Starting Horses with Quentin Szery

by Alison Huth

Overview

In the early morning, the stillness is broken by small clouds of dust billowing about a horses hooves. A single stockman moves into the warm, soft rays of the Australian winter sun. Another workday has begun.

Stockmen, dust, and horses are synonymous with life in the Australian outback. There are those who say that the Australian outback was built on the sheeps backand there are plenty more horsemen and horsewomen who would argue that point.

There are few places with a stronger or prouder heritage of horsemanship than the Australian outback. Even in an era when some have come to depend on motorbikes or helicopters, the main cog of mustering is still driven by the famous Australian horses and their riders. For many Australians, horses are at the core of their lives, not just as valued, reliable workers, but also as the stars of a huge culture of equine competition and leisure.

Quentin Szerys life has always been embedded in the equine world. Through his lifelong focus and observation of horse behaviour, he has developed great insight into their psychology. By harnessing the natural instincts of a horse, trainers can create a lifelong, symbiotic working relationship. Whether a horse is destined for the Olympic ring or the dusty outback, early and effective training is the key to success.

Written to inspire a wide cross-section of the equine-oriented world, Starting Horses with Quentin Szery offers readers a glimpse of an iconic horsemans intimate knowledge and the spiritual relationship shared by horses and humans.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452513799
Publisher:	Balboa Press AU
Publication date:	04/28/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	78
File size:	4 MB

Read an Excerpt

Starting Horses with Quentin Szery

---

By Alison Huth

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2014 Alison Huth (author, photographer), Quentin Szery (co-author), Cameron Szery (artwork)
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-1380-5

---

CHAPTER 1

Quentin's Core Principles

Before beginning to train a horse, it is very important you are clear on why you wish to train the horse and what you aim to achieve by training it. Another important factor is that you are moulding the natural inherent behaviours of the horse. Training does not teach the horse new movement patterns but simply trains the horse to perform these movements on command of the rider.

The following principles are the cornerstone of good horsemanship. Understanding the horse allows the handler to develop successful ongoing strategies and enables necessary adjustments at any point of training. Before starting a horse, it is important that the handler is familiar the basics of horse psychology and knows the purpose of training any particular horse.

The following principles are the basis of Quentin's training methods. At times training methods may be altered and adjusted slightly, however, all alterations are built around these basic principles.

1. Visualise the result. What will your horse be doing?

Will it be a competitive camp draft horse? A trail horse? A competitive show jumper? A horse mustering cattle? A child's pony club horse?

Before beginning any long-term project, it is important that you have a clear picture of where you are heading. The basic starting of a horse is a vitally important foundation for later training. Without this strong foundation, more complex and specific training will prove very challenging.

Be sure of the direction of the training you wish to follow with your horse, and choose a horse that will best fit your purpose. Or choose a purpose that will suit the horse you have.

2. Understand your horse and its natural instincts.

a) Herd instincts

Horses naturally live in herds and therefore have a strong social structure. A group of mares that are closely related live together in the herd and are led by a matriarch who decides on feeding grounds, water holes, and camps. The stallion is usually from an outside herd and only allows young colts to remain. He doesn't lead the herd but is responsible for defending it. He shields the mares and foals from danger and from rival stallions. This strong social structure positions horses to easily accept training.

Horses' acknowledgement of humans as part of their social structure allows us to train horses in a various disciplines. Foals that live in a herd respond to training more quickly than those that do not. In a herd, foals are accustomed to responding to stimuli in a controlled manner. The moment a horse acknowledges you, you become a significant part of his or her social life.

Secure social structures create a solid base for handling purposes. Social structure needs to be in place from birth. Foals that are born into a herd are better balanced socially from the start. Interacting with other living creatures is as natural as breathing. Early interaction with foals facilitates the acceptance of humans as part of their social structure rather than a predator or something to be feared.

b) Mare-foal relationship

In a herd, each mare has a unique relationship with its foal. A foal always stands in the shadow of its mother, often within physical contact. If the mare moves away, the foal usually follows. If a foal is racing about testing its legs and danger appears, the mare calls the foal back to its side.

This physical space connection can be utilised when handling a weanling. Stand in the same space that the weanling's mother would stand. Do not stand at arm's length. Close contact is what the weanling is used to, and it feels secure in this space. Once an animal is secure, it is much more likely to learn.

c) Stallion

Stallions have an innate ability to herd livestock because they herd their band of mares and foals away from predators and danger. This is a matter of survival in the wild. This natural instinct can be harnessed so horses can learn the skills of mustering and cattle work. This instinct will allow a handler to train a horse to perform various movements on command.

d) Physical environment

The physical environment has a marked effect on the way a young horse develops. Nutritional needs of brood mares must be adequately met by the physical environment. The physical environment also needs to provide opportunity where foals use their muscles and develop good bone structure.

Sloping country with rocky outcrops and a good natural water point gives mares and foals a healthy environment with plenty of obstacles to negotiate. Generally, young horses that come off this country are easy-moving and more skilled in watching where they are going. Small, closed paddocks without a social structure will not allow this freedom; horses are then at a loss when faced with physical and social challenges they have not previously encountered.

3. Observe and understand a horse's reactivity to stimuli (i.e., flight and fight).

Understanding how a horse will react to a whole series of stimuli is essential to successful training. The handler decides which stimuli will be applied at various times. A stimulus is used in order to create an appropriate response by the horse that will, in turn, lead to a horse becoming a well-trained, working adult horse.

The first stimulus is applied when the foal is very young. Being in close proximity to the foal and touching it will create a calm response to humans, which will later make the horse easier to handle.

As the handler works directly with the horse, which commences around nine to twelve months, more and more stimuli will be provided in order to elicit an appropriate response. The starting process is concluded around three years of age, but training continues for the lifetime of the horse.

When the weanling is removed from its mother at nine to twelve months, it is likely to be insecure, and the handler offers it security dominated by the handler's presence. The handler takes the place of the mare in the weanling's life. The stimulus is the removal of the weanling from its mother, and the desired response is the weanling accepting the handler as its de facto mother.

From this position, the handler starts providing it with food, new experiences, and new environments, gradually increasing its familiarity and acceptance of the handler as a dominant herd member. Through this stage, the horse is handled in many ways, such as worming and veterinary services.

4. Teach on a need-to-know basis.

After the stage of bonding with the weanling, it is essential that the handler is clear on the final desired result of training. Initially, choose the breed of horse that suits the intended purpose. If not familiar with breeds and their capabilities, ask an experienced horseman. Choosing the right breed of horse is essential for effective training.

For what specific purpose is the horse being trained? Identify what skills are required in order to fulfil the intended purpose and concentrate on those skills. Keep training focused and specific, simple, and uncomplicated. Teach on a need-to-know basis. For example, horses that are going to be used in the cattle industry need to be exposed to cattle, not to show jumps. If training a horse for the cattle industry, the stimulus the handler provides would mirror the movements required to work with cattle in any situation. With experience and exposure, horses will excel in this particular field. A horse that is going to be used to work with cattle will learn the skills required for this purpose. The horse that is going to be used for dressage and show jumping will learn the skills specific to that discipline.

5. Pressure and release.

The principle of pressure/response and release underpins any successful horse training. The pressure provides the stimulus for a response, and when an appropriate response occurs, the pressure is released. Each time the pressure is applied, the horse becomes more familiar with the desired response.

The principle of pressure/response and release involves a series of elements, such as body language, physical pressure, and, at a higher level, actual visual focus. Body language can be as simple as the handler's presence in the yards. An unfamiliar horse reacts by moving away. This action can be purposeful, instigating a reaction.

A physical pressure is when a force is applied to the body of a horse so the horse will physically respond to that pressure. For example, leg pressure will instigate movement of the horse's body. When riding, visual focus has a direct effect on a trained horse. When a rider visually focuses on something, this is automatically transmitted to the horse via the hands, the balance of weight, the seat, and the legs. The trained horse can feel the focus of the rider. The pressure in this instance is the rider's body movement and weight distribution, and the release occurs when the horse responds.

6. Understand the tools and equipment.

The basic tools used to develop pressure/response and release have been used since the beginning of modern horsemanship. Equipment, such as saddles, bridles, bits, spurs, and head gear, has been refined to suit the purposes of specific equine discipline. For example, the saddle used to perform cattle work is completely different from the saddle used to compete in dressage. Even a horse's type of shoes differs from discipline to discipline.

The equipment itself is not as important as how it is used. Any piece of equipment, if used correctly, can enhance the training process.

7. Imagine how the horse would view the world of training.

The overriding factor about how to treat a horse during training should be based on how the handler would respond in the same situation. For example, a person learning a new skill is usually in a state of heightened focus and slight anxiety. If the instructions given are unclear or inconsistent, this will increase anxiety and decrease the learner's ability to comfortably and effectively learn the new skill.

The response of the horse to training is directly dependent on its perception of what the handler is doing. The handler needs to be observant and diligent in reading the reactions of the horse. At all times, it is important to keep in mind the expected behavioural reactions to any interaction between human and horse. The aim is to develop and refine a strong symbiotic relationship between horse and human. A positive psychological link needs to be created. When training a horse, always ask, "Would I like to be treated in the manner in which I am treating the horse?"

CHAPTER 2

Weaning

When? Six to ten months of age

How long? Approximately ten days

Why now? The foals are easy to handle at this size.

What? The weanling is handled by the trainer and nutrition is maintained by the trainer.

a) Remove the foal from the mother

Before commencing, ensure the yards are safe with no obstacles, protrusions, or loose wires. Both mare and foal should be yarded apart from the other animals. The mare is then removed from the foal. Lead the mare through the gate. As the foal tries to follow, balk it with your presence until the mare is out of the yard and the gate is secured. The mare is completely and permanently removed from the foal. The mare should be moved as far away from the foal as possible.

b) Isolate/draft the foal

You are now in the position of a surrogate mother. The feeding, watering, and security of the foal have become your responsibility. The foal is now referred to as a weanling. The weanling will now progress through step-by-step training, which will continue throughout its life.

In the first few days following isolation from the mare, the weanling will focus only on looking for its mother. Your presence is required to take up the space. The weanling will gradually associate humans with feeding, watering, and security.

c) Catch, approach, and lead

A symbiotic relationship between human and weanling has developed. The weanling can now be caught. Use a ten-metre hard twist rope with a free-moving loop or ring. Create a loop in the rope by passing the end of the rope through the loop. A rope loop can be thrown over the weanling's head. Alternatively, use a pole or a piece of poly pipe. Cut a notch in the end of the poly pipe and put your loop over this. Hold the end of the poly pipe and slip the loop over the weanling's head.

Allow the weanling to move freely and slowly adjust the rope by gently pulling until it has settled under the weanling's chin and behind the ears.

Slowly apply pressure and release until the weanling is comfortable. As the weanling responds appropriately to the pressure, gradually increase the pressure on the rope until the weanling can be controlled from turning away from you.

Now begin the approach. Every time the weanling tries to move left or right, you should pull it back to face the handler. Step by step, complete the approach to the weanling. If the weanling moves backwards, loosen the rope and allow it to do so. Allow the weanling to stop of its own accord, and then when it has relaxed, start the procedure again. When the weanling is close (approximately one metre away from you), stop and allow it to make the final approach. The weanling will most likely reach out with its muzzle and smell. You should not move but allow the weanling to smell you. If it steps away, no attempt should be made to reach towards it. Instead, you should begin the process again. Once the weanling is comfortable standing close, it should be approached on one side, between the head and the shoulder. Do not touch it on the face. The approach to the side of the neck is a comfortable approach as it is similar to the physical interaction between mare and foal. Touch the weanling on the wither. If it moves away, begin the process again.

Once the weanling responds positively, begin to touch other parts of its body. During this process, continue to softly hold the rope.

When the weanling is relaxed and comfortable within close proximity to you and responds positively to human touch, the halter can be fitted. Use a rope halter. Feed the long tail around the horse's neck behind the neck rope. Adjust the rope halter up until it is firm. Finish with a bowline.

Remove the head rope from the weanling. Increase the size of the loop and slip the rope over the hindquarters. This is now referred to as a britchen. Keep the weanling facing you and apply pressure to the rope so the weanling moves forward. Walk backwards and gently apply pressure to the britchen so the weanling walks towards your chest. As before, allow the weanling to approach the last few steps by reaching out with its muzzle to smell you. Each time the weanling approaches you, spend time rubbing it up over the head and around the ears. The weanling will become comfortable with being touched and handled in this area. This will position the weanling to accepting the halter and bridle more quickly. It is beneficial to long-term training to spend a substantial amount of time repeating this process until it is second nature to the weanling.

It is vital to remember that the head of the weanling is used to control direction and that movement is initiated from behind. Use the britchen, not the lead rope, to move the horse forward.

d) Restrain

The weanling is now familiar with the lead rope and britchen, responding to pressure applied through them. The weanling can now be tied up. It should be secured to a post, not a rail, and the point of attachment should be higher than the nose of the weanling. Use a bowline knot when tying it up.

This knot will tighten under pressure but is still able to be easily untied. Ensure knot, lead rope, and halter are in good condition and of a high quality.

The weanling will test the rope and sometimes attempt to pull back. Leave it to test the rope without human intervention. Eventually the weanling will respond by allowing the rope to remain slack. When it is standing peacefully, the weanling can be released. Repeat this process on a daily basis until the weanling is relaxed and comfortable being tied to a post.

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from Starting Horses with Quentin Szery by Alison Huth. Copyright © 2014 Alison Huth (author, photographer), Quentin Szery (co-author), Cameron Szery (artwork). Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgement, vii,
About Quentin Szery, ix,
Note from the Writer, Alison Huth, xi,
Introduction, xiii,
Part 1: Quentin's Core Principles of Horse Training, 1,
Chapter 1: Quentin's Core Principles, 3,
Part 2: Quentin's Process of Training, 15,
Chapter 1: Weaning, 17,
Chapter 2: Second Handling, 25,
Chapter 3: Independent Riding, 36,
Chapter 4: Shoeing and Handling Legs, 54,
Conclusion, 57,
Glossary, 59,