EQS Online Programm

Hyperactive

Excessive mouthing, displaced behaviours – can’t keep feet and other body parts still eg weaving in a stall, bobbing head, stomping feet, grinding teeth

Distracted

Looks around at lots of things; does not pay attention to stimulus (you). When looking, the horse really stares and is super focussed on the distraction.

High Spirit

Stimulus causes exaggerated body posture & muscle tension and reactions like snorting, prancing, high tails, high heads

Assuming

Takes over – by doing things on its own, without being asked, eg. horse goes and stands on a box rather than do the requested task.

High Flight

Long distance and high speed of run from stimulus

Hypersensitive

Takes only small stimulus to move part or all of body and the movement keeps going after stimulus is removed. Unrequested movement can be caused from internal energy level of human. eg. horse moves before contact is even made or moves from your energy even if you do not ask for movement

Reactive

Moves first before thinking and mostly in a non-controlled manner and direction. Tends not to be able to think until they gain control of their feet and movement. This could also mean the horse does not take care of their body or hooves when moving.

Agitated

Defence - Responds (in fear) first by trying to escape then as last resort, fighting for life eg. lifting head away, moving H/Q, or just walk away, pulling backwards, ‘humping’, overbending, running away, rearing, kicking in fear, biting, bucking
Offence - Reacts (rather than responds) with aggression and a negative emotion by pushing, charging, biting, striking, rearing and striking, kicking, picking up and carrying in mouth.

Active Disrespect

Stimulus is not seen as a threat or with fear rather the Horse moves the body and feet to actively push against (or into) the stimulus with consciousness often pushing into the human and usually includes common negative body posture eg ears back, head high, teeth showing, ‘snaking’ the head, swishing tail, feet stamping, kicking, rearing, bucking.

Panic

Handles scary situations by moving feet and changing directions or running away. Does not want to be near the scary object, may put great effort into escaping, eg. the horse does not want to move toward the scary thing if requested and moves away by pulling, running, snorting, squealing, bucking, kicking.

Playful (emotional)

Picking things up, tries to move the other horses in a friendly way, moving other animals, playing with objects, mouthing things in a friendly way.

Curious (mental)

Looks in the direction needed for the task and is interested in investigating using all senses. May also look at external things, though not in a hard focus manner, rather an ‘interested’ manner.

Spirit (emotional)

Alive, alert, body posture & muscle tension ready and prepared to respond (self carriage)

Willing (mental)

Moves as requested and displays extra effort to find out what is required to fulfil the task; may move in different ways/ directions trying to find out what is needed

Impulsion (emotional)

Takes the gait, speed, and rhythm requested (controlled energy). Human, after request, needs to be in the ‘go with’ body energy.

Sensitive (emotional)

Responds promptly (in 2-3 seconds) and appropriately to stimulus and the removal of stimulus, with a positive body movement. This requires the response at phase 1 (or 2 max)

Thinking (mental)

Mental connection to the human. Horse takes responsibility to find out What and How to do the task by looking, listening, becoming aware of human and requested action. Indicators – response is active participation to get task done may lip lick, eyes blinking, relaxed head and neck after or during task.

Calm (emotional)

Accepts the ‘request for change’ stimulus and responds in a confident appropriate manner. Indicators – how much energy the horse can handle

Respectful (mental)

Accepts leadership, pays attention, moving or standing still, when asked with a “neutral” body posture, meaning the horse shifts the body or parts of the body in the wanted direction. This does not imply quality or quantity of movement. Indicators – response time; phase needed; distance away

Brave (emotional)

Handles scary situations by listening, looking and / or feeling and not moving away and not changing directions and / or speed. The horse is prepared to give attention to the scary thing, even move toward it and investigate if requested. This stimulus is NOT asking the horse to change anything, rather it is an ‘external’ stimulus. If asked to meet a challenge, the horse does so with no hesitation

Non Playful

Does not pick things up, not pushing human, not mouthing things; does not engage with other horses; not interest in objects

Disinterested

looks blank – has bored facial expressions, not interest in you and the stimulus or the task

Low Spirit

Stimulus causes no or low action. Body posture & muscle tension is minimal, flaccid and slow.

Resistant

May know what is wanted but doesn’t do it. Horse gets tight (or tense) in opposing (usually matching) the stimulus so that the wanted movement is not achieved.

Low Flight

Short distance, low speed of run and difficulty staying in gait from stimulus

High Tolerance

Takes a high stimulus to move and may stop before stimulus is removed. Looks sometimes like disrespect, though no negative body posture

Side-Tracked

Horse is thinking his own thoughts. Horse may not respond when asked to move or stop, may look with a ‘vacant’ expression. Horse may repeat the action with no change even if the intensity of the stimulus changes. When doing a task it may look like auto pilot. May need a lot of repetition to learn, sometimes takes high stimulus before the horse changes state to thinking.

Tense

Responds to the ‘request for change’ by doing less than requested - tensing the muscles and may include a slightly raised head and generally will, if already standing still, not move the feet, or if moving, will slow down and possibly stop

Passive Disrespect

Task may be done by the horse, but with negative body posture, like ears back, head high, tail swish. This could include, simply turning the head away, slowly moving in a direction other than requested and/or not moving feet or stopping before requested.

Apprehensive

Not interested in the scary thing (this could include you), may try to pretend it is not there by either ‘freezing’ or turning the head away and/or moves a small amount, meaning one eye is on the escape route. This is a form of Internal Panic