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Post by shan on Jan 26, 2013 18:34:43 GMT 1
OK, briefly - Sandy has had bad MF, and also cos of the snow situation has been in more or less 24/7 for 3 weeks now. She's coped alot better than I thought she would, bless her, but I now have a problem... we are very restricted for space, i.e. field or stable. (Stables are over landowner's drive and we're not allowed on the verges). I turn her out twice a day while I muck out, with a pile of hay, but as the others are in she won't go away from the gate. So when I bring her in she's started playing up, mainly rearing, sometimes bucking, and I can't do alot with her as it's icy. I can't blame her for being frustrated but it's getting a bit dangerous on the ice.. I can't leave her out cos of the MF, I can't tie her while I muck out cos she tries to pull away, and due to the field being ice over deep mud ruts I can't do any groundwork in there - I don't think that's the answer anyway as she needs to let off steam. I can't let her run riot in the drive because of the verge issue, and also because the house is one end nearby and the other end is open to the road. I feel so sorry for her and don't really know what I can do.. she has tons of hay, a treat ball, swedes, treats in her hay and stable but she is obviously going stir crazy. I had to bring her in with her head in a bucket of chaff the other day as it was the only way I could keep some control. (she has a Dually on). Any ideas perleeeease?
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jan 26, 2013 18:51:35 GMT 1
I'm currently having the same problem! Going out, Bonnie is fine, its the coming in! Either from the school or from being out she's a nightmare, barging and spinning, and even reared last week! What are you feeding her? I was feeding Redi Grass but that can make them a bit hyper, so taking her off it! Also feeding some magnesium oxide too!
When shes bargey, I've started turning her around to where she came from, then starting walking again, if she's bargey again, we turn around etc etc. Hopefully she will get the picture eventually!!
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Post by shan on Jan 26, 2013 19:08:58 GMT 1
I feed the same as always - ad lib hay, and dinner is a handful of chaff, Bailey's Lo Cal, & supplements including MagOx. She used to do this every so often when she went back in the field at the old yard. I used to have to make her walk one step at a time then praise her lots & let her go. I have to keep a distance away now so she doesn't catch me as she goes up (or down) but she does the same, speeds up & tries to cut me up, so I have to change direction & keep her turning one way or the other.
Can't get an RA out as the snow's even stopping us getting down the drive now, lol!!
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Post by shan on Jan 27, 2013 14:43:46 GMT 1
Sophie&maisie - I'm going to do ALOT of head lowering repetition and see if I can get her walking with her head lowered too, little steps with some treat-shaped distraction/reward  |
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Post by specialized on Jan 27, 2013 18:44:53 GMT 1
When we had trouble with one of our youngsters rearing when being led he always raised his head prior to rearing so it was easy to spot the signal and defuse before it got to a rear, he never even tries now because he knows as soon as he raises his head beyond a certain point he is stopped and refocused.
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Post by shan on Jan 27, 2013 19:18:10 GMT 1
I've been working on head lowering again today - it was hideous windy which she hates, she was very 'alert' and I managed to distract her and relax her at the same time using lots of head lowering, so fingers crossed it'll become easier to do and she'll become more responsive to the cues, I hope she'll be as responsive when she's in a rearing mood too!  |
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