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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!
Whatever it is they were trying to do, it didn't work well. ;~D
The sky was alternately very threatening and somewhat cheerful during the drive, very changeable.
I just woke up from a nap. Some busy day, adventures and all. ;~D
It is receding now, for the moment. The road we were on where we could see the Chehalis River ~was~ under water earlier in the week.
Depends really, on how it really fits without... That one looks like it's thick around the edges, but less so under the saddle. Still, it's more padding than your thin pad that you have now is alone.
I think the answer is, yes, you should be able to find a pad that provides what he needs without the cashell, he shouldn't have a back that requires anything too fancy. I just wonder if that one is really just a thin pad with a thick pad trim. One of the plain regular sheepskins might give more padding.
Bob just bought an endurance saddle with a flex tree (?) as he's been having problems getting a good fit on Ghost. I don't know if something like that would help or not.
Please put me on your ping list for the saddle club - and for the doggie ping list while you're at it! Thanks, you're a peach!
Will do, and welcome... I ping to other horse articles I see, MissTargets pings to this thread every morning for chat.
Would you like on both?
Saddle fit is such a mysterious science to me. I'd be lost without Dan the Saddle Man who'll come out and fit it.
Okie Dokie, I just joined, but I really need some advice. Bigtime. Help. Like, now.
Upshot: my husband is just so ready to get a horse. We live in a horsey neighborhood, and our next-door neighbor is a breeder of Registered Appendix and Quarter Horses, so he generously offered us a chance at his five-month old full-blood Quarter Horse colt. He's a pretty boy with papers, and everyone we've brought in thinks he's dandy.
Because of the drought, mom's looking a little poor, so the decision was made to wean him now. He's in a round pen with mom able to reach through the fence to him, but she was a lot more mellow about it than I thought she'd be. I think she was simply ready (this is her first foaling and she's 21) so she just said "see ya" and headed for the feed bucket. She comes around, but not enough to satisfy him. We wanted to put another horse in there with him, but the others (geldings) are too aggressive with him when mom's not there with him.
Now, this little fella is used to mom and his herd, who are all being allowed to naturally roam and graze. They are older working horses who have been sold and turned out to pasture, so they are a happy bunch unto themselves. Problem is, he has never been around people, so he thinks I am satan or something. He considers me to be the root of all evil, even as he is eating out of my hand - a quarter square bale a day, and a pound per hundred body weight of DuMore Mare n' Foal. Nothing but hay will entice him; not alfalfa, not apples, not even sugar cubes. Only hay pleases him, and he glares at me with silent resentment while he munches the hay out of my hand.
I'm actually quite pleased that he has let me get so close in a week's time - he would even let me near him at first. I've spent an hour a day with him, just acclimating him to me, and up til today everything's been going so well. Now he allows me to be resented while I feed him, or even while I touch his muzzle. He likes to sniff my hair (I think that's because it's long and bay colored like mom's) and he will allow me to touch my nose to his. But I didn't anticipate him trying to back me into a corner today and bite me on the arm. Repeatedly. Deliberately. Ouchly.
It happens at different places in the pen, when I'm paying attention to him, not paying attention to him, getting feed, or just coming in. He came over, greeted me rather nicely with a muzzle touch, then proceeded to lay his ears back and munch me. And he kept coming closer. When he got a good bite in, I stomped my foot to show him my displeasure, and that seemed to work - he ran to the other side of the pen - but then he felt compelled to feel more irritated. Then he tried it some more when I went to pat the other horses (AKA treat hounds). He's a big boy for his age, and frankly it's a little frightening when he keeps coming closer and biting me over and over again.
I'm not sure how to approach this. I'm not sure what his motivation is - I'm not bugging him when he does this, but he couldn't seem to care less if I'm standing right beside him - which is the only place he won't do it. (He will try to munch me if I try to touch his cheeks, too, but then I rub his ears and he forgets why he was mad). I don't know how to discipline for this without making him shy, but I sure don't want him to continue this behavior.
It's making me really rethink this whole thing. I would ask my neighbor how to handle this, but he's been looking for a trainer himself and I don't want just anybody handling this little fella. I also don't want to spoil him myself. I'm new here, so I'm not sure who to ask.
I just want him to get used to me and continue to work towards getting the halter placed. He's going to need hoof trimming, vet work, and more, so I need to get this situation under control...
Help!
I know you asked Hair but just my two cents. PASS HIM UP!
Whew... where to begin. I hope this post doesn't make you mad or sad, but I feel I need to be blunt.
First of all, no one should have offered you a 5 month old colt to you as a first horse, particularly one that has not been handled. I don't want to overly insult your friend and neighbor, so I'll just say this... it was not generous to give you this colt. My best advice to you is to give him back. He needs to go to an experienced home, before he develops further bad habits and before you get hurt trying to work with him.
Horses are not like dogs where there is a benefit to raising him yourself. The reality is, his 21 year old mother (assuming she's broke) would have likely been a better gift for you than this colt. Older horses who 'know all the ropes' are really the best way for you to safely learn horsemanship and really learn to enjoy them. If you plan keep going with this guy, then for your sake and his, get some expert help.
That said, he's biting and aggressive for a few reasons... One, he's a colt. Babies do that stuff, in addition to worse things. Wait till he learns to kick, rear up and paw. Second, he's not broke at all. He's just scared and cornered and knows no manners... And feeding him by hand will make him worse, particularly stud colts. Stallions bite. Lastly, he's bored. He's in a small pen, I gather, he's not being worked with, he's full of energy and needs to both run off energy and have his mind occupied. Every day.
Well, he's only being kept in the pen until mom gets dry - he's supposed to be turned out to pasture later this week. I was just working with him to try and get him to accept me. We have friends who raise horses, but with my husband gone this week it was up to me to make sure he's okay.
However, you've convinced me. Take me off the list - I guess I was never meant to be a horse owner.
I didn't mean to say that at all and I'm sorry. What I meant to get across is that the raising of a five month old stud colt is something that only very experienced people should do... it's not beginner stuff! If you want to be a horse owner, I'd rather help you find a horse that is both trained and safe, before you really get hurt.
No, your probably right. But it did make me cry - I've been watching him since the day he was born, and for some reason I just thought he was my horse.
I have to go now. :'(
I'm sorry, I knew it might make you sad, but to pussy foot around it would be horsemanship malpractice in my view. I didn't want to lie about it.
Please think about it some and come back. Having horses can be a great, fun, rewarding, terrific activity... but always there are dangers, and training horses can be very dangerous, particularly when they are as old as this one is to be halter breaking. He's already stronger than you, and strong enough to hurt you. And he's displayed a few signs that he's not going to be an easy one to work with.
I understand the sentiment you have toward him. If you really want to keep him, send him to a pro. (and next week is too soon to turn him back out with mom)
You're right. I don't have the experience, and because of that I'll never have the experience.
I'll just tell my neighbor to keep the money and spend it on Ranger's alfalfa. Ranger'd like that.
Thank you.
Maybe find someplace to take some lessons, with your husband. Get some experience that way before you buy one. :~D
Regarding Ranger - do you have a place to keep him at your house? Get him gelded as soon as possible. Push his head away if he tries to nibble, if he bites, hit him. He mustn't ever be allowed to bite without punishment.
As long as you are an occassional visitor and he is with the other horses, you will have trouble. If he is by himself and relies on you for food and exercise, he may be a little more appreciative.
If possible, send him to baby boot camp for some manners (a trainer).
Don't get your feelings hurt and don't give up. We've just all been there, done that :) and learned from experience.
The cornering. How do you prevent or stop that?
Well, if it were me, I'd probably take a 2x4 to him. Seriously, I wouldn't even deal with him without a halter and leadline on him and a crop or lunge whip to teach him some manners. He's just behaving like he would to another horse and needs to learn he can't behave that way towards people. He needs to learn a healthy respect for two leggeds.
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