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Posts: 931
Nov 19 13 2:53 PM
Posts: 11559
Nov 19 13 3:23 PM
munchkin1415 wrote:All very helpful advice from all. My number one priority would me to have Lily WANT to be caught and be with us. Like Natural said, she will be eventually carting the kids around, so she really needs to enjoy her job. Part of the problem is her total lack of handling to this point. She understands about being caught and haltered, but hasnt been WITH and enjoyed people. People mean possibly food or being man-handled, not much else in her opinion. So far her interactions with people have been annoying, uncomfortable and not much fun. Last night I went in with the intention to just fiddle around, not lock her up. She came right up (having the kids carrying a bucket of apples may have helped) and we chilled out for a while before letting her go again. Later that evening when I came to actually catch her to lock her up, she came right up for a nosey. Had I walked directly towards her, Im thinking she would have legged it. DDR, Ive found her almost to avoid looking at me when she gets in that evading "mode", if I try to position myself, she swings so that her rump blocks me. My thoughts would be to "send her away" again when she does this, as presenting a rump is "threatening" behaviour (might I add she flicked my eldest daughter with a hoof when she tried to catch her when we first got her).
Posts: 11485
Nov 19 13 3:29 PM
Nov 19 13 5:14 PM
Nov 19 13 6:48 PM
munchkin1415 wrote:Is there a difference in moving the horses feet and chasing however? Sure, by sending her off when she turns her rump to me, I am not controlling the direction of her feet, but I am moving her feet. By sending her away, I keep her moving until I decide to stop her feet, by backing off and softening myself. Am I on the totally wrong track with that train of thought? She does lift her head up and watch me, and usually start a few steps toward me when I enter the paddock, but there is a moment when she decides Im going to try to make her do something she would rather not and off she goes in the opposite direction. Once I try to force the issue "Im going to catch you now", then all her attention goes elsewhere and her eyes are very difficult to get. So I think I need to be less predictable. Just go in and chuck some apples out for her (she will come up for that), give her a pat then walk away. I do need to catch her at some point to lock her up so that she doesnt get as big as a house. Its almost summer here now Natural, so shes not going to be crazy itchy for a while, unless a tick finds her
Posts: 7232
Nov 19 13 7:21 PM
BigDreams wrote: I am so never getting married. I've never really liked babysitting.
4Horses and Holding wrote: You know, with sperm banks and handy-dandy machinery, there really isn't much use for men. I mean, most cats will kill bugs.
aakora wrote: I think most problems in life can be traced to an incorrect ratio of men to cats.
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Nov 19 13 8:13 PM
Nov 19 13 8:46 PM
Posts: 1025
Nov 19 13 8:52 PM
ddranch wrote:Build a working relationship through regular interaction like you described and the eye will come to you.I want my horses to look for me and track me as I walk about the property doing my chores.I want them to follow me with their eye and be curious.If a horse is coming in slow I will pick a close buddy of theirs and pay extra attention to them and the desire builds to the point that they will compete for your attention.This can easily be done without food.
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Nov 19 13 9:20 PM
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Nov 19 13 11:05 PM
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Nov 19 13 11:50 PM
Bbrandha wrote:So have any of you had one that was never "catchable"?
Posts: 7779
Nov 20 13 6:36 AM
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Nov 20 13 7:57 AM
Nov 20 13 3:32 PM
ddranch wrote:munchkin1415 wrote:Is there a difference in moving the horses feet and chasing however? Sure, by sending her off when she turns her rump to me, I am not controlling the direction of her feet, but I am moving her feet. By sending her away, I keep her moving until I decide to stop her feet, by backing off and softening myself. Am I on the totally wrong track with that train of thought? She does lift her head up and watch me, and usually start a few steps toward me when I enter the paddock, but there is a moment when she decides Im going to try to make her do something she would rather not and off she goes in the opposite direction. Once I try to force the issue "Im going to catch you now", then all her attention goes elsewhere and her eyes are very difficult to get. So I think I need to be less predictable. Just go in and chuck some apples out for her (she will come up for that), give her a pat then walk away. I do need to catch her at some point to lock her up so that she doesnt get as big as a house. Its almost summer here now Natural, so shes not going to be crazy itchy for a while, unless a tick finds her If you ask her to move several times a day as you interact with her and you ask in such a way that is soft and quiet she will come to expect your requests to be less demanding than if you required large movement.The space between the two of you becomes smaller and smaller.Your goal is to get to the side of her neck and then retreat at first.This method does take longer but the movements are also much more subtle.It is fine for you to herd the horse as long as it is not hurried and over pressured.The idea is not to trap or corner but to influence and effect the feet.Look at what leg has the most weight on it and add just the slightest pressure to get the weight to shift.Effect a change from a distance.
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Nov 21 13 8:25 PM
Posts: 2203
Nov 22 13 6:27 AM
Spooksandbolts wrote:Bbrandha wrote:So have any of you had one that was never "catchable"?No. Never. But as I said earlier I've done some horrors over the years and the time they take varies. But patience is always rewarded.
Nov 22 13 7:55 AM
Dutchy wrote:Spooksandbolts wrote:Bbrandha wrote:So have any of you had one that was never "catchable"?No. Never. But as I said earlier I've done some horrors over the years and the time they take varies. But patience is always rewarded.I have a lot of patience, 12 years now actually. But I think I have a horse that will never be 'normal' to catch or turn out. I can catch him myself without a problem, he'll come running up to me, and there are a very select few other people who can catch him in the pasture, but others including the BOs can't catch him. They can get him from the pasture into his stall by letting him out of the pasture and then carefully leading him to his stall either by his forelock or with a rope around his neck. To let him out of the pasture they have to take all other horses out first, leave the gate open and step back because he won't come out if they're too close to the gate. Once he's out he's fine and they can approach him.Now if they do try to catch him in the pasture they'll have to corner him, and one of two things can happen (besides him shaking like a leaf). One, he jumps the fence (he'll jump hot tape). Two, as soon as they put the head collar on he'll bolt and it's impossible to hold on to him unless you like to be dragged through the pasture at a full galop.Getting him in the pasture is worse though. If you lead him there he'll bolt (long) before you get to the gate. He lunges sideways/forward away from you and again it's impossible to hold on. Even if you can hold the lead he'll drag you along at full speed. Not out of excitement, but full blown panic. There's two things he trying to avoid, and those are being led through the gate and taking off the lead. Again, I can put him in the pasture, though I have to double the lead though the ring of his head collar (trying to undo the snap could seriously cost me my fingers). Others can't. The BOs turn him out by opening his stall door and opening the gate to the pasture, he'll then walk out of his stall calmly besides one of the BOs until 10-15 yards before the gate, then he bolts through the gate, turns around and snorts for a while.If they do put on a head collar and try to lead him he'll bolt, sometimes even still in the stable aisle where he has to make a sharp turn, and he has slipped and crashed twice doing that, on concrete. Besides, it's really dangerous for the person leading him.Now this is a horse without any other behaviour problems, leads like a dream in any other situation, and in any other situation has zero problems having a head collar or headstall put on or taken off. You can lead him anywhere, as long as it's not to a pasture or out of a pasture. When I got him he could hardly be handled at all and leading him at all was no option as he would panic and bolt. He hasn't bolted in any other situation in over 11 years.
Nov 22 13 11:01 AM
Nov 22 13 11:08 AM
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