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  Discussion on Change of behavoir
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Member:
npo33901

Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 - 5:15 pm:

My two horses are showing some changes in attitude .
Both Lucitanos, Violino 8 years - very gentle, sensitive,clever, got him as 3 years old , trained him myself with occasional help, using TT touch and a little Parelli . Went extremely well - on the longe - under saddle . English riding .
Troubador - 10 years, big horse - got just broken . He has lack of concentration, is lazy , very loving, and stubbern .
He has physical defect - left ilium at hip joint has been damaged (nobody can say what happened ) . There is slight indentation where the hip should be sticking out . He is high headed . He is afraid and nervous, not like Violino . They are both ridden in the snuffle . Longed in the cavesson . That was in the past ;

Now. Last year April T. freaked out when returning home, I landed on a stone path and broke my femur . Only now I am getting back to normal . Horses were on the pastures during the day , stabled at night during my injury time .
I started to hand walk them in the forest - to lunge them, trying to get us all strong . Violino started to stop while going down to the arena and doesn't respond as usual. Must touch him with a whip He was always very sensitive and responsive. He still is at times. But I am getting worried, he is getting worse . We have hot wire everywhere and he is little worried when walking through the entrances . In the past he was absolutely calm .
Troubadour is suddenly terrible going through some of the entrances ( I have different pastures ) . He will not even approach one or two. It took me a lot of circling and trying to approach again and again . He was OK the for a while and few days later he started again . I see he is nervous he is not old himself . I have to jerk and pull on his halter - I do not like doing it. I'd like to have him/both responding to the "slack or gentle pull on the line . Troubadour is my real problem . Why is he like that now .?
I thought back to basics ? some ground work ?
Forgive my spelling, please, I am not English .
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 - 5:29 pm:

Hi Fame
Maybe try sending exercises. in different areas of your property starting in a place they are calm at and then progressing eventually to sending them thru the gate. It could take a month or even longer to get them "tuned-up".
I would also do alot of groundwork ...hindend disengageing and/or backing up any time they lock their feet when trying to lead them.

*Just a question...because of the broke femur episode are you tense(for lack of a better word) around them?
Best Wishes
L
Member:
juliem

Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 - 7:00 pm:

Fame, is it possible you have some "stray voltage" from your hot wires? Horses are more sensitive to electricity than people and they would likely feel it from the ground if that's the case. Turning off your power source when you're working with them for few days should tell the tale I think. Sort of a remote possibility I'm sure, but it can be a real problem.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 - 9:39 pm:

Stray voltage can be a problem but if the horse has been shocked touching the fence, just seeing more wire and insulators could cause a reaction. If this has happened it may take time to retrain. No matter what the cause and beside any basic training needed to lead in hand, consider the techniques described in Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses.
DrO
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 - 11:25 pm:

Fame, I always turn my fences off every time I go in the barn. That way I never have a horse accidently touch a gate and get zapped. It also saves me from getting zapped if decide to go through the fence for whatever reason and am not by a gate.

The horses know, maybe by sound, if the fence is on or off also. Even if they don't hear the fencer itself, they seem to know if it's off or not.

If you just have wire, they have trouble seeing that. Could you use some type of electric webbing just for the gates? We have what they call Horse Guard here, but any kind would work. Perhaps they don't trust that the wire is really gone when you try to lead them through it.

You can make some streamers out of torn bed sheets, but sometimes the streamers flapping make it worse.

Good luck, stay safe.
Member:
npo33901

Posted on Saturday, Jul 4, 2009 - 8:06 am:

Dr. Oglesby, thank you for your comment. I do already turn off the electricity . I wil look into the Discussions/Articles you mentioned . Troubadour even goes through the gate, stands and while I am closing he goes off . - He probably needs some firm handling and training .

Angie, I have white webbing tape . And I am turning power off.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Jul 4, 2009 - 9:32 am:

If power is off, then I think it's maybe just a training issue.

I have a mare that repeatly gets very pushy. To get to her stall, she has to go through a stall, and across the aisle. To go out, it's reversed. She will run a person right over in her haste to get to the stall or open door.

So what I do is lots of repetition of her starting, stopping, standing, backing, etc. I do it in the round pen first, then in the barn. So you would start some place other than the gates, then do that at the gates.

I want her to stop when I stop, back when I back, and stand when and as for as long as I stand. If I move one step, she is allowed to move one step.

I use a regular webbed halter, and a dressage whip at her chest. A crop, or short stick would work too. I have no problems with cracking her on the chest if she charges. It's discipline just as another horse would bite or kick her.

If you are not comfortable using that, another method that may work is 2 leads on her. One on the halter, and one on a rope looped over her nose and the rope run through the halter rings. I use a twine string so it "bites" and only use if the horse don't respond to the halter first. Might be harder to do though as you have 2 ropes to worry about.

Make the horse respond away from the gate, and be respectful there. Then move to the gate. Stop right before the gate. Back. Stop mid way through the gate. BAck back back. Repeat repeat repeat.

Right now I am working on one foot out of the barn. Very hard to do, as it's a step down. I'll accept the front feet down, and stop. A challenge but we'll get there.

Lastly, turn the horse towards you and the gate you just went through before you let the horse go. Nothing worse than a horse that runs off, kicking at your head, the minute they are led through the gates. Go through the gate numerous times until it can be down calmly and safely.

With my mare, this is an ongoing issue. She does fine, then it starts again. She's very herd bond and anxious.

Remember to wear a helmet, and have gloves on. I had neither on last night, and we were doing some simple stuff she knows, and she blew up on me. Had hoofs in front of my face and above my head!
Member:
npo33901

Posted on Saturday, Jul 4, 2009 - 3:44 pm:

-Angie, I agree - geeee- it's horrid what happened to you last night.!
Hope you stayed clear of the blasts.......
Troubi doesn't buck he just wants to take off . Yes it is training and RESPECT . I'll do what you are saying .
When we go into the pasture - he is anxtious, but he goes . I lead him few yards and he stands quietly - I take holster off and he trots off .

Going out - He already is eying me - I go to him , As we are getting closer to the gate, I feel resistance - touch him with the whip - all is fain . But few meters before the gate h stops - and than he gets strong and wants to get away . I circle , try again. again the same think - circle and a whip and he goes. I open, he goes through , sot always rushing. I turn him round to close, giving him line . He used to stand and wait ore graze - now he wants to charge of . Or we start going calmly, bit nervously, and he wants to go .
I am now wearing good boots, gloves and using long rope .

I would like to go to some NH clinic with a real Master - to learn . I tried Parelli ( from an old book, and years back with horse friend) - it went well - than. But now Troubador doesn't response - sending him away and backing . Must get some DVD 's .
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