Top Marks – Facing Fears

Top Marks – Facing Fears

Featuring Kelly Marks, Dr Rosie Jones McVey, Jim Goddard

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Addressing Equine Fears and Building Trust Through Understanding and Patience. This episode of “Top Marks – Facing Fears” focuses on addressing various behavioural challenges in horses through understanding, patience, and positive training techniques. The programme features demonstrations and discussions around horses with specific fears and anxieties.

The episode features demonstrations and discussions around horses with specific fears, such as Quest, who has difficulty loading into a horsebox, and Banksy, who is anxious of people in larger crowds – including the Queen. It also introduces horses with more complex issues, potentially stemming from negative past experiences, including a horse from Ireland with extreme fear and Wills, a show cob needing restarting. The programme showcases methods for helping these horses overcome their anxieties and build trust, emphasizing the importance of reading their body language.

Viewers will see demonstrations of techniques to help Quest load, recreating the circumstances of Banksy’s negative experience, and Rosie Jones leading a demonstration with Wills using join-up. The episode also includes discussions about the difficulties of working with the horse from Ireland and gentle handling with during loading practice.

Key Learning Points:

  • Patience and understanding: Dealing with horses who have fears or behavioural issues requires patience and understanding. Forcing or coercing a horse can be counterproductive, and rewarding small steps of progress and creating positive associations is essential.
  • Identifying the root cause: Effective training requires identifying the root cause of a horse’s fear or behaviour. Understanding past negative experiences or the lack of education can inform the approach to rehabilitation.
  • Subtle communication and body language: The handler’s communication and body language significantly influence a horse’s behaviour and build trust. The episode highlights the importance of subtle cues, posture, movement, and gentle handling.
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