Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hello Nikki,
I'm sure you know this but here is a reminder anyway. The first impulse
is to turn your horse's head away from trouble but that will swing the
hindquarters of your horse around into kicking position. It is safer IMHO
to swing the nose of your horse toward trouble and back up which leaves
the other horse free to get away. If someone is having trouble
controlling their horse and starts to swing the hindquarters around
toward me I do the same to them and move ahead quickly if at all
possible.
Don Huston

At 10:16 AM 6/14/2007 Thursday, you wrote:

Hi Ranelle,
 
Thanks for your response.  Some others have suggested that Cody is suffering anxiety of some sort.  I think part of it may be his protectiveness of his pasture mate.  We ride them together and I wonder if it is not some sort of need he feels to defend the other horse or perhaps to defend his standing with the other horse.  Regardless, I want to stop it before he does decide to act on it.  I have several weeks before the next ride to try things out, so maybe I will start by trying to collect him or ask for a different gait or something to distract him.  If that does not work, I might have to try a more aggressive approach.  He is doing so good and seems to really enjoy himself on the trail, but he does get uptight when other horses are close.  Anyway, I would be interested in more information on disengaging his hind end.  I have tried that a few times, but I really don't think I am cueing him correctly.  I do have some formal training, but there is still a lot I have not learned.
 
Thanks,
Nikki


AERC M33800 / PNER 3782 / NSS 44146 

---

> From: raneller@xxxxxxx
> To: neyska@xxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [RC] Ride temper - training?
> Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:54:58 -0700
>
> Nikki,
>
> I rode a horse for someone a few times who was like that. Frankly, I
> wouldn't put up with it. This horse DID wear a red ribbon. One thing I got
> very good at, and I suggest you do as well is disengaging his hind end on
> the side closest to any horse who is passing. If you don't know how, contact
> me privately and we can talk. It is not hard, but when done right, your
> horse cannot kick. I watched this horse kick out at many horses when his
> owner rode him, but never with me as I was ready for him to even try. He was
> nasty at water..so when in my hands, he had to wait until all the other
> horses were done.
>
> Luckily I am not dating his owner anymore, so I have no reason to ride the
> horse. He was one tough horse though..and finished Tevis last year.
>
> Ranelle Rubin
> R.Rubin Consulting
>
> raneller@xxxxxxx
>
> 916-663-4140 home office
> 916-718-2427 cellular
> 916-848-3662 fax
>
>
>
>
> >From: Nikki McCormack <neyska@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Subject: [RC] Ride temper - training?
> >Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:41:55 -0700
> >
> >I have done 2 50s this year with my little Arabian and he is doing great,
> >but I am concerned about his temperament on the rides. He is constantly
> >laying is ears back and tensing up when other horses pass us or when we are
> >passing. He is not as bad at vet checks, unless a horse comes between him
> >and his pasture mate, at which time he will flatten his ears back and look
> >down right scary. At home he always gets a little riled around other
> >horses and I do not let him sniff noses as he will squeal and strike out
> >with a foreleg. At this point he has not actually struck, kicked, or
> >bitten anyone or their horse, but I am concerned that he might. He is
> >adoring with his people and generally has no issues with his pasture mate,
> >though they do play musical feed buckets in the mornings. I plan to put a
> >red ribbon in his tail just as a precaution from now on, but I am wondering
> >if anyone who has dealt with similar issues has found a way to stop this
> >behavior?
> >
> >Thank you!
> >Nikki (and Cody - the antisocial endurance horse)AERC M33800 / PNER 3782 /
> >NSS 44146
>
>

Don Huston at cox dot net
SanDiego, Calif