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| An update on the "difficult" horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 6 2007, 09:54 AM (1,073 Views) | |
| OakesBrae | May 6 2007, 09:54 AM Post #1 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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It was with great trepidation (and 2 xanax) that I went out to ride the "difficult" horse who had dragged the barn owner down the road. Although he had longed perfectly the day before, his biggest challenges were always under saddle, where he could be a saint or the ultimate sinner. I decided (after 2 xanax) to throw care to the wind and ride him in the outdoor which was full of distractions. Other horses in pastures, people mowing lawns, tractors...doing tractor things. Historically these things have created issues for this horse, but with much bravado I decided that he was just going to have to deal with it. I longed him first (because though I was being brave, I am getting old enough to recognize complete stupidity when I see it), and once he was listening well, decided to get on. The first challenge, mounting. Said horse has learned in the past that standing is not mandatory for mounting. Since I am getting older, and my jeans were a little tight, and said horse is a monster (he's 16.3, but just...huge), this was not working out so well. Say what you may about Sir endospink and the endorphin tap, but having a history with this horse I know that most reprimands do not work with him, so I decided to crank his head and force him to stand there. I have no idea whether I was doing the half-tap (as endo calls it) or whether I just convinced him that he WAS to stand, but it worked. He stood quietly for mounting and quietly as I adjusted my stirrup (I had to let it down two holes to reach it - let it be known that I CAN NOT wear these tight jeans to ride this particular horse). The next hurdle, the first upward transition. Whether it be by the fact that I established my complete and utter superiority (via human brain) or whether he was just feeling generous today, I had no issues getting him to walk off or trot. Historically this horse was sticky with his first transition and would often try to rear or buck you off. At one point when headed toward the gate he tried a mini-rear and stomp, but I kicked him swiftly in the ribs and jerked his head to the right and he decided that perhaps this was not the day to piss me off. We cantered, he has such a lovely uphill rateable canter, and jumped a small x before I called it a day and praised him profusely. Why do I tell you this story? This is a horse that I took as a "you are his last hope" case. This is the horse that I wasn't even sure that I could deal with, as his rearing fits were beginning to make me lose hope. But I realized that for him it is a dominance thing. I realized that I had never had any issues with him on the ground because on the ground I was easily alpha. I realized that somehow I had to establish that under saddle - but WITHOUT being abusive. And it worked. I hesitate to say this, because it will surely jinx me for our next ride, but I was actually smiling as we were cantering around. I *gasp* enjoyed our ride. I think I'm going to like this horse... |
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| Trialbyfire | May 6 2007, 10:12 AM Post #2 |
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You're BANNED!
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Good for you!!! What a great day you had! And hopefully knowing that you can get him to work for you will carry forward as confidence - and he'll know that you have it too....and things will keep getting better! Great job! Keep us posted on your progress! |
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| OakesBrae | May 6 2007, 02:49 PM Post #3 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Today we rode again with other horses in the arena. This has always been worse for him, but we did okay. He reared a bunch at first, but after getting him to go forward I longed the snot out of him and got back on. He seemed to get it after that and we had a good ride. It's going to take work, but at least I feel more confident that I can work him through it. Tomorrow is a day off and then Tuesday is his next working day, wish me luck! |
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| hijumpin1 | May 6 2007, 02:55 PM Post #4 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Glad he's doing better. Gotta enjoy the weather right now, it's so nice! |
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| 2hsmommy | May 6 2007, 04:37 PM Post #5 |
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Yay!! for you OakesBrae
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| OakesBrae | May 6 2007, 05:09 PM Post #6 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Thanks guys! Yes, the weather was perfect for riding here today, it was 63 degrees and sunny - just perfect riding weather. I think we'll get there. One of the things that is helping is that I am riding more, so when he throws his little fits it doesn't quite toss me around like it did at first. The second thing is that I'm realizing that they are intimidation tactics, but you can call his bluff. This is a good thing. |
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| snaffle | May 6 2007, 06:35 PM Post #7 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Yay, Oakesbrae. Good for you. |
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| OakesBrae | May 7 2007, 06:37 AM Post #8 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Thanks! Now I'm trying to figure out what he's really doing. It is a rear, but it's accompanied by a stomp - he rears then drags his head as low as he can, then tries to rear again. Not quite a rear buck rear, because the back end doesn't come up, but it's almost like that. It's accompanied by a head shake so you really feel thrown about. I'm thinking of trying to start warmup in canter, because I can get him to gallop forward, that maybe it's related to the trot. I just don't know. My trainer wants me to hop off of him, and longe the snot out of him, then get back on, but I'm afraid that the time it takes makes the correction not quick enough to be related to the cause (if that makes any sense). Ahhh horses, they are so hard to figure out sometimes. I wish he could just tell me what exactly his problem was, if it was truly an f-u, I could respond! |
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| OpticalIllusion | May 7 2007, 07:20 AM Post #9 |
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You're BANNED!
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Do you have a video of him when you first started? I before and after video would probably be tons of fun to watch when your done with him. Its nice to know that not everyone will just give up on a difficult horse. |
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| OakesBrae | May 7 2007, 07:22 AM Post #10 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I don't, but that's a great idea. I'll have to see if I can get someone to do that. It may point out a few things to me as well
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| ShawneeAcres | May 7 2007, 07:56 AM Post #11 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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If lunging helps, then I would decide that part of his routine would be to lunge FIRST. But not to get off and lunge, that way you won't be "rewarding" the bad behavoir. Sounds like a temper tantrum more than anything else. |
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| OakesBrae | May 7 2007, 08:11 AM Post #12 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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He did get longed before the ride. He doesn't seem "up", but he's a wb, and who knows what goes through his brain. I think his "upness" manifests itself as temper tantrums. And that's exactly what it seems like, a temper tantrum. Once you get through it, he's fine. But what I can't seem to figure out is *why* he throws the temper tantrum and what will help him give it up? I'm going to try warming him up in canter today and see if that helps. Who knows. I just feel at such a mental loss - I usually understand equine behavior rather well, but this is one tough nut to crack. |
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| vxf111 | May 7 2007, 08:43 AM Post #13 |
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You're BANNED!
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Can you feel the bad behavior coming on? What happens when, if you feel the tantrum, you completely change what you're doing and force him to do something challenging... i.e.- you're trotting on the rail when you feel a tantrum. Before the tantrum has a chance to start, you ask him to canter on a small circle with a lot of bend, stepping underneath himself. Maybe you can trick his brain a little by giving him something to focus on when it gets bored and he wants to stop working. The caveat here is that I'd always make it a change that is still FORWARD since he goes up. Going up is just another way of not going forward and that needs to be NEVER an option. The only options are forward, forward loopy, forward uncollected, forward with a buck even-- but always forward. Rearers are very scary. I can't imagine trying to take one on. I have seen them be fixed though, so I hope your guy can. This horse wears a standing martingale, I assume, right? I would not get on one like this would the benefit of a standing, and I'd lunge him in it too. |
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| OakesBrae | May 7 2007, 10:42 AM Post #14 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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Today I rode him after longeing, and decided to try the canter first trick. He does wear a standing martingale for longeing and riding as of right now. So when I hopped on after warming him up longeing, we moved right into canter. At the spot where he had balked before (which isn't near a gate or any trigger that I can determine) he hopped a little bit but I immediately galloped him forward and he was perfect for the rest of the ride. This brings up an interesting question for me. Obviously cantering is his preferred method of warming up...but why? Could that indicate issues with his hind end while trotting that make it painful until it is fully warmed up? After he cantered for a little while I was able to trot just fine, even past the gate. Maybe he is just one that needs to remember forward first, I just don't know. |
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| MissBri | May 7 2007, 10:43 AM Post #15 |
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But, I don't care - it's 5:00 somewhere
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Yup, keep him guessing, keep changing things Cavalettis, serpentines, figure eights, circles, lots of change of direction. A few other things you can set up are weave cones and a cloverleaf pattern (Pole bending and barrel racing). |
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for you OakesBrae

7:40 AM Jul 11