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[RC] Question on Herd Positioning? - Jonni

I was haltering my other girl Crystal in the tree field to bring her out

to try a saddle and get some lovings today, and two of the other horses came
up so close they were almost touching us, and did something that made
Crystal rear, and I was afraid I'd be in the middle of a horse fight.<<<

Some years back, I read of a well respected Dressage rider, who was found
dead in the pasture, where she had been kicked in the head. One of the most
dangerous positions we as horse owners can put ourselves in, is in the
middle of a herd that "squabbles". When the herd is not all your own horses,
but those (it seems from the post) that belong to other people, it may be
more difficult to get a handle on the situation.

I never, ever allow my horses to bite, kick, chase, squabble, or even make
pissy faces at each other if I am nearby. I do NOT want in the middle of a
fight, as chances are, I will get hurt. They MUST learn you are the herd
leader, and to knock off the crap when you are out there with them. If it
means that you need to carry something to whack them with, then so be it. In
most cases, a crop is too short, and they could still kick you as you whack
them. Carrying a whip is usually not what I WANT to do, but I also do not
want hurt. When you go to gather your own horse, make sure you let any horse
that comes up to interfere, to back off. The trick is, to do so, without
chasing off the horse you want to catch!  All I have to do with mine, is use
that noise we all use on animals and kids...you know the one, "AAAKKKKKK",
sharply, when they do something naughty. I also pick up small rocks and
pitch them if one is being naughty.

You need to get serious, and take some control, before someone gets hurt, or
worst.

Jonni in TX (with 5 geldings, who know better than to even make stinky face
at each other when I am around)



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