Difficult pony

AtomicTop · 04-27-2008, 11:04 PM

I have recently been given a pony. She is 16 years old and has not been ridden/handled for 5 years. She's gone a bit wild. Has never previously lived with other horses and had never been floated before. I managed to get her on the float no trouble at all and she let me handle her reasonably happily. Then, after meeting my other 2 horses (big Standardbred gelding and other gelding pony), she didn't want anything to do with me. Would not let me approach, would nip when touched anywhere. Have now got her at the point where she let me put on the halter. Lets me groom her to about half way down her back. Get's edgy when handled near the back and really fights when you try to pick up her legs. I have been very keen to ride her (I know it's naughty when the ground manners are lacking) but I could not resist. She was ok. Did not buck or anything. Was VERY goey though! She is so insanely attached to my big gelding that she wants to run to him all the time. This is where my biggest problem starts. She gets so anxious when separated from him, that I can't attempt any successful training. She gets so worked up, she literally runs over me. Can't lunge or do anything with her. Is the key to this trying to wean her off him by keeping her separate from him for more and more time every day. Also I have a suspicion she may have cushings. Could the hormones released due to this condition be messing with her head? I have the vet coming out to test for cushings in a few days but I am just keen to know who has any ideas about what I can do about her manners. Thanks!

Artrageous · 04-28-2008, 01:39 PM

Have you tried keeping her in a stall away from the other horses? That might help...

I'm going to assume you have her in a stall, right? If so, then some of her manners will be easy to fix.

When you are grooming her and she starts to get fidgety, go back to the front half and repeat that until she accepts the brushing. Same with the feet. Run your hands down her legs until she fidgets, and then bring your hand back up and keep doing that until she will eventually accept you handling her feet. When you are able to pick them up, only hold them for a second, and let her have them back. Pat her. Eventually you should start holding them longer and longer until she lets you handle her feet whenever.

Cushings disease shouldnt affect her because of hormones... I knew a very sweet TB mare with cushings disease.

As for the nipping, every time she nips you, DO NOT SMACK HER. That will only teach her to do it quicker. Back her up when she nips at you. Or, if she does it while you are working on something (showmanship, etc) make her work even harder. Do something you know she thinks is unpleasant as LONG as you DON'T hit her.

Thats all I can really help with... hope it helps!

Madi · 04-28-2008, 04:31 PM

My arabian has became 'insanely attached' to my Thoroughbred ever since we moved agistment but I weaned her as you said. I started by bringing them up and feeding them one by one, not together. I tried to avoid taking them on rides together. All I did was try and keep them seperate as long as possible while I was with her so she didn't hurt herself.

Of course, she still gets a little nervous but after being fed and worked by herself she has learnt that she just has to suck it up. The arabian is a very good little horse under saddle so she was quiet easy to ride away from the Thoroughbred and her version of getting hot was getting stubborn lol. Give her points for persistance though.

AtomicTop · 04-29-2008, 01:23 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice. Unfortunately I have no stall for her. We live in warm Queensland, so very few people keep their horses in stalls. However, I have a number of paddocks to chose from. I will keep her separate while I am home, to see if she tolerates it without making herself sick. The first time I did it, she foamed with sweat from running around looking for my big horse.
Also thanks for the hints on the legs and the grooming. That's just what I have been doing. I guess I'll persevere and be more patient. Thanks again.

Sati · 04-30-2008, 08:32 PM

Oh, for the nipping thing, make it unpleasnt, so she does not want to nip you. What i do with my gelding is I grab his upper lip and give it a twist. You can also get the bumpy gloves and rub her muzzle when she does it. They do not like the feeling of it. Just some things that helped me.^^ Good luck.

AtomicTop · 05-01-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sati

Oh, for the nipping thing, make it unpleasnt, so she does not want to nip you. What i do with my gelding is I grab his upper lip and give it a twist. You can also get the bumpy gloves and rub her muzzle when she does it. They do not like the feeling of it. Just some things that helped me.^^ Good luck.

I will try those ideas. People have told me to work the horse harder when she bites, but that doesn't seem a very immediate response and I am not sure the horse can make the connection. Anyway, it's not always the case that I am working her when she tries to nip. Sometimes I am just leading her from A to B. So the lip twisting seems like an idea.

04-27-2008, 11:04 PM	#1
AtomicTop Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia, The Sunshine State Posts: 205 Images: 6	Difficult pony I have recently been given a pony. She is 16 years old and has not been ridden/handled for 5 years. She's gone a bit wild. Has never previously lived with other horses and had never been floated before. I managed to get her on the float no trouble at all and she let me handle her reasonably happily. Then, after meeting my other 2 horses (big Standardbred gelding and other gelding pony), she didn't want anything to do with me. Would not let me approach, would nip when touched anywhere. Have now got her at the point where she let me put on the halter. Lets me groom her to about half way down her back. Get's edgy when handled near the back and really fights when you try to pick up her legs. I have been very keen to ride her (I know it's naughty when the ground manners are lacking) but I could not resist. She was ok. Did not buck or anything. Was VERY goey though! She is so insanely attached to my big gelding that she wants to run to him all the time. This is where my biggest problem starts. She gets so anxious when separated from him, that I can't attempt any successful training. She gets so worked up, she literally runs over me. Can't lunge or do anything with her. Is the key to this trying to wean her off him by keeping her separate from him for more and more time every day. Also I have a suspicion she may have cushings. Could the hormones released due to this condition be messing with her head? I have the vet coming out to test for cushings in a few days but I am just keen to know who has any ideas about what I can do about her manners. Thanks!

04-28-2008, 01:39 PM	#2
Artrageous Full Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 178 Images: 23	Have you tried keeping her in a stall away from the other horses? That might help... I'm going to assume you have her in a stall, right? If so, then some of her manners will be easy to fix. When you are grooming her and she starts to get fidgety, go back to the front half and repeat that until she accepts the brushing. Same with the feet. Run your hands down her legs until she fidgets, and then bring your hand back up and keep doing that until she will eventually accept you handling her feet. When you are able to pick them up, only hold them for a second, and let her have them back. Pat her. Eventually you should start holding them longer and longer until she lets you handle her feet whenever. Cushings disease shouldnt affect her because of hormones... I knew a very sweet TB mare with cushings disease. As for the nipping, every time she nips you, DO NOT SMACK HER. That will only teach her to do it quicker. Back her up when she nips at you. Or, if she does it while you are working on something (showmanship, etc) make her work even harder. Do something you know she thinks is unpleasant as LONG as you DON'T hit her. Thats all I can really help with... hope it helps! __________________ Alice: "I'll play you for it. Rock, paper, scissors." Edward: "Why don't you just tell me who wins?" Alice: "I do. Excellent."

04-28-2008, 04:31 PM	#3
Madi Full Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 211 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 5	My arabian has became 'insanely attached' to my Thoroughbred ever since we moved agistment but I weaned her as you said. I started by bringing them up and feeding them one by one, not together. I tried to avoid taking them on rides together. All I did was try and keep them seperate as long as possible while I was with her so she didn't hurt herself. Of course, she still gets a little nervous but after being fed and worked by herself she has learnt that she just has to suck it up. The arabian is a very good little horse under saddle so she was quiet easy to ride away from the Thoroughbred and her version of getting hot was getting stubborn lol. Give her points for persistance though. __________________ apple bottom jodhpurs, hooves with the fur ... fur. the whole of pony club was looking at her... all she wanted to do was roll... roll...roll... roll

04-30-2008, 08:32 PM	#5
Sati Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mi Posts: 137 Images: 4	Oh, for the nipping thing, make it unpleasnt, so she does not want to nip you. What i do with my gelding is I grab his upper lip and give it a twist. You can also get the bumpy gloves and rub her muzzle when she does it. They do not like the feeling of it. Just some things that helped me.^^ Good luck. __________________ Proud Mother to a newborn bay tobiano Colt (Dezi) on April 29th, 2008! Owner of Dezi, Dixie, Pete, and Faith. *Proud Wife of an American Soldier!*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
3 year old being...difficult	NicDearborn	Horse Training	14	12-02-2006 01:25 PM
Why is this so difficult for him?	MelissaH	Horse Training	11	10-01-2006 09:11 PM
He's being so difficult!	Morganhorse321	Horse Training	10	08-14-2006 12:28 PM
Should all first horses be difficult?	BarebackJourney	Horse Chat	26	03-24-2005 12:21 PM

04-29-2008, 01:23 AM	#4
AtomicTop Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia, The Sunshine State Posts: 205 Images: 6	Thanks everyone for the advice. Unfortunately I have no stall for her. We live in warm Queensland, so very few people keep their horses in stalls. However, I have a number of paddocks to chose from. I will keep her separate while I am home, to see if she tolerates it without making herself sick. The first time I did it, she foamed with sweat from running around looking for my big horse. Also thanks for the hints on the legs and the grooming. That's just what I have been doing. I guess I'll persevere and be more patient. Thanks again.