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| Author |
Message |
    
M. Monica Calhoun (Monicac)
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 1, 2002 - 3:09 pm: |   |
Hi. I have my horse boarded at a facility where in order to get to the outdoor riding ring, you have to walk through the paddock where approximately 10 horses are kept. One of the horses is a colt who is almost one. There is also a filly who is approximately the same age. They play together a lot and lately, quite roughly, running, chasing and bucking around.
Last week when I visited my horse, the colt followed me across the paddock while I was carrying my tack and was a little annoying, but I could handle it. On my second trip across the paddock, I had a whip and he did seem to notice and back off.
This past Saturday I was visiting my horse again and trying to bring my tack to the riding ring. When I walked into the paddock, I was greeted by the same colt. Only this time when I got about half way across the paddock, he stood in front of me and wouldn't move. When I tried to shoo him, he started to rear up and wouldn't budge. Granted, I only had one hand to deal with him as my other hand/arm was full of tack, including an all purpose saddle.
I got so unnerved as he would not move and was scaring me by threatening to rear up and even rearing a little, that I turned around and decided not to go into the riding ring at all.
When I went back into the paddock to get my horse out I took a whip with. The colt came up along side of my horse and was (for me) too close for comfort. He was on the right side of my horse and I was on the left. I tried using my whip to shoo him off, but he didn't budge and my horse didn't like me using the whip so close to him. I don't think he understood I was trying to discipline the colt.
All of the horses were really uppity that day anyhow as the wind was blowing and the barn and sheds were rattling, spooking the horses. I was unable to ride my horse as he is newly trained and he was too spooked to ride.
It bothers me to think I might be confronted again by this colt. What is the best way to handle this situation? It is the owner's colt and when I see the owner I will mention this behavior. But I am wondering what the best course of action is, should this behavior continue.
I believe that the colt was trying to play with me as he plays with the filly. How do I show him I am not a filly he can play and romp with, but rather a human being? And how can I teach him to respect my space? Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Monica |
Teresa Alexander-Arab (Teresaa)
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 1, 2002 - 8:50 pm: | |
Hi Monica,
my advice would be to talk with whomever is in charge of the boarding facility. Disciplining someone else's horse can have as many ramifications as trying to discipline someone else's child!
it seems to be a strange arrangement to go through a paddock to get to a riding ring. I wonder that they haven't made a cordoned off path to improve safety.
good luck |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 2, 2002 - 9:25 am: | |
Teresa is right, before doing anything you must talk with those in charge. If they cannot change these arrangements to something a little more regular, the fix would most likely be a sharp snap to the whip on the butt or chest of the playful fellow till he decides you are no fun.
DrO |
M. Monica Calhoun (Monicac)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 2, 2002 - 10:15 am: | |
I will talk with the owner of the facility. It is just his parent's barn that he rents and uses to board horses. The upkeep isn't the greatest. I have been considering moving my horse to a facility with an indoor riding ring. Especially for riding during winter.
Unfortunately though the owner may agree to change how things are set up so I don't have to walk through the paddock, he probably wouldn't get off his bum and actually do it. Just one of his boarders complaining won't make that much of an impact. Most people who board their horses with him don't ride their horses that often and he has recently lost a few boarders to other facilities.
He also uses the riding ring to separate out his mares who have foals. So, as soon as his two mares deliver, I won't even be able to use the ring. No way am I going to try and move his mares with their foals, they are too protective of their young.
I will talk to the owner about how to discipline his colt. I'm sure he won't have a problem with me using a whip. I've seen him walk though the paddock with a new horse (to bring that horse to the riding ring) with a whip and use the whip too.
Thanks for your advice. Hopefully I can teach this colt to respect my space. Thanks again.
Monica |
Teresa Alexander-Arab (Teresaa)
| | Posted on Thursday, Apr 4, 2002 - 5:07 pm: | |
Hi Monica,
it doesn't sound like the best arrangement for you and your horse. Perhaps you should be looking more actively. I'm not fully cognizant of your situation but I would worry that 'laziness' would translate to negligent at some point. Having been there and done that I can speak from experience.
good luck |
