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Post by tikkatonks on Dec 22, 2010 16:13:58 GMT 1
I think its really important to be able to be light, quiet, firm and loud with your horse without alarming them. I tend to be quiet around my horses and have noticed that they get upset when other people around the yard are noisy and higher energy. So I am making a conscious effort not to always be 'one way' and do things too routinely as one day I may be ill or hurt and need them to respond quickly to someone else who isn't calm and quiet and doesn't do things 'my way'.
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Post by nich on Dec 22, 2010 16:18:56 GMT 1
that is a very valid point tikkatonks, that Sandra Williams made to OH who was proud of being able to manage his horse - yes but what if one day it isn't you? for the horses sake they have to be able to cope/behave with everyone
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Post by jennyb on Dec 22, 2010 16:39:47 GMT 1
Good point. Gazdag will put up with most things after spending 2.5 years with me and my mad tendancies. He got annoyed with me one day about a year ago when I was lunging him. I wasn't paying attention to him and was chatting to my friend, and he mistook me doing an impression of a fairy for a command to trot, he was most annoyed to realised that he had got it wrong, lol! He fixed me with his disapproving Paddington Bear stare and told me to give him my full attention, lol.... ;D
He even tolerates my poor attempts at vaulting on him bareback on the yard. Havn't managed it yet, I think we would both get the shock of our lives if I was ever successful!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2010 16:44:28 GMT 1
I agree, in most respects I can be loud or quiet without alarming him, other people always comment on how easy he is to handle, just a shame the woman who first backed him has trashed his tolerance when tacked up and ridden
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Derek Clark
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Post by Derek Clark on Dec 23, 2010 9:45:01 GMT 1
Hi michellep, Ah, I see. There's clearly a lot more to this than just a horse that is sensitive... Very sorry to hear that! We have a horse here who objected totally to the rider's legs when we first got him, so this is something I'm familiar with, but since I'm not there seeing what's actually going on it's very hard to say anything useful, much as I might want to try, so I won't add anything further at this point. Stick with it, though - he's going to teach you loads! Best wishes, Derek
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2010 14:08:23 GMT 1
Hi michellep, Ah, I see. There's clearly a lot more to this than just a horse that is sensitive... Very sorry to hear that! Yep, though your advice about me being too physical with him has been very helpful indeed. That's what set me off on this path of trying to use his sensitivity to my advantage. Seriously if I can keep him light while overcoming his fears he could be the most amazing riding horse. He's as green as anything but is so fiercly intelligent and knows there's a difference if my leg is 2mm further back than normal. The leg on/off when riding I think is something I need to use the TTouch approach with because I'm pretty sure his over-reaction is due to fear and TTouch seems to help him a lot with that. MTA: Oh and Derek, if you're ever plannig on visiting Sussex PLEASE let me know
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Post by june on Dec 23, 2010 19:32:35 GMT 1
Hi michellep, Ah, I see. There's clearly a lot more to this than just a horse that is sensitive... I've got one of those too! Her story is on the "Hall of Fame" board, "Nostalgia, her journey from fear to here". They are very rewarding horses to work with, and Nostalgia, aka Tal, is a prime example of a horse I'd describe as being light without being soft. I've been using clicker with her recently and that's been quite a breakthrough with her, largely I think because she feels she's getting things right rather than fearing that she's going to get things wrong. Its meant she's started to offer behaviours such as halt, which might seem a very small step, but for a horse that would be in canter before your seat touched the saddle, halt is quite an achievement! Its also provided a glimmer of softness rather than just lightness. She's starting to accept touch rather than fearing it. These horses are great fun to work with and very good for your riding as they force you to notice everything you do. Most horses filter out the noise so you can afford to be a little lazy but these horses take everything literally so every bit of noise from the rider gets a response.
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