|
|
Veteran
Posts: 285
 
| So I've hauled my mare to a few barrel races this past month and though I didn't let her run, she did great. Had beautiful turns and really wanted to work. Now it was the first time in years we had ran so I'm slowing easing back in it. A little faster everytime. I've been so proud that she's been so calm when she is usually a nervous wreck with other horses running around.
Now that I bragged a little bit, I'm just gonna say she really p!ssed me off tonight. I decided to go ride with a friend to work some cows at her place. My mare was awful! Pranced the whole time, even just walking in the woods, through a huge fit anytime she had to leave the other horse, wanting to run and crowhopped a few times, then lost her mind when she couldn't see other horse. So as proud I have been of her, tonight really set me back. She just couldn't calm down and I absolutely hate riding her when she's like that. I'm thinking some really wet saddle pads and long rides by herself. My thing is she does good by herself but if there's another horse with her, she absolutely looses her mind if she has to leave them. She's fine at the house but in a different pasture or hauled with others, its like she acts a fool if she has to ride off without them. I've done the whole make her work around them, let her rest away, but it doesn't seem to help. Any other ideas? Tonight she really pushed my buttons and its not fun riding in the pasture when your horse decides to act like a idiot. I would really appreciate suggestions to try with her when she gets stupid like this. Thanks guys.
Edited by pepsi97 2016-01-08 12:21 AM
| |
| | |
I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure? | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 285
| I have patience with my horse and if we have issues try to work through them. I don't start beating on her or anything like that. Have you never had a horse that when another horse leaves, throws a fit? Like I said, she's great if its just us riding by ourselves in the pasture or down the road and usually okay on trail rides but tonight was completely different. All she wanted to do was run and throw fits when she had to leave the other horse. When hauled with other horses she acts the same. And yes, I do try to understand her when she acts like this.
Edited by pepsi97 2016-01-08 2:01 AM
| |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| Keep putting your horse in those type of situations she could get better, I've tied mine to a tree went back home till a bout dark and went and got them some will figure it out it's not so bad alone after a while just remember a horse isn't rational like a person and it's real to them some are confident some aren't make sure your not getting a little tight and feeding off each other i do serpintines move the hip make them work and get there mind off of it but you won't be much help moving cattle lol | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 5293
| WrapSnap - 2016-01-07 11:28 PM
All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure?
I read your post and saw nothing in my opinion that conveyed you had a bad attitude. Your frustrated. I totally get that. Horses are animals. They need to learn what their JOB is and what our expectations are of them. If they are pitching a fit like a small child they need to learn what behavior is acceptable and not. Once you have of course ruled out a pain or nutrition issue then it's a learned behavior and it needs to be unlearned. Sometimes that takes hours and wet saddle pads just like you mentioned. I teach high school. If I have a student pitch a fit and flip me off I could care less why they did it , and that behavior will be corrected immediately. Animals are no different. I bought a gelding that would reach over and bite you if you were paying attention to another horse. Previous owner thought it was cute and playful. Me not so much. He also learned rather quickly what my expectations of him were. Lol | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 285
| FLITASTIC - 2016-01-08 6:07 AM
WrapSnap - 2016-01-07 11:28 PM
All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure?
I read your post and saw nothing in my opinion that conveyed you had a bad attitude. Your frustrated. I totally get that. Horses are animals. They need to learn what their JOB is and what our expectations are of them. If they are pitching a fit like a small child they need to learn what behavior is acceptable and not. Once you have of course ruled out a pain or nutrition issue then it's a learned behavior and it needs to be unlearned. Sometimes that takes hours and wet saddle pads just like you mentioned. I teach high school. If I have a student pitch a fit and flip me off I could care less why they did it , and that behavior will be corrected immediately. Animals are no different. I bought a gelding that would reach over and bite you if you were paying attention to another horse. Previous owner thought it was cute and playful. Me not so much. He also learned rather quickly what my expectations of him were. Lol
Thank you. When I wrote this I was very upset. She's been working so good and then yesterday she just acted like she couldn't calm down. I tried getting her mind on other things and working her threw it, but she just couldn't think straight. She's never been a deadhead and always up and ready to go, but yesterday just got scary for me. She thinks its okay to act like this, but its not and when she gets that way, I just don't know how to calm her down. | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 285
| Flitastic, I am a teaching assistant in special ed and going to school to get my teaching degree. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for what you do!! | |
| | |
Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | pepsi97 - 2016-01-08 7:26 AM FLITASTIC - 2016-01-08 6:07 AM WrapSnap - 2016-01-07 11:28 PM All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure? I read your post and saw nothing in my opinion that conveyed you had a bad attitude. Your frustrated. I totally get that. Horses are animals. They need to learn what their JOB is and what our expectations are of them. If they are pitching a fit like a small child they need to learn what behavior is acceptable and not. Once you have of course ruled out a pain or nutrition issue then it's a learned behavior and it needs to be unlearned. Sometimes that takes hours and wet saddle pads just like you mentioned. I teach high school. If I have a student pitch a fit and flip me off I could care less why they did it , and that behavior will be corrected immediately. Animals are no different. I bought a gelding that would reach over and bite you if you were paying attention to another horse. Previous owner thought it was cute and playful. Me not so much. He also learned rather quickly what my expectations of him were. Lol Thank you. When I wrote this I was very upset. She's been working so good and then yesterday she just acted like she couldn't calm down. I tried getting her mind on other things and working her threw it, but she just couldn't think straight. She's never been a deadhead and always up and ready to go, but yesterday just got scary for me. She thinks its okay to act like this, but its not and when she gets that way, I just don't know how to calm her down.
IME, buddy issues are typically a fear issue. Horses are herd animals. Herd instinct keeps them alive... horses that stray from others are more likely to be the ones eaten first. The comparison of this particular issue to a child throwing a tantrum may not be a good fit, as children throw these fits out of anger, not fear. The horse is not trying to irritate you, the horse (in their mind) is trying to stay alive. If you are scared, you are adding more fear to the situation. We all know horses can feel fear from a rider. If you want to help this issue, you need to find a way to stay calm. This may just be a quirk she has, and will always have, to some degree. However, by staying calm and steady, and slowly working on this issue, you can improve her behavior.
I think something that might help is to ride with a buddy, have them ride away a bit (within sight) on and off. Do this until she calms down some. You may have to do this frequently. As she gets better, lengthen the distance between you and the other horses. Take it slow knowing that this will take time to fix... sometimes, a lot of time. Something like this is not fixed in a ride or two. Patience is key. When you correct her, correct quickly and move on. Dwelling on it or adding emotion to the situation will just upset her more.
I know sometimes it is frustrating when a horse backslides, but remember that horses are flight animals. They are inherently reactive. There are times when horses will cheat people, but I think this happens less than people thing. Horses take the path of least resistance. In most cases, they do not cause problems to simply "be a jerk" or upset the rider. Their reasons for acting up are typically pain or fear, or both. There are definitely some counterfeit ones out there, but it doesn't sound like your mare is one of them. | |
| | |
 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | WrapSnap - 2016-01-08 1:28 AM All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure?
I agree. I had a gelding who was absolutely horrible, I cried so much because I was so frustrated with him. I finally stopped being so angry with him, and learned a bit of patience. Since then, he's come along ways.
Try to go out and ride her alone. Haul to an arena alone. Get her to focus on you and nothing else, time will allow that...you just have to be patient and work with her
| |
| | |
 Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | In keeping with the theme of making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard...she has to work her rear off when she is with her buddy. Move, move move and then take her away from her buddy and let her rest. That will reinforce many issues she is struggling with.
It is very frustrating but hang in there. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| barrelracr131 - 2016-01-08 8:28 AM
pepsi97 - 2016-01-08 7:26 AM FLITASTIC - 2016-01-08 6:07 AM WrapSnap - 2016-01-07 11:28 PM All of the tips and suggestions that anyone could give you with regard to how to work through this issue with your mare would be absolutely moot until you change your attitude toward her and her issues. Impatience, anger and a lack of empathy will simply not allow you to apply any of advice you are given in a productive manner. Have you ever tried to understand why your mare seemingly becomes so upset and insecure? I read your post and saw nothing in my opinion that conveyed you had a bad attitude. Your frustrated. I totally get that. Horses are animals. They need to learn what their JOB is and what our expectations are of them. If they are pitching a fit like a small child they need to learn what behavior is acceptable and not. Once you have of course ruled out a pain or nutrition issue then it's a learned behavior and it needs to be unlearned. Sometimes that takes hours and wet saddle pads just like you mentioned. I teach high school. If I have a student pitch a fit and flip me off I could care less why they did it , and that behavior will be corrected immediately. Animals are no different. I bought a gelding that would reach over and bite you if you were paying attention to another horse. Previous owner thought it was cute and playful. Me not so much. He also learned rather quickly what my expectations of him were. Lol Thank you. When I wrote this I was very upset. She's been working so good and then yesterday she just acted like she couldn't calm down. I tried getting her mind on other things and working her threw it, but she just couldn't think straight. She's never been a deadhead and always up and ready to go, but yesterday just got scary for me. She thinks its okay to act like this, but its not and when she gets that way, I just don't know how to calm her down.
I think something that might help is to ride with a buddy, have them ride away a bit (within sight) on and off. Do this until she calms down some. You may have to do this frequently. As she gets better, lengthen the distance between you and the other horses. Take it slow knowing that this will take time to fix... sometimes, a lot of time. Something like this is not fixed in a ride or two. Patience is key. When you correct her, correct quickly and move on. Dwelling on it or adding emotion to the situation will just upset her more.
I know sometimes it is frustrating when a horse backslides, but remember that horses are flight animals. They are inherently reactive. There are times when horses will cheat people, but I think this happens less than people thing. Horses take the path of least resistance. In most cases, they do not cause problems to simply "be a jerk" or upset the rider. Their reasons for acting up are typically pain or fear, or both. There are definitely some counterfeit ones out there, but it doesn't sound like your mare is one of them.
I agree that she is getting anxious out of fear. I also agree with what WrapSnap was saying. In your post it sounds like you are taking her behavior personally, which does not work with horses!
She is still looking to the other horses for protection and safety, rather than you. She needs to see you as the leader and her safety. You becoming upset and mad at her only reinforces her fear and makes her more anxious; unless you get control of your emotions and become a good leader - you can ride her into the ground and she will still be a hot mess.
I ride a lot of colts and spoiled horses that have issues just like you described, what really helps is keeping their mind engaged. Give them something to do with their feet - we ride in 1000 acre pastures and I will sort of follow along with the others, but will do extra circles, find a draw and make them go up and down it, go up through rocks, cut a calf out and circle it around, lope circles on the side of the hill - anything that makes them have to use their brain and watch their feet. Sometimes at first it gets a little hairy as they are preoccupied by where the other horses are going and NOT watching their feet, but pretty soon they realize where their attention needs to be!!
Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be - just remember to NOT let your emotions overtake you! | |
| | |
 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | One of the things I have found that helps this a lot-is to put the horse in a small stall/pen where the other horses can be seen but not touched, and then YOU feed, water, treat, exercise said horse-it may take some time but pretty soon the horse will realize YOU are their source for comfort/food/exercise and have a lot more trust in you and respect. I think there can be a lot done with this horse just from ground work, especially if you have other horses that can be close to where you're working her. Look up some Clinton Anderson videos on youtube if you're not sure what type of situations to put her in. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Windoming | I have a gelding that was severely herd bound. Downright dangerous to be riding. Every time he acted up, I would get off and lunge him for respect. (Clinton Anderson) It took two years to get him over it! But like I said, his case was severe. He used to literally scream. He doesn't whinny anymore and is a perfect gentleman. But now the older horse that I used to haul with him has become herd bound, after 10 years of never having a problem! He will whinny and pitch a fit when we leave, but my former problem child totally ignores him. After spending two years on one horse with this crap, I really don't want to deal with it, so I leave one or the other home..... | |
| | |
| I have a gelding that acts the same way. If I haul him alone he's great. If I haul him with another horse he gets very upset when he is away from that other horse. I've tried getting after him and all it does is make him more upset. So what I've done is just learned to live with it.
If I go to a barrel race I will try to let him stay within range of the other horse to keep him quiet. He runs a pretty darn nice set of barrels so I do whatever I need to do to keep him happy. That's just him.
| |
| | |
SHOOT IT
Posts: 1170
Location: TEXAS | BabyJ - 2016-01-08 8:50 AM In keeping with the theme of making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard...she has to work her rear off when she is with her buddy. Move, move move and then take her away from her buddy and let her rest. That will reinforce many issues she is struggling with. It is very frustrating but hang in there.
 | |
| | |
I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | pepsi97 - 2016-01-08 1:57 AM
I have patience with my horse and if we have issues try to work through them. I don't start beating on her or anything like that. Have you never had a horse that when another horse leaves, throws a fit? Like I said, she's great if its just us riding by ourselves in the pasture or down the road and usually okay on trail rides but tonight was completely different. All she wanted to do was run and throw fits when she had to leave the other horse. When hauled with other horses she acts the same. And yes, I do try to understand her when she acts like this.
To answer your question, yes, I have dealt with many horses that have exhibited the sorts of behaviors that you described. I train horses for a living and seem to have an affinity for rehabbing the ones that have all sorts of man made and psychological issues. I have an extremely short fuse, am not a patient person by nature and can be highly emotional. I have spent my entire life learning to control those things when it comes to my interaction with horses. The better I became at doing so, the better equipped I was at being able to help the horses work through their own issues. When I see you say things such as that your mare "really ****ed me off", or referring to her as "stupid", I see nothing other than a largely emotional reaction to your mare's behavior. Obviously, the feelings that you typed were even well after you had been in the situation, which should have given you time to step back, take a breath and compose yourself. If your emotions were still that high while typing that much later, I can only imagine the sort of energies that you were transferring to your horse in the moment. | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 285
| WrapSnap - 2016-01-09 4:58 AM
pepsi97 - 2016-01-08 1:57 AM
I have patience with my horse and if we have issues try to work through them. I don't start beating on her or anything like that. Have you never had a horse that when another horse leaves, throws a fit? Like I said, she's great if its just us riding by ourselves in the pasture or down the road and usually okay on trail rides but tonight was completely different. All she wanted to do was run and throw fits when she had to leave the other horse. When hauled with other horses she acts the same. And yes, I do try to understand her when she acts like this.
To answer your question, yes, I have dealt with many horses that have exhibited the sorts of behaviors that you described. I train horses for a living and seem to have an affinity for rehabbing the ones that have all sorts of man made and psychological issues. I have an extremely short fuse, am not a patient person by nature and can be highly emotional. I have spent my entire life learning to control those things when it comes to my interaction with horses. The better I became at doing so, the better equipped I was at being able to help the horses work through their own issues. When I see you say things such as that your mare "really ****ed me off", or referring to her as "stupid", I see nothing other than a largely emotional reaction to your mare's behavior. Obviously, the feelings that you typed were even well after you had been in the situation, which should have given you time to step back, take a breath and compose yourself. If your emotions were still that high while typing that much later, I can only imagine the sort of energies that you were transferring to your horse in the moment.
I do apologize. I should have not used those words. I was frustrated that she's been doing so well and then she acted that way. I was concerned with why she was so anxious and I know it made me anxious and then made things worse. I've learned a lot of this horse, she is more high strung and a nervous type, and I'm still learning from her. I was to overwhelmed when writing this and very emotional. I have my emotions in place and have already starting working with her to try to overcome this. | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
| I didn't read everyones suggestions or the whole thread, but don't feel alone or get discouraged. I've seen a great share of horses be idiots in certian situations. | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| Like silly filly said if you do groundwork with a lunge line take it with you i had a gelding who was like that if he got real bad i got off and worked him on the ground we've spent an hour and only got 600 yards i got him thru it but i rode 6 days a week and payed attention to how i led him and was consistent with everything i did. I'm like that with everything be mindful of little things | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 3147
| I had a mare that ran in the pasture with a gelding from the time she was a yearling til she was two. She was separated from him after that but when we went on trail rides she wanted him directly in front of her or she became a terror to ride. She didn't buddy up with any other horse, was good to haul with others but she wanted that gelding's rear end in her nose. One time she got so upset when he got about fifty yards ahead she started bucking when a horse ran by her. He was the only horse she did it with-I learned to put up with it. | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line