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Post by Ally S on Jan 22, 2013 12:17:13 GMT 1
Jill - sadly he's not rideable so that's not an issue! I agree that will be the most tricky part, but I have a friend with one like it and she just dismantles the bridle. Tricky when as in this case the horse is bashing with his head, but time and patience has to be helpful! Then is also depends on what the aspiration is for the horse. Manny isn't rideable, and will stay mine, so it's not an issue. But if someone takes on a horse to rehabilitate and sell on, a solution needs to be found.
One thing I loved was watching Monty work with a head shy horse when riding Copy. He just rode up beside the horse and gently smoothed the neck, ears etc, then when the horse was accepting, Rosie started doing the same from the ground with her and Monty's hands working together. Monty then backed off, and the horse accepted Rosie's touch. I do remember the owners then doing the same after the demo and they were in tears as they couldn't believe it. For me it was a really jaw dropping thing to watch!
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Post by clipclop on Jan 22, 2013 12:52:09 GMT 1
I've got one who I've had for years who had this issue - I dealt with it the same way as ally.
Trying to desensitise him to it wound him up. He spent his time worrying that you'd try and approach his ears. To bridle him I initially took the bridle apart but within a short space of time, was able to put it on normally provided I was careful. He has a slightly longer browband so I have a bit more room.
He's absolutely fine now to bridle and headcollar. To groom, I use my hand.
He'll never be 100% to handle his ears but it's not an issue on a day to day basis.
Sent from my ST18i using proboards
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Post by horsefeed on Jan 22, 2013 15:26:14 GMT 1
Thats my main problem, this boy can't stay longterm, not very long at all really, my OH is not happy about having him, I just felt sorry for him, so got him to bring on a bit and hopefully with a few miles on the clock, walk/trot test and trotting over colour poles he'll be more likely to get a good home so I need to find a solution and get resolved asap, so I can continue his education.
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Caroline
Grand Prix Poster
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 2,277
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Post by Caroline on Jan 22, 2013 23:35:54 GMT 1
When I first got Beauty, she was very headshy and particularly worried about her ears. Whilst I am big on clicker with my other two horses, I have not used clicker with Beauty. I can tell you exactly why except to say that it just didn't feel right for her. With Beauty, I picked my days with care - warm, sunny days when horses are inclined to be chilled out and happy to stand for cuddles and a massage. I gave her lots of this, brought both our energy down into a really relaxed bliss state and then stood at her head, facing the same direction as her and placed my hands on the lower part of her cheeks. Gradually, I exapanded that to gentle and slow stroking of her lower face. It's probably easier to demonstrate than describe because so much of it is a matter of feel and energy communication and control. Over time...and I do mean time (months and years)...she has become happier with her face being touched and will even bury her face in my arms whenever she has to deal with something stressful like vets or trimmer. Clicker should work well too, but I think that when there is trauma causing a fear response, you have to genuinely win the trust of the horse. I don't believe there are short cuts to that, just good methods. And I think the horse bases it's trust on the entire relationship and all that it experiences of you. So you are training the ear handling even when you are doing something completely different, because it all goes to affect how safe the horse feels with you. Best of lucj - and do keep us posted of your progress
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Post by cassiejane on Jan 22, 2013 23:42:29 GMT 1
Jas was the same when she came and I hate to be flippant but it is just a matter of patience, Rome wasn't built in a day!
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cuffey
Olympic Poster
Posts: 962
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Post by cuffey on Jan 23, 2013 0:57:11 GMT 1
Yes Cuffey came from Ireland at 3 &1/2 --sure he had been ear twitched Bridle had to be dismantled to get on--he was more than happy to take the bit in his mouth! Took 2/3 months to be able to bridle normally Just patience but it did take years to be able to trim the dead hair out of his ears without a twitch--I have the comanche if needed (rare now) and he can still ping his head up high out of reach if upset On a nice day I can massage inside his ears and he loves it especially if the wee black flies have been around!
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Post by gwenoakes on Jan 23, 2013 12:02:43 GMT 1
Another angle to come from that we experienced with one of Clares. He was never keen to have his ears touched, but given time he was OK. All of a sudden he became totally head shy again, really bad. It turned out that he had somehow knocked his poll, most likely at the stable door and the Chiro said it would be like he had a really, really bad headache all the time. She worked her magic and within days he was back to accepting again. Maybe worth a thought.
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midgey
Olympic Poster
Posts: 571
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Post by midgey on Jan 23, 2013 13:37:00 GMT 1
Give him time ,do other things with him so he gets to know and trust you. Sounds like the clicker training is working. It will come ,do things he is happy with at the moment. I think its great that you have taken him on.Good luck with him. Have pm'd you.
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Post by KimT on Jan 23, 2013 15:34:08 GMT 1
Thought you were meant to reduce your herd? lol. I would agree with the above. I would take to preassure off with regards to having him backed soon. Focus more on getting him happy with you touching his ears because he will be more homable (if thats a word) if he doesnt headbutt people and will accept and headcollar/bridle. If he is already ok or accepting of the rest then I would say that this is your main area to focus on. Billy used to be a little headshy. Mostly when he was nervous. At those times I just started by placing my hand on his cheek and working in firm, quiet (i.e. not jumpy) movements until he relaxed. There was an element of advance and retreat to it too. He was comfortable on his cheek so his reward was for me to go back to his cheek. Arti can be a little headshy (especially if we take a broom in her stable with her) and we do something similar. Often starting on her neck until she calms down and realises we aren't going to hit her (maybe something she experienced in racing).
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Post by horsefeed on Jan 24, 2013 10:10:02 GMT 1
2nd session, with clicker traing, he got completely stressed out by noise of clicker and then decided he didn't like the treats that he loved on Tuesday! So change of tac! I held his headcollar with one hand, scratched up his neck with other then put my hand firmly at the edge of his senstive patch round his ears, got in close so went he tried to headbutt he couldn't get enough swing to hurt and could control it a bit with hand on headcollar! As soon as he relaxed I took hand away and repeated, after about 5 mins he didnn't even flinch when I was full blown playing with his ear! Then repeated whole exercise on other ear, I then put saddle on him and took him for a little walk My friend then repeated the ear exercise with him and was playing with both ears after about a minute so massive improvement and very chuffed with him
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Post by mandal on Jan 24, 2013 10:29:44 GMT 1
Oh well done, sounds very promising.
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Post by Steve Reid on Jan 24, 2013 19:39:54 GMT 1
I wouldn't even think about his ears. I'd work on all the other parts of him and by the time I'd done that he wouldn't even remember he had a 'problem' with his ears.
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Post by mandal on Jan 24, 2013 21:34:11 GMT 1
I wouldn't even think about his ears. I'd work on all the other parts of him and by the time I'd done that he wouldn't even remember he had a 'problem' with his ears. He he! That made me laugh for a minute. My mind boggled. ;D I know what you mean though.
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