OCTOBER 1997 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 10/1/97; 10:00:00 AM.

Swedish Horsemanship, Notes from Stefan Forsman

Hobbling, Breeding & Foals

Stefan Forsman communicates with Horse Previews Magazine via the Internet. He can be reached that circuit at Stefan Forsman <slaila@sn.no>. Here are continuing notes from a Swedish Clinic with the trainer. Stefan has attained the horse's trust and now can begin to correct behavior:

Hobbling

I can now prepare the horse to react correctly in a situation where it has become entangled with one or more legs in barbed-wire fences, etc. This is done inside the indoor riding school where there is a soft surface. The front legs are tied together with thick, soft leather straps. Due to the thorough basic training that the horse has gone through, contrary to popular belief, the horse does not become panic stricken. It has no reason to be. Many horses tied up in this manner will not move or will stand completely still. In this event, I give them a little push so that they realize what it feels like to be stuck. I want the horse to know that even if it becomes stuck nothing dangerous is going to happen to it. To carry out this kind of training with a horse in a safe and controlled environment will reduce the risk that the horse will injure itself should it become entangled in something. The exercise takes only a few minutes.

No attempt should be made to hobble a horse that has not been through a thorough basic training! Hobbling is not a short cut in the training as believed by some and must never be used as punishment. Neither hobbling nor any other device can replace lack of knowledge and understanding of the horse's behavior.

Hobbling is often used for other purposes including mating, horses who kick out in their boxes, horses placed in stalls, and during transportation. It is also used to make the horse stand still when saddling up, hitching to a gig or whilst collecting timber in the forest, etc. If instead the horse is trained in the correct manner, hobbling would not be necessary. Correctly trained horses never kick in their boxes and never try to walk away when asked, for example, to stand still.

There is a debate in Sweden as to whether hobbling should be banned. Used correctly it can be an aid that can save many horses each year from slaughter. What should be made illegal is the hobbling of horses to make man's lot easier regardless of how uncomfortable and painful it might be for the horse. This also applies to a lot of other aids that are used.

Breeding

It is a precondition for success in raising a foal that it has inherited all the best qualities possible and it has grown up in a good and stable environment. If we are horse breeders, our choice will always be made from the best animals available. If a horse does not come up to standard for the purpose it was bred, then it should not be used for further breeding. In addition to the horse's natural talents, we should try to find those with perfect outward appearance, conformation and trainable dispositions. All of the preceding conditions should be present to give us the best possible chance in the training of these animals.

Foals

The earlier education begins, the less time it will take and the better the results will be. If you handle the little foal correctly, the rewards will be ten-fold and you will never have any problems. You should begin as soon after birth as possible by touching and stroking it before it has learnt to stand up and walk. In the same way that adult horses become immune to objects that might frighten them, such as plastic, umbrellas etc., the foal follows the same practice. Do not stop the stimuli as long as the foal resists. As soon as the foal has learnt to stand, it should be led by a halter and lead rope. The foal should be taught much more than space allows for here, but the most important thing to remember is not to play with the foal in an incorrect manner. It should never be allowed to do anything to a human being that it will not be allowed to do when it is fully grown, e.g. bite, rear, or use its head to nudge or rub you.

The following quote is from a student, Jane Ward:

"If you wish to learn more about the philosophy and how it works in practice, then I would recommend that you attend a course with Stefan Forsman. He has taught me and many thousands of others how to achieve harmony and understanding between horse and man. He is one of the few with insight into how a horse thinks. His methods are successful on all breeds of horses, can be used in all disciplines, and can be learnt by all who strive to do so."

Remember the three elements in the basic training of the horse: Leadership, Consistency, and Comfort Zone. Wherever you are, enjoy a safe ride.

Stefan Forsman