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Ranked 4th in the World - Horse Training

31st August, 2008

Almost Spring and we had a terrific rain last night and I reckon the Farmers may have got it too. Thank the Lord.

DRUGS IN HORSE SPORTS

MRS HP SWAB

Incidentally, I have been told off the record, that the swab of Mrs. HP's Horse at the SE Dressage Championships a few Months ago, has returned negative.

I find it disgusting that the EFA do not publicize this fact as Hell knows, they need some good News with regards to honesty in Horse Sports and quite frankly, I take it as a huge insult and simply not nice, to withhold such information and keep people wondering. You throw Mud, it sticks and no matter whether someone is innocent or not, once a swab is taken, it lays in the back of the mind of some. This is completely unfair on the honest Members of the Sport of Dressage in this case and not how you look after the good Members that are the Roll Models to the young.

So, read my lips, Mrs. HP Horse swab was NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, it interests me when positive swabs are returned, normally from Horses owned by the most high profile Members of Horse Sports, that they nearly always come with an excuse that such and such cream, ointment, or other innocent concoction was used on the Horse and "They didn't realize" Bullshit! If anyone is going to understand the stringency of the administration of Chemicals to Horses during Competitions where swabbing will take place, it is the top Riders' in all Horse Sports. So don't give me the crap that we only used an innocent pain relief ointment to rub on the leg of the Horse. If the Horse needs pain relief, it shouldn't be competing and you are an uncaring ego driven non Horse lover like so many of them. Now read this.......

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Future of Olympic equestrian sport under threat


THE president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has warned that the status of equestrian sports within the Olympic movement is precarious.
Princess Haya told H&H that despite the undoubtedly great sport and brilliant organisation of Hong Kong, there is no guarantee that horse sports can survive in the Olympics beyond 2012 — or even get that far — and could follow sports such as cricket and polo out of the Olympic door.

"The FEI has a huge fight to even get to 2012," explained Princess Haya, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FEI's first elected president.

"The IOC have heard from our stakeholders and wrote to us about the set-up and presentation of dressage.

"The popularity of dressage is abnormally low and there are complaints about judging and the make up of judging panels and committees," she said. "Anyone who thinks equestrian sports are secure for London is mistaken."

"The IOC has very reasonable and legitimate concerns about eventing safety and the way the dressage committee is working.

"It could also be the end of show jumping as an Olympic sport, too, as they are unlikely to leave it on its own."

The controversy at the Olympics last week, when four show jumping riders were suspended following positive dope tests on their horses, will not have helped boost the sport's image.

Alluding to the eventing, Princess Haya said Mark Todd's comeback, the spirit shown by Mary King, the proliferation of new names and Mike Etherington-Smith's "super" course, were high points of the competition.

"The amazing standard of dressage on the first day was great for the sport. And we have roped in a whole new audience from outside.

"But walking away and saying 'thank God nobody died,' isn't good enough."

The princess also urged the British equestrian community to back Greenwich as the venue for the equestrian competition at the London 2012 Games — and to be more welcoming.

"I don't think any city has looked forward to a Games more than London. Everyone knows the sport is going to get the best possible platform. We [the FEI] see Greenwich as an equestrian Games," she said. "But the message we are hearing all over the world is that Britain doesn't want it, and the discord is sad to see."

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US Olympic dressage horse returns positive dope test


The horse of US dressage rider Courtney King returned a positive test to a medication class A prohibited substance at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong.
Mythilus tested positive for the banned substance Felbinac, which is applied topically for the relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

King placed 13th individually in the dressage competition, and was a member of the US team which placed fourth. She was officially notified on the morning of 22 August of the positive test result and the decision for provisional suspension was upheld that evening at a preliminary hearing before one member of the FEI Tribunal.

Given that the dressage events of the 2008 Olympic Games ended on 19 August it was decided to wait until the confirmatory B analysis before any public announcement of the findings. The FEI has now received confirmation of the initial finding from the analysis of the B sample.

Four showjumpers have also had their B samples confirmed positive.

The process will now follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during and after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Games (Annex G).

Evidence and written submissions have been requested from King, and a three-member panel of the FEI Tribunal has been appointed.

An update will be provided by the FEI following the hearings and final decisions will be announced before the end of the first week in October, provided the hearings can be held as scheduled.

The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal's final decision.

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STOLEN HORSE

Hi all

Just hoping you could all keep an eye out for this gentle giant Michael who we think was stolen, from Balladong in York over last weekend. He is quite distinctive as he only has one eye.

Also if you could forward this on to all you horsie contacts we would greatly appreciate it.

Please see attachment.

Cheers

Kylie





P.O. Box 672

TOODYAY

WA 6566

1675 Bejoording Rd

WONGAMINE

office ph (08) 9623 2354

fax (08) 9623 2384

Kylie 041 718 4840

Aaron 042 848 4845

Sat Phone 01 4715 4163
 

Hendra virus vet clinic investigated

THE veterinary clinic at the centre of the Hendra virus outbreak, which claimed the life of one of its workers last week, is being investigated over alleged hygiene lapses.

The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland yesterday confirmed it would inquire into two complaints lodged by the owners of horses that died at the Redlands Veterinary Clinic inJune.

Board registrar Wayne Murray yesterday wrote to complainants Pam and Kelvin Smith, whose Clydesdale Loddy died shortly before the clinic was quarantined for Hendra virus in July. "You have made particular reference to practices that you believe are not hygienic and are conducive to the transmission of disease between patients at the practice," hewrote.

"The practice principal at Redlands Veterinary Clinic, Dr David Lovell, will be provided with a copy of your complaint and asked for a response to the concerns you have raised as to the hygiene standards of the practice as observed byyou."

Dr Lovell, the clinic's owner, sits on the six-member board but has agreed to step aside during deliberations over his case.

"Dr Lovell wasn't present at the discussions (about the complaints) and won't be in any future discussions," Mr Murray said.

The board would use an independent law firm to investigate the allegations, he said. "It's probable that they will act as auditors as well to ensure we've got transparency."

The clinic's senior equine vet, Ben Cunneen, died of Hendra virus last week.

A nurse who contracted the same virus was sent home from hospital after a five-week stay.

Yesterday, Dr Lovell said he was confident of beating the allegations: "We would probably carry out 3500 different procedures or interactions with horses each year and I'd be surprised if we had 20 or 30 problems and infections, so I think the success rate we have is remarkable."

Dr Lovell said his clinic -- which received a confidential Queensland government payment to compensate for its seven-week quarantine -- would close for renovations.

"I want to be able to keep the place free of horses. I want to be able to absolutely guarantee to any person who comes here it's absolutely no-risk," he said.

Ms Smith yesterday said she wanted a refund of more than $14,000 in veterinary bills. "We're emotionally and financially devastated," she said.

Another complainant, Leonie Parker, whose horse Noddy died at the clinic, said she was excited about the investigation: "We're not just going to be pushed under the carpet."

Mr Murray said yesterday the case was "difficult in these circumstances because Dr Lovell is principal of a practice.

"There's nothing to say he was even there on the days of the problems the complainants say they witnessed," hesaid.

He said the most the board could do if it found evidence of wrongdoing would be to fine a vet up to $750 and refer the case to the Veterinary Tribunal, which has the power to suspend or deregister vets in Queensland.

The Queensland Government has ordered an independent inquiry into the way the Department of Primary Industries handled the latest Hendra outbreak but is yet to announce the terms of reference.

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No Reprieve For Peter Rabbit The Horse

Hickman Horse Dilemma Creates Furor

Hickman, NE- The tale of Peter Rabbit, the 32-year old horse, has grabbed international attention and sent hate mail to Hickman's city fathers. But they didn't budge under the public pressure.

Hickman, just south of Lincoln, is truly a one-horse town, at least for now. Neighbors Candi Bridgemon and Shelby Baumfalk live across the street. Shelby says, "He was born here and needs to stay here until he passes." Candi agrees, "He was born here. Born on the land. The town was built around him."
Peter Rabbit's pasture now sits inside city limits after a Hickman annexation. Five thousand cars drive by him everyday. But a horse in town violates a long time zoning ordinance that bans livestock in city limits. Peter Rabbit's owners thought they would be grandfathered in the new ordinance.

City Adminstrator Brett Baker says, "With that growth, comes development and the horse is caught in the middle of it right now."
The city wasn't horsing around and evicted Peter Rabbit from town earlier this month. It sent the owners a non-compliance letter and let them know they have until September 15th to giddy up out of town.
It created an uproar all over the world. The city received thousands of emails, letters and phone calls.. from as far away as Australia. Baker says, "City staff is getting called, 'nazis' and probably vulgar language they shouldn't be called."

With all the pressure, the city agreed to look at another ordinance Tuesday night, removing horses from the definition of livestock.
Neighbors and owners hoping Peter Rabbit won't have to saddle up after all.

But no reprieve for Peter Rabbit. The Hickman City Council voted down the new changes that would have allowed the horse to stay.
The original order for him to leave city limits still stands. He has to find a new home by September 15th. Baker says a veterinarian out of town has agreed to keep him on his property.
The owners are out of town and were not at the meeting. Action 3 News did speak with Jack Scott and he says he's not surprised, he's disappointed and plans to talk with a lawyer.

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Five of the Queen's guards dismissed over drugs

Five of Queen Elizabeth II's royal guards have been dismissed from the army after failing drugs tests, the Ministry of Defence said Tuesday.
Soldiers from the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, perform gun salutes to mark the Queen's birthday and other royal occasions, among other duties.
"We can confirm that five members of King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, London, have provided positive samples following their unit's recent testing as part of the army's drug testing programme," said an MoD spokesman.
"Internal administrative action has been taken against all five soldiers," he added.
While not saying what action was involved, it was understood they were dismissed after the discovery of class A drugs -- which can include heroin and cocaine.
The King's Troop's duties including firing royal salutes in Hyde Park on royal anniversaries and state occasions, as well as providing a gun carriage and black horses during state or military funerals.
According to the Daily Mirror, two of those dismissed are women and two have served with British forces in Iraq.
"Drug misuse in the armed forces will not be tolerated," said the spokesman, adding that positive drug rates in the army over the last three years average around 0.8 percent, compared to over seven percent in the civilian population.

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Suspended Irish showjumper skips homecoming

Suspendend Olympic equestrian finalist Denis Lynch, whose horse tested positive for a banned substance, has flown straight back to his base in Germany and will not accompany his fellow Irish Olympians when they return home today.

Mr Lynch flew directly from Hong Kong to Germany last Friday, while his controversial horse Lantinus was due to leave last night. Lantinus tested positive for the banned substance capsaicin hours before they were due to compete in the individual showjumping final.

Mr Lynch later admitted he had used the pain reliever Equi Block on the horse, a product which contains the drug.

Sources last night said Mr Lynch is not even taking calls from some of his colleagues as he attempts to get over the disappointment of last week.

He must now await a hearing with the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) on September 8 before discovering if he faces a further ban.

The spokesman added he did not expect any of the equestrian team to join up with the rest of the Irish Olympics team for the homecoming this evening.

Meanwhile, the Republic's Sports Minister Martin Cullen yesterday said he felt Mr Lynch had been overly criticised.

"I think some of the reporting by journalists and some of the commentary back home was very much over the top. Yes, it was stupid and it was foolish, but, overall, international equestrian bodies have a lot of soul-searching to do," he said.

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Barristers consider horse flu case

Posted Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:21pm AEST


Top Sydney barristers have been called in to determine if the Hunter's thoroughbred breeders have grounds for legal action over last year's horse flu outbreak.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia says it is not launching a class action of its own and stresses it is only seeking the legal advice on behalf of its members.

The organisation's president, John Messara, says it is unclear how successful any action would be.

"I'd say to people to reserve their judgment on this because it's not an open and closed book as to whether legal action against the quarantine station would succeed, given the provisions of the Quarantine Act, which indemnify public servants in quarantine against action for negligence," he said.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi John,



Just found your website and I'm very pleased and relieved. Hope you are still on line as the letters I read are mostly around a year old.

I recently picked up a free pony. I need a companion for my horse but would also like to train him for harness and riding down the track. He is about 22 months old.

The lady I got the pony (Mozart) from was not confident around him and he had charged her once and reared once. She did very little with him. The day after I got Mozart home he also charged me. Since then I things have improved but we still have a way to go. I like your comment “forget sophistication, just walk in and take control”. I am ready to do that but I think I need to learn more about just WHAT to do and WHEN to do it. When Mozart charged at me it was easy to tell that he was disrespecting me and I faced him and chased him off. But I did not realise that standing in my lap as you call it and fidgeting while tied up were also manifestations of disrespect.

I believe Mozart is very trainable- he is obviously very smart and not nervous around people and I think that once I have the respect sorted he will be a little ripper. Mozart is not yet as vicious as some horses I have read about and I think if I nip things in the bud we will be fine.

I’m wondering how to stop the fidgeting and moving around while Mozart is tied up. I am working on picking up his feet and he is getting better but a couple of times he had tried to nip me when I do his front feet. Mozart tried to nip while leading and I’ve got that sorted out but clearly I have not gone far enough as he still thinks of biting while tied up. I searching the internet I found a comment “you have three seconds, (or alternatively, you have until you need to draw breath again), to make the horse think it’s going to die, and the head is out of bounds”. While I have not problem physically punishing a horse I am wary of being too extreme. Horses have a strong sense of justice and I don’t want to over-react. I also don’t want to be bending down near the legs or holding the foot of a pony that is anticipating severe punishment. I watched your video on feeding and I’m guessing your answer to my question will somehow be linked to the feeding. I do make Mozart wait but I don’t send him as far as you do and I do interfere with him after he has started eating, (I won’t any more). I am capable of doing the feeding routine as you do it and I will from now on. Any other tips you have on tying up would be helpful.

I would also like to purchase a book that will tell me more about training young horses. I have looked at Bringing up Baby but would like a Tom Roberts book if there is one that covers the young horse basics. I read your article about NH Vs GH- made a lot of sense and I am also happy to use different methods from different trainers.

I am not a horse expert- obviously- but not a beginner either. I learned a lot on my own in my teenage years looking after 14 trail riding horses for some guys who agisted them on our land. Apart from some weekly riding lessons when I was younger I had little guidance and learned from my own experiences. At the age of about 12 years old I caught an unhaltered horse at a trail riding establishment using the pressure and release/advance and retreat method even though nobody had ever taught it to me and I had never heard of it or seen it. The owners had not been able to catch the horse for two weeks. I just did what worked. I felt a bit like Judas when I handed her over though.

As a teenager I rode a horse that decided he didn't want to go any further and would leap in the air and try to scrape me off with trees when I asked him to go forward. I won in the end, I always do. I am determined and I am capable once I know HOW and WHEN to do things.

I currently also own a Percheron X who I have had since he was four years old and hadn't done much. I have learned heaps about training from him but clearly still have alot more to learn

Hope you can help,

I will continue reading your articles, thank you very much.

Regards,

Vivienne

Your Horse is simply MY HORSE IS OUT OF IT'S BOX!!! Vivienne. Go read that article. I could fix that Horse in 5 minutes. First fix that Feeding Time Rules as that is your nemesis. Don't get too carried away with young Horses fidgeting. They don't have to stand to attention, just not move your feet once you have planted them. On the subject of punishment, despite what the 'Tree Huggers' think, a person such as you would have grave difficulty in hurting a Horse and if you watch them kick each others gut's out in the paddock (said crudely for impact) you can begin to understand what little effect a small elbow to the nose of a Biting Horse will do. Believe me, he ain't going to go and slash his wrists :) Go teach the Horse this THE 7 GAMES OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP and the rest comes easy. Regards

**********

Thanks John, glad you agree, I think the farrier is good too. It might be a little hard to see, I had to get the right angle of screen to properly see it, but my concern is the bruising or whatever at the coronet. He has it to some degree at the quarters just below coronet on all 4 feet, medial and lateral walls. Does this make sense? Farrier coming to look again on monday, but he is unsure of cause and so we don't really know what to do, if anything. He suggested the cause may be concussion from working... I've tried to point out the spots on attached, kind of hard to see but it is definate redness, looks like a stone bruise, but weird spot for that.

thanks so much for your time

I can't get the two photos in the image doc to work. They are becoming a bit of a pain these days but the two back feet are of a different angle. One is lower in the heel than the other and that would throw your balance out. This Farrier is obviously a pretty good one and has done a pretty smick job but as is the case so often these days, they don't stand back and have a good look during their work.  Regards

*********

Hi

I am over here on my farm in the south west WA and I am struggling to get a QH broodmare to join our stud.
My reason being, yes I know there are studs around the place but I have been investigating and some top mares and lines and nice types of mares for sale over in Queensland and ,NSW and SA are so much lower in price.
Why is WA so much higher?
Any ideas????Lack of choice so crank it up??
BTW I have been out riding my dun QH with company and the bridle and reins and the WHOLE look is getting compliments. My mare is the looker XX You are the STAR LOL Cheers Amber

Haha Amber. I would think it is because your State is riding the Mining Boom for one and the cost of transport from the Eastern States. I hope you are not "Lookin at your own Shadow" :)

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I think I need to improve my 'trainable temperament'.

He got so ornery about his winter rugs that he began to run off while they were going on.
Then I hobbled him, and he would canter off like a fool.
Then I had to tie him, and he would run off when I went to catch him.
At the same time, he would fuss over his food, not eat and not come up for a handful.
This went on for weeks.

Finally I got so sick of this I stopped rugging him last week.

Well 2 days later and he was hanging over the fence and all over me, 'rewarding' me for my good behaviour not rugging him. He's been a bad smell ever since and went right back to wolfing his feed.

Smart horse? You bet.

I didn't realise how warm the night had become until I got up early for a show on Sunday and was only in a long sleeve shirt before dawn. I normally feed at dawn when the frost hits for an hour or so. All the horses are naked now.

Sil

Amazing how they communicate Sil. Well done for being so perceptive! It is a skill that is rarely seen in this game. They always tell us, just depends upon whether we are listening or not :) Regards

***************

Thank you so much for your response!! As I tend to be a “talker” and write mostly late at night then don’t make a lot of sense I may have been unclear. Your response included this directly beneath one of the photos I sent:

She is not right in the Coat and her condition isn't right either. The muscle tone is upside down and incorrect. That surprises me though because your photos mostly show your Horse going pretty kindly and you doing a good job. The Horse is generally roundish rather than resisting with the head up in the air, building upside down necks and degenerated top line and so on. Your Horse has those problems however and it also has poverty lines at the back of the rump. I am not suggesting this is anything to do with your feeding and care, I think it is ridden or bit related.

That photo had been sent with the original email which was below the one you just responded to (explained the last years worth of accidents and problems that led to going to the trainer) and was taken more than a year ago when I first brought her home. That was actually my very first ride upon getting her home. She was not in good condition. This should explain the difference compared to the more recent photos I’d provided where you say she is going pretty kindly and “generally roundish” We are working on it…

"Listen to your Horses" I recently had a Pee Wee Bit sent to me by a kind Lady and I have been testing it of late. Horses do not like it. I have looked at the other links and I really can't see why you need such Bits either. I realize that it is the western influence that tends to swing people naturally to such shanked bits

I will replace the pee wee bit. The link I sent to the perfect bit pulls up a page that shows shanked bits, with options lower on the page for rings. The bit used on her at the trainer recently was the twisted mouthpiece and a D-ring, no shanks. He said the difference he liked was that the mouthpiece was able to spin in the D-ring rather than being a solid attachment. If you say a plain old D-ring is fine then that’s what I’ll do because I can get them for far less than what they want for that one.

The fact is that the horse is upside down. So I suggest you go right back to basics and ride her in a snaffle. No shanks, less neck reining, more two year old western class training with direct reins and indirect reins etc. More off the leg training. I have emailed you re Bits. Kind Regards

I’m hoping to see a change in the “upside down” now that we are riding more correctly…. I didn’t get an email about bits.

And lastly…

I have attempted to respond to your query to the best of my ability, given the availability of my time as I do spend 28 per week giving free

I do understand you are very time limited and must be very dedicated to devote so much time to both the real world handling and training as well as putting so much time and effort into responding to emails and keeping up the website. This is not lost on me and I truly and deeply appreciate that you responded to my questions. I would gladly send a donation via paypal as a token of appreciation for the valuable resource you provide. Also, which of your DVD’s do you think would be most beneficial to us at this point in our learning? I have to afford little bits at a time….

Have a good day!

Lori Kansas USA

I don't take donations Lori but thanks for your kind offer. I got your other letter re Horse running around the place again. She is obviously feeling much happier of late :) Perhaps she may know about what I recommended for her :)

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Well done Steve. You sure are going well over there. You'll be the local Horse Whisperer soon :) I had a Father of a Daughter from Wales contact me this week. He is going to visit and is taking my Mouthing DVD to her.
Regards to your Horse.
______________________

I was lucky John, I had a good teacher (yourself) and a willing student (dan),so my part was made easier.
I'm not sodaft to think they are all so easy John, compared to what you yourself work with.
I'm also willing to learn and soak up your wealth of experiences and if I have made one horse happier for that, then I'm pleased.

Would like to ask John, what is your prefered breed?
What is your horse you are featured with on the home page?

Steve UK
 

I really don't have a preference Steve. I love them all. I walk the line of pragmatism and therefore recommend against certain Breeds for Novice Riders and so on. Every Breed is bred for different usage imho and so if I were going calf roping I would own a QH, endurance an Arab, Dressage a Warmblood. Don't worry, I have met some lovely Thoroughbreds. Just that most are screwed by the Racing Industry by the time that we get them.

Regards
*********

 

Dear John

I entered my 20 month old colt in a led class last weekend, he has never been to a show before, so I was not expecting him to be my little cherub!!!!
But he turned it on for the judge in our pinto class and won!!!!!!, but when we went up for Champion he put on a real show for everyone and just wanted to rear every time we did a lap of the ring, when we were asked to line up he was perfect and we got the champion!!!!!!
I have just over 4 weeks before the Yallunda Flat show, and I just not sure how to tackle this little problem of rearing in the ring, he has reared twice at home, the first he won the second time I had a little squirt bottle in my hand so when he went up I was quick to give him a squirt in the ear!! he never reared after that until the show ( I cant really carry my little bottle into the ring and I think he knows that).
I show him in a western halter so I have the chain over his nose, some one suggested I use the chain as a bit??? (im not to sure about that)
Please is there anything you can suggest I try?

Kind Regards

Belinda and King

and don't you just look the part Belinda :) Brings back memories. I have been there done that and know what it feels like. Your Body language gives me your profile and so to fix that young Colt, and remember, they were all born to rear and nip :) and if you want to own a Colt, welcome to the World of Biting and rearing, you have to improve his......well I really mean.....your ground manners :) Even if I were being photographed with the Queen, I would not allow the Colt to be up close and personal quite like that and I can tell by your arm, many things. I would then strongly recommend you to urgently go learn THE 7 GAMES OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP  and train him well to it. That will free you up, get him out of your space and take away the excuse to nip etc and then if or when he comes off the ground, you will have the luxury of being down the rope at least 3 feet from his head and to tan his sweet ass with the other end of your Parelli lead rope 33.6metres with the end of it spinning like a light plane and you getting at least 6 blows in before he reaches the ground again. Ripping his head off laterally the moment he hits the ground and facing him up and if need be, using the most important game of the 7 Games, the yo yo game to back him up. As for the suggestion to USE THE CHAIN AS A BIT, that doesn't surprise me at all. That is stupid, cruel and typical of some in the Western scene in this State. Besides, do that and forget any Mouth on the Horse when you come to start him. If you want a rearing Horse under saddle, just go ahead and do that :( I can tell you love your Horse, that person does not love Horses! If your young Horse rears again at a Show, don't worry. That is what young Colts do :) JUdges should take that into account. Not incessantly but the odd occasion. The Colt feels excited and proud too :)

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G'Day John,

I have been having a few small problems with my TB mare, I wrote to you a while back asking If you thaught I was unfairly dirty on my then dressage coach for insisting I ride my horse when she was clearly very unhappy,it turned out to be a sore whither from the rug, her shoulders were very sore too.

Since then she has had 2 months off. But I have been lunging har every second day for the last two weeks, to try to get her slowly back into work.But an now having some problems with riding her

Firstly I tried to ride her in the arena,she refused to trot.pinned her ears back and got "pissey", I didnt push her too much as last time she reared (a little one)

Yesterday I took her up to a trainer/chiro, he rode her in the roundyard and she bucked like a bronc, He rode her through it all,and she calmed right down, so i rode her for another 20 min and there was no problems.
He told me to give her a lunge that arvo and put her in the arena and see how she goes, She did the same thing to me again, refused to trot and got pissey.

So I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to go from here, I was sure her problem was she was "over herself"but she had done a fair amount of work and still the same result.
I'm now thinking mabye she is arena sour because of the last lesson where I was told to "ride her through it",
Is she remembering that her whither hurt in there last time? or mabye a combo of both
Her saddle ,teeth and back are all good
I just cant seem to work this mare out. When she is good she is really good but... well you know how it goes....
Thanks again
Nat

You know Females Nat. They have memories like bloody Elephants' hahaha. I would think there is no doubt at all that is what the Horse is thinking. Of course you must still be the ultimate Boss but she sure is holding it against you. A mix of enough assertiveness to not accept naughtiness but a lot of smart and tactical Riding...like.......Go for a 15 minute walkies Trail Ride on a big Belly Rein and then to the arena for a warm down :) While you are there, watch the Body Language as part of your assessment. Especially on approach. Feel the impulsion, read the mind of the Horse. She will tell you everything Nat. Build upon it and work out smart tactical ploys to gain the trust of your Horse. I hope I have given you all enough ideas so that you can use your own imagination and emboss your physiological training skills now. Regards

*********

Dear John
god I love your website I am constantly on it learning, learning,learning
The shying horse well I have one
We have done PNH, we have done endurance, we are now doing dressage (yes we are Arab, 13 I might add)
I still keep my horsemanship up to date with him ground and riding (I use your site you and Linda are the icing)
He has shyed only the once while I have been doing dressage-yippy! 12 months worth (that was in January he threw me so bad I now have a frozen shoulder)
I love him to bits we are partners now, as I have focus(dressage)
But cricky........ I'm so aware of shy's that it debilitates my riding I use to fall off every time I rode him (before I had a son) laugh ,and say my fault for not concentrating but now I have a baby cant afford to fall off and hurt myself, shoulder is enough
I am never ready for the one rein stop, it comes from.......I don't no where! Trotting along ..bang I'm off
I seen the goat you talked about well....... he shied, left me in a pile of blackberries took off onto a bitchimen road (left the forestry) blind corners how he got home safely god only knows, I got picked up by a Harley dude when I reached the road, He told me my horse was fine eating grass at my property with his paddock mates!!!!!!phew I said
I have the fear of riding alone now, that happened 2 years ago, I ride with friends but gee I miss riding alone I love being 10 foot tall and bullet proof the feeling of you and your horse is invigorating I think. And lately people are busy he needs to get out of the arena.
Have you any tips for the shy........ from no where!
Cheers
Denise

Sorry Denise. I think any Trainer who said they could guarantee that such a Horse wouldn't drop you again would be lying to you. You can never rule it out. I would think you then have two options. Ride with Friends as a Trade Off for the "Mother with Kids' condition or find a Horse that is guaranteed never to drop you. I know you aren't going to take the latter option though :) We have to realize our inadequacies in life and not being able to sit that type of shying Horse is perhaps one of them. I know what they are. I ride them basically every week and the only reason I don't fall off them too is that I have probably fallen more than you in the past :) Regards

*********

 

28th August, 2008

HORSELAW

This is a story about a very nice Lady who along with her Husband had retired and were moving out to the Sea Side. She is devastated at the loss of her two Standardbred Mares. I smell very foul play here. If anyone knows the people involved or where the Horses went., please let us know. Meanwhile, if the Lady concerned doesn't advise the Owner truthfully where they went, even if it were the worst news, we shall see what she says under cross examination in the witness Box.

Dear John

Thank you for encouraging me to pursue the girl, Stacey, following the “disappearance” of my two mares, Suzie and Holly. The following is the “course of events”.
We sold our 10 acre property at Kudla, with settlement to be on Thursday, 3 July. We still had our two broodmares, Suzie and Holly, so I asked ----- (our trainer at Penfield) if he could have them until I found them a new home. I told him that I had contacted studs in Queensland, and would also see about placing them in Victoria. I said that it may take some time because I had started work for the tax season, and contacting people and waiting for them to get back to me was a slow process. No problems, he said.
I am heartbroken and can’t believe that Suzie and Holly have met such a tragic end – they certainly weren’t unwanted horses.
I have written a report (sorry it’s a bit long), and have attached it to this e-mail.
Any help, advice etc you can provide regarding civil action that I can take against the girl will be appreciated. Of course, I am more than happy to meet any costs.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Marilyn

Phone: 8552 8453


Thursday, 17 July – I rang Stacey – 0400 199 256.

· The first thing I asked was, “are you doggers?”

· “No”, she assured me. “We break them in to saddle and find them good homes. We have done this with a lot of horses. We could never dog a horse.”

· I was tearful and said that I had given horses away before, only to find out later that some of them had been “cashed in”.

· I stressed that if they were not suitable as riding horses, I would take them back and continue to pursue a stud career for them. I said that when she had picked them up I hadn’t finished my enquiries with the studs, and that I hadn’t given up on the possibility of breeding from them myself.

· I said that although Suzie hadn’t had a foal, she was well-bred and the stud master at Lemon Tree Stud, Ross Gange, had told me “look after that mare – she’s very valuable”. I told Stacey that Suzie was “special” to me, and that I had done a lot of her jog work at home. (We had bought her from the “elite” Gold Section in the yearling sales.)

· I also told her that Holly had had one foal, now a five-year old winning racehorse, and that his owner had expressed an interest in buying her, but had changed his mind because he didn’t want too many horses.

· Me - “I really don’t see them as riding horses. What do you think?”

· Her – “I don’t know. I won’t rush them. I’ll let them settle in for a few days first. The big one (Suzie) is friendly enough and should come around, but the smaller one (Holly) is quite wary.”

· Me – “That’s just Holly - she can be hard to catch, but she’s not nasty and is easy to handle once she’s been caught.”

· Me – “I’m happy to pay for their feed while they are with you. If you are able to find them homes as riding horses, you can have the money for your efforts. But, if they are not suitable for riding, I will take them back.”

· The conversation ended with her all enthusiastic and positive about Suzie’s and Holly’s future as riding horses.



Thursday, 24 July – my day off work

· I rang Stacey – “How are Suzie and Holly going?”

· Her – “I haven’t had a saddle on them yet.” (Not the enthusiastic person I had spoken to a week earlier.)

· Me – “Why not?”

· Her – “The big one’s not bad, but I can’t get near the little one. I’ve advertised them, but nobody’s interested.”

· Me - “I said that I didn’t think they would make saddle horses, so I can make arrangements to take them back.”

· Her – “No. They just need a bit of time.”

· Me – “In the meantime, I said I would be happy to pay for their feed. What’s your address, so that I can send you some money?”

· Her – “5 Geoffrey Street, Lewiston.”

· Me – “Is that your postal address?”

· Her – “Yes.”

· Me – “As I said, if they are not suitable to ride, I will find a home for them. I hadn’t finished my enquiries when you picked them up, so I will go on with that.”



Friday, 25 July

· Put $100 in an envelope addressed to

Stacey

5 Geoffrey Street

Lewiston SA 5001

I enclosed a note that said

For Suzie and Holly

Anyhow, this goes on for pages but the Lovely Lady is heart broken. The two Horses have disappeared off the face of the Earth and the lovely Stacey (bless her heart) can't seem to remember who she gave them too. Isn't that just lovely of the petal

So if anyone can help with any information about these two Mares, the Lady would be most appreciative and even pay a reward for information leading to the whereabouts of them. Thanks


*************

HORSELAW

Hi,

Not sure if you are able to help, but thought I may as well try.
I purchased an ASH gelding, 4yrs, in May08 for $19,000 plus GST.
He came from a home where he was in full time work, was shown in ASH classes, and had started work with cattle for campdraft.
He is well bred, seemed to work well, was quiet, easy to c/s/f, etc.
I had a vet check done on him pre-purchase, which was all clear.
When he arrived home, he was extremely unsettled, and continued to be so for a good month.
I gave him time, and just let him be, to give him a chance to settle. He is paddocked with 2 of my other horses – both quiet and well mannered.
We are on a rural farming property, and I had hoped to trail ride with him, use him around the cattle and sheep.
I have 4 young children and so can only ride at most once a week, preferably with the children on their ponies.
My horse has so far proven to be unreliable. When I try to ride him, he will rear and has thrown me twice.
I have had 2 other experienced horse people check him, ride him, and check my equipment.
We have domestic pigs and these in particular scare my horse so much, which is when he will most frequently fight, rear and flee.
I have spoken to the lady I bought him from, and she said she had never experienced any problems with him, and was very surprised to hear this about him.
I believe my horse is not coping with the change in environment, which includes climate, location, riding schedule, and other animals.
I asked the lady I bought him from if she would consider buying him back, or exchange him for another horse. Her answer is no.
Her suggestion is to find a trainer to take him, work with him, and sell him for me.
My question to you is do I have any rights? I know horses don’t come with a money-back-guarantee.
I think I paid a great deal of money, which I was prepared to do, to purchase an educated horse without problems, which I made quite clear when I first enquired about him.
If you have any suggestions or comments for me, I would most appreciate your time.

Thankyou,

Carol

How terrible Carol? Under the Law, you do have rights of course and they can be quite powerful but it is enforcing them that is the thing. If the Defendant goes to Trial, you need to have the goods to prove your case. In my job, I advise Lawyers how to beat such cases or how to make them stick, depending on which side I am at the time. Lets say then that you got home and the Horse reared and got rid of you twice, for no good reason. You have a strong case providing you have witnesses, video and the like. However, your problem here is the Pigs. If I were giving an opinion for the other side, I could easily make a case that the Pigs caused it and that it was not the fault of the Seller that they didn't have Pigs and did not make the Horse 'Pig proof' I'd like to see you find a Trainer who has Pigs for Pig proofing the Horse :) You should however take the Pigs along to the Trainers place and I am dead serious here. Meanwhile, the Pig problem is the main thing that stops you having a strong case, but there is another. Letting the Horse settle in for such a period of time is a major mistake that many, many people make. It is a mistake at Law for when a Court case comes, a doubt can be put into the mind of the Magistrate that other things may have caused the problems with the Horse because you had it long enough and did not complain when the horse first arrived. The longer you wait the less chance in Court. So I would put that Horse in your Cattle Yards and the Pigs in a cyclone yard adjoining and let him get to know them on his terms. Sniff, even touch perhaps in the end. That may solve your problems with the riding. Only that. Regards

************

LETTER OF THE DAY
 

Hi John
I noticed your comments re the horse industry having its own home in your reference to the 2008 Adelaide Royal Show Dressage at Wayville.
To put you in the picture, I believe they are still working on having the State Horse Academy at Wayville, but that's been in the pipeline for years!! (dry argument like the lakes at the end of the River Murray in SA!!)
If it comes to fruition it will probably be a shared facility...not exactly what you want.
But then again, if the Sport Horse Industry got itself together (ha ha!!) then Cheltenham Park Racecourse was great opportunity missed....only a President from a wee Pony Club in Tea Tree Gully stood up for its use as such a great facility for ALL Sport Horse members to use.
Will our fellow sport horse industry members pull their finders out to demand Victoria Park as its home....I suspect not. The biggest THREAT (T from the common marketing term SWAT) to the industry we are both passionate about is as Paul Mabarrack once said when he was interviewing me for a position with Horse SA some years ago, are the people WITHIN the industry itself!!!!
Back to the local scene....Waiting for an update!!

Regards
James Thompson
President PGPC

The bad news is Jim that I have the latest on that. Hot off the Press and two weeks ago, the State Govt did the big turn around and all of the years of work that you all did has been lost. Yes, we can shine at the Olympics but the Industry is 'on the nose' with Governments and Councils. They just don't get it :( So let's talk about 'VISION'

VISION

or lack of it is what the Horse Industry has had throughout History, is why after 122 years, they don't have a home to call their own. How good is that? Can you tell me why someone, somewhere, never initiated buying their own Land? When it was a dime an acre even? No vision. There is only one good Committee and that is a Committee of two with one permanently on long service leave. Only then do things really happen. I'll tell you how to solve the problem when I see you next.

**************
 

THE TROTTER

One of Russia’s greatest Dressage riders, the late Elena Petushkova, whose knowledgeable eye detected his great potential for piaffe and passage. Thus followed the FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera in 2002 and Aachen in 2006, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and the European Champioships in Hickstead in 2003 and Hagen in 2005. This year at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier in Neumünster, Alexandra and Balagur scored a perfect 10 for their piaffe.
 

 

Doping casts doubt on equestrian future11:43 AEST Mon Aug 25 2008

The Olympic equestrian events, meant to include Hong Kong in China's coming-out party, reeled from success to scandal as doping again cast doubt on the future of elite horse sports in the Games.

The suspension of four riders from the grand finale show jumping contest, after their horses tested positive for a banned substance, pointed to the possibility of systemic doping in the sport.

The incident resurrected the spectre of Athens in 2004 and Sydney in 2000, when show jumping team and individual medals were re-allocated due to doping.

It has also again raised questions about the continued inclusion of elite horse sports - which cost more money and attract more competitors than any other Olympic sport - in the Games.

Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, said he was aware the International Equestrian Federation was prepared to take a strong stand on the doping of horses.

"I think there were incidents in Athens which cost medals and it relates really to the cruelty aspect I think rather than performance enhancing as I understand it," he said.

"It's pleasing that the International Equestrian Federation has prohibited drugs and that that's being enforced."

While announcing the suspensions last week - Bernardo Alves of Brazil, Christian Ahlmann of Germany, Denis Lynch of Ireland and Tony Andre Hansen of Norway - Sven Holmberg, head of the FEI's jumping committee, noted all the horses had tested positive for the same substance.

"This is certainly a serious blow to the sport and we are well aware of the possible implications for the sport and its position in the Olympics," he said.

"The four cases tested positive for the same substance. I don't know if we can say it's a trend but it contributes to the seriousness of the case."

Hong Kong leaders who had hoped these events would allow them to bask in a little reflected Olympic glory will be angry and disappointed at the events.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) spent about $US150 million ($A173.19 million) on these events after Beijing passed them on to the former British colony, along with a little political kudos, because of Chinese quarantine issues.

While most facilities revert to the racing industry, the legacy officials said the Olympics would leave behind has dissolved.

Horse sports, never popular in Hong Kong, look dirty and show jumping looks cruel.

*********

Here you go. This is worth winning!!!!!!

Hi all,

Please see attached information regarding a fantastic raffle, organized by the Mid South East Dressage Club.

Up for grabs is a gorgeous Paramount Equine Solutions arena, $3500, as displayed at the 2008 SA State Championships.

For more information please contact me, or see the website www.msedc.equestrian.org.au

Cheers!
Carly Boon
MSEDC

************
 

LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hello...

I sent this over a month ago. Wondering if maybe you never received it or if I sounded like such a fruitcake it wasn't worth a reply. I have some updates. I finally sent her to a trainer. He did an exam of her right when I "checked her in" and said her left front should was out of kilter. He adjusted it and said she may be sore for a day but it was probably bothering her. After she'd been there a week I started going 2 or 3 times a week to
ride her and take lessons on her. She is home after 3 weeks. We are
getting along much better now. I have learned a bit about using my legs and though I'm still not perfect (far from it) and I still get a case of nerves (the nerves always seem to be worse before I'm actually on her.. the panic attacks start to hit in the truck on the way to go ride her and continue until I'm in the saddle. There are times she still dances when I try to mount her and that's probably the worst time for me and makes me very nervous. The weekend after I got home, we gave the events a go both days at
a KWHA show and we got along great. Mostly walked or trotted day one, but
on day two I even cantered her through some of the events.

I try to be concious of staying calm and loose in the saddle rather than tensed with legs clamped around her. I am conscious to be more assertive
with her and more matter of fact. The trainer said I've been much too much
of a pushover and that I didn't have enough umph in my legs to make her mind if she wasn't paying attention or was ignoring leg cues. He put a pair of spurs on me and I did accidentally gouge her once on accident by tensing up and grabbing with my legs when we had a rough moment, but I've since got more accustomed to them and aware of where my feet are. Just having them on seems to put her in a different frame of mind and I find that I rarely need to use them, but I'm told that even when I'm using them, I'm still a bit of
a wimp. She was doing very well in this bit he was using on her
http://www.theperfectbit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&It
emid=53 (the twisted version on a regular D-ring) After her stay at the horsey hilton though, I haven't been able to afford to get her one though and have gone back to the PeeWee bit I referenced in my original email and she still does very well and as I suspected, I don't think my bit was our whoa problem.... She "whoa's" just fine in the pee wee bit, because she and
I both understand "whoa" now... . She seems more will"ing" rather than
will"ful" now but I seem to have a new problem......

I just don't get her some days. I have never before had trouble catching
this horse. A couple of days ago I went to catch her to ride. She let me
walk up to her and I was not hiding the halter. ( I try not to play dirty
pool ya know.) She sniffed my hand then turned tail and took off like a
bat out of hell bucking and kicking. I've honestly never seen her in a full out run but this was it. She shot through the gate between the front and back pasture. Me, I'm standing there thinking I've got to catch her and not let her get away with it so I muster up my nerve and head out to find her and here she comes barrelling through the gate again. Hasn't slowed down one bit, runs all the way to the other end of the front pasture, makes a full circle around the perimeter, flies right past me up the hill to the shed then stops on a dime and turns and stares at me from the top of the hill.

This staredown lasted about roughly five to ten seconds then I took a few steps her direction then stopped and stood there staring at her with my hands on my hips then she politely walked down to me and put her head down
to be haltered.

She led ok. She saddled ok. She bridled ok. She danced around when I tried to get on. (I really wish I could stop that..., yes, I've re-read your articles on making a horse stand and stand to be mounted and that's the next task we are working on) But otherwise the ride went fine except for a spook
at a roll of fence laying in the ground.

I sure wish I knew what the crazy running incident at first was all about
though. Any clues what she was trying to tell me? She had a mini episode
like this last week.

Do you think it could have been due to her being in heat? Honestly I've never been sure of when she was in or not. I've never seen really blatant signs with her. No wet bottom, no tail raising.... The only thing I can think of was she bolted right after sniffing my hand and what I'd been doing just before was cleaning one of Buddy's wool saddle pad liners to use on her under the new pad I got her. (Buddy is a gelding QH belonging to a friend of mine) It was caked with his hair and dirt and sweat so I had brushed and cleaned it and maybe the smell of him on my hands set her off?
He is a gelding though.... but another reason I thought it may be due to her being in heat, was that when she had the mini-episode last week the miniature donkeys were also acting "off". Both are geldings but one all of the sudden was trying to mount the other....

Mares.....

Anyway, along with the photos I sent the first time around, here is a link to a photo of us this past weekend.
http://www.lovemyoldhome.com/shasta/081708/100_0257.JPG
My husband took the pic, so it's not "all that" It felt so good to be
getting along with her and I had fun with her for the first time in a long time. I don't want this to regress. The rest of the photos are here:
http://www.lovemyoldhome.com/shasta/081708/ and here
http://www.lovemyoldhome.com/shasta/081608/ I think you can see I still am
not a reining expert, particularly with the split reins when I'm supposed to be doing something with the other hand and trying to rein one handed....., but she tolerated me with that and didn't spook at any of the stakes or flags, etc.

Thank you again so much for your website. I refer to it almost daily, both the problem index as well as the "Day in the Life" pages.

Lori Kansas USA

I'll tell you a story of this week Lori. There is a lovely Lady here with a lovely Horse. She was telling me that every time she rides her, she stands in the yard after, yawning and yawning with mouth wide open. I watched it happen. No, not teeth (which can cause that) they have been all done. I said  that I thought the Horse was communicating to her and that it was saying it didn't like the Bit. The following day, she had a lend of my Bit. Not only did the Horse perform better and softer but it didn't yawn when released into the yard. "Listen to your Horses" I recently had a Pee Wee Bit sent to me by a kind Lady and I have been testing it of late. Horses do not like it. I have looked at the other links and I really can't see why you need such Bits either. I realize that it is the western influence that tends to swing people naturally to such shanked bits etc and that people always follow what everyone is doing around them and that is normal and normal changes every 50k across the Planet as Pat says, but I cannot understand why a Rider with your Profile would ever be allowed to use such Bits and as for the spurs....weeeelllll, better not say any more. So why would it be that your Horse ran off? I think your Horse was communicating to you. I'll tell you a story of today. We lock our Horses up over Winter to protect the pasture. When Spring comes and the paddocks dry out a bit, I start letting them out daily. I decided to do that tomorrow. This morning, Mrs. HP's Horse went and stood to attention at the gate, waiting for me to open it. She hadn't done that for 3 months. Now, your Horse does not look right. She is not right in the Coat and her condition isn't right either. The muscle tone is upside down and incorrect. That surprises me though because your photos mostly show your Horse going pretty kindly and you doing a good job. The Horse is generally roundish rather than resisting with the head up in the air, building upside down necks and degenerated top line and so on. Your Horse has those problems however and it also has poverty lines at the back of the rump. I am not suggesting this is anything to do with your feeding and care, I think it is ridden or bit related. The fact is that the horse is upside down. So I suggest you go right back to basics and ride her in a snaffle. No shanks, less neck reining, more two year old western class training with direct reins and indirect reins etc. More off the leg training. I have emailed you re Bits. Kind Regards

**********

Hi, not sure if you would remember me and my chestnut gelding from your recent Perth clinic. He's a clydie x quarter horse that had some issues with trust and a few other things going on. After our trip to Perth and your assessment I took stock of what needed to be done and finally came to the decision that I just "out horsed" myself and had to sell him to a rider that had the experience and capabilities that I just dont have. I never did ride him again but spent loads of time on the ground with him building a great relationship with him. He is like a puppy with me but as soon as I even look like Im serious about mounting rather than just "horsing" around with him, everything goes to custard. A friend of mine who is a very experienced and accomplished rider has no trouble at all with him and we go riding together on a regular basis, yet when it comes to ground work, he doesnt listen to her at all. So between the two of us we've had a great time but I have now sold him to a lovely lady that is fully aware of his personality and is willing to spend the time to bring him on to his full potential. I feel a little bit of a failure in this instance and Im not one to give up or give in but as a lady (man eating mare owner) said to me, at the risk of being hurt is it really worth it. What do they say - pride comes before a fall, and I think Ive fallen enough!
I just wanted to say thank you for your honesty in both your assessment of my horse and also me. Yep Im a chubbly wubbly but have lost close to 20 kilo's since that Perth clinic so Im listening........

Sure do D and well done to you. What a great achievement. I am glad your Horse turned out. He just needed the right owner. It wouldn't surprise me if down the track you would be fine with him if the Lady moves him on. He had been through plenty that Horse. The look in his eye said it all. You saved him :)

*************

heya
i was visiting your website and i noticed you helped people with horse problems.
i recently bought a 17hh gelding but when im jumping him after 2 jumps he will continually run out on me
and muck about going into the jump. he never does this the first couple of times i jump him and the jumps are
only around 60cm so they are not beyond his jumping capacity.
please send any suggestions asap.

jenny

Investigate the Veterinary Jenny. For the Horse to jump twice good and only then start to run out tells me once again, the Horse is telling you something. Regards

**********

 

Hello John,

So, I have a new horse. He is an anglo arab, 15 years old and a beautiful personality. I have him on trial at the moment, and he has only been with me for 5 days. I let him settle into his new environment for 3 days (terrible winds in Geraldton when he arrived), but he handled it all very well. He doesn’t appear skittish, has had the occasional spook, but generally seems a happy horse. He’s been good around the dogs, cat and kids, and I have played games on the ground in the arena with him, set up obstacles and lead him thru then asked him to do it without me leading. Basically, playing at liberty. All has gone very well. That is until I got in the saddle. Yesterday I rode him for the first time at a walk. He didn’t seem happy then. His tail was swishing a lot, but I thought it may be flys. Then I asked him to trot which he did, but when I wanted to go back to the walk, he started bucking. Having only ever owned Standardbreds – who I don’t think even know how to buck! LOL!, I was in total shock. My husband was watching, and I have never been bucked before, so I was terrified. He threw in about 6 bucks – not high – and I lost one stirrup. Had he have gone one more, I think I would have fallen. My hubby tells me I did the ORS to get him to stop. I can’t remember doing it, but he swears I did. Anyway after that, my confidence was shot! But I had to keep trying, so we walked off fine for about 5 mins, then he started bucking again. This time I was more prepared and I did one rein him and it worked immediately. I rode him at a walk for about 5 more minutes then got off. I think I was too scared it would happen again. Anyway, today I got the courage to try again. This time I got hubby to lead me for a while, then I went on my own. Only walking. No sign of a buck. He didn’t appear terribly happy though to have me riding again. But today I was more assertive, and more in control. I suppose this helped a lot. I also did lots of ORS’s each side and walk on and halt. So todays ride was much better, I took him out of the arena, walked once around our larger paddock and back into the arena and dismounted on a good note. Lots of carrots and grooming followed. His owner tells me he has had a Bowen therapist look at him once, with no dramas, and then a Chiro who also said no dramas. He doesn’t appear lame at all on the lunge and has a beautiful trot and canter. Aside from injuries that I can’t see, is it possible this horse knew yesterday that I was not completely confident in riding a new horse and was testing me. I’m not going to ride him tomorrow, just take him out for a walk around the new neighborhood, but I will be riding again on Tuesday. I did lunge him a lot today before getting on as well, and I didn’t carry the crop! I have no idea why he bucked. He appears to have a very soft mouth, I may have pulled on it, I don’t know. So to my main question. If there is nothing physically wrong with this horse, will the ORS get him out of bucking if I use it all the time? Or is there something else I should be doing when he starts, or if he does it again? I must ad, this was only his 3rd ride since March this year too!

Hopefully it’s not too long winded! Regards. Lisa.

Knowing your profile Lisa, my comment would be to not even dwell on why. Just send him back. You don't need that and the Horse shouldn't have done it. How dare he? Don't become a re-educator. Get a good Horse!!! Swishing of the tail means he is not enjoying it, not co-operating and not trying. Do we really want Horses like that? I don't. Well ridden though. Be careful !!!!

*************

I was in contact with cinnamon's breeder and she is a pure bred miniture horse not a pony. Thank god for that. She is pure bred. Her breeder said she breaks all her own. I am not sure if she actually has a heart beat. she keeps falling to sleep when you saddle her, pull her mane or tale. the dog chases the chooks and they flap arround her head and run under her. The lambs keep looking for milk from her and my foxy barks at her and jumps up at her and she just stands there. Lilly was riding her tonight and Molly theLamb stood infront of her and she stops and waits for her to move out the way. my three yo son can ride her unaided. He was squeeling with excitment saying look I can do it all my self. the worst she has done is try to refuse to walk on. she follows you everywhere and is the sweetest thing. the kids could crawl over and under her and she will just stand there.
I did see your points about the safety. I was concerned too. I was assured that she wouldn't move and lilly would be safe. I nervously watched. once I could see how good she was I calmed down. The colt was running the fence next to her and squeeling for her and she didn't even look at him.
I seriously have never seen a horse or pony that quiet. I think I got a bargain 800 with full tack. The only things they lied about was her age, papers ( said they didn't have them) and that she was a cross breed but regiterably. I can have the papers redone for $50 they said she was 8 I looked at her teeth and thought 15 but she is 12. she has had 1 or 2 foals. She was purchased in foal by the last lot but they said she had no foal and couldn't be bothered returning for re servicing. The lady who bred her said that she was heavily in foal when she left. I told the breeder about Mac and how he was leaving us to go home and now she wants to come look at him for herself. She loves standys. I said I would talk to brett if she came to look and wanted to have him. Brett will look after him it is the Girl who starved him not the trainer. The trainer payed for all his hay til he was given to the girl. He still has all his rugs waiting for him at home. The truck is coming next week. I was in tears all that day cos I will miss the old grumpy bum.
I will never forget him but he needs a more experienced person to take care of him. I truly believe that I am doing the best thing for him. I turned down One guys offer of $500 cos I suspected that he was going to dog him. There are so many scammers out there. I spoke to renae from aylesbury Lodge and she said I was doing the right thing for Mac. The girl who bred Cinnamon want to break him in as a riding horse. That would be good for him if she is prepared to spend the time on him. I think that would be better than eating himself to death. Maybe though that is what he wants to do. Maybe he doesnt want to be ridden who would know I should ask Dagmar Is that her name? I am so tempted to contact her for a reading for my Horses.
Cheers for now. Cindy

Yes Cindy, she didn't look 8 :) Make sure she is not 28, won't you :) Sure did look quiet though. Glad it is all turning out. Take care.

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Hey John,

Another question. Have you guys ever had to deal with Lymphangitis?
Sometimes called "stovepipe leg" in horses, where a limb mysteriously swells up for no known reason. Just wondering. Our big guy, Thor, is suffering from this as well, and none of the vets here know what to do about it except wrap it and administer antibiotics and bantamine.

Please let me know. Thanks.

Randall
Knights of The Guild
www.randallparr.com

Hi Randall. Anti Inflammatory Drugs are also used of course, to control swelling, light exercise if able. I would be towel wrapping the leg with the hottest possible water able to be tolerated by Human, out of a bucket of hot water and a packet of carb soda. Do it daily for 15 minutes. The cause is largely unknown at this stage. Regards
************

Hi John and Linda

Just wanted to pop you a line to say thank you for sending back my DVD of my horse and riding assessment and to thank you once again for helping me and providing constructive and helpful comments.

Also a very grateful thankyou for the Inside Leg to Outside Rein DVD which I recently recieved last week. Its a wonderful DVD.

Linda you really have a special gift of being able to communicate very well and make every day people like myself understand what you are talking about and what we need to do in order to get results, all this without having to yell and scream too. I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. I have tried the exercises out on my mare on the weekend and had a very different ride (for the better) and had a great response from your DVD. I felt her stretching down and over her back like you explained. When I took that pressure I once used off the inside rein and transferred it more to the outside rein with my inside leg pushing her over, she wasn't looking for the inside rein to hang off like she was actually doing beforehand as it just wasn't available for her to lean on if that makes sense (I am pretty sure that is what she was doing before).

John, I haven't got around to taking a picture of her hooves yet to show you if you think she needs her hooves specially angled by a farrier etc like I asked you about last week, sorry about that.

After the two rides I had on her on the weekend, I noticed that my poor mare had a little bit of skin flaps flip up on either side of the back of her hooves and it looked a little bit sore.

I bought it to the attention of the knowledable western man that runs the lovely agistment place I am at, at the moment and he said that her back heels have been cut back far too short from the previous farrier and he is going to organise his good farrier to put shoes on her and hopefully aid in building up the height of her back heels. Does this sound right to you? He said they are good heels for reining etc, but not for dressage and hacking :)

To me, it sounds like the riding I was doing with her on the weekend actually did make her engage her hindquarters and bring them underneath her to cause these skin flaps flipping up which was a good thing in one way as maybe this proved I did have her under me and I was hopefully getting somewhere, but just a shame about the minimal length of heel which I will now work on and I hope it is not hurting her too much. I guess its like when we have the quick on our finger occasionally pull down and rip off and it becomes a little bit tender.

Hope this all makes sense.

Thanks again guys.

Kind Regards, Tanya

Thanks Tanya and well done!!!!

The low back heels would cause problems with the break over and timing and make it possible for the horse to hit the fronts or the toe on the fronts too long and heels too low and therefore roll over not enabling the front foot to get out of the way before the back one comes along. Could be either or both. His idea is right though.
You should wear bell boots perhaps meanwhile.
Glad all is well.
regards

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Hi, John & Linda,
I have all but finished my re-mouthing John, and I'm so pleased with the results. :-) Dan, was a very willing student which I believe made it more enjoyable for me.
I went for a nice trail ride yesterday, at trot and canter I was total loopy rein, what a lovely relaxed and happy horse, he was stretching his neck long and low looking for a contact but it wasn't there, the pace was a very relaxed canter. As an ex eventer he was always wanting to go forward as though we need to get from A, to B, in the shortest time.
I worked on the forwardness with your method John, for him anticipating pace change by giving him a balanced mind and thinking, hey! I have reverse also.
My biggest grin came though when at canter I took the energy out of my riding and he dropped down to trot, then to walk all with out putting any contact on the bit,I just used voice commands.
I may need a little more to get him to go from canter to walk. never the less it has given me the feel and a goal to achieve.

I wanted to ask Linda or yourself John,with regards putting them into a frame, I now would only do this for a dressage test or pre test training in a menage. As you know I introduced the running reins into my training during the front brakes work on the mouthing work, dan does have experience of this with being a three day eventer so he didn't resist to the small increases in the adjustments to bring him round.
My question is, when in the saddle and I ask with the hand to go on the bit, is it an alternating rein ask between both hands, or is it both together? I understand the concept of also using leg on to keep impulsion.
I did achieve this and it and it was a lovely light feeling, my description would be, floating with control! :-) but wanted to know if I was asking correctly.

I will shortly be ordering the neoprene girth and converters when I get my paycheck :-)

steve uk

Well done Steve. You sure are going well over there. You'll be the local Horse Whisperer soon :) I had a Father of a Daughter from Wales contact me this week. He is going to visit and is taking my Mouthing DVD to her. Regards to your Horse.

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Thanks for your reply to my question Mr HP. I understand you can’t get rid of calcification but, in your opinion, would building the top line and developing the correct muscles help the horse or is it stuffed for good?
On another note I got my bridle today, it is just so bewdiful not Plain Jane at all!!!! I can’t stop smelling it (hey I love horses I’m allowed), thanks for another top product!

Cheers

Bec

In this case, an underlying Veterinary condition would be the culprit and therefore, imho, no hope. Glad you liked the Bridle Bec. Regards

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