Tim
Moderator
Registered: 08/12/08
Posts: 279
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Reply with quote | #1 |
I'm gonna write some articles to finally get back to working on my website.
Amongst the articles already listed on the "Training" page, that are as of yet unwritten, I'm going to do several articles on common, and not so common horse problems.
What I need is suggestions for the top ten problems people have with their horses and any others that may help those of you whose horses may have various behavioral issues.
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foxtail
Registered: 11/08/08
Posts: 40
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Reply with quote | #2 |
As you know, my horse's top problems are 1. Buddy sour, 2. Wanting to forge ahead, or lead, on the trail, and 3. Being jiggy or yantsy when he can't lead the ride. From my experience this past year, these are extremely common problems among trail riders. |
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Jan
Registered: 08/12/08
Posts: 114
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Reply with quote | #3 |
So many folks also have trouble trailer loading, tying, and getting their horse to carry it's head low. I've had problems with horses that want to go too fast when you just want to amble along on the trail.
Many of us are also dealing with horses that have been treated harshly in the past so they have fear issues. Just the other day you talked about a horse that just watches you out of the corner of their eye, waiting for something to happen, and that totally describes our mare. You suggested just bending the head toward you and rubbing until they relax so I've been doing lots of that. Just that little simple act really helps her watchful attitude.
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jc
Registered: 08/31/08
Posts: 35
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Well - I will have to be honest and say that my horses biggest problem is ...me - but I'm working on that...
I would be interested in what you think about "marish" horses - and what is ok to accept from them - or I gues a better way to put it is where to draw the line. When Magic is in heat, for the first couple of days she does a lot of pinning her ears - tossing her head in your direction, swishing her tail - just generally letting you know she is not happy. If she tosses her head at me - I correct her hard and fast - but just generally ignore the pinned ears and make her listen. I have read so much on the internet - and there seems to be a lot of different opinions that gets my head spinning ... |
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Tim
Moderator
Registered: 08/12/08
Posts: 279
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Reply with quote | #5 |
Marish... studdy.... hyper.... lazy.... You should expect to accept the same out of any or all of them. Complete and total respectful and polite behavior.
Respect is important. It doesn't come and go. If she'll ever pin her ears at you or treat you disrespectfully, whether she's in heat or not, she has a lack of respect for you that will cause you problems both on the ground and in the saddle.
It's important to note that even when a horse is in heat, they'll not treat the lead mare disrespectfully. If they wouldn't do it to the lead horse, they shouldn't do it to you because you must be the lead horse.
If she ever pins her ears at you or threatens you by tossing her head, you need to take an aggressive step or two toward her, whatever it takes to make her move those feet enthusiastically, like you're gonna bite her head off immediately so she'll understand that, under NO circumstances does she have the option of challenging your authority or status as the lead horse. If an aggressive threatening step don't impress her enough to make her move those feet, you need to be prepared to pop that butt with a stick or lead rope... anything to make her move her feet and yield to you with enthusiasm. You'll notice how quick she comes polite when you call that bluff and turn it around on her.
You should be able to accomplish it by just aggressively charging her and making her move but make sure you don't get within kicking or striking range because if she doesn't fully respect you, she may take a defensive swipe at you as she flees... but she definitely needs to flee when when you tell her to.
If you just ignore the pinned ears and work through it, you're allowing her to work on a volunteer basis at her convenience when/if she feels like it, which in her mind, gives her options which she shouldn't have. Make those feet move and work her even more assertively/aggressively, then go back to what you were initially asking and see if she don't accept it better by comparison.
The people who would suggest that you ignore that behavior, or just work through it, are the same people that think that there is an acceptable level of misbehavor or disrespect in a horse... Those kind of people allow the horse to determine parameters of the relationship and that's a counterproductive attitude that can quickly turn dangerous in stressfull situations. And to a horse... most situations start out stressful.
There is no acceptable level of disrespect or misbehavior in horses. And when you know that, you find that it's surprisingly easy to keep a horse well behaved and respectful at all times. You'd be amazed at how many people think that it's alright for a horse to pitch, buck, snort, act pinny eared or any other number of disrespectful behaviors at the beginning of a ride or training session... These are the same people who can't figure out why their horse has various behavioral issues pop up "unexpectedly" when they want to ride.
Always work you horse attitude first... Any time you lose that softness or respect... Stop whatever you're doing and remind the horse that nothing less than respectful and polite will be tolerated. It will make EVERYTHING go better and safer.
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