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Discussion on Quarterhorse bolts when entering paddock | |
Author | Message |
New Member: milling |
Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 - 7:03 pm: Hi. My horse has been acting up when I let her go in the paddock. Including bolting, bucking, and running away with the lead rope. This has been going on now for a month or two. We bring her in alone sometimes. Then when we turn her out with her two best buddies she starts bolting at the gate. When I bring them in all together then turn them out she bucks and bolts. Wondering if anybody has any suggestions as to how I might rectify this problem. Thank you in advance. Debbie. |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 - 8:57 am: Hi DebbieI have a young quarter horse mare who does this from time to time also. Because she has to cross the barn aisle & another stall to get out, she can really pick up speed before she's out the door! How are her ground manners otherwise? Have you done work with her on say a 14' lead rope? Does she stay out of your space? Go where you send her? Change directions? Keep 2 eyes on you? Many horse people think that Clinton Anderson's methods of ground work for respect are good, and if you haven't seen him on tv, his book will be of great value to you with this mare I think. As for your specific question, your mare must stand quietly and face away from the herd/paddock before you take her halter off and let her go. If she doesn't, do lots of work with her alone to get her respect and so she figures out the rules. If she's doing well alone in another area,and still does this when let out, I'd make her do lots of work right there. Circles, backing, whatever it takes until she faces you and stands quietly. Make the acting up hard, standing the easy/correct thing to do, and she gets rewarded when quiet. Make sure to wear a helmet and gloves, and have a long enough rope when working with her. I am betting 2 other things here: She's young, and she also acts up when alone in the stall? So this is just an insecurity thing? |
Member: maggienm |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 - 10:04 am: I agree with Angie, I would like to add a couple things.One good thing is I think this is a fairly easy issue to deal with. It could also be a habit that started inadvertently. One possibility is: When the horse is let loose at the gate she walks, then breaks into a trot/canter. She starts to anticipate and begins to speed up sooner, which can lead to the problem you are describing. I have had this problem with horses brought to me. First I establish that I can send them around me on a 10-12' lead, both directions. I do this away from the problem area. I do other ground work as well but I use 'sending' as my primary reward for behavior I want to discourage. At any time on the way to the turn out if she speeds up, tries to walk ahead of you, (I never permit my horse to lead me, the horse either is behind or beside but still slightly behind)or does anything other than a quiet 4 beat walk she gets to work. This is where the sending comes in, and as Angie says be serious, make her go at a good working trot for several rounds, switch directions several times. Then calmly proceed. Do this every time she speeds up. Depending on how well she knows her lesson, her own activity level this first trip to the turnout could take quite a bit of time. Now, when you get to the gate what you do here is also important. She must stand quietly while you open the gate. again anything less and she goes to work. Once you are on the other side of the gate, close it and stand quietly with her, if she has worked hard enough she is warm or even sweaty take her for a slow walk in a big circle until she is cool and relaxed. When you are ready to actually turn her loose, put the loose end of the lead over her neck close to her ears. give it a tug so she knows she is still attached. Undo the halter, she must continue to stand quietly with her head lowered. One time with a horse that was particularly bad for jerking his head away and running, kicking out at me as he went as soon as he felt the halter loosen, , I put two halters on him, as I was undoing the first on and he tried to jerk away I could hold him with the second one. It took about three days and then just having the rope over his neck was enough. He wasn't mean just had learned a bad habit. Once the halter is off, this step is also very important,stand there with her for a moment, pet her, relax, slide the rope off her neck and you walk away. Sometimes it is tough to put actions into words so if you have any questions please ask. be prepared, the first time could take a while. |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 - 10:42 am: Lori did a good job of explaining many things that I missed. Her idea of a 2nd halter is a good one, I've never heard of that.Something else I do that I forgot to mention that is similar to the 2nd halter is I usually have twine in my pockets. The twine string, not baling "wire". I will put the twine just over the nose sometimes, or make a figure 8 out of it. The twine string has more "bite" than the halter and helps keep the horses attention on you. Depending on how you use the twine, you can have it so if you just let one end go, it will slip right off the horse. I've used that with my anxious one, and what I do is have the twine under the halter and when I take the halter off, she can't race away because the twine is on her face yet. I very seldom have halters on my horses for feeding time, so when she's get in a hurry and starts trying to run out of the barn, just the loop of twine around her nose will keep her calm til she gets out the door. BUT: Do the other ground work first! Don't rely on a twine string fix as soon she will ignore that too. |
Member: maggienm |
Posted on Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 - 1:04 pm: Thanks Angie |
Member: canderso |
Posted on Sunday, Nov 9, 2008 - 9:06 am: Well Hello Deb!Good to see you on this board!!! I am sure you have already tried this but just in case you forgot one of Joanna's tricks - feed them a piece of crunch or a peppermint just after you take the halter off. Let them know it is there so their attention is on YOU and not the other horses ... Hope all is well! Cheryl |