Blinders or no blinders

Some on this site know of an old hand named Glen French out in Salmon River, Oregon. Glen never used blinders on his horses. I have asked him to write about it but he tends to not want to influence other peoples styles to much and hasn’t written much about it publicly. Glen French was an accomplished horseman and logged and competed in regional pulling contest for many years and was the past president of the North American Horse and Mule Loggers Association.

He basically explained to me that it was a matter of trusting the horses to understand what is going on behind them and not be afraid of it. It is best as John suggest to start them that way so it isn’t a sudden surprise to see a large object following (chasing) them out of the woods. I think of it as a matter of horses are frightened most, (like the rest of us), by what they don’t understand. So if they are allowed to experience lots of things in the gradual process of their training then they are less likely to be frightened by what they understand from experience that things moving behind them that are not a threat.

Like John I have experimented with not having blinders in the woods and the horses are frightened by all of the new vision they have and can be compelled to the fear equals flight response, particularly if they don’t have a bit in their mouth that can stop them from running away.

Most of the European horse loggers don’t use blinders either. I prefer to have blinders just to make the work easier from the onset, which I guess means less time training one to all the possible scenarios of working and get me to the point that I am putting wood on the landing quicker which means more money with less training.

It is interesting to note that the pulling contest rules around here usually require that you use blinders or open bridles but that you can’t change during the contest. In Maryland they don’t have that rule and I have seen several guys take the blinders off on the last few loads to get a little more from the horses. I knew a fellow once that drilled holes in the middle of his blinders and put rubber grommets in them and would pop them out on the last load to get a little more response from the horses. The judges never caught him at it, but the conditioning of the horses and their basic honest effort is what wins pulling contest particularly when the contestants are not inclined to drug or shock horses to compete.

I also think blinders protect the horses eyes in the brush of the forest. I will keep mine on for the time being.

I also have noticed that brave horses are more likely to not make a difference with blinders or not – for instance – my older stallion doesn’t care one way or another. As a matter of experience I was riding him up the road one day following my daughter riding an older gelding and we decided to turn around and go back to the barn for something. The turn around was pretty sharp and when I bent the stallions head around to where he could see around the blinders and he saw my leg hanging off his side he reached up and tried to crab kick my leg with his inside hind leg. That was scary so just as soon as I got back to the barn I changed to an open bridle and mounted him again and rode off without incident. Once he knew it was me on his back it didn’t matter, but to see my leg suddenly around the blinders was scary for him apparently. That experience is what taught me that he is brave once he understands what is going on.

So I guess if you start them without blinders and develop their experience slowly it doesn’t make much difference.

Don’t forget the Restorative Forestry Summit at Mountain Lake Conservancy in September 18-21 2008. More information will be on our web site soon. Put in on your calendar and come on down to the Appalachians and visit with us in the woods.

Here’s a thought – I just brought home a 6 yo gelding who hasn’t worked in some time – I’m going to team him with my older woods wise gelding – would it make sense to try to train him him open?
John

Biological Woodsman wrote: <<"Most of the European horse loggers don't use blinders either. I prefer to have blinders just to make the work easier from the onset, which I guess means less time training one to all the possible scenarios of working and get me to the point that I am putting wood on the landing quicker which means more money with less training.">>

I have pondered the blinders or not issue alot lately as I am about to start driving my 2 year old. Having very little driving experience, I have of course canvassed vast numbers of experienced teamsters and drivers to no avail….all have differing opinions on both sides of the matter. It does seem pretty clear that blinders do indeed speed up the process from start to finish…but since I have more of a ‘natural’ tendency and have no time constraints I went with the open bridle for my first harness. I can see alot of reasons why I might someday use blinders however in some circumstances. For now, I think it is important to do as much as we can in an open bridle to engage Peanuts brain and cooperation.

Steve Bowers out in Colorado, who I respect (and miss) a great deal, recommends that if a horse was started in blinders, keep them in blinders. If a horse is started open, there should be no reason to use blinders. Makes sense to me and sounds like it is the experience with you folks as well. Jennifer.

I’ve never been clear on what the benefits are to open bridles? I don’t see that blinders are actually blinding my animals to anything that goes on around them. If there is something they need to see, they can turn their head. They seem to be pretty well aware that something is back there “chasing them” anyway, just from the sound. When the school bus comes vrooming up behind them, they know that it’s a big load thing, and when it comes into view around the blinders, I’m not sure that is all that surprising to them.

On the other hand I have always seen blinders as a device to limit the perspective of the horse on where they are going, to facilitate the work, by narrowing their focus, not to shield their vision from possible threats.

Great thread. Carl

I have been thinking some more, a dangerous tendency, about blinders, focus, and communication. I rely heavily on visual communication for many things, but not when I’m working the animals in harness. As Lane, and Jennifer both mentioned above, a working horse will be keyed into visual signals from the teamster, which I feel, will be distracting to the horse, and possibly the teamster.

I am not, nor ever have been, a rider. But, I have had some interesting interface with “riders” who want to learn to work horses. There is a very body oriented relationship with riding. However, with working it is, ( To paraphrase Wendell Berry from his poem “Horses”, in the intro to The Draft Horse Primer) “Fleshing your will, through the reins”.

The work of riding is detailed around maneuvering, and is based in the seat, with a focus on the horse. The work of draft is detailed around the power of productive task, and is based in the mind, with a focus on the equipment or load,log,etc..

It may seem somewhat belittling to separate the horse from the communication by interfering with visual communication, but it is a bit like dealing with a child who can walk, but still wants to be picked up. By taking away the visual focus on the teamster, the animal is not distracted from the extremely subtle communication that is being transmitted through the leather.

I know from experience of trying to help a rider learn to work horses in the woods, that there is a learning curve specifically associated with the different perspectives. Also the other way, as I am so unaccustomed to riding that I feel no seat when on horseback.

Because of the nature of the enterprise of riding, I can see the value of an open bridle, having the horse be able to appraise the landscape etc.. But as I referred to before, working horses have plenty of ability to understand what is going on, and they need to be able to learn to trust the teamster without the pacification of visual contact.

I really see blinders as important components of a working relationship. That is not to say that I am not a Natural Horseman. I believe strongly in a solid visual and respectful relationship with my horses, but I see no disrespect in using blinders any more than I do in using any other piece of equipment.

I really believe that horses that react differently when given open bridles are not reacting as much to the “things” around them, as they are reacting to the fact the the teamster is paying attention to the work they are doing, and not to the horse. Because the teamster, by the nature of the work, is paying attention to the “things”, then horse is compelled to as well. There is no need, in my mind, that the horse be responsible for figuring out anything about the work that is being done, only that they are responsible for complete participation in the complex relationship between the teamster’s intention and their own physical power.

Carl

On this subject I am doing some field research. We are starting a 2 1/2 yr old filly with an open bridle because when we first started her she had a small head and the open bridle was the only one that fit. She is easy going and docile so we can’t make an accurate decision weather the open bridle is the way to go or not. She does well and doesn’t spook from anything. She has done well on the spreader, sled and yesterday the plow. I would have to try it on several horses with some being more spirited to make an accurate assumption. For now we will leave the blinders on the other 14 bridles and experiment with this one.

With my draft cross horse, I can get just about any job performed with or without blinders on the bridle. He’s a willingly worker. I have experimented with and without blinders to see if having a larger field of view has any effect on his performance. And with this horse I honestly can’t see a difference. Any more, I routinely use the bridle with the blinders as it does provide some protection from the thorny bushes. My mule on the other hand, has a lack of willingness to comply with my requests without blinders on. He’s sluggish in his transisions (from stop to walk, walk to trot etc.) and more inclined to stray off path. By using the blinder bridle I clear up these problems. If at first he does not readily comply with my request then the second ask is accompanied with a properly applied whip. I never need asking a third time. I also have no further need for carrying the whip for the remainder of the day. This is not the case with an open bridle. He can anticipate the whip and perform as he chooses. For this mule, the blinders help him focus on his job. And as with most things, equipment choices should fit the needs of the job and animal in question.

LaNette