Some of the answers to the above question have been discovered by the staff at the rescue. It is easy to understand how a horse who has had unhealthy experiences with humans would heal in the midst of his own kind in the herd. But what about stress from training, show and the like? Have you ever considered why horses get ulcers, a typically human illness caused by stress and the over-production of acid in the stomach? Have you ever considered why horses display vices from stable confinement? Vices are a horse's way of coping with stress. Eliminate the confinement stress and the vices will diminish and in many cases completely disappear.

 

As most people learn eventually in life stress creates all sorts of problems, both physiological and emotional. Stress results in tight muscles, injuries, the over stimulation of hormones such as cortisol, ulcers, and upsets the balance of chemistry in the body. Giving a stressed horse a massage may help for the moment, but changing the horse's environment and stress stimulus level are key to the healing process.

 

Placing a horse in a herd environment provides natural resources for the horse such as grazing time, socialization opportunities, a large space to occupy and exercise in at will, and the option to become a member of a hierarchy. As a herd member the horse can focus on nothing but the other members of the group. He can return to his roots-his true nature. In that space he can find peace...in the peace he finds self-healing. Muscle tension releases with the loss of anxiety and the demands previously made upon him.  As his role in the herd becomes more clearly defined and he more comfortable with it, several months into a herd environment the horse should notably be a different horse.

 

For horses who have issues with humans, this vacation from human demands is a blessing. The human is merely a source of food. Once the human-shy horse is settled into his new herd and more centered and happy, introducing the human element can begin. Just spending time with the horse in his pasture without pressure or demands until he makes the first move is our way of bridging the trust gap. From here on respect comes from the human handler first...once the horse realizes he is being respected as an individual with emotional needs, he usually starts coming around

 

We have been impressed with the progress of our horses that needed rehabilitation in this manner. We have discovered they love to work at liberty with the new handler...so Parelli games are a natural here. Playing with them makes them happy and seeing a human as someone to enjoy instead of dread is a new perspective for many horses.

 

In 2001 the director moved to Gardnerville, Nevada and purchased 2 horses. One was a 15 year old Arabian/Saddlebred mare who had been a dressage competitor. Lying Eyes was a talented beauty, but more than that she became our teacher. Her intelligence and her sweet spirit were the result of excellent breeding and training.  And she used those gifts to protect and teach a growing herd.

 

A few months into her new life with us, she and her companion Splash took a vacation to a cattle ranch. For three months LE was in a pasture with 30 other mares. By the end of the third month she had worked her way to nearly the top of the hierarchy. This experience was her initiation into the world of the alpha mare. And she thrived on it! 

 

Learning from LE was a gift. An observer could watch her reason, choose, and deliver. She had a natural instinct to protect resources, guide and scold when necessary. She took on a gelding the minute she encountered him, and put him in check for good.

 

Within a year she would be called to integrate a herd of 4 as the Rescue grew. Within 2 years she became surrogate mother to two PMU foals. She now led a herd of 6 that was healthy in its dynamics and functioning smoothly.

 

Then crisis came...funds were so low the director couldn't afford to feed her own horses. So the tough decision was made to send LE back to her trainer where she would have a loving home for the rest of her life. And the herd fell apart..... The once smoothly operating, confident herd was now dysfunctional. The geldings tried to take charge, but they have only been partly successful.

 

LE was the glue, the perfect alpha, strong-willed, confident, yet kind. Her departure had painful consequences. It was hardest on Tanni who relied on LE to protect her. She became perpetually sad and her health began to deteriorate. Splash, LE's companion for 4 years, became quiet and lost his vigor. Sunshine, then 3 years old, tried to take over the herd and became aggressive.

It has been more than 2 years since her departure and the herd is still struggling to find its leadership. No alpha mare has arisen from this group as yet. Oddly, the geldings have taken over most of the leadership even though there are 4 females in the herd.

The Basis of Our Work