During a quick break for some lunch she asked me a question that I have heard so many times before in my previous experience as a horse trainer and behaviour specialist, “how do you deal with biting horses?”. Strangely though I was thrown by the question and I found myself going into my old default mode of “Well it depends on the reason why the horse is biting…” We talked about this for a bit and both agreed that there was always a reason. These can range from their natural curiosity and need to explore and understand the world and build strong bonds through mutual grooming. To early weaning practices and coping mechanisms to handle pain or stress, training and handling practices that trigger fear and the ‘fight’ response, causing horses to feel the need to defend themselves. All the way through to the sad situation of horses that have learnt the benefit of being aggressive towards people.

I then heard myself going back even further to say, ‘well in my days as a Monty Robert’s Instructor, we would teach the 5 different approaches to dealing with biting…” and our discussions continued as we talked about a variety of ways to reduce the behaviour depending on the underlying cause. However, it wasn’t until I was driving home that this question popped back in my mind, and again I felt strangely unsettled – How do I deal with biting horses? I suddenly realised I hadn’t actually answered her question. I had talked about things that I have done in the past and different approaches used by different trainers but I hadn’t told her what I do now. So, what was the answer to this question?

I let it quietly filter through my mind and I realised I genuinely wasn’t sure… Why? Then the realisation dawned on me that I no longer come across this issue anymore. That’s not to say that I won’t again in the future but it now seems so rare. Again, why? I thought back to my work with the lovely ‘Boot’s a few years ago who was certainly practiced at showing aggressive behaviours and threatening to bite, what did I do then?

Then boom, it came to me: ‘Extinction’! In psychology, extinction refers to the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. In other words, the conditioned behavior eventually stops. Only, I realised there was more to it than that, and perhaps through the use of extinction I had in fact largely eliminated it from even my own psyche, hence the difficulty in answering the question!

As I pondered the question further I began to realise that I no longer seem to even come across this problem, and again, I wondered why? Perhaps it is about the law of attraction – “what you resist, persists”, and instead of focusing on fixing a problem, I now always focus on developing a strong foundational relationship first. A relationship where touch is explored and consent is not taken for granted. Perhaps it is because touch is now a two-way process, where I allow horses to touch and explore me with gentle but clear boundaries in mind? Perhaps it is because I spend the time to just ‘be’ with the horses, developing a trusting bond before I ask for more? Perhaps it is because I have changed my approach and I am no longer overstretching horses and asking them to do things that they feel unable to cope with?

Perhaps it is because I now understand that all behaviour is communication, and emotions drive behaviour, therefore I am always working with the emotional horse and modelling what I would like to see in them? Perhaps it is because I am now reading and listening to the horses better, noticing the subtle signs and adjusting my approach accordingly. Or perhaps it is because I no longer see biting as a behaviour to be fixed or changed but in fact as a simple form of communication? The questions remain and the answer is allusive but you know what, it really doesn’t matter because clearly, things have changed and I am happy to celebrate that fact!!

If you’d like to find out more about my new ‘Mindful Partners’ coaching programme, empowering horse owners to become the person their horse(s) chooses to connect with and follow, then please contact me, Debbie at: info@understandingequus.co.uk

©Understanding Equus 2019

Photograph by Carolyn J Seager

During this time there has been an explosion of horse behaviour specialists, confidence coaches, natural horsemanship instructors, training systems and professionals throughout the world, giving people access to an exciting range of help with understanding, managing and training their equine friend(s). Yet at the same time there is no easy way to know which approach is going to suit you and your horse’s individual needs…

I was fortunate to be introduced to horses and riding at the age of 5yrs and as many may relate, so started a love affair that took me on a life changing journey. This journey of discovery, about myself and what these wonderful animals can teach us, became my personal ‘Spiral of learning’. In the early days it was tough learning, with a traditional approach and little consideration for the horses, I spent a lot of time gaining some impressive bruises and learning lessons the hard way!!

With access to the Pony Club I worked through the exams increasing my knowledge where I could and as I became more proficient I was often asked to ride some of the more difficult or ‘problem’ ponies with varied results. As a teenager I started to ‘listen’ to the horses and understand their needs more. Using my intuition I adapted my approach for each horse and was soon successfully rehabilitating horses.

During this time I also had access to learning from some of the better known trainers like Jane Holderness-Roddam, Pat Burgess, Lars Sederholm and Lucinda Green where I learnt invaluable lessons that I still rely on today to develop good partnerships…

My journey then took a different turn and when I met Monty Roberts in 1996 I became inspired to study the language of the horse and learn what I could about equine behaviour. During this time I began to study and work with other ‘horsemanship’ trainers, including John Lyons, Michael Peace, Richard Maxwell, Kelly Marks, and many more. I went on to become an Instructor in Monty’s methods, from 2000 – 2004, helping Monty and his team set up the International Learning Centre in the USA and the training programs that now run worldwide. It was around this time that I really started to open my eyes and learn from the horses themselves, accelerating my understanding and building on my previous knowledge and skills. This is when my true path and journey to ‘Understanding Equus’ really began…

Now, with over 20yrs experience as a professional horse trainer, I continue to remain open to learning and listening to my horses. By 2004, with many success stories under my belt, it was easy to become complacent and confident that I had all the tools I needed… BUT as is the way of horses, I was soon to be reminded that no one way is the only way!!

Since then, I have developed my skills as a ‘horsemanship coach’, recognising that each individual horse/human partnership is unique and therefore responds to a different approach… Having first hand experience of the importance of a holistic and multi faceted approach to managing our equine relationships, I continue to strive to learn and share knowledge, working with other equine professionals to increase my levels of understanding and my ability to help each new partnership. Sowing the seeds for the Understanding Equus ‘Meeting of Minds’ program…

Carolyn Bourchier

My passion and dream has been to get professionals with different approaches to work together in a non judgemental manner, coming together to share knowledge and skills for the good of the horses. All working together to identify the keys to optimising our relationships, whilst enabling people to get a taste of what help is available and to openly question different techniques and methods, to find what works for them and their unique partners. So finally, in association with my friend and colleague, Carolyn Bourchier, who has trained with a variety of other professionals including Franklin Levinson, Carolyn Resnick, Farah DeJohnette and Rupert Issacson, we started the Understanding Equus ‘Meeting of Minds’ program.

Wanting to share our experiences, review our learning and openly question our own techniques we started to explore the real foundations of good horsemanship.

So if you have an open mind, I’d love to meet you. Whether you’re a horse owner or horse lover, a trainer, coach or any other equine professional, let’s come together to share knowledge and skills, helping us all to optimise our relationships with horses and one other.