I'm a little old school

belsenj · 10-19-2009, 05:37 PM

There was another thread tonight that got me thinking.

Today for the first time, Sienna tried to lash out at me with her teeth. Yes, she was trying to tell me that she didn't want me touching her girth area, which I can respect to a point. BUT, if she ever tries that again, she's going to have another thing coming to her, like ME!

When she did it, I was with a horse trainer as we were checking her girth area for any problems. Yes, she does have problems in that arena. We were making progress, but I changed the girth for a day and now she's sore again. (smacks self on head)

Anyway, the trainer quickly said the reason why she snapped at me was because I didn't have her head held. The she proceeded to tell me that the horse should not be reprimanded for doing such...

I let it go for now, but I think I really should have nipped it in the bud. Otherwise, Sienna will think it's A-okay to snap again.

My thoughts are that I will definitely be ready for her the next time I go to touch her girth area, and she WILL get popped if she even thinks about getting after me. haha, I have 4 children and it works the same way.

Just for the record, I am very sensitive to her issues and we have worked through many of them and she has never lashed out at me for anything. This was a first. btw, she got a new very cushie girth today, so there's no more excuses.

I really don't think ignoring a situation like this is the correct thing to do. She needed a good poppin.

KristinJ · 10-19-2009, 05:45 PM

I am like that aswell. I baby my yearilng and I am very patient with him. However if he is being blatantly naughty (biting/kicking) he WILL get reprimanded for it, and he has learned.

MuckMuck · 10-19-2009, 05:59 PM

You are of course welcome to do anything that you want to your horse.

Could I ask you to share WHY your horse would want to bite you?

Does your horse hate you?
Does your horse fear you?
Does your horse hate all people?
Does your horse bite all people and when?
Is your horse a mean horse?

What would cause YOU to want to bite another person?

kmdstar · 10-19-2009, 06:13 PM

I wouldn't ignore that. She's obviously sensitive there with good reasoning but STILL...there's no reason to lash out like that. I don't know if it's a normal thing for her to be aggressive with you or not, but actually doing something like that shouldn't be ignored IMO.

belsenj · 10-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Good question Muckmuck - no, LOL I don't think she hates me. And a big no to all of the above. She was telling me something in no uncertain terms - OMG, that might hurt. Do Not do it!

In her past life, she was hurt. I do know that and have known that for some time. Last night I felt terrible because I changed her girth the day before and yesterday she wouldn't even let me brush her behind her neck, so I didn't. That's the kind of horse she is. Very sensitive. She was a rescue from an auction.

I have bursitis, so I know how that feels. I am assuming at this point that she has something similar to what I have in my elbow, but in her girth area. While I understand that, she also has to know her limits.

belsenj · 10-19-2009, 06:29 PM

kmdstar - she has never ever done anything to me. Never a kick or bite. She's a very sweet horse.

This is her free lunging with me the other day.

YouTube - 101609 Lunge part a

CrazyHorse · 10-19-2009, 06:37 PM

I think someone took me wrong in the thread you are probably referring to when I said to pop a 1000# horse with a dressage whip when he tries to run over you, so I will say it like this: I am old school only when things become dangerous and the horse obviously has no respect for me. I have been seriously injured by a horse who had no respect for anybody and I will not go there again.
The only physical force I have had to use with a disrespectful horse was an elbow to the neck, a pop on the chest or a sting on the rump with a lunge whip, but I have never ever beat a horse, and never will. If I become that angry, I walk away and cool off. I have found that my body language has been very effective in teaching my mare manners and respect. The only time I popped her on the rump with a lunge whip was when she kicked out at me in the round pen because I took her away from her buddies. The one and only time she tried to run over me, I backed her up a few steps really fast and made myself "big." That's all it took with her.
Now if someone has a rank horse who is just downright nasty and disrespectful, then do what you have to do.

belsenj · 10-19-2009, 06:54 PM

And I agree with you 100%, CrazyHorse. Sorry I didn't mean for this to spill over here. You know the dangers, as most of us do. I do too, and that's the reason for this thread. I will do what it takes to not be endangered by my horse, as sweet as she is - she is still a horse. They can be unpredictable, just like Sienna was for me today. This was completely out of her character, but I must deal with it.

Bare with me here, but I have always laughed at the posts where a horse gets a pop. It's just one of those cute little ways of saying that the wild animal needs a correction. Like I said earlier, I have 4 children. And they've gotten a pop or two over their lifetime for a correction. I guess I just love the word.

CrazyHorse · 10-19-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belsenj

And I agree with you 100%, CrazyHorse. Sorry I didn't mean for this to spill over here. You know the dangers, as most of us do. I do too, and that's the reason for this thread. I will do what it takes to not be endangered by my horse, as sweet as she is - she is still a horse. They can be unpredictable, just like Sienna was for me today. This was completely out of her character, but I must deal with it.

Bare with me here, but I have always laughed at the posts where a horse gets a pop. It's just one of those cute little ways of saying that the wild animal needs a correction. Like I said earlier, I have 4 children. And they've gotten a pop or two over their lifetime for a correction. I guess I just love the word.

LOL! Pop is a quaint little word isn't it?

Horses can do a lot of damage to us humans and I believe they need to be disciplined for bad behaviors just as our kids need to be disciplined, with love, firmness and consistency. It's amazing how a horse can go for years never showing any signs of aggressiveness, then all of a sudden, they're biting you lol!

MuckMuck · 10-19-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belsenj

Good question Muckmuck - no, LOL I don't think she hates me. And a big no to all of the above. She was telling me something in no uncertain terms - OMG, that might hurt. Do Not do it!

In her past life, she was hurt. I do know that and have known that for some time. Last night I felt terrible because I changed her girth the day before and yesterday she wouldn't even let me brush her behind her neck, so I didn't. That's the kind of horse she is. Very sensitive. She was a rescue from an auction.

I have bursitis, so I know how that feels. I am assuming at this point that she has something similar to what I have in my elbow, but in her girth area. While I understand that, she also has to know her limits.

So if the reason that your horse is reacting to you is either PAIN or PAIN memory,then how do we want to deal with this?

Now I have bursitis also and if someone kept triggering the pain that I have,then I would start to get a bit grumpy also.

The horse is communicating with you quite clearly and is stating that you are maybe causing pain or the threat of pain.
Your answer could be to let the horse know that you will not cause them pain.
You will be careful and will listen to their BASIC needs.

Most horses that exhibit this kind of behavior have been hurt while cinching.
Either the pain is still there or they think that the pain is coming any second.
Extra care can be taken to reassure the horse that there will be no pain.
After all, you did not create the problem and are helping the horse to overcome the pain of the past.

Visualize your mother putting on your pants when you were much younger and every time she tightened your belt,she pulled it WAY TOO tight.
You are not going to be very trusting of the next person that wants the job.

10-19-2009, 05:37 PM	#1
belsenj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 780 Images: 41	I'm a little old school There was another thread tonight that got me thinking. Today for the first time, Sienna tried to lash out at me with her teeth. Yes, she was trying to tell me that she didn't want me touching her girth area, which I can respect to a point. BUT, if she ever tries that again, she's going to have another thing coming to her, like ME! When she did it, I was with a horse trainer as we were checking her girth area for any problems. Yes, she does have problems in that arena. We were making progress, but I changed the girth for a day and now she's sore again. (smacks self on head) Anyway, the trainer quickly said the reason why she snapped at me was because I didn't have her head held. The she proceeded to tell me that the horse should not be reprimanded for doing such... I let it go for now, but I think I really should have nipped it in the bud. Otherwise, Sienna will think it's A-okay to snap again. My thoughts are that I will definitely be ready for her the next time I go to touch her girth area, and she WILL get popped if she even thinks about getting after me. haha, I have 4 children and it works the same way. Just for the record, I am very sensitive to her issues and we have worked through many of them and she has never lashed out at me for anything. This was a first. btw, she got a new very cushie girth today, so there's no more excuses. I really don't think ignoring a situation like this is the correct thing to do. She needed a good poppin.

10-19-2009, 05:45 PM	#2
KristinJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 1,247 Images: 4	I am like that aswell. I baby my yearilng and I am very patient with him. However if he is being blatantly naughty (biting/kicking) he WILL get reprimanded for it, and he has learned. __________________ Proud Owner of: Answer to Prayer (Nikki) 1984 American Quarter Horse Gelding Charms Bachelor Will (William) 2008 American Solid Paint Horse Gelding Rambo 1991 Minature Pony Gelding "Anything forced or misunderstood can never be beautiful." -Xenophon

10-19-2009, 05:59 PM	#3
MuckMuck Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: northern California Posts: 816 Images: 1	You are of course welcome to do anything that you want to your horse. Could I ask you to share WHY your horse would want to bite you? Does your horse hate you? Does your horse fear you? Does your horse hate all people? Does your horse bite all people and when? Is your horse a mean horse? What would cause YOU to want to bite another person? __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C. Fields

10-19-2009, 06:37 PM	#7
CrazyHorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florence, Mississippi Posts: 10,947 Images: 656	I think someone took me wrong in the thread you are probably referring to when I said to pop a 1000# horse with a dressage whip when he tries to run over you, so I will say it like this: I am old school only when things become dangerous and the horse obviously has no respect for me. I have been seriously injured by a horse who had no respect for anybody and I will not go there again. The only physical force I have had to use with a disrespectful horse was an elbow to the neck, a pop on the chest or a sting on the rump with a lunge whip, but I have never ever beat a horse, and never will. If I become that angry, I walk away and cool off. I have found that my body language has been very effective in teaching my mare manners and respect. The only time I popped her on the rump with a lunge whip was when she kicked out at me in the round pen because I took her away from her buddies. The one and only time she tried to run over me, I backed her up a few steps really fast and made myself "big." That's all it took with her. Now if someone has a rank horse who is just downright nasty and disrespectful, then do what you have to do. __________________ Don't fight the hands that hold you... God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. I've been blessed by the Snow Fairy too many times to count! I've been gobbled many times over by Thom Turkey!

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10-19-2009, 06:22 PM	#5
belsenj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 780 Images: 41	Good question Muckmuck - no, LOL I don't think she hates me. And a big no to all of the above. She was telling me something in no uncertain terms - OMG, that might hurt. Do Not do it! In her past life, she was hurt. I do know that and have known that for some time. Last night I felt terrible because I changed her girth the day before and yesterday she wouldn't even let me brush her behind her neck, so I didn't. That's the kind of horse she is. Very sensitive. She was a rescue from an auction. I have bursitis, so I know how that feels. I am assuming at this point that she has something similar to what I have in my elbow, but in her girth area. While I understand that, she also has to know her limits.

10-19-2009, 06:54 PM	#8
belsenj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 780 Images: 41	And I agree with you 100%, CrazyHorse. Sorry I didn't mean for this to spill over here. You know the dangers, as most of us do. I do too, and that's the reason for this thread. I will do what it takes to not be endangered by my horse, as sweet as she is - she is still a horse. They can be unpredictable, just like Sienna was for me today. This was completely out of her character, but I must deal with it. Bare with me here, but I have always laughed at the posts where a horse gets a pop. It's just one of those cute little ways of saying that the wild animal needs a correction. Like I said earlier, I have 4 children. And they've gotten a pop or two over their lifetime for a correction. I guess I just love the word.