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

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 - 9:48 am:

I am happy to report that the mare I have been working with that was so shy and scared has made significant progress.
Where she used to hide her head in the corner and shake she now will meet me at the gate, eat out of the bucket (she was very scared of the bucket and any noise it made)she hasn't nickered at me yet but I keep hoping.
However, when I would get close to her she seemed to relax better if I allowed her to press her shoulder against my leg. This has actually taught her to stay against me, so now when I move she comes right back to my leg. How sweet... not.
So, how can I reteach her to stay outa my space?
If she was more confident and had never been so afraid I know what I would do.
Any ideas?
Member:
imogen

Posted on Thursday, Nov 1, 2007 - 3:29 am:

Hold out your hand with index finger outstretched at right angles across your chest and poke her in the soft part of the muzzle between nostril and lip at the side (gently will do if she is quite scared-y).

The effect you are aiming for is that she runs into the finger if she invades your space but you will have to do a little jab to reinforce this the first few times and to make contact with the sensitive part of the muzzle.

After that just moving your arm into position will do the trick.

All the best

Imogen
Member:
amara

Posted on Thursday, Nov 1, 2007 - 7:15 am:

you need to show her how to be comfortable standing away from you.. she learned to find comfort standing next to you/on top of you.. now you need to set things up so that she finds her release spot farther away from you...

put a little bit of pressure on her (i prefer disengaging the hind as it bends the spinal column and opens up the mind more), and then have her stop in a position at the space you find most comfortable... personally i prefer around 10 ft, as it gives both the horse and me that bubble of personal space and is most natural to the horse... if she tries to walk forward towards you from that space ask her to step back to exactly where you had stopped her... you ask her to move back by first using your hands in a slight scooping motion and a strong body language that tells the horse to move away.. if that doesnt work than you move the end of the lead rope back and forth and create energy which the horse doesnt want to approach... if that doesnt work than up that energy and body language as much as necessary until the horse moves back away from you...on a real real hard case you might even have to let the end of the rope touch the horse on the tip of the nose... this is a reflexive spot for the horse and doesnt cause resentment, as long as you do things in order... if you go to touch first without ever asking more gently than you cause resentment because you never bother to ask the horse to move back before you TELL the horse to move back.... once she's standing in position then you wait.. and wait, and wait.. for the licking and chewing that shows the horse's acceptance of the interaction...it could take 5 seconds, 5 minutes or more...if she's completely out to lunch and not focusing on you at all than you need to up the ante a bit during the disengagement (or whatever you do, just make sure it means something to the horse), and start again..
how many times you have to do this is dependent upon the horse and how she views you in the herd scheme...if she sees you as a leader than she'll catch on pretty quick - staying out of a leader's personal space is hardwired into a horse.. if you're lower on the totem pole than you may have to push a bit harder...
i've found with nervous and scared horses that while there are times you have to handle them softly, you also need to get them back to working and thinking like a horse.. its best for their mental well being.. it is what they are after all... and the best way to do it is to just go ahead and treat them like a horse.. the natural sensitivity of a nervous horse will usually mean that you rarely ever have to go to anything extreme to get the horse to move correctly, so that you dont have to worry about putting too much pressure on the horse, as long as you give appropriate release time to the horse... we discussed some of this stuff in the frank bell questions a little while back....
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 2, 2007 - 7:59 am:

When leading such a horse Lori, and my elbow grows tired of trying to establish a space between me and the horse, I will keep a stout crop in my free hand and carry it across the front of me to define a space about 8 inches between me and the horse. When the horse moves toward me he gets goosed with the blunt end of the crop. Some horses that insist on walking a bit behind might require I carry it behind me so as to contact the horse. Most horses quickly learn to give you your space while not sensing any negative energy from you.
DrO
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 - 12:02 am:

Thanks for all your thoughts,
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