Picking feet and lunging

Bayhill · 10-19-2009, 11:11 AM

Ok I'm still looking at leasing a horse. And of course as always I'm taking my time. I found a person and horse that might be for me its not definite. She allowed me to try the horse before the lease went into effect and is very patient with me.

Well today I tried to pick the horse's feet and at first he was very good and stood there. Then he started moving a round and putting his weight onto me. I thought maybe he had lost his balance at first or I was just holding his leg wrong. So I picked up his feet again, and the same thing he moved from me or he would try to put his weight on me. Needless to say my back hurts from trying to "fight" him. His back feet were the same way he would move away from me and when I did pick up his feet he'd put his weight on me again. I told the owner about it and she said that he was testing me, which I kind of figured however. I am green to horses as far as working one on one with them so I'm worried about making a mistake. How would I correct this?

The lady doesn't have a round pen just yet, so I had to attempt to lunge him on the lunge line. Unfortunately I am very green with this stuff. Are there any videos or DVD's to help novices like myself. I'm more of a visual learner so I need to see it instead of reading it. Please don't say e-bay or as I say "evil bay" I never win anything unless it says buy it now.

This is just a trial period with the horse to see how things go. The horse is very sweet and I really like him however I don't know what to do as far as correction with horses in general. I feel up to the challenge since this is a great way for me to learn about horse behavior and what to do when I do get my own horse someday.

EVOO · 10-19-2009, 11:18 AM

If the previous owner's first response to the horse acting foolish about his feet was to tell you he was testing you, I would encourage you to keep looking. To me this says the horse is a known tester; a green owner who doesn't feel comfortable/knowledgeable in correcting a behavior as soon as it happens is not a good match for a tester. Every time he gets away with something he's going to push harder and further the next time; everyone runs into a quirk here and there they need help correcting but there really isn't time/room enough for the error of having to seek help with the little things. Because while you had to let him get away with it the first time and go ask how to fix it he got it in his head that next time he can do it even worse. So then once you have your answer and go back to fix it you're dealing with another entirely different ballgame.

Bayhill · 10-19-2009, 11:42 AM

Ugh this is so frustrating. Its either I find a horse that wants nothing to do with people because it views people as a burden. Or I find a nice horse but the owner charges an arm and a leg. I can't really afford $$$ for just a partial lease and I don't just want to ride.

Since the weather was cold and windy when I went the owner said she was going to work with him when I go back out there so that I can ride him, but honestly when first initial reaction was that if he was doing this on the ground I dread what its going to be like in the saddle. In my gut I don't really trust him.

I felt good with the lease because the price was right and I would the only one basically working with the horse and it sounded like a great way to bond. He didn't run from me when I went out to get him, like most of the leases did.

EVOO · 10-19-2009, 11:45 AM

Be patient, keep looking, the right horse will come along. The horse will know you don't trust him, he will know you don't know what you're doing. You need a horse that won't take advantage of that. Essentially you need a kid safe horse.

Coaco · 10-19-2009, 12:03 PM

why are you soo afrad to hurt his feeling--- some times it just takes a moment. if he is testing YOU he dose not TRUST you. have you watched how the owner handles him--with the feet it might just take a -quit that- or a quick tap.

Your feelings of being incopetent bleed though, you are uncomfortable so in a horses eyes you are unsafe to be around.
untill you can get more comfortable yourself (lessons, working with the owner watching, a friend to help) the horse you are working with will have simmalar results.

your results are every thing when working with horses, because every reaction they have to you is a result, sooo change one thing get a new result, is it good or bad what to change now to get a better result.

Bayhill · 10-19-2009, 12:27 PM

Coaco the owner asked me the same thing, lol. I just don't know how to correct horse behavior like I would a dog. Dogs I tolerate no nonsense from because I know what to do from experience but horse's I'm completely in the dark about how to discipline a horse. This I know can lead to a disaster for both parties. If I can just figure it out I will feel a lot more confident.

Yes I am going to watch the owner when I go back out there. She has other horses to choose from but thinks this one will be a good match for me.

Pally · 10-19-2009, 02:38 PM

It's hard for me to say whether this horse is too much for you or not. Definitely horses pick up on our lack of confidence, and there are definitely ones out there that test. I wouldn't generally recommend a bad "tester" for someone timid (been there, done that, shed the buckets of tears). But this horse might not be that bad, so if you can do some more things with him, with the owner there to help you, you might be able to figure it out.

I think it would be good for you to read all you can about ground work and horse behaviour. There are lots of good books out there, and lots on the internet.

For lunging, your body position is very important, and it can be tricky to stay in the right spot at first, but if you get a horse that already knows how to lunge, it's not so bad to do!
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/300-lunging/

10-19-2009, 11:11 AM	#1
Bayhill Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Suffolk,va Posts: 25	Picking feet and lunging Ok I'm still looking at leasing a horse. And of course as always I'm taking my time. I found a person and horse that might be for me its not definite. She allowed me to try the horse before the lease went into effect and is very patient with me. Well today I tried to pick the horse's feet and at first he was very good and stood there. Then he started moving a round and putting his weight onto me. I thought maybe he had lost his balance at first or I was just holding his leg wrong. So I picked up his feet again, and the same thing he moved from me or he would try to put his weight on me. Needless to say my back hurts from trying to "fight" him. His back feet were the same way he would move away from me and when I did pick up his feet he'd put his weight on me again. I told the owner about it and she said that he was testing me, which I kind of figured however. I am green to horses as far as working one on one with them so I'm worried about making a mistake. How would I correct this? The lady doesn't have a round pen just yet, so I had to attempt to lunge him on the lunge line. Unfortunately I am very green with this stuff. Are there any videos or DVD's to help novices like myself. I'm more of a visual learner so I need to see it instead of reading it. Please don't say e-bay or as I say "evil bay" I never win anything unless it says buy it now. This is just a trial period with the horse to see how things go. The horse is very sweet and I really like him however I don't know what to do as far as correction with horses in general. I feel up to the challenge since this is a great way for me to learn about horse behavior and what to do when I do get my own horse someday.

10-19-2009, 11:18 AM	#2
EVOO Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,609 Images: 8	If the previous owner's first response to the horse acting foolish about his feet was to tell you he was testing you, I would encourage you to keep looking. To me this says the horse is a known tester; a green owner who doesn't feel comfortable/knowledgeable in correcting a behavior as soon as it happens is not a good match for a tester. Every time he gets away with something he's going to push harder and further the next time; everyone runs into a quirk here and there they need help correcting but there really isn't time/room enough for the error of having to seek help with the little things. Because while you had to let him get away with it the first time and go ask how to fix it he got it in his head that next time he can do it even worse. So then once you have your answer and go back to fix it you're dealing with another entirely different ballgame. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Start: Sz 14 / Current: Sz 14 / Goal: Sz 10 / lbs Lost: 6.5 ___________________ I was Gobbled by a Turkey And "Blessed" by a Snow Fairy ___________________ Note to Self: It is illegal to stab people for being stupid.

10-19-2009, 11:45 AM	#4
EVOO Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,609 Images: 8	Be patient, keep looking, the right horse will come along. The horse will know you don't trust him, he will know you don't know what you're doing. You need a horse that won't take advantage of that. Essentially you need a kid safe horse. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Start: Sz 14 / Current: Sz 14 / Goal: Sz 10 / lbs Lost: 6.5 ___________________ I was Gobbled by a Turkey And "Blessed" by a Snow Fairy ___________________ Note to Self: It is illegal to stab people for being stupid.

10-19-2009, 02:38 PM	#7
Pally Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,277 Images: 12	It's hard for me to say whether this horse is too much for you or not. Definitely horses pick up on our lack of confidence, and there are definitely ones out there that test. I wouldn't generally recommend a bad "tester" for someone timid (been there, done that, shed the buckets of tears). But this horse might not be that bad, so if you can do some more things with him, with the owner there to help you, you might be able to figure it out. I think it would be good for you to read all you can about ground work and horse behaviour. There are lots of good books out there, and lots on the internet. For lunging, your body position is very important, and it can be tricky to stay in the right spot at first, but if you get a horse that already knows how to lunge, it's not so bad to do! http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/300-lunging/ __________________ I've been Snooooowwwwballed! Coal & Eclipse are my other boyfriends.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Picking her feet up...?	JasmineNJackson	Horse Training	2	07-21-2008 05:03 PM
Picking up her feet.	Sassychic	Horse Grooming	7	10-29-2007 12:29 PM
Picking out feet	Liberty's Gal	Horse Grooming	10	11-02-2006 06:14 PM
Picking up feet	farmmom	Horse Training	8	08-04-2006 08:51 AM
Picking up feet?	cowgirl21	Horse Training	4	07-12-2006 11:20 AM

10-19-2009, 11:42 AM	#3
Bayhill Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Suffolk,va Posts: 25	Ugh this is so frustrating. Its either I find a horse that wants nothing to do with people because it views people as a burden. Or I find a nice horse but the owner charges an arm and a leg. I can't really afford $$$ for just a partial lease and I don't just want to ride. Since the weather was cold and windy when I went the owner said she was going to work with him when I go back out there so that I can ride him, but honestly when first initial reaction was that if he was doing this on the ground I dread what its going to be like in the saddle. In my gut I don't really trust him. I felt good with the lease because the price was right and I would the only one basically working with the horse and it sounded like a great way to bond. He didn't run from me when I went out to get him, like most of the leases did.

10-19-2009, 12:03 PM	#5
Coaco Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 39 Images: 3	why are you soo afrad to hurt his feeling--- some times it just takes a moment. if he is testing YOU he dose not TRUST you. have you watched how the owner handles him--with the feet it might just take a -quit that- or a quick tap. Your feelings of being incopetent bleed though, you are uncomfortable so in a horses eyes you are unsafe to be around. untill you can get more comfortable yourself (lessons, working with the owner watching, a friend to help) the horse you are working with will have simmalar results. your results are every thing when working with horses, because every reaction they have to you is a result, sooo change one thing get a new result, is it good or bad what to change now to get a better result.

10-19-2009, 12:27 PM	#6
Bayhill Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Suffolk,va Posts: 25	Coaco the owner asked me the same thing, lol. I just don't know how to correct horse behavior like I would a dog. Dogs I tolerate no nonsense from because I know what to do from experience but horse's I'm completely in the dark about how to discipline a horse. This I know can lead to a disaster for both parties. If I can just figure it out I will feel a lot more confident. Yes I am going to watch the owner when I go back out there. She has other horses to choose from but thinks this one will be a good match for me.