Had a quite a response from you all about Christina’s naughty horse.
As well as all the comments, had some sensible emails come through too:
“Christina, you weren’t specific about the kind of “naughty” behavior you’re experiencing from your filly, so I can’t make any suggestions but I believe she is training you instead of you training her. When she is misbehaving and you remove the pressure, i.e., leave, she has gotten the response from you she was seeking. You are inadvertently teaching her how to control you through her misbehavior. Horses learn by association.
With regard to your filly stopping to graze while being led, it sounds like she hasn’t had all the groundwork she needs. She should walk forward when you walk forward, halt when you halt, do turns on the forehand when asked and back when asked. Since she is your first horse, you may want to get a person with experience in ground training young horses to work with you and your filly. If she isn’t handled correctly at this point, her inappropriate behavior may escalate to the point of being dangerous.
Ray”
“My horse has had what they call scratches. shes had it for a month or longer now. it has gotten better, but I would like it to go away now. I have used antibacterial soap. I keep removing the scabs and have also tried an antifungal. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you.
Shelly”
“Christina,
It CAN be done! I was very green (still am green), a novice horse person when a young mustang chose me. She was definitely the wrong horse for me to learn about horses on, but I stuck to her as she did to me. I was the first one on her back. I have ridden her on a trail (and I am not a rider). There are other things for me to do with my girl (I ended up with a little herd of mustangs and a donkey). My suggestion to you when she is naughty that I have learned from my herd. MOVE HER FEET. Do not move yourself because the one who moves loses. It has taken me forever to learn this, but it is slowly sinking in. If you are scared, she knows, and she will be scared too. So if you are scared take a lead rope at her when she does something naughty, and hurl it her way. It cannot hurt her, but it will make her move her feet. Once you can get her to move her feet EVERY time, you will not have trouble—but she WILL test you from time to time, so you must be prepared to move them again. My wildest girl Sallie — who is still a bit wild taught me that when she charged me….the first time, I ran. So, I know how it feels. I was scared to death. But Sallie is more scared than I am. Now I can halter her in the pasture, but I have to move her feet a time or two to remind her which of us is Boss Mare. Note: move her feet does not mean beat her! I merely wave a rope or loung whip around. You can do it!!!!!
Victoria”
That’s all this time. Please do leave a comment if you can help – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please do keep ’em coming.
Best
Al
Hi
My problem is I have a rescue horse. She hws been ridden…but wants to rear up at times. How do I get her to stop this. !!!!!?????
Thank you
Joretta
First see a vet to check her back, then check your saddle if fit your horse and the bit too. Like you explain your horse has some pain.
Hi Shelly
I too had problems with scratches for about 1 yr. I tried a lot of remedies with out success. Not sure where u live, I am from Canada and found an ointment from Balzac, Alberta. It is a special blend that Moore Equine Veterinary Centre makes. Their phone # is 403.226.2585. It contains: Furacin/Bag Balm & Zincoderm/Predef 2x. It works very well – one thing that I found with my horse was not to pick at the scabs until you use this ointment as it seemed to make it spread. Hope this helps.
Meghan Thesen
In regard to the “naughty ” horse. I had to learn that my horse can love me but he still has to respect me and when I started realizing that we became even closer. Ground work is essential to good behaviour, teaching him that you have your own space and he can’t enter it unless you invite him is really the first step,I would take my guy for long walks on a lead and everytime e entered my space he had to ack up, boy it wasn’t long before he would actually back himself up when he went past my shoulder. Go on line and find a good source for ground work and use it daily until you get respect all this ground work can be fun but remember release is a reward so keep him working until he gets even one little bit right and then release.
Shelly , Scrathes can be bad ,unsightly and an infection risk but easily dealt with. It is very common in horses such as field hunters who are out in snow and ice. As a young rider we had a horse in Virginia who had it bad (nearly to his knees , poor old boy) The vet gave us a lb of neutral petroleum , had us remove the equivalent of a 100 cc bottle of penicillin, soften the rest and stir in the penicillin apply daily.the trick was antibiotic and protecting from further wet as mud and ice .It worked beautifully with little effort. just keep it clean , antibiotic, and protect from moisture
Victoria has a great answer. There is a lot of consideration given to the horses’ flight/fight response as their nature. Not much is given to the pecking order of the herd. Horses will test for this order, especially the ones in the middle, and younger horses and colts, as they try figure their place in the herd. Can’t blame them for wanting to get as far on top as they can. It’s about food and breeding instincts. A horse comfortable in the herd’s order is a comfortable horse to be around. Victoria’s advice is sound, that is what she is describing. During regular feeding keep her away from it until you have her attention, meaning she waits her turn in herd parlance, then let her in by calmly walking away. And don’t hand feed treats until your horse is comfortable in her order. You might as well give up your place above her. That’s how she likely sees it. You are just earning her respect as Victoria said, the Boss Mare. There are many nuances to all this behavior and training, watch and listen to your horse, she tells you what is on her mind. Trust your own instincts, you are probably better at this than you think. Good luck !
Ray hit the nail on the head. You are training her to train you. Start with a lead rope. Walk her around and around the round pen. Stop and brush her left side. Then brush her right side. What ever action you perform on the left has to be done on the right. Wrap the lead rope around each front pastern then extent the rope about twenty feet, then pull her leg forward, stop, pull, stop a few times. Then switch to the other pastern. After she gets the idea that you are in control, she will trust you. Once she gains trust attach a lunge line then back up to the center of the round pen with a white towel or bag attached to the end of a long pole and raise it in the air, then she will bolt. As she bolts around the pen circle round with her with the pole still in the air. Go left to right in a circle. Last thing, NEVER strike or beat her. GOOD LUCK.
First a lead rope is only 5 feel long. To lounge a horse in round pen you use training line that is 12 to 15 feet or lounge line that is 20 to 40 feet and the round pen at least 65 feet in diameter, normal 70 feet.
You better go on you tube and watch SCEA videos of Scott Downs training a rescued filly Fancy, and that will help a lot your own horses.
Shelly, scratches can be controlled with Lysine. You only need 1 very small scoop a day to keep them at bay. I would suggest a loading dose of 2-3 scoops per day to start for a week and then down to 1 scoop a day. You should be able to purchase it from your local feed store, or you can always order on-line. I found this to be the most effective and least expensive way to treat scratches. Good Luck!
Jan and Linda,
Thank you.
Shelly
Shelly, have you tried Nu-Stock ? It’s around 15.00 at our local feed store, have used it on my 13 yr old mare for cuts, swelling, almost anything. I also like Vetrycin, more expensive,have had great luck w/both.Nu-Stock is a more natural remedy.Good luck,
Tara
Get yourself a good kind trainer who knows what they’re doing. I don’t like some of these answers.