FEBRUARY 2006 • VOLUME 6 • HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Zero Damage

“I want to train my young gelding myself. I’ve got some experience with horses, but I’ve never done anything like this before and I don’t want to ruin him. Should I attempt this or send him to a trainer?”

This is a typical question that many horse people ask themselves or others, at some stage in their equestrian life. The safe, conservative answer would be “Send the horse to a reputable trainer,” but I believe that if the concepts of Zero Damage are followed, there is no reason why the average horse owner couldn’t train or rehabilitate horses.

Primum non nocere is a Latin phrase that means "First, do no harm." It is one of the fundamental principles all medical students are taught and is equally important when training horses.

Most people would argue that nobody wants to harm a horse they are working with, and this is true. But the majority of horses that are broken in are damaged either psychologically or physically even before their basic education begins. Once they are ridden for any period of time, the damage increases significantly.

Does this mean that the majority of horses are doomed to be harmed by the people who interact with them?

Not necessarily.

There are certain strategies we can use to reduce or even eliminate the amount of potential damage to the animals that bond so well with us.

However, before even thinking of beginning a training program, there are some general principles to be observed.

·      The best horsemen ensure the horse’s environment is as good as it can possibly be. It must be one that improves his well-being and is as close to natural conditions as possible. This is because every unnatural thing we impose on the horse creates stress, which is usually a precursor to damage of some kind.

·      Ideally the horse will not be stabled. Research has shown that prolonged stabling can lead to stomach ulcers, inadequate bone growth, and behavioural problems and vices, so if possible, the horse should be in a large grassed paddock with good shelter and water available.

·      The husbandry of the horse is also important — his teeth, feet, and muscles all need regular expert attention, or physical damage is inevitable. Control of all of these things is well within the capabilities of any horse person.

·      Finally, his relationship with you is crucial. Uppermost in your mind must be the idea that the horse will enjoy his training sessions; he should look forward to his time with you. It is your job to help him to understand, not to make him do things.

When these fundamentals are in place, then training with Zero Damage can begin.

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