Horse Afraid of Water

by Maria Valenzuela
(Madrid)

Hello! (and thanks in advance).

I am writing you from Madrid, I am Spanish and apologize in advance for my orthographic mistakes...

I have two cases to tell you...

1. A friend of mine have a horse, very good one for show jumping. He has very good pedigree, and was bought by a Mexican rider, when he was young, for a lot of money. I don´t know exactly what happened, I imagine that he was forced to do too many efforts when he was too young and still not ready...

Today he has a scattered character and fears to jump over the water, in show jumping. There is no way for making him jump...

I do Reiki to horses, and I am trying to help him, since one month ago. But I am getting nothing, he is as always. But I am sure Reiki can help him... Though I am lost...

2. My best friend's horse, which I love, is now biting the door of his box and swallowing air, which is very dangerous because he can get a colic.

He is a very clever and witty horse, I think all that happens is that he is bored...

If you could help me with this two cases, I would be really grateful...

Big kiss for you and all the best and thousands of thanks in advance!!!

Answer:

#1- It would be helpful to know the age and bred of this horse yet it seems apparent that you are correct in believing he was forced into performing tasks he was not understanding and physically unable/willing to do.

I am adamantly opposed to all sporting/competitive events we have come up with to do with horses for the mere reason not a single one of them is in the best interest of the horse’s well being. Repeatedly being asked to jump over fences again and again so the human can win money or recognition is simply crude primitive behavior on the human’s behalf. The same goes for horse racing. A horse would only run this fast with another group of horses when they are being chased by a predator not because they want to win a race. Horses are not gamblers nor do they understand the concept of “winning”.


This horse stands in a high state of fear as a result of the training methods applied. The only method that would help him now is with the use of positive reinforcement like Clicker Training. and never being asked to compete again.

Reiki alone will not solve all of this emotional history but it will offer help to balance his energies so he can get some relief so keep it up. What he really needs is someone he can trust that will not force him into tasks that scare him.


#2- More and more horses that are confined or housed in unnatural environments are showing signs of stereotypical behaviors. A stereotypical behavior is an abnormal repetitive behavior such as biting stalls/or people!, swallowing air/cribbing, weaving in a stall, pacing a fence line, chewing fences, licking obsessively to name just a few.

A horse in a stall is like a person in a jail cell. Boredom would set in very quickly and this environment would trigger emotional dysfunction. Notice as a “punishment” for a crime we separate and confine our own human species! Horses are just as social as humans therefore confinement is not a healthy alternative.

The first thing to do is offer a more natural lifestyle which starts with 24/7 turn out. Then review dietary requirements and always offer all horses another horse for company. Please see our page on Natural Boarding to offer you further information.

Elaine