Re: RC: Cruppers and breaching....

[Linda Cowles <linda_cowles@mentorg.com>]

Hi,

sweety@nni.com wrote:
> I have a mare that minds it very much. I thought it was such a good idea for
> those steep mountains back in N.Cal. {before the move East, then South to
> Texas where the biggest mountain is the manure pile} so I tried it. Ever
> seen a submissive dog with it's tail tucked so far between its legs that it
> walks like a duck? This is *loose* mind you. I tried to give her a bit of
> time for adjustment...did some longing.

Almost every time I ride one horse I pony a second, and swear to add a
3rd and 4th as soon as I get everyone to the same level of condition. As
part of my mandatory training, I prepare horses for the eventuality that
the pony rope will get caught under the tail of the horse I'm riding... 

I learned the hard way that when a horse gets goosed like this, they
clamp that tail down tight and proceed to try and kick the shit out of
the animal doing the goosing! I hate the resulting pandemonium - lashing
hooves, gnashing teeth and dust rising like smoke from a dump fire... no
fun.

If this happens, BTW, spin the horse hard towards the ponied animal to
dislodge the rope!

What I do to train horses to release the rope may help you crupper train
this horse. I take a two foot length of rope, loop it around the tail
and pull till they grab it. Then I wait till they drop it, and do it
again and again until they learn to not even grab the rope. 

Shatirr would stand there with a pissy look on his face and hold the
rope under his tail, glaring at me all the while. Sooo... I got a piece
of 3/4 inch jute, which is bristly, for those of you that aren't
familiar with it. He dropped that right away! Three more times, just to
make sure he had the idea, them back to regular rope... Damn! Drops that
rope every time! What a good boy!

It may work for you... good luck!

Linda - Gilroy CA


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