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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can 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 last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
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 Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) 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 last thread, 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.
I think Cindy was just rubbin' in her warm weather...
I put mine on when it drops into the forties.
They are a herd animal... Companionship of other horses is something they seek. I think isolating them in a small round pen and never letting them interact sounds harsh. If they can see and touch other horses across the fence they get some companionship but also get used to seeing the other horse wander off... Mine are herd bound, I like their relationships to keep them entertained when I am not riding... but still they are still required to behave when I am taking them somewhere. And they do. They get used to coming and going after a few episodes of leaving and coming back safely. Even my pony, who used to run the fenceline in a panic when we took Bay out, no longer panics when alone. I think of herdbound tendencies as something to manage, but impossible to eliminate unless you have a true solitary horse.
There is one small area where my neighbors share a fence line and a large area where my own pastures meet and share a fence line. I was keeping 2 geldings on one side, a gelding and the mare on the other side.
I despise a herd bound horse, it's one of my biggest pet peeves. I'd rather have a cribber! Sooooo, I'll do anything I have to do to keep this mare behaving herself. If she won't shut up I'll have her dang vocal chords cut. (just kidding, but not by much) What she was doing last night was this: my daughter was riding her in the round pen, slow stuff because it was a little muddy, and the mare was good as gold. Mandy (my daughter) decided to take her out of the round pen and just walk her a bit in the pasture. All the other horses were in the barn and one of them whinnied and that was all it took. The mare wheeled around and started screaming back and wouldn't shut up, wouldn't pay attention to my daughter and was generally making me very nervous about what was going to happen. I made Mandy take her back in the round pen, the mare calmed down back to the way she was before. She wasn't like this when I brought her home so I emailed the seller and asked her what she was doing to manage this behavior. (I'm sure she loved hearing from me!) Anyway, the seller is a well known trainer in this area, has won tons of stuff and she said she was certain this mare would be safe for children, as the mare had been born on her place and she sold her to a friend who was her only owner. The mare is 9 years old.
Oh, OK:). I thought you were still trying to figure out if you needed to blanket your horses.
Becky
How old is your daughter?
Helped dd trim her App. yesterday - the farrier gave her the "assignment" to trim just before he came so he can critique her .... I think I hurt My back - horse is VERY good and patient - took us over an hour so I think its just strained from being in awkward position....
My friend is bringing her Mother'-in-law over to watch... she is such a neat lady - in her 80's - was a real "cowgirl" - went on those endurance trail rides and even hauled cattle when she was in her 70's.... My kids love to hear her tell stories!!!
Hope ya"ll have a good "horse day" !!!
None of my other horses are herd bound, they couldn't care less about each other. As a matter of fact, they act like they would rather be with me than each other. I can't walk out in the pasture with them without a stick or whip or something, because they will run over me trying to get to me first. They were like this from day one so I don't think it's something I inadvertantly trained them to do. I think I just got horses with similar personalities, until this mare.
I would keep her in a run/pasture by herself, not stalled, where she can see other horses. Even nose them over the fence as long as that is safe for her. It might also take a ver experienced rider a time or two getting on her to get her over it, but I would have your daughter get on her immediatly following, so she is still in the mind set of having to do what the rider says.
Also saddleing them up and letting them stand tied for a couple of hours before you ride is good discipline for something like this.
All this, JMO:)
Becky
Well the calling and refusing to listen when she was out in the open space alone is a problem.... I was wondering if your daughter is old enough to work through it or if you would have to.
She's 15 and not a great rider. She's been riding her connemara pony for years but he's a packer. She's never had to deal with a horse that had issues. I just don't want her to get hurt on an unsuitable horse, I'd never forgive myself.
I agree that some horses have more tendency to being herd bound then others.
Becky
I'll be riding most of the day:), Heather and another lady I have nver rode with are coming here in about 30 minutes.
Becky
I am still pretty sure we will shoe this mare when my farrier comes, but I am going to ask him about it. I am still too much of a traditionalist, I think, to think she'll make it sound on trail barefoot.
The previous owner said they took her on trail and even in parades without shoes... Maybe we'll leave her barefoot till spring, won't be trail riding much till then.
I read on a website last night that making them stand tied for 4 to 8 hours at a time is good for this problem. Teaches them patience and it doesn't hurt them to stand there. My next door neighbor, who is a professional barrel racer, leaves her horses standing tied all day in her covered arena. They just stand there, pretty as you please, and her barrel horses are the calmest horses I've ever seen.
Actually, I think the horse is going to be fine for her as long as another horse is riding with her. I can't always do that so I'll probably have to work on this while Mandy is at school.
I am a firm believer in the practice. I have seen big changes in horses after standing tied. And if you're doing it to help correct a problem, the longer the better.
Barn sour horses need to be tied and left to stand AFTER the ride. Then getting back to the barn is not such a treat.
Becky
Thanks for the help, that's what I'm going to do! Is this something I need to do every day for the rest of her life or maybe every day for a week or two then every other day to keep her reminded?
Intrude??? Not hardly. I always value your opinion/advice. I was just mentioning it's supposed to get cool here tonight. Just a rabbit trail from hairs last post. I might put them on when/if we drop in the 30's in a few months but they are fine right now. Yesterday all they would have needed were speedos and shades:') It was so hot.
Actually more envious than rubbing:')
I would do it everyday till the problem is corrected. After that just occasionally. Around here when I get a new horse in, my own or someone elses, they stand tied every day for about week for a couple of hours before I ride, after that I would only continue if there was a problem. Sometimes I run out a saddle when I know I'm going to ride a little early sometimes they stand for awhile after getting back. Mix it up. But you should not have to do if for the rest of her life. I think if you do it to much when there is no problem it would lose it's effectiveness. But I do reccommend doing it occasionally for reenforcement of who is in charge:)
Becky
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