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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Tips and Tricks » 2005 » |
Discussion on New trainer | |
Author | Message |
New Member: Ggirl |
Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 1:02 pm: Our horses went to a new trainer two weeks ago. My Apaloosa, who has never been a problem, "went after" the new trainer. Can a horse "not like" a certain person? |
Member: Canter |
Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 1:25 pm: My first thought is, if your horse is normally nice natured, what did the trainer do to provoke your horse? Did you see what happened? What are the circumstances? How old is the horse? How serious was the incident...a nip? or full fledged attack?Is the trainer someone you've used before and trust well? If not, I'd be really concerned that the horses are with the wrong "trainer". I have heard of horses that were systematically abused by, say for example, a man, who hold grudges against men for the rest of their lives-- but I've never seen this myself. |
Member: Chrism |
Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 6:04 pm: As a teenager in Germany, I used to ride a horse that would bite smokers and try to roll over on men or people who wore spurs. You could see scars on the horse's sides where it had been abused.A non-smoking teenage girl was tolerated fairly well - but I still need to be alert to missteps. So, it may be an "aura" or "past life" that the trainer reminds your horse off. Or, it could be the trainer, facility, help, whatever. |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 9:32 pm: Yes, horses can "not like" someone, but usually there is a reason. Either the way the person has treated the horse, or the way he smells, or something.I was once on my horse and with my dog coming home from a ride when a jogging man approached. As he got closer, my horse laid back his ears and bared his teeth towards the man, and my normally sweet dog, tried to bite him and tore his pants. I later found out the man was a notorius area drug dealer and thief, and evidently when we met him he was running from a robbery! I always trust my horse (and dog's) judgement when it comes to people. In your case, imo,there is something going on that you need to find out about |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 2:45 am: It is normal for a horse in a new environment to react in unexpected ways, especially a young one.He may be upset for a number of reasons, the main one usually being his routine being changed. Food is different, people smell different and "speak" a different language, the window is not where it used to be, go figure... In this new situation it is normal that he'll try to make some friends and check out the hierarchy, in ways depending on his character. He may chase the trainer in a clumsy attempt to play and show his affection or in an attempt to check the hierarchy and may be establish a more convenient one. I believe the problem is not the horse, it is the trainer reporting that a new horse tested him a bit. He should be able to expect it and accomodate it smoothly enough to not even mention it. |
Member: Chohler |
Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 2:05 pm: Christos is right on!I expect new horses to test me. If the horse gets real ugly than I assume It was me that prompted the problem. |