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Mary Martinez
New Member
Username: Ocala
Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 22, 2004 - 6:51 am: |   |
Recently a boarder at my stables has aquired a mule to keep her horse company in her pasture. Unfortunately the pasture is adjacent to the trail entrance. My mare is terrified of the mule and when approaching the trail entrance she goes nuts, rearing, shaking, etc. Once she spots the mule, she will rear several times and turn to bolt back to the barn. As we have numerous turtle holes in Florida, this could be leathal if she steps in one and falls.
I have tried to do the approach and retreat in gradual degrees of closeness, but she will not get any closer than 100 feet!! I have been told I should lead her closer, unfortunately her 1000+lbs vs my 120lbs on the ground is dangerous with a rearing horse. I have asked the mule owner if I might possibly borrow the mule to pasture with my mare for a week. She said no, of course. Another woman was thrown from her horse and went to critical care when her horse spooked from the mule. (Broken collar bone, several ribs, punctured lung...) It is unlikely that the barn owner will ask the mule to leave and I have been looking for another stable to board at. I really don't want to move. (or sell her). Please, can anyone help?? |
Holly Zukowski
Member
Username: Cowgrl
Post Number: 301
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 22, 2004 - 9:41 am: | |
Can you bring her over there without the intention of riding and let her graze around the outside of the pasture in the proximity of the mule? A pleasant outing to just eat grass might be enough to relax her and realize this long eared monster isn't going to hurt her. What if you asked the mule owner if you could keep your horse in the pasture with the mule for a couple of days. She'll probably say no but it's worth a try. |
Imogen Bertin
Member
Username: Imogen
Post Number: 540
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 22, 2004 - 4:08 pm: | |
She'll get used to it in the end... don't do anything sudden like moving until you've seen how it all develops. Have you tried going out alongside a very calm horse that isn't bothered by the mule which can "lead" your horse past?
All the best
Imogen |
Christos Axis
Member
Username: Christos
Post Number: 435
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 23, 2004 - 9:54 am: | |
Hi, Mary,
This is a common training problem, and I believe you must work it out instead of running away from it. Don't act like your horse!
At the distance you feel her going a bit uneasy, long before she rears, stop and wait for her to relax. It is very important that you act as if the mule is not there. Don't even glimpse at it, your horse can see you and she'll think it worries you too.
Once you're stopped, occupy yourself with some routine like picking her feet or combing her, while she's facing the mule. Do not allow her to turn from facing it, that is "we're ready to get the hell out of here" to her. When she's relaxed, ask for a bit closer, without making a big deal about it. A couple of steps are progress. Wait for her to calm down again, and so on.
The idea is that she's allowed to spook all she wants, but she's not allowed to run from it. To keep her from running, you have to stop and calm her down before she goes completely nuts.
It helps a lot, in these situations, if you mumble a song all the time. It prevents you from holding your breath and tensing up and it calms the horse because it distracts it a bit from being 100% focused on the "monster".
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 10855
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 24, 2004 - 10:12 am: | |
I agree with Imogen and Christos, this is an opportunity to create a better horse. I suggest you go one better and reward good behavior. For a detailed description see, Training Horses » Training Your Horse's Mind »
Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses.
DrO |
Diane S Cooke
Member
Username: Poppy
Post Number: 13
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, Jul 24, 2004 - 5:17 pm: | |
Mary:
How about taking a cloth and rubbing the mule's coat, ETC, until it is saturated with the smell. Then put the cloth over the side of your mare's stall door. That way, the smells she is concerned about will be slowly acceptable. Then, the sights might not be so bad!!
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