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Re: [RC] Horse with uneven neck muscles & behavior problems - Barbara McCrary

I don't believe in hitting a horse for biting. What I did was bite back. I made a "beak" out of my fingers and bit instantly on the side of the neck. I was the alpha horse putting the mouthy one in his place. It surely did work. You won't be able to bite as hard as he can, but he should get the message.

Barbara

----- Original Message ----- From: "Rae Callaway" <tallcarabians@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Claire Nystrom'" <claire.nystrom@xxxxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 6:50 AM
Subject: RE: [RC] Horse with uneven neck muscles & behavior problems


Have you tried chiropractic? I have a mare that was a little extra cresty
on one side of her neck and had a habit of bolting over people when being
led and unpredictable (lazy, then explosive) under saddle. We kind of gave
up on her as a riding horse, but then one day, she started short striding in
the front. I took her to a chiro and turns out she was out of whack in many
places. The vet said that the larger muscles on one side of her neck
indicated a long-standing pain issue. She was adjusted and we started light
exercise. The change in her has been amazing. She not only became a good
riding horse, but actually seemed to like being ridden and not just at the
"dead horse walking" speed. I leased her out to a high-schooler and she
started doing LD's. This mare seemed to really enjoy that too - especially
the being able to eat hay 24/7 at a ride (her stomach is the most important
thing in the world to her!). They were looking to move up to 50's when the
girl had to back out due to school issues.
Anyway, my point is - have a chiro look at the horse. It might be a long
standing pain issue. As for the mouthy bit - I'd like to know anything you
get on that issue. I have an almost 6 year old stallion here that left my
barn when he was 6 months old to go to a trainer's. He was brought back by
his owner a couple of months ago and also doesn't seem to have been taught
much in the way of mouthy manners. He's extremely head shy, so I feel they
may have done the "hit 'em hard" method of no-bite training. He's a good
boy in other aspects, just seems to think he needs to bite us before we hit
him.

Rae
Tall C Arabians - Central


-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Claire Nystrom
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:26 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] Horse with uneven neck muscles & behavior problems

I have an 8 yo. foundation QH who has given me nothing but
difficulties since I bought him 3 years ago.  I always attributed his
problems to having been bottle raised, never disciplined until the age
of 5 and used as a stallion.  He has a sweet personality but is
extremely mouthy.  His previous owners had tried to start him under
saddle, but got bucked off every time.  I managed and have done a lot
of trail riding on him.  He has always been really sensitive about his
face and even though I've tried every bit, I have not been able to get
him to accept one so ride him in a bitless bridle.  I have had his
teeth done regularly and he does not seem to have any issues there.  I
ride him primarily with seat cues and leave his face alone (unless
there's an emergency and I have to use the reins).  After a recent
violent explosion (rodeo bucking fit), it finally dawned on me that
something might be wrong with him.  Every time he does this I have had
to go back to the beginning and re-start him under saddle.  It's a
long slow process.  He has also exploded seemingly out of the blue.
Generally, he will toss his head a little then go straight up in the
air and come down bucking violently.  Examining carefully, I found
that the muscle at the top side of his neck that joins behind the ear
is uneven-- there is a large bulge on the right side and not the left.
I am thinking that this may be the source of his problems.  I am
going to have a chiropractor come look at him and hopefully it's
fixable and he can become the sweet, kind horse he's destined to be.
I feel awful as I'm sure this problem was the reason his previous
owners were unable to start him under saddle.  I guess I just didn't
think anything could be terribly wrong with him as he hadn't been
ridden before I got him.  He is otherwise completely sound and
healthy.  I was just wondering if anyone had had problems similar to
this with their horse and what their take on the situation might be.

Thanks very much,
Carol

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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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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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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Replies
RE: [RC] Horse with uneven neck muscles & behavior problems, Rae Callaway