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Post by ClaireLV on Mar 10, 2003 11:48:39 GMT -5
Bindi
Don't be afraid to go back to ground work for a while and work on that, before your confidence in her totally disolves. Have some fun, play some games, teach her some tricks, take away the pressure from you both.
The circling thing is fine, but you have to know when to release. Timing is everything when using negative reinforcers like that. If you don't give her the opportunity to WALK away she doesn't learn anything. So bring her round in a small circle, unitl you feel her relax and calm a little, then give her th opportunity to walk straight and quiet, if she rushes then circle again.
Have you lunged her much? I spend a lot of time lungeing a new horse.
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Post by niaru on Mar 10, 2003 12:00:23 GMT -5
Temper tantrums--
LeeAnn, Rita used to pull the exact same stunts as your Bugsy mare when she was excited/felt good/etc. It got better when she could concentrate longer. Phew.
Bindi, Sue...To keep her attention on me I used to change directions everytime I felt her drifting away into 'explosive' thoughts ;D so we did lots of (sometimes very tight) figure8s, lots of serpentines, lots of ground poles and X-rails, just anything to keep her brain going in a positive way.
Bindi--good for you for getting back on. Do you ride western?
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Post by relativecolor on Mar 10, 2003 12:12:42 GMT -5
As for the one-rein stop, that is a good idea. When I was reading up on bits I learned that if you pull back too hard with a snaffle, it can lock in place and become a gag bit. This will allow your horse to run away from you and you lose control. Not very fun!
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Post by Johnnie on Mar 10, 2003 12:17:52 GMT -5
I'm not worried about the under saddle tantrums since he doesn't really do it undersaddle and if he does, here is no one that rides this horse that can't handle what he throws out. Basically, under saddle, he just will sometimes buck after what he thinks is a big jump, or get a little strong in the canter. It's on the ground where he's a terror, whether someone is around him or not. Tied, in his stall, or being shod, but not when being led. He's a jerk in the field too. I got an e-mail from a friend of mine that you guys might can help with too. "Argos is having serious issues with the farrier and none of us can understand it, the guy has never hurt him and I am there for the whole thing so I don't know what is going on. He started right away being an ass and has gotten worse. This last time he reared at least six times and once struck out at the farrier and once at his twelve year old son. We had the chain over his nose, under his nose, a twitch and then finally a scotch hobble which is horrible and just makes you cry if it is me and your horse goes down with one. He took major skin off my hand and even after hitting his head on the roof of the barn still kept rearing. This is so NOT my horse. He is still a a dream to me, I can handle him, clean his hooves, he rides well, I just don't know what to do. We are going to dope him up big time for the next few rounds with the farrier but hopefully this is not permanent. " Background on the horse- We were at an auction in January of last year, and this guy was there. High as freaking kite in his stall. A guy was having to hold him in the stall with a chain to keep him from spazzing too badly. Anyway, my friend bought him  . We got him to the barn and he was a totally different horse. Just sweet, calm, and relaxed. We also found out that the horse had raced just 4 days before. Anyway, this horse has been a total sweetheart. Stopped racing at 9, raced over 70 times. Sound, sane, loveable, etc. Our farrier actually loved this horse and made the comment on how well-behaved he was. Now my friend has moved a few hours away and taken her horses. Would a move provoke this kind of behaviour? Any suggestions? |
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Post by Christina on Mar 10, 2003 21:36:53 GMT -5
How funny! Your horse sounds just like mine. I got him 2 weeks ago and we do a lot of ground work after a miserable first attempt at a ride.
A lot of things didnt work with him - it seems that he knows all the tricks, but what did work with him is this.
First of all I'm very verbal, and he now knows "let's go" which means to follow me. I noticed that in the paddock when the gelding wants him to walk, or when he wants them to walk they do a couple of things. 1) Driving - where they stand behind and nudge the butt and 2) Follow me - where they brush the butt on the side and then walk very close along the side, pause at the shoulder, and then stride out. I keep the lead line very loose - no pressure. I tried it once to see if it would work and voila he followed me like a puppy. This also works when he's loose, so we play follow the leader.
I guess it just depends on the horse, and there's so much great advice on this site that someone will have an idea that works for you!
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Post by BriscoMomma on Mar 11, 2003 7:34:18 GMT -5
Keely can tell you about the Cinteelo bloodlines influence. ;D I think you mean Crimcino? ;D It's probably enough to say that he KILLED two mares and his offspring tend to have at least traces of of pappa's temperment. BUT, once you have them on your side, you've got them forever. They would be considered sensitive as far as sensitive TBs go. You have to ask them their way in certain situations, nothing else will do. |
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Post by leeann on Mar 11, 2003 9:03:43 GMT -5
I did mean Crimcino. Cinteelo is Obie's sire.
I know I can use Crimcino as a reference for Bugsy's temperment, Obie is just as touchy, but I don't know if it came through the sire or dam, or if he's just plain goofy. ;D He's been a heck of an event horse, though... He won't walk by things (spooks) but he'll jump over the same thing if you point him at it!
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Post by Skye Pilot on Mar 11, 2003 13:21:07 GMT -5
Niara, that is exactly what my new trainer is doing with me and Red. Keeping the boy's mind busy because if I don't keep him busy he will find something to do on his own. Ground poles work great with Red as do the serpentine and figure eights. He likes something to do. He also likes if I put the pole on the ground in a fake round pen with an opening and go in and out of the round pen with small and large circles... Red likes to go to a secure place of what he knows well and this may be odd but I think he likes confinement..... also, poles on the ground like trail obstacles that he has to maneuver over/around... he and I are actually playing together which is making it fun. Can't wait for this snow to melt so I can play with Diego too!!!
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Post by niaru on Mar 11, 2003 16:27:28 GMT -5
Sue, yep, I learned that keeping their minds (and body)busy is key!
Charm moved a little better today. She is still uneven, I'll ask the vet if he could evaluate her (he does Chiro) when he comes on Sat. for her shots. I let her loose in the indoor and she came to me and went straight up in front of me and satyed there! LOL. I think she just wanted to play. Then she followed me the whole length of the arena, just walking next to me and halting when I did. I loved it!
We trotted over ground poles (she is now actually pushing from behind to make the distances) and we calmly walked over a cavaletti. Not ready to canter yet ;D but she is starting to move off the leg. She doesn't like me asking for trot with my seat tho, and gets tense. Once she relaxes she moves better.
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Post by Skye Pilot on Mar 11, 2003 17:04:31 GMT -5
Oh Niara, that is wonderful.... she is moving off your leg already..... that is wonderful!!!
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Post by relativecolor on Mar 11, 2003 22:01:20 GMT -5
Just when I think I can start Zane's training program I get sick again. Now I am too tired to even get up. Here's hoping I'll be back in the saddle soon.  |
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Post by Christina on Mar 11, 2003 22:11:49 GMT -5
Does any one have any experience with aggression? Twice now I've seen Grace show what seems to be "male" aggressive behavior. The first time he tried striking my fiance with his front feet, and the second time he went after the mare. Although the first time he gave SOME warning - literally one second before he did it, when he went after the mare it was out of the blue.
1st time - we were going for a walk and had started at the top of the ridge. My fiance was walking out ahead of us, and the dogs were already down the hill. Grace put his head down, did a lip shaking snort, and then LEAPED at my fiance, striking out with his front legs - neck all crested, etc. I had the lead rope and kind of whipped him around while he was leaping. He danced around for a bit, continuing to try and sniff the air and I just kept him moving until he was listening, then we continued on the walk. He kept trying to sniff and I just had him listen well and then brought him back. Right before we started walking my fiance and I were talking for 1 minute, and Grace had his nose up in the air sniffing.
Time 2: Grace is up in the upper part of the paddock - I was down in the barn area, and the other horses are quietly eating. None of the horses can see each other, and I cant see Grace. Suddenly he comes racing down the hill, between the trees and attacks the mare! Previously he had been bullying her, and was kind of spunky today any way, trotting around the perimeter, shaking his head, etc. She hauled off and kicked him hard in the chest which just incited him further. Then he REALLY went after her - biting when he could catch her, etc. No, I didnt do anything, I just watched. Should I go in there and boot him around if he's bullying? Or will that make it worse? I went into the lean to and stood in the doorway, just watching for a little bit, and they seemed to be okay for a while, besides him kind of booting them away to come into the lean to and get some water. He didnt bump into me or anything, just came over, sniffed, walked politely past me, and then stood with me in the doorway. I did not talk to him or pet him or anything, just continued watching the others. He has not shown any other aggression to my fiance since that weird moment.
Could I be inadvertently encouraging this? The thing today was weird because he wasnt even in that area of the barn/paddock, and just came racing over. Could it be the food? There was just this crappy hay that he doesnt like - which is very similar to the last time. Warmer, windy day, and crappy hay. Possible?
Thanks, any info appreciated.
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Post by bindi on Mar 12, 2003 1:59:32 GMT -5
Oh boy... I am not sure what to make of Lily at the moment. I couldn't do anything with her last night due to rain. Tonight I went down and just spent some time with her, took her for a graze on the halter and walked her around without eating, much to her disgust. I have lost the connection that I had with her in the first few weeks, I am feeling that now she is totally preoccupied with food. My biggest problem is that I don't have anywhere to work with her that isn't lush grass - oh for an arena of some sort.
I am going to invest in a lunging rope and have a go with that, I just can't see how we are going to do this and keep her head up out of the grass. I am also going to see if I can find someone to come out and spend an hour with us to tell me what to do, how to get that connection back. Actually I hadn't realised how depressed I have got with what I have achieved. I usually have a great connection with animals and this one has really got me thinking. I know that I am not going to acheive this over night but at the moment we are slipping backwards and I am not sure how to put a stop to it.
Gosh, I am never this negative about anything. We do have a small pen that we load the animals out of and maybe that is where I need to take her to make her notice me. That may be a good idea, there is a bit of grass there but it won't take her five mins to eat that. Heck that may be the trick, what do you all think? Tomorrow that may be where we head.
He he he... thanks for helping me think that through - she may get to hate that pen but she might just get to pay attention.hmmmm... worth a go anyway.
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Post by relativecolor on Mar 12, 2003 2:09:20 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry. When there is food around, I am next to invisible for Zane. But I figure, as long as he allows me to putt around him and love on him a bit, his heart is in the right place. Besides, when other horses graze, do they notice each other? No! When I am eating I could care less about converstaion! ;D If you have been grazing her several days in a row, she has probably fallen into a routine and when she didn't get to eat, she got huffy. My Paint is very good at pouting. If he doesn't get what he wants, he goes in the corner, turns his butt to me, and pouts. She'll get over it.
Maybe try grooming her while she grazes. It will involve more social interaction and will probably involve two of the things she likes best!
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Post by bindi on Mar 12, 2003 12:34:53 GMT -5
*L*.... that is her to a tee.... huffy...
that is the routine that I want to break tho, so I will intersperse it with sessions in the loading pen... I am going to take a hay bale down, stand on that, lean on her - things like that, just so she doesn't get so uptight.
;D Can you tell that I have had a good nights sleep, it doesn't seem nearly so much of a drama at the moment.
I really think that folk around me are expecting a lot more out of the two of us and so I am beginning to expect too much too...
anyway, it's off to work I go... thanks folks.
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. We got him to the barn and he was a totally different horse. Just sweet, calm, and relaxed. We also found out that the horse had raced just 4 days before. Anyway, this horse has been a total sweetheart. Stopped racing at 9, raced over 70 times. Sound, sane, loveable, etc. Our farrier actually loved this horse and made the comment on how well-behaved he was. Now my friend has moved a few hours away and taken her horses. Would a move provoke this kind of behaviour? Any suggestions?
