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Behavior....
simple and easy let me just ask....
What do you think is the reason why a horse is bullyish towards strangers?
What are your suggestions to do something about it?
Have you seen any good training videos or tools used to properly introduce a bully horse to new people...
Short background. My horse, Oliver, he is very docile with me..... and anyone he knows he's sweet... but new people, borderline kind of dangerous... it saddens me to have a horse that I love that I cannot trust with my friends or family and I would love some easy steps to start with as this problem has got to be resolved or Oliver will not ever be able to leave my yard without my trainer. I'm not sure if I trigger it or not... he is an orphaned horse, I raised him.. I just wonder what is going on with him... he is sweet/scary.....
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Lamm on
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Some of my on line friends are so happy to be having summer!! Summer time is rougher in L.A. than the rest of the year and not my favorite time of year at all.... it's really hot and dry and tons of flys..... but the dust kills me... ugh.....
My new attitude is to try and be happy that Oliver is my horse instead of treating him like an exhasperation which he has been for 5 years.... and to really see the good part in him.... when I was bossing him around he would literally stand still if I swatted him and the energy is so bad.... anyway, I've got to change my thinking to be a better trainer..... that he is not the bad words he's been called but the good things I know him to be and start enjoying him, smiling at him, encouraging him and correcting only when he's dominating, not when he's wrong with his choices... I already taught him target training my way, but the clicker training I do like.... he's trotting more and a little happier if I keep my energy up and happy with him, other wise we both just shut each other down.... and that sucks... I love the emotional teachings he brings me..... he's trotting with me if I run by his side and he moves away if I ask him out of my space.... some days he's energetic and some days he's not that into it.... but I guess every few days is better than nothing... I know Oliver is bored with me, I wish I were more athletic and fun but we can at least play in the sprinklers when it's hot here and I'm working on moving his feet forward backward left and right.... and doing direction changes..... :) hope you guys are enjoying summer!! ugh.
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Permalink Reply by Shirley on
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I just about melt in the heat. My energy does disappear...too bad some of me doesn't melt.
The fly predators are amazing and really very inexpensive.. Both barns (15+ horses in each) I've introduced them to has been thrilled with the reduction of flies. Everyone liked the result enough that they were happy to chip in to pay for them on top of their boarding fee.
You just keep sounding better and better with Oliver. Like you are finding, I'm convinced that at least some horses really respond well to a lightness in our attitude as far as being able to laugh and play with them a little bit. They like the lighthearted energy. I see people often yell or criticize their horses often but then when the horse gets it and does it right there is no good affirmation shown to the horse. I soooooo believe they need that to become our partner so we can work together. You can see it in their eyes and energy. I've had opportunity to play with someone elses horse resently and this poor fella is so wound up and tense that it is disturbing to me. BUT, he's responding to being treated like he has a mind and feelings (rather then like a robot) Each day there is more licking and chewing and sighs. I can't express how that touches my heart. Horses sure bring the best out in me. I love it and them!!
Keep horsen around!!
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Shirley, hey girl.... it is working!! so much better for me to be the enthusiastic happy trainer...... two awesome things happened today..... I watered down my arena and then I squirted down my white horse that lays in pee every night and the breeze was blowing and I started asking for the walk into the trot........ trotting, he is so beautiful even at his advanced age...... click click...... omg Shirley, not that I asked him to, but he started loping... I've never seen this horse voluntarily lope.. didn't know he'd canter for me at all.. he was so vibrant, so enthusiastic!! he did the loping for me both ways..... of course anticipating what I wanted which is technically incorrect, but the point was to get his feet moving and get him some exercise after his shower... the fly predators I started earlier than the last 4 years... I only took off November to January this year without them and started them in Feb... I can't tell if they are better or worse but we had alot of rain this year.... I keep watering down my area, removing the manure and trying to keep the flys away... but they are all over my horses..... poor guys.
then... Oliver backing up.. nightmare...... for this whole time I've tried everything and I'm not going into it, but I will tell you exactly what is working and I am so stoked I have to show you a video soon...... tapping him on the whithers with the long whip kinda hard if he doesn't listen but got to now rubbing him with the crop and he moves five feet away... click!! lick, chew, reward....... oliver is backing up nicely!! willingly... OMG!! woohoo!! if he won't back up we can't move forward if that makes any sense....
have fun horsin around... I have got to go to work now!!
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Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on
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Isn't progress wonderful! Good work Jennifer.
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Well since this is a behavior thread ya.... a nicer behavior than wanting to shoot your horse in the head is real nice..... starting over every day is not... he seems to respond to positive reinforcement good then all of a sudden he pulls something.... it's like if you give him an inch he takes a mile, ugh..... :) back at it today though..... just wanted to say hi kids!!
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So u r using fly predators and still having problems? Weird!!! We have very very few flies when using the predators.I wonder if the brand u r getting is reliable? If you have not spoken with a rep from the company, I would do that cause I don't think this is a normal or satisfying result. Just a wondering thought?
Congratulations on all the successes u r experiencing! You have surely put forth the effort and are seeing good results. Enjoy!! Very Cool!!!!
Looking forward to your next video. Fun! Fun!!
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Yes, Oliver is definitely lighter on his feet and paying good attention... to someone besides himself, LOL.... and shoot, I can't imagine being without the predators..... I get them from spalding.... who knows how many more flies would be here if I didn't use them is how I look at it...
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Permalink Reply by vickie lawson on
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sorry but i was wondering why you dont go out and ride him? you mentioned your trainer takes him out trail riding, why is it that you don't?
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because I was told that green and green make black and blue...
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so... do you ride him at all?? he seems quite docile in your in hand work. i couldn't just do that-i'd have to get on him and work forward in hand/on the ground and with ridden work. possibly your trainer could give you brief lessons?? just a thought. i've never had the money for many lessons, and have had to purchase ottb, or young horses etc, for myself and my girls. i just take an assertive role with them, and have a high expectation that the horse and i are on the same vibe- and all works -really well. we have been national champs and placed in good company. i am a firm believer in believing in myself and the horse. (personally i do believe that i have a very personal communication with them). cheers
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I got on him and he stood still......... so I got off and got him to move his feet..... entire point of the relationship training I did last year with him..... I thought I wanted to ride in January but it still just doesn't feel right to me.... he was not focusing or listening... I'm easily frustrated and it is not fun to be sitting on a horse that is chewing your jeans..... or blowing you off.... so I had to make him be my partner..... took me about a year.,... that in hand docile handwork is a far cry from going in his arena and having him push me down.... huh??? now, we are getting somewhere.... this journey is about me anyway, so Oliver has to deal with being a good and patient teacher..... that's his lott in life.... we are gonna rock when we get where we are goin... ") I rode my horse Toby for 4 years with my trainer and I learned alot about riding.... :) but riding is not where to start all the time..... steve, my trainer says I will have an easier time with Oliver under saddle than on the ground but I am not convinced.
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