My new horse is an Appendix (QH and TB cross). And she’s a mare. Between the TB breeding, the fact that she’s a mare, and a dash of her unique personality, she tends to "test" her riders and handlers. I’m not a very domineering person by nature. Now, her previous owner swears up and down that she’s a real doll, and I believe it. She’s a real doll…for her. She doesn’t put up with her BS. But me…we’ve gotten to the point where she bunts me out of the way when she walks through and turns toward me, occasionally stepping on my foot as I try to mount her. I just get my foot started in the stirrup and she steps forward. She is 16 yrs old and has been thoroughly used as a trail horse. This is just out and out disrespect!! So…how do I turn this situation around? I’ve growled at her and tugged, slapped her quarters…nothing. What can I do to give this jerk of a horse a serious wake up call?? It’s not funny anymore.
I guess what I’m wondering is, how do I assert my position as a "herd leader" over her without resorting to nastiness? I’d prefer it if I didn’t have to get rough and harsh with her – and I certainly don’t want to hurt her physically or emotionally/mentally – but things seem to be snowballing down that path. How does one correct this disrespectful attitude without getting mean? The problem is not the horse…the problem is me. I just feel powerless and out-maneouvered at every turn! A pro trainer is a must to learn the tools, but what can I do to help the situation in the meantime?
To elaborate, she’s fine to lead with the halter or bridle, and once I’m in the saddle I’m fine. It’s the whole mounting procedure that has become a major event. I’ve made a big deal of it, she’s picked up on it (she’s smart as a WHIP!) and is using it to her advantage. Hubby and I are tag-teaming her; he leads her around the block, I climb on her back from the mounting block, I take her for a walk around the yard and she gets a treat. Lather, rinse and repeat. It’s working so far, but I still can’t shake this feeling of inferiority. Pep talks please?
Have you taken lessons with the horse? I would honestly haul this horse to a trainer with you taking lessons so they can show you proper ground work skills and how to discipline your horse.
Growling at a horse does nothing, tugging on what? Slapping her quarters doesn’t realy do much.
You need to work on respect and just with a halter. Having the horse whoa when you give a verbal whoa, having her walk with you and stop on your body motion. Having her stand there calmly and listening to a conversation you are having with your friends and not pulling against you.
All this can be done easily once you know the right tactics. Its so hard to tell you over the net but so easy to show you in person. A couple of lessons from an experienced trainer and I’m sure you will be good to go.
Edit— This is where the ‘i love my horse to death’ comes in and you do have to exert your authority over her. If you aren’t going to be able to do that, then put her in the pasture and stop riding her before it gets to the point she will injure you. You can’t just love your horse into training, they need discipline like any child.
So with this mounting issue- first since its just with mounting, I would have her evaluated for back pain to make sure that isn’t what you are dealing against. Make sure you aren’t jabbing your toes into her when you mount .
If the vet or chiro agree it isn’t, then you have a bratty horse syndrome going on. So what do you do when you have a bratty kid syndrome, you discipline. So you go to get on, she moves, you disengage her hips and make her listen to you. So you make the right thing easy *stand there and let me get on* and the wrong thing hard * giving you the bird and moving*. So everytime this horse moves, you disegage her hips and make her move. You lunge you do something that demands work. You also take the treats away. Treats aren’t for a horse that is being bratty, they are for some miraculous feat that the horse endured for you.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
i would consult a trainner in your area
References :
February 24th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Have you taken lessons with the horse? I would honestly haul this horse to a trainer with you taking lessons so they can show you proper ground work skills and how to discipline your horse.
Growling at a horse does nothing, tugging on what? Slapping her quarters doesn’t realy do much.
You need to work on respect and just with a halter. Having the horse whoa when you give a verbal whoa, having her walk with you and stop on your body motion. Having her stand there calmly and listening to a conversation you are having with your friends and not pulling against you.
All this can be done easily once you know the right tactics. Its so hard to tell you over the net but so easy to show you in person. A couple of lessons from an experienced trainer and I’m sure you will be good to go.
Edit— This is where the ‘i love my horse to death’ comes in and you do have to exert your authority over her. If you aren’t going to be able to do that, then put her in the pasture and stop riding her before it gets to the point she will injure you. You can’t just love your horse into training, they need discipline like any child.
So with this mounting issue- first since its just with mounting, I would have her evaluated for back pain to make sure that isn’t what you are dealing against. Make sure you aren’t jabbing your toes into her when you mount .
If the vet or chiro agree it isn’t, then you have a bratty horse syndrome going on. So what do you do when you have a bratty kid syndrome, you discipline. So you go to get on, she moves, you disengage her hips and make her listen to you. So you make the right thing easy *stand there and let me get on* and the wrong thing hard * giving you the bird and moving*. So everytime this horse moves, you disegage her hips and make her move. You lunge you do something that demands work. You also take the treats away. Treats aren’t for a horse that is being bratty, they are for some miraculous feat that the horse endured for you.
References :
February 24th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
you need is to take her into the arena and have her halter on and have a 14ft lead rope. and lead her and if she even tries to push any boundaries you take your rope and smack her in the chest and make her back up is she throws her head up and pins her ears, let her do it. she is trying to be a leader. so hit her back only hit her in the chest though because in horse herd thats where the leader would go to bite the other horses in the herd that were out of line. and then after she’s backed up say 10-15 steps. walk foward a few steps and back her up. and if she doesn’t go smack her hard again with your rope when she backs up. when she backs stop so she knows the boundaries. and then keep doing that. and soon she should back up without you having to put any pressure on the rope and if you stop she will stop, if you back up. she backs up. if you walk she walks. and she should walk right at your side or a little behind. so your leading. and she will gain your respect on the ground and see that you mean business.
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have used this method on my horses and works 100% every time.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Hi there,
I have to ask if it could be a simple as the saddle you are using? What was she ridden in before? Is it the same type of saddle you use?
I only ask because I have a mare who cow kicks your leg as you try to mount if you are using any saddle other than a western on her. Or mount from the off side.
The other trick is to ask them to back up a step before mounting. Put your shoulder into hers that way you will feel when she is about to move and ask her to back up instead of stepping on you. That sometimes works.
There are a number of good books out there that try to teach you how to be the Leader of the heard, even a one horse heard. The one I enjoyed the most was by Ga Wa Nee Pony Boy called Horse follow closely. It is based on the traditions of the Native American Indians. He has a number of good books.
I wish you the best of luck.
References :
http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Follow-Closely-GaWaNi-PonyBoy/dp/1889540226
February 24th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Mulereiner has everything in her response for you. Start with the physical possibilities of pain first and move on, what she has advised you will help you gain respect from your horse without using tactics that won’t work. Getting upset and fighting with the horse will end in just that, a fight. Slapping, whacking, tugging, yelling won’t fix your problems. A horse that does not stand for mounting takes patience and discipline. Also check to make sure that when you try to mount you are not bracing on a rein, you may be pulling on the horses mouth and creating an issue of moving, just the same as she mentioned with "jabbing" your toe into the horse when putting your foot into the stirrup and jumping up.
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