 |
RE: [RC] Horse with fear of vet - Lysane CreeWell, i guess that's possible but she behaved fairly well with a different vet at the end of the summer, and I was still the one holding the lead rope. The vet did take a little more time to approach her. I had no way of knowing that she would behave better with this vet as she did give him a hard time on a previous visit (when he approached her quite abruptly to listen to her heart - she cow kicked and almost hit him). One time when the vet couldn't get near to give her a shot, my friend was able to give her a shot quite easily with me holding a very loose lead (I had a broken arm at the time otherwise I would have done it myself). On another occasion, when I wasn't there, she gave that vet a pretty difficult time. I understand what you are saying, but I think there is more to it than just me tensing up. The major difference I have seen in her behaviour has been with the way in which a vet approaches her (even the one she is scared of, it would seem). She has her "rep" made at the vet clinic (all of these vets work at the same clinic) so they approach her nervously, expecting her to kick or rear and be "crazy". She never behaves like this with the farrier, but he talks very quietly and he's patient and from day one gave her a chance and took his time with her. I have taught her to drop her head when I place my hand on her poll, so she was standing beside me quietly on a loose lead with her head low this weekend when I was there. Its only when that vet walked into the stall and she turned her hindquarters on him pretty quickly that I tightened up on the lead rope to get her hind end away from him. She doesn't try to kick anyone else who goes into her stall. The bad incident that she had with this specific vet was last year when she was 8 months old - she was nervous and he was in a hurry. When she kept shifting around he grabbed the lead from me and he jerked on the lead chain enough times that it cut under her chin and smacked her with the lead rope about ten times...she was so scared she fell down in her stall trying to get away - that was the incident that started the fear. I'm quite sure she has not forgotten him. She was stretching out her neck to smell him while she was in her stall and he was in the aisle talking to another boarder. I'm not against discipline, I'll dish it out myself, but the way he handled her as a baby was excessive. Especially given that she was not handled much before I bought her at 7 months old and had been handled only by me and two other women at the barn. My filly has a dominant personality to start with and will pin her ears at any stranger she doesn't want nearby. Her reaction to the unknown or to fear is to fight, unless she is given a chance to look and understand. Then she is perfectly manageable. She's 2 in April so still very young. The fact that the vet took the time to talk to her and pet her and let her settle down before doing anything like sticking a needle in her, helped alot in my opinion. I'm not saying she's cured, but its a start. Lysane and Mae West --- Karen Williams <karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I'm wondering how much of the problem is you and how much is the horse. You know the "dreaded vet" is coming the one she "doesn't like". As soon as he appears its possible that you tense up and get a tighter grip on the lead rope. You seem to have a very sensitive horse. If you tense up don't you think she will start thinking "uh oh .... something's wrong" and tenses up too? Its telling that they had no problem the next day when you *weren't* there ..... Think about it. The ride vets aren't going to be giving her shots, so why not get a stethascope and have friends and stranges around the barn practice going over her and listening to her pulse. Make a concerted effort NOT to tense up when people approach her. Karen Karen Williams Spotsylvania, VA www.mattariver.com -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Lysane Cree Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 1:26 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Horse with fear of vet I had posted to ridecamp during the summer time about my filly's fear of the vet. I had received many responses and encouraging words, so I just wanted to let you all know that I think we finally may be on the road of recovery! I have been working with her alot, playing "vet" with her (minus the injections). There is one particular vet that she was the worst with because she had a bad experience with him, but she has been suspicious of all strangers, in particular vets. This summer she cut her leg requiring stitches and she was only moderately difficult - it was a different vet. This weekend though the vet came out to the barn where I board it was the one that she is really scared of. I wanted him to take a look at her mouth as she has been off her feed. Her reaction to him was instant - she was standing quietly on a lead beside me and as soon as he stepped into her stall, she tensed right up and wouldn't stand still. He left her stall, her head went down; he came back in with the injection, up went her head. She totally got into defensive mode even though she hasn't seen him in close to a year. He was not able to treat her and no one had a twitch around, so he said he would return the next day with a twitch. I worried about this all night because I don't really care for twitches although sometimes it can be necessary, and I had to be at work. While brushing her the night before I tried to remind of the things we had been working on and poked at her neck as if to give her a needle and played with her mouth and her top lip. The barn manager called me and told me that she was an angel and didn't do anything when he gave her the shot. They didn't even have to use the twitch. Yahooooo!!!!!!!!!!! But this time the vet took the time to pet her neck and talk to her and let her calm down before trying anything. I have been telling all the vets to do this or to feed her some carrots, but they are often pressed for time and don't want to take the time. I am so proud of my filly. There is hope. Her fear is always nagging me because of course I can't even think of her doing ctr or endurance if she can't stand being near a vet. Kind of a problem!! Anyway, thats my story and hopefully things will only get better. I knew they only had to give her a chance. Lysane and Mae West ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|