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T O P I C R E V I E W
wheelie
Posted - 11 Jan 2011 : 2:55:17 PM Hi wondered if people could give me some advice? I have a 15.3hh tb x dales who's 17 apparently ex hunter who's led hunts. He came to me three years ago although was my then boyfriends horse i have had him a year. Within our first 6 months of owning him he lost an eye. He's always been difficult on the ground although he is improving he has a habit of suddenly bolting for no apparent reason this usually occurs when bringing him into his stable he will suddenly trot off at some speed leaving you wondering how one minute you where holding a horse and next your looking at the back of it he will do a lap of fields and yard before being able to be caught and will then walk in the stable fine! Other times he will suddenly push past you out the stable do the same lap around the yard and fields and go back in. He's a absolute softie the rest of the time and kind of naturally joined up with me one time when I was trying to catch he started licking and chewing so I turned my back on him and he came over and put his head in his headcollar. I have used a be nice headcollar on him in the past but he improved over the last year so is in a normal one at the moment. Oh and he's very dependent on my mare though they are separated by electric tape cause he bit her on the nose rather badly!! Though he originally jumped into the field to keep her company after I lost my other horse :( He doesn't seem to like change either though he is improving with the small changes around the yard. I think that's our life story I just feel there must be a way to solve this I'm just not sure which way to go or start!! Thanks for getting this far :D
5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
geegee
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 11:12:19 AM
Originally posted by wheelie
With clicker training is this more of creating the bond with the horse by learning something together? Sorry just never really looked into these things before
You say that "he very rarely gets shouted at" - In my book, very rarely is still too much. The only thing that you are going to achieve by shouting at a horse is defensive behaviour, fear and at worse a horse that shuts down emotionally. I don't know about you, but that is not the behaviour that I would want to see in my horses.
Your horse isn't suddenly bolting for no reason. He has a reason. Finding the reason is going to be difficult as it could be several things causing him issues. Is there a common factor when he does this? Who is leading him? Does it happen coming into or out of the field? Into our out of the stable? Leaving a particular horse friend? What side are you leading from and are you blocking his vision at any point? What is going on around him? Most importantly, what is going on when he is being handled by others, when you are not there? Lots and lots to be thinking of....
Clicker training isn't something that you can just go and do. You have to have an understanding of the mechanics of it. It works, it's fun and it is kind.
wheelie
Posted - 12 Jan 2011 : 1:33:15 PM He got a thorn in his right eye.I have know idea how he managed it !! The vets tried to save it he was with them for a month but when they removed the thorn his eye wouldn't stop leaking fluid so it essentially died there was no other choice but to remove it :( I feel he does trust me more now he's gone to run and iv manged to calm him where as before he was gone before you had chance! He very rarely gets shouted at though I do worry that when I work late and others bring him in for me they may find him intimidating and therefore he may get told off! He is a big horse though only 15.3 there's alot of him and he knows if he locks his neck you can't stop him!! With clicker training is this more of creating the bond with the horse by learning something together? Sorry just never really looked into these things before Not too sure about parelli after watching a video of the demo with the bargy one eyed horse. I really didn't feel very comfortable watching it :( He's just so random with it and then other times he's such a gent when entering his stable he will move back without being asked someone obviously taught him properly at some point just wish I knew where it went wrong
Honeyb060674
Posted - 12 Jan 2011 : 1:08:12 PM I'm another one to second clicker training. We've only been at it a couple of weeks, but Sunny switches on whenever he realises its 'clicker time'! I really do think its building a nice bond of trust & respect, in the nicest possible way! I'm loving it at the moment & an continually surprised as to how quickly he 'gets' things & remembers our lessons. Good luck with your boy...slowly slowly catchy monkey
suzanna
Posted - 12 Jan 2011 : 11:51:20 AM We take on these horses, but never know what has happened to them in the past, so we have to work with them and try and find out how we can help them. Personally I believe, the only way to go is as natural as possible, and that means no gagdets and no bullying, but working together as one.
How did your boy lose an eye?
Ground work is so important,so that you can build up his trust, he needs to be able to trust you, and you listen to him. And lets face it, most horses have a really hard time with humans, and they lose their faith in us. So how do you earn his trust. You can go to Monty Roberts demonstrations, Parelli etc, but at the end of the day it is about you and your horse, and every horse is different. Why not listen to him and let him teach you, you`ll be surprised!!
geegee
Posted - 11 Jan 2011 : 4:40:07 PM Hi,
I would say that you would do well to get a Monty Roberts RA (recommended associate) out for an assessment. Just a couple of hours would give you a good foundation to start from. If you look on the Intelligent horsemanship website, you are bound to find an RA local to you.
You could also try a Parelli instructor, but would need to invest more financially to get into it.
A good book for groundwork exercises and rope handling skills etc is 101 Horsemanship Exercises by Rio Barrett. Nice amount of pics to guide you.
OR (my fave training method of all ) Clicker training. Can thoroughly recommend this as it can be used for absolutely any training or fun situation. If you google smaarthorse, you will find a very helpful website and see some videos.
Hope this helps and good luck in whatever you choose
he will do a lap of fields and yard before being able to be caught and will then walk in the stable fine!
I have used a be nice headcollar on him in the past but he improved over the last year so is in a normal one at the moment.
I just feel there must be a way to solve this I'm just not sure which way to go or start!! Thanks for getting this far :D
) Clicker training. Can thoroughly recommend this as it can be used for absolutely any training or fun situation.