Hidden meanings

When training your pony, it’s very likely that you’ll face a problem at some point and, quite often, this is usually in the form of undesirable behaviour, such as spooking or fidgeting.

Often viewed as a training issue, lots of people quickly book a session with their instructor to help resolve the problem. But every behaviour a pony displays has a purpose, so it’s important to consider all the different factors contributing to that behaviour, as well as their welfare, to help you understand the cause rather than just treating the symptoms.

TOP TIP

For complex behavioural issues, contact your vet or a qualified animal behaviourist before your trainer.

 Examine the evidence

Your pony can’t talk and only communicates through their behaviour and body language, so it’s important to listen carefully to what they’re telling you. For example, if your pony used to stand happily at the mounting block but suddenly starts fidgeting or trying to walk away, consider what might have changed to cause this altered behaviour…

• Are they feeling anxious about something?
• Could their saddle need an adjustment?
• Are they in pain, generally or when being ridden?

Did you know?

Undesirable behaviour is often resolved once the root cause is addressed. For example, if a pony is getting very limited turnout and is difficult to handle, giving them more field time may be enough to stop the stress-related behaviours.

The effect of force

When dealing with a common problem, such as hoof handling, loading or mounting issues, it can be confusing to know what’s best when there are different kinds of training that appear to help. However, many techniques – such as negative reinforcement (using pressure), positive punishment (adding something the pony doesn’t like after a behaviour) and using food – may decrease the behaviour but won’t address the reason it’s happening.

For example, shaking treats to get a pony to load onto the trailer might work to begin with, but it doesn’t mean he’s happy walking up the ramp. If we start to force ponies to do something they don’t want to do, it can negatively impact their welfare and cause more issues in the long-term.

Discover more about what your pony’s behaviour could mean and how to spot the signs of anxiety in April PONY – on sale now!