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Discussion on Fidgets on Crossties
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Member:
Aewheele
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 - 3:36 pm:
I've recently started riding my friend's mare, and I have found her difficult to groom. She steps away from my brush or curry especially when I approach her back or hind-end. I use a very soft curry so I don't think it really bothers her. My last horse, who I just retired, was a gelding and I could groom him for hours. Could her behavior relate to the fact that she's a mare? How can I train her not to move while grooming? What should I do? What shouldn't I do? I usually love grooming horses, but I get annoyed by this behavior and therefore I keep the grooming to a minimum.
Thanks.
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Member:
Hally
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 - 5:42 pm:
Dede,
One of my horses has EPSM and hates grooming! I dont know if there is any relation between that condition and being brushed , but he does a jig when in the cross ties. Perhaps try to rule out any other ailments or ? that could be bothering her. I also have a mare and she could care less while being brushed. Only if they could talk!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 - 6:52 pm:
A while back, Christos changed the way I groom 
For the curry, try using slower circular strokes, but harder. With my sensitive horse, the soft strokes tickled him and I also went too fast for his liking... he never did jig, he would just move his hind end away... just a thought.
I can't remember exactly what Christos wrote about brushing, but basically that it's not necessary. He recommended using a curry and grooming cloth.
I also have heard that EPSM affects that way as posted above... hope she doesn't have EPSM...good luck!
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Member:
Shanson
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 - 7:55 pm:
Mares can be proprietary about their space, especially in that area. If it's behavioral, you need to stand up to her. On the other hand, if she's sensitive, find a way to groom her that doesn't tickle or bother her. Aileen's right...sometimes we curry too tentatively, especially with sensitive-skinned horses, which can irritate a ticklish horse worse than overdoing it.
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Member:
Aewheele
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Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 8:43 am:
Thanks for the comments. I also read Christos's grooming tips and I use his technique. I have a very soft curry, but I use harder, slower strokes. It helps a little, but I still have to chase her from one side of the aisle to the other. Interestingly, if I let her watch me groom, she seems to move less. That sounds like she's had bad experiences in the past. I would really rather she didn't turn her head when I groom her, but I think I have to allow it for the time being. Let's solve one problem at a time. If I rule out discomfort and assume it's strictly behavioral, how do I train her not to move on crossties?
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Member:
Dove2
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Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 9:53 am:
The mare's movement indicates either discomfort or anxiety. It sounds like you're sensitive to the discomfort possibility. I believe you should use about the same amount of pressure that would be acceptable on your own skin, and see how she reacts to that.
I would also question whether it is a cross-tie issue. How does she stand for saddling or any other activity while in cross-ties?
We had an older mare who was ridden to death in a show barn when we bought her. She, too, did not like to be groomed. I think she related that to the work ahead of her, and all the lessons she had to endure. I'm not sure of your mare's situation, but could it also be a prelim anxiety to the inevitable riding? If so, perhaps you can just groom her, make it a pleasurable experience, and then put her away or to pasture occasionally.
Is there somewhere pleasant that you can groom her? Outside? Perhaps allow her to graze while grooming? In other words, can you change the anticipation to one of pleasant rather than "oh-oh, here comes the saddling, riding, etc."?
Also, whenever I approach my horse with anything, I allow him to smell it, explore it, before I begin. I think it's just reassuring the horse that it's nothing bad, and he gets to acknowledge it.
Finally, I would begin to readjust the grooming attitude by not grooming in the cross-ties, but rather in a rope halter with a long leadline or else halter and long leadline, with the leadline doubled and hanging in the crook of my arm. Perhaps you might want to add a treat at the beginning and end of the session, again just to make it a more pleasurable experience.
Then again, I think there are some horses to whom the grooming is just not enjoyable. Too many folks put a brush onto a horse with the bristles down and then sweep it across. Instead, I learned that if you angle the brush so as not to stab the horse with the bristle ends, and flick it off at the end, it feels much softer and more pleasant for the horse.
Hope this helps a little. Good luck!
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Member:
Aewheele
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Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2006 - 11:00 am:
Thank you Dove2. Those are great suggestions. I think I will trying grooming her in her stall and let her eat hay during the process. She is ridden a lot and by different people. She's basically a school horse right now because the owner doesn't have a lot of time to ride her so at least 3 other people share her.
She gets a little ansy when I girth her, but I do it slowly and in stages. I place the saddle and do an initial girthing - very loose. Then I do other things, wrap her legs, fix the stirrups, etc. I then adjust the girth again a little tighter. I repeat that one or two more times before I take her out. I then walk her awhile before doing the final girth tightening.
Overall, she handles it well. I agree with you, I think her issues relate to anticipating what is coming. I would hate to be a school horse!!
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