Scentwork with Horses

Scentwork provides multiple benefits for horses. Horses have the same number of scent receptors as the average dog, and thus being able to smell their environment is important to them. Since the olfactory nerve goes directly to the limbic system -- the seat of emotion and memory -- activating the sense of smell can help evoke positive memories or defuse negative ones and moderate emotions. Rachael Draaisma, author of Scentwork for Horses, suggests one way to use scent to help horses emotionally is to provide the vet with a small towel to leave at the clinic for a few days, then put that towel within smelling distance of the horse's living quarters. If he ever has to visit the clinic, he will already be familiar with the scent, so the experience will be less nerve-wracking for him.

 An easy exercise for young or worried horses is to teach them to play with objects on a tarp. With my friend's horse, Kevlar, the first day I introduced him to the scent games (which sadly I didn't video) I put treats on the very edges of the tarp because the tarp worried him. Since he was free in the round pen and I wanted him to figure out the treats himself, I didn't direct him in any way. He could see and smell the treats on the tarp and wanted his owner and me to get them for him, whereas I wanted him to learn to manage his own emotions rather than relying on us, so we moved out of sight. At first he got emotional, but soon he realized he needed to solve the puzzle himself. After a bit, he was willing to reach from a distance to grab the cookies from the edge. 

The second day, as soon as he saw the tarp in the round pen, he was eager to get to it. This video shows him going right to the cookies and reaching further over the tarp to get ones placed further in. He scared himself at one point, but after thinking about it went back for more, demonstrating that he was already learning to manage his emotions without help.

I didn't get a chance to work with Kevlar again on the scent work since he belongs to my friend who is out of state, but Sam's video shows what scent work can lead to after a few sessions. In this case, Sam is familiar with searching for treats that have been hidden. He can shake out towels, knock over buckets and cones, push aside blocks, unfold bags, shake pellets out from water bottles and so on. I love this video because he is so systematic and thoughtful (though I've sped it up a bit for your viewing pleasure), and because when he's done unfolding the bag and finding the treat, he very deliberately tosses it to the side. 

Rachael Draaisma notes a long list of benefits to scentwork when done on average twice a week:

• A decrease in fear and aggression responses with regard to known stimuli
• A decrease in fear and aggression responses with regard to new stimuli
• A decrease in impulsivity
• A decrease in overreactions and tension
• A decrease in frustration (which had been caused by not being able to execute natural seeking behavior)
• A decrease in boredom
• A decrease in the development of chronically elevated stress levels
• A decrease in the chance of developing "shutdowns," learned helplessness, depression and lethargy
• An increase in impulse control
• An increase in the amount of time in which a horse can concentrate
• An increase in problem-solving ability, or an increase in displaying problem-solving ability
• An increase in generalization. If he understands a logical concept, he can link comparable concepts to it. A horse who generalizes and is used to a long-haired black dog will more easily become accustomed to a short-haired gray dog because he is familiar with the dog concept. A horse who does not generalize has to get used to the short-haired gray dog all over again.
• An increase in long-term memory capacity
• An increase in happiness and joy in life
• An increase of calm in the horse's behavior and nature
• A healthy immune system and a lower chance of developing stress-related ailments
• Better body control
• An increase in seeking out and maintaining social relationships
• An increase in engagement with the rider and/or handler. It improves the relationship between horse and human from the horse's perspective
• An increase in comfort with regard to the presence of other poeple
• An increase in willingness when it comes to the tasks people ask him to perform because of the development of reciprocity 

(List taken from Scentwork for Horses by Rachael Draaisma) 

Currently I'm working with a little Thoroughbred mare with significant anxiety. After I got her home and realized the depth of her worry, I decided scentwork would be a great way to help her relax. I'll track her progress in the blog. Here's video of her in her paddock, doing her first scentwork on a tarp in a place that's familiar and comfortable for her.

I love teaching owners and horses how to use scent work to enrich their horse's daily lives, and to develop deeper bonds with one another. Contact me if you want to explore a wonderful way to connect with your equine partner.