[SKB]

I have been training my first filly and it is going okay...you know some days you think you are really good at it and other days you think... what was I thinking. I know this is normal, but I love it anyways.

I've had a trainer come out 2 times to help with a couple of issues we've had (my filly was not handled for the first 9 months of her life... well I guess only enough to get her halter broke- but that was it) Of course when I got her we were getting so much snow that there was not much I could do but little things like backing up.

Okay, I got off the subject. My filly can be a little disrespectful at times and we don't have a roundpen. She also constantly tries to bite the hook on the rope, so she pays more attention to that than to who is working with her. The trainer thinks having her in a roundpen would do her good. This means I could send my filly to the trainers for a week. If we do this, I will be going there at least for half the week during her training sessions to see what the trainer is doing and she will also show me/have me work with my filly also. I love the trainer (actually it is her and her husband). Great people.

My question is... can a horse develop any type of "bad habit" from bordem (not being with another horse) if it is only a week. We have 2 horses and I am pretty sure my gelding won't totally freak since it will only be a week... but can she start things or do you need more than a week for bad bordem behavior to begin?

Sorry this was unnecessarily long!

[StarfireArizona]

I am not quite sure what you're asking....but I am guessing it is if you're filly is away for that week at the trainers, is that enough time for her to develop bad behavior from boredom... You didn't mention how old she was.

I would say it will be just the opposite. If they/you get her working in the round pen among other things, she will start using the thinking side of her brain & be more alert & actually happier. Of course that is if she is not pushed too hard for her age...and your trainer knows that without a doubt.

My 7 year old OTTB gelding is so much more mellow when he gets worked daily. Sometimes is longing, sometimes it's trailer loading practice, sometimes it's just walking around with me for an hour or so on a lead. If I challenge his mind, he is calmer & more content

When she comes back home, you'll just need to keep up with her activity. Exercise for both of you

[sorrell]

I agree with SfA - it will do her good to go to the trainer. It should teach her to focus better and be more respectful.

[SKB]

Sorry that was confusing (sometimes it is hard to get all my thoughts out so they get kinda jumbled)! Anyways, she is about 1 year and 7 months old. She is not really going to be lunged very much if at all... just some other stuff to help the respect thing. Also winter is coming so I want her to have a little more training under her belt because if we get tons of snow like last year, it will be hard to do alot with her. The trainer said I am doing things right, just not as aggressively as the trainer will do it. (I don't mean aggressive in the bad sense)

That is good to know that she won't develop bordem behaviors. I need to go over the details with the trainer to know how long she will work her (I think the times may vary). Another reason why this is good is because once summer ended, my schedule got real hectic so we only train about 1-2 times per week... she does get her feet picked though more than that!

I am excited that I will get to be there during her training sessions if I choose to and she will let me do some training also... good deal for me!

[StarfireArizona]

My colt is the exact same age as your filly, and I know how you feel about wanting to do things right. I was really lucky though, I had him since birth. The only problem was I wasn't expecting a baby when I bought my mare....she just decided to give me one I had to learn quickly how to raise & train a foal.

With a baby, I don't know if it's more being "assertive" than aggressive. You're firm but fair. My big gelding I had to be very aggressive to get his respect....but my little guy only needed some firm guidance. He is the sweetest colt in the world

Just spend as much time as possible with her....even if it is just hanging out. Halter her & walk her around....even if there is no training involved, she is still gaining knowledge of what you allow & what you don't. Her young mind needs some stimulation. There is a ton of things you can do with her even in the wintertime. Do a search here for "Foal Training" & "Yearling Training".

My colt aces anything I teach him....and usually the first time I introduce it. New things really interest him. He walks away from the other horses to be with me....maybe it's for the riveting conversation

The very best of luck to you.....

[SKB]

Starfire Arizona- Yes, assertive is the word I was looking for! My filly is very strong-willed and likes to push you with her shoulder if she doesn't feel like listening. I am so jealous that you had your guy since he was a little peanut.

Even when leading around, she still has her moments where she'll put her head down and start to shake it around (like she's throwing a temper tantrum) She has gotten much better though, but I can't wait until I can take her out on the streets to walk her around the neighborhood... we live on dirt roads with not a whole lot of cars going by! She's just not ready for that yet (and quite frankly neither am I)

As far as winter goes... last year the snow was past my knees for a good portion of winter, so that made it kinda difficult. I guess I can try to shovel and area to work in if we get lots of snow again... Last year we were so busy shoveling the driveway and the roof!! The snow would dump like a foot at a time and not giving you a break in between snowfalls to get the snow off the roof. It was crazy!

My filly will run to the fence anytime she sees a human. She loves em' all! She was the only horse for a while (mostly before we had her) so she may very well think she is part human. We got her a buddy as quick as we could when she came to live with us... but the darn rescue took forever to get him over here (paper work,etc.).

I appreciate your insight and enjoy working with your baby (sounds like you do!) I also love to train, but it will be a bit more pleasant once we get passed this respect thing!

Sorrel- thanks for your post also!

[StarfireArizona]

When you do take her out of her "comfort zone" & around the neighborhood, maybe have someone walk your other horse as well if he is confident & not too excitable. If she is with another horse, she won't feel as apprehensive. But before you do the first few things you're best to perfect are:

1) yielding to pressure at the poll with a rope halter
2) Leading well
3) yielding the hindquarters

Once you have those things pretty much ingrained, then you can think about taking her to discover the outside world. Without them you will have no control when she gets nervous. For your comfort & safety wear gloves, use a rope halter & a 9-12' lead (in case she needs to circle).

We always took our colt for walks with our old gelding Rusty.....and extremely little gets him uptight....so he was an ideal companion. At first Desi had to check out every mailbox, every trash barrel, every white mark in the road....and would spook something fierce around cars. Now he is so very much better. There are two small very yippy dogs across the street behind a chain link fence....and he walks over, puts his head down sniffing at them while they bark non-stop right in his face. Now I just tip his head toward the cars as they come up behind us, and he watches closely but doesn't freak out anymore.

I know it's really hard living where there are months of miserable weather. But there are small things you could work on in the barn if you have a large stall or small open area. Even if it's only desensitizing her to clippers, plastic bags, blankets and/or bareback pad....and tons of other things. Groom her a lot & get her used to every part of her body being touched.

When she is being disrespectful, get in her face & demand respect. If she is naughty, then make her yield those hindquarters for a half minute or so....or make her back up 15-20 steps. You'd be surprised just how quickly it gets their attention

[MissCita]

Didn't ge through all the posts.. If your filly is doing something during that week, she should be fine! That said I went to Cali for two weeks, arranged to have my horse worked with, they only ended up coming like three times and my horse is used to getting worked almost every day. She got VERY bored, and tore down her paddock fence, twice. And by that I mean competely bull dosed it. It's never happened again and was totally out of character.

[Bruce Wiley]

This is a very good question SKB.
On the contrary, we humans provide a break to their daily state of boredom.
Them working with us, allows them to be able to focus on our directions of patterns in the training process. Some horses are very much enlighten & engaged during these times. Some horses displays a type of eagerness, excitement to start & do their working routine.
I would say, the only time a horse develops a bad behavior thru boredom is when the teacher isn't up to par... them stumbling alone, being uncertain of what & how to teach the lesson.
This is why it is so important to first learn, study,understand the lesson before getting in front of the horse.
This is a bad time to try and teach something and the person themselves don't totally believe, or understand their intentions & the purpose for the teaching.
The horse pickup & notices this lack of passion on the teacher part and the horse also wonders about the need to be involve in the training session. Some horses react by not focusing on the person, putting their attention on the first thing they see, hear, or smell. Anything but the teacher.
Disrespect, resentment, frustration & aggressive behavior can form at this time and the person should call it quits, because they have lost their student, the horse.

Its called thinking things thru, being prepare & knowing your lesson plan and understand the reason, purpose of your goals.


I hope this helps.

[SKB]

Thanx everyone for your nice words and ideas...

Starfire Arizona... I do desensitize her quite a bit... most of the time it is when I have a few minutes here and there, so I never considered it a "training session", but now thinking about it... it really is! Oh, backing up is usually the first thing I make her do when she gives attitude... she hasn't really been too attitudy until she had her recent growth spirt 2-3 weeks ago!!! Also, my other horse is about 23 or so and is great... I ride him around the streets so thanks for the idea of taking him with when she goes on her walks... it will be a while cause I need to be in complete control of her before we go into the great wide open...

Bruce Wiley- Thanks for your explanations... even though I am still learning, I will not even attempt to train her if I am not pretty positive of how to execute things... this is why I've had a trainer come out a couple of times. It will also be good when my filly goes to their place cause during that week when they do the training sessions, they strongly encourage me to be there as much as I want so I can get in the round pen and repeat the exercise... this way the trainer can tell me how well I am doing. It makes sense about them being bored, but I have had people tell me that horses really don't want to be bothered by humans, that they are happier when left alone with their buddies... I guess it's not true especially for human loving horses like my 2!

MissCita- I hope your horse didn't have any injuries... boy the things they will do when they are ****** or bored!