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	<title>welfare &#8211; Equestrian from Crete</title>
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		<title>Mare found tethered with a metal head collar in Ierapetra</title>
		<link>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/mare-found-tethered-with-a-metal-head-collar-in-ierapetra/</link>
					<comments>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/mare-found-tethered-with-a-metal-head-collar-in-ierapetra/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[chriszygakis]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:27:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Pleas & announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[charity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ierapetra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kalogeroi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stomio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walk with the Donkeys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://equestrianfromcrete.com/?p=2219</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On their walk to the beach, the founders of the charity Walk with the Donkeys, passed by a field between Stomion and Kalogeroi (Ierapetra area), in which the lovely mare of the photo wearing a metallic head collar. The mare is considered to be of the native Cretan breed. As you can see from the pictures, the horse looks well-looked after, but she was standing in the heat (40 degrees celsius approximately) -with this collar. We can see also that the collar exercises some pressure on this creature&#8217;s face. Marks have also been noticed, while too many  flies were disturbing the animal. There are also thoughts that she might be pregnant as well. The problem is, the collar can get too hot under such high temperatures and cause a burn. Also, there have been cases when the collar actually gets embedded in a horse&#8217;s face, causing severe damage and pain. Here are some links, whose content is disturbing, but hopefully alarming: &#8220;Star the two-month old foal left with horrific wounds after owner left halter on for MONTHS as it cut into his growing head&#8221; -Daily Mail &#8220;Gerry saved from the terrible pain of his embedded head collar&#8221; -Horzetalk &#8220;GERRY&#8221; -My Lovely Horse Rescue The charity Walk with the Donkeys are happy to donate to the owner of this mare a proper equine headcollar. If you are the owner or if you know them, please contact the charity here: Tel: +30 6976088547 , +30 6934264012 Email: info@walkwithdonkeys.com Photos taken: &#160; We hope that the owner is found and takes advantage of this generous offer and advice. A big thanks to Mrs. Suzie Barbour and Mr. Alistair Barbour, founders of Walk with the Donkeys for raising awareness about equine welfare in our area.]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2219</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stable vices and how to cope with them</title>
		<link>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/stable-vices-and-how-to-cope-with-them/</link>
					<comments>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/stable-vices-and-how-to-cope-with-them/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[chriszygakis]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2016 01:20:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Equestrian topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Equestrianism on the screen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behaviour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boredom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equestrian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stabe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stereotype]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://equestrianfromcrete.com/?p=2092</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[&#160; Inspired by a video on Epona TV, I thought I should write a post about stable vices and ways to counter them. We often see horses doing movements which seem a bit weird; moving around the stable in circular motion, moving the neck from one side to another, snorting, wood chewing etc. We notice also that these movements are done in a repetitive pattern and this is why they are also called &#8220;stereotypes&#8221;. Some equestrians believe that this behaviour is normal for a horse, that it should be this way. This is not true because the problem is not about the movements themselves, but about the issues that cause a horse to do them. I&#8217;ve also seen owners beating their horses for resorting to these stereotypes; if you ask them, they will say that their horse just&#160;acts silly, embarrassing them in the livery. Neither of these attitudes is right; in the first case, we have &#160;the&#160;avoidance of the real problem, while in the second we have pure abuse. The most common vices referred to by the experts are the following: Wood chewing.&#160;In its literal sense. The horse actually bites and chews the wood at its reach. Cribbing.&#160;The equine grabs a surface with its teeth, bends its neck and draws in air. Weaving. Swinging&#160;back and forth in a repetitive way. Wall kicking.&#160;When the equine kicks the wall of its stall with its rear legs. Biting.&#160;Reaching out of the stall to bite humans or animals passing by or attempting to visit the equine in its stall. Bottling feed.&#160;Eating too fast, without proper chewing. Pawing.&#160;When the equine rubs the floor with its front feet, often managing to dig a hole in the barn. Such attitudes, which are also named&#160;&#8220;stereotypes&#8221;&#160;due to the repetitiveness of their fashion, tend to lead to serious health problems -such as colic and lameness- injuries for people, the horse itself and other domesticated animals moving around the barn as well as spoilage of the facilities. Vices are caused mainly by boredom, stress, excessive energy, confinement and traumatising youth experiences. First of all, horses are social animals, whose natural instincts&#160;demand that they stay in a herd with other horses, led by a senior equine. This natural tendency is not satisfied inside a stall, which leads the horse to boredom and distress. Secondly, horses in the wild spend around 17 hours a day grazing; this nature is oppressed in a stall, where feed is given in a regular fashion, at specific times, in a specific quantity and most often higher than the level of the floor, hence preventing the natural stretching of the neck, causing risk of colic and discomfort. Thirdly, horses, as all prey mammals, are quite energetic creatures, able to run up to 40km/h for long distances. Spending long hours inside a stall oppresses this instinct and causes distress, boredom, and discomfort. Additionally, a horse that spent its early times abused and neglected might be aggressive and untrustful. So, we can assume that vices are actually proof of severe welfare problems that our horse faces and only aggravate with time. Stable vices are believed to be adopted by the equines as a relief from discomfort and stress. Many experienced equestrians believe that the equine actually becomes addicted to these patterns because they release to the equine body some substances whose impact on the horse resembles the impact of morphine on the human body. This addiction, they say, is the reason why it is so difficult to terminate these habits. Some people try to fix this behavior using superficial methods such as tying the horse inside the stall or tying up together parts of its body. Such measures do not solve the actual problem that causes this behavior. What is more, they are intimidating to the horse and all that can be achieved in the long-term is aggression and the potential for you or someone else you know to end up with their face on the poop (aka be kicked or bucked off). Here are some methods that people with experience use: Turning the horse out regularly.&#160;Permitting the horse to act like a horse is a measure which is used the most regularly. The equine can move, socialise and eat properly, hence reducing its levels of stress and discomfort. Putting other equines close to the horse&#8217;s stall.&#160;This permits socialization and counters boredom. Keeping toys inside the stall.&#160;Equestrian companies produce items whose purpose is to assist with countering boredom and distress, such as flavoured salt-licks and balls. Reducing high-energy feed.&#160;This will reduce the excessive levels of energy. Mimicking the equines&#8217; natural way of feeding.&#160;Providing frequent small meals during the day instead of splitting the feed into just two meals. Also, placing the feed as low as possible, for the horse to stretch its neck, as in the wild. Spending quality time with the equine.&#160;How would you feel if your family and friends abandoned you for quite a long time or visited you rarely? Your horse will feel exactly the same if the only thing that you do for it is paying for its feed. Noticing the situation early and countering it. As we said above, a vice is difficult to be abolished once it is established, so acting early is best. &#160;&#160;&#160; &#160; Want to find out more? Check out these lovely sources: Stable Vices,&#160;by Wikipedia contributors What Causes Stable Vices, by Horse &#38; Hound Horse Behaviour and Stable Vices, by Julie Christie, University of Minnesota Horse Vices and Bad Habits, by Cherry Hill The Cause, Prevention and Resolution of Stereotypic Behaviours, by Lucy Rees Can you think any other vice worth mentioning or more methods to counter vices? Feel free to write about it in the comments below! 🙂 &#160;]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2092</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>End of road for Totilas&#8217; career?</title>
		<link>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/end-of-road-for-totilas-career/</link>
					<comments>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/end-of-road-for-totilas-career/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[chriszygakis]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2015 20:01:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Equestrian topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[championship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dressage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equestrian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[injury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[show]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Totilas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://equestrianfromcrete.wordpress.com/?p=846</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Last Thursday was a bad one for the German dressage team at the 2015 FEI European Championships in Aachen. From the first moment of the appearance of Totilas&#8217; and his new rider, Matthias Rath in the arena, it appeared that there was something wrong with the welfare of the multi-million stallion. To the trained eyes, it was obvious that Totilas was lame and in agony throughout the test. His rear left leg appeared sore while Rath was saluting. Later, Totilas -now 15 years old- was taken to a clinic and was diagnosed with bone edema. Consequently, a long pause in sports duties has been advised, with the end of his dressage career being in sight as well. This injury revived the outrage of the equestrian world and sports media regarding the chronically poor interest in Totilas&#8217; welfare by his riders and owners. Throughout his career, this greatly talented stallion has been ruthlessly exploited by the equine industry, without any real interest in his health. Wonder horses like Totilas are seen as good business, a wise investment and nothing much more. Another concern was that the stallion should not have been qualified for the championships, raising suspicion upon the transparency of the selection procedures. Totilas&#8217; first rider, Edward Gal, with whom he gained three world records, is acuused by many of having made the start of the damage, as he trained the stallion with the LDR (Low, Deep and Round) method, based on hyperflexion. This technique is claimed to cause physical harm to the horse and is regarded as mental abuse by the FEI. The love that this stallion has received from the equestrian audience is probably equal to the abuse he has received by his owners and trainers. Indeed, the more you learn about Totilas, the more you see the extent of animal cruelty imposed on him. Below is the video of Totilas&#8217; performance in the 2015 FEI European Championships in Aachen: Here are the links to relevant German articles: http://www.st-georg.de/news/pferde-und-leute/totilas-diagnose-bekannt http://www.faz.net/aktuell/sport/mehr-sport/reiten/drama-um-totilas-der-schwarze-und-die-drei-affen-13750937-p2.html]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">846</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Reflecting on animal abandonment with the help of a video</title>
		<link>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/reflecting-on-animal-abandonment-with-the-help-of-a-video/</link>
					<comments>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/reflecting-on-animal-abandonment-with-the-help-of-a-video/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[chriszygakis]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2015 22:54:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Equestrian topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abandonment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equestrian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://equestrianfromcrete.wordpress.com/?p=529</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[I searched a lot to find a non-disturbing image of animal abandonment. All of them were pretty much the same; skin-an-bone bodies, filthy places, charity people fixing someone else&#8217;s mess. Unnecessary pain caused to creatures that had not demanded to be adopted in the first place. So, this is why I put an image of an abandoned farmhouse instead. Who knows what days this house has lived. But I didn&#8217;t find it so sad, as a house can be rebuilt, while a dog cannot be reborn. The following video wants to pass a message to potential pet adopters. It clearly speaks about dogs, but it applies to our equine friends as well. So, you are excited to take your new four-legged friend home, he becomes a dear family member and you have fun altogether. But this lasts very little, as problems start. They have to do with care and changes that come in life when we welcome an animal friend to the family. Who will look after the animal? Who will play with it? Who will make sure that it is kept happy? When all these questions come to the front, all we have is an unwanted creature, which we want to get rid of. Therefore, it ends up here and there, sick and starving.]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">529</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>The abandoned-horse epidemic</title>
		<link>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/the-abandoned-horse-epidemic/</link>
					<comments>http://www.equestrianfromcrete.com/the-abandoned-horse-epidemic/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[chriszygakis]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2015 23:38:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[My adventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abandonment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equestrian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[welfare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://equestrianfromcrete.wordpress.com/?p=512</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[When Yannis suggested finding a horse for me, I asked him who would be responsible for its nutrition, its vetting, its shoes. Who would be responsible for its care when I would be away. And me being a beginner both in riding and stabling, who would ensure its general welfare and make sure its stall is clean and its environment safe. Without the livery costs (as I volunteered every afternoon), it appeared that the regular costs of my potential equine friend would be more than 200 euros a month in average. This was half my monthly income and I had to spend the rest on other obligations, in a country that -being in a permanent debt crisis- takes loads and gives little. My father wanted me to get a horse, but his intention to assist with its maintainance was zero, especially regarding money. In the meanwhile, I moved to Britain, therefore that specific subject was closed. This is why I get irritated when I hear about abandoned horses. They are abandoned in various ways: left to die of starvation or disease on the pasture or inside a stall, left behind in public spaces and private fields. And I can imagine that more experienced equestrians have lots of relevant stories to share. Besides, a search on the web will give you plenty of disgusting results. This afternoon I was annoyed with the abandonment of a young horse inside a lady&#8217;s property who also has a horse. Her property is in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. That poor animal does not look so bad, but you can say that it has been abandoned recently. The lady also reports a sore nose and has assumed that, it would be hard for a one-year-old mare to transpass the fencing itself. She is trying to locate its owner, hopefully she finds them, but personally I doubt it. And even if she does, why would they accept it back? Most probably they will dump it somewhere else. And here is the question; why people keep adopting horses that they cannot maintain? Owning a horse is a demanding, costly and time-consuming business. A horse is much different to a dog, a cat or a hamster. It requires care 24/7. Loads of food and water, hygiene, vetting, shoes, insurance, training and expensive equipment. A safe and stable life from all aspects. For the latter to happen, it takes an owner with a safe and stable life -and mind- as well. I understand that things change unexpectedly in people&#8217;s lives from time to time; overwhelming financial hardship, severe illness, new members in the family, changing homes. But who tells you that you can abandon an animal like that? And who has granted you the right to transpass other people&#8217;s private properties to dump your own stuff? This is irresponsible and rude. Would you like to be treated like that by a person responsible for your care? When you grow old and need help, would you like to be dumped and forgotten in someone else&#8217;s property? For God&#8217;s sake, people, if you can no longer support a horse, do something about it. Sell it. Tell friends and neighbours who might be interested to adopt it (for free, preferably, as it&#8217;s abandonment in the middle of nowhere wouldn&#8217;t make you any money either), let a vet know, inform an animal association or charity, contact directly some other equestrian for assistance. There&#8217;s nothing wrong with admitting that you cannot support your horsey friend anymore. You won&#8217;t be the first or the last to do it. It&#8217;s actually one of the most responsible things to do. The real shame is to dump a living thing like your trash. Would you dump your kids this way? Let&#8217;s share it to find a home for this soul, before she gets to the point that has no return. And before she gets traumatised. She is cute and looks quite friendly. I wish I could do something for her. Thanks for tolerating my anger! But sharing emotions is one of the purposes of blogging!]]></description>
		
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">512</post-id>	</item>
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