| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 02/24/2006 9:22:08 AM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread Nine: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1584833/posts |
Posted on 10/04/2005 9:56:41 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and MissTargets will now be pinging everyone most mornings. Let MissTargets and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
LOL Okay, that makes sense. I'm a little slow tonight.
Well, lack of sleep catching up with me. I'm gonna call it a night too.
He was backing up and trying to get away from the trail and head the other way.
Speaking of paints.... Tuffy getting his exercise. I can tell that he's still a little sore but nothing major, and nothing I'm medicating him for.
I don't like my new bareback pad, it's gonna need a bunch of work. The latigo on the near side sits up too high and rubs the underside of my leg. The billet on the far side, same story. I'll find a saddler to put some rings further down on it or get it completely redone for an english girth.
Happy Friday to all!
Well, it's hard for me to know if the horse was doing this because he was afraid of something, or because of brattiness. If you think he was being afraid of something, I'd try having another horse go with me and take the lead. Let Waylon follow. If there is no one to go with you then start your next ride going in other directions for a while till he gets loosened up and comfortable then go back to that trail.
If you think it's brattiness, him being barn sour, just not wanting to leave by himself, I'd get a set of spurs. Let him know you have them with a few easy taps before a problem happens and then the second he starts the backing stuff really nail him with them. Be ready for him to really jump hard, but if his reaction is still going backwards don't stop nailing him till he goes forward. I know some here might disagree with me on this, but I've done this with good results.
And the most important thing about the next time, is don't give up. Make sure you start at a time when you have plenty of daylight to get the job done and don't stop till it is. Even if it means getting off and leading him a time or two, then getting back on and riding him thru it. If you give up, you're teaching him "if I act like this, I get my way and don't have to do what she says".
Good luck, keep us informed about your progress, and be careful:)
Becky
WHAT?! You've got satellite internet but no DVR?! Girl, you need to get one, they're only $5 extra a month and once you get used to one you'll never live without it again.
Becky, I agree with you in that you don't need to give up, that makes things worse. That said, I gotta be honest, a balky horse scares me more than anything because of an incident I had happen when I was a teenager. I was riding a horse that didn't belong to me around the barn she was being boarded at. She just decided to stop and wouldn't go anywhere. I took the end of the reins and was popping her pretty good with them (on her butt) and she reared up and fell over backwards on me.
If it doesn't rain today, I plan on going out there about 3:00 and take your suggestions and just not give up until he does it.......what do I do if he won't do it again? I spent an hour yesterday and then it got dark.
As an aside, he went down that trail on Tuesday with no trouble. I think he was just being a brat because he wouldn't go down the other trail either, he kept wanting to head back towards the barn. It was also getting close to feeding time.
I had a bulky horse one time. I mean this horse put down roots. We tried everything, spurs, whips, boards, He was broke to ride very well, it was just stubbornness on his part. It finally came down to pulling him over and holding him down. 2-3 times of that and he never sulled up again. But his stubbornness manifested itself in other ways. Pulling one down would be a very last resort on a horse you know for certain is just being a brat. But your right about bulky horses being dangerous. I don't think estrogens is being bulky. It just sounds like something was bothering him or he's just a bit barn sour. If fixed quick he should be fine.
Becky
Yes, he is. And once you get past the hype, they actually work very well. I've got his Level 1 Partnership home study course which has videos, a book and several pocket guides. If you work on the exercises like you're supposed to, which I never take the time to do, you're supposed to be able to pass the Level 1 test in about 2wks. Level 1 is just basic ground manners, safty, yielding & basic riding skills. To pass the test, you either have to either be tested by a certified instructor in person, or send them a video showing you performing all the required tasks. I could probably pass the level 1 test with Tennessee. Bob would take some work, but not much. I've got the Level 2 Harmony pack but haven't even opened it yet. I have great intentions but very little motivation.
Okay, that gives me a more clear picture. You could still let him follow another horse a time or two if possible, but it's probably just some barn sourness, not wanting to leave his mates. When you take him to your cabin, they're not around to get back too.
I'd put me on some spurs, or get a crop. And don't stop using them till he goes forward. And use them like you mean it, if you get my drift.
I had a horse here one time that the first time I took him out on trail by himself he stopped at the back of my property and wouldn't go on. I didn't have my spurs, so I went back and got them, and then went right back to that spot. Sure enough I could tell he was getting ready to start turning away, trying to go back and I let him have it. He jumped forward and farted and gave him another jab for insurance, and I never had trouble again.
If he really starts being a pill, and you just aren't makeing progress, You could try getting off and leading him, but he still needs to be ridden past that spot too. Once you get him aways past that spot, if possible, let something good happen, like get off and let him graze a few minutes. Or take a handful of grain, but don't give it to him till he has gone well past the problem spot willingly. Then if possible when you go back to the barn tie him up and let him stand saddled for as long as y ou can. Horses get barn sour IMO, for several reasons, and one is that alot of people make getting back to the barn the most pleasant part of the ride for the horse. They brush them, feed them, immediatly turn them out, etc. Horse pick up on that and then get to looking forward to the end of the ride because they know good things are going to happen to them and get anxious for it. If this is maybe what you have been doing change your routine once you get back. Let him stand tied, then re bridle and take out again. Keep him off balance as to what is going to happen at the end. Don't let the end of the ride become routine good things always happening. Does that make sense?
Becky
Sounds like you're describing stubborn and barn sour and not fear. Was he perfectly willing to move if it was back to the barn, is he otherwise moving well and he's not sore?
That'd be my only question.
You might find out with a little more force applied how strongly he feels about this. I would also try either spurs or a riding whip and pop him for going backwards. The risk of course, when you up the ante, is that he will too, and he might rear or buck in response. Be prepared. I hope your hubby is around out there and you aren't alone in case you come off.
A wimpy but safe thing I might try is to lead him out there, and lead him quite some ways, before you get on. Have a lunge whip with you. If he hesitates or acts stubborn, really nail him and make him go.
Because he's a young horse, and you're a relatively new rider, I would recommend getting a trainer out there to help if you're hesitant to push him or if he shows signs that he might blow up in a way you aren't ready to handle.
You got that right! I just had a flashback of it this past Friday when I took off half a day and took Tennessee to the vet to have the blood on this sheath checked out. He loaded up fine on the trip over there and the blood turned out to be from a small cut or ulcer which they think will heal on it's own but he refused to load up to go home. He went back to is old trick of getting everything in but his back feet. A lot of it was probably due to the fact that he was still pretty groggy from the sedation, but it was still aggrivating. I had told them ahead of time that I might have trouble reloading him because this was the first time since he started loading into this trailer that I'd actually unloaded him somewhere else. So they left us alone, but after about an hour or so, both vets came back out, on separate occasions, and offered to help me get him in there but I said no thanks and told them that every time I'd ever tried to force or rush him he always ended up hurting himself and then we were worse off than we were before. So I just took a deep breath and took my time and he finally got in. It took almost an hour and a half, but now I think if I have to take him somewhere again, it won't take as long. I was glad I didn't rush and do something stupid.
LOL...great minds and all that:).
I would add tho, that getting a more experienced person to do it will help, but estrogen is going to have to do it to, be firm. Horses can pick up on who can make them do something and who can't.
Becky
Horses can be so frutrating. You'd think for the return trip they'd just jump right in, but I guess first they have to learn that they are going home:).
Becky
I think at some point we've all been there, and rushed or lost our tempers or had a horse lose theirs. I'm sure glad you got him in eventually without drama.
Ooo! Cool pumpkin patch! I love the baby camel.
You're right, and I believe this... That's why when ecurbh was starting out on Cyn I was as hands off as possible. But I can't advise her getting in a fight she isn't ready for. So call it a disclaimer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.