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Re: [RC] laying horses down ( calling DR Q equine/equestrian psychologist) - Barbara Moultonexactly! last night I replied privately to this thread about an unforgettable bad experience I had with physically forcing/crashing a stiff and clueless western pleasure lesson mare to the ground when I was 13. I was in a group lesson, my first ride on this mare just bought by the trainer and had read up about a popular published trainer's theory that every horse can use "putting down" for an attitude ajustment for everything from killer rouge to slow thinking. ( the disrespect buzzwork wasn't used then to my knowledge in early 70's) I did it just to see if I could and if it would work. BAM I got that refused left lead on the very next try, had a great lesson and was offered a job by the trainer. I hated the whole feeling and 34 years later remember it vividly. I was ashamed even though I truely thought in my head I really believed in this theory once I actually experienced the real event even with the desired outcome, it made me feel sick. I was praised to the moon by the horse's middleaged owner ( who quoted the above mentioned author often but I bet would never have the guts to really try this) and the other half dozen kids in the class who thought it ( and I) was so cool. I still felt I had tricked and disrespected and put in physical danger a horse who I didn't know and who didn't know me. That was my first and last lesson there and I bet that mare stayed just as stiff and resisitant after I left as her problem was merely ME. I know that she was soon after sold now wonder if maybe I really messed her up. This working year has been one of my most emotionally stressful as I have been working with a new school in an educational program which looks good on paper but the inside voice keeps screaming to me THIS IS WRONG! The structured behavior program works quickly for most but NEVER for some. I believe the "some" are having serious damage done to them. The most put it together, the some go down kicking and screaming ( literally)and their mindset is not what can I learn to make this comfortable and be successful but F..YOU F..YOU F...YOU. My mind was made up to resign before second semester. My awesome boss let me know that this program is the pony she picked, based on the percentages of positive outcomes and ultimently the agency limitations. (the some need more then we can ever provide) She let me vent my concerns and frusrations and then respected me enough to transfer me to different class for next year( severe and profound disabilities with a high percentage of non-verbal teens) who will benefit from my preferred method of student led gentle teaching. My some students are those who have the least repect for any adult.(everyone of them has good reasons) They have been tyrants in their homes since toddlerhood if not before through neglect, abuse or overindulgence (the nice way to neglect). The some horses could be those with a lack of equine socialization, over desentitized to humans, slow to get the whole consequence- effect thing, or just rightously mad at the people and the world and or revenge motivated. In my other reply I mentioned seeing Craig Cameron put a horse down very gradually at the Boise horse expo. In his method it served as a trust building tool not a fear based trick. He did it from a distance at the final moments using gradual but firm pressure of a thick, soft cotton rope. Those natural events that result in a grounded horse ( the whoopsie factor)most mentally healthy horses would not associate with their rider. SOME horses who already think everything bad in the whole world is some person's fault some way probably will. This is my hypothesis anyway and my theory why I would never think throwing, tying, restraining could be a good idea to try unless you are absolutely sure of the entire past history of the horse. ( did you see the BLM video about the squeeze chute filled with grain to immobilize a new capture so they could handle the head and let the fresh off the range mustang learn people won't hurt them..it was pretty cool and different from throwing as nobody was near as the grain slowely filled but peole were near during the release process) The SOME horses are the ones that get most if not all of the bad press. ( the SOME students of mine might as well and it breaks my heart for both children and horses and their potential future victims) Barbara and Joy - one month to foaling countdown where is my lawn chair and sleeping bag? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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