My OTTB mare, Merci, used to come to the pasture gate when I called her name, but recently she's been ignoring me, and I have to go out and get her. Usually she just stands there and waits for me to put the halter and lead on, but today she ran away from me. I'm not quite sure why, and at first I thought her pasture mates were making her yeild, but as I approached her again, the swiftly trotted off and started grazing.
There may be 2 factors causing this:
1. A new horse has just been introduced in this pasture, and all the establlished mares are bullying her;
2. The grass in this pasture is mostly gone, because of the drought, it's all withered and weedy.
I thought maybe she was too hungry to let me near her, or maybe the new girl was freaking her out. Or maybe she just didn't want to deal with me.
Does anyone have any idea why she did this?
It's hard to say why she would not respond to you in the usual way however, a new horse can change things. It might be just her mood or even possibly your body language that you weren't aware of. I wouldn't take it personally, I'm sure she'll come to you again.
Hi, I've had a similar thing with my TB mare lately. It could just be that she doesn't want to work or that she is happy where she is. I find it worthwhile to go in without a halter sometimes just go up spend a bit of time with her and not ask for anything from her. That has helped for me.
It could also be something has got her adrenaline up - i think TBs get trickier to handle once their adrenaline starts to go up (more so than other breeds). Monty has a good few videos on the uni on "catching" a horse in the pasture too if you haaven't seen them yet
I'm watching the videos now. :)
We'll see how she is doing tomorrow, but I wanted to get some insight.
Bieng a mare she could just be cycling then more reluctant to leave the other horses. Have you done a join up lately? That may help. I know its a no, no for Monty but I always catch mine with a piece of carrot or bread. Only give it to them after they have their halter on so that it is a reward and don't allow them to look for it. You may just try catching her then letting her go again as she could just be a bit bored with her training or whatever you do with her once she is caught. My Tricka has been more reluctant to be caught since her back has been sore. If you have done join up with her in the past you my just send her away from you and keep on doing so until she decides she wants to be caught.
Princess has been doing the same thing lately, she and Emmett both, they are the only horses there, too. Always before, if they were way back in the pasture, I would honk the truck horn and they would come running, if that didnt work, I would drive out and let them see me, then go back and they would either follow or beat me back to the barn, but now they just ignore me. They dont run, and I can walk right up to them, but they wont follow me back or come when I call them. I always give them some horse candy and pet them even if I dont ride, so I dont know what is going on, maybe the weather? I have been leaving Emmett in the corral when I ride because he is a major distraction, he runs up behind us and runs into Princess or follows so close his nose in practically in my pocket, which isnt good when I am trying to train her. So he hollers the whole time we are out. I always try to do something different every time I ride so she doesnt get bored, and she doesnt mind leaving Emmett at all. I think its a relief for her, she gets mad when he runs up behind her. But I miss them coming when I call them, they always did before. It cant be the grass is dead, either, we are lucky in that our pasture has a lot of green, thick grass, high water table there, so that isnt the problem. I know Emmett doesnt want to be penned up, but I dont know what else to do with him. I want Princess to trot and canter under control, but when he runs up behind us the way he does, she could easily take off, although she hasnt yet, but I dont want her to, either. She tries sometimes, which is why I leave him in the corral.
Maybe they just have too much grass and therefore don't feel the need to go to the barn?
Could be.
I am convinced that it is separation anxiety. The lower the position in the hierarchy the more pronounced can it be. If you want your horse to come to you there are two forces for the horse: one is separation anxiety and the other one is your attraction. (Why should the horse come to you?) There are two ways of a solution. One is Monty's method: you get closer to the horse in little steps, you should always be the one who goes away first to regain trust. Second is clicker training where you become much more powerful.
Rudi
Well, today I found out why they wont come when we call them. The bears are back. One is, anyway. So if they arent thirsty, why should they come when there are bears close by? We have cleared out a lot of brush and stuff, but its a big job and we just havent had time to get to all of it, it would take a couple years to get it cleared out the way it should be. I dont expect the bears would bother them, they come for the Russian olives and chokecherries, but the horses dont like them.
I have just started doing clicker training Rudi!....and i love it! My brumby was hard playing hard to get in his new paddock but a couple of clicker sessions and he now comes up to me and doesn't run away. I don't need to have my clicker/treats with me now either.
I watched all the Uni lessons on this, and now she comes when I call again. She's been doing very well, and I've been trying to give her a lot more freedom after we come in, letting her graze in the courtyard while I groom, etc.
Well done Nadine. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and re-assess the situation as you have.
I have a 25 year old TB. He is doing great with riding and most ground manners , but I am having trouble with him. Pulling away and running when the bridle is removed when he is put out in the pasture. He does not like to stay in the stall and when he is left in for several days he is so happy to get out to the pasture. The girls at the barn that I keep him at have had to let him go while trying to get him out to the pasture. He is 17 hands and when he puts his head up they have trouble holding on. One get rope burns on her hands, she did not want to let him go. When I let him out he is more controlled with me but still jumps back and runs when I take the halter off. I have a dully halter, but do not have it where everyone at the barn can use it, because I am not sure they understand how to use it. How do I work with him with the dully, when this action only happens when I take the halter off! I hope I am making myself clear. Thanks, Lois
Make your own topic, Lois! Then you can get more advice on your specific problem. :)
Hi Lois Yes Nadine is right - you may get more specific responses if you submit your query on a new thread. Just go to the appropriate Forum topic and scroll down to the bottom where they have a prompt to submit a new post. Back to your problem. You could try a traditional halter over the dually halter. When you are ready to let him go remove the traditional halter and then discipline with the dually. See how this works. Good luck.