Hi there
My horse does not like to be saddled. Probably he was mishandled before but I don't know.
Particularly, when I tie the cinch he becomes really cranky and he tries to bite, event If I do that very progressively.
I did some desensitization work and it was better, but he still try to bite although it's more intimidation that anything else. Not a big deal, but I thought it must stop so everybody can be more relaxed.
I was wandering myself how I can use monty's principles in order to change this behavior and I came with this following idea. Before tying the cinch I put the dually with a lead rope on the right ring of the dually, the I put the rope behind the cantle and I hold in my hand when I start to tie the cinch. So when my horse tries to nip, his head goes left, and the dually does its magic.
I did some training sessions like this and it looks like things are getting better, but I would like to have your opinion here and to be sure that is a good way to handle that problem. I want to be sure I don't misuse the dually here. Also I think this problem is not so rare, so somebody can suggest a better method.
thanks for your comments
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Horse Behavior and Training
Saddle Shy
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I've had this same problem with a horse I've been working with for someone. One of the reasons he nips of course is because he's been hand fed, however, in working with this horse we've discovered that he's in a lot of pain in his withers and in his back and it's painful when I would do up the cinch. I don't know if this could be a possibility for your horse but you might have him checked out to be on the safe side. As far as how you're using the Dually I didn't quite understand your explanation but if it's working then keep at it.
Thanks kleinne for you answer.
Hand feeding is probably not the problem here I think. But pain, you may be right. Wither and back seem to be ok, but my horse is a cribber for years and somebody told me cribbers can also have an ulcer. Could it be a possible root cause for the problem?
I also thought it could be my saddle, but I checked that and it fits ok.
Sorry my explanation is not clear: when the horse tries to bite, because I'm on his left side, I has to put his head on the left. because the lead rope is on the right schooling ring, the dually becomes immediately uncomfortable for him. Quickly he understood that biting is not such a good idea after all... So yes it works, but if the problem is a pain problem, it will not heal him.
Hi cyril - if you have had his back checked and his saddle fits OK it maybe just a bad habit he has formed due to a previously ill fitting saddle or something! I think your explanation of how you are using the dually sounds fine. The important thing is that he gets an immediate discipline on the ring for his bad behaviour and then a quick release and lots of encouragement once he stands still with no nipping. Your use of the dually is a bit similar to how I have used mine for saddling and trimming my young mare's hooves. I tie her up with the halter ring under her chin and then attach another shorter lead rope to the discipline ring and allow it to hang freely. Any sign of misbehaviour it gets a quick tug. She now stands perfectly still for saddling and having her hooves cleaned and trimmed but I still attach the second lead just in case she reverts to her previous naughtiness. It seems a good solution if you are always handling your horse alone as I am. By the way what is a cribber as I am unsure of that term?
Hi Maggie,
Thanks for your encouraging message.
A cribber Is a wind sucker. He grabs something with his teeth, arch his neck pulling on the grabbed object and then sucks in air. He does that over and over again.
Perhaps this is why he wishes to grab you with his teeth?
Maybe you could separate the two problems. Biting: light touch of the cannon bone (you must be ready with your foot). Putting the saddle: incremental learning, use your phantasy (first only touching with the hands, then stimulation with a rope, and so on).
Rudi
Rudi, your trick with the cannon bone looks nice and I'll try this one.
If my understanding is good, it just takes advantage of the distractibility of the horse and also creates some light discomfort to "school" the horse. Very simple and non violent, I like it! (and give some some news about it).
Maggie, I don't know if nipping and cribbing are related. If saw in the Q&A section an article about cribbing and it looks like here's not a magic cure for that, unfortunately...
Thanks all for your suggestions.