I tell Ya I Am Losin' It !

StarfireArizona · 10-29-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliekk

So your unemployed husband cant come out to help you? I've seen you post the same topic before, I'm guessing those tricks didn't work?

If you have the facilities, tie each horse up seperately for a good hour or two per day. This will force them to go on with life without looking at the other horse. Then work on keeping your mare tied up, but moving the other three around, tying them in different places.

I really don't know what else to tell you without seeing the layout of your property. Is it just a huge open pasture? Do you have the resources to section off the field? Do you have stalls? Are they attached to your field? How many DIFFERENT areas do you have that the horses can be in without actually being turned out together? Do you have a good friend who has a big pasture that you can turn your mare out on so you can have them separated? Is selling the COLT an option? I'm trying to get a mental picture. Speaking of pictures, do you have any of your layout that can help us help you?

I have one of those husbands who would be so much happier if I didn't have the horses. Please don't get me wrong, he does everything possible to help me. He goes for feed all on his own when he sees we need some, he takes care of all repairs at the barn, makes sure I have everything I need at all times ( going way out his way to get certain things), & he prepares the trailer & drives when we need to go somewhere & listens to my endless chatter about what goes right and wrong with all of them. But being involved with actual training is not his thing. Even if he wanted to help out daily, he has extreme allergies to their dander. He breaks out in literal hives after being around them for any real length of time. I am heartsick, for when I get them home to our new home whenever that may be, he can't be around them much so I will be enjoying them mostly by myself. I did just ask him if sometime soon, he could walk Rusty out the gate & let me handle her as an experiment....and he said he would. I will take him up on it, believe me

Below is a picture of my set up. I have the metal barn/stalls in the right rear & a 60' round pen across from them in the left rear. The arena actually looks larger than it is, but it was plenty enough room for 3 horses when we planned it all out. There isn't any way to keep them from seeing each other with the exception of when one is in the stall & I walk another up to the far end of the arena which is right outside the picture on the right. The bushes keep that area obscured from the stalls view. The gate we exit from is right next to the barn so when I leave with one of them, it can be seen from anywhere. Now that I have encountered this problem, let me tell you the next set up is going to be VERY different !

I just started tying her up last night next to the round pen. Unless I make the tie extremely short, she can turn around enough to see where we are. As I said in the post above, she was watching nervously & pawing when I took Desi way up to the opposite end of the arena. I left her there to let her deal with it. I didn't take him out so she just had to endure seeing him walk away. She wasn't too bad...

The others don't give me any real grief....except for calling back when she is calling out. If it wasn't for that, I think the whole problem would disappear.....

Alliekk · 10-29-2009, 10:49 AM

Is there any way you can get your hands on some blinkers? Obviously you need to train her to accept them, but that may help with her frantic searching. If you can tie her up with the blinkers while you take Desi out you may be able to break her screaming for him (since she can't see you leaving with him). It's a possibility, but just be prepared to resort to something else. Some horses will have nothing to do with blinkers.

StarfireArizona · 10-29-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliekk

Is there any way you can get your hands on some blinkers? Obviously you need to train her to accept them, but that may help with her frantic searching. If you can tie her up with the blinkers while you take Desi out you may be able to break her screaming for him (since she can't see you leaving with him). It's a possibility, but just be prepared to resort to something else. Some horses will have nothing to do with blinkers.

What exactly are blinkers ? For some reason blinders are coming to mind....are they the same ? I will search for some & try them out. I am willing to try anything to help her through this....

Just so you understand....it is not just Desi she gets upset about. She gets just as frantic with Tino or Rusty leaving....and she HATES Rusty. She don't want Rusty around, and she sure as h*ll don't want him to go

Alliekk · 10-29-2009, 11:36 AM

Yes, blinkers/blinders, tomato/toma(u)to. Just make sure you get her used to them! She won't like being blind at first!

I understand that Desi isn't the only horse she gets upset about, but she is MUCH more attached to him than your other two. It is the biggest test for her if you take her baby away than a horse she doesn't like. She's not thinking "he's my buddy, don't take him away", she's thinking "oh no, not you too! You cant leave me! No!"

StarfireArizona · 10-29-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliekk

Yes, blinkers/blinders, tomato/toma(u)to. Just make sure you get her used to them! She won't like being blind at first!

I understand that Desi isn't the only horse she gets upset about, but she is MUCH more attached to him than your other two. It is the biggest test for her if you take her baby away than a horse she doesn't like. She's not thinking "he's my buddy, don't take him away", she's thinking "oh no, not you too! You cant leave me! No!"

I had never heard of the term blinkers, but it makes sense

To be 100% honest, she is probably equally devastated with Tino or Desi. Tino is alpha, which may be the reason.....but either one provoke the same anxiety response from her.

I appreciate the suggestion.....will look into it

Alliekk · 10-29-2009, 11:47 AM

This makes it even harder for her. She has become VERY dependant on her herd. If any member is taken away she feels lost. She's probably closer to the bottom of the totem pole, isn't she? How does she act when you take HER out for a walk?

StarfireArizona · 10-29-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliekk

This makes it even harder for her. She has become VERY dependant on her herd. If any member is taken away she feels lost. She's probably closer to the bottom of the totem pole, isn't she? How does she act when you take HER out for a walk?

She walks away from the property just fine.....a little high headed, but no resistance. It's only when she gets a ways away, it's almost as if she realizes she is "out there" all alone & starts calling out. Tino doesn't really call back when she is out, but occasionally Desi does. Even if she doesn't hear anything, she is calling.

Like I mentioned above, I think part of the problem is I don't walk them very far from the barn....and so they can hear each other. It gets dark early now, so by the time I get up there around 4 pm, I don't have much time to go very far. I have decided that when I take one out, I am going to go straight up the road instead of circling around.....and it may be an hour walk instead of about 20-30 minutes. If she calls out & doesn't hear anything a few times, it may sink in that it's not worth the effort. I can only hope this helps.....

Alliekk · 10-29-2009, 12:49 PM

It may sound harsh, but the circling and working when they call just isn't working. Bring a crop out with you. If she or any horse you are walking calls you smack them HARD in the chest. NO calling. PERIOD. NO exceptions. It will definitely get their attention. The "nice" way isn't working anymore and you are losing your place as herd leader, so to reinforce your position you need to "bite" them when they're being bad.

StarfireArizona · 10-29-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliekk

It may sound harsh, but the circling and working when they call just isn't working. Bring a crop out with you. If she or any horse you are walking calls you smack them HARD in the chest. NO calling. PERIOD. NO exceptions. It will definitely get their attention. The "nice" way isn't working anymore and you are losing your place as herd leader, so to reinforce your position you need to "bite" them when they're being bad.

It doesn't sound harsh to me....I am a tough love horse owner....I cuddle them when they are good & reprimand when they aren't. I was taking a 4' stick with me on these walks, but only tapping HARD in the rump to get them moving. Maybe some crop contact in the chest might make them fly right. I will try it.....thanks

Alliekk · 10-29-2009, 01:12 PM

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

10-29-2009, 10:49 AM	#22
Alliekk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,424 Images: 153	Is there any way you can get your hands on some blinkers? Obviously you need to train her to accept them, but that may help with her frantic searching. If you can tie her up with the blinkers while you take Desi out you may be able to break her screaming for him (since she can't see you leaving with him). It's a possibility, but just be prepared to resort to something else. Some horses will have nothing to do with blinkers.

10-29-2009, 11:36 AM	#24
Alliekk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,424 Images: 153	Yes, blinkers/blinders, tomato/toma(u)to. Just make sure you get her used to them! She won't like being blind at first! I understand that Desi isn't the only horse she gets upset about, but she is MUCH more attached to him than your other two. It is the biggest test for her if you take her baby away than a horse she doesn't like. She's not thinking "he's my buddy, don't take him away", she's thinking "oh no, not you too! You cant leave me! No!"

10-29-2009, 11:47 AM	#26
Alliekk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,424 Images: 153	This makes it even harder for her. She has become VERY dependant on her herd. If any member is taken away she feels lost. She's probably closer to the bottom of the totem pole, isn't she? How does she act when you take HER out for a walk?

10-29-2009, 12:49 PM	#28
Alliekk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,424 Images: 153	It may sound harsh, but the circling and working when they call just isn't working. Bring a crop out with you. If she or any horse you are walking calls you smack them HARD in the chest. NO calling. PERIOD. NO exceptions. It will definitely get their attention. The "nice" way isn't working anymore and you are losing your place as herd leader, so to reinforce your position you need to "bite" them when they're being bad.

10-29-2009, 01:12 PM	#30
Alliekk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,424 Images: 153	Good luck and let us know how it goes!