This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Behavior Modification, Conditioning, Desensitization, and Counterconditioning »
  Discussion on Precocious Filly
Author Message

Posted on Thursday, Jun 13, 2002 - 12:06 pm:

Hello,
I have wonderful Percheron mare who has the best personality and is the smartest horse I have ever been around. I bred her to a Thoroughbred stallion from the Princequillo/ Prince John line who, likewise, has a great work ethic and personality. I was expecting a little darling copy of my mare. What came out was a very cute and intelligent but extremely opinionated filly. She has come a long way in the one month she has been on the ground; is almost halter broke, loves being rubbed or brushed all over; allows her feet to be picked up (if she feels like it); and has learned that she needs to stand still before I let her go in the pasture. She will stand perfectly still when she has diarrhea (which is frequent) and I need to wash her behind.
The problems are:
1) when I am in the stall doing something else (like mucking or brushing momma) and she is playing, she often threatens to rear up or kick at me. When she turns her butt to me I either push her away or turn my back to her and stamp my feet like I am going to kick her. This seems to work for the kicking but I am concerned that this may lead to her thinking I am just a funny looking horse with only 2 legs. What can I do about the rearing? I have taken to loudly saying NO!, but I hate yelling and people who yell at horses.
2) She is mouthing everything and tries to nip at me and other people. If she is very close or I have hold of her, I wll say "nobite!" and hold her lips together like I would a puppy. This works for me, but she has gotten a good nip in on a couple of visitors.
3) As I said, she is *mostly* halter broke... when we are going out to the pasture she has taken to stopping in the barnyard after a few steps. If I pull on the halter she does the expected head-in-the-air thing. When I put the butt rope on and pull on it she jumps forward or tries to spin and buck.
Everything I have read about training foals talks about overcoming babies' fears. This baby has no fear of anything she has encountered as yet! Can anyone help me?
Thanks in advance,
Pam Biggi

Posted on Thursday, Jun 13, 2002 - 5:10 pm:

Hi, Pam,
I know it is inconvenient to carry a dressage whip or lead rope everywhere, but I would smack the filly's front leg for a rear-up and take a step toward her (never turn my back) and give her a good tick on the rump if she offered to kick. She is probably only trying to include you in her rough housing, but she needs to know that you are not "play" material in that way.

As for the biting, a smart tap of the whip on her leg should keep her mind off trying to bite, also. You can't really whomp on her since she is so small, but the sharp nip of the whip should be enough to discourage her from biting at this stage in her life. Just don't let her start opening her mouth to you. She can open her mouth to toys, other horses (who will set her straight right off) and to her food, but not to humans.

It sounds as if you are doing a wonderful job of teaching the basics to her all ready.
Holly

Posted on Thursday, Jun 13, 2002 - 9:33 pm:

Hi Pamela,
You've made a good start in a lot of ways, but it sounds like your filly needs to learn a little respect for the alpha herd member, which means you.

So much of what your filly is doing is absolutely standard foal behavior. And maybe her mom did all those things too, when she was that age!

Watch how her mother and any other adult horses in the group treat the filly when she gets rough and steps out of line. Adult horses can be wonderfully tolerant of the baby's antics, but when enough's enough, the mom or another grown-up will put her in her place with a swift nip or a quick shove from shoulder or head. Don't be afraid to yell "no!" and swat her on the neck or shoulder when she nips. I'd try trading the dressage whip for a broad-ended jumping bat that doesn't sting but makes a slapping noise, then be prepared to use it on her butt, barrel or shoulder -- whatever's handy, but NEVER around the face of course. If she's nipping other people, don't let other people come near until she's settled in. Remember that her baby teeth are growing in almost constantly at this age, and so of course she's going to chew on or taste everything that comes her way.

When she rears and paws, try a quick shove to the shoulder or barrel to put her off balance. You don't want to topple her, just push back sharply. Then praise her when she comes down to stand. If she wants to run and hide behind mom when you get a little sharp with her, that's okay -- that's what she'd do if another horse disciplined her. She'll come back to you after she's thought it over.

I'm assuming you're not playing with her muzzle or tickling her whiskers or doing anything that might be thought of as a teasing game. And of course she gets out for lots of exercise and play in the field.

For leading, just persist quietly with the butt rope. Don't make a big deal about it, just have it handy and be consistent about asking her to go forward. Don't ever get in a pulling match -- her instincts tell her to pull away, and though she's strong, you can do some real damage if she really fights and flings herself around.

For a foal, EVERYTHING is a big deal and EVERYTHING is new. Every reaction may seem to be over the top to you if you've never had a baby around before. It's steady, consistent, calm, disciplined handling that will create a nice horse. And yes, it takes days and months and years to develop a balanced, trusting, reliable personality.

Keep up the good work, and don't get discouraged!

Sarah

Posted on Thursday, Jun 13, 2002 - 11:31 pm:

Hi, Pam. Thanks for initiating this discussion. I, too have a young one (7-week old colt)that nips and rears and so forth. Thanks to all for the reminders not to swat face; to tap leg to correct rearing, etc. This is my first baby and I thought I was the only one experiencing these challenges!

Posted on Friday, Jun 14, 2002 - 7:10 am:

We have articles on such behavior see, Training Horses: Behavioral Problems for articles on these and many other problems you are likely to encounter.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jun 15, 2002 - 9:32 am:

Hi All,
Thank you for the great advice. Pnut is coming along great. The leading problem turned out to be just that there was something she wanted to stop and look at - it was happening at the same spots every day so yesterday I just let her stop and look for a couple of seconds... when she seemed satisfied I asked her to *walk on* and she did. The threatening to rear and kick I am handling by giving a push. (If I slap her on the butt, she just becomes more convinced she should kick.) If I catch the little glint in her eye that I think is leading up to something, I just take her halter and ask her to do something, like step back, step over, etc., so distracting her from her little *plan*. Part of the problem is probably that she does not get out enough because she was born with ulcers (something I can't quite comprehend because the mare is very mellow and is doted on) and is only allowed out for an hour or so a day. She also has no other playmates at this time because the horse that boards here is older and needs to be out all day, but can't stand being out without Cindy, so he is at a friend's barn until *we* can be out more. Momma has also been rather lax in discipline even though she has had 4 previous foals... they were all full Percheron and I think she may be a little confused by this one's energy. She has been getting stricter in the last couple of days, though, so that should help as well. This foal is sooo intelligent she knocks my socks off! She already understands some voice commands, like whoa, back, step up, step over, and knows that she will not be let go of in the pasture until she stands still like a lady. The other day she got her head under the lower stall guard; when she started to back out she felt it on the back of her neck/head but did not panic, just lowered her head and backed out of it. Many horses never learn this their whole lives! She is absolutely unafraid of anything and has yet to do the foalish mouthing/chewing behavior when she gets in trouble. If momma bites her for biting momma's teat, she bucks, slams her hip into momma's front shoulder and shakes her head as if to say *that is unacceptable behavior from my momma*!
Thanks again,
Pam & CindyLouWho & Who'sWho (Pnut)

Posted on Monday, Jun 17, 2002 - 4:32 pm:

A couple of things for the biting - pull a whisker or two, or pinch her - neither of which will be particularly pleasing for her! For the kicking - has she ever actually kicked out? Or just threatened? If you can time it right, taking the lid of a metal trash can for her to connect with should do her in after 1 or a couple of tries. As for the rearing, I agree with the whip to the legs, or even under her belly if you are positioned correctly. Pulling her off balance (as opposed to being close enough to push her) may help you out too. Babies...
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC