Alice has been in touch with a touching tale of her happy horse:
“I’ve always been around animals of all kinds. But, horses are my favorite. I had a horse that I used to sit under a lot. He let his self out of stall to walk up to my window and neigh at me. He wanted an apple, or carrot and sometimes just to lay in the yard or walk around in the yard and eat grass. My neighbor used to call and let me know he was in the front yard loose.
He knew where he was loved and fed, he wouldn’t leave his home. He loved to go out on trails, he’d swim in the lake, climbed hillsides or sand dunes and wherever children were, we’d stop and give them a short ride{with parents by them):)Favorite stop was the corn field close by and I’d get off and walk collecting corn and he’d stop so I could put them in his saddle bag lol.
He’d come running up to the house when he seen my car; he was spoiled and we both loved every minute of it. My gentle giant was 32 wen he died. My world feel apart. I am in process of buying another horse. They could never take his place; but can fill up that special spot in my heart. Trust takes time; my new horse will receive the same gentleness, love and respect as it is a 2 way relationship. So, I do think it possible to sit or slowly crawl under your horse after you become more acquainted with each other. Grooming is a great start.
Alice”
Happy horses know their place:
“I am a new horse owner with a 3 yr old filly, finding out after that that’s not the best idea, but she’s barefoot as well and has 10 acres to roam on plus a smaller pasture where her stall is. Generally I keep her in the smaller one for the most part with her stall open so she can come in and out as she pleases. My problem is, she starting to test me and sometimes am afraid of her. I don’t yell, hit or anything like that but when she’s good, she gets a treat but when she’s acting up, I leave altogether. Partly because I’m afraid she’ll freak out and charge me or kick me and part because I feel like if she knows I’m leaving because she’s being naughty, she may think twice next time. Also, when leading her from one pasture to another, she always stops in the middle to eat the grass and fights being led. HELP!?!?
Christina”
A firm hand for a happy horse?
“To avoid horse getting the upper hand please groom on your territory the barn and crosstie her. Assistant stands at her head holding onto her crosstied halter and monitoring with voice and strokes. A firm hand when necessary.
Stef”
A happy horse is one that knows its place (again!)
“I once stopped a charging wild stallion with my eyes. I was crouched down photographing one of his colts and he started to charge towards me full gallop. I stood up and lowered my head and stared at him. He stopped suddenly then strutted away, as if to save face by saying You don’t scare me, I chose to retreat. Anyways, it was dumb of me to crouch like a predator and get so close to his baby but am lucky I used my eyes to make him back off. It works well on annoying men who won’t stop staring either.
Doreen”
Healthy horses are happy horses – careful with dosages, even if it’s natural…
“Good thoughtful question about dosage.
Homeopathic or allopathic “medicines” ARE sensitive to dosage. Too much of any “good” thing can be VERY bad. Not enough is not only ineffective but also builds tolerance so as to eventually become ineffective in larger does.
Use no more than needed, but really rough rule of thumb is 1 tab/100# body weight per day. Probably best spread over two or three doses per day.
HT”
Would you like more of your happy horse comments? Please do leave a comment below if you have anything to share. I love reading them, and by all the comments, I think you lot do too.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And don’t forget there are hundreds of posts like this on the blog, but jumping on the newsletter is the only way you can see them all.
Best
Make sure you put clear boundaries in place so she never has the upper hand. Remain firm and consistent but gentle and respectful.However this is a tad difficult to do at times!Do you know someone who can become your “mentor”? Taliking the issues through with another person can help in so many ways.
Interesting and facinating material, thanks a lot
Christina, Yes it was not wise to get an untrained horse for your first horse. But more important you need to do some reading on basic horse behavior before you do get hurt. Please stop giving her treats for now! She is not being “naughty” she is being a horse. You are a part of her “herd” and someone in the herd needs to take charge and since you do not take charge by getting her respect she is taking on the leadership role as needed. There is so much out there on horse training but what you need now is just basic “ground work”. She needs to learn to back away from you on command. If you move your feet first you are giving over dominance. She needs to move FIRST. Read some of the basic “natural” horse training books out there to understand how to be safe with your horse and teach her to respect you as the leader of your herd! Please do not attempt to ride her until you have respect from the ground! If you can get someone more experienced to help that would be the best for you and your horse! Good luck and be safe so you can ride someday! Christine F
I have a miniature pony when she sees me she just wants to come to me and when she does she wants to kick me margaret
Is she on her own? Spend as much time as you can with her and develop a relationship. While you groom let her know how you are feeling. Horse pick up on your body language, heart rate and emotions. So when you feel anxious stop what you are doing and take some deep breaths, relax and focus on what you want to do. A lot of the time it is our own feelings and insecurities that reflect in our horses behavior. Horses are prey animals if they don’t feel safe they will flee or protect themselves.
A trick I picked up while living in Alaska- whenever a moose would charge you’d throw your hands out to the side (like a punk kid saying “what’s up?!”), lean forward at the waist as if getting ready to take off running, and lowering the face just enough to be watching the animals from the top of the eyes. This trick worked on moose and I’ve now found it to stop a charging horse as well everytime.
I would get a trainer and learn some groundtraining. and no treats. she will learn who the stronger horse is then. also she is lonesome for someone of her type to talk to. can you get another horse to stay there, like a boarder or something.
I had a horse like that. the best thing is to make her move her feet. never leave because she is misbehaving. you are teaching if she is being bad you well leave her alone. some times you have to firm and let her know you are the boss and she has to respect you, if not it can unsafe.
Now my horse and I are best friends.
BE SAFE Rod
By leaving when the horse becomes aggressive, you are reinforcing the horse’s behavior. You need to spend more time with the horse tethered to a hitching rail, cross ties or something that keeps the horse from moving away from you. Groom your horse, pick up the feet, scratch the parts that he/she enjoys having scratched. Mine likes the underside of her neck scratched. Work with your horse every day. You don’t always need to give treats, you want your horse to bond with you. But, you also have to become the alpha mare in your herd. Your horse has to respect you and view you as the boss. You do not accomplish this by hurting your horse, but by not allowing them to get away with inappropriate behavior. I took my hat off and chased my 4 yr old gelding, waving my arms and yelling, after he came flying by me and landed a kick on my shoulder. I chased him until he quit coming back at me. The next day I was calm when he approached me, and he is now 19 yrs old. We’ve not had an issue about his behavior since the day I chased him 15 yrs ago.
That is great that she is barefoot!
Sounds like your filly does not know what leadership is.
When she fight being led. I would let the rope slide between my hands until the end of the rope, look straight ahead (You are the leader and she needs to follow. If you have a carrot stick or a whip I would touch her on the rump with it while pulling on the rope. also I would put a thin rope halter on her, because thin halters are hard to lean on. I did this with my horse and he leads GREAT! 😀
I hope this helped with the leading problem.
Adara
❓ I have a Four year old stud horse, and im trying to figure out if he has Strangles or not can anyone tell me what are the symptoms and what to use to cure it
Christina, Sounds to me like you are over matched with a green horse .My best advice is to get a local “experienced “horseman on sight to evaluate her and give you direction.Novices often do not have the skills to interpret verbal advice(or the horses body language).Nothing I hear here is major but could be if you mishandle and she starts winning little challenges. I don’t mean to insult you , but if you are already nervous and afraid of her , you need a confidence build that you may get from seeing how easily these behaviors disappear with knowledgeable handling . Hands on so they start turning the horse around while teaching you how to continue. Best of luck.
Round pen, round pen, round pen. Depending on the size of the smaller paddock you can use that to work her. It will establish you role in the herd without treats and withdrawal. You won’t have to work her many times before she understands
I want to add that when you touch her on the rump with whip or a carrot stick you are acting like what her mother would do with her tail.
Always remember you are doing this for the horse not to the horse.
Also when I mean Carrot Stick I mean Parelli Carrot Stick. sorry 😳
It took me a long time to be able to trust my horse not to kick me and him to trust me to let me pet him all over, but is was well worth it.
I would halter her and have about a five foot whip. (I use a Parelli Carrot Stick) I would pet her all over until you trust that she will not kick. Then I would go to something shorter or use your hand (Always be cautious) pet her with your hand or a shorter stick until you feel safe with that and soon you will trust your horse and she will trust you. 😀
Adara
Christina, Naughty could be just youthful exuberance. Leaving the area may be reinforcing your filly’s bossiness if that is her issue not just youthful spirit.
I suggest mini fun training sessions incorporating fun games. Playing soccer with a large exercise ball. Silly stuff to engage her quick mind. Just like a dog…a tired horse is a well-behaved horse.
Mind stimulating games tire a horse or dog as much as physical exercise. Look on-line for trick ideas.
What a exciting project she is. Wishing you and your horse a wonderful life together.
You have taught her that she is in control..what you have to do is: when she acts up in her stall/small pasture is to lead her out into a neutral area and groom or give her a lesson..let her know you are the head of the herd..
🙂 Glad to hear from you. I haven’t received anything from you in awhile.
I have a 17 yr old recently retired and gelded appy stallion I rescued 2yrs ago. I have dropped something and went under him to recover it.He didn’t even bat an eye. I wasn’t really thinking about it. I should have. I was lucky. I have owned horses where you can crawl around them so to speak but it should not be taken for granted.
I have a 17 yr old recently retired and gelded appy stallion I rescued 2yrs ago. I have dropped something and went under him to recover it.He didn’t even bat an eye. I wasn’t really thinking about it. I should have. I was lucky. I have owned horses where you can crawl around them so to speak but it should not be taken for granted. I think one should reinforce the good behavior ignore the bad or discipline within 10 sec.
I would try making your horse do things on comand, backing is great, picking up his feet , ground work and a round of brushing on a regular basis before he leaves his paddock and no treats. Tie him to something , a tractor tire with a fair length of strong rope. He wil be more occupied with keeping off the rope, respecting the rope and getting his mind working rather then looking to dominate. Lonliness does a lot to a horse. Their dependance on you increases.
Christina,
First I would say you need to change for older (10 yrs++) horse. Other step is start checking people living close and explain that you need help but mostly you want them to come to your place and explain what you need to do. If fence is good shape, it would hurt when she does what you don’t what to YELL!! When she does what you desire, use calm pleasing voice. But get someone to help before she takes you over. You can make it. I did same thing.
Stop the treats, use Monty Roberts round pen training or John Lyons round pen training, it will teach u equest and put u in control and develop a outstanding bond with the horse.
Please help, any comments appreciated. I have a rescue mare appr 22 yrs old. Not very affectionate, do not know much about her past. Have had her for 2 yrs now & still not able to ride without her bucking or showing aggressive attitude. I need a trainer for me as well as her but cannot afford one right now, any ideas on how to bond w/ her???? She is at a great weight now, when I just run her in the pasture, she appears to have a great time frolicking, bucking & just running, cannot get thru to her emotionally..
Thank-you for any suggestions,
Tara
Try the join up method. You don’t let the stop moving her feet. Keep her moving. When you see that she is listening to you let up and let her come to you. If she charges again repeat the process this time go longer and when she starts licking the air try that. Since horses are companion animals they look to you as their leader and friend. It might take several attempts before she stops the bad behavior. Remember always end on a good note. 🙂
I have a beautiful intelligent Alpha Paint mare. She is very willing to please and very herd bound. I know we have a certain level of trust but at the same time I find she doesn’t seem to fully bond with me. I often feel she trusts me as much as she can any human. Any ideas how I can break down the partial wall between us?
Char
Anyone have a cure for Australian string halt.
I just want you to know I love reading everything in your site. Please keep it coming.
I have a 7yr Arabian/quarter horse.I had a minor stroke in 2012 I have been doing real well with her until it comes to giving her an injection. I had always given her injection in her neck . Is there another safe place to give her one. ❓
We have one like him at our Rescue – Far View Horse Rescue. John Lyons has great books on training. Lots of pictures and easy to follow instructions. I got
a bunch from Amazon, very cheap.
Get him in a round pen and work him! No need to be mean, just keep him moving till YOU let him stop. John has lots of other training tips. Good luck!
It took about 6 months for Jasper to turn himself around, but has done so.
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.
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.
Stopping to graze is normal. Pull tuft of green circle then go on.circling distracts from bad actions. Entices her to give into your leadership. Ya goota be the lead mare here.
I love your sute and all the comments. Please keep it coming!
Hi,
lots of great advice: the problem is simple. It is a human problem not a naughty horse.
Find somebody that can train you / or you and your horse together: starting with groundwork and stock standard natural horsemanship basics will get you a long way: take the time now, so it takes less time later.
rgds, Lisa
I found that if I get a bit uneasy or unsure about something when working with my horses, I start to hum or sing quietly. It calms me and the horses at the same time. I have used this method to load an uncooperative horse into a horse trailer or to approach one of my horses with a halter while in the herd. If you walk away and let her follow you as she would in a herd, this will help you to get the lead horse role and for her to learn to trust your leadership without expectations. I also use the Parelli 7 steps method for ground work. It is basic, simple and really works wonders on developing respect, trust and communication between you and your equine friend. I also have a 3 year old filly that HAD dominate issues. Now she respects my space, follows me and wants to spend time with me. I had removed her from my herd and pastured her alone for a month. That helped with her dominate personality with other horses as well. If you are too afraid of your filly, than consider a possible trade with her for an older gelding. A 10 year old horse will have more respect and since as well as calmness for your first horse. Many Blessings
dear Christina..
I found that with my 1 year old Shetland, and she went through a lil stage of ‘testing’ me. she would try to nip and bite me, all I simply done was a gente but firm pull on her lead rope and shout NO in a sturn but confident voice! she soon stopped as she knew that I was in charge now she’s wel behaved, sometimes still a LITTLE bit disrespectful such as stopping to eat grass while being led but again have to be a lil bit firm to get them to walk on,, if you are having trouble leading her then play what I call the ‘waiting game’ simply apply slight pressure on the lead rope and wait till she walks forward DO NOT give in and let her have slack as she wins,, also NEVER walk again when she tries to kick out as that lets her win.. I no it can be scary but you need to stand your ground then your filly wil start respecting you a lil more each day,, hope this helps :).. Katie x
Hi all, I’ve had my 17 year old horse since august of 2014. We have come a long way in the trust department, and most of the time I can figure out what kind of a mood he is in. This morning while picking up his poo, he was cleaning up around his grain bowl and he decided to come check out what I was doing. I was ok with that but he came up pretty fast and it unnerved me. Instead of trying to pet him, I got nervous and put the rake between us. He stood there looking at me like whats wrong with you. My question is……was he being aggressive or was he just wanting some attention. He did not have his ears back but he has bitten me in the past. Am I being too over sensitive?