Re: RC: separation anxiety--training problem

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Suzanne
Out last his little spoiled behavior. Be firm; no need to over-react. If
he wants to back, let him back then make him continue backing until he
realizes it's your idea and so it's no fun anymore.  I just did that
with Summy today; he also threatened to rear--- so we backed and backed.
The second backing session took and he was great. Might work for your
guy. Who knows, you may learn to enjoy viewing the trail from where you
have been rather than where you are going!<BG>
Bette
Suzanne Mounts wrote:
> 
> OK, I have a problem.  I have two backyard horses.  Over the 4th of July
> weekend, I took the gelding camping and left the mare at home.  I was away
> from Friday until mid-day Tuesday.
> 
> I took the mare out Wednesday and Friday without incident.  Yesterday a
> friend took the gelding out and today I took him out.  Both of us had the
> same problem.  A short distance from home he simply refused to go forward,
> spun around back toward home, started to rear if a crop was used,
> threatened to back off the trail, etc.  I got off and hand walked him for
> at least a quarter of a mile and remounted on several occasions, thinking
> if I got him a certain distance away from home his attitude might change.
> Nope.  Finally, I decided I was getting too frustrated and that I had
> better just come back.  I tried to use the return trip to school him a bit
> (stop, backup--anything but go in the away direction--I knew I was not
> going to win on that one), and stopped to do about ten minutes work in an
> arena that is five minutes from home.
> 
> I have had the gelding for over a year, and he has often gone out by
> himself, both with me riding and with others.  Never a hint of this kind of
> problem.  Was the four day separation somehow the triggering event for this
> new behavior?  What do I do now?
> 
> Suzanne
> 
> 
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-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of 16.2hh TLA Halynov
(yes, REALLY!)
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com