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Thread Four: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1332664/posts |
Posted on 12/30/2004 7:01:16 PM PST 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?
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 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 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.
Yes, ecurbh still gets his lines and whip all tangled ;~D
Well, we stay stationary or pretty much so - takes too much energy to chase horses around, especially when you've got several that have to be worked. So I don't think you'd call us Monty Roberts type trainers at all. :)
Some horses we are working in a 40ft or 60ft round pen, you can use a line there - some get put in the 100ft pen - no line. 'Course if they don't behave, they go to a smaller one with a line.
Our horses are all trained so that we can put them on a line (say at the show or an endurance ride) and lift a hand to lunge them - sometimes just voice commands because there we don't have a ring to work them in and they need some settling of nerves and stretching legs after a long trailer ride. And there it's critical that they behave and obey without any correction equipment because it's important since we always have horses for sell that people see that. Am I making sense here?
You could have gone all day without mentioning warm weather :) - we have ice crystals 3/4 inch long on the trees and the fence.
You bring up an interesting point that I have thought about asking about before.
Do you think horses associate different areas for different behavior??? IOW's, in the past it has seemed to me that it is harder to get my horses to work good in our arena. It's home to them, sometimes it's the area I turn them into to play, they have been feed and watered there.
If I take them to a different arena, even when it's a familiar arena it seems they pay attention better, and work better. I've wondered if it was my imagination or a real thing.
But, I also think that because of this behavior at home, it is even more important that I get them to work good. Again, establishing whose in control. So it might not be a bad thing. I use to not like even trying here, the horse and I usually would both land up frustrated and I'd think I was back at square one, then I'd go somewhere else and they were fine...
Becky
You betcha. Makes perfect sense. I like, and think there is a place for liberty training, and the versatility of knowing both.
I do free lunge (without a saddle) and rope during the exercise. Everyone I guess develops their own style. Using both works for me in different ways. Occasionally mine will think I want her to face forward instead of walking too, which is usually my fault because I gave her mixed cues. (I use verbal and physical together) I do know that the more you lunge them the better you both get and I wouldn't give up on her. Usualy in my case it's just because I wasn't being consisent and off, and mine didn't know what I wanted her to do so she just stopped and did nothing:')</p>
Well, I firmly believe that they associate particular areas with behavior. Our rings are for work and/or exercise - they get turned out there to play and run sometimes but a person in the ring with them means work. Their stalls, paddocks, corrals are safe areas so to speak. Relaxing, food, sleeping in the sun.
Sorta like my doberman. She knew regular collar, behave but totally at ease. Choke chain, work, period. Not a matter of pulling on it or jerking her, just change of collar, change of mission.
Well, I was impressed that he was lunging her with 2 lines. I've never done that.
Becky
Well, I just wondered if it was my imagination. I don't have so much trouble with the geldings I have now, it was mostly with my mare. She'd really get stiff and sulky here at the house. Probably became more of a problem because I was nervous of her anyway, and just kind of gave up working her in our arena.
Becky
I wonder if, when you take them somewhere else, whether you are subtly different, more serious, and anxious that they do well for you, just because you are now somewhere else and in 'public' display. And if they are naturally more willing to follow your lead when they are not in their own territory. Bay spooks at things here, but on trail he will trust me to tell him how to handle new things.
My horses and dogs knew the difference between sloppin along and 'show day' before I did anything obviously different. In the case of the horses, they'd find their fire at Arab shows and I'd get much bigger action than I would at home. In the dog's case... he would misbehaved in ways because he knew he couldn't be corrected at shows ;~D
momof2, deaconjim brought up something that I want to clear up.
When I speak of lunging, I ALWAYS mean with a lunge line, not freelunging.
I don't even have a round pen. When I start one lunging that hasn't before, I do use a corner of the arena to help as a guide, but no round pen.
Once a horse knows how to lunge I move all over the place to do it. That way they learn whose in control:)...LOL. I admit I'm a control freak:)
Becky
A friend changes halter types on her stud when she uses him for breeding and he knows what that means.
We don't because our stud 1)is easy and well behaved no matter what (he's older and totally different kind of mind) and 2) Bob is a firm believer that he better stay that way and just because he's being used for breeding he doesn't have a pass to behave like an idiot.
He uses a chain under his chin when breeding, but occasionally at other times also - especially when he's full of himself and hasn't had any exercise for awhile.
You could very well be correct that it is more me that is differnt and the horses picking up on it.
OUt in public I have a fear of really looking like a fool on my horse:), I'm much more aware of myself and what I'M doing. At home I've caught myself sitting there on the horse flopping around like a sack of shit:)
Becky
While breeding is the only time we use a chain on Rocky. He's very easy. It's more of a precaution to make sure he "stays' easy.
We learned that from one time, it was actually when I bred my mare the first time. It had been like 3 years since he had bred a mare. The first time we were leading him to her, he knew what was fixing to take place...only time I've seen him loose control, and we didn't have a chain on him. He reared up about 20 feet from her, pawing the air...it was a pretty awsome scary sight. The poor mare thought so too, and tried to take off. It was her first time.
Luckily Mack did manage to hand on to him and to circle him away, I went and found a chain and we've used it ever since.
Becky
That was one of those "you got ten seconds to kill the horse" moments and Bob can really make an impression in 10seconds.
What's the advantage to taking them to a mare vs just turning them out to pasture and letting them do their own thing?
LOL...Bob sounds alot like Mack:)
Becky
The very real potential that your stallion, or the mare... can be hurt. Allowed loose, horses will too-often kick and bite upon first meeting. A valuable stallion is pretty vulnerable to a well placed kick, and owners of valuable mares don't like them scratched up from a chasing biting stallion. Many breeders will put breeding hobbles on the mare as a precaution.
Cindydawg, The advantages of hand breeding versus pasture breeding are many. First, there is much less chance of someone getting injured - horses can get pretty rough. Then, you have to fill out and send in a stud report to your association on all the mares you breed. If you are hand breeding, you know exactly when that mare was covered and how many times. You know if you've got a good cover or not. The horses can be cleaned before and after the breeding - less chance of infection. And you have a good idea of when the babies are due, especially on mares that have foaled before because you know how long they go.
You are so right - somebody mentions pasture breeding my mares and they won't ever see them. I was upset last year with the stud we took one of our mares too because she came home with bite marks on her neck. Excuse me - he might be a young stud but teach him some manners :)
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