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Re: [RC] [RC] Horse bonding and bad manners - Bonnie DavisFor pawing..... 1) Try hobbling front feet only. A horse will soon figure out they can't paw because of the hobbles. Once they stop. Just put a couple straps around ankles. Some horses think they have hobbles on and don't paw even though they are not hobbled. For those that figure out they just have straps on and return to pawing..... 2) Try 'kick chains'. A strap around the ankle with about 12 inches of light chain attached. When the horse paws (or kicks) the chain snaps the horse's leg. He does it to himself. Soon understands that pawing (or kicking) can hurt. Not everyone will like that idea -- I know. But have a friend who's horse could kick out barn wall faster than they could be repaired or paw a hole big enough for the trailer to fall into -- so we put kick chains on the mare. After about three hours of kicking and scaring herself with that constand snap on the leg -- she realized that kicking hurt. No one yelling at her. She just stopped. On the front legs, she quiet pawing too but then got to sniffing the chain and if it was there, wouldn't paw. Take 'em off and she'd paw. Whenever tried to the trailer, she wears kick chains. You want to talk about conversation starters..... Also, some horses will paw when tied to one side of the trailer and won't paw when tied to the other side of the trailer. Bonnie Davis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Deanna German" <finishis2win@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <cditomas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 2:05 PM Subject: [RC] [RC] Horse bonding and bad manners Anything like Quietex or Rescue Remedy is banned under AERC's "no drug" policy. I have a mare who will bond to other horses at a ride. I finally figured out that the horses she bonded to were all geldings. I've noticed that I don't have this problem if I keep company with other mare owners and if I pair up with someone on trail, I try to make sure they are riding a mare. If I ride with a gelding or if we end up leapfrogging the same gelding again and again, she'll get bonded. The worst bonding situation happens if I camp with a friend with a gelding. If that happens, tying her so she can't touch him is a big help. However, this is not a good nor is it a permanant solution. To that end, I practice at home, riding with her favorite gelding, purposely turning her in directions opposite from him, letting him run on ahead (attempting to make her maintain her gait and speed, HA! I can only imagine the heart rate since I don't use a monitor -- much like the "spook aerobics" she does) or making her leave him. From the time she was a two year old, I'd tie her away from the herd and let her be frantic. Early on, I took her camping with her favorite gelding and he left her tied to the trailer for the trail. (It's truly amazing how much they can move at the end of a lead rope.) She still gets pretty wound up if her buddy leaves her or I ask her to leave her buddy, but she's manageable and not a danger to herself or others. She knows the progression from voice reprimand to stud chain across the nose and I've been consistent throughout her life. Now, she and I agree that she can rev all she wants unless I'm attached to either reins or a lead rope. Which means she can rev when she's tied to something immoveable. And not if I come up and put a hand on her (I just lay a hand on her withers or her neck, but I don't vocally reassure her! No praise for being bad) which is the same as asking her to "stand" in my book. This mare also has a tendency to rear, and thus the chain over the nose instead of under the chin. She's never reared at an event. (Some "near rears" with me in the saddle, particlalrly at the start, but nothing dangerous to me or bystanders.) Look at the positive -- bonding can be a help! >g< It messes up a CRI and pulses, but it can also make the trot out look more lively if the buddy is walking away at the same time the horse is being trotted! There was one CTR I did that I couldn't dismount at the sponging tubs until my friend brought my mare's camping buddy over (he had gotten pulled at the halfway). That was only her third ride. Now that I've recognized the gender issue, I've been able to manage her better. I think time and practice has helped her settle into the ride routine. Having my own truck and trailer so I can camp by myself has helped. Learning who else rides mares has helped! Hating to ride a buddy bonded horse has helped because it's made me determined to modify this behavior. Just keep at it, be consistent with corrections, devise ways to train for this at home and maybe decide on a compromise solution with your horse that doesn't present a danger to anyone. Good luck! If anyone has a solution for pawing that works, I'm all eyes! I hate it, but haven't found a way to extinguish that one. Deanna ------------------------------------------------ Can anyone give me some advice as to how to manage a horse that has bonded with the horse that it came with? The vet checks are a real problem because my mare doesn't want to stand still unless her horsey friend is standing right next to her. I have tried a stud shank (she has reared up) and a lesson in good manners with my trainer prior to attending the event. Does anyone use a product like Quietex or Rescue Remedy to calm their horse? Thanks for any help that you can give me. Chris D. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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