Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 1, 2008 19:52:21 GMT 1
Right, I just want to start a nice conversation, no arguments. Who thinks we can sometimes over analyse problems with our horses. Where is the balance between finding quick fixes to each individual problem, and ending up never riding our horses again because we're too busy trying to have a deep and meaningful relationship with them? I'm not meaning this as specific to me and sherb at all, but generally within the realms of natural horsemanship. If it seems like quite a small problem should we be looking for the simplist possible solution before starting to analyse our horses psychology. I'll use Cara's thread about leg straps as an example. I had a similar problem with Sherb a few weeks ago. He took a disliking to his leg straps one day when Neil was fastening them. I think the problem started because I had them slightly too long and they were dangling and pecking his head a bit. So when Neil tried to fasten them he threatened Neil and Neil jumped back a bit. Then next time he knew how to stop us fastening them so he just carried on and upped the anti a bit if we persevered. I felt as though each time I tried to fasten them I was re-inforcing this pattern, so I just took them off. I didn't worry about dominance or anything like that. I took them off, then maybe a week or so (not sure) later I put them back and fastened them fine. I think I just broke the daily pattern in his brain. Maybe if people give examples of seemingly quick fixes which did and didn't work. I've got my tin hat on so if anyone wants to not give examples and just tell me off a bit, just go easy on me
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Post by kya on Jan 1, 2008 20:01:54 GMT 1
I'm with you Sherbert. I don't think I did myself any good trying to approach every problem with my alpha horse in an analytical manner. Sometimes a good roar or as you suggest backing off for a while and re-approaching it straight on would have worked as well as all the well meaning hokey-cokey!
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 1, 2008 20:07:54 GMT 1
The thing is, when I met Sherb I knew quite little about IH. I then learned a relatively small amount quite quickly (necessity) and that seemed to help us get along. We managed and back then I wasn't feeling put out that we didn't have the perfect relationship, I used to chuckle about his various quirks, get him into the stable at night by various means depending on his mood and go home perfectly happy. I rode him often, I longreined him often, I did bits of parelli and the excercises from perfect manners and all was reasonably well. The more I learn the more I feel confused. As a professional working full time, am I striving for too much, and, would we get along ok without the holy grail?? I see peoples horses lying down right next to them, sherb isn't ever going to do that with me, yes he probably would do it with Monty but why worry about that? blah blah blah, more inaudible wafflings!!!!!!!! he he
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em&ed
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Post by em&ed on Jan 1, 2008 20:12:59 GMT 1
Another vote from me!! I analyse everything to death!! Should just take a step back and see if a pattern forms then you know what's what.... that's what I try and do now...
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Post by horsey123 on Jan 1, 2008 20:17:38 GMT 1
yep i am with you too
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Sue & Tinta
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Post by Sue & Tinta on Jan 1, 2008 20:18:33 GMT 1
Ok - so being a novice at this horse ownership thingy I have to admit that sometimes I will overanalyize behaviour by my horse - particularly if it is 'not normal' and poses a challenge to me - more often than not it is basically my 17 year old mare telling me something which I am not understanding or simply her trying to test me again - Hey if she didn't then life would be pretty boring One thing I totally didn't expect was for her to turn into a manic Kanagroo on speed once the winter came and her routine changed - I (neivly) thought that I would be able to pop over early on a weekend and instantly tack her up and go out on a hack despite the fact that she had been in a stable all night - needless to say she had different ideas - which whilst alarming at first - was simply her asking for a bit of a leg stretch first and the fact that she hadn't been ridden all week ! Overanalysising this initially it was 'oh my god I am unable to cope with what should be a simple placid mare - she has been fine during the summer but now in order to ride at weekends safely I am going to have to exercise her in the school every evening or she is just going to be too much for me ........or simply give her the winter off and forget riding and then get someone in come the spring to bring her back to sane and sensible . .......reality is accept you cannot do it all - she is quite happy to be freeschooled for 20 mins before riding or simply turn her out in the field whilst mucking out - we are back on track and the solution was a simple one - I think sometimes the enourmity of responsibility that we have for our equines causes us to be blind to those simple solutions which are so helpfully offered by those that are not in such close proximity .
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 1, 2008 20:21:18 GMT 1
Yes Tinta, I'm having the exact same problem at the moment, deepest darkest winter!! Tinta is gorgeous by the way :-)
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Post by fin on Jan 1, 2008 20:25:43 GMT 1
Well--you can have a quick fix for a relatively simple problem--something a bit more serious takes time and possibly a bit more analysis! There's no such thing as over-analysis--only fuzzy thinking and lack of clarity and direction
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Azrael
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Post by Azrael on Jan 1, 2008 20:28:19 GMT 1
I'm totally guilty! It can be quite 'interesting' when very common sense YO who is good with horses but doesn't have the whole 'traditional horsey' type background at all gives it 'FFS just get on with it' and gets straight to the point while those with a lot more experience faff and don't get anywhere fast! ;D Especially entertaining that a basically non-horsey person managed to do a better job of handling Mia's opinions than an 'expert' that had a go at doing stuff with her! And better than I was doing right then TBH 'cos I was really reaching the loss of patience point (edited 'cos I apparently had too much wine and can't type )
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Post by Louise C on Jan 1, 2008 20:30:12 GMT 1
It's a dangerous problem over analysing - something I've been guilty of in the past - but I try very hard to avoid doing it now - it doesn't do my brain any good at all - and it doesn't work on the horse either! We can analyse a ride to death only to get on the next day to a totally different set of circumstances which we have to react to - you just have to go with the flow and deal with what's in front of you right there and then.
Winter is awful for rocket fuelled horses on limited turnout - I am so pleased Flynn can be out full time - even if we have a lot of mud!
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Vicky&Beenie
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Post by Vicky&Beenie on Jan 1, 2008 20:32:56 GMT 1
indeed. im with you on that one
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 1, 2008 20:35:11 GMT 1
Sherb can go out for as long as I want in the day, but has to come in at night at the moment. But it's still not enough for him.
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Post by june on Jan 1, 2008 20:36:28 GMT 1
Just reading Pippa Funnells autobiography and she mentions this. She refers to it as paralysis by analysis.
I think it does depend on the problem as mentioned previously. If it is a simple problem then there is often a simple fix but sometimes it does take a fair bit of analysis to find the solution to a problem.
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Jan 1, 2008 20:42:53 GMT 1
June that's so spooky, I was just talking to my husband about it and I too described it as paralysing!! That's just how I feel.
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Vic
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Post by Vic on Jan 1, 2008 20:55:46 GMT 1
Definately with you on this one. Only i do it in every single area of my life, not just with my horses
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