[RC] OK: suggestions sought on rearing/brattiness (long) - A. PerezHaving weighed in on the side of the 'smackers' (though I don't favor use of lumber or hitting on the head), I'm happy to hear any suggestions from 'no violence' folks would deal with my TWH gelding: this horse is extremely responsive, gives to the bit well, has great self-carriage. He is great in most situations except (1) when ridden in the fields where he is boarded, near but out of sight of the herd and (2) when returning from a trail ride, heading home, when asked to stop and stand (allowing a car to pass, say) before crossing the road. In both these situations he gets bratty and threatens to rear (sometimes does). The 'keeping the hind-end moving' approach does not help much when I need to KEEP HIM STILL to allow a car to pass (no room to circle on the side of the road). I have been giving him a good whack with the crop on the side of his neck and saying 'NO!'. Usually only takes one or two whacks to get him to stand. However, another woman also rides him (I recruited her to get him out more, since he has been acting herd-bound I thought that would help), and she does not like disciplining him. When he started bucking and rearing with her while riding on the farm (scenario # 1 above), her approach was to retreat to the ring and do ring-work til he settled down. Well, the ring is in sight of the herd, so in that case I think he won (I was not present at the time). I am certain this behavior is not fear or pain induced: he is staging a temper tantrum to get his own way by trying to intimidate his rider (he is very alpha in the herd: acts like a stud, bosses all the pther horses). I don't see how ground-work/suppling excercises would help in this situation, though I'd be happy to hear suggestions along those lines. Since this other rider is hestitant to discipline him: what do the pacifists on the list suggest she do? ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://www.endurance.net/ads/seabiscuit.html 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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