pass and I'll kick!

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

>Do you think that teaching a horse to pony another on a narrow trail, 
>such
>as a packhorse, would teach them to accept another horse that they 
>didn't
>know?  Judy

Sounds like a good way to have a wreck...ponying off of a kicker.    When
you pony, it's best to keep the extra horse's nose at your knee if
possible.  If you give him a lot of line, he may get to feeling frisky
and spin and kick you.  

I'd prefer to have a crop in my hand, rather than a ponied horse's rope. 
One with a good loud popper.  When a horse ridden by another (maybe a
friend) approaches from behind, don't wait for the kick, punish the
pinned ear, tail swish.  A good pop to the rear end and give him some
leg.  Push him forward.  Most horses slow down in preparation for the
kick.  The thing about this is, you punish BEFORE your friend is in
kicking range.

  Your horse apparently has a large area of personal space.  The horse
behind will just need to get close enough to challenge it.  He does not
need to get close enough to risk being kicked.  Kaboot has never kicked
at another horse, but he has been punished for the accompanying
gestures...maybe that's why he's never kicked. 

I ride with a friend whose horse only kicks when he is traveling with her
husband's horse.  He guards his pasture buddy.  The bad thing about this
is, when he kicks, she never punishes him.  She simply explains what made
him do it.  That's not much consolation to the person who got kicked.  A
person who wants to take this approach should start last, and finish
last...but then...what about all the people they indanger in the vet
check area?  In my opinion, anyone who makes an excuse for a kicker, is
probably the one who unwittingly  taught the horse to do it in the first
place.

Angie & Kaboot
--------- End forwarded message ----------

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