| Just like us, our horses get stressed. Stress seems to | | | | if your horse is locked up in a stable for prolonged |
| be an inevitable part of modern life and we can even | | | | periods and does not like this it can get stressed and |
| pass on such feelings and problems to our pets and | | | | this damages its health. It means that horses that loose |
| animal companions. In the same way when our animals | | | | their companions and are then left by themselves get ill |
| become stressed we know it and it affects our riding | | | | eventually. It means that if a horse is constantly |
| and enjoyment. | | | | worried about a heavy competition schedule and |
| But how damaging really is tension and anxiety. How | | | | non-stop traveling it is likely to get ill relatively easily. |
| can we avoid it and why is it important for animals as | | | | How do we prevent the longer type of stress causing |
| well as people? | | | | damage to our horses? The key is of course good |
| Stress is a natural response of the body to something | | | | management and an understanding of how a horses |
| that threatens it whether that threat is mental or a | | | | mind works. For many people this is not natural and it is |
| physical accident or a disease. When the body senses | | | | worth reading up on how horses behave in the wild |
| that something bad may happen to it, cells release | | | | and in domestication and trying to fit in more with what |
| chemicals that start to protect the body from what | | | | a horse is happy with. For example most people are |
| 'might happen'. This threat to the body might be a | | | | well aware that horses like to be fed at regular times |
| sudden change in the weather, a new horse in the field | | | | during the day and get stressed out if regimes are |
| that might cause a fight, some change to management | | | | upset. If a horse never knows when its feed is coming |
| regime or maybe the loss of a companion in the same | | | | it is a constant state of anxiety. |
| field. Some of the chemicals that the body releases in | | | | When a horse has been stressed for prolonged |
| such situations are natural steroids which calm | | | | periods of time sometimes extra help is needed. Bad |
| damage in the body down whether that damage | | | | experiences can affect a horse strongly for the rest |
| occurs in the mind or the muscles. Other chemicals | | | | of his or her life - just like a person. In the same way a |
| start to prepare the body for taking evasive action i.e. | | | | period of one month's stress because of an inability to |
| running away quickly. | | | | get on with another horse in the same field may take |
| So we can see that stress is actually a natural state | | | | several weeks to get over after normality has |
| of the body. If we or our horses did not get worried or | | | | returned and this is where herbs can fit in nicely. |
| stressed about things to some degree we would be | | | | Many herbs are great at tackling stress and help |
| much more likely to get into trouble in difficult or | | | | animals adapt to stressful situations. The most |
| dangerous situations. The trouble comes however | | | | important of these are called 'Adaptogens' (help bodies |
| when stress continues for long periods of time without | | | | adapt). Examples of such plants are Indian and chinese |
| us being able to get away from what is causing it. | | | | ginsengs, Astragalus and even tumeric. Other plants |
| Then the natural chemicals in the body that are | | | | have strong antioxidant properties which help get rid of |
| supposed to protect the body actually start having | | | | toxic free radicals which are releases at times of |
| negative effects. The body steroid hormones start | | | | stress. Most people think of different types of food, |
| weakening the immune system, body chemicals make | | | | vitamins and minerals as being the only sources of |
| us 'revved up' in order to escape the stress and | | | | antioxidants but many herbs are specifically more |
| cannot do so and by products of all this chemical | | | | powerful than anything else at providing this form of |
| activity called 'free radicals' start damaging the cells | | | | protection. |
| and make us grow older more quickly. It is a bit like | | | | So when horses and people are stressed the |
| 'revving up' an engine for a long period without going | | | | strategic use of herbal mixes to reduce stress can |
| anywhere. Of course it is not good for the engine | | | | make an enormous difference. Rather than reaching |
| after a while. Recent studies show that short periods | | | | for the diazepam a quick drink of a suitable herbal |
| of stress are actually good for the body because the | | | | drink can get you back on the right track in an hour or |
| healing process of the body afterwards gives it a lift. If | | | | two when otherwise you might be uptight for days. In |
| a person has no occasional challenge to make them | | | | the same way for horses the careful use of a good |
| think more acutely the brain degenerates and | | | | herb blend can help your horse recover quickly from a |
| becomes less able to function well. | | | | difficult situation or cope with stress more easily until |
| So what does all this mean for horses? It means that | | | | you are able to remove the underlying cause. |