STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

sparkie

Can i suggest that people who have these type of horses should read a novel called "Horse never lie" by 'Mark Rashid', i borrowed it from a friend and did explain why horse do what they do. take your time to read it and take it in. My explaination of why these horses are like they are because they dont see you as the "boss" ( either they are or there paddock mate is) they feel they have to answer to soneone else other than you. This explains why these horses dont stand still when asked to and just bolts off into the paddock back to the "boss" or paddock mate. And when the handler starts to try and settle the horse by stroking the horse while he is upset and being difficult it actually makes the problem worse, this is indicating to the horse that he is behaving the way you want him to by stroking him as he behaves that way.

cheers
Sparkie

Beauvelour

PIck me pick me
Both my MARE and my GELDING are really bad!!! if i rid emy mare, Harry goes absolutley ape and gallops and bucks, once i come back from the ride and if he hasnt seen me he is happily eating in the middle f the paddock.....but onnce he realises that LALA is home he goes crazy again and walks the fence reall really bad and kicks for no reason.

If were out at a show he rears and bucks on the spot. My mare is the same just not as bad. Someone once told me to hobble them....obviously you have to introduce them to hobbles first but i have never done it.

smash

hi sparkie
i hear you loud and clear LOL and i understand what you mean.
but i am not my horses "boss", i am just his partner.
we have no issues when he is asked to do something, but i am afraid, it is his personalitly to be arrogant, which i encourage at all times.
i dont wish to dominate him, as this would kill his spirit if i was to be "boss", and since it is only when he is floated with another horse, that is easily fixed, DONT FLOAT HIM WITH ANOTHER HORSE lol lol lol
lol beau, i dont mind them "expressing" themselves, just not while i am on them LOL LOL LOL
cheers

Trojane

Sparkie said: Thanks Sparkie. I have thought of this too, and while sometimes doesn't seem to figure - it does fit with having a less socially secure horse. The personality of the horse may play a role - some are nappier than others despite things apparently being equivalent. It sounds as if you can work on it, but may be an uphill task.

In Pakistan some horses are taught fidelity by being shut alone in an enclosure where other people throw stones at it but only their owner feeds and pets it. Not recommended!! I prefer the way of bonding where stables are built right inside the family home and you really live with your horse (as seen on Global Village's horse studs and stables of the world).

Trojane

Smash said: Now this could be the solution... I will float with my horse and see Didn't someone marry their horse in Texas???!!!

Horsetalk

You are not alone there Smash, have exactly the same prob. It's a boy too.

sparkie

maybe "boss" wasnt the right choice of word. If you really want a partnership with your horse the respect has got to come from both parties the same as a human relationship. If you were to go see a braker do his thing with a young horse then you would understand that it isnt just all about smelling the flowers, you need to set boundaries, make the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy. The problem today is that people send their horse away to the brakers and dont get to see the foundation forming. therefore when people get the horse back they dont know how to handle a situation and either ignore or beleive it is genuine frieght by being nice therefore the horse is going to think that it is doing the right thing because the handler is patting it (to calm it down).

sparkie

i dont believe that the personality of a horse wil become dull but only grows into a more confident and happy personality because he knows where he stands and his boundries are very clear and he knows that he can put all his trust in his handler without any doubt.

smash

honestly sparkie, i do understand what you are saying, and it is true.
i have a wonderful relationship with my boy, but the "getting married" on the float thing, i just have no idea how to even try to sort that out.
this is the ground work, and as you can see, he is very respectful, and understands our communication.
just click on the image.

if you have any ideas on how to overcome the partnership in the float, i would dearly love to know. all input is welcome
cheers

sparkie

i dont really beleive in hobbles they would be a last resort for me. that clip looks pretty good, i am not an expert on this stuff I just have learnt alot since i have been getting lessons with Dan James. and also my own trials and errors. All horses are naturally clostrfobic (is that how you spell it?) anyways is he like it in all floats? is he a boss in the paddock? do you have him tied up? does he know the horse he is floated with? and does he have a history that you may not know about? it is all hard to figure out until you see. if you think it is simply a behavoural thing i would get a whip with a plastic bag on it and once you have put the back up i would smack his butt with the bag end each time he makes a fuss. make the right thing easy and the hard thing wrong.