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[RC] since we're on the subject... - following / leading - Michelle AquilinoI will bring up a problem I've been having, and see what people's thoughts are =)
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My horse is amazing to ride alone.? We have always ridden alone in the past, and even though some days are spookier than others, she's a solid ride, and I don't worry about making it back to the trailer.? Recently, I have become more involved in local trail groups, and have even found some people to ride with occasionally who ALMOST go fast enough for me, ha ha.? Some days I would ride partially with these people, and then go off on my own.? I have noticed that when I do this, she becomes a true royal pain (well, not as bad as some, but bad enough for me to get frustrated, ha ha) once we're alone.? She is a lot spookier than normal, which I can mostly deal with, but she has become incredibly stubborn about not passing other horses when she's in this mode of thinking (last weekend, she even refused to pass a couple and their dog, would follow willingly when they started walking down the trail, but I had to get off and lead her in order to physically pass them).? It wasn't fear, just stubborness.? When we're alone, she moves out just fine (in these modes), but she sticks like glue when we finally reach (and I want to pass) other horses (or apparently even people/dogs).? I am hoping that she will be fine at an endurance ride, since she will know that other horses are in front of her (whereas in the conditioning ride situations, she's passing everyone, and doesn't know if others are ahead), but I am slightly concerned about getting "stuck" behind a horse/group, because she gets into this mode in the middle of an endurance ride =P
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The other side of this problem, is that when she gets in this mode, she tries to manipulate her way into following, and out of the leading position.? She is a dominant horse, generally relatively independent of other horses on the trail, will hold back if I ask her to, and willingly drinks from a stream even if horses are leaving and disappearing from the trail (if she's thirsty, she drinks), so the behavior has me somewhat stumped.? The only thing I can figure is that, yeah, it's easier for her to follow (and be with other horses), and her being an incredibly intelligent mare, I have accidentally shown her that she can do these things to get out of the lead, and she's simply doing what she "knows" works.? I know that I probably need to do some exercises with someone to teach her that this is NOT ok, but am not sure how to go about it, since she won't move, unless I get off and lead her past the other horses (and knowing that this won't work at an endurance ride, ha ha, since no one will be stopped as I WALK past them, ha ha).? I just really want to nip this in the bud before it gets REALLY bad (worse?? ha ha).
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Also to note, she passes FINE before she gets into this "group"/"following" mentality (I'm baffled by all of it, ha ha, truly).
-- "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"
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