 |
Re: [RC] OT-spray bottle problem - mjwest02All these "spray" techniques are wonderful ideas - and they work. I had the same problem - my mare thought she would be eaten by the spray bottle. So I filled a water spray bottle and would take her out to graze. The grass is what she WANTED which was a good treat. I just started spraying the water at my side - just letting her get used to the noise - if she moved away I would continue spraying, not AT her, but with a rhythm and NOT agressive. She would ignore and eat.
I can honestly say I didn't work too diligently on this until one day last winter. It was too cold to ride, but not to cold to learn. I had her on the lead line in our indoor arena and made her stay at the end of the lead. Did the same technique and if she moved away I would follow, spraying continually, calmly (and I do not look her directly in the eye as that in itself can be very intimidating to a prey animal) It took an hour and I was able to spray around, under, over, behind and ON her. She now allows this with no problem.
The issues of spray bottles and shoeing can be addressed by the natural horsemanship methods described in these posts - even the one-rein stop/disengage hind quarters is a natural method - be it Parelli, Anderson, Lyons, (or Cowboy Ed) etc. I believe getting trust and respect on the ground with these exercises accomplishes 3 things: FIRST - Just as it implies; 2) ability to TEACH and TRAIN your horse by making them THINK and 3) LEARNING TO WATCH your horse communicate TO YOU. I am most amazed at what my mare has to say to me through her body language (AND what "I" have been telling HER through mine!)
Enjoy the RIDE!
Mary
-----Original Message----- From: Renie M burnett <renieburnett@xxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 09:34:04 -0700 Subject: Re: [RC] OT-spray bottle problem On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 08:48:35 -0700 "Carol Suggs" <limofunder@xxxxxxx> writes: > Be careful and you might want to untie your horse and just drape the > lead > rope over your arm so that the horse doesn't pull back if he is > frightened > of the sprayer. For any of this sort of stuff I suggest using at > least a 12 > foot lead and be in a good working area, where the horse isn't going > to bang > into something or hurt someone else if he gets startled. This is really important advice; DO NOT make the horse feel trapped by tieing him up! Please remember how you would feel if someone tied you to a chair and then proceeded to throw a snake on you (or mouse or whatever gives you the creeps), even if YOU knew it wouldn't hurt you. The horse is a reactive animal. Don't forget it, ever. I would take a spray bottle with warm water in it, let him see the bottle, step back, and begin spraying the air around me, in a nonchalant way, and KEEP DOING IT until the horse relaxes and stops running around and relaxes a bit. Rub him, and then do it again, each time getting a bit closer while spraying the air. Take your time, each time waiting for the horse to relax before spraying again. Remember, if you STOP spraying when the horse moves, you are teaching him that all he has to do to get you to stop spraying is to MOVE! Now, that's a case of the horse training the trainer! Be persistent and patient; When he stops moving, you stop spraying. eventually, he will realize it is no big deal. renie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|