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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Spooky Horse Under Saddle » |
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 11, 2001 - 1:49 pm: I have an 11 year old red dun quarterhorse who has a real attidude problem. He is a bully and is also not very nice to his pasture mate. When I ride him with a group of 3 or more, he usually is fine. But, when my husband and I ride together close to home, he spooks and acts up on most every ride. The typical thing for him to do is spook in place. He does a quick 180 turn which puts me off balance and then sometimes immediately does another 180. Yesterday, I came off. Anybody else have this problem? I study natural horsemanship, but I'm afraid this guy is on his way out. He is my first horse and I have had him for 8 years. Also, anyone heard about red duns typically having attitude problems. One clinician alluded to this. Thanks |
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 11, 2001 - 8:44 pm: Susan, I had a red dun Quarter mare and she was one of the best horses I ever owned. Very stable and an excellent mother. I purchased her at a sale she was a weanling. i really dont believe color has anything to do with it I think in my oppinion alot has to do with breeding and training. That would be like saying all black horses are outlaws. Just my opinion.Mary |
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 11, 2001 - 10:16 pm: Thanks, Mary. You are probably right. I just kept thinking about the comment at the clinic and perhaps I am just looking for excuses for this horse. I love this animal. He was my first horse and he has always had an attitude problem. I am not the only one he tries things with and he has quite a reputation at the boarding places where I have had him. He will go along quite well for a few rides and I think "great, he's over this" and then it happens again. He is so unpredictable and bad tempered at times. My natural horseman friends just keep telling me that I'll get there with this horse and they make me feel like it's all me. I guess I need to sell him and get a horse with an even temperament. It is upsetting, I have to admit. I always think that an animal is a lifetime commitment. Oh well. Thanks again for responding. |
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Posted on Monday, Feb 12, 2001 - 10:13 am: Hi Susan,I have a few points that I would like to make; 1. remember that he's your horse, the decision to sell him is entirely yours. I've learned that everyone else always knows how you should ride your horse (and rear your children). 2. don't discard the good advice with the bad. 3. try to think of why your horse is acting this way. Maybe he's bored or feels that he's had enough and wants you to take him home.Does it happen on the way home or the way out? Doesn't mean that you should though. I used to ride a TB that would spook everytime my mind wandered off of him (really teaches you to pay attention ). I would look for the warning signs before he spins and then try to counteract it before it happens. For example, last year I was riding my horse in a field (same one we always ride in) and he decided that this one tree was the very rare horse eating tree disguised as a young maple. So everytime we came to a specific spot he broke into a canter. What I did was to ask for the canter before that spot so that it was my idea, not his. Worked like a charm. Something you could try with your horse is that after he spins, immediately make him do something thats a little hard for him (e.g. back up, spin again, etc.) so that he begins to associate the spinning with more work. 4. you could maybe send him to a trainer or have one work with you and him to figure out how the best way to handle this. 5. at 11 your horse's personality is pretty well set and I doubt he'll ever be one those perfect push button horses. Oh,well neither is mine. Doesn't mean he's bad or a problem, only that he is maybe higher maintenance then others. THe decision as to whether it's a good partnership is up to you. Teresa |
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Posted on Monday, Feb 12, 2001 - 10:29 am: Hi Susan,We too had a problem child at 11 years old. LOL we purchased as a retired track horse. I can't tell you how many times my husband put her up for sale. She spooked at everything I remember the day that a BBQ grill totally kicked her butt. there are so many good training methods out there and personally for us we use the parelli method and it is working like a charm, i say that meaning it has been 1 1/2 years of working like a charm. LOL she requires alot of patients, more than my hubby has, so i have taken over in this endevor and trust me she is trying my patients also, but every day it gets a little bit better. Like Teresa said, you may not get her to be 100% but it is possible to pull alot of it out of her with alot of patients. Good luck and keep us posted. Jodi |
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Posted on Monday, Feb 12, 2001 - 6:58 pm: Hi Susan,I understand your predicament, we too have owned one of these types, a TWH (raised him from a foal, had high hopes for him, sent him to a very good trainer, tried to work thru his spinning problem). We kept him for 7 or 8 years. He could be ridden as long as your attention never wandered. I finally reached a point that self preservation won,(after our children were born, I think small children do that to you). I traded him for a very agreeable, reliable TWH (Ed) whom we still own. I can put anybody on him and he will take care of them. He is not the best gaited horse we own, but he is worth a lot for his reliability. You need to look within yourself and decide whether you want to continue to "stay on your toes" and be aware that he may dump you again or if you really want to be able to relax and have a good time out on the trail. There are a lot of horses out there who don't carry this kind of "baggage". Good luck and happy trails, Janette |
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 17, 2001 - 3:22 pm: Thank you all for your comments. I failed to mention that about 9 months ago, I discovered that my horse's saddle no longer fit. I then discovered that it appeared that he had a sore back. I had a vet come out who did chiropractic work on him and it helped for a couple of months. Then in December I had a chiropractor-accupuncture vet come out and I saw some improvement after that visit, as well. This vet asked me if Gambler had ever had a fall. I thought about it and then my answer was: yes he did. About 4 years ago I was having trouble loading him into a trailer, so the couple I bought him from tried a trailer loading lesson (not my idea) and it turned out to be a disaster. Gambler freaked out and backed out of the trailer so quickly that he fell flat on his back and hit his head. After remembering this, I started to re-create when I really starting having problems with this horse and I believe it was around that time period. Both doctors said he was in pain but that their treatments should take care of the problem. Well, last week I seemed to have "forgotten" all of this, probably because I was sick and tired of dealing with this problem, after I fell off. So...this week, I called an equine massage therapist to check him out. He came today and sure enough, he said he is really hurting from his poll to almost his croup. He showed me pressure points to work on and showed me the tight muscles and how to loosen them up. I was amazed at the difference in Gambler's attitude. I will ride him today and see how he does. I hope this works. I don't want to sell my horse, but I don't want to have a horse I can't ride either. Anyway, I am hopeful. Thanks again. I really appreciate your comments and concern. Keep your fingers crossed. |
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