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Author
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Topic: Round Pen Training
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Chris
Member
Member # 258
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posted September 18, 2003 01:57 PM
Hi!
I have a six year old mare that is very bossy and disrespectful. She is also a nursing mother to a 5 1/2 month old colt. I just purchased a round pen to work her in. My question is: Can I work my mare in the round pen now while she is still nursing, or should I wait until the baby is weaned? I will be weaning him in a couple of weeks. I have had her in the pen a couple of times and she is totally not focused on me; just the baby. He also runs around the outside of the pen which I'm not so sure is ok for him to do. I've been told to just keep working her and she will turn her attention eventually on me. Also, the baby does settle down after about five - ten minutes. Anyone out there have experience in this area?
PS Seperating them is out of the question. They carry on too much!
Thanks,
Chris
Posts: 36 | From: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania | Registered: May 2003
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QHGirl
Member
Member # 493
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posted September 18, 2003 02:13 PM
I know a lot of people who work their horses months after having the baby, it keep the mares mind sound and allows seperation to be easier. ALSO she is almost to have the baby weaned so I don't think it is a problem. After a week of doing this it will become normal, she will focus and the baby won't care. This might allow for you to wean them easier. How are you going to do that since it is too hard to do now? Just wondering?
Posts: 1350 | From: Indianapolis | Registered: Jul 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted September 18, 2003 05:39 PM
Why are you waiting to wean the baby? Especially if you want to get on with the mare's training now.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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fillyhill
Member
Member # 410
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posted September 18, 2003 05:47 PM
I agree with Dawn. I would wean now, as 5 and 1/2 months is plenty old enough to wean.
Sally
Posts: 46 | From: N.CA | Registered: Jul 2003
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RubySlipper
Member
Member # 339
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posted September 18, 2003 05:49 PM
The foal should be weaned by now, he is no longer dependent on his mother for nutrition. You should wean the foal and than start her training.
Posts: 601 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Chris
Member
Member # 258
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posted September 19, 2003 07:02 AM
To answer your questions about weaning the baby; my vet said that he shouldn't be weaned until 6 months. Also, mom is going to a friend's boarding facility when I wean them.
[ September 19, 2003, 07:03 AM: Message edited by: Chris ]
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The beauty and majesty of horses show us how really awesome God is!
Posts: 36 | From: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania | Registered: May 2003
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QHGirl
Member
Member # 493
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posted September 19, 2003 07:23 AM
I know some people who wean at any time after the 3 months, expecially if they are showing. Not that I agree with 3 months but they do it and the horses turn out just fine. I know standard is 4-6 months. Sometimes the babies drain the mothers alot and that is why they wean them early. I think the baby would be OK to wean at this time, expecially if it is only a few weeks away. Did you ask the vet why? He/she may have a good reason to why to leave them on that long!
Posts: 1350 | From: Indianapolis | Registered: Jul 2003
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HrdSpts
Junior Member
Member # 728
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posted September 19, 2003 08:22 AM
Keep in mind that lactation is not the only reason to keep a foal with it's mother. While the foal is with it's mother it is learning all about life and how to interact with other horses and people. You should ascertain if your mare's nasty disposition is imprinting on the foal. If so, by all means wean now. Also, when round penning your mare, it is a good time to teach your foal to tie. Tie it very near the round pen so it can see mom. You will be very surprised at how short a time it will take both of them to settle into the situation.
[ September 19, 2003, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: HrdSpts ]
Posts: 7 | From: Washington State | Registered: Sep 2003
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Chris
Member
Member # 258
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posted September 19, 2003 08:22 AM
Well, my vet said there's an advantage emotionally for the baby if you wait until 6 months. He also said that nature will start helping with the process; supposedly the milk production will decrease by half after 5-6 months of nursing. I have noticed too, that my colt has become more and more independent during this last month. He seems to be detaching himself from her. That's why I started working her in the round pen. However, I may just wait now until he's completely weaned. This is my first (raising a baby) and I'm learning as I go...I bought this mare from a friend and she was used to getting her own way for a long time(the mare, not my friend). I only hope an attitude adjustment can still take place; she's really disrespectful! I bought her during the last half of her pregnancy, so I really don't know this mare's personality "outside of baby".
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The beauty and majesty of horses show us how really awesome God is!
Posts: 36 | From: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania | Registered: May 2003
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Tammy Grace Lynn
Member
Member # 704
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posted September 19, 2003 09:45 AM
I don't know about you but I want my horse to be my partner. Someone I can trust and who trusts me. Horses are alot like kids, she is going to make mistakes and I don't reprimand my horse for making mistakes, instead I show her why I want her to do certain things. I try to avoid a fight with her.
I am a big fan of John Lyons and his THREE SECOND RULE:
The horse NEVER EVER has the right to kick or bite at you. Biting is more dangerous than kicking because it is a more aggressive act.
I don't know about you but I don't want to be bitten. If the horse tries to bite me, I try to kill her. Her act is that dangerous, and John Lyons rule is that simple. The only limitation is that the horses head is OFF LIMITS. After three seconds, pet your horse and reassure her that you still like her, but she will know she made a serious mistake.
Training takes time. Hours and hours of consistent time with her. Midafternoon and evening are not good training hours. These are siesta times for a horse, their natural resting periods. What you want the horse to learn in the round pen:
1. Turning and facing you
2. Standing by you.
3. Paying attention to you.
4. Trusting you.
5. Accepting the saddle from you.
6. Basics of ground tying
7. Standing still while being mounted.
8. Overcoming her fears, such as head shyness or having her feet handles.
9. Spooking in place: turning and facing the scary monster
10. Crossing plastic and other obstacles
11. Developing a positive attitude.
Be careful though: You cannot keep the horse from moving, and the horse cannot decide not to move. You can however, control her movement. Whenever she wants to move her feet, you can't stop her. You can control the direction, when she can stop,how long she runs and the gait.
Good luck with her...that is one thing I do not tolerate in my horses is bad ground manners and just plain being mean. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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If you are looking for a stable relationship..buy yourself a horse.
Posts: 127 | From: Queen Creek, Arizona | Registered: Sep 2003
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted September 19, 2003 10:30 AM
I understand the emotional advantage of waiting, but there are also some disadvantages to that. If you're not working closely with the foal by that age, you're going to have a lot of trouble gaining respect. Just because the foal is nursing, does not mean that you can't seperate them. It also drains your mare of nutrition. As long as you take this into consideration in her diet, it shouldn't be a problem.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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Chris
Member
Member # 258
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posted September 19, 2003 11:36 AM
Actually, I'm enjoying working with my colt (a lot more than with my mare). I work with him almost every day and I'm amazed how quickly he learns! Surprisingly, he has a much sweeter personality than his mother. I have my mare on a supplement called 'Mare Plus' and her weight and health are good. I haven't decided if I want to keep her or not. I am committed to putting some time in to training her to see if she will improve. I subscribe to a book series by John Lyons titled "Communicating With Cues" I also have some good training videos by Clinton Anderson of "Down-Under Horsemanship" I recently ordered the book "Bringing Up Baby" by John Lyons. If anyone else has suggestions for good training resources, please post them.
Thankx Alot
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The beauty and majesty of horses show us how really awesome God is!
Posts: 36 | From: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania | Registered: May 2003
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horse_crazy
Member
Member # 334
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posted September 19, 2003 06:45 PM
I'd definatly wean now. Our colt is about 3 months and we are weaning him next month as he is sold and will be leaving in november. but we dont wait until they are 6 months old to wean! we wean anywhere from 3 to 4 1/2 months old. Id get the baby weaned and yes the mare and baby are going to SCREAM there heads off! Id suggest putting the foal in a safe stall with a radio going loud and the mare in a safe pen. The radio helps the mother and baby from hearing each other and gived the baby something to listen to! lol! The mare should be brought down on grain to slow down her milking. After she is weaned and fully able to be ridden and worked....go for it! do some round penning with her...get her to respond to you! make her listen to you....a horse that doesnt listen to you.......isnt a horse worth having! we are going to have a bigger barn set up in a bout 2 yrs then i can start training(more) of my own horses. good luck! and you could try talking to a local trainer.
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Mares:
Honey-buckskin(in-foal to a smutty buckskin stallion)
BG-palomino/dunalino(foaled a beautiful filly)
Dibby-dun(in-foal to a palomino stallion)
Star Bucks-buttermilk buckskin(not bred, we may just use her as a riding horse)
Fillies:
Lizzy-grulla(will be used as a broodmare in the future, due to an injury as a weanling...we are unsure if she will be riding sound, although she might be, as her injury has healed so well...you can't even tell)
Sheba-black(hopefully will be shown in Halter classes starting this year)
Blue-blue roan(we aren't too sure what we are going to do with this filly yet....but she is a cutie)
Geldings:
Poco-sorrel/overo*Paint*(Awesome riding horse!)
Brandy-*FOR SALE*(Nice 2 yr old, going into training soon, price will go up, feel free to ask me about him..if you are interested)
Foals:
Tinker Bell- Red dun filly. Nice short neck, long legs, beautiful eyes..absolutely beautiful. Very people friendly.
Other 2 foals are expecting between May and June.
Posts: 853 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Jun 2003
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