THE HORSE'S EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Something To Consider

As owners we spend a great deal of time and effort caring for our horses. Huge consideration goes into what to feed, what supplements they need, rugs, bedding, worming program, farrier, shod or barefoot... the list could go on and on. However, in all of this it is easy to forget one of the most important factors to influence our horses and, importantly, our relationship with them - their emotional health.

Anyone who has spent time with a horse will know that that they are capable of a range of emotions. A sad or depressed horse is a heartbreaking sight, and one that we may have observed in our own horses at times when they have been ill, have lost a companion or moved to a new home. Neglected or abused horses can be ingrained with fearful distrust or apathy, making them hard to reach and comfort. The dangerous or difficult is indeed a problem on many yards, but can often be attributed to an emotional state that is unbalanced in favour of aggression or dominance. The horse is a feeling animal, and we must attune ourselves to their emotional needs.


Often owners and trainers deal with the symptoms of the true problem, but if the underlying cause is not identified and treated, it is possible that the problems will reoccur or manifest elsewhere in the horse's health or behaviour. In the case of emotional imbalance, no amount of symptomatic treatment will remove reoccurrence. It may even be detrimental to long-term goals if only the symptoms are treated, as some methods may actually encourage the horse to suppress the expression of its emotional state. As caring owners with only the best intentions at heart, this is not something we knowingly strive for, but in failing to appreciate the significance of emotional balance, it is an inadvertent mistake that can sometimes be made.

This is where the Bach Flower Remedies are an excellent therapy and a valuable tool for helping your horse. In a series of articles we will be looking at various common problems and how flower remedies can help not just your horse but yourself also.

When to use the Bach Flower Remedies
It is important to be clear that the remedies do not replace good management, veterinary attendance or training. With this in mind, we must always look in the first instance to identify any possible physical triggers for the behaviour, and/or look at changes that may be needed in the management of the horse. Bach Flower Remedies are able to assist with such problems, but they should never be considered as a solution to issues of a physical, management or training nature.

In some cases the remedies really will cure the problem, others will benefit from the Bach Flowers, whilst in a remedial / retraining program, they become a valuable part of a larger programme to make the horse more receptive, trusting, confident etc. But they cannot make a saddle fit properly, negate the need for the chiropractor or cure unbalanced feet. They will, however, help with a fear of being ridden due to a past problem with the saddle, or give confidence to a horse that its back will not hurt anymore once the physical problem has been resolved! So as you can see a holistic approach is important for both mental and physical health.

Useful considerations when a behaviour change occurs:

  • Was there a change which triggered this behaviour (new home, new farrier, new saddle etc)
  • Is this natural behaviour for the species ? is the horse just being a horse? I.e. flight instinct, establishing herd hierarchy
  • Physical pain: check teeth, back and shoeing / foot balance, muscle development (can the horse physically do what you are asking?)
  • Is it a training issue (for you or the horse) - does the horse understand what you are asking? Are you communicating clearly?
  • Is the tack causing discomfort (look at not only the saddle fit but also placement - ensure it sits comfortably behind the scapula so that the shoulder has room to move)
  • Is the tack suitable and fitted correctly (The action of the bit for instance)
  • Is the rider contributing to the problem (see spooking example above)
  • Feed and nutrition - does your horse get enough fibre for healthy gut function
  • Management - does the horse have adequate turnout / exercise, social contact etc
  • Trauma - past or present (loss of a companion, abuse, traumatic weaning, an accident - all could be having a long lasting affect on your horses emotional health)
  • Illness and the way it affects your horse (depression, apathy, irritability)

    • This list is by no means exhaustive but is a good start when considering how to help your equine friend.

    About the Bach flower remedies
    Dr Edward Bach, a man committed to developing a safe, kind and gentle treatment, developed the Bach Flower Remedies to be accessible to all - professionals and lay people alike.


    Originally a well-known and respected Harley street doctor of allopathic medicine, Dr Bach became disillusioned with the method of treating the patient's symptoms without addressing the cause.

    Dr Bach began working as a researcher at the London homeopathic hospital in 1919. Although homeopathic medicine was a significant move towards Dr Bach's ideals of effective natural care, the use of toxins, poisons and chemicals, however diluted and safe, still opposed his belief that nature would provide the gift of healing in its simplest form.


    The result was a complete system of 38 remedies that are totally natural and made only from non-toxic flowers, bushes, trees and healing water. It is impossible to cause harm with them or to overdose - they are therefore suitable for adults, children, animals and plants.

    The beauty of this treatment is the gentle way in which they restore balance to the mind and body. The remedies are prescribed according to the emotional state; they are not directly prescribed to treat physical problems. Dr Bach believed that thoughts, feelings and beliefs could have a direct physical consequence and that by restoring the harmony of the mind and emotions, the body's natural defences could work to maintain and restore the person's physical health. For example, many of us have experienced stress and tension, and can relate to those emotional states such physical symptoms as headaches, ulcers and digestive upsets. The remedies are therefore not a remedy for the body, but a route to the body through a remedy for the mind.

    How can the Bach flower remedies be used for horses?
    The short answer is the same way they can be used for humans! It is important to identify the emotion behind whatever you are treating. This applies to any person or animal. If the remedies are not working, it is because the true underlying problem has not been correctly established, and therefore the remedy selection has not targeted the correct aspects of the psyche. Identification and remedy selection are the two most fundamental aspects of successful treatment with Bach Flower Remedies.

    It is also important to assess who actually needs treating - is it really the horse? Or does the owner need help also? For instance, lets look at the following scenario:



    If we have a horse that spooks on bin day, it is possible that rider will anticipate this behaviour and become nervous of going out on bin day, anticipating that the horse will shy. The horse feels the rider tense up, take up a strong contact, grip with the legs and hold her breath (all typical nervous reactions of a rider). The horse, being a herd animal, starts looking for the danger (that the rider has inadvertently suggested to him by her bodily reactions) and becomes even more spooky and inclined to flee. So now we have a situation that has escalated. At this stage both horse and rider will have become more nervous, each losing their confidence. By treating the rider for her fearful anticipation of her horse's reaction, and treating the horse for its spooky fears, we can restore this relationship to balance and have them hacking out happily even on bin day!



    With all animals (not just horses) it is very important to consider the animal's natural behaviour, instinct and needs. We must retain an awareness that the animal thinks differently to us, and in doing so we must explore what that can mean in terms of the animal's reactions and problems. For instance, a horse that is labelled as being aggressive may actually be dominant or defensive; each of these would require a different approach. When prescribing the remedies it is necessary to consider past history. It is important that traumatic events in the past are dealt with as well as the resulting behaviours in the present.

    The importance of finding and treating the cause is not to be underestimated. Whilst we could treat the symptomatic behaviours, it would be not be as conducive to a long-term solution, nor would the results be as effective.

    In what circumstances can Bach Flower Remedies be useful for horses?
    Basically, in any circumstances that involve emotions! Below is a list of just a few of the examples where the remedies have proven to be effective for horse and rider situations:



    Fear of travelling - Moving to a new home - Spooky / nervous behaviour - Perceived aggression - Dominant behaviour (to both humans and animals) - Horse and Rider bond - Bullying behaviour - Victim or perpetrator - Training and concentration - Loss of a companion - Apathy and depression - Stress i.e., pre competition (both horse and rider), box rest, etc. - Box Rest - Support during illness (deals with the frustration, depression etc of being unwell) - Stable Vices - Loss of confidence - Napping - Hyper Behaviour (in the box or ridden) - Weaning or traumatic labour and birth - Competing problems - Rearing / Bolting / Biting / Kicking




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