Lindsey Partridge SAFE Techniques

11/23/2018  −   11/24/2018

Open: 10/10/2018

Close: 11/15/2018

Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, Inc

2699 Route 22

Dover Plains, NY, 12522

CLOSED

Harmony Horse Handling: Simple Achievable Friendly Effective (SAFE) Techniques

Objective of the course: be comfortable with horses, assist with basic procedures, and be able to handle horses in a variety of situations. Not intending to be a trainer or vet assistant.

Understanding Horses: their needs, their natural social environment and food
Understanding physical and mental connection (can’t address physical without mental)
When to call the vet

Respect and Safety:
Drivelines
Defend your drivelines
Maintain quadrants
Be careful not to block the horse with your drivelines
Don’t go after horses for discipline, instead focus on your personal space and drivelines
Understanding quadrants
How it affects lunging

Calm Connection:
Moving together helps calm a horse
Square exercise is important to establish straight lines and 90 degree angle turns
Straight lines mean a horse isn’t pushing you or being pushed
90 degree angle turns help a horse shape around you
Turn because you want to, the horse is too fast, or the horse is distracted
Use shaping spot to keep the horse’s focus
Establishing calm and alert before trying any procedures
Passive leadership (gaining respect politely)

Positive reinforcement vs Negative reinforcement vs Punishment:
Positive reinforcement increases motivation
Negative reinforcement keeps a thinking mind
Punishment causes an emotional response and can cause PTSD in horses or anxiety disorders
Conditioning responses
How to recondition a negative response to a positive one

Setting up experiences for horses that don’t know versus horses that have triggers and need to be reconditioned (understand that reconditioning takes more time)
Using positive reinforcement
Types of rewards
Treat manners
Using a ‘yes’ word
Giving at a distance
Only give to polite lips
The filter of when to give a treat
Understanding fears and thresholds
The goal is to push comfort zones
The energy scale
The importance of finishing with relaxation and understanding to have success next time
Coping with vices and bad behaviours
Understand the cause or the stimulus
How to redirect the horse’s attention (rib rub)
Setting it up for success
Safety of the environment
Allowing for time
Having comforts nearby
Having plan A, plan b, and be willing to adjust
Etiquette for farrier/vet
Skills
Square
Lunging
Picking up feet
Lowering head
Giving to pressure
Going through squeezes
Blanketing (safety of front to back then back to front)
Fly mask
Equine Care Procedures (each participant does one, but between the whole group do all)
Syringing (dewormer, medication)
Pretend needle giving (toothpick)
Taking temperature
Twitching safely (no nose twitch on foals)
Foot in a soaking tub
Wrapping/boots
Spray bottles / hosing
Spreading eyelids