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  Discussion on Suggestions for humane but sharp "move away" technique
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Member:
Imogen

Posted on Sunday, Apr 2, 2006 - 5:05 am:

Hi all

It is about to be de-rugging time here in Ireland. My yearling filly is well-handled, leads, goes through gates, stands (mostly) for the farrier and vet, easy to catch etc.

The one thing I have a problem with sometimes is when leading her back into the field through a gate, she sometimes will not go "around" the half open gate (other horses in field so I only half open the gate, she is supposed to go around it while I shut the gate, then turn head to gate before halter comes off).

In general she knows to move away from light pressure and tries to do what you want so I figure this is the padding of the blanket plus a small bit of ignorance on her part. She will shift but you really have to push her physically quite hard.

So I want to use a sharp but not inhumane cue as soon as the blanket comes off to get her to move her quarters away from my cue around the gate.

I would normally use a stick but this tends to upset the thoroughbreds in the field as soon as they see it and I want to keep her generally very calm and trusting attitude rather than have her freaking out every time we have to go through a gate because they are all in a tizzy.

Anyone got any ideas apart from a jabbing finger? I want something that hurts enough to get her attention and as she is bright I do not think it will take long if I can get the right cue. I seem to remember Dr O having invented a sort of band with spikes on it for stopping colts trying to lean on you when led but this could be my imagination...

Imogen
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Sunday, Apr 2, 2006 - 10:59 pm:

Hi Imogen, my filly did the same thing. What I did was take her on walks and
gently using the long dressage whip I would tap her tail section when she
wouldn't go forward. I did the same around some poles so she got the idea of following me and turning sharply. I also was sure to be able to move her hind quarters from the
ground by tapping the rear part of her flank lightly with my fingers( I
could reach her rear tail section with the dressage whip aid...if you can't reach use a lunge whip
with the string part secured to the stick so nothing is flying around). It
took her one session to understand and now easily leads through a half open
gate. I have a gelding share the corral with her, when he gets out its no
fun at all!
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 4:31 am:

Exactly what I would be doing were it not for the problem of the thoroughbreds all running about like loonies as soon as they see a dressage stick or lunge whip! I want something small they can't really see that I can have in my hand to give her a jab on the quarters if she does not move in response to light pressure...

Thanks Ilona

Imogen
Member:
Lilo

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 9:51 am:

Hi Imogen,

In the Parelli "seven games" there is one called the "porcupine game". You touch the horse with the fingers, at about the location where you would use a leg cue (a little behind the girth if she were saddled) and get her to move her hindquarters by stepping under and in front of the outside hind leg with the near hind leg. You want the hindquarters to move away from you. First one step only - if she responds, "rub her to a stop", in other words, rub the place you just poked. This is so hard to explain in words - needs to be done long before the leading through the gate and be well established. Do you have access to a Parelli video from the library? It also works best with a rope halter, which I am guessing you are not using. Anyway - it can get to where you just point at the hindquarters and they will move away from you. Don't know if this makes sense to you. By the way, Clinton Anderson's methods (Down Under Horsemanship) are almost identical to Pat Parelli's.
I find that the most useful information I got from the Parelli system was for handling the horse from the ground.
Good luck,
Lilo
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 12:04 pm:

Imogen, Long before I had heard of Parrelli I was teaching my horse to move away from pressure. The basic idea is where ever you push on the horse he should move away from that pressure. As Lilo stated you can get the horse so light they will literally move away from a point. You have probably already experienced this when lunging, you merely raise the lunge whip and the horse continues.
To help the horse avoid confusion about when I am touching and when I want movement I will sometimes add a kiss or cluck. That noise always means move something. Amazing how well that works to encourage a horse to do somehting he is a bit reluntant to do. Also amazing is the horses ability to read our body language(even when we aren't trying) and knows what we want.
When I start teaching the horse to move away from pressure I start with a light finger pressure, if there is no response I add pressure until I get response, at first I will release if the horse so much as leans away from the pressure. Often in the first stage I have had to apply a considerable amount of pressure, I have found a hoof pick saves my poor finger. If you consider how hard a horse can bite another do not worry about hurting the horse, when the pressure gets uncomfortable they will respond. The key is to instantly reward movement.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 12:05 pm:

Imogen, I have just read a surprisingly clear description of the porcupine game and would be happy to scan and copy it to you. If this would be helpful please e-mail me at equus@cyberverse.com
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 12:12 pm:

I would try to simulate turning around the gate. Perhaps using a different gate or a jump standard or even a trot pole on the ground. Anything so you have point of reference.
You could ride for a bit, dismount, practice going around the gate, remount and continue your ride.
Practicing at the gate to the field could be distracting to the horse as she is expecting to be set loose.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 8:32 pm:

Imogen...in the Perelli article I am referring to he used a swiss army knife screwdriver that concealed in his hand on a particularly dull horse. The horse responded like a charm! However the work-up to that more intense application is very important.
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 1:21 pm:

funny I was thinking of use my swiss army knife (not the knife, the casing with the knives folded in!) thanks Ilona I will email you.
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Apr 10, 2006 - 1:30 pm:

Ok here's that picture let's hope not the cubist version this time... caption should be "stop leaning on me!"
Luggage leading lesson
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