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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Mar 2009 : 7:57:04 PM
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Really good to know you're listening to him and trying to work out what he's saying (so many people don't bother and put it down to the horse being "naughty/bolshy etc". The horse is just being a horse!). I used to get stressed when things went wrong and i made mistakes. Now i just try and look at everything as a learning experience. He won't blame you, or hold grudges, that's one of the great things about horses.
Some really great advice on here already, i'll just put my twopennith worth in!
My filly does a helicopter head thing if she's in a heightened emotional state. Whether it be frustrated, happy and charging about the field, stressed etc. It just seems to be a way of expressing herself.
There are a couple of things I'd do irrespective of what the problem is.
1/ Equipment. Use a 12ft rope when walking him out. It just gives you a little extra to play with if he does decide to push through you. I wouldn't worry about a bridle. if he understands pressure and release a rope halter will be fine. I'm not sure how things stand from an insurance perspective. You may want to check.
2/Keep his mind focused on you. Do transitions (walk to halt and back. walk to trot etc), shoulder in etc so he is thinking about you and focusing his attention on what you're asking him. If he's bored or frustrated this will help.
3/ teach him a "calm down" cue. I have taught my rising 3 year old to lower her head in a stressful situation. This will naturally lower her adrenaline levels. During the last few weeks she has started to offer this behaviour during potentially stressful situations!
4/ You don't need a school to practice (though it does help!). Tape off a corner of your field and brush up on your ground work. I agree about Rio Barretts book, it's great. Richard Maxwell's is fab too. Doing groundwork exercises will increase his confidence in you, himself and exercise his mind and body. Good all round!
5/ chill  . As you have said, getting stressed gets you no where! However, we all do it, it's human nature! Some of us (me included!) get more stressed than others. He'll pick up on that stress/anxiety/anger and remind him (as deb said) you're a predator and can't be trusted. Take some rescue remedy before you go out, and sing if you get stressed . He's just doing what horses do, the calmer you are, the calmer he is.
best of luck, he sounds like a lovely boy. He's lucky to have you. I'm sure you'll make a great partnership.
Ros x |
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Crusaders Angel
Gold Member
England
531 Posts |
Posted - 19 Mar 2009 : 10:17:08 AM
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Thanks Guys
Made me feel loads better about the whole situation  . I can't remember who asked which questions so I'm just going to try and answer as best I can 
I always try and pick a circular route where possible but there is just one way to the woods, Sunday was only the second time he had been down there since being turned away in October, the first time down was on the Friday and he was an absolute star, only just a bit jiggy on the road but well under control and just a little head waggle and jiggy-jogging when we started heading home so Sunday was a huge shock.
I'm going to ask my mum's friend if I can borrow her school, its literally 200 yards up the lane from where Rio is.
Richard Maxwell's book has been ordered and I'm going to have a look on Amazon for the Rio Barrrett book as well. I'm dealing with a very quick and intelligent young chap here and I don't want to be the dunce of class
Lyndi - please don't be offended, I don't think anyone was saying that you were wrong in you assumption. Thats the great thing about a forum, you can instantly get several different opinions on the same topic and its lovely to have had such wide response and such great tips and ideas. Different ideas lead to great opportunities to try and develop our understanding and communication with our horses.
Thanks again guys,
Lucy |
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