Horse help

[the_cloaked_crusader]

I'm a horse fanatic, and I just got an opportunity to help an old friend of the family with his three horses. he has an Arab/Welsh pony cross, an Arab mare, and a straight Egyptian gelding. All are very beautiful; but the owner is old and can't ride them, so they all look as though they have muscular wastage. To complicate matters, the Egyptian has gotten into the habit of tossing people. I am not sure when the next vet check is due; but in the mean time, any tips on how much to excercise and (perhaps) how to bring the gelding around to being ridden would be helpful. I am only just getting to the point where I am confident in the saddle, but my riding skills aren't up to trying the Egyptian yet. I'd like to make friends with him, however.

Has anyone read Pat Parelli's "Natural HorseManShip"? Would it be useful in this situation?
I appreciate the help.

best of regards
the_cloaked_crusader

 

[lilchristiangurl]

tie one of those sticks with a carrot hanging down from it
(i no almost nothing about horses)

 

[LunarSparkle]

Some join up techniques might be helpful in this case, unfortunately I know little about them. But I do believe a lot can be achieved on the ground/in the stable.

Is there anyone more experienced you could ask to help you out with them? - as you really don't want to dent your confidence by having to deal with a difficult horse without the neccessary experience.

Kelly Marks has a VERY good book called 'Perfect Manners' out, I think she is one of Monty Robert's pupils, she is English though so not sure if you can get it in the US - try Amazon perhap??

Best of luck with them, keep us updated and don't be afraid to ask for help!

 

[Tiff^_^]

I'd start them all off on a lunge. It's a simple but effective form of exercising and It will help build up their muscles, and they'll get used to being handled. Increase their work outs each time until you are up into the saddle.
It might be wise to have someone more experienced ride the straight egyptian, but if you think you can handle him, make sure you hold on tight lol and never let him win! You could try gradual steps in letting him get used to you, such as lunging frequently and then try saddling him up and just walking, and then next time around, trot and progress slowly like that until he is comfortable with you. I suggest doing this in a ring or a small paddock at first (if possible). Just so that if he plays 'silly buggers' and tries to throw you off or bolt, he's got nowhere to run to.
I hope this helps I'm horse mad too and i enjoy working with them.

 

[the_cloaked_crusader]

I am trying to get the Egyptian to respect me to start with (I don't let him push me around when he wants his carrots, etc) and he seems to like me OK. I will definately look up the literature mentioned . . . Unfortunately, I don't knowanyone who would be willing or able to help out.

Yeah, I have a friend who's going to teach me how to lunge, and I'm going to try Parelli's 7 games with all of them (just so he won't assume I like him more than the others and stop respecting me . .. )

thanks for the advice! I still need a review of Parelli's book . . .

best of regards
the_cloaked_crusader

 

[the_cloaked_crusader]

Update: Now the Egyptian Arabian has decided to test my authority by pushing me around using his shoulder. I tried pinching him to make him back off, but it didn't work, and staring him down just makes him turn his head away. I'm going to try the round pen method with him, but in case he tries it again, does anyone have a good way to tell him I won't be pushed around? I've got a pinching method to try, and I can give him a punch.

When horses make their hierarchy, how do they decide who's boss?

best of regards
the_cloaked_crusader

 

[encouraging loves animals]

When he pushes you around make sure you chase him off rg Stand tall square shoulder & make him run around you.

 

[the_cloaked_crusader]

OK, sounds good. I will do that.

 

[born2run]

Ah...a pushy horse! That sounds famaliar! What I've had a lot of luck with is simply treating them like they treat each other. I am blessed with long legs, so I make sure there is plenty of slack in the lead line, then, when they step into my space I turn around and kick them good. Sounds cruel, but it worked wonders with my mare. She knew right away what I was trying to tell her, and started respecting me. I had tried driving her away, but she simply thought I was lunging her and moved to doing that. I wasn't getting anywhere with that particular horse using that method, although I would've with my Appy. With Sierra there is so much fear involved of humans that I have a thin line to walk with regards to too much force.
Regarding these horses, I'm a big believer in Pat Parelli. Read his book, play the seven games. They establish respect and trust. Then I'd move onto lunging, but only after these two are firmly ingrained. Good luck!

 

[the_cloaked_crusader]

born2run--Ooh, I like that idea. I don't think it's cruel, considering htat horses do it to each other all the time, and their hooves are a lot harder than my boots . . .

best of regards
the_cloaked_crusader

 

[GooglyMelsiePoogly]

It helps if you longue a horse work your way up ya know? You need to lunge the horse every single chance you get I mean like once a day if you can if not then as often as possible. You keep lunging the horse until you feel confident enough to ride it and the horse should work out all its bucks. If you feel safer riding hooked to a lunge line then get somebody to lunge the horse with you on it back (on a saddle of course). The one thing I have learned about Arabs is they are very energetic I know I own one. She used to buck and everything as well. Another thing is have the vet check all of their teeth because they have certain teeth their what I call fangs that can grow into their gums which can cause major pain which leads to beahavior problems. Plus you yourself need to do excersises as well and get your legs strengthened if they are not already. You need to lunge all of the horses if you plan on riding them all. Remember to be confident in yourself but one thing is to never fully get to comfortable or to self confident that you lead yourself to mistakes like riding with no reins or stirrups or riding with nobody outside with you stuff like that. Not that you can't ever ride without stirrups or reins you just have to work yourself up to that point don't make the mistake of thinking once you have the horse subtle that you can do what you want with it. Remember to always wear your helmet lots of people don't but that can cause serious head trama. And I think that is all I have to say for now if you need anymore help feel free to PM me I am a whole brain filled with horse facts even though it doesn't seem like it I have been riding for only 6 years. Oh one more thing always study anything you are gonna be working with so study horses in books computers and everything. Many other riders or owners of horses will tell you different things and you have to choose for yourself what works best. Hope I helped. PM me if ya need anything else questions info ect. I'll always be here to help ya.
~Meleah a.k.a The Cuteness

 

[GooglyMelsiePoogly]

Sorry adding onto my other post..... If he is a pushy horse you push back and smack him don't be afraid to do so you have to make him respect you. So if he pushes you smack him on like the nose not his eyes or anything though and he won't really feel it if you hit him on the shoulder because horses have tuff hide.

 

[the_cloaked_crusader]

Meleah:

That sounds good. I have a friend coming over on Friday; she's bringing her longue line, which has a chain on it, so that should make it a little easier. Yeah, I'm going to have to ask their owner when their next vet checkup is scheduled; bad teeth could be part of the problem.

best of regards
the_cloaked_crusader

 

[GooglyMelsiePoogly]

Yep. Horses need yearly floating of their teeth. When we first bought my horse her fangs were growing into her gums which caused her to lift her head and be very antzi. Of course ya can't blame the horse I'd be antzi too if my teeth were growing like that because they do have tender teeth. Another thing is once you get on the horse use a crop its a short riding wip and there is much debate if this technique is cruel to the horse or not but it isn't. The crop was made to make noise when you pop the horse to scare the horse and get it going it doesn't hurt them. But remember to wack the horse on the rear not on the shoulder with the crop and hit pretty hard because if it is just a little love tap they won't hear the noise or feel the wip. And if any of the horses have problems moving out fast enough and get lazy use riding spurs they have smooth metal tips and you only tap the horse lightly with them because if you jam them into the horses side it can really hurt them. Just some more suggestions hope I helped ya.
~Meleah

 

[born2run]

One thought to consider when lunging. In some cases it does "not" work. It can turn the tables and simply make a horse hotter. I'm all for lunging when basic training is underway, after that, I forget it. They find it boring, I find it useless. Again, there are a huge difference of opinions and training options out there. Find what works for you and your horse! Good luck!

 

[GooglyMelsiePoogly]

That is true born. I started out lunging my mare until she didn't need it no more. Once you see the horse is improving and doesn't act up then you don't need to lunge no more. Very good suggestion born.
~Meleah

 

[I'mHis]

One thought to consider when lunging. In some cases it does "not" work. It can turn the tables and simply make a horse hotter. I'm all for lunging when basic training is underway, after that, I forget it. They find it boring, I find it useless. Again, there are a huge difference of opinions and training options out there. Find what works for you and your horse! Good luck!

That pretty much sums up what I was going to say. I lunge my 3 year old, because it helps him settle down and puts his attention on me. But it is pretty much useless on my older one, he already pays attention and is a waste of time. Good luck with the horses!!!