily met through physical touch. You'll often see two horses grooming each other to satisfy their mental needs, as the photo at the top of this page shows. Simply seeing another horse doesn't do the job. Only physical touch does!
Satisfy your horse's mental needs
with a gentle touch.
Chewing also alleviates mental stress. When the horse lowers its head to graze, it resets its parasympathetic nervous system, the system that triggers "rest-digest." The longer your horse chews, the better. That's why turnout in a giant grass field or regularly providing several small feedings daily improves the horse's welfare. It's not about nutrition. It's about the "chewing" process itself. Chewing releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the horse's body. To be mentally fit, the horse needs approximately 13 hours of chewing a day. The photo on the right shows a horse satisfying its physical need for movement and two crucial mental needs, touching and chewing. It is relaxed and content, nibbling grass in a large open field with a companion dog.
I'm pretty sure I know what you are thinking:
"I don't have access to a grass pasture."
"My horse is stabled. It lives in a stall. I have no control over the feedings," etc.
You now know that addressing your horse's mental and physical needs is crucial to your horse's well-being. Right? So . . . put your thinking cap on. Make the best of what you already have, and do what you must do!
Mutual gratification: horse and dog
bolster each other's mental needs.
Farming Fosters Learning
Life on the Farm.
My thoroughbred breeding program brightened each day on the farm. But it was the training of the performance horse that put "the icing on the cake." I was enthralled by how easily the horse learned and performed as long as the program is presented in small incremental learning packages with appropriate wait time.
I abandoned the "be-the-boss" routine more than thirty years ago. At the time, all of the trainers I knew supported that archaic philosophy. Oh, yeah! Initially, I was ridiculed for that decision. Thank goodness I let those comments fly by. I knew my horses were healthy, happy, and performing well. I never had the splints and other injuries that most, if not all, the other trainers had. The only injections my horses received were the regular yearly vaccinations.
My horses were a huge hit in the ring and on the trails. Several horse people repeatedly asked where I bought my "packers." After asserting that my horse was not a "packer," I outlined my "less-is-more" training program. Over time, out of sheer frustration, I dropped the role of an educator. Whenever that same old question, "Where do I buy the packers?" was posed, I would smile and proudly exclaim, "I buy them in Texas!"
Introducing Cutting Edge Training
"Solving a problem with your horse is
more rewarding and valuable
than buying a new horse."
Most training issues can be solved by applying the principles
of how the horse's mind and body function as a unit. The
following section, "Cutting Edge Training," is loaded with
information about how the horse learns. It begins on
the next page, "Cutting Edge Training."