Desensitizing my 4 year old gelding, don't know where to begin!

jspeer1208 · 05-12-2008, 09:23 AM

This is the feed scoop I use:
http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/pro...0ASX0ENJCT2S03

Rhythmic Hooves · 05-12-2008, 11:03 AM

I will look for the article... we had a years subscription to Horse Illistrated, Horse and Rider, Equus, Practical Horseman and Western Horseman last year and part of the year before so it my take me a bit to find the right one. But if anyone needs an article I am happy to share.

Also, speaking of diet I remembered I was thinking of trying Missing Link Equine for my horses last year and totally forgot. It says... never mind I'll just find the webite for you. http://www.horsetackreview.com/article-display/817.html
I have never tried it but I thought it sounded like it would be worth a try if it could help half the thinkings it says it can (of course as long as it doesn't cause more problems). I am not very knowledgable in the diet area but I do know that when feeding my show goats I realized that by supplementing different things I was causing some major problems and went back to the basics. In goats we were throwing off what was supposed to be a well balanced food and it was basically giving the goats around the barn (not mine but several others) kidney stones and they would die. So I would be careful and think it through before you get too crazy with the feed... I am sure there are people on here who could help but I am pretty clueless for the most part.

(P.S. If anyone has tried the Missing Link and has an opinion of it, please PM me!)

Rhythmic Hooves · 05-12-2008, 12:24 PM

Well, I pulled the whole basket thing out of my closet (it weighs like 50 pounds and I am not joking!) and pulled out ever magazine I saw that I thought might help but I couldn't spot the one I wanted so I am searching the web.

So far I haven't found the article but I am going to go through the magazine and tell you what I find. I will be happy to copy and mail any or all articles that you want.... not sure if I can find a scanner.

1. H&R May 2007: Curing 'New Place-itis' with Clinton Anderson
It's aimed at the already broke horse who gets nervous in new places but it's really similar to what I did with my horse... just when it says "Get on your horse" take that as "he's ready to follow your cues and you can start your project of the day". It's basically talking about how asking a horse to stand still makes them more nervous and how to use movment to get the thinking of what they will be asked to do next instead of reacting to everything else around them.

2. H&R September 2006: No Spook Spraying with C.A.
I like this article because it talks about horses fears of spray bottles and how by releasing the pressure (stop spraying) everytime the get neverous you are just teaching them that the scary thing goes away when he/she acts nervous or acts up. I have used the same basic steps to get horses to let me spray there faces off with the water hose.

3. Is you horse head-shy? I found an article about that and I am sure you could use it for trust building even if he is not head-shy.... if you want it.

4. H&R January to October 2007: 10 Part Series by Stacy Westfall called Smart Start.
I don't think I have read it all and I don't have all of the articles but I have the first three for sure and that should get you a long ways. From the part I read, it sounds like a really good program for you to try!

I have to go somewhere but if you are interested in anything or want me to keep looking you can PM me. I am kinda thinking that since I can't find it I probably read it in one of my cousins magazines...

cutter123 · 05-12-2008, 06:09 PM

i would start with getting him to focus on u and trust ur leadership. be firm, kind, and most importantly, consistent. give him jobs. i have found, with all horses but especially with sensitive, goosey horses, this is the key to their "spooky-ness." if u are the type of leader they trust, then with time they get confident and less reactive, because they look to u. if u get to the point where u can put/ride him anywhere u want and he is responsive, focused on u, on the ground and under saddle, spooky-ness becomes almost a non issue. pretty much exactly what bruce wiley said.

jspeer1208 · 05-12-2008, 06:16 PM

What kind of jobs could I give him, since he is not broke? What are good ways to build trust?

cutter123 · 05-12-2008, 06:24 PM

mostly it is the way u work w/ him... ur attitude, ur posture, ur frame of mind, etc. i work w/ a`lot of sensitive hot horses and i have found they react best to a quiet but confident handler who does not tiptoe around them or baby them, but provides a consistent, structured routine. make sense? sorry my typing is atrocious; i have a broken hand/cast on my arm.

anyway, a job can be as simple as lunging on a line and performing transitions/changes of direction when u ask. ground driving is another one. u can incorporate obstacles in the round pen, like a tarp for him to walk over, etc. arabs are usually thinking horses so if u give him something to focus on/think about, he will have less inclination to be so reactive

jspeer1208 · 05-12-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutter123

mostly it is the way u work w/ him... ur attitude, ur posture, ur frame of mind, etc. i work w/ a`lot of sensitive hot horses and i have found they react best to a quiet but confident handler who does not tiptoe around them or baby them, but provides a consistent, structured routine. make sense? sorry my typing is atrocious; i have a broken hand/cast on my arm.

anyway, a job can be as simple as lunging on a line and performing transitions/changes of direction when u ask. ground driving is another one. u can incorporate obstacles in the round pen, like a tarp for him to walk over, etc. arabs are usually thinking horses so if u give him something to focus on/think about, he will have less inclination to be so reactive

Sounds good! I've got the longeing down with him...I guess I will start ground driving him in the arena.

cutter123 · 05-12-2008, 06:59 PM

good luck and have fun!

jspeer1208 · 05-12-2008, 07:02 PM

Thanks! I will

angie j · 05-13-2008, 07:40 AM

I do alot of ground work with my geldings: lead line them on forest trails, take them out front and move them ever closer to the road (gravel trucks and tandums), make sure I am handling them around the farm equimpent, walk them through the chickens and ducks to make accustom them to 'flapping' wings and quick moving critters crossing their path, let the dogs accompany us, put all manner of flags/tarps/ blowing bags in their path ways. Each time you spend 45 minutes convincing them it's OK, you get one step closer to the day they will just take a backward glance, as if to say, "You sure?" then move on, just because you said so.

Angie J

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05-12-2008, 09:23 AM	#21
jspeer1208 Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KY Posts: 35 Images: 18	This is the feed scoop I use: http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/pro...0ASX0ENJCT2S03

05-12-2008, 11:03 AM	#22
Rhythmic Hooves Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 136 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 1	I will look for the article... we had a years subscription to Horse Illistrated, Horse and Rider, Equus, Practical Horseman and Western Horseman last year and part of the year before so it my take me a bit to find the right one. But if anyone needs an article I am happy to share. Also, speaking of diet I remembered I was thinking of trying Missing Link Equine for my horses last year and totally forgot. It says... never mind I'll just find the webite for you. http://www.horsetackreview.com/article-display/817.html I have never tried it but I thought it sounded like it would be worth a try if it could help half the thinkings it says it can (of course as long as it doesn't cause more problems). I am not very knowledgable in the diet area but I do know that when feeding my show goats I realized that by supplementing different things I was causing some major problems and went back to the basics. In goats we were throwing off what was supposed to be a well balanced food and it was basically giving the goats around the barn (not mine but several others) kidney stones and they would die. So I would be careful and think it through before you get too crazy with the feed... I am sure there are people on here who could help but I am pretty clueless for the most part. (P.S. If anyone has tried the Missing Link and has an opinion of it, please PM me!)

05-12-2008, 12:24 PM	#23
Rhythmic Hooves Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 136 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 1	Well, I pulled the whole basket thing out of my closet (it weighs like 50 pounds and I am not joking!) and pulled out ever magazine I saw that I thought might help but I couldn't spot the one I wanted so I am searching the web. So far I haven't found the article but I am going to go through the magazine and tell you what I find. I will be happy to copy and mail any or all articles that you want.... not sure if I can find a scanner. 1. H&R May 2007: Curing 'New Place-itis' with Clinton Anderson It's aimed at the already broke horse who gets nervous in new places but it's really similar to what I did with my horse... just when it says "Get on your horse" take that as "he's ready to follow your cues and you can start your project of the day". It's basically talking about how asking a horse to stand still makes them more nervous and how to use movment to get the thinking of what they will be asked to do next instead of reacting to everything else around them. 2. H&R September 2006: No Spook Spraying with C.A. I like this article because it talks about horses fears of spray bottles and how by releasing the pressure (stop spraying) everytime the get neverous you are just teaching them that the scary thing goes away when he/she acts nervous or acts up. I have used the same basic steps to get horses to let me spray there faces off with the water hose. 3. Is you horse head-shy? I found an article about that and I am sure you could use it for trust building even if he is not head-shy.... if you want it. 4. H&R January to October 2007: 10 Part Series by Stacy Westfall called Smart Start. I don't think I have read it all and I don't have all of the articles but I have the first three for sure and that should get you a long ways. From the part I read, it sounds like a really good program for you to try! I have to go somewhere but if you are interested in anything or want me to keep looking you can PM me. I am kinda thinking that since I can't find it I probably read it in one of my cousins magazines...

05-12-2008, 06:09 PM	#24
cutter123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 387 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 10	i would start with getting him to focus on u and trust ur leadership. be firm, kind, and most importantly, consistent. give him jobs. i have found, with all horses but especially with sensitive, goosey horses, this is the key to their "spooky-ness." if u are the type of leader they trust, then with time they get confident and less reactive, because they look to u. if u get to the point where u can put/ride him anywhere u want and he is responsive, focused on u, on the ground and under saddle, spooky-ness becomes almost a non issue. pretty much exactly what bruce wiley said.

05-12-2008, 06:16 PM	#25
jspeer1208 Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KY Posts: 35 Images: 18	What kind of jobs could I give him, since he is not broke? What are good ways to build trust?

05-12-2008, 06:24 PM	#26
cutter123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 387 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 10	mostly it is the way u work w/ him... ur attitude, ur posture, ur frame of mind, etc. i work w/ a`lot of sensitive hot horses and i have found they react best to a quiet but confident handler who does not tiptoe around them or baby them, but provides a consistent, structured routine. make sense? sorry my typing is atrocious; i have a broken hand/cast on my arm. anyway, a job can be as simple as lunging on a line and performing transitions/changes of direction when u ask. ground driving is another one. u can incorporate obstacles in the round pen, like a tarp for him to walk over, etc. arabs are usually thinking horses so if u give him something to focus on/think about, he will have less inclination to be so reactive

05-12-2008, 06:59 PM	#28
cutter123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: California Posts: 387 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 10	good luck and have fun!

05-12-2008, 07:02 PM	#29
jspeer1208 Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: KY Posts: 35 Images: 18	Thanks! I will

05-13-2008, 07:40 AM	#30
angie j Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 472	I do alot of ground work with my geldings: lead line them on forest trails, take them out front and move them ever closer to the road (gravel trucks and tandums), make sure I am handling them around the farm equimpent, walk them through the chickens and ducks to make accustom them to 'flapping' wings and quick moving critters crossing their path, let the dogs accompany us, put all manner of flags/tarps/ blowing bags in their path ways. Each time you spend 45 minutes convincing them it's OK, you get one step closer to the day they will just take a backward glance, as if to say, "You sure?" then move on, just because you said so. Angie J