WHY DO HORSES DO THAT? THOSE SCARY THINGS ON THE TRAIL

BETTY J. GRIM, DVM

WHO AM I?

• DVM, ISU COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 1994.

• BS. ANIMAL SCIENCE, ISU 1993• BS. ANIMAL SCIENCE, EQUINE STUDIES,

NORTHEAST MISSOURI UNIVERSITY 1984• AVID TRAIL RIDER , COMPETITOR IN CTR AND

CMO.

SUNNY’S STORY

• NOVEMBER 6, 2010• A TRAIL RIDE ON A BEAUTIFUL FALL SATURDAY

AFTERNOON WITH 4 HORSES• A FEW FEET FROM THE END OF THE TRAIL• 8 FAST MOVING BICYCLES• DISASTER

WHY DO HORSE REACT THE WAY THE DO?

• HORSES REACT THE WAY THEY DO, BECAUSE THEY ARE A PREY SPECIES (THAT MEANS THEY ARE ON THE MENU)

• THEIR FIRST INSTINCT IS FLIGHT (BUT, THEY WILL FIGHT IF THEY HAVE TO!)

• THEIR VISION GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO SEE ALMOST 360 DEGRESS AROUND THEIR BODIES (EXCEPT DIRECTLY IN FRONT AND DIRECTLY BEHIND )

EQUINE VISION• THE HORSES EYE PLACEMENT HIGH AND TO THE SIDES OF

ITS HEAD ALLOWS THE HORSE TO WATCH FOR A PREDITOR WHILE GRAZING.

• A HORSE CAN SEE ALMOST 360 DEGREES AROUND HIS BODY

• HORSES CAN SEE SMALL OBJECTS ALMOST 1 MILE TO THE SIDE

• BLIND SPOTS – LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT A SHORT DISTANCE– DIRECTLY BEHIND AN INFINANT DISTANCE– CLOSE TO ITS SIDES

EYESIGHT OF THE HORSEThe shaded area are the locations of a horses blind spots.

The blind spot behind a horse is infiinite

MANY THINGS CAN STARTLE A HORSE

• PEOPLE• MOTORIZED VEHICLES• OBJECTS ALONG THE TRAIL (NATURAL AND

MAN MADE)• OTHER ANIMAL

PEOPLE• WALKERS• JOGGERS• HIKERS• SMALL CHILDERN IN STROLLERS

VEHICLES

• CARS• BICYCLES• MOTORCYCLES• LAWNMOWERS• TRACTORS

OBJECTS ALONG THE TRAIL

• BRIDGES• ROCKS• SIGN POSTS• WATER RUNNING IN STREAMS• LEAVES SWRILING IN THE WIND• BUTTERFLIES

OTHER ANIMALS

• DOGS• DEER• SQUIRRLES• RABBITS• BUTTERFLIES

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO • IF YOU ARE IN A CAR OR ON BICYCLES– SLOW DOWN!!!– GIVE RIDERS A VERBAL WARNING– ALLOW THE RIDER TO GET THE HORSE UNDER CONTROL, IF THE

HORSE BECOMES SCARED– PASS WITH CAUTION

• HIKERS, JOGGERS OR DOG WALKERS– STOP ALLOW HORSE TO PASS IF YOU ARE GOING THE SAME

DIRECTION– KEEP DOGS ON SHORT LEASHES– TURN AND FACE THE HORSE DON’T MOVE SUDDENLY

TRAIL RIDERS

• MULTI-USE TRAILS ARE NOT THE PLACE TO TRAIN GREEN HORSES

• DESENSITIZE YOUR HORSE TO AS MANY THINGS AS POSSIBLE BEFORE USING A MULTI-USE TRAIL TO:– BIKES, BRIDGES, DOGS, WALKERS– THERE ARE MANY THINGS OUT THERE YOUR

HORSE MAY SEE AS A THREAT.

– PAY ATTENTION TO EVERYTHING ON THE TRAIL

– ALWAYS BE ALERT!!!– SAVE THE BEER UNTIL YOU GET BACK TO THE

TRAILER– BE CURTIOUS TO OTHER USERS– REMOVE YOUR HORSES DROPPINGS WHERE

OTHERS ARE WALKING OR RIDING.

CONCLUSION

• USE COMMON SENSE WHEN USING MULTI-USE TRAILS

• BE CURTIOUS TO ALL USERS• BIKERS – “GO SLOW AND SAY HELLO!”• KEEP DOGS ON SHORT LEASHES• EQUESTRIANS – KEEP YOUR HORSES UNDER

CONTROL

• SHARE THE TRAILS SAFELY• AND ENJOY THE RIDE

KEITH AND ROCKYKeith at 20 months old and Rocky at 16 years