Comments on: Katrina’s horse problem

By: Annette Smit

Annette Smit — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 16:41:47 +0000

Hi Katrina, would like to know how you have progressed with the two? also why can’t they be ‘led at the moment’? I always found that leading them out one at a time spending quality time with each makes a big difference with bonding. 🙂

By: Jude

Jude — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 04:23:47 +0000

Check out Georgia Bruce and clicker training it really works.

By: Bev

Bev — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:34:56 +0000

A sudden change in behaviour can also indicate a physical problem. Your horse is trying to tell you something. Try to rule out pain / discomfort, particularly since you admit the head collar is too tight.
Good luck.

By: Adara

Adara — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 01:47:11 +0000

Hi, I think it’s great that your fillies trust you and are not scared. I would keep it that way. When you hit them, it will break the trust between you and your fillies. Your filly that bites and kicks at you is just being dominant, and when you show her that you are the more dominant one, the leader, they will start to respect and love you. Now don’t think that being the more dominant one and the leader you have to be really mean to them. That will just make them scared of you instead of trusting you and respecting that you are the leader. To gain their trust, you need to communicate with them using their own language.

By: SandiB

SandiB — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 12:34:22 +0000

I could use some help here too. Jace is my 10 year old gelding and a patient and sensitive gentleman. Last C’mas we got him a 6 month old mini boy for company, Pippo Pinchbottm-Magee, who was gelded in May. Pippo was always a mischief and it was always funny when he would steal the hairstick out of my hair and run off or get on the deck and goof around. He has been an increasingly perky “little brother” to Jace.

I think, as an almost 18 month old he is “bucking” for superiority, over Jace and possibly me. He is using his rump to hip-check my out of his way, he pushes past me to get to the food (feeding separate buckets apart and the same haylege bale) -in fairness, he spent his first 6 months at a farm with about 18 other larger animals in a large enclosure and had to compete for food..
He wants his own way and when corrected – spoken sharply to and lead back in when he escapes – he *thinks* about kicking me or rearing, you can see him wonder if it will work. He has also been a biter, which lessened after he was gelded and fed less grain. He still tries to get one in now and then and cleverly dances out of the way of correction.
It is time for him to start “school”, so far we are leading him and lunging him. I am a huge Joe Cross fan and am started lunging him longer and changing directions. He needs to know that I am the Alpha Mare.
Meanwhile Jace is annoyed with him, he pinches him and dances away, then sometimes gets in front of him by backing his rump right into Jace’s chest. I think my Jace is getting annoyed at me for not controlling Pippo.
Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted. My neighbor is a retired horse trainer and has offfered to occasionally help but she has a full life and I do not want to pester her,she said she would feed my horses if there was an emergency (my husband has a heart condition).
Any suggestions would be most gratefully accepted!

By: Connie Jo

Connie Jo — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 03:45:13 +0000

Hi, Katrina…I am 1 month into my 2nd year of owning 2 OTTBs. They are the lights in my path of life! I have to board them, but i have no qualms with it. They are two VERY different personalities, but i love them both the same. The stables that i board them at has tow weanlings, I have the pleasure of training the weanlings to human interactions. It has been a test of patience in teaching them not to bite. I tried ALOT of different ways, but the one that has proved the best on BOTH of the babies is gaining their trust. I ended up having to separate and stall them, but next to each other, and show them that i am not a threat to them. After morning feedings, i placed them together in the round pen, for about 20 minutes while i cleaned stalls, to show them that they still have each other as stable/pasture mates. I then take one to the stall, while i work with manners and discipline, with the other. On day 2, they were a little leary, but i haltered them and taught them to “walk” beside me, not in front of or behind me. Day 4, routine is starting to set in! YAY!!!! I have been bitten once by the filly and twice by the colt. The very second that they bit me, i stopped and gave them a flip on the nose, in a firm voice said “no bite” and cued them to continue to walk. They both now eat their treats and i even hand feed them without their teeth even touching my skin. I can also lead one on the right and one on the left, at the same time, with no fuss. Let them know you are their leader. Be calm. Talk to them. Let them know that you love them, but you will not allow any biting or kicking. Turn their hips away and make them keep their eye on you. They will thank you:}

By: shellie

shellie — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:24:11 +0000

Remember the 10 second rule. The behavior need to be addressed right away what ever method you use. Separating them might be a good idea if you can. Starting training the kicking one first. That can be very dangerous as well as biting. Habits that can be stopped early Shellie

By: Janice Johnson

Janice Johnson — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 23:24:52 +0000

I agree with Dian; also, I think you should separate them until they have better ground manners and know what come and back means…they aren’t too young to learn good ground manners…

By: marcia

marcia — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 20:31:28 +0000

😀
Having coped with youngsters for about 60 years, I would definitely separate them. Get help to tie them up for a while, or put them in a crush where
you can get “hands on” without danger to yourself, via biting/kicking etc. Get them used to being touched all over, possibly with an arm extension to begin with, (so that you are out of range) but can still apply touch to them. They will soon get used to it and have respect for you.

By: Alan Gent

Alan Gent — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 19:33:44 +0000

Hi Katrina,

During the time it took me to read your post, the thought that was with me is….Give them more time, three weeks is really not very long.
I appreciate this reply is very simple but there is no substitute for time, just be patient and wait until they chose you as their Passive Leader.
All the best.

Alan