Post Office Box 89, Surrey Downs, South Australia.
5126
Phone: +(61) 8 82515250
DIRECT DEPOSIT DETAILS
Account Name: J. O'leary
Bank: Bank West
Account: 0064862
BSB No: 305-122
Registered Vets, Chiro's, Pysios, EFA Coaches, horse
Dentists free when producing paid up, valid and
current Membership papers.
PERTH CLINIC (update)
Now two days at Sunninghill.
HORSES
BOOKED OUT
Fence sitters ok.
***************
PONY SAVAGED BY TWO PIT BULLS
My
sympathies to the little Horse that couldn't be
saved by the Vets. This is why I own a Shot Gun and
are not afraid to use it. Grrrrrrr.
*********************
THE GAMES THEY PLAY
Just
going on with the love me/hate me thread on
Cyberhorse, I must admit I am interested in the true
identity of the old HQ and is the old HQ really the
old Rogilla. Are both of them a Professional, Career
Trainer from Victoria and why would such a person
want to have a crack at me as I know none. Here is
the interesting little exchange :)
HQ Fri May-23-08 09:41 AM
Member since Oct 08th 2003
207 posts
#37. "RE: John O'Leary"
In response to Reply # 36
Without getting into the discussion about whether
the O'Leary's are good or bad at what they do I have
to respond to Sparrow's post.
The fact there are pages and pages of free advice on
the web site does make HP altruistic and generous.
The web site is advertising and John is smart enough
to know that the best way to advertise is to get
people to keep coming back to your web site.
How
else could he fill a clinic in Perth so easily when
most people there have never seen him work outside
of his web site!
He does this with his pages of advice, opinions,
response to letters and occasional video clips. His
generosity is a business decision. There is nothing
wrong with this, but we should see it for what it is
and not paint him to be the patron saint of
horsemanship. Most other trainers are just as free
with their information, but are not smart enough to
make themselves so accessible as to have such a
large web site.
***************
LisaL
so my questions are?
is HP the same person as HQ and are they the same
person as rogilla? or are they different people?
**************
Midnight
ROFL @ Lisa!!!
I did not want to ever comment on this thread.
Perhaps what HQ had to say about HP needed to be
said, but not by HQ. Unprofessional.
Have never seen HP knock another trainer/breaker
personally in this fashion.
And Mrs. HP is a lovely rider ... well done on a
beautiful mare.
*****************
HQ Sat May-24-08 07:24 AM
Member since Oct 08th 2003
207 posts
#52. "RE: John O'Leary"
In response to Reply # 51
I am confused.
Where did I ever say anything
negative about HP? Did HP claim his web site was a
resource from the generosity of his heart and an act
of altruism? Not to my knowledge. Other people were
claiming this and I just stated the obvious. My
criticism is not of HP, but of those that make
claims about him.
*******************
So now
I am intrigued. The old HQ must live with me and
know all about my entire life as he is an expert in
my affairs. I note that he is suddenly running for
cover in fear of being "outed' and he is back
pedaling at a million mile per hour.
So to
answer your question HQ, we conduced a Clinic in
Perth last October I think it was and this up coming
Clinic was booked out in two days by 80% of the same
people who went to the last one, but you would have
known that, wouldn't you. Have some guts Man. Stop
hiding behind 'screen names' and above all, going to
water now reflects poorly on your Character. You are
nailed and you were wrong. So HP 2, Forumites 0
So to
my many spies out there in never never Land, I would
really, really like to know who the old HQ is. Is he
Rogilla on another Forum and is he the Trainer in
Victoria that I have sent 20 clients to in the last
two years? Off the record.
Midnight, thanks for your kind comments about my
wife. I am a keen observer of Dressage Judges, their
knowledge, ability and impartiality above all. I was
most impressed with your Judging performance and
impartiality at Naracoorte and thank you. You even
had an effect on your centre Judge as she had a
brain transplant yesterday :) Regards
***************
22nd May, 2008
NASTY PASTY HAS
ANOTHER SHOT
Sadly,
for Mrs. HP and now for another of our States top
Rider's, Kerrie Grivell, the same Woman who lied
about me on a Forum last week, saying:
Bella
Fri May-16-08 02:00 PM
Charter member
961 posts
#21. "RE: John O'Leary"
In response to Reply # 20
Was kinda funny the other day when Mr HP couldnt get
his pony on the float out at the dressage!
and
she now says this:
Bella
Thu May-22-08 04:48 PM
Charter member
961 posts
#30. "RE: John O'Leary"
In response to Reply # 29
pfffttt Sparrow hope your not saying its the tall
poppy syndrome here! lol! Thats the funniest thing
ive heard of, you see he may be a good breaker in
SA, but there are a handful of good breakers here
with a few being exceptional. Lynda is a lovely
dressage rider im sure, pretty sure the first real
success was with a horse called Editorial which
Kerrie actually got to FEI and then the Olearys
bought it. Now im sure they are great with horses,
but the way MR HP ponces around as though his way is
the only way gets alot of peoples backs up!
Well of
course the Woman surely doesn't know us and here is
the proof. Basically everyone in Dressage in SA
knows that Kerrie never sold Editorial and she in
fact took him to the Grand Prix Level before
retiring him.
The
Horse that "The O'Learys' :) purchased was Kerries
second Horse which she had sold to a third party and
then I purchased him for $300 one dark night as he
was on the way to the Doggers. He was at the
Elementary Level and in fact Mrs. HP won the Medium
at the Adelaide Royal on him 12 months later and
then took him to FEI and all the way to Grand Prix
as well. Here he is. Take a look Madam. Advanced is
not FEI :)
So
Madam Olivia who the Hell ever you are, I suggest
you now go apologize to my wife and Kerrie Grivell
as well They are both lovely Ladies and
accomplished Riders' You are telling lies about both
of them. If it makes you feel good and your Soul
needs it that badly, write that I am a "Mongrel
Bustud" of the highest order and you can live in
peace then but don't lie about Professional as you
are attacking their integrity, credibility and
therefore income.
Perhaps
you should change your screen name from the same
name as Mrs. HP's Horse to .....let's
say......Gazette
Is this
you or are you lying about this too?
Bella Sat Apr-26-08
09:58 AM
Charter member
961 posts
#1. "RE: Information on my horse needed"
In response to Reply # 0
Id say she would be by Aachen with the A name, try
ringing Klattes in Belcam at QLD, although they did
have a fire at one stage and lost all horses regos!
But he might remember? Or you could try that equine
search in horse deals? Goodluck
www.voltairepeformancehorses.page.tl
My
Black Horse has been off work as he pulled up sore.
Got shoes on him today and went for a ride out this
evening, twilight time with the car headlights of
the peak home traffic. He was a brave Boy and I got
my first canter. Very nice. Now I can get about him.
He will make a top Eventer. I don't meet many. The
last one just got pipped in the Sydney
International. He actually lugged me across to two
different water hazards to go in them, the second
coming back from a forward trot to a walk and veer
to the water. Wouldn't that be good ey? Jet Black
too :) I think he will be sold by the Breeder.
*************
HORSE PEOPLE KILLED
Her co-accused had admitted being involved in
the kidnapping of the couple, but denied any
involvement in the murder of Gregory Hosa and
Kathryn McKay or the plan to force their remains
into 44-gallon drums and set them alight in the
Tomerong State Forest on January 28, 2006.
The double murder trial of Kim Leanne Snibson, 37,
and Andrew Wayne Flentjar, 33, began in Wollongong
yesterday with both accused charged with murder and
detaining Mr Hosa, 56, and Ms McKay, 44, in company
and inflicting actual bodily harm.
The Crown prosecutor, Paul Leask, told the jury that
Snibson recruited Flentjar and Stacey Lea-Caton to
help her in a violent plan. Lea-Caton, 28, pleaded
guilty in November to aiding and abetting murder and
was sentenced to 22 years' jail. The court heard he
agreed to give evidence in the trial of Snibson and
Flentjar.
Mr Leask said Snibson asked Lea-Caton to bash the
couple.
"He was persuaded to assist Snibson because she had
told him Mr Hosa and Ms McKay had videotaped her
performing sexual acts and she, Kim Snibson, wanted
to get back at those two people," he said.
Mr Leask said despite a search of the Hosa-McKay
home and farm, no videotape was found.
Snibson's barrister, Ian McClintock, SC, said his
client did not kill or kidnap anyone, nor had she
intended to. He said the couple had gone to
Snibson's home at Nowra Hill to discuss her horses,
which had been agisted at the couple's nearby farm,
Champagne Shires. In an ensuing argument, "Lea-Caton
struck a blow to Mr Hosa", he said.
Mr McClintock said Lea-Caton sold his evidence to
reduce his punishment. The court heard Snibson
feared for her safety after Lea-Caton struck Mr Hosa
and she became involved in the cover-up.
Flentjar's counsel, John Stratton, SC, said his
client freely admitted he was guilty of overpowering
the couple, but no more.
The trial continues today before Justice Terrence
Buddin.
****************
LETTERS OF THE DAY
Hi
Joanne Flood has supported Lead The Way, a campaign
to ban the sale of animals in pet shops. PLEASE make
a difference and get behind Sydney Lord Mayor Clover
Moore's Bill in Parliament. Click the link below.
A lot
of the principals the inventor is trying to utilize
Wendy, are based on fact as most Horse Trainers know
that tying horses high is far safer than low where
most Horse Float tie up points exist and he has a
point about getting them away from the Float, for no
other reason but to at least stop them from eating
the thing :) However, like any involved set up such
as this one, nothing is perfect. Could a Horse get
it's head stuck in the V, what happens when one does
break away with the metal fitting and lead flying or
what if the arm came away when a Horse reared up and
accidentally smashed it? So good idea based on logic
but even the Man said that Horses do get in trouble
at Floats.
************
Hi John,
I need to float a mare and foal this weekend to move
them to a new home where they will receive better
care than they are currently getting.
The situation is urgent so I don't have the luxury
of time...
The foal is 6 months, leads well but has never been
tied up or floated
before (Grrrr). I use your methods for floating all
horses and will do so in this case also. Obviously I
am concerned about securing the foal in the float.
Could you please offer some advice on tying the foal
/ or not?
Kind regards,
Asher
Firstly
Asher, you really can't be attempting to train the
Foal any method using whips whilst Mum is along or
any system when it comes to that. We find it is just
a matter of getting them both going together,
definitely no division as you want the foal next to
Mum and you DO NOT want to attempt putting Foal in a
separate Bay. If your Float has Barn Doors I
think they are called, the high back one's that
totally close a Float where a loose Foal would not
attempt to jump out, loose is fine but I would never
risk any Horse or Foal where the back is open as you
can never predict what may happen with wild animals.
Many have been over the back and on the road.
However, the Foal doesn't tie up and now is not the
time to be trying to give it a tie up lesson for the
Foal will actually be able to move backwards due to
size and therefore pull back and go down where a
full sized Horse actually can be tied up when they
don't tie because they cannot go backwards and never
meet the end of the rope therefore. So the old
story, yet another one to put my case about the
irresponsibility of not Halter Breaking Foals as
Babies. Regards
*******************
Hi John
good to hear you are getting rain down there :)
With Chelle and her injured horse, mine did the same
thing playing over a fence (we won't get into that,
lets just say I was not happy with the place he was
agisted as the fences obviously weren't suitable for
a horse! The agistment paddock was, but they decided
to change paddocks for whatever reason) My guy
didn't cut into the hoof, so doesn't sound as bad as
Chelle's. However, he did a pretty good job. I just
wanted to let Chelle know that, if her horse starts
chewing at the bandage, the horse may have injured /
severed the nerves as well (they travel close to the
blood vessels). Our vet gave my boy an injection
that deadens the nerve and he was fine after that.
Also, for Carly with the same problem :) what sort
of bell boot are you using? I have had good success
with the neoprene ones. I figured they'd be softer
on the wound than the hard rubber. After my guy
performed a bit of surgery recently and cut off a
chunk of scar tissue THROUGH the boot, I am looking
to get neoprene boots with hard leather outers. I
think that should solve the problem. Given the
injury occured in Dec 06 and that was the first time
he has knocked it, he isn't doing too bad really.
The other tip I have is that the tubigrip bandages
are absolutely fantastic for these injuries. I used
one as a sock under the bell boot so it didn't rub.
You can get them from the chemist - 1m for around
$12. You can wash and reuse, so they are pretty
economical.
K
Thanks
K.
********************
Hi John,
The horse was broken in by ------ who had the horse
for 6 weeks, we bought her home and our little Jack
russel dog spooked her and she banged her leg on the
yard gate and came up in a splint which took 10
weeks to settle, we have had her to Jim Johnson our
Chiropractor, as she was always disuniting in canter
and would lash out with both back legs until she got
it right, Jim looked her over and couldn't find
anything really wrong with her to warrent that
behaviour, he suggested a Vet look at her, as the
splint was taking it's time to heal we took her to
Elizabeth Herbert, who x-rayed her leg and then
looked at the disuniting problem again she found
nothing wrong and believed it was only maturity.
After the splint was settled, she went to ------ who
gives my daughter lessons and ----said that she
bucked the first time into canter quite badly but if
she kept her forward she got better, she was there
for 4 weeks and -----( daughter ) could ride her
after this time, ----- wouldn't have sent her home
unless she was quiet enough for---- to ride. She was
home a week and was being a idiot in her yard after
some rain and slipped pulling a muscle under her
chest, and was stepping quite short with her front
right leg, once she was better she was to be bought
back into work with trail riding and road work etc
no circles, which is why she didn't go back to -----
as she doesn't have the time to road ride, and she
was to go back for lessons once bought back into
work, anyway the people didn't road ride her but
tried to do circles anyway and and now we have a
problem as she is rearing, as for rearing into
canter, I have kept her in our round yard where
-----was able to control her better, she was unhappy
about being ridden at first but has been quite happy
to trot around for-----, she asked for canter and
the horse just ran at the trot for a circle then
stopped dead and went straight up. it scared
-----and she hasn't been on her since, but would
like to try again just doing some trot work. I have
continued to lunge her, but have nowhere to go from
here. I don't believe that she was rearing with
------ as she would have told us. I'm not entirely
convinced that she is just being a naughty horse,
there may be some degree of frustration and being
rider shy as well although I am well a where that
rearing is a very nasty vice. She has been over, she
reared in her yard at pony Club and went over, I'm
not sure what happened I think she may have slipped
but I'm pretty sure she hasn't been over with a
rider on. This horse has the sweetest nature on the
ground but is very nappy towards other horses and
will fret if left at the float etc on her own, again
I think a maturity problem and lack of exposure. Do
you think you can fix her, and if yes where are you
situated and what do you charge. other wise I will
let her go as a brood mare as she has very good
breeding.
Regards
Barb
I have
emailed you with prices and location Barb. I feel
some more investigation is warranted with this
little Horse.
***********
Hi John, no questions today, just a little story.
Yesterday we did the 5km track around the farm after
a week off – what a smart-‘Alec’ he was – usual
dancing and prancing and jig-jogging in that special
OTTB way, so, no fun, we got home, still screaming
for his mate (prat) I could have given him away
right then (yes, I know, but who would want him!) So
then we did the 1.5km track a couple of times – I
see a glimmer of hope – so we have another go at the
5km track– this time we’re able to canter without
threat to life - cantered off and on for 3 km or so
– gooood boy… walked the last km home – not one bit
of jig jog, no calling out – still a nice spring in
his step though! – I can live with that!! Wouldn’t
sell him for anything in the world! I love my
horse!!!
Hope you’re having a good time too.
Kindest regards, Nat.
PS I turned 39 years old last week and for the first
time in my life I have galloped on my horse – yep,
that very same OTTB – (no small thanks to you for
that either!) Now all my dreams have come true.
XXX
Gotta
hand it to you OTTB tragics :) You all deserve
medals for Bravery.
Well done and yes, I am having a good time. My big
Black fulla is licking me now and pulling on my
shirt ......don't tell anyone :)
***************
I ride. That seems like
such a simple statement. However as many women who
ride know it is really a complicated matter. It has
to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do
things you might have once considered out of reach
or ability. I have considered this as I shovel
manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait
for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change
a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the
freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down
to the business of drinking a
cold beer after a long ride.
The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride
calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication.
Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'. It's a
sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing
my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride
a real horse. Most of the women I ride with
understand the meaning of 'the dickness'. It's not a
sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in
some ways, who we are as women and human beings.
I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I
haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle,
whistle up my dog and I ride. I breathe in the air,
watch the sunlight filter through the trees and
savor the movement of my horse. My houlders relax. A
smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my
ball cap down and let the real world fade into the
tracks my horse leaves in the dust.
Time slows Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like
fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down
the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume
to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and
the movement of the leaves become my focus. My
saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand
softens with the warmth.
I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of
all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade
into a freezing lake, race a friend through the
manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my
heart in my chest. Other days just the act of
mounting and dismounting can be a real
accomplishment. Still I ride, no matter how tired or
how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse
related injuries hurt. I ride.
And I feel better for doing so.
The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've
ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most
part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers
full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams.
The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on
the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the
empowerment and joy in my heart.
I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I
consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie
amongst the bunch. We haul 40ft rigs, we back into
tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up
camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We
understand and love our companions, the horse. We
respect each other and those we encounter on the
trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you
also shovel,
fill, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough
and you travel with out makeup or hair gel. You do
without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when
you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse
while you dreamed of riding a real one. Now you're
there. I ride.
by Julia Drake
warm regards
Michelle (Dell) Carter.
Very
touching Michelle. Thanks
*****************
21st May, 2008
One of
those days today. My black Horse pulled up a little
tender as he had white hooves and needs shoes on
before I ride him again. Got the farrier coming
tomorrow. The good news is that I have him now and
that makes me very happy as I didn't want to
experience his leaping prowess :) He is nibbling by
Hat now as I pick up his yard so we are bonding.
DO YOU RIDE THEM OR
ARE YOU A PASSENGER
Many
people that we meet and see could be described as
"Passengers" on Horseback and they get away with it
via the good graces of their Horses. Sort of
like....."One word from me and the Horse does
precisely what it likes" :) In fact, the majority of
people who come to grief off Horses, fall into the
category as "Passengers" and such a ridden style
virtually ensures one's demise sooner or later.
A case
in point happened with Mrs. HP this morning when a
Pupil wasn't demanding enough when a Horse wouldn't
come around and so sort of allowed it to go over a
small but scary jump that happened to be there as
the flat work session was on the show jump arena.
The Horse jumped too big as it was a scary little
one and Rider ended up on ground as a result.
Passenger rather than taking control.
Then in
the very next lesson, Lady was riding her Horse
around arena, saw one of my Trucks come onto the
property, the Horse was round and head down. She
took the legs off and allowed the Horse to look up,
thus giving the Horse the excuse to be worried and
scoot forward. The results of being a passenger.
So the
message is, those that ride their Horses through
things, stronger in times of worry than even normal,
do not suffer behaviors that could become negative
to the Rider. The Horse is strongly ridden and
demanded to go where and how the Rider wants, 100%
of the time. So this is one of the reasons why the
"Nervous Rider' has so much trouble and have more
accidents than the Confident Riders'. We have
destiny in our hands when we ride Horses and if we
allow it to slip, we often end in trouble.
**************
Got my
new Toy today but I won't bore you Girls :)
***********
Now
caught 60,000 litres of rain water. The Horses won't
know themselves. I saw the poor Riverland people on
TV last night. Walking off their Land because of no
flow down the River. It is a National disgrace that
Mega Irrigation projects growing Rice in this
Country are allowed to continue.
**************
LETTERS OF THE DAY
Hi John,
Just quickly browsing over your site and saw
Chelle’s email about her horse injuring his coronet
band on the fence.
My horse is also currently recovering from the same
injury, although his was nowhere near as serious as
Chelle’s, no spurting blood!!
What do you suggest to prevent recurrence of this
injury? My horse injured his heel around 4 years ago
(before I got him) and every month or so will
re-open the old scar. 99% of the time it is from
pawing the fence.
Bell boots don’t seem to help whatsoever. This
month’s effort has been particularly nasty and is
taking some time to heal.
In an ideal world, there would be laneways between
all adjoining horses’ paddocks, and OH the DREAM of
the lowest wire being 2 foot high!!…. Oh well, one
day when I build my own place I guess!
Chelle – just so you know, when my horse initially
did his injury some years back, he was bandaged up
for months, and is now sound as a bell – has never
worried him at all (except for the scar being
obviously very soft and prone to opening). But, it’s
never affected his movement or ability to work.
Cheers,
Carly
The
only thing left then Carly is hobble training.
Remove the natural 'flight response' and delete the
rip, tear and pull back and then hopefully they just
stand and wait for you like the hundreds of cases we
have happily witnessed. The last two being our
Stallion with his coronet hung over the top rail of
a high gate with his other leg in midair of course
and he just hung there until I drove home, got the
spanners, removed the gate fittings and dropped the
gate. The following day, teasing and most unlike
him. he hung up again over my round yard gate and
stood motionless whilst I got beneath him and lifted
his entire front end off it. Just like a Baby :)
Here is 'young aureo' who thinks she is tied up when
hooking a leg in simple 29mm dripper hose hahahaha.
LOL. The power of hobble training :) I think I said
two foot six inches but if I didn't, that is what I
meant. That is the answer and that is common sense.
Of course you could hook him up to E.T.S.A. That
would discourage him :) I love zapping horses. :)
******************
Hi John,
Firstly, I have to give you a very big thank you for
the invaluable knowledge that you share with fellow
horsy types via your website. I have taken on much
of your advice with my new 13yo TB (who developed a
multitude of issues two weeks after arriving at his
new home) and have had a lot of success very quickly
after following the techniques you have described
and ditching the dangerous halters and lead ropes I
have always used in the past. THANK YOU!!!
Now back to my latest problem…. My horse rears when
being handled from the ground or tied up. I have had
all the vet issues checked and all is ok with his
teeth, back etc therefore I am now assuming that he
is simply sensitive to poll pressure or maybe just
testing me out. I also think that he may be starting
to feel a little better now that I have him on good
quality, cool feeds, vit & min supplement and have a
wonderful farrier helping with the very bad flat
feet that he arrived with. He had a moderate body
condition score when I got him and, after a month, I
now have him up to a good body condition more suited
to a pleasure horse. So it may be that this excess
energy he has been displaying was due to him feeling
a little flat with the lack of energy he was
receiving from the previous owner’s feeding regime,
whereas he now feels really good and is showing his
true temperament.
I am using a rope halter and Parelli style lead
rope, which has given me greater control and keeps
me out of the danger zone, but I am unsure how to go
about getting him to accept poll pressure. This
seems to be the main cause of his rearing and
raising his head when bridling etc. I made the
mistake of trying him in a bitless bridle and even
though I tested it for a good 15 minutes by driving
him from the ground with long reins, the quiet, lazy
plodder I thought I had taken on turned into the
psychotic demon that most people believe TB’s to be
and reared back on top of me once I was in the
saddle! I have now gone right back to trying to
re-establish some ground manners, confidence and
respect with lots of leading exercises, gently
applying pressure on the poll regularly in an
attempt to de-sensitize, massaging the poll area
firmly when grooming etc but I’m still not getting
very far.
Do you have any suggestions to help re-train him to
accept pressure on the poll without throwing his
head or rearing? Obviously your method with the
rolled up newspaper, while working very well from
the saddle, is a little difficult when his head is 4
feet out of my reach and I am too busy trying to
avoid flailing hooves! Short of pulling on the
halter to try and bring him back to the ground, I
have no idea as to how to go about this. Any advice
you can offer would be greatly appreciated, as I am
beginning to lose my nerve a little bit, which is
only going to make the problem worse.
Kindest regards,
Jodie
Hi
Jodie, the many tales of the OTTB ey? Many of these
Horses are broken in very badly and the best
foundation stones of the good Horses are just not on
them and even if they were, the habit of leading
them by the 'beard' and in anti rearing bits lol,
ensures that is exactly what they do do :)
THE ANTI-REARING BIT. NECESSARY OR GIMMICK
You
confuse me a little however, when you say the Horse
rears whilst tied up. Obviously then the Horse is
tied too long or not to a tie up rail as such as we
tie horses up so that they can't rear. That doesn't
mean they get tied too short, just right for their
height versus the height of the rail and these
measurements are precise. Like this:
However, your Horse would fit the dangerous category
and whilst they can all be re-educated, great
dangers await you with the Horse with this profile.
Firstly, if you intend to tie him solid, you should
have a neck strap on him. Like this:
This is the one I sell. Then you protect the poll.
As for the rearing on the ground, at 13 years of
age? ,,how dare he? The old bugga. This Horse sounds
to me as if he is what I call "upwardly mobile' in
the brain and they are dangerous. Before closing I
have to say it though, why does anyone, let alone a
50 year old, buy an OTTB with their baggage and
danger. You could have already been killed and to
me, this Horse sounds dangerous due to his desire to
go up for all sorts of reasons. The Bitless Bridle
episode shows a streak of the mental side and that
is dangerous. The bottom line is that the Horse has
more resistance than the unbroken Horse and he will
react to the opposing forces. The gentle approach
will not get you far and he should go right back to
square one and be re-broken in if he were mine.
Everything being designed to turn around the massive
fight and resistance in him. For starters though and
you should do this, put a rope Halter on him and an
old 12 foot rope. Take him to a safe yard and throw
the rope on the ground. He will tread on it many
times and reef the hell out of his head and that is
exactly what he needs. To the point where somewhere
down the track he will work out that if he gives his
face and moves his foot off the rope he won't be
tormenting himself. That is the best preparation of
all with very little danger for this type of Horse.
Then he may start to head towards some semblance of
Halter Broken as he sure as Hell is not at the
moment. Regards
*****************
Hello There I love your
stuff. I was just woundering if I could get you
opinion on a few things if your not to busy.
1)what do you reckon of going bittles and riding
with a halter?
Not a
problem providing the aids are still effective and
the Horse is not going to do a runner on you with
you last seen in Tasmania :)
2)what dou you reckon of treeless sadles?
I have
not ridden in one but I can see how Horses would
appreciate them greatly.
3)and do you use cruppers or flankgirths and which
is better?
I use a
back cynch, never a crupper and not a flank girth.
The back girth there
The ridding I do is just cattle work and I've been
ridding since I was a kid i'm now 25 but the is
always more to learn. I was taught the old rough way
but there is defently a better way. I enjoy your
articuls haven't read them all so sorry if i'm
asking questions you've aready answered.
Thankyou Troy
If your to busy to right back it's ok
Thanks
Troy. Hope that answered you. Regards
*******************
Hi,
Just need your thoughts on this. I got a new horse
on Saturday. Lovely stockhorse gelding, 15yo. To
ride when I tried him out he was great,
trots/canters on a loose rein, stops, light mouth,
can ride in halter, seemed very quiet/easy to handle
and nicely educated. Owner said he was the perfect
allrounder and confidence builder, which was what I
desperately wanted, so I took him. Ive lost a lot of
confidence so need something nice to ride.
However I agist on a property where my horses are
kept in a 35 acre paddock in a herd of about 10-12
horses. My other three horses, two standardbreds and
a TB are pretty good in this environment. The TB can
be a bit tricky to catch depending on his mood, but
my two lovely standies catch me and follow me around
the paddock (unfortunately though both have health
issues so arent ridable atm). Now I asked the
previous owner of this new horse how he was in big
paddocks and with other horses, she assured me he
was easy to catch and handle, and would be fine.
However after putting him in the paddock, and
returning 24 hours later, he had bonded with one
particular old mare, who wouldnt let me or the other
horses near him (and he wouldnt come out from behind
her). So, today I returned with a bucket of feed (I
mean this horse doesnt know me yet and it is a bit
of an upheval for him) and he came up to me for the
feed, and I got the halter on. However the second
his mare friend took off across the paddock with
another horse, my new boy threw a major tantrum! He
was neighing, trying to run over the top of me,
running around me in circles etc. Luckily I do
Parelli and knew pretty much how to deal with the
situation, but it took a hell of a lot of effort on
my part to keep him from running over me and to try
and get/keep his attention. I had to jump up and
down, shake the leadrope at him quite strongly and
make him go backwards and sideways etc in an attempt
to keep control. I managed to then walk him out of
the paddock (whilst having to keep backing him up so
he didnt run past me) and locked him in a yard which
is a long way away from the paddock. He then
continued to pace around neighing for quite a while.
Anyway, question is, there is a chance this girl
will buy him back off me (she seemed a fairly decent
seller in that she said she had bought back horses
before when they didnt work out), do you think this
seperation anxiety issue is a deal breaker, with an
otherwise good horse? To me this sort of extreme
bonding with one particular mare, and the panic
attack when taken away from her is rather
ridiculous, and certainly doesnt make this a nice
quiet beginners type horse which I was lead to
believe he was. And I really dont have the ability
to keep him seperate from other horses. Would you
send him back? Im starting to think standardbreds
are the only horses to have!
Sarah
Mmmmmm,
not good Sarah. In one way you can understand his
behavior as he has been uprooted and taken away to
new surroundings and of course he would be beside
himself but the Mare thing is a bit of a worry as he
may have slight 'riggy' tendencies as so many of
them do. You would really need to remove her for you
to test the Horse and get the answer you are looking
for. Would he pick another Horse, a Gelding and
behave the same way next time. If he did, "Out the
Gate" as we say as you don't need that. You
approached it perfectly however and in that
situation I really go at them with "shock and awe"
as you just have to snap their mind out of it like
slapping a frantic Human across the face. You did
well. It doesn't sound good but as I said you won't
know unless you can switch the Tables around again.
Give him the benefit of the doubt or try for a
couple of weeks to see if time will mend him but
certainly let the seller know right away. Such a
circumstance would not really be a case one could
argue for money back at Law as I could give you many
counter arguments to cloud the issue. Just stay in
touch with the seller and work with her. Get her to
come over and have a look Regards
***************
Hi John,
I have just read a write up that you had done on
rearing horses. I have a 4yr old riding pony
Galloway that I had broken in last July, she didn't
break in well and then went to ----- for Training,
she was difficult but ------ got her going,
unfortunately she pulled a muscle and needed time
off work, we sent her to somebody else to bring back
into work but unfortunately all they taught her was
to rear, she is for my 14 yr old daughter who is a
good rider but is not experienced enough to handle
this problem. This is an extremely beautiful pony
who was bought for showing purposes, after reading
your write up I wondered where you are based and if
you are still taking horses on, and what you charge.
We have found that she does it when asked to canter
although is quite happy to canter on the lunge. we
would really like to get her going.
kind regards
Barb
Hi
Jacquie,
More information would be handy.
Who broke the horse in? Why didn't they do the
education? Why didn't the horse go back to Heather?
Has she every been over (hence muscle)? Or what type
of rearing is the horse doing? It is highly unusual
that they would attempt to rear going into canter as
they are forward then. Normally from walk etc.
thanks
**************
Hi,
I just checked out your website and watched the
video.
I recently was bucked off a horse, I had barely sat
on him, one foot in the stirrup and he let rip and
after two bucks I went over his head and on my back.
As I am 51 I don’t have the luxury of mending quite
as quickly as I use to. I am part owner in this 12
yo quarter horse and till now had appeared to be
Fairly placid and ideal for beginners. We bought him
from people who had won many ribbons with him for
campdrafting competitions. We have had him for 4
months.
I consider I am a fairly able rider but not as
experienced as some,
I ride once
or twice a month when possible, mainly trail
riding.
My girlfriend, similar age, the other part owner, is
much more capable and has another ¼ horse mare that
she rides. She is trying to suss out why
He has suddenly started this behaviour and rides
almost daily if she can. She has the horses on her
property and I live 15-20 mins away.
All in all, he has
bucked 3
different people off in the past 6 weeks. My
friend thought he was girthed too tight, but I beg
to differ on my occasion, as I am
Usually guilty of not doing the girth up tight
enough.
I heard you mention a lateral mouth – could you
expand on this for me.
I am a bit reluctant to ride him again because at my
age I don’t bounce like I use to and would spend
most of my time worrying about when he
Was going to buck.
Any advice you can offer would be greatly
appreciated.
Many thanks
Shayne
My
first piece of advice, given your age and that the
Horse has bucked off 3 different people in 6 weeks,
is that you never ride him again and right there
your problem is solved. :) If he is only ridden only
twice a month, I wouldn't doubt a girthiness
problem, regardless how he was girthed up. The act
of standing in the stirrups could be enough to do
it. It may be that your friend rides him as well and
that he gets ridden more often than you have
alluded. It doesn't change the fact that you are at
risk of injury and smart 50 year olds would get
another Horse and forget the reasons why or the how
to fix. Remember, during the 'how to fix" people
still have to ride the Horse. Are you going to risk
that? Re lateral Mouth, go read and watch these:
Hey you! We had a look
at the wire yesterday, would you believe it , it was
the second wire from the top so it would have come
to his middle chest, he has dragged his foot along
the wire as there are five barbs been pushed
together the scene is just a mess I am glad I didn't
see it happen. The barbwire is stretched to the
ground. I kept questioning the vet to give him a
general, she would go and check his eye lids then
his gums then say no its still too risky.
He has become a cheeky patient. He tried to get out
yesterday morning by pulling down a bit of his
electric fencing. I fixed it and verbally said to
him "ha!" and proceeded to sit down and pick up my
hot coffee. To my amusement ....and Bazels.... there
were two pieces of lucerne chaff in it. I looked at
him and he went "HA! take that".
cheers
chelle
Haha
Chelle. Sounds like he struck at another Horse
then??? Bit romantic is he?? or jealous?? :) Sounds
like he is coming good though as you are relaxing
with the coffee :) Regards
************
Hi John
I like your idea for stopping horses that shake
their heads while fence walking due to SA. I'm a
little concerned about the possibility of the nut
hitting them in the eye though. Have you ever had
this happen ? Glad to hear that you are heading to
Qld in the near future. I hope you can stay long
enough so everyone who want to benefit from Mr & Mrs
HP's knowledge has the chance to do so.
Regards
Madam Vet
Hi
there stranger? Normally that string is not that
long. I was on my own, no time as usual and the knot
slipped while I was filming. Interestingly, she
hasn't gone the violent head shaking again but often
walks fences when she gets a bee in her bonnet, even
briefly in the morning when Mrs. HP is feeding down
the line. She is stable 6 I think and she will start
it because she isn't fed first and then stop it as
soon as the food arrives. Bit of a Madam but the nut
fixed the head chuck. Perhaps a .303 instead of a
nut?? :) Might catch you up there.
******************
20th May, 2008
Day off
a had a lovely lunch with my wife.
Good to
see the imbeciles that run this State allowed
millions of gallons of the precious water to run out
to sea via the River Torrens today. If they had a
brain they would be dangerous. For many years we
have been going to the old EFA Park for Dressage and
I would walk over and watch the River sweeping past
and would say to my wife that all they had to do was
to put a sign up at the gate "Clean Fill Wanted" and
they could dam the River and catch enough to water
the entire North Adelaide Parklands and they could
have done that time and time again along the course
of the River to the Sea. Finishing the dam with clay
near the end of course. They are in a state of
amorphous as we pay hundreds of millions for the
Worlds best experts and Doctor this and Professor
that and they don't even know how to wack a dam in.
I note Nix X was down there tonight in a wet suit
doing a TV Moment and so he should be.
RE-MOUTHING THE
HORSE
I have
to apologize to people for having promoted this DVD
but not delivering. Sorry. I had finished it but the
more Horses I ride and the more cases that I meet, I
realized that I have the opportunity of nailing this
project as a definitive work on the subject and I am
to do that. I hope to have it finished before the
Perth Clinic. I realize now that I could write a 500
page book on the subject but won't ;)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Did you
know that if you start with 10 Horses and Mouth them
with identical Computer driven procedures, each
Horse will have a different level Mouth? It is a
fact!
******************
Family of teen
killed during ride files suit
RIVERSIDE, Calif.: The parents of a 17-year-old girl
who died after she fell off her horse during an
equestrian event two years ago have sued her former
trainer, the sport's governing body and others,
claiming her death was caused in part by a dangerous
course and a horse unfit to ride.
The suit filed May 6 in Riverside County Superior
Court alleges negligence, emotional distress and
seeks unspecified damages.
Mia Eriksson died in November 2006 after her
7-year-old horse, Koryography, landed on her after
she fell at Galway Downs in Temecula.
Among the defendants named in the lawsuit are the
United States Eventing Association, which oversees
equestrian competition across the nation, and the
sport's governing body, the United States Equestrian
Federation.
Phone messages left for both groups as well as the
Erikssons' attorney, Terrence Butler, were not
immediately returned Sunday.
The lawsuit claims the course "was made more
dangerous in order to make the competition more
thrilling to spectators." The suit also alleges
equipment used on the course was defective; the
standards of care to protect riders and horses were
breached, and Koryography was unfit to ride because
of prior falls and lack of practice.
"I stepped forward to file a lawsuit trying to voice
in a way all of the concerns we're feeling at the
level of eventing to press for change," Mia's
mother, Karan Eriksson, told The New York Times.
The teen's former trainer, Kristi Nunnink, said that
she had not seen the lawsuit but that Mia and her
mother, who owns an equestrian facility near Lake
Tahoe, knew the risks involved.
"Eventing is a dangerous sport," Nunnink told the
newspaper. "Everybody who goes into it realizes it
is a dangerous sport."
Mia's older sister, Shana, died in 2003 after she
was thrown from her horse at Fresno State
University. The family also sued in the death of
Shana, and Karan Eriksson told the newspaper the
case was being appealed.
***************
HUGE HORSE IS A GENTLE
GIANT
He's 6ft 6ins tall, weighs as much as a car and eats
£80 worth of food each week.But giant shire horse
Duke is a gentle-natured soul despite his size who
gets spooked by mice and doesn't like bad weather!
The equine behemoth may be too big to fit in a
standard stable at the Horse Refuge sanctuary in
Finchingfield, north Essex, but he loves affection
and attention - and he's best mates with a tiny
Shetland pony called Jasper.
The five-year-old is still a youngster and owner
Sara Ross says he will get even bigger.
"He's the biggest horse I've seen, and I've seen
quite a few horses over the years," she said.
"We've measured him and he's 19.3 hands. He's an
absolute giant!
"We rescued him about 18 months ago and he's grown
and grown. He's only five years old so he hasn't
stopped growing yet."
If Duke does continue growing he's likely to
overtake the world's tallest horse, a Canadian
shire, Radar, who measures just over 19.3 hands -
equine size is measured by the height of the
withers, which is the highest part of the back, at
the base of the horse's neck.
"Everyone who comes to see him can't believe their
eyes, he's massive," said Sara.
"He costs a fortune to feed. We have to bring him in
at night because he'd eat all the grass in the
field."
******************
LETTERS OF THE DAY
Hi John,
I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions
before jumping in and purchasing your “Mouthing the
Horse” DVD.
I basically just wanted to know if you needed any
particular equipment and access to a round yard? I
am happy to buy any equipment I would need, however,
where my horse is agisted, there is no round yard or
anything similar. There is only large open paddocks
(on a hill too) and the sand arena which is not
fenced either.
If you usually work in a round yard doing this,
could the exercises be adapted to work perhaps on
the lunge or something similar? As I haven’t yet
seen the DVD, Im not sure what it is you do but any
information you could give me would be much
appreciated. I didn’t want to buy it and then find
out I couldn’t use it because of lack of facilities
etc.
No
Erin, you need a yard. Not necessarily round, you
can make a hexagonal one out of a square yard with
trot poles across the 4 corners.
Also, I am hoping my horse is not too old for it? He
is a 14 y/o unraced Standardbred (so no stiffness
problems, upside down muscle issues and doesn’t
pace). He hasn’t been ridden in 4 years and even
then was only
ridden a handful of times so is pretty much
very green at the most. I got on him at the sellers
place with saddle and bridle and got
lead around
initially and then took him for a lap on my own off
the lead. He was very lazy (and is pretty unfit and
a bit fat) but even managed to get a bit of a trot
on the way back but I got on him last night bareback
in a halter and all he would do was go backwards and
sideways (he backs up like a pro western horse when
he wants, haha!) and going back to the tie up rail,
even when I got someone to lead me into the arena. I
then couldn’t get him to turn away from that area
either he’d just go backwards again or rounds in
circles. I ended up getting off as I felt he was
gonna go upwards eventually if I kept pushing it and
I was feeling a bit nervous and insecure without
saddle and bridle anyway and didn’t want to end up
getting hurt, so I lunged him for a bit after
getting him going on voice command.
He is a big (16hh approx), very very solid muscly
boy and is
quite stubborn (perhaps because he’s not very
trusting yet, I only bought him yesterday…). I’ve
been trying to pick up his feet and esp with the
fronts he just leans back into me if I lean into him
and plants his feet. I don’t think it’s a balance
issue as even when he’s leaning on the other leg, if
I try to get him to pick up the opposite one he then
leans onto the one Im trying to pick up (bugger!).
Might it just be inexperience as he hasn’t had his
feet trimmed in goodness knows how long!
Do you think the mouthing will help towards starting
to solve any of these problems?
Thanks for your time in reading this and your
commitment in helping us all become better horse
people!
Erin
Hi
Erin. I would bet the Horse is just confused, not
'stubborn' Many people compute all sorts of things
like stubborn, naughty and so on, to horses but they
are just confused. This Horse sounds dead set not
sure of what the leg aids mean and you need to go
right back to square one in a yard, with a dressage
whip, at the halt and do halt walk transitions with
LITTLE tapping behind you leg, reward him, talk to
him. stroke him and repeat. Waggle your legs around
just before whip and during, ceasing them when he
moves with them just being on. Teach him what it
means. This is typical of the Breed that rather than
Buck your ass like other Breeds, he takes it all and
just gets confused. You were lead around, he was
ridden a handful of time, you can bet by Gooses so
time for some empathy for the Horse and some
sophisticated training. The Trail Ride immediately
after, with another quiet horse and use it to teach
your leg aids of go. He will be right. Regards
******************
Ow John!!! We had a
awful accident here with Bazel on Saturday arvo and
I haven't cried until now LOL. Please excuse my
writing as I am not thinking very well and my speech
is a bit dahhhhh. I was off two doors down feeding
neighbours horses when my husband popped out from
around the corner calling out "Machelle"!!!! , now
when my husband calls me by me real name I know it
is serious! I usually get "Boofy" or " wooman".
Bazel had been pawing at the next doors draught
horses, he put his front foot through the barbwire
and while pulling back got caught, the wire then
went through the coronet on a 45 degree angle down 2
inches, through the Coronary Vein and a large branch
of Arteries, then somehow the wire also cut a huge
chunk of hoof out under that wound. There was about
15 pulsesating squirters!!!!!
Everytime the vet thought she had slowed down the
bleeding with clamps (so she could start stitching)
she would hit a nerve ending and baz would throw his
leg in the air and all the clamps would go
everywhere...thus back to square one! After 3hrs of
this, she was able to sutre some of the arteries but
was only able to put a pressure bandage on him. She
came back on Sunday and it was still squirting out
too much blood, but this time the light was much
better and she found 3 more arteries to stitch. So
fingers crossed that will stop it.
I have a vet shop in my house! Maxine held His head
the Whole time and soothed him the whole time, she
was so good, she was covered in blood, never
complained once...and you know how heavy their heads
get! I got a bruise on my head from been kneed 3
times from him, but there was no way of it been
avoided as I was helping the vet in holding the
clamps in place, I lost count on how many times she
got kneed. Bazel wasn't doing it deliberately it was
just a reaction.
I tried to take photoes with my THREE camers but all
three had dead batteries! My husband had a look at
where it happened, he had pulled the wire so hard
that the barbs had joined together. Maxine NEVER
left his sight yesterday , she even slept with him
Saturday night. We let her, Kids sometimes need
their space to sort out their own feelings don't
they, just like us.
I am very worried about Bazels future now dont me
wrong he has got a home here indefently, he is just
one of these horse that becomes depressed if NOT
ridden, he is going to go insane, I was riding him
in the local show on Saturday, so I have been riding
him everyday for the past few weeks, and he just
LOVED it. I just feel ( and this kills me) that is
injury is the start of his downfall it is going to
kill him.
Ow yes!!! Red is fine now, it was his hay! There was
a 'weed' in it, we didn't find it, my hay man called
me just before my vet went to come and do some test.
He had another horse customer that found it. Sorry I
can't remember what it is called, But wasn't that
great of him to call, he even refunded my money! Now
that is loyalty.
cheers
chelly
How
terrible Chelle. You do have some bad luck!! Poor
Horse!! I am surprised the Vet didn't give him a
general?? The front leg strap couldn't have
helped??? That is a classic use for it. I know the
injury and they pretty much come good. I have seen
some beauties. Normally Plain Wire though, rare for
it to be Barb. There is no use for wire any closer
than two foot six from the ground on a Horse
Property, unless you have sheep or mini's and so on
but it is the bottom two wires that should be pulled
out of every Horse fence in the Country. Hope he
comes good soon. I am sure he will. Chin up
******************
Hi John
Unless I can't see for looking, you don't have your
Sand colic remedy posted on your site. Is it
available? Do I need to purchase it? If so, from
where?
I live in Southern Spain, where I have seen a couple
of cases of sand colic (or dust colic). One ending
tragically. I had never heard of it until I moved
here from England. The only colic I had ever had to
deal with or heard of was the regular kind from
horses turned out into lush pastures. I have no case
at the moment but my new stallion regularly 'eats'
the sand in the round pen and now pastures are
drying up there is a lot of dust going in as well!
None of my other horses do this and it's certainly
not a lack of food. He's about as round as is
physically good! I would very much like to be
prepared, just in case.
I don't know how I came across your web site, but
would like to congratulate you and thank you for
being prepared to 'put your camera where your mouth
is'! We are singing from the same song sheet,
although you clearly have squillions of years more
experience with horses than I do, and it is so
refreshing to find someone who follows
naturalhorsemanship whilst realising it is not the
be all and end all with regard to its complete sugar
coating. Someone who has the experience to know when
and where to use soft or firm skills, whilst still
not causing any stress or undue physical contact
with the horse.
Currently I am schooling a 4 year-old Appaloosa
stallion that I purchased from Texas last year
completely unbroken. I have done lots of ground work
before getting in the saddle. so the transition was
smooth enough. I have now ridden him out on treks
with other horses quite a few times but the last two
times I have schooled him in the arena he has been a
complete buckaroo! If I 'get' him into canter he
goes down one side than stop dead at a corner. I
push him on, eventually giving him a couple of
whacks with the whip and he just starts to buck
before he eventually goes back to a trot, but
pushing him back into canter again is a mammoth
task. He actually prepares himself to buck me. It is
not an involuntary thing due to any pain. He stops,
positions his feet or his weight and then does
arched back 4 legs up bucks, rodeo style! I actually
feel him positioning himself in preparation. He has
yet to get me off, but this has to stop. Any tips
will be gratefully accepted. It is enough to deal
with a young stallion in spring time with lots of
mares around!
Thanks
Tracey. The Colt is being naughty but I wonder why?
Don't rule out that it could be something to do with
the canter stride and rear end problems but maybe he
is squeezing the "Family Jewels' You should get it
video'd and put it on Youtube for me to check out.
If you rule out all Veterinary, then you need to get
his head around to stop him bucking and give him a
couple of good cracks with the whip as you
dis-engage his hindquarters and then trot around as
if nothing happened and ask again. Repeat the
process but up the tempo should he try the bucking
again. Up and down the scale of course but better in
this situation to give him some "Shock and awe"
rather than to niggle and pee him off as they are
toughies these Colts. You have to take the arrogance
into account. Finally, if all attitude and not
Veterinary, squeezing, get him out of the arena, the
place of all trouble, ride out with another Horse
and nicely dribble into a canter out of a running on
trot. Then you will see what the real facts are. He
may still buck however, out of exuberance,
especially if he is in arena too much :) but you
must pick the difference. That is also the reason
why you must dribble into trot by running him
gradually off his legs to an accidental canter for
if your Friend suddenly goes 'whoosh' the 'Green
Horse' will often buck out of "whoopy Chook" :) Take
the Horse for a 15 k ride and do 5o canter
transitions on the last 5k. He may have a dose of
"Fed better than his work" and he may also fall into
the category of 'Green Horses' that were never
cantered enough or long enough during the breaking
in process. They must feel exhaustion at the
canter!!! to dispel the excitement factor. Best of
Luck with him.
My 2 youngsters are barefoot. I have taken the backs
off my 18 yearold mare, but she retains the fronts
as she is a scraper and door kicker (tried squirting
water, what else is there?) and my other old boy has
been barefoot for 4 years now with never a problem.
Can't convince my husband to take shoes off his 8
year-old mare! But bigger problems here is finding a
'good' farrier that is prepared to do barefoot
trims. I have osteoporosis so its not an option for
me to learn as much as I would love to. Do you have
any tips on how I can convince my farrier to trim
for barefootedness? His stock response is that
'we've been shoeing horses for over 200 years for a
reason".
Very
difficult to convince those Spanish Stallions of too
much I would think Tracey :) You need to work on
them like a white ant. Get Clinics happening by
those at the top of the Barefoot Industry and come
at them through the back door, their clients. You
have enough clients asking for barefoot trimming and
their wallet will start talking hahaha.
I am asking a lot and appreciate that you have at
least read this far. But I want to start competing
in Endurance next year when my Appy turns 5 (I will
be 45 but have had to wait this long to have the
money and time to do so) so am desperate for any
advice whatsoever. As I mentioned before, from what
I've seen from your web site I respect your methods.
I have viewed many Parelli DVD's and whilst I
practice much of what he preaches find that there is
a lot of 'infill' of personal stuff that pads out
the marketing but doesn't interest me. I like bare
bones, no frills, tell it like it is. You seem to be
on the same page as me.
Regards
Tracey
Regards....I did make it
******************
19th May, 2008
Well it
did rain and we collected around 35,000 litres of
water, liquid gold as we should call it these days.
Thank the Lord.
HORSE FORUM LIE
A few
days ago, a person who hides their profile but has a
screen name of "Bella" lied about me by saying ,
quote: "Was
kinda funny the other day when Mr HP couldnt get his
pony on the float out at the dressage!"
I completely accept the good with the
bad and even put criticism here for all to read when
I get it but I won't accept lying and especially
when it reflects upon the foundation stone of my
entire career and livelihood. The Horse self loads.
So if this is the same "Bella" on the same Forum,
who said this on 28th April, 2007,
Bella Sat Apr-26-08 09:58 AM
Charter member
958 posts "Id say she would be by Aachen with the A
name, try ringing Klattes in Belcam at QLD, although
they did have a fire at one stage and lost all
horses regos! But he might remember? Or you could
try that equine search in horse deals? Goodluck
www.voltairepeformancehorses.page.tl,
an apology would be
nice as I don't know you, never met you, have not
worked for you and you obviously have the wrong
person. Thanks
Regards Centaur
************
It has
been horrendously busy but what's new around here.
Mad House. As you know, this week I have had two
Horses, one being the Horse from the Sanctuary, life
unknown and the young Warmblood Fellow who thinks he
is Mohammed Ali. The 'Ludendorf' blood wouldn't have
much to do with it I suppose? :) says me fondly
remembering Donner Bella but like all of the more
difficult Horses, they are the one's that make the
Champions.
I had a
terribly entertaining ride out yesterday, the kind I
like :) I rode with a Pony Club President and she
had been forcibly put on the White Mare to go for a
ride with us so that we could teach her all the
buttons.
Poor Lady, reality all came flooding back to her and
not only did she have white knuckles but I reckon
the ends of her ears and the tips of her nose was
also white. I used some wonderful one liners on her
during the ride as she was plaintively calling my
name as she thought she was going to die within the
next 5 seconds but both Mrs. HP and I both knew that
we were backing a winner as the Mare had come along
wonderfully and was a real darling of a Horse that
had been given a hard time by not so of the Human
Race. Now we are talking about a competent Show
Jumping Rider here but when the Human Brain plays
tricks on one and basically deserts the head, you
have a most fragile form remaining hahaha. I said to
her, "but you purchased her!!!, now ride her" :) and
"What a pity Pony Club doesn't teach people how to
ride to save themselves rather than heels down and
carrot up bum hahahahaha" Now bear in mind she is a
Friend of ours and also that she needed some light
entertainment as I had to get that brain back into
her Body somehow lol. She couldn't even steer the
Horse at the start, yelling in "Johhhnnnnnn, she
won't turn"
Then her worst nightmare. Having successfully gotten
her out into the Housing Estate Lands after letting
her lead the Horse down the road and then getting
on, I thought I would chance my arm seeing as she
was a captive audience :) and so exited the other
end of it and crossed the Main Road and hit the
Trails around the District :) Poor Lady but as
always, as we neared home, the color came back into
her face and I could hear her saying things like,
"she is a darlin, isn't she" and "you have done a
wonderful job on her" lol. The bottom line is this
however. The Horse carted a temporarily helpless
Human around a Suburban District, over foot bridges,
in traffic and was actually the best Horse on the
ride. The owner has now received the all important
shot in the arm of confidence in the Horse as you
can just imagine if she had have gone home with the
Horse, not having experienced her wonderful
temperament and safety. A complete disaster would
have ensued as the Horse would have had no hope. So
very Happy to have saved the life of of another
wonderful Horse and to have served the very gracious
PC President with the good sense of Humor.
Now for
Mohammed. This wouldn't have done Madam President
much good but I was riding him and being the typical
arrogant Warmblood, he soon lost patience with the
"Kindy Ride" :) and started threatening me totally,
after about 300 metres. Shaking the head, snaking
the neck, lifting the back, threw a couple of
warning shots into me and he was basically saying,
"For God's sake Man, let's get this bloody ride
going"!! Now, what do you do when you are sitting on
16.2hh of Bucking Machine who still doesn't really
know what the Hell leg means to go forward and is
supposed to be following and that is about 2 weeks
away from having any idea what discipline may be if
required?? You can imagine what was going through my
head. Madam President will have a complete black out
if my horse :goes to Town" hahahaha so I bit the
bullet, got his head around and have him a sort out.
Then got after him, made him hit the front, grow up
to be a big Horse inside 60 seconds and went looking
for trouble off trail to take his mind off being
naughty. We had had 2 inches of rain and there were
great water hazards and that was just what the big
fulla needed. Leg on, reins around his ass and got
through it or else. By the time we left the paddock,
he was the lead Horse and he led the rest of the
ride basically and by the time we got home he was
all grown up. Incredible, isn't it? This morning,
butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, great on the
ground, on the bit for his first look at the arena
and the rest is History as they say. He's
miiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! :)
So what
is the moral to that story? Treat them as you find
them and operate to their personality. They are all
different and never the same. No hard and fast
rules, make them up as you go along and all will be
well.
LETTERS OF THE DAY
Hi John
I wonder if you have any thoughts on my OTTB's
recent behaviour.
Max is an 8year old, 17h TB geld...had 5 starts in
his career but came last each time.
We've always had respect issues with Max, especially
at feed times, but used your method at feeding time
with great results. However, recently, since the
evenings got darker earlier and consequently he's
not being fed in his paddock till dusk, his
behaviour has deteriorated badly.
Although Max has always been 'aggressive' towards
other horses at feed times (which is why he's in his
own post & rail paddock flanked by two other
horses), he's started kicking out at the fence posts
at the other horses to the extent that this evening,
his tendon is up like a balloon because he clobbered
the post with his leg rather than his hoof (and this
is not the first time). Coupled with this is his
refusal to let me catch him, to rug him, for a
period (until he's ready to come over to me),
hooning past me flat out with kicks aimed at my
direction.
This has only started in the last few weeks, but I'm
becomming more and more concerned about this
nonsense as my warmblood next to him as started
picking up the bad habits.
Any insights?
Cheers and thanks
Dany
ps...is now the time to tell you that you'll be
meeting Max in Perth in June?
Oh, do
tell? Very funny Dany :) Now you Perth people have
to realize that I am a mature aged Gentleman and you
should be looking after me and not getting me killed
over there, not serving me up the worst you can
muster :) I was hoping the Lady with the "Man Eating
Mare" wouldn't hear about our trip but 'bugga' she
has :( Yes, "Danny is our of his Box" Simple
as that and he is having a competition with your
other Horses, positioning himself for your
favoritism. He is dangerous of course but I doubt
too much of a problem if handled right. Of course,
when you say your other Horse is starting to have
ideas as well, you can imagine what then goes
through the mind of the Horseman :) Don't feel bad,
you have tens of thousands of Friends around the
Country :) I hope you aren't 5 foot two.
Catch you in Perth :)
*****************
Hi John,
Well, I feel like a girl on her first date (yes, I
can remember that long ago). I have mouthed as per
your dvd, then onto “green horse” and even though it
has taken way to long between rides (a few back
steps before we go further forward) we went for our
first trail ride. I was so very fortunate to have a
neighbour whose horse is the “Dream” horse. So the
ride on the road etc went very smoothly. A few
episodes of “how am I going to get this thing off
me” but really, all your words kept filling my head.
This is one bold little horse as I couldn’t stay
behind the other horse as she wanted to be in front
so I “accepted the horse I had at that moment” and
rode her boldly. This ride was a text book
look-a-like of your horses reactions so the
transition of what to do next was easy as you showed
that on the DVD. If ever anyone wanted to know if
its worthwhile, I would be only to happy for you to
use this as a testimonial to your clarity, wisdom
and instructions you give on all your dvds. These
dvds should be watched at least 3 times to get most
of the information retained in the old numb nut. I
have watched them at least 3 time before attempting
anything and in the 3rd time you still realise that
you missed some vital information.
However, more than the horses experience, mine was
the greater felt accomplishment. To explain, it was
like an instructor in my head saying, BOLD, BRAVE,
one rein stop, don’t let them jig jog, backup, you
are going over etc, the whole time riding and this
in itself was the greatest accomplishment. I never
in my wildest dreams thought I could achieve the
breaking in of any horse let alone be brave enough
to ride one on the road on the first outing.
In appreciation,
Kim
PS. Horse on this ride became ignorant in the mouth
“like a lama” and even the one rein stop to the
right was a challenge. Now I now this mare is like
butter and she had gone through the running reins
lessons before this ride, however the excitement of
the ride deadened the mouth. Some further guidance
would be appreciated. Kim
I
have emailed you with the long version Kim but for
the viewers, every single Horse does that. Even if
you have ridden on the arena at home, had the Horse
round, on the bit and soft, the day you attempt it
on the Trail the first time, they simply say
That is because they have an over riding need to
look as they are starting out on the scary road into
fronting the World alone because their head is one
metre in front of your head and they are the total
leader. A Horse leading around Foreign places
without a Herd. You have done a wonderful job. I am
proud of you.
****************
Dear John, well now I
know how George must have felt on 'that' time trial!
Today (in Victoria) was the Million Paws Walk and a
friend and I took part with our dogs. She has one I
have two, silly me. I reckon that George must have
whispered into Buffy Lu's ear about 'what I did to
him', because she walked/ran my feet off this
afternoon! It was only a five Km walk, but it seemed
like twice that much because I was doing it at a
run!. Now normally I two very well behaved dogs
(greyhounds that have never raced), but today they
decided that it was high time they both had a crack
at 'racing' every other dog present to see if they
could make it home first. Gee, I was a
disappointment to them - I held them back, but then
I can't race along at 30 km's per hour like they
can. Oh and don't worry about George having a mobile
phone, I do have a vivid imagination and I do let it
run away with me all the time (it is actually a
landline I had installed in the plantation in their
paddock for their personal or is that equina use!)
LOL silly me I did it again!
Regards from Lauren the Imaginative, George, Smooch
and Trevor the very wet (and loving it) Trios
Amigos...
Lol.
How come you haven't Parelli trained those Dog's?
Not good enough Lauren :)
*****************
Hi
wanting to get some answers for my mare which I
brought 6 weeks ago.
She has started to become nervous when I put her in
the yard and wants to get back to the horse next
door who's a gelding, she had been perfect before
hand.
when working her the other day something gave her a
fright and I just couldn't get her to settle and
work again she was too jumpy. Any ideas of what I
should do? would she becoming clingy to the gelding?
Thanks Narelle
Yes
Narelle. Luvy Dovy. Now you have to rise to the
occasion with your ground manners and training
regime and seize the initiative back from her so
that she has her concentration on you and not "Lover
Boy" :) You may need help, lessons and certainly to
up your demand and assertiveness and turn such
emotional events into training opportunities. This
is where the 7 Games comes into it perfectly.
Regards
**************
Howdy John,
sorry I took so long to say something, been busy. It
is a terrible shame Jen that you are not getting the
service you deserve, unfortunately there are plenty
of people out there how do this exact same thing to
people all the time. I am not surprised that she
might have came back worse then when she left, she
is probably a sensitive type and some men just have
no idea how to help them and just ram things down
their throats instead of giving them a chance to
process what is being presented.
Did she play up on him when he put her in the cart?
are your carts the same type? did he do anything
special? what gear was she wearing? did he take her
for a drive at all? did you get a drive?
If I had this situation and I lived in a perfect
world and had absolutely everything I ever needed. I
would use a quiet experienced horse in a large heavy
jog cart and tie the mare on the side. Plough around
till she settles, if it took a long time to settle
(like half an hour) then I would pull up and call it
a day, if it took say 5-10 then after she settled
and was going nicely I would go back and swap her to
the otherside and put her around again. You would
need to let her tell you how she was going and you
need to be conscious of her ability to cope, do it
until she moves nicely when the shaft of the jog
cart engages her side. That said this method needs a
super strong jog cart (like with motor bike wheels
and leaf springs, build out of steel kind of thing)
a good neck strap if your horse is inclined to pull
back and a very level headed horse, this is what we
used to do with our young horses to teach them to
shaft properly (push the shaves around as opposed to
trying to turn through the body)
As John said there is potential that the gear might
be upsetting her so I would try her out at the walk
trot canter with her gear on (lunger her maybe, but
I would use a round yard) and see how settled she
is, moving through paces up and down etc will help
her feel the cropper. Also maybe you should consider
doing up her cropper a hole or 2 looser then you
would for racing, you are only quietly driving etc
and that should be fine to begin with, then you can
sneak it up later when you have fixed this problem.
Another thing I would look at is how does she react
to things moving around behind her period, is it the
gig the problem or is it the approach from behind.
Is she set off by the noise of it coming towards her
or by it touching her? Can you get someone else to
assist? Will she relax if someone is there at her
head? Is she a problem once you get going?
Rein driving in it's self will not really help with
the gig thing and showing it to her face will not
either I feel as it comes from behind and she can
not really see it to well and it just is not the
same. Something not so dangerous that you could try
is a method I have seen a person who breaks in
pleasure horses. He used plastic pipe as false
shafts to try and prepare the horse for the feeling,
it might help. Also another thing, are you taking
the cart behind her and kind of lowering it down
over her, or are you lining your self up and putting
it on already lowered a bit, could someone help you
spread the shafts enough so you could bring it in
lowered to shaft loop level?
If I could see what the problem was I could give
better advice . . video on utube maybe. Otherwise I
would seek professional advice, from someone closer?
living in Victoria you should have a few options of
trainers, but I would take my time and select one
that had an awesome reputation as well as one you
could visit, and or possibly see in action.
Hard to solve without seeing as usual, I don't know
how you do it John ;p
Kristy
Great
advise Kristy. You are very handy consultant :)
Thanks. Don't forget that article!
****************
17th May, 2008
I said
I would take some pics on my slavery of late :) Here
you go:
TANK CITY
Now
it can rain!
*****************
THE RACING INDUSTRY
I have
long argued the point that the use of whips in Horse
Racing is archaic and unjust. Further more, it is
anti try and anti training. Why would a Horse try
harder when it is flogged over the last 200 metres
of a race? They are not stupid you know. The more
you flog them the less they would want to get there,
right? That is why some Horse 'Dog it" and the well
known "Elect
Well done and yes, I am having a good time. My big
Black fulla is licking me now and pulling on my
shirt ......don't tell anyone :)
Poor Lady, reality all came flooding back to her and
not only did she have white knuckles but I reckon
the ends of her ears and the tips of her nose was
also white. I used some wonderful one liners on her
during the ride as she was plaintively calling my
name as she thought she was going to die within the
next 5 seconds but both Mrs. HP and I both knew that
we were backing a winner as the Mare had come along
wonderfully and was a real darling of a Horse that
had been given a hard time by not so of the Human
Race. Now we are talking about a competent Show
Jumping Rider here but when the Human Brain plays
tricks on one and basically deserts the head, you
have a most fragile form remaining hahaha. I said to
her, "but you purchased her!!!, now ride her" :) and
"What a pity Pony Club doesn't teach people how to
ride to save themselves rather than heels down and
carrot up bum hahahahaha" Now bear in mind she is a
Friend of ours and also that she needed some light
entertainment as I had to get that brain back into
her Body somehow lol. She couldn't even steer the
Horse at the start, yelling in "Johhhnnnnnn, she
won't turn"
Then her worst nightmare. Having successfully gotten
her out into the Housing Estate Lands after letting
her lead the Horse down the road and then getting
on, I thought I would chance my arm seeing as she
was a captive audience :) and so exited the other
end of it and crossed the Main Road and hit the
Trails around the District :) Poor Lady but as
always, as we neared home, the color came back into
her face and I could hear her saying things like,
"she is a darlin, isn't she" and "you have done a
wonderful job on her" lol. The bottom line is this
however. The Horse carted a temporarily helpless
Human around a Suburban District, over foot bridges,
in traffic and was actually the best Horse on the
ride. The owner has now received the all important
shot in the arm of confidence in the Horse as you
can just imagine if she had have gone home with the
Horse, not having experienced her wonderful
temperament and safety. A complete disaster would
have ensued as the Horse would have had no hope. So
very Happy to have saved the life of of another
wonderful Horse and to have served the very gracious
PC President with the good sense of Humor.
Catch you in Perth :)
That is because they have an over riding need to
look as they are starting out on the scary road into
fronting the World alone because their head is one
metre in front of your head and they are the total
leader. A Horse leading around Foreign places
without a Herd. You have done a wonderful job. I am
proud of you.
How come you haven't Parelli trained those Dog's?
Not good enough Lauren :)
