paganamber
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
My horses are my life
Posts: 1,622
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Post by paganamber on Aug 24, 2008 11:46:47 GMT 1
Kelly, what about this one.
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numbat
Elementary Poster
Posts: 84
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Post by numbat on Aug 24, 2008 12:59:52 GMT 1
Getting them to come back to you is the easy part: they know that's where the treats are. I got my little mare who didn't like jumping to jump at liberty using clicker training, and we got so I'd point to a jump and say "jump it!" and off she'd go and then come back. I've sold her now so no pics. She never did get to really like jumping, but she liked the treats more than she disliked the task.
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laura
Grand Prix Poster
going for a splash
Posts: 3,867
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Post by laura on Aug 24, 2008 14:19:46 GMT 1
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D pagan amber ......... talk about getting water the easy way
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Post by Cameo on Aug 26, 2008 11:05:41 GMT 1
Tying up! After a fright I needed to teach my horses to be tried up again. She had been tied to the fieldgate for quick groom, when something frightened her and she shot back - taking gate with her halfway down field until she stopped quivering waiting for me to untie/help her. I was impressed by her not galloping off with a five bar gate attached to her head but soon found out that she wouldn't be tied up after that. There weren't any discernible injuries - just a refusal to be tied up (understandably).
Now I can tie her up anywhere -a and she will stay there, despite all her fiends or any people being out of sight - not something I do regularly you know - just to explain how "unfrightening" it is anymore.
This was done by using a long rope and a dually.
First step was to remind her about pressure and release (as she already knew this) with groundwork such as backing up and coming forward and circling.
Next was to teach her to drop her head to relax by using pressure on the poll (just behind the ears) to get her release herself from poll pressure whilst in a "tied up" place (ring/gate etc).
Then I would not tie her, just take her to where I wanted her to stand (gate/ring/stable etc) and loop the rope around a strong part of that.
If she moved back (her "trick " to go away from being tied up) too much, then I would gently "reel" her in until she was where I wanted her to be.
Eventually we progressed to actual tying - by the time she had learnt: a) to release the poll pressure by dropping her head, b) to stand in those places and it wasn't scary (as a separate issue to the tying) c) that I would come back/friends would come/she would see friends again.
Food - using hay on the ground where she was tied up. +R - using "good things" when she was tied up - grooming, massage, rewards of short and sweet then back to friends etc.
It is a huge relief to be able to tie her up now that I don't even think about it!
However - she has learnt to untie the rope - but only when I am not looking...hmmmm...though when she has done so - she still stays where she is!
I'll try to put in some photos.
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Post by troop on Aug 27, 2008 12:54:15 GMT 1
wait for me i will take pics of rubes this is fun
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Post by troop on Aug 27, 2008 21:54:12 GMT 1
not really a trick but this is first time rubes had her saddle on she is free to run i have not tied her head up anywhere i promise. trust me this is impressive if you met her before you would be impressed she is a madam...lol
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suer
Advanced Poster
Posts: 289
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Post by suer on Aug 27, 2008 21:56:56 GMT 1
My mare was so headshy when I got her it took 2 hours to get a bridle on her (doing it quietly and taking it to bits ...) Now, after lots of quiet talking and rewards when she was calm - and refusing to accept her being nervous or anxious, ie not just bridling her anyhow when I got the chance - she will put her head down on the command 'over the head' to have the reins put over, accept a reward, and then happily open her mouth for the bit. I've also taught her to stretch her leg forward to make sure the skin under the girth isn't caught, by first manually moving the leg and rewarding, then mimicing the movement with gestures. Now she does it as routine as I move to each side to take the stirrups down. We also do carrot stretches for her back, and she'll move to each position on voice command - the carrot was the initial stimulus, but she knows the routine now. Recently, though, I've learnt that she needs to be standing square for the stretch between her front legs to work best, so I'm teaching her to stand square, by moving her legs to the right position, backing up with a voice command and treating her when she gets it right. I also have to pull her front legs forwards to stretch her shoulders - she'll now offer each leg in turn as I stand in front of her and hold my hands out to receive it. Again, I started off by taking the leg as I wanted it, with a vocal command, lots of praise - and that treat at the end! Safety - this should really be done from the side, but I trust her not to strike out - and have insisted that all movements are calm and controlled - I don't accept hurried movements when I'm teaching her. She's teaching ME though, that I have to be so careful and consistent with what I accept and reward - as with riding, I suppose, if you inadvertently accept an incorrectly ridden movement, you don't train the correct one .... I think generally, also, all this stuff I've done with her has taught her that she's not going to be punished for doing something wrong, but we can work together to mutual benefit - and I've got a much calmer and happier horse as a result! And that makes me happy
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Caroline
Grand Prix Poster
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 2,277
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Post by Caroline on Aug 30, 2008 16:50:14 GMT 1
TigerLily is fantastic at walking backwards at liberty. She will happily walk backwards half way across the field with me 20 foot behind her, backing her up as if signalling a lorry.
She will fetch carrots like a dog fetching a stick and will then walk backwards to put herself back by my side. She tends to eat the carrots on the saunter back though!
She also does a version of the Shadows dance where she will take a few steps back so that she is behind me, then sideways and by my side, then forwards til she stands in front of me, then she backs up to get back where she started. Effectively, she is tracing the shape of a square around me whilst always facing forwards.
We are working on the Tango and going sideways at the moment.
All of the above without any tack or rope.
Clever pony!
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Post by Kelly Marks on Sept 2, 2008 17:32:03 GMT 1
Why has troop got a horse with no head?! Crikey I'm meant to choose a winner soon aren't I? Give me till the weekend and I'll work out which I think should be the winner. Well done all entries! Kelly
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Post by troop on Sept 2, 2008 22:08:24 GMT 1
ha sorry kelly this was rubes first saddle and she was trying to eat it she wasnt scared of it or bothered at all she just wanted to eat the stirrup
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Post by wabuska on Sept 11, 2008 12:22:41 GMT 1
Mine can paint. Bucket of water, headcollar and he 'paints' the front of the box and the ground. Oh... sorry.. self taught!
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em&ed
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
If I had just a little humility, I'd be perfect....
Posts: 3,276
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Post by em&ed on Sept 11, 2008 22:13:23 GMT 1
I know the closing date's 'gone' but I taught Eddie to accept the bit by clicker training. Previously he used to point his nose to the sky and it was about 7ft tall... there was no hope for me Now he opens his mouth to accept the bit - which is nice
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Post by Kelly Marks on Sept 15, 2008 17:46:37 GMT 1
And the winner is .... after much deliberation by the judges ... Laura with Taz - Congratulations! Hi Laura - if you're helping at Hartpury do you want to collect your prize(s) then? Otherwise just contact the IH office and we'll send whatever. Well done. Caroline's looked very interesting and would love to see a video if one ever available. Lots of useful and interesting ones - and great photos. Furiey and Finn could you send us your photos for the LP perhaps? Well done everyone! Kelly
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potto
Grand Prix Poster
Advanced Poster
I have a large spotty and the privilage once of the most beautiful big Ass!
Posts: 1,384
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Post by potto on Sept 15, 2008 21:28:48 GMT 1
Excellent choice, congrats Laura well explained..!!!
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laura
Grand Prix Poster
going for a splash
Posts: 3,867
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Post by laura on Sept 15, 2008 22:15:30 GMT 1
ooooooooeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr just seen this (been chatting on the ride around britain bits etc ............ ) THANK YOU it must have been a VERY hard choice to make , just how do you decide the value of what a horse has learnt. it can be huuuuuuuuuge step for a horse just to get a headcollar on ..... it provides one of the basic things without which one can do little I admit Taz's "trick" looks good and is an "attention grabber" as most horses dont do it . The most improtant bit however to me was the first bit .... getting the motivation for Taz to actually "give" her foot to me and be rewarded for it . It helped build the trust relationship I so much wanted to have with her. The rest added onto that .... and the value of the trick element is that it could be used to entertain people who were donating cash to help other horses and to continue on that vein ...... I will be a little greedy and ask for one of the rugby shirts (I can then be an advertising board locally ) ... but Kelly can you use the rest of the value as a raffle prize or something ... maybe at Hartpury . I cant remember if you usually do a raffle or anything Oh and I really echo Kelly , a video of Caroline and dancing Tigerl Lily would be fantastic .......... sounds absolutely brill .. and instructions as to "how to" please ;D
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