It's About The Horse

bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4352 Location: Kansas

The foundation of the horse is so very important. We tell folks all the time (and especially in the Young Horse Class) about the importance of a solid foundation.
If the foundation is solid, it will always be there. If the horse is handled by a Goober, he'll do what he has to do to protect himself... but if he's ever offered the good deal, he'll recognize it if that foundation is solid.
If you've ridden with me in a clinic, you've likely heard those words. If you've been in a Young Horse Class, you've heard them many times over!
Well, here's a case where those words rang loud and clear. A friend of ours called us and said three of her young horses had started kicking at her help. They had become hard to catch, unpredictable, and one of them quite aggressive.
Now, I know all three of those horses, because I halter started them myself. They are sweet, soft, and sensitive. Kris and I went over to work with them and see if we could figure out what had been going on. The first two colts were a little suspicious when I entered their stall with the halter. They were both in the same stall, and they tried to hide behind each other. It wasn't long at all until I was able to draw them to me enough to pet them on the face and neck. I separated them by moving one into the adjoining paddock, then worked to draw the other to me. He caught up nice and easy, and I petted him all over, picked his feet up, and took him for a little walk outside. He was a gentleman, and never showed any signs of aggression or worry. I took him back and caught the other one up in the paddock, moved him around a bit, picked his feet up, and took him outside for a walk. A gentleman also. I went ahead and trimmed their feet
with no fuss.
It wasn't long at all till the suspicion was gone, and the eye was soft... then the body was soft. They were both very responsive on the lead rope.
Kris and I came back over today to work with the other colt. She is a two year old, and has gained the reputation of charging and kicking the handler. Kris and I walked into her pen, sorted the two mares and moved them outside. Then I drew her to me and caught her up with no fuss. I moved her around a little bit to see what she remembered, then picked up her feet. I worked her from a fence, worked her with a flag, rubbed the lariat all over her, ran the rope up and down her hind leg, moved the loop of the lariat to her girth area, and tightened it to simulate the cinch. I worked her around a bit to get her prepared for when she's saddled, gave her plenty of lovin', then turned her loose.No sign of aggression at all. Very willing, very light, very soft.
What I felt from these three horses, the handler rushed things too much. She trapped them in the corner to catch them and moved too abruptly, scaring them. I can't blame them for worrying. But they recognized a good feel quickly and responded well.
My feelings... if anyone doesn't get along well with these horses, they brought it on themselves. These are nice horses!
Horses like these who have been handled poorly or abruptly can sure get a reputation for kicking or being aggressive, or hard to catch. But it was how they were approached that made that come to be! And it didn't take but a couple of minutes for them to respond to a little consideration.
We need to be respectful and considerate when we come into the horse's stall/paddock/pasture with the intent to catch and work with our horses. If we show them respect and consideration, chances are they'll show us the same. If we're abrupt and careless... well, why would we expect them to be ladies or gentlemen?
The foundation was solid, it was still there. The colts did what they felt they needed to do to protect themselves when they felt threatened... can't blame them at all.
But they remembered the good deal... they always will.
The owner has changed handlers. I expect these colts will see the good deal more often now, and change their reputation back to good, solid colts.
THINK before you handle your horses... and THINK while you are handling them. Offer them feel, work on your timing... it's worth the time and effort!
For the horse,Brentwww.BrentGraef.com
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"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred. Hot they are. And too fast they be. Forever on the fly. But I stayed the course and have no remorse. I love my off the track racehorse!"

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9013

That's nice...thanks.
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Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. - Words of Wisdom - Mhar

‎"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss activities; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Blue Flame · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:47 am Post subject:

That word he uses - "abrupt" reminds me of something I got from the Buck movie. When he had a student hold the other end of the rope and gave him a lesson on how the way you take ahold of a horse makes a difference to whether the horse braces - or in this case, flinches.

It was something that got through to me that it is ok to take a heavy feel/hold of my horse. So long as I don't snatch the slack out of the rope/rein "abruptly", the horse will not be offended, or get defensive (well, so far anyway).

bit · Member Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 4352 Location: Kansas

I remember him doing that demo at a clinic. Made a big difference in how I ask. From closing slowly, to firm, to only having to ask with my seat. It gets more and more subtle, if you just give your horse a chance. Eclipse doesn't want me to jerk on her face, so she'll try real hard for me if I just give to her.
_________________
"It was once said I should clear my head for one cannot ride a Thoroughbred. Hot they are. And too fast they be. Forever on the fly. But I stayed the course and have no remorse. I love my off the track racehorse!"