NOTES FOR THERAPISTS ON TEMPERAMENT

Therapists seeing and getting to know a horse or pony during the course of their own duties are often the best people to objectively judge the origins of uncharacteristic or undesired behaviour and can be invaluable in their considered opinions how to help with spookiness, over excitement, non responsiveness, disruptiveness, obstinacy, depression and other temperament undulations that make life difficult for both the rider and the horse.

DIETARY INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (DIB) - Due to a deficiency, imbalance or unavailability of Magnesium. Hypomagnesaemia is common in spring and autumn for horses gaining most of their nutrition from grass or in the winter if Mg levels in forage are low. Horses fed largely on forage will be more likely to be Mg deficient than those receiving levels of concentrates. Symptom are spookiness, uncharacteristic clumsiness and sudden intransigence.

MANAGEMENT INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (MIB) - Undulations in behaviour as result of the stress of being asked to do something different or being put into an unfamiliar situation. Often due to the tug-o-war between suspicion and wanting to please. This results in a rise in cortisol that if frequent or prolonged can lead to metabolic loss of Magnesium with the stress itself posing difficulties in returning Magnesium to optimum levels inside the cells. It may also lead to a requirement for more dietary Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine and Vitamin E.

ENVIRONMENT INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (EIB)- The outcome of stress encountered by surroundings, noise, wind, separation, new horses, different stables etc. This leads to increased metabolic loss of Magnesium with further difficulty in getting back to an optimum cellular Magnesium state.

ANTICIPATION INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (AIB) - This could be argued to be part of MIB and not always detrimental for competition but if overpowering excitement and silliness at shows and in dressage can cost valuable points.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (PIB) - The result of fear, jealousy, recollection of pain etc. Horses have long memories and learn from experience and this means they will try to avoid a situation or incident that previously worried them or caused them harm. Although there is little evidence of madness in horses some have a greater disposition for panic (Vata ), someaggression and anxiety (Pitta) and some withdrawal (Kapha).

HORMONAL INDUCED BEHAVIOUR (AIB) - This should really read exaggerated hormonally caused behaviour as all mood is controlled by hormonal responses. In mares it is often the ones that do not seem to really come into season that sometimes have more mental complexes.

COMMON FORMULAE FOR DIFFERING INDUCED BEHAVIOUR TRAITS

 Close Window