[RC] kicking problem..possible solution - Jonni JewellOK, I have solved an issue with a horse that would charge down another pasture mate and try to bite him. This was more than the "get out of here, I don't like you, I'm going to chase you off now". This was ears pinned SO deep in the mane, full speed charge, mouth open, very nasty I want to make you wish you never got within miles of me. The intent was to really do harm to the other horse. (basic pasture pecking order maneuvers I can handle..trying to do REAL harm, I don't) So, I got out my training collar I had for my dog. Yes, it is a shock collar. It has a remote control, that you push the button, and it sends the "zap". Mine has a range of 2 miles. I placed it on the horse by attaching to his halter, though now I have a collar that is long enough, I could have put it around the neck, just like a dog collar. I stood back, out of the way, watching the horses. I had put them in a small pasture, where I could monitor them easily, and where I knew the horse would for sure take off after the other to bite. Sure enough, he spun and charged, and as I saw his mouth open to bite, I sent the signal, and he got zapped. (less than an electric fence zap, but enough to REALLY get his attention) He stopped in his tracks. I waited around, and he went for the horse again, and again, he got zapped just as his mouth was getting ready to bite. For this horse, that was it. Has not done it again. He has done some snarly faces, pinned ears, but has never really charged down the other horse. The problem with using a training collar is you need to be there each time to send the signal, each time the animal does the unwanted behavior, until the behavior stops. Also, I did not want the zap related to me. I want them to come to the conclusion that when they start to bite, or kick, they get this zap, and to not do that. Have an e-mail friend who was at wits end with her mule, who was bent on killing dogs. She used the training collar on the mule, when he went for a dog, got zapped, and I think she said it too only a couple times, and now he is good with the dogs in his pen. Use this information for what it is worth to you. It may or may not work for the kicking horse. You would have to put the collar on the horse, then turn it in with the horse it dislikes so much, and wait around to see if it goes to kick it. I personally would zap it when it turned its rear to the other, before it fired off the first kick. When the thought process is being formed. I would have never considered using these on horses, until I got one for the dog, and saw its benefits. (she is a large dog, that plays rough with the small dog, by grabbing at the neck....not anymore!) There is also a point if the possible injury and vet bills, or worst yet, a broken leg is worth having a horse that kicks so bad around the other horses. Sometimes a tough decision is needed to be made. Good luck with the kicker. Jonni =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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