Re: Need help with panicky horse

["Visions of the Wind" <wind@visionsofthewind.com>]

Since no on else has mentioned this so far....

When I had a mare that would pull back, I went to the hardware store and
bought a 30' length of soft cotton rope and put a bull snap on one end. I
attached this to my mares unbreakable double layer 1" nylon halter and then
wrapped it twice around a smooth wooden hitching post (horizontal round
rail) and dropped the rest of the rope on the ground behind the rail. Then
we all sat back to watch. What followed was totally hilarious and NEVER
dangerous! The mare got bored and sat back on the rope, but instead of
hitting resistance, the rope unwound a little and she ended up sitting on
her butt like a dog! :-D Startled, she stood up and stood still for a while.
Then she tried again, but kept her butt of the ground. She pulled back and
the rope had just enough resistance that it started to unwind SLOWLY! She
pulled and the rope unwound a bit, and then she stopped with a totally
perplexed look at the now 15' long rope. When she stood still, I went and
walked her closer to the rail and rewound the rope. She repeated this twice
more, and then gave up completely! She still *thinks" about pulling back
(you can see her little brain humming!) but she doesn't anymore!


Stephanie McCray
Golden, CO
wind@visionsofthewind.com
http://www.visionsofthewind.com/vic.htm
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