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Horse Sense for People

Why can't I catch your horse Claire?

Hello!

Thought I would share a funny story or maybe not so, but more ignorance of the language horses use. Two years ago prior to any knowledge of horse language and psychology, my horse started to turn on me in the field threatening to kick or walking off ears flat etc. I was mortified I had owned him 2 years and couldn't understand it. I realised that not to my liking the horses were not going out hardly at all (sorry pet hate) and I was training him quite hard at the time, that this was the cause and change in his behaviour. I did three things, looked to for knowlege, I stopped the training it was boring and uninspiring, and moved yards. Two years on after much digestion of books and dvd's I had learnt to catch my horse when he didn't want to be caught amongst other things, I have been at a new yard for a month now and funnily this week they had trouble catching him and expressed the same details I had two years before, he was running off or turning his hind towards them, now they are going out but he has just changed paddocks albeit rubbish winter grass it's enough for him to not want to come in, trying not to laugh as this is a dangerous situation to be in , I explained to them simply, give him a reason to want to be caught, ie. 1. if he goes away, make him go away alot, 2. teach him to turn and face not to turn and rear end you, 3. reward him when he is with you. I wonder if they understood !!!

Claire (A passive leader)

Sasafras
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Sounds good!Reminds me when I had a mare who would see me and her halter and run for it,so I would click her on as if I was making her work and just follow her around making sure she was moving away,then I would turn and leave and in a minute there she was at my shoulder.I didn't know it was advance and retreat,or join up,I just knew it was how to get hold of my mare!:)

angela.carlile
Hello!

Hi both, sasafras, thats exactly how we used to catch the yard horses years ago! There are so many things that I think we have all noticed over the years that join up now explains - working the lunge horses always made them lower their heads lick and chew and spiral in - it used to drive me nuts. If only id known........

Horse addict (From the good old USA)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

great story! lol