Letter to Editor: Equine Behavior Problems

The author comments on two specific equine behavior problems – cribbing and pawing and suggests causes for each

Horsebreakers, Tamers, and Trainers: An Historical, Psychological, and Social Review

To my knowledge, there has been no organized synthesis describing the historical development of horse handling, management, lore, and training. This discussion offers, in capsule form, some of the historical, psychological, and social considerations which might be taken into account when evaluating horse-handling skills. First, I would like to describe the natures of the emotional and psychological bonds between man and horse. I will also look at the consequences of various types of bonding on horsemanship or management. We can increase our understanding of the role of the horse in our history and lives by thus seeing how the animal figures in our fantasy, and in our practice (Rhodes 1980; Van de Castle 1983)

The Psychology and Ethics of Humane Equine Treatment

The effect on animals of man-induced stressors, such as the disruption of herd bonds, stabling, medication procedures and the like, has been the subject of increasing investigation. Obvious and shocking abuses against animals, bullfighting, certain training practices in the racehorse industry, and rodeo events such as wild horse races, steerbusting or calf-roping, are readily recognized and have, in some instances been stopped. (Steerbusting refers to roping, from horseback, of running cattle in such a manner as to flip the animal backward or jerk it down, knocking the wind out of the animal and occasionally breaking ribs, vertebrae, and neck.) However, the bulk of incidents of abuse is in commercial associations between man and animal (Fraser 1982). These are the animals whose troubles are not obvious but who suffer pain and discomfort nonetheless. The abuses may be unwitting and remediable by education, or deemed to be without remedy. One such major abuse occurs during the transport of animals

A Different Approach to Horse Handling, Based on the Jeffery Method

A method of horse training is discussed which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the Jeffery method. It makes use of several behavioral principles, including understanding of horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and use of flight distance principles

Letter to Editor: Equine Behavior Problems

The author comments on two specific equine behavior problems – cribbing and pawing and suggests causes for each

A Different Approach to Horse Handling, Based on the Jeffery Method

A method of horse training is discussed which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the Jeffery method. It makes use of several behavioral principles, including understanding of horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and use of flight distance principles