Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Katherine Starkie
Building confidence from the ground up
Katherine Starkie tells us how we begin our horses and ponies' education.
When they arrive,our horses and ponies have often had very little contact with humans and, sadly, some have had very negative experiences of people. In order to build their confidence and provide a solid foundation for their future, our dedicated staff begin their work from the ground up – starting with desensitisation. Katherine Starkie works as a groom at our Lancashire Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Penny Farm. She tells us:
"We are always thinking about the future for our horses and ponies. Whether they are going to be rehomed as companions, as youngsters or to be backed for riding or driving, we want to know they are as confident about the world as they can be and that we can give our rehomers an honest report of their behaviour.
"We use systematic desensitisation at our Rescue and Rehoming Centres. This means that we build up what we are doing slowly and get the horses and ponies used to unfamiliar objects one step at a time. Often I will begin with a blanket or a plastic bag – something quite small. When the horse or pony interacts with that object – whether that's simply smelling it, putting a foot on it, or having it touch them somewhere on their body – calmly and quietly, we reward them.
"We take everything at their pace and treat them like the individuals they are. Eventually we will build up to walking over different surfaces such as tarpaulins or horse agility obstacles like see-saws. By providing this base and teaching the horses and ponies that foreign objects aren't scary, they are able to be far more confident when they are rehomed and are taken to a new environment.
Noddy on arrival
"If the horse is backed to ride or drive, taking a saddle or harness is a much smaller step when they're already used to being touched with much 'scarier' objects like plastic bags! Going out on hacks or in the carriage is far less likely to worry them when they have been introduced to a range of different feeling sounds and surfaces in advance.
"So many people don't realise how valuable it is for youngsters to have desensitisation work like this in the early years before they start doing ridden or driven work. They're often so much more relaxed and content when it comes to the next stages if they have been started correctly. It's also a really rewarding way to work with companion horses and ponies – it keeps you and them active and entertained and helps you build a bond that you might feel you miss by not riding them. Horse agility is becoming much more mainstream now and so many non-ridden companions take part.
Noddy now
"I work on desensitisation with all of the horses I'm responsible for, but two particular ponies stand out for me at the moment. Noddy – who is currently available for rehoming as a youngster – arrived earlier this year after he was abandoned and left to fend for himself. He was so underweight and terrified of human contact. He wouldn't even take food from my hand when he arrived as he was so scared to come near me. Thanks to working in-hand with him in the school he has made the most incredible progress. He will quite happily follow me around over all of the horse agility obstacles – whilst I hold an umbrella over his head! (see header image) He's going to make someone very happy and will be a brave and confident ridden pony if they continue to desensitise him like we have.
"Norman is going to be rehomed as a companion, but he is so intelligent that it would be a shame not to work with him at something he enjoys. He has come to really love his ground work and is so much fun to work with – he will make a super pony for horse agility in the right hands. Any rehomer would be able to ask for our help and advice on continuing his training, as we are always more than happy to answer their questions when they take on one of our ponies.
Norman is currently undergoing his rehabilitation
"Knowing we have provided the best possible start for our horses is an amazing feeling and we know how valuable it is to our rehomers that we have instilled this confidence in them. Our rehomers are so supportive and always checking back in to let us know how fantastic our horses and ponies are being – it's incredibly rewarding to have played such a big part in their happiness."
We could not continue to rehabilitate our horses without your help. Please consider donating today.
You can apply to rehome Noddy here: http://rehoming.worldhorsewelfare.org/horseprofile/461