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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 17:56:26 GMT 1
Hi Everyone,
Right, I've just tried taking Fudge to the mounting block without tack, just his headcollar, and he was just as bad. I guess he started to be difficult when we turned the corner and he could see it. His head shot up and he tried to pull away. When I tried to get him to walk on towards it, he sort of did a little rear, so if anything he was worse. And scarier. I'd love to be relaxed and happy but it's hard when your pony is so scary. So we just went in and he had his tea.
I'll have a look tomorrow if there is anywhere else I can mount from. There might be a bench or something but I don't know. We've not been here long and I don't know if we are allowed to use things like that. I'll ask the YO.
You've got me worried about this pain thing now, though. As I say, he was vetted before I bought him and was fine and he's fine when I ride him. He came with his saddle and my YO says it looks ok, by maybe I should ask someone else to have a look at it. Will that be expensive?
I've had a look on the internet about clicker training and it does look interesting. Is it something I can learn on my own with a problem like this, though?
Let me know when you want the real problem/solution, won't you?
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Post by june on Jan 2, 2008 20:31:34 GMT 1
Real problem/solution would be great!
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Post by jes on Jan 2, 2008 20:55:08 GMT 1
Ok, first thing I would do is get his saddle and his back checked. Sounds like a pain issue to me.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 21:13:11 GMT 1
I don't know how many of you have read Temple Grandin's book Animals in Translation, but for those of you who have this will make sense.
Fudge had been on the yard for only a short time when this problem started. He'd never had a problem mounting before, only when at his new yard. From the word go, he hated the mounting block. A complete gent otherwise, led well, etc. but just this increasing angst with the mounting block.
I'd just read the above book when I met him and had her words in mind. So, I placed myself at his eye level and the problem was there. The mounting block was just outside the school which had a load of rubbish pile outside it on the far side. The sun was shining onto some metal sheeting there and was shining in his eyes. His young owner only rode in the afternoons at around the same time (after school) so the direction of the sun was pretty well always the same. No one had thought it was a problem because he rode past it happily in the school and other horses (different sizes) didn't have an issue. It was just little Fudge.
On top of that, it was a new partnership and, although he was a very solid little pony otherwise, this was now an area that distrust had started to build, then spiral.
The solution was then easy, remove the sheeting, despook him to the mounting block now the problem was gone, and build up their relationship again.
MirandaSophie wins the prize (sorry, there isn't one really) as being the closest.
The point, though, is that a trained pair of eyes (and these were only my semi-trained ones) can often help pinpoint the cause of a problem quite quickly and then work towards the solution. I would say that about 80% or so of the horses I see have problems other than the ones that the owners are seeing and finding those problems and their causes is what the RAs do so well. And that, for me, is what makes RAs the good value they are. And that, for me, is why the advice to get out your local RA can be the best, even though the problem may appear not to need it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2008 21:14:02 GMT 1
Sorry, jes, crossed posts!
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Post by jes on Jan 2, 2008 21:21:04 GMT 1
Ah damn, never thought of something like that, so simple. You see, that's the value of getting someone else to actually come and see what's happening. In that case wouldn't necessarily have to be an RA, just someone prepared to think about it and (cringes at she says it) "look outside the box", which I suppose is what RAs tend to do anyway. ;D
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Post by Catrin on Jan 2, 2008 22:19:18 GMT 1
An excellent example Liz, to show that when a RA visits the horse, it is then that something about the management or environment of the horse becomes evident.
When the problem is written down, not only is it not holistic, it is only as it appears through the owner's eyes, not as you showed, quite literally, through the eyes of the horse.
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Post by jen1 on Jan 2, 2008 22:52:32 GMT 1
thanks for mentioning this book liz, ive just ordered 2 ,lol id love to look at your book shelf,
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Post by june on Jan 2, 2008 23:01:33 GMT 1
Its funny how we are prepared to pay riding instructors to be eyes on the ground for us but sometimes more reluctant to pay people to be eyes on the ground for the horse. I guess its because we feel we should be able to see the issue.
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Post by janetgeorge on Jan 2, 2008 23:11:05 GMT 1
Interesting one. The first thing I'd want to do is look at the horse's back (with my fingers) and look at the saddle fit. The second thing would be to see the rider mount (NOT the horse in question but a quiet horse who is familiar with the mounting block.) Mounting problems generally start with either a back/saddle problem or a clumsy rider problem. May I offer another (real) mounting problem. Some years ago, I was asked to take a horse as a 'last resort'. It had 'taken' to rearing when the rider attempted to mount and had gone over backwards several times - with two different riders! Rider's father was determined the horse needed shooting. She was a nice dun mare, about 15.2, quite fine. Couldn't find a problem with her back or the saddle. Got on her - and off her - and on her - and off her. Rode her several times - and got a clue. Got a working pupil to get on her and off her and on her and off her. No problem. SO WHY was she rearing with her owner?? And another young rider? One guess only! ETA - just seen the answer to the original post. One of those situations where advice on a forum just COULDN'T help, until it got to the 'what's he like to mount elsewhere' point. And even then ... I promise - mine is MUCH easier!
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Post by butterfly on Jan 2, 2008 23:43:41 GMT 1
She had a problem in her mouth
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Post by janetgeorge on Jan 2, 2008 23:50:08 GMT 1
She had a problem in her mouth Indirectly!
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debutante
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Post by debutante on Jan 2, 2008 23:52:16 GMT 1
was the owner and 2 rider to big heavy?
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debutante
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Post by debutante on Jan 2, 2008 23:52:58 GMT 1
liz - can we have another one i just came across this but as i was reading everyones responses also came across the answer guess i was too late
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Post by janetgeorge on Jan 3, 2008 0:07:11 GMT 1
was the owner and 2 rider to big heavy? Nope - she was about half MY weight!
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