WESTERN DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST23, 2002
the length of hind limb. They get tight around the shoulders, girth area and back, and have a tendency to swing the hind leg out, particularly when moving downhill. Unless this posture is changed and the horse is taught a more effective way of moving his body as he levels out, the habit is set and the horse may continue to hold this posture into adulthood. Tension in the back can make the horse reactive to the saddle and rider, giving rise to behavioural problems such as bucking and napping. During this time, however, there is a lot that can be done with a youngster in-hand to stimulate his mind, start his education, and keep him active. TEAM ground exercises focus on improving self-confidence, self carriage and self-control. The horses are taught to work quietly and slowly, through and over patterns of poles laid on the ground, over and under plastic sheeting, and to negotiate a variety of obstacles including low wooden bridges and even a teeter totter - a low level seesaw. Body work helps promote a sense of calm, improved flexibility and reduces tension patterns that can arise as a result of growth spurts and dental changes. Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last baby teeth come in at about eight months of age and these teeth begin to be replaced by adult teeth at around two and a half years of age. By five, most horses have their full complement of permanent teeth ranging from between 36 to 40 teeth, depending on the sex of the horse. (Mares generally do not have canine teeth). Unshed caps and general dental changes can cause discomfort in the mouth at the exact time when a bit is being introduced. An uncomfortable mouth can make a youngster reluctant to accept the bit and/or move forward from the leg, and can trigger reactive responses such as rearing. Dental changes can also set up tension around the withers and shoulder areas causing girthing issues during this time. Young horses often lack body-awareness and have poor co-ordination. They may therefore be mislabelled as `bargey' and/or `dominant' as they have a tendency to crowd the handler. Adolescents in any species are often ungainly and clumsy and, while it can be frustrating and downright dangerous to have a strong, gawky three-year-old leaping all over the place, there is a lot that can be done to improve the situation without using fear or force, or starting them too early. If the horse is strugling with his own balance, it is unlikely that he will cope easily with the added complication of a rider. A horse that is never taught self-carriage from the ground will often go on to balance on the riders hands when under saddle. Ground work in-hand for young horses builds solid foundations for later life and will make the backing process easy and stress-free for both horse and handler. All the exercises can be repeated once a saddle is introduced to ensure that the horse is truly at ease with carrying something on its back. If they are at all concerned about the saddle they will not be able to work through the ground exercises, even though they may move happily in a straight line or on the lunge. It is far safer to recognise a potential problem