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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Beginning the Two Year Old » |
Discussion on Herd Sour - 3yr old | |
Author | Message |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Monday, Feb 3, 2003 - 5:58 pm: Hi,I have a similar problem with a 2.5 year old. I acquired this gelding as I used to board at the breeders barn. So I've seen the mother & my horse's 3 sibs. Basically tho, he sat in a paddock for 2 years with 3 other horses as she didn't spend much time other than to halter break him, teach him about grooming, & she did have a saddle on him. But no round pen, etc. I liked the way he looks, so I bought him. He is a Quarter horse/ warmblood cross. I did send him to a (physically small) trainer for the past 60 days, just for him to get the basics of a handle on him (yield a little to legs, etc). The trainer also mentioned she had had trouble with him being herd bound, & 1 day, had to take 2 hours to get him to leave her barn. She also mentioned, that when he doesn't get his way, he will go off his feed for a day or two. [Also, don't worry, I am not going to ride him however, until he is 3 yo, then only trail until he is 4-5 years old.] I got him back home 2 days ago. He does not pay attention to me on the lead, or even the 5-10 min I tried to round pen him. He is very big (16.2 hh, 1200#), & nearly walks on you (even with a chain on his nose to try to get his attn) as his head is swivelling around always looking for other horses. So I figured I have to get him to stop being so herd bound & moved him into our paddock (its warm here). So I put him in a 70 foot by 40 foot paddock we have, thats 20 feet away from our barn. He can see the other horses & is only 20 feet away, but he is acting like he is 3 miles away! I feed him at the far end of the paddock, away from the barn. Last PM, he wouldn't eat his food but just paced back & forth from his food to the closest he could get to the barn. Sometime much later at night he ate, it was cleaned up this AM - 2/3/03). So we fed this AM 2/3/03 at 6 AM. I got home now at 3PM, & he has not touched his food (just doing the pacing thing). I tried to see if he would eat anything, so I fed him a little by hand (& of course he ate that way). I am not sure if I am doing the right thing, as I have never had a young horse before. To me, he seems spoiled & stubborn. I don't want to give in, as then he "won the battle" so to speak. But I am also thinking, he may colic if he won't eat on a regular basis. I was thinking, maybe I should compromise for a while, & feed him at the end of the paddock thats nearest the barn?? However, I have to get him over this herd bound thing, or he will be a useless lawn ornament. Please help if you have any ideas. Sorry for such a long post!! |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Monday, Feb 3, 2003 - 10:52 pm: Hey, Penner,Sounds like a beautiful boy. I wouldn't worry about the feed . . . . he will eat when he is hungry . . . . I believe that the key is initially in the round pen work you do with him, and then in the leading work . . . This young fellow, needs to find you more interesting and commanding of his attention than anything else in his environment . . . . I think you have some long training sessions ahead, but you will be able to make steady progress if you never give up and always get at least one thing you want from him before you close the sessions. In getting that one thing, you are proving to him that you can command his attention, that you are worthy, and that when he focuses on you, he will get a reward. Have you done solid round pen work with an unbroke or spoiled horse before? If not, you may want to get a more experienced trainer who understands the psychology and body language of the round pen, to assist you. Once you start a training session with this horse, you are going to have to get SOMETHING from him before you quit . . . . and it may take quite awhile before he decides to focus on you, especially if there are other horses around . . . . . . but look for a sign from him that he is giving you some of his attention, either through an ear or eye (both eyes is best) . . . Pick a time for the training when you know you have plenty of time to spend . . . Holly |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 4, 2003 - 1:02 am: Thank you Holly, for moral support!I have been thru the Parelli 2nd level, but currently use Wil Howe's methods in the round pen (very similar, but a little more Pony Club (as I was trained), & even "Old Spanish Cowboy" way (not always a BAD thing). I was good at this, but have become more arthritic in the past year in my hip, so its more difficult for me to get out of the way fast, like I used to. I have to use my "smarts" now, more! Anyway, as I've only had him home 2 days, I have a pic (not the greatest I guess), and as soon as I figure out a way to upload it with some size, I will. He has lots of chrome 4 white stockings, white blaze, chestnut. (they like that here out west, probably not back East (as they've always been more traditional)... Thanks! |
Member: Penner |
Posted on Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 - 1:40 pm: Hi, just an update. He finally started eating normal on 2/6 - 5 days he held out! Round penning is helping a little too. At 1st he ran around like crazy (the 1st day), paying no attention to me. By day #3, his ear was towards me & not coming into the center of the round pen. I could get him to stop on the rail, & stay on the rail but turn in towards me & stop (I don't want him to come all the way in as I feel he may get chargy doing that). Then I'd send him off the other direction.I am also doing the Parelli 7 games (especially YoYo, as he tends to "Glomb" on me when I lead). & I don't want to get run over, I want him to respect my space. It is working, but I know its not ingrained yet, as if he gets spooky, right away he comes into me (I guess for "protection"??). Oh well, I keep telling myself I need to have years of patience (as he has years of growing up). |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Saturday, Feb 8, 2003 - 2:40 pm: Hi, Penner,How are your hips holding out? :-) You are doing a great job . . . .sometimes it seems to take so long to get what you want, but don't lose sight of your goal, and everytime you even get a baby step toward the goal, congratulate yourself and your horse by giving a release of pressure (mental or physical). What you are doing right now is building a relationship . . . . following your goals and setting boundaries . . . Great news! Holly |