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Discussion on Close Encounter of the Weird Kind
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 - 11:13 pm:
OK, everyone. I really need your advice!
This morning, Surprise and I set off from the farm alone and I was
hoping to ride a 6-mile loop that we do 2-3 times a month. Most of
the loop is dirt roads and passes several farms (most of them horse
farms). There is one particular place, however, that we've all come
to call the 'Scarey Farm' because our horses are very leery of the
odd assortment of goats, llamas, sheep, ducks, geese, donkeys, a
burro and a few other animals not commonly found in New Hampshire.
Surprise always goes into 'alert' mode when we approach this farm, so
we simply stop at the corner of the field and wait for the 'herd' to
gather at the fence. Once everyone's there, we walk by escorted by
the menagerie and, once past, go on our way.
Today, however, there was an animal lurking in the far shadows (I
couldn't see what it was) and since it didn't join the stampede to
the fence, I made the assumption that it was in a separate pasture.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
When we had almost finished our slow walk past the 'Scarey Farm', the
lurking shadow darted from under cover of the far trees and raced to
the fence. It was an emu (didn't know they could run so fast).
Nope, I'm not making this one up.
To make a long story short, my guardian angel was working overtime
and superglued my butt to the saddle of the 1700-pound, out-of-
control locomotive I was riding! (Yes, I was able to stop her from
bolting but I've never sat out rearing and bucking on a draft until
today. I'm still shakey inside.)
In the past, we've had deer dart out of the woods in front of us,
yahoos beeping their horns and spinning their tires, children on
bicycles suddenly popping out of their driveways, and the ever-so-
frightening chipmunk or squirrel darting around in the underbrush.
Surprise's typical response is to freeze dead in her tracks which can
be interesting when we're at a trot or canter.
While I've been a trail hack for probably 40 years, my riding skills
aren't what I'd consider 'experienced' or 'advanced'. The worst
thing I've had to deal with up until today was a runaway horse (the
Appie I had before Surprise) after encountering a bear in the woods.
If we don't overcome the encounter with the emu, our 'distance'
riding during the winter is over because every loop (a 4, 6 and 8
mile) ALL require us to pass by the 'Scarey Farm'.
The outdoor arena at the farm is half-covered with ice and the only
other trails nearby are icing over.
If you were in my shoes, what would be your next step? I'm totally
torn on this one.
Heavy sigh! Hoping some of you will have ideas because I really
don't want to stop riding during the winter, nor do I want to wind up
in the hospital.
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 - 11:38 pm:
I am sorry i had to laugh... I knew before you even said what it was, i knew it was a BIG chicken of sorts... You see, a few years back ostrich became a big thing down here and they started popping up everywhere. The NEW chicken... yeah right. Well, i had some similar experiences. LOL...
I suggest you go to the farm... sans Surprise and get some emu all over you... or a towel full of his smell. Or some feathers Or manure? LOL... and bring it on home. and plaster the stall with it. Problem is that your fair mare (?) has never seen nor smelled this scary thing. I remember doing that with Police tape, garbage bags, umbrellas, i even did it with a bicycle... grin. One lady had pig dung in a baggy cause her horse was afraid of the pig farm down the road.
Also your handling of the situation is so important. if you act like its no big deal, then if she trusts you than she will start to do the same. In my case, my QH would trust me. My TB never would. I think draft breeds would be more like a QH....I would talk to Bran about the scary thing before we hit that fence line. and woo her thru the scary parts. I tried NOT to tense my body. Cause i knew what was coming. But sometimes you just can't help yourself. Also, whatever i do on the way out. I had to do on the way back. they don't formulate like we do. I always had to do everything from each side of her brain...
I would not give up. As you say its the ONLY way to go on a nice trail ride....
joj
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 - 11:45 pm:
You know... i was thinking about this some more... I don't know quite how i did this but i got my girl to just trust me on these things. where she would look to me for guidance on the subject of scary things... i just can't give you an explanation on HOW i achieved this. Because this farm might get a Giraffe one day, a bear the next... you never know but you need to teach her that you are in control and you would never let harm come to her. Maybe its a balance of sorts. Where you put her in scary situations and you come out ok... But in the arena... Like the posse do, or mounted patrol schools do... anyway that is the key here. No matter what is thrown at you and your horse. Both of you need to know that you can trust her behavior and the horse can trust your judgement.
joj
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 7:34 am:
There are several ways to approach this, Dyd. Unfortunately, each horse reacts in a different way, so it is dificult to say what would be the best without one knowing the horse.
Generally, however, I think it is best to pass scary places at a lively trot.
The horse feels that it has some speed, so it is not as insecure as in walk, it has good forward momentum so it is less likely that you'll get rearing or bucks and it less likely that she'll freeze.
You should allow her to speed up within the trot when she spooks, or she'll feel trapped and may explode. Kind of you agreeing to run away, but in trot only. Many horses accept this easily, you may want to give it a try.
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 7:48 am:
I agree with Joj, Surprise is loosing confidence your in control. My mare was like this with a farm we had to pass that had llamas. Funny thing was my 17h gelding loved the llamas, but scared the hell out of them!
With my mare, I'd make sure I could move her hind end, shoulders, and barrel in all directions from the ground before mounted and went anywhere. Then I would do it all again from the saddle once on the trail. This mare in particular will calm with a series of small exercises while going done the trail, but it helps most horses to focus on something else.
If she does get on the muscle at a particular point of the ride change tasks more frequently, do anything but try and go past the bad point (depending on trail safety of course). Very often we telegraph expectations to the horse without knowing it. Once we put that spot out of our minds, by working on other things, the horse will also.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 9:11 am:
Thanks, joj, Christos and Alden. Good food for thought.
Yes, joj, I've seriously thought about asking the guy to put the emu in a remote pasture. But I board my horse and don't live in that town. Maybe I should ask my barn's owner to speak with the owner of the managerie because I don't want to instigate 'neighbor' issues.
Christos, I like the suggestion of letting her trot lively past this place. I'm also wondering if I may have been sending the wrong message by making her wait for the herd before proceeding (maybe I've been telling her it's a bad place?).
I've only had Surprise for a year and a half and have been working on a variety of issues relating to respect and trust. She was rescued from near starvation and probable abuse so she came into our relationship with baggage.
She sometimes balks when I ask her to do new things but has always consented with reassurance and persistence. No matter how spooky she's gotten in the past, there's never been a total brain-disconnect like there was yesterday.
I have to add that we worked on a sitting trot on the way back to the barn and once she was focused on the exercise, she settled right down and was fabulous! So, Alden, your point re: keeping her attention focused on me makes a whole lot of sense.
Hmmm. Lots more to think about now.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 9:59 am:
I, too, had a good laugh when I read your post. Huge birds seem really disconcerting to horses, and I can't say that I blame them for getting upset. Our horses are unperturbed by most things, including low flying crop dusters and llamas, but emus and ostrichs are another story. When one of our neighbor's decided to go into the emu business, our normally staid horses came unglued! It took quite awhile for them to get used to emus enough so we could pass by the neighbot's without going into gyrations. And, their knowledge of the emus didn't do anything to prepare them for ostriches which I came across while riding over on the other side of our valley with a friend.
I found the best tactic was for me to act like ostriches and emus were just another every day occurance and pay them no attention. Like Christos, I would urge my horse into a nice brisk trot when I knew we were approaching the big birds. My horse would at first do a trotting side pass as we went by, but at least would keep moving more or less forward, with no balking or gymnastics. After a few times, she too paid the birds no mind.
Our horses lean on us a lot for their reaction to the unusual, and the more we act like all is normal, they will too. In the case of bears and mountain lions, however, I bow to my horses survival instincts, and the faster we are out of there, the better.
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 11:12 am:
Sara, Thanks for your post.
First of all, I'm relieved to know that other horses have reacted badly to emus (nice to know my horse isn't psycho). Secondly, thanks for letting me know that horses can adjust to big-bad-birds! Now I'm just hoping this guy doesn't decide to bring in ostriches!
Will put emus on the 'Things to Work On' list.
Lastly, I'm in total agreement with your survival strategy re: bears, mountain lions, etc. 
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 11:57 am:
Yes, Dyd, it sounds like you're the one who told her there's something fishy in that farm.
But I think it will be easy to fix if you keep your cool a bit better than she does. If you can not, and that's understandable, you have at least to pretend so. Being scared, even terrified, is ok, everybody is from time to time. Everybody in his right mind, I mean. The point is that the horse must not know.
So, you simply sing your way through. It may sound silly but it really works. I do not know if it soothes the horse or it simply puzzles it with what's got into you all of a sudden, but it really works.
There's one more thing I believe works very well. Long before you reach that scary place, demand that the horse maintains exactly the tempo you dictate. That will take frequent corrections with rein and leg. Once she's cruising in the tempo you want without you correcting all the time, she's ready to go past that spot.
This way, if she spooks and you need to apply rein or leg to maintain control, she associates the correction with the previous exercise and not with her fears.
This preparation will also make her focus a bit on the exercise, which, as Alden said already, is very beneficial.
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Member:
Brandi
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 2:45 pm:
You've gotten some great advice here that I'm sure will help...neither would I be willing to give up my riding trail. When you're on your ride, keeping your horse's mind busy and him "on the aids" is the approach I would take for myself, like so many have suggested here. Additionally, might the owner of the emu be willing to let you come onto his property and introduce Surprise to the emu? There might be a way to access the bird without him being able to charge to the fence, and you might be able handle your horse from the ground during the encounter(s) if you feel comfortable doing that. These are two different training situations here, the first is respect and following your aids--the most important to keep you safe and in control, and the second, meeting the bird vis-a-vis, is more of a sensory training situation and gives you another chance to tell Suprise "he can handle this, too". Both instill better trust if handled well.
Good Luck
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 3:17 pm:
The emus I've seen I wouldn't want to meet myself, let alone let my horse meet them without a good fence between us. The ones I've seen have been very aggressive. They charge making this weird hissing noise and try to bite and kick.
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 4:01 pm:
24 hours ago I was on the verge of giving up road/trail hacks for the winter. After reading through the advice that's been offered and sorting out what I've done wrong, I'm anxious to get back in the saddle and trot on down that road!
Christos, great idea to sing out loud! I often talk to Surprise when we're riding (i.e., 'We're approaching that house with the big black dog who likes to come out and bark at us, etc.'). I'm sure it's just me anticipating a possible problem, but I find it helps. So, no, I don't think singing is crazy. And yes, I see where it's possible that I've been sending stress signals to Surprise. My instructor keeps telling me that Surprise is VERY tuned in to every nuance of body position, tightening of muscles or tension that I exhibit. I may inadvertently be stoking the fires of fear by 'anticipating'. Mental note to self: take a chill pill before going on road/trail hacks.
And, yes, we'll definitely get ready to pass that farm by working on an 'exercise' well in advance. I purposefully worked on the sitting trot after our little encounter to allow both of us to focus on each other and to leave the incident behind and it worked remarkably well.
Brandi, I'd love to ask the owner of the farm to introduce Surprise to the emu, but it's one of those unapproachable places that's all fenced off with 'No Trespassing' signs posted every 50 feet. The owner has a reputation of being anti-social and NOBODY dares to cross the property line to talk with him. So I really don't see it as an option. It's a great idea, however, and one that I'll keep in mind.
Thank you to everyone who's helped me think through this incident. I hope to be able to report back some day that the 'Scary Farm' is nothing more than a farm we ride past on our excursions.
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 4:29 pm:
Well I'm certainly glad I'm not the only one who has a "dreaded farm" to pass. This particular farm is so similar to your description that it's uncanny. Only the people who own this one are professors at the University, if you beleive that? My husband and I call this farm the "pig house". For obvious reasons. They have a lot of various animals with their fencing right up to the narrow dirt road. Did I mention the large ferocious white dog....?
I have not met a horse who doesn't fuss a bit at the pig house. Even my staunch old gelding with 20 years and over 3,500 competitive distance miles under his girth watches it closly. I know I don't send off fright signals with him and he still doesn't like the place. My younger gelding who is afraid of anything out of the ordinary is terrified of this place. My goal this year is to be able to ride him past the pig house (without getting killed in the process). I figure if he can handle that he can handle most things. I have experienced first hand your description of total out of control terror (in your horse) while attempting to ride my younger gelding past the pig house. It's not safe until you get past their fear. I might suggest to you to hand walk your horse past this place at first. Since there is no way really to get him used to the emu safely. Eventually staying aboard more and more until you are riding the whole way. No amount of training is going to get a truly terrified horse to listen to you. Your horse has already had a bad experience there .... it could become a habit. By following you the first time, you are showing him/her that you are not afraid. Plus if they freak you don't fall off and get hurt. This may seem like the chickens way out but I've been riding trail a long time .... and taking chances is no longer something I do just to prove I can make my horse pass something. If things are dangerous, I get off. Just my opinion. By the way.... do you wear a helmet? (suggestion in that question).
Good luck.... let us know how things go.
Lisa
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 4:53 pm:
While we are on the subject of "scarey farms" and such. All of my horses were extremely nervous when passing one of the places on our little dirt road. Even my most trusted and experienced trail horse would start to jig and want to hurry past. I couldn't figure out the problem. I tried hand walking, ponying, riding fast, riding slow, trying to take the time to "see" everything...nothing helped. Then one day the owner casually mentioned her underground electric fence had shorted out so the neighborhood dogs were coming into her yard again! Ever since her "dog fence" has been down I've had no problems going past the place.
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 5:05 pm:
That reminds me of my horse when he first saw a lama and a goat.I thought he would have a heart attack under me or explode. Very scary.
I use all of the above in the replys espesially singing and leg yeilding before and after I know there might be a scary animal in that region. It works.
He used to do it with deer but we see so many of them and I make him follow them. Makes him think he is chasing them and gets really brave.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 5:20 pm:
Though I do not agree that one is safer on the ground than in the saddle when a horse spooks badly, I can swear by Lisa's general point of view. The easiest and safest way is the way to do it.
More often than not, this mentality proves to bring the fastest results as well.
One more thing that we often forget to mention is that after a bad incident it takes a bit of time before you can pull yourself together again and give it another try. I know the old story about having to jump back in saddle and ride your fears out, it just happens that I've never seen it working, with me or anybody else.
I believe that taking a few days off to analyse and digest things is time well spent and that retreating a couple of steps now and then actually promotes progress.
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 5:36 pm:
Lisa, yes, I ALWAYS wear a helmet (and replace it after a good knock). Some of my family members think I'm a half-whit and I don't want to prove them right! Just kidding. I, too, don't believe in taking chances.
Interesting that you have the pig house to deal with. I wonder what it is about these odd places that frightens horses so much?
I did the 'walk past the farm' routine when Surprise and I first started riding that way. She wasn't reassured by me being on the ground, so I gave it up and switched to the 'waiting for the herd at the corner of the property' strategy. It worked until yesterday when we discovered the new addition!
I hope you attain your goal of riding your younger gelding past the pig house. Please keep us posted on how you're doing as well as what strategies you've used to help him work through his fear. I'm very, very interested.
Sara, that's a VERY interesting tidbit. The woman I work for had an invisible fence that shorted out a few years ago. One of my son's friends used to jog past her house, both pre- and post- short, and he mentioned to me that his super-duper, bio-monitoring, electronic wrist device started to give false readings around the time the fence shorted out! When we realized that the fence wasn't working properly, her dog was too old to bother with having it repaired so we simply unplugged it. Voila! No more false readings from the wrist monitor. Hmmm. Very interesting, indeed.
More food for thought! Thanks for sharing.
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 5:50 pm:
Christos, this has been time well spent. I totally agree with your idea that stepping back and analyzing a problematic situation is often the surest path to success. Jumping back in the saddle and blindly repeating past actions is a formula for disaster!
It's near zero degrees fahrenheit, snowing and windy out so my usual Monday (day off) ride was cancelled but I don't consider today a wasted day. I've gotten so much out of this dialogue that I can't stress enough just how grateful I am to all of you for sharing.
Katrina, so happy to hear you've had success working through your horses fears. Kudos to you for coming up with a winning strategy!
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Monday, Dec 20, 2004 - 7:05 pm:
I've been told that horses dislike pigs so much is because pigs are closely related to bears. I was also told never to haul a pig in the horse trailer if you ever wanted to use it for horses again.
I know all my horses will give pigs a very wide pass if they have the option.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Kckohles
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 12:43 am:
Alden,
I don't know about the pig thing, maybe the big pink kind of pigs because we have pot bellies in our neighborhood that go out for walks and all the horses are fascinated. They wear visors and hats, it is quite a kick.
As for the spooking horse, I ride my horses on a line, a line as if someone went down the trail with a football chalker and marked a line on the ground. I put them on the line and then give them the job of staying on it. At first they might only stay straight on the line for one or two steps, then I pick up and put them back on the line. Their focus is to stay right between my hands and my legs and if they are there I leave them alone, if not I use my reins and my legs to help them back. Along with the line I pretend that I have a job to do, that I am not out sitting horseback going down the trail. I am busy going somewhere, that I am so busy in fact I don't have time to stop and look at things that my horse might be afraid of. We don't stop and look around, in fact we don't walk along and look around, we're busy doin' a job. But I keep myself as disiplined as I expect my horse to be. I don't daydream as I ride. I focus on the job of riding on a line. Sometimes when things are scarier than others I might use more rein and leg to help my horse.
That brings me to another point. I use my reins as a support and reassurance not as a correction. Most riders use their reins to tell their horses what not to do or what to stop doing. I use my reins to communicate that I am supporting them and helping them relax. Just like if I entered a scary room with a child I would take their hand to reassure them. That is the same "feel" I use on my reins.
The last thought I had is when your horse spooks make sure that you don't make their fear a reality. Prevent their perception of something horrible and life threatening from becoming a reality. So when your horse jumps or runs you don't bang them in the mouth, because that perceived fear just became a real pain. So what they thought would hurt them did, they felt pain in their mouth, or if you accidentally spurred them they felt it in their side, real pain.
KIM
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Member:
Audra
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 9:01 am:
This pig thing is interesting to me, as I have a pot-belly that after being raised as a dog found the pasture 2 years ago and hasn't left it since! Twiggy has lived with the horses, and has different relationships with them all! He loves to lay with them, and frequently rubs his round sides on the inside of the horses legs! My horses are used to dogs, ATV's, children, etc as well. I have enjoyed this thread!
Audra :-)
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 11:28 am:
Can confirm that pink bacon-type pigs and Irish horses tend not to mix. Also goats. Think it's the smells... mind you the ones in our yard do not mind geese since they are used to them whereas strange horses go nuts at the geese.
Imogen
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 12:33 pm:
I think the difference between how horses react to potbellied pigs as opposed to "eating" pigs (i.e. raised for human consumption) is in the odors these pigs have. Potbelly pigs are fed a strictly vegitarian diet to keep them from getting obese, "eating pigs" are fed with the intention that they grow as big as possible as fast as possible, and are therefore fed meat products. They do smell different .... even to us poor nosed people ... potbelly's definitley are less odiferous.
The "pig house" I was refering to does have pigs. Actually they are in an enclosure with a stainless steel feeder system in which lids open when they step on something and then slam shut when they step off. This is rather exciting when the young pigs get scared of the horses and start running around.
Along with the pigs a menagerie of other animals including llamas & highland cattle, sheep, goats, and even ... horses. The reason we call it the pig house is a description of how the place looks ........and smells.
I too had a potbelly pig at one time. I have come to the conclusion that pigs are best not kept as pets since then. They are cute and friendly when young but often get agressive and unpredictable when they become adults, especially the males. I got mine free from someone else who could no longer keep him ..... ended up having to have him put to sleep to keep anyone from getting hurt. But the horses were not the least bit concerned with him.
Lisa
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 12:51 pm:
Christos;
Oh by the way ..... I'm going to try your singing thing at the "pig house". I've been known to do that on trail. Of course that's when on training rides where I know I'm not likely to encounter any others who would think I was crazy. I do talk to my horses all the time. It keeps the negative brain talk off, and if you say the right things you can actually calm yourself too. The problem with the singing is that these are public roads that go by these scary places .... people might complain ....
Lisa
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 1:09 pm:
Dyd;
So glad to hear you wear a helmet. I won't even sit on a horse without one. I knew of a lady who wore a helmet when riding all the time .... then one day at an endurance ride she got up on another person's horse without it ....just to see how the saddle that person was using felt (she was thinking of buying one). The horse moved suddenly .... she fell off ....and died. Leaves a lasting impression.
Good luck with Surprise .... and the scary farm. But don't give up your trails! I've been told I'm kind of stubborn about things like that .... although I'd rather refer to it as determined. You can be too. Positive thinking .... you will be able to pass that farm eventually.
Happy Trails
Lisa
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 1:13 pm:
I sing and talk to my horses all the time. When they are nervous, or If I am, I sing or hum the same lullabys I used to sing to my children. It calms us both down. ....Maybe there is something to the singing cowboy thing!
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 4:46 pm:
Lisa, the singing is not mine. It is Sally Swift's, I think.
The actual trick behind it is that you can't hold your breath while you sing or talk. You see, horses listen to your breath a lot more than you think.
And if you don't hold your breath you won't alarm the horse and you won't be tense, but, most important of all, it is less likely that you'll let a deep breath out in a noisy way, which, to a horse, is the mother of all bells and alarms.
Let me explain this a bit more.
While riding or leading your horse, start blowing wind out in a very noisy way, they way horses do when they're excited or afraid.
This is a rather sure way to get your horse wound up, even if it's generally lethargic.
With most horses the tail goes strait up and the gait gains elevation that is very difficult to reproduce otherwise. A nice effect when you feel like playing a bit, not so nice when you're trying to calm things down...
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 7:32 pm:
Alden, did you perhaps mean boars (not bears)?
RE: pigs. Kim and Audra. Great images! Wish I could see the pigs socializing with the horses! Imogen, there are pigs at the farm where I board Surprise so they're not a big deal. Geese, on the other hand, fall into the category of scary beasts!
Lisa, thank you for sharing that story. I'm told I'm rather a pill about helmets (I will NOT let anyone with me mount unless they have a helmet on) and you've only furthered my resolve.
Christos, that is really interesting! I know that horses can 'read' body language and feel stress or fear coming from their riders, but I didn't realize they're tuned into breathing (which only makes sense when you think about it). Thank you again! More food for thought!
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 9:29 pm:
Ok, I went and looked it up, it is a myth that bears and pigs are closely related. Oh well, I took someone's word on it.
Maybe the horses just don't like the smell. Can't say I much enjoy it.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Pauline
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 9:51 pm:
Hi Everyone,
I am enjoying this topic!Alden,I also was told the bear and pig myth. My thoroughbred is great out on the trail except for cattle and pigs.I have accessed the internet and now have the words of what will be our new anthem "Don't Fence Me In" and will be singing up a storm.I first heard it on the Muppets with Bob Hope singing it while sitting on a stuffed rocking horse. I think that this should help relax me or at least I will be laughing on the way to the ground,
Merry Christmas , everyone,I have found these and other discussions a great help to my journey towards understanding the horse, Thankyou,
Pauline
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 12:37 am:
Christos-you are so right about the breathing. I'd never connected the singing/humming with the way a person breathes - making it slower and more even; just hadn't thought about it.
Alden-I too have always believed pigs and bears were related! How odd so many of us have been told that.
And...I'm a firm believer in wearing helmets. My husband promised me he'll always wear one on his bike or motorcycle, and I promised to always wear one on the horses, and when breeding.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 10:10 am:
Sara, sorry i can't resist.. does your husband wear his HELMET when breeding too.. 
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Member:
Kckohles
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 10:32 am:
Bears and pigs are both omnivores like us, which means that they eat both veggies and meat as a part of their natural diet. So I bet that is where the relation thing started. Which omnivore is a very small group.
Disclaimer: Learned in college and could be totally wrong!
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 11:08 am:
Kim;
Nope, you're right pigs and bears (and us humans) are all omnivours. However, I wouldn't think of us being closly related to bears...pigs however.....
Christos;
Very interesting about the breathing thing. You know when we trot out for the vet at then end of an endurance ride a lively trot is always a plus. Can be the difference in winning best condition (sometimes more important than 1st over the line) or not. Do you suppose if I started blowing like an alarmed horse just before trotting my horse he would look more perky? Food for thought there ..... Anyway, I have Sally Swifts book but never finished reading it. I have wanted to though. Guess I'll do that now. She has some great stuff in there.
You guys gave me a good laugh today with your posts.
Happy Holidays !
Lisa
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 12:17 pm:
You're tricky, Lisa.
Yes, it can make a difference, especially with hotblooded horses. But the excitement does not last long, only a minute or so, so you must time it very well. It lasts a bit more if there's another horse close by, they kind of wind eachother up.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 12:48 pm:
Ann..I wasn't sure just how that was meant! He does wear it when we are breeding with our stallions; we breed in hand, and even though they are both pretty well behaved, you never know. I wouldn't want to loose him in the middle of breeding season!
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 1:27 pm:
Christos:
A minute is all I would need. Sounds like a plan. I ride Arabs and Arab/Saddlebred crosses so I'm thinking this would work. The whole vet out process has become somewhat of an art these days. Just trotting (in hand) in circles is no longer good enough. Most of the top horses are trained to do an impressive trot out.....but their riders don't give away thier secrets. Fatigue is a big part of the best condition scoring process .... you can see where this could make a big difference. The vets usually compare the notes they made at the horses vet-in trot out to how they look at the finish. Well my horses are usually so "high" at vet-in that they give that impressive trot out then .... and after 50 miles or so have calmed down considerably and so look "tired" even though they may not be.
I'll give it a try at home as soon as I get a chance.
Merry Christmas!
Lisa
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 1:44 pm:
Ann ... I gotta tell you I was thinking the same thing about the helmet. Had to have a little chuckle when I read your post.
DT
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 5:46 pm:
Ann and Dennis, I have to come clean. My thinking went the same way as yours regarding the helmet.
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 6:58 pm:
Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 12:48 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ann..I wasn't sure just how that was meant! He does wear it when we are breeding with our stallions; we breed in hand, and even though they are both pretty well behaved, you never know. I wouldn't want to loose him in the middle of breeding season!
LOLOLOL.. no i would not want to loose my husband during breeding season either.. or for that matter any season.. hehehehe..
thanks for the good chuckle , Ann
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 23, 2004 - 10:01 am:
Lisa,
I've seen a good endurance horse trainer use a small pebble to train his horses to trot out smartly. He stands a ways back at the rear,a little to the side, with his pebble and has the handler ask the horse to move forward with a specific cue. If the horse trots off smartly then the trainer does nothing, if not he tosses the pebble at the horse's butt. Most horses are slightly startled at that pebble and they perk up nicely, they also learn rather quickly to trot that way on the cue. It is important to use a small light pebble as the point is to get that “who touched me” reaction, not to whack them on the rear.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2005 - 2:10 pm:
Just wanted to let you fine people know that I finally got up the nerve to head down the road to the scary farm. I took the advice given and had my little girl in a nice working trot and was singing out loud as we started to pass the place. All went well until Surprise spotted the emu (about 20 feet from the fence), came to an abrupt halt, stuck her nose in the air and then proceeded to stare it down and stamp her front feet until that nasty bird ran away!
OK, a swift reminder with the crop was in order to get her re-focused on me, but I was completely amazed by what was happening!
We rode about a half mile down the road, turned around and trotted and sang our way right past the scary farm on our way home.
Not a one of my horse 'buddies' has been anywhere near that place since the emu-encounter stories started to circulate and they've told me they think I'm crazy. If I am, thank you to everyone here who's contributed to my insanity! Your encouragement and advice were instrumental in reclaiming my confidence!
D.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2005 - 5:04 pm:
Fine work, Dyd,
It seems you've got yourself a warhorse! That's the attitude. Get those mean birds!
PS: Give Surprise my hugs and a big kiss for her courage.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2005 - 8:07 am:
Well done D. and congratulations for having the nerve to work this through!
Surprise does indeed deserve a big hug for her bravery...you too!
Fran
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 3, 2005 - 5:21 pm:
Thank you, Christos. Surprise will get extra hugs and kisses from you and I'll pass along your characterization of her as a 'Warhorse'!
And thank you, Fran. I'll be certain she gets an extra hug from you as well (and maybe an extra carrot).
D.
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005 - 5:40 pm:
Dyd;
Congratulations!!! I wonder if that emu will bother you anymore? He might just be scared of that big mean mare. (ha, ha). Great Job.
I've been taking my Brooks closer and closer to the "pig house" and he's been doing really well too. I add about 50 feet a week. (kind of big place). We had some bad snow & ice and I couldn't get out to the roads for 3 weeks but we trotted right up to the pen where the "killer cows" were last Sunday without incident. I'm going to keep at it and I'm sure eventually we will be passing it without a problem too. Only thing is, I'm sure at that point he won't be afraid of those cows/pigs etc.... but any other cows .... now that might be a different story. I have noticed his confidence in general has improved a lot since we've been working on this. He now goes out to pasture and leaves his buddies and suns himself. He would have NEVER done this last summer. I like to call it becoming "worldly" and I beleive there is only one way to do it. Actual experience.
Cudos to you and Surprise the Warhorse.
Lisa
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Member:
Dyduroc
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005 - 7:51 pm:
Kudos to you too, Lisa. Sounds like Brooks has come a long way!
Your comment, "but any other cows .... now that might be a different story" gave me a good chuckle. Despite the fact that Surprise lives with cows and shares the pasture and run-in with them, she tenses up when we encounter 'foreigners'. I wonder if Surprise lies awake at night thinking up ways to keep me guessing!
Keep up the good work with Brooks the Brave!
D.
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Member:
Lisamg
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005 - 11:41 am:
Dyd;
Brooks the Brave .... I'll have to remember that one. LOL
Lisa
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Member:
Chohler
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005 - 2:04 pm:
Oh my gosh I have been laughing the whole time!
D. I'm glad your horse took the second trip in stride.
We have emus down the street and my mustang likes to confront strangers its quite a site. Snorts and all. The other horses didn't like them so I did collect some poo from the emu's and left it on scary things in the paddock pieces of cut tarp near the water. I even stuck a few dusters together and put them near the water. Now the other horses just stare. The easiest thing I have found to desensitize my horses to strange animals is poo on things in the pen and better yet if you can go to a ranch or out side of a farm where your horse can trail strange things at a distance always follow it don't face it. This is how we start the ranch horses. If the horse confronts the strange thing thats fine.
Pig those are fun. heheh
squeals..... We used to go to an old farm and the owners horse would try an bite the pigs.
As far as getting right back in the saddle i agree with cristos I was raised to get back in the saddle right away and it sucks.... Your unerved and even though you try your best to collect yourself it doesn't work. Whoever said to get back in the saddle should be shot! Unless your stuck out on a trail. Singing does help I can never rember a song so I'm very good at reciting the alphabet backwards. I had a horse come through that did his best to keep me in the sand even with a helmet on I had a concussion I got back on a wella... back in the sand again. I couldn't remember what happened for almost 2 months. I can handle down out buckers but not spinners. It turns out he's still a bronce but is good at ranch work we let the tough guys ride him.
good luck on your future ventures.
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