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Post by bindi on Feb 10, 2003 12:20:19 GMT -5
But to be serious, I am having trouble with Lily jerking her head when I tie her up. When she is being brushed she is fine but as soon as I pick up the saddle blanket she jerks her head back and breaks the twine I have her lead tied to.
Anyway, one of my wonderful know everything customers in my shop (there are a lot of good ole kiwi racehorse breeders/trainers where I live) suggested that I get an old inner tyre rubber ring. Nail that to the post and then tie her to that. The theory being I guess that she can't hurt herself, can't break anything (that being a major plus) and off we go.
My-Didn't-Want-A-Horse-On-Our-Property-No-Way-Hubby came over with me to move Lily to the next paddock and on the way back told me how amazed he is at the change in her in just a week. He even gave her a scratch on her belly, hehehe, he is getting soft!
What do you give your horses for treats, she won't eat carrots, apples or any of the usual things. any ideas?
thanks heaps
Bindi.
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Post by Smay on Feb 10, 2003 12:35:17 GMT -5
I don't know Bindi, I wouldn't do it. Lots of western type trainers recommend that inner tube training thing, but I have heard a few bad results from it, and for a TB, sometimes cowboy training doesn't work because the become a little more irrational than an regl'r horse...if you know what I mean. Some of them will throw themselves, or pull until they are exhausted, or some such traumatic thing. You may be better off teaching her to simply yield to pressure using a clicker or some kind of reward that she DOES like. ( maybe peppermints?) Just start out having her lower her head a little bit when you apply some pressure to her lead. Everytime she lowers it, she gets clicked and rewarded. Even my puller/lead/breaker/ TB will put his head down on the floor and wait for an hour until I give him his treat. He fully understands this game. He hasn't broken a lead in ages. Years even.
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Post by bindi on Feb 10, 2003 12:41:06 GMT -5
leading her is fine.... where we are having problems is getting the saddle on her. She has always been saddled in a stable but I don't have one. So she is a bit nervous about the saddle out in the paddock, she jerks back and then stands there looking at me saying don't you bring that near me girly.. *L*.. and so long as I put the saddle down it is cool.
Maybe I need a friend to come over and slip it on while I am holding her and talking with her. I have never heard of the clicker and I will try the peppermint today.... would love to find a treat for her.
more to come but the coffee is bubbling.. seeya
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Post by bindi on Feb 10, 2003 12:45:44 GMT -5
I like the sound of them... are they just the usual kiddy version?...
makes so much sense, must off going to play in the paddock before work.
Have a good one
Bindi
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Post by RavensMom on Feb 10, 2003 13:31:14 GMT -5
My Mom has a thing in the barn that is stretchy like a bungee. It wraps around a post and then velcroes around itself to fasten so that there are no metal pieces to snap into an eye in case of separation. It works 'cause it's unbreakable if they go back, but gives so they never feel trapped. I've never seen it fail and, believe me, I've seen it tested. We have had a few who learned how to undo the velcro, but that's only a problem if you're not watching them. If you're interested, I can find out where she got it. The clicker thing sounds like a better overall solution, but maybe as a failsafe until...
What about sugar cubes?
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Post by Smay on Feb 10, 2003 14:16:54 GMT -5
I usually tell people not to bother with bungie ties on horses that panic or pull or whatever because of that very REASON...the snap-back-put-yer-eye-out phenomenon. Both of my guys have broken bungies and it didn't seem to take that much to break them! The velcro thing is great - so that you wouldn't get KILLED by the snap if it DID come undone. Funny how most horses won't really challenge the stretchy things, just so long as they stretch a little and give them a bit of room to move, then they don't panic. I guess Bindi is also saying that it's the saddle coming at her that causes her to pull back...well for that, she just needs some nice slow sacking out. Rub and brush and slap everything you got around her, under her, over her and behind her until she doesn't mind anything anymore. Clicker and treats will help that process along as well. Maybe she'd like sunflower seeds! My horses have finally decided that they LOFF those!
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Post by CC on Feb 10, 2003 14:33:12 GMT -5
Is she OT? Sometimes they are not hand fed and it takes a while for them to take treats. Maybe you could try hand feeding her some of her grain until she gets the idea. I second the clicker training for tying and teaching her to accept the saddle. It will make things so much more enjoyable for her. Although I would probably have someone hold her while you work with her and the saddle just or safety's sake. The clicker site is www.theclickercenter.com (I think!) |
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Post by Linda on Feb 10, 2003 14:37:25 GMT -5
If you have something like a round correl or a square pen, why don't you try blanketing and saddling her there--without anything on her head at all. Start her like a baby--just the blanket--from all angles. Let it fall off and let her sniff it. Let her walk on it (probably not your newest blanket, though.) Then use a bareback pad, or a surcingle over the blanket. You would be working on de-sensitising to the girth. Again, both sides, etc. No halter--the horse needs to stand quietly. Finally, now try adding the saddle. If you find that she just doesn't stand for the saddle although she had no problem with any of the other steps, then I would suspect that you may have a saddle-fit problem. She may be trying to tell you in the only way she knows that the saddle doesn't fit.
In my opinion, it is far better to get your mare relaxed about being saddled than it is to tie her so she CAN'T get away. Get her relaxed with the process and you will no doubt make much more headway in her total training.
Linda
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Post by Katelyn on Feb 10, 2003 21:31:29 GMT -5
Bindi, I have to agree with the others...our neighbor does the ...Leave the babies out (no handling) until they are ready to be 'broke' and then tie them until they give up and stand quietly... THEN last year he had a colt freak out and while flipping over backwards...he broke his neck...  Therefore. I'm all about panic snaps or slip knots.... Why not work on ground work for a bit longer and teach her to ground tie....It will save you a walk home some day...so its worth it ;D My OTTB didn't like the usual treats when I got him either...his treat of choice was soda, or tobacco chew -= yuck!! Luckily...for us both...he's learned to like carrots and LOVES peppermint!! I've also found treats that are good for horses/vitamins/etc instead of just sugar that are just as good (so he says) AND if you're going to clicker train..they break up into tiny pieces (and don't get stuck to everything like candy cane does  ) -Katelyn |
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Post by ZenRider on Feb 10, 2003 22:55:19 GMT -5
I'm not sure of bungee's either way. My friends Belgium/Paint horse plays with them (or maybe it's some kinda neck toning exercise he's trying to perfect) if she puts him in those. Very annoying.
As for alternative treats, there are always Wheat Thins, Granola Bars, or Bran Muffins.
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Post by bindi on Feb 11, 2003 2:48:46 GMT -5
Thanks so much everyone for all of the advice/opinions etc etc. I have decided that I will take it slowly with her and try the soft and gentle approach.
Tonite I bought her over to the orchard so that she could graze on the absolutly amazing clover etc in there. Only problem was that she then didn't want to be tied up to be brushed... the food was much more enticing. So tomorrow it will be brush down first followed by some yummy scrummy grass.
Thanks again for all of the advice, it is great having such a group when I am so green. My partner has agreed that she is an amazingly natured horse and of course I have to go along with those thoughts. She is very happy in the same paddock as our cows now, nothing like a wee bit of company.
Have a good one, Bindi
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Post by Lisann on Feb 11, 2003 7:13:19 GMT -5
I've used bicycle inner tubes to tie - that's how I taught Zeus to tie (he's 2 now, but I taught him to tie at 10-12 weeks old). Those inner tubes don't have the strong elastic pull that the bungee ties do, but are quite strong. It sounds like your mare has figured out she doesn't have to stand tied if she doesn't want to (since you say she's already broken the twine). Also, you can incorporate panic snaps into the inner tube setup for emergency disconnects.
If you are concerned about the safety of the inner tube method, there are a couple other things you can try. One, tie her in her stall. It's a safe area (I hope!), and she may be more relaxed in there to begin with. Another thing to try would be to loop the rope around a strong post or rail a couple times and hold the end yourself. When she pulls, the line would give, but not break.
On the treat question, try black oil sunflower seeds. Also, you may want to introduce small pieces of apples or carrots into your grain mixture so the horse figures out that they're good. I've also been known to push small pieces into the side of their mouth. One of my OTTBs knew about treats when I got her, the other one didn't.
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Post by Neeners on Feb 12, 2003 7:07:10 GMT -5
My boy cherokee wouldnt tie... the way ive come to fix it.....HAY! i put up a hay net infront of him and now he ties like a dream.. i dont even fill the hay net half the time anymore. Or just leave a few wisps in there.. It has helped tremendously.... if all else fails BRIBE 'EM.. seriously, maybe if you give her something to distract her she will get to understand that what you are doing isnt a big deal and will relax.. Also, when i find that cherokee had backed up just a TAD to much and maybe reaching the end of his comfort zone I will stop, move him up a few feet and start again. Just take it slow with her. As far as the bungee's go, i dont use them anymore after almost taking MY OWN eye out this past summer while moving a fan on a stall...They snap way to fast and can give at any moment.. Even with the tube i would worry that it would snap her up in the face and then you have another traumatic experience for them to overcome.
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