Detect When Your Horse Is Stressed

Jeff Campf is a horse rider and coach in Canby, Oregon, with over four decades of equestrian experience. A winner of multiple hunter and jumper titles and awards, Jeff Campf has trained horses for competitions such as grand prix events and the World Championship Hunter Rider.

When training your horse, being aware of signs of stress is essential. A stressed horse is more susceptible to accidents, bad behavior, and numerous health issues. As with all horse training, it is good to remember that bad behavior or poor performance is not the horse’s fault - once the source of stress is removed, its disposition and health should return to normal.

A well-known sign of stress in horses is trembling, which a horse will often do when its source of stress is in its line of sight - be that a veterinarian, herd mate, or other individual or object it doesn’t like. This sign of stress is obvious because horses share this element of body language with humans. One area in which they differ is in yawning. When a human yawns, its purpose is to create a brain chemical that alleviates drowsiness, but in horses it causes a release of endorphins that allow it to vent stress. A horse that is yawning a lot is probably stressed, especially if the yawns are one right after the other.

Other signs include excessive tooth grinding, licking, and chewing. These behaviors are similar to yawning, in that they allow the horse to vent stress. There is some research that suggests licking and chewing is a response to the horse learning something new, but it can also mean that it is in a high-stress state. One of the most dangerous signs of stress is if your horse bolts down its food - not only is this a sign of stress, there is a risk of choking. If your horse displays any of these behaviors, first check for dental problems, and then look for possible sources of stress.

A Brief Biography of Ian Millar

A resident of Canby, Oregon, Jeff Campf is an experienced equestrian who has earned numerous grand prix victories in the showjumping arena and competed in the 2004 Olympic trials. Alongside his wife, Jeff Campf serves as an owner and trainer at OZ Inc., where he coaches developing equestrians. Earlier in his career, Mr. Campf gained expertise as a horseman while working as a rider and coach for Ian Millar.

Born in 1947, Ian Miller is the most awarded equestrian in Canada for his performance in the sport of show jumping. He has received numerous accolades, including the Order of Canada in 1986 and induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2012. Ian Millar is likely best known for having competed in the most Olympic Games of any athlete, in any discipline, in the history of Olympic sport. In total, he competed in 10 Olympic Games, and only earned his first medal in 2008 at the age of 61. He has also claimed nine Pan American Games medals, and won six world championships.

In 2019, Ian Millar retired from international competition but remains active in the sport as a trainer at his Perth, Ontario-based Millar Brooke Farm. Millar operates the facility alongside his daughter Amy, his son Jonathon, and Jonathon’s wife, Kelly. 

The USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships

An Oregon native, Jeff Campf trains horses for competition at the OZ Incorporated farm, which offers equestrian care and has a website with news articles that help owners and investors stay current with the sport. Jeff Campf also engages with other professionals within the equestrian industry through membership with groups such as the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA).

Founded in 2003 to represent and unify the hunter and jumper disciplines of equestrian sport, USHJA provides education, sports programs, and recognition that delivers value to the industry’s community. Equestrians and horse enthusiasts can join the USHJA membership community and enjoy its many benefits, such as access to competitive and educational programs.

Athletes able to jump 1.10 m to 1.35 m fences that are interested in competing can choose to participate in the USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships. To qualify for these championships, jumpers must have earned at least 20 points in their section at an eligible competition and complete the application.

The USHJA Zone Jumper Team Championships consist of individual and team competitions held by zone. Competitors are considered for the USHJA Emerging Jumper Rider Program and for earning the title of USHJA Gold Star Emerging Jumper Rider. 

Oz Incorporated Offers Comprehensive Horse Care Services

After competing in numerous horse shows across the East Coast and earning titles such as OHJA Open Jumper Champion, Jeff Campf moved back to his home state of Oregon and purchased a 45-acre farm in Canby. Along with his wife Shelley, Jeff Campf oversees the horse farm's operations under the name Oz Incorporated.

Providing training for riders of all abilities, Oz Incorporated also offers comprehensive boarding and horse care services. Horses boarded at the farm have 12' x 12' stalls with dirt floors covered by rubber mats and wood shavings that are cleaned each day, as well as access to paddocks with fresh grass.

Oz begins its focus on horse health with a quality diet of hay from eastern Oregon, along with select grains and supplements. The horses receive regular care from veterinarians, equine dentists, and blacksmiths.

Training for horses boarded at Oz includes their owners, who work together through a classical training program grounded in the American Hunter Jumper System. Typically the training program includes 6 days of work encompassing flatwork, gymnastics, competition preparation, and course work, crafted according to personalized programs for each client.