Hi all - I have recently bought a 14 year old 16hh shire x tb. the first 2 days I had her she was a dream came to me in the field let me give her nice cuddles etc, lead like a beauty and moved to pressure. I had the farrier out on the 3rd day as her hooves were in a mess and you could see it was causing her some discomfort to walk on the stony drive with them - she was fine with the farrier who shoe'd her to give her soft soles a break and even had the back lady out just to give her a once over - she said she was fine. Farrier did note that he thought she was a bit sore in her hindquarters as she was slightly holding her hooves under her but not indication or signs of laminitis he felt more because her soft soles and lack of muscle due to not being ridden often in last couple of years. Anyhow I went to get her out of the field today and she let me catch her but half way up the field she lifted her head and bolted ripping the lead rope out of my hands - then whenever i went to approach her she turned her rear to me (she didnt kick) but refused to put her head near me.. managed to catch her and she did it again and stood still so I couldnt move her - so I went to move her sideways to put her off balance and she went for it again... my plan tomorrow is go in with a rope halter (my dually is on order) and long line and make her listen to me if she stops and bolts with corrections. I am unsure I can do join up in the field as its on a hill and we have an arena but its huge can I try join up again in there. Also I did try to send her off but she wasnt bothered by the waving of my arms or the rope behind her she just planted still and wouldnt move? any long story lol any help would be appreciated thanks x
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Hi theslaterbunch - how disappointing for you. It is always hard getting used to a new horse and given her age she has probably learnt that she benefits from this behavior. No doubt the shoeing was uncomfortable for her and now she is saying not again thank you and is naughty enough to know how to escape. Once I unfortunately purchased a very solid strong necked gelding from an advisement centre who was like yor horse. I needed a second horse to ride out with my daughter and as I was working full time I didn't have much time and stupidly believed the peoplen who were selling him. He was a monster and so dangerous - had ring bone too. Ok to ride but very unpredictable when leading as one had no warning of when he wold swing his big neck away throw his body behind it and take off. I persevered with him for a number of years until his ring bone became so bad I needed to say good- bye. Only horse I have ever owned that I didn't regret having put to sleep! Hopefully you r mare is not that bad and we do have the dually these days! Given you have only just got her and her hooves are obviously a bit sore I wold just allow her to have some time in the field until your dually arrives. Spend time in the field with her letting her get used to you. If she comes up to you give her a good rub down - no halter - but be mindfull of her mood I.e don't get kicked. Maybe give her a small bucket of feed each day so that accepts that you are the source of good things too. Then when your dually arrives you can start her training with it in the field. Watch as many of Monty 's videos where he is working with the dually as you can beforehand - especially those where he is handling difficult or young horses. The latest on loading have some really good parts. Use a long lead rope and start by just familiarizing her with the dually - initially hold her fairly close to the discipline ring and ask her to walk with you but be ready to release most of the lead if she takes off but try hold her so she is facing you. Go with her if necessary but allow the dually to have its full impact until she comes off the pressure. Big reward with lots of praise and pats as soon as she does. Her behaviiour suggests she has never been trained with a dually before so it could take some time, numerous sessions, to familiarize her with it. Do everything Monty does with his long lead prior to finally leading her out of the field to the round pen
Hi theslaterbunch - how disappointing for you. It is always hard getting used to a new horse and given her age she has probably learnt that she benefits from this behavior. No doubt the shoeing was uncomfortable for her and now she is saying not again thank you and is naughty enough to know how to escape. Once I unfortunately purchased a very solid strong necked gelding from an advisement centre who was like yor horse. I needed a second horse to ride out with my daughter and as I was working full time I didn't have much time and stupidly believed the peoplen who were selling him. He was a monster and so dangerous - had ring bone too. Ok to ride but very unpredictable when leading as one had no warning of when he wold swing his big neck away throw his body behind it and take off. I persevered with him for a number of years until his ring bone became so bad I needed to say good- bye. Only horse I have ever owned that I didn't regret having put to sleep! Hopefully you r mare is not that bad and we do have the dually these days! Given you have only just got her and her hooves are obviously a bit sore I wold just allow her to have some time in the field until your dually arrives. Spend time in the field with her letting her get used to you. If she comes up to you give her a good rub down - no halter - but be mindfull of her mood I.e don't get kicked. Maybe give her a small bucket of feed each day so that accepts that you are the source of good things too. Then when your dually arrives you can start her training with it in the field. Watch as many of Monty 's videos where he is working with the dually as you can beforehand - especially those where he is handling difficult or young horses. The latest on loading have some really good parts. Use a long lead rope and start by just familiarizing her with the dually - initially hold her fairly close to the discipline ring and ask her to walk with you but be ready to release most of the lead if she takes off but try hold her so she is facing you. Go with her if necessary but allow the dually to have its full impact until she comes off the pressure. Big reward with lots of praise and pats as soon as she does. Her behaviiour suggests she has never been trained with a dually before so it could take some time, numerous sessions, to familiarize her with it. Do everything Monty does with his long lead prior to finally leading her out of the field to the round pen
Using an iPad and accidentally pushed add comment too soon. Once she is totally responsive to the dually - walking with you in the sweet spot, backing up, standing still while you back away from her and then approach again etc. then you can try leading her out of the field to a suitable venue to try join up. In this way I feel sure you will have success in retraining your mare who has learnt such naughty habits in the past. I believe she will become your willing partner so good luck and keep us posted.
Big apologies for all the typos that appeared in the above. Just getting used to my new iPad and hadn't realized how many errors I was making - iPad self corrected some - e.g adgistment centre .
Ok, I'm going to sound really grumpy now and risk causing upset but I have to say this. I'm thinking this poor girl has been moved to a new home and within a week has been brought in, met a new farrier, had shoes on, met a back specialist, been poked and prodded and now we are surprised that she doesn't want to come in. Well I wouldn't either! Where was the settling in time? Where has been the time to get to know each other and build up a relationship? So now your plan is to "make her listen" to you. A month/six weeks of getting to know each other first would have gone a long way to avoiding the need to now have to deal with her behavioural issues. This is not a direct criticism of you slaterbunch but a reflection of what you and so many many others do to these poor flippin' horses all the time. So, having pointed this out I will now try to be a bit more constructive. We all know there are lots of bad horse sellers out there and this behaviour may have been there already (hence my not attributing the whole problem to you slaterbunch), horses may mask their behaviour during the settling in phase until they "suss out" what the new place is like or they may have been sedated (not an uncommon practice) to be presented to you as a calm, easy going horse, who knows? I don't know the story behind your purchase and none of that may be relevant to you. I think the most important thing now is to build up a relationship with her in the way Maggie suggests and, as you are doing, get the Dually and start working with it. But I would strongly recommend that you see it as a relationship buildling process and a shard understanding of minds rather than it being a battle and correction exercise. Keep safety in mind at all time and always have a long lead line to limit the opportunity for her to rip the line out of your hands. Bolting is a dangerous and self-reinforcing behaviour and the worst thing to have for this, in my opinion, is a rope halter and a short lead line!
Hopefully no one can be offended, Vicci. Well said and necessary. So many owners expect so much of their young or newly purchased horses without giving consideration to what the horse is going through and why it is behaving the way it is.
Its fine im not offended the settling period alas could not be afforded like I would have like as she was in such a state when I got her there were issues with pain split hooves bruising back pain - I thought I was doing the right thing in correcting those things that could be causing her bother - nothing to do with me. I was advised by a Monty Roberts practitioner nearby to go get her out of the field (not to ride nor have i tried) but to build up a relationship with her and to spend some time with her just grooming her just walking with her. I am sorry that my efforts to stop some of her pain was actually seen as harrassing this poor horse.. Being advised to start my relationship with her immediately was obviously the wrong advice :(
Please do not feel distressed theslaterbunch by Vicci's and my comments above. My comment in support of Vicci was far more general and no directed at you but at owners of new and young horses who expect just too much of their horses eg by taking them out by themselves for scary unsafe rides with little consideration for the horse.You did the right thing theslaterbunch given her state - it is just that you mare obviously resented it as it was probably painful for her. This problem would have emerged at some stage so it is better that you have experienced it early in your relationship in a relatively safe environment for you and your horse so that you can now deal with it. You do need to build up your relationship by just grooming her and being with her. I just wouldn't try to lead her out of the field until you have your dually as I doubt if you will be able to hold her with a rope halter and this will just make the problem worse and her more fearful of you. Wait for your dually and then familiarise her to the dually in the field as indicated above. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
Oh I don't think it was the "wrong advice" to start your relationship straight away. I think you have dealt with the hand you've found yourself with, really well. Your horse is lucky to have such a conscientious owner in you!
Vicci has though, made a very important point and from the horse's perspective I suspect she is right.
SO taking that into consideration, I'd just spend quite time getting to know each other. Maybe just go into her field and pick up manure, pull weeds, check fences, water etc. It this way you are in her space, with no intention to touch her, poke or prod her lol! Then another time, perhaps take some feed and just sit near by while she eats. Then when you think she is ready take a brush and quietly brush her with no head collar, no lead rope or expectations. In this way she can check you out and hopefully understand that your presents doesn't always equal taking her out and "doing" something to her. Then just build up slowly to popping a head collar on and leading her around her field, taking her out grooming her and putting her back and then just add more experiences as you are both happy. Remembering to make it fun for both of yo each time, or at least ALWAYS ending your "playtime" on a positive note.
I like Maggie's ideas too.
TheSlaterbunch, I would most likely have done exactly what you did, given the same circumstances :) It's great you are caring enough to be here considering what to do next.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Im not distressed I just really want to do the right thing by her its a hard judgement at times knowing when to be 'correctional' not sure that's the right word and when to leave be - but anyway before I read this responses lol I went to the field yesterday and just poo picked - I have a rope halter and a long lunge line and she seemed willing so I took her to the stables and groomed her and gave a her some feed to say thank you for coming and took her straight back carried on poo picking and left her in peace. The only other corrective I have to do but I know she will be grateful after is her teeth bless her the woman confessed that they have no been done for years and im sure it needs to be done - so tuesday is last interference I have to do for a while - will keep you updated x
went to spend sometime with Bloss this afternoon she really seems to have turned a corner she was really dropping her head low next to me nudging me for a cuddle it was beautiful so lovely just walking with her no tension no expectations lovely x
If her teeth have not been done for years then I would be inclined to leave them for awhile until she trusts you more. She is now making good ptprogress so it would be a pity to set her backwards again. Leave her teeth for a month or so while you familiarize her to the dually, do join up etc.
slaterbunch, please don't think I don't appreciate and understand your intended kindness to Bloss. Reflecting on our practice is an important part of all our learning and lets face it, we've all done things with best intentions that we later thought "Hmm maybe I could have done it differently" - I know I have had A LOT of those moments!! ;-). I am thrilled that she has responded so well and so quickly and it sounds as though you have a lovely relationship ahead of you. I do however, have to agree with Maggie, waiting a few more weeks before you have her teeth done will do far more good for your relationship than harm to her teeth. Keep doing what you are doing with the relationship and I'm sure all will be well. As long as she is eating, and not in any pain I would leave well alone for now. Looking forward to the updates. Best wishes. Vicci.
thanks guys... will do;) my relationship with blossom continues to improve everyday as I am already starting to get to understand how she responds to things.. she tends to react then thinks then I offer more reassurance and she responds calmly ... she actually comes to me in the field now and the last 2 days I have just gone in the field to spray her with her fly spray and poo pick and just be around her - I have taken her halter off (i decided to let go of the fear i wouldnt catch her) and i am just going with the flow. My 6 year old son came with me today and she approached him so gently it was as if she knew he was a child she maintained a safe distance and offered her head to him it was beautiful. I am learning so much she is the horse who I think will teach me to be the horse person I want to be xx much love all of you and thanks and im sorry if I got stroppy lol I just want to get it right :)
Just lovely to read this, theslaterbunch, a little bit of strppiness is Ok sometimes as it helps to share your frustration. Pleased that you removed the halter as there is always the risk that they can get caught up with it if it is left on in the paddock.
Hi slaterbunch - what a lovely outcome, so glad its going well. Keep us updated :-)