This page is devoted to the education of Horse People everywhere, in the hope that one small thing learnt will improve the life of their horse.

If I 'get up your nose', ignore it. I say things with a 'glint in the eye' and mean the best for you and your horses.
 

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Ranked 4th in the World - Horse Training

11th November, 2009

Mrs HP is climbing the walls now. She is walking around on crutches again but Hospital Staff seem to be having trouble making decisions. She just wants home and so do I. I am burning the candle at both ends. She sends her thanks to you all.

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LETTER OF THE DAY

The station foals turned up from S.A. on Sunday night and are really nice types, both in looks and temperament. We had to get onto one immediately as he had a rather nasty puncture wound on his leg, suffered on the journey over. Fred did the whole halter breaking and handling session off 'Uncle Roy', our fantastic lead horse. h He showed us again that having a good lead horse saves so much work, and also so much stress in these wild horses and it went off without a hitch. This little one is a part Clyde and I think is a cracker!

Anyway, love to Linda and I'm glad that awful plate has come out. My leg kept aching thinking of that in her tiny leg. I wish I was a sophisticated dressage rider so I could send her some complicated questions to keep her mind busy. If Fred runs into any trouble I'm sure he would love her opinion! Rachx.

Fred Watkins (The picture of concentration)

 http://www.watkinshorsehandlers.com.au/index.htm

This is the classic example of the difference between Natural Horsemanship and Proper Horsemanship. You all know I am a fan of NH and use it extensively but like all systems in the Horse World, nothing is exclusive. The best Horsemen are those that embrace all.

Hi John, I was drawn to this comment by a Victorian Professional Horseman who frequents Forums. I notice that he basically and exclusively denigrates any of your training methods that get mentioned from time to time. I wondered if you would mind commenting on the following quote by him this week?

"Secondly, a good horseman never ever wants to desensitize a horse to anything. You never want your horse to learn to ignore anything. That's what many owners want, but it is nonsense. What you really want is a horse that feels okay about everything presented to it. A horse that tries to ignore scary stuff and shut it out or just holds it together without feeling okay, will one day become unglued. That's why bagging out a horse is a waste of time and never works in the long term. I would avoid anybody who thinks that they should bag out your horse or bush bash your horse to get it use to things. The answer to having a steady minded horse is teaching them to stay focused and to minimize their anxiety. "

His other half has a blog now and she appears to be pre-occupied with you as well. She too denigrates you flexing Horses and puts three photos of her doing the same thing. I'm confused.

Well, it could be about someone else but I don't think so.

I don't know what the attraction is as I have never met him or her. I reckon if I said it was daylite, he would say it is dark :)

You all know I am a fan of NH and use it extensively but like all systems in the Horse World, nothing is exclusive.

The young Horse in the photo above has just been injured with a bad cut to a leg, on the Horse Truck. The Horse is WILD, not Halter Broken, completely unhandleble, kick the eye out of a needle and needs treatment NOW!!!!!!!! So how do you treat the young Horse and carry out your Animal Welfare responsibilities, without 'desensitizing the Horse? Do what incompetent Horse handlers do, reach for the Drugs and inflict a needle pain?.... but hang on, you can't catch the Horse, you can't lead it you can't restraint it so do we drop a needle into it from a Dart Gun?

On the more broad statement re not introducing a young Horse to the Roads, the Bush or bagging it down, (which is a complete insult to the majority of Horsemen in this Country) The quote warns against anyone who would dare do that as incompetent'. I am therefore 'incompetent'.

I believe that anyone who doesn't do those things to a 'Breaker' is incompetent. Those Horses that are not are more prone to put people in Hospital at the slightest change in colour of the dirt, impossible to get around a Cross County Course and so on. The thousands of people who have been injured would attest to the fact that had their Horse been desensitized to whatever it was that caused the accident, they wouldn't have been hurt. I believe it is responsible Horsemanship to expose Horses to as much as possible so as to equip them better for their lives going forward. Who knows, they may end in the cauldron of the Flemington Mounting yard.

Don't be fooled by the "bagged Down" Term either. It is put in emotive terms to frighten people and to discredit any Horseman who places a bag on a Horse to get them to accept things. Let's examine the BAGGING DOWN by Horse Trainers around the World.

• Pat Parelli bags Horses down in the 7 Games with "flog your Horse with kindness"
• Monty Roberts bags Horses down with his fake hand on a stick
• All the top Hybrid Trainers around this Country bag Horses down with plastic bags on sticks.
• Natural Horse people everywhere have purchased a thing called a 'Carrot Stick" to bag horses down.
• Guy Mclean and plenty of others 'bag horses down' with a Stock Whip and blue plastic tarps that completely cover Horses.
• Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman the Lasso Rope etc

In so far as "you never want a horse to learn to ignore anything" Roflao. Tell that to the Dressage Queens when they get embarrassed in the Indoor with the Roses :)

I think I know what is triggering the brain of this bloke. He has the "Shut down" word in the back of his mind but he is not saying it. He must be associating it with any Trainer who doesn't wear a Dee Stalker.  Good Horseman are as gentle as any NH Guru on the Planet and sometimes more so. I hope you don't see me with peed off Horses like the Photo of Richard Weiss Horse in the Horse Magazine this month. You see bright eyed Horses that are Happy and love us. Pee'd Off Horses are in fact associated with over the top Natural Horsemanship Converts who lack judgment as to how far they can go as they have "Oh so much fun' with their new found Toys, the Carrot Stick and Slobber Straps :) We don't have Horses that get 'shut down' They have almost even disappeared from the Territory.

The best Judge of Horsemen and Women are the Horses themselves. I have any money to say that the pee'd off Horses with the Faces reside ironically in the NH World. You won't see any of those faces with any Horse that I work with (other than the face they may have brought with them but then only 5 minutes)

So to the Photo of the young injured wild Horse from Clayton Station,  That is the Horseman you want Folks. The one that goes the hard yards for your Horses and sends them back in a state where they won't 'bury you' down the track because........ they were "desensitized"

You may want to ask him about the young Horse that was too mad to break in and was floated up to Brad Weeks who got around it in two days? It was owned by one of those Forums. All publicity is good publicity :)

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HelloLinda O\'Leary,

We are trying a new technique to connect with horse people. It's called a web seminar, organised by Caylene Vincent of CONNECTING Horse People. I have been following the various speakers and it has been an interesting experience. You can join by following the link below. You can ask question before the webinar, but please restrict them to riding questions. For any questions about the course please email or phone us direct.

Bert & Marion Hartog-horseridingcoach.com

Hi Folks

Please get connected this Thursday with “The Riding Coach” Bert Hartog and learn secrets from a man who has been teaching many people to ride over 30+ years of riding and competition, and judging.
Its also an opportunity to learn about the courses that Bert and his wife Marion offer for people wishing to further their career in the equine industry.

Regards

Caylene J Vincent

CONNECTING Horse People

LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi horselovers,

I would like to invite you to my art exhibition at the Adelaide International Horse Trials this weekend.
I have a tent in the trade village, and have some new items for sale this year.

I have done some small framed, watercolour sketches, that would make great christmas gifts!
Also cards, bookmarks & laminated placemat sets showing my artwork of olympic riders, the most recent being Megan Jones & Sonja Johnson!

I am also launching my new "Equine Art" leisure wear range, of polo shirt and cap with my horse logo embroidered on them.
They look very smart, and come in a variety of colours!

Of course I am able to take commissions, and anyone ordering one at this show will receive a cap & shirt for free!
Any purchase at this years event will enable you to go into the draw to win a polo shirt & cap at the end of the competition.

Come & see my new paintings and enjoy the show, I would love to see you there & help you to "Preserve your Memories".

Regards,
Karen Lownds
www.equineart.com.au

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G’day John,

Thanks so much for posting the short story on our 3rd re-homed

Ex pacer Standardbred “Chevy”…I applaud you for posting these storys

& along with your own unbelieveable work with the humble “Standie”

I feel the awareness & appreciation of these wonderful horses is at an

all time high.Our family is heavily involved with the Standardbred movement

up here in QLD & are very encouraged by the progress of the breed

towards being “accepted”

Just thought your readers might like looking at the whole video of my

13 yo having her 1st & 2nd paddock ride on her new standie…

This is what can be achieved with a standie…this 7 YO grey was backed in one afternoon

& ridden as good as any horse within 2 months of finishing racing being lightly ridden only

once a week…keep up the great work John,

kind regards James


  Of course they would James. What a lovely Horse indeed. They never cease to amaze me those Horses. I'll post an update on that Horse I started soon. I noticed the non rider owner has entered for the next Dressage Competition here :)

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Thanks John,

Just thought I would let you know that my 20 day old foal today cought his leg in the fence and just waited to be saved..... not one hair missing from his leg and I haven't done anything but the halter breaking the foal. Thankyou Thankyou Thanking Thankyou Thankyou !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ARE YOU RELATED TO GOD ?????
How did this work without doing the leg restraint work?
You really are amazing.
Susan

Well it worked Susan because the opposite principals to the Gentleman I refer to above uses. The Foal was properly Halter Broken, true lightness not quick silver lightness and that transferred to the give in the legs because the Foal learnt the principal of 'true give" Well done and thanks

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

Hi John,

The DVD is great, I will have to get the mouthing DVD! I guess I probably should have got that one first.
congratulations to you both on bringing genuine, sensible horsemanship to the 21st century.

I was hoping you might be able to help with my latest project, a 4 year old ASH mare, who I call black betty.
She was handed to me to break in and then sell on behalf of her owners.
I don't know what has happened in Betty's past, but she is an extremely nervous style of horse, and for no reason at all will rear up and pull back violently when you are leading her.
Strangely Betty ties up very well and does not pull back when she is tied up, she also leads like an old hand off another horse.
I have also noticed that Betty pulls up short in her off side hind leg and may have pulled some muscles or tendons around her hip, she also becomes extremely assertive when you approach her on this side.
I am not sure what I should do with Betty, as I do not want to sell an unsound horse (both mentally and physically), the owners seem less then interested in her problems, and I feel they may have been happy to get Betty off their property.
Any suggestions from your many years of experience would be most greatfully appreciated.
Thanks again,
Kindest regards Dani
 

That Horse is wasted on the rear end Dani so you have a problem. I just love Owners like that. I hear this a lot. Send her back and don't let your hand shake when you do it. Let them be responsible for their own Horse.....or.......if you still want to help (which I know you will), offer to take the Horse for $1 and a receipt for payment. IN WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done. Regarding the pulling not pulling back Dani, just suddenly run ahead of her by surprise and haul on her head and see what happens. I will wager she will run backwards. Therefore, she is either not Halter Broken properly, doesn't truly tie up when the chips are down or has had a tying up accident (but because she never tied up properly in the first place. Another not desensitized Horse :) Let her drag a rope for a week (when you are present and in safe yard that she cannot hook a rope halter on) Regards

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Hi John


Firstly hope that Linda is getting to the end of her bad luck, and is finally on the road to recovery.

My name is Gina,. My husband and I have contacted you a couple of times previously and also met you earlier this year, dealing with a standardbred mare that was beyond our ability.
I am a 42 year old beginner rider, taking lessons with a well known EFA dressage Coach who is working on my balance and seat. I have only been riding for about 5 months and I am getting along really nicely, and now am wanting to learn to canter.
I have a beautiful 10 year old QH gelding who is western trained, ex-polo cross, and been there done that and he is just such a gentleman. According to western trained people who have riding him for me, he is highly educated and very responsive to leg and seat.
I mostly ride him on trails and can trot very confidently on him (both sit and post) and can trot on a completely loose rein either in an arena or on the road for miles. He is a lovely horse and we are very in tune with each other. He has really boosted my confidence and I feel completely safe on him.
I have also started attending a great pony club with him, that has guest expert instructors and have now had two different dressage instructors who once again were just working on brakes, seat and balance with the class.
I have learnt that he is very light to the leg, so he has been great for my balance as I cannot clamp my legs on him for grip. I have also attended a couple of clinics based on western, and have been practicing a lot of bending exercises, one rein stops, flexing and yielding hindquarters (as well as following lessons from Clinton Andersons DVDs, lunging for Respect and riding with confidence). My horse loves to work and is very willing and wants to please. Everyone who has taught me has commented on what a lovely horse he is and how perfect he is for me.
My problem is sometimes I accidentally give my horse aids that I don’t understand and he starts doing his western stuff, ie, rounding his head down and walking backwards if I don’t loosen the reins after halting, spinning in circles or side passing from leg pressure), and my English trained coaches can’t help me because they don’t know what I have done either.
Yesterday, at Pony Club under the instruction of the qualified coach I thought I would try a canter. She told me how to put my legs on and we were able to canter straight from the walk, we did a few beauties up the arena and around the corner (very proud my first canter ever) and it felt great, then I seemed to lose the plot. Easy I was holding the saddle blanket and rein with outside hand and he kept going crooked (worked out later he was probably neck reining), then we did out very spectacular sharp turn and spin like we were barrel racing (he can turn on a sixpence). Anyway stopped him on one rein. However once again coach not sure what I did wrong. I was talking this morning to a friend who is western and she said I probably held inside rein tight and put outside leg on, my hubby was watching at the time and he had said he thought I put my outside leg on.
My question to you is what is the best and safest way for me to learn to canter on him until I can get my balance and not need to hang on to the saddle pad or do stupid things with my legs that I am not aware of. I had this problem when trotting, I used to hang on to the saddle blanket, but the rein kept leaning on his neck caused him to side ways. Once I got my balance and just hold the reins he goes straight as.
My regular EFA coache’s school master is out of action at the moment, otherwise she would be cantering me on the lunge. Should I get her to canter us on the lunge? He lunges well as I have done a lot of the Clinton Anderson lunging for respect exercise with him.
Also could you clarify what contact is best for him. He goes very well on loose rein, but I can use contact on him. 3 different EFA coaches have 3 different ideas and I am really confused about that especially in the trot (and I guess in the canter also). On trails we go on a loose rein. He works just as willingly on a really short rein as he does on a loose one, but I am certainly no expert and don’t know what to do, or what to say to the coaches about how I should ride him.
I am getting confused as to what style to ride him, and need a bit of guidance to be able to say this is the best way to ride this horse. My regular coach is happy to compromise the very English style with him because of his western training, but she doesn’t know anything about western.
He is a great horse, and puts up with all my confusion and is really trying to do his best – I am very lucky.
Would love some advice from someone who knows both sides of the coin.

Kind regards

Gina

Easy Gina. Learn yur Cantering out in your Forest up the gentle long Hill of 2k long and turn the horse loose. Have Company. Don't canter at this stage with English Coaches. Go start Western Lessons with a Western Coach so you know what all the buttons on the Horse are and then, once you know you are not going to confuse the Horse and if he is so good that he will do both, go have fun. Whilst the Horse is obviously a cracker, he is just a bit too tuned for your knowledge base at this time. You must catch up but don't ruin him in while you are. My gut feeling is that you may be better off at Western Clinics for a while. Regards


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

Yes, you did. And I am still chewing over the info you gave. Ironically, today she was the most happy and relaxed horse I have ever seen her (my friend rode her - she has been riding her every week for a couple of months and I ride her when I can).

Last week she had a tantrum and threw her self down. I managed to get to her in time and stopped her from getting up (til I was ready) and patted her all over. I've done this before when she has thrown herself down but not for about 2 years, but this time she seems like a reformed horse. When I did let her up, I lunged her just with the length of the rein and when I thought she was settled, I hopped on and rode her up and down the driveway and she was fine. She has always jig jogged on every ride but last week (since being on the ground) and this week she was happy to walk when directed. Even after having a full on canter she came back to walk with absolutely no fuss. I've been riding her for 3 years, and she has never done this before.

I was pretty stoked,

Thanks for checking up with me,

Kathy

Fine Kathy. That was quite a smart move, getting to the Horse and restraining it from getting up again. (throws herself down)  Well done.

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Hi John & Linda,



I am a big fan of your site,  and regularly have a look at your sites latest info, so thanks, but now I need some advice too!

I have just bought a 4 year old Australian Stock Horse (after owning OTTB’s for a year and a half-now sold them both). He came from north west QLD and just did (a very well broken up) 17hour journey to his new home with me. He was station born and has never been off the station till now except when he was broken in. He is very quiet and has taken everything in his stride really well. He does not seem to be afraid of anything foreign to him either. He has been with me for 5 days now and has settled in well.

But…..

He has made friends with my good friend’s horse who is agisted beside him. I believe,as this horse is older and from their body language,that my friends horse has established himself has the ‘herd leader’. When he goes into his stable at night, my horse who isn’t stabled, frets at the fence for a while – pushing his chest on the fence and pacing up and down. Some times he will canter off and circle around and come straight at the fence, but stop at the last minute. He calms down after a while, but stays in the one spot just looking over the fence at the stable. In the morning he is just in the same spot staring at the stable and does not move till my friends horse is let out. Today she took her horse out for a ride when I was not there and my horse cantered around, started neighing very loudly and tried to push through the fence again. When I came to see him this afternoon (I did not know any of this had happened till I got out there), he had a large slice in the back of his heel – he had obviously put his foot through the fence and got it caught on the bottom wire, pulled back and sliced it open. I am really worried that he is going to hurt himself worse as he seems to be getting worse as the days go by, not better. I currently have his paddock electric fenced in half for rotational grazing. On one side of this he is beside my friends horse, on the other side he does not have any horses beside him, but can still see my friends horse and other horses agisted near by.

I don’t know what to do.


Should I

a. Take him down to a paddock at the back to the agistment where he would be by himself, no horses on either side. He would be able to see different horses in paddocks from as distance, but would not have any close by. Would this help him to become self reliant and become dependant on me as the ‘herd leader’- I do worry that this will make him worse though.


b. Electric fence his current paddock so that it is a paddock inside the fence line of his current paddock. This way he would not be able to get to any of the fences and hurt himself and he would also not be able to touch my friends horse over the fence. This does not move him away from this other horse though, it will just stop him from hurting himself on the fences when he is on his own.


c. Put him in the other side of his divided paddock for a week or 2 to get him used to being by himself, but still being able to see this other horse.


Or ‘D’ - none of the above and you might have a better suggestion………….


I am a bit lost here as I have not had to deal with fretting this bad before. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Elese

Such a pain Elese. I would go for option B for a while. You don't want him to be nosing the other Horse as that is where the control gets embeded. You will have cleared him from the fence as far as danger goes and you will then have to wait a while to see if he improves. Being new and off a Station would not have helped and he may have been allowed too near the wrong Horse for that time. I don't think there would be any difference if you went one paddock over. That may be your next option but don't be surprised if he doesn't improve at all. His temperament may be set and go with him forever. I personally would sell that Horse tomorrow, to an environment where he was herded. Regards


*************
 

Hi John

Great site, first up!

I have two thoughbreds, that i trail ride alot in the State forest behind our Property. A 7 year old mare and a 13 year old Gelding. Obviously when we take them both out they are great but when i take only one, the one left behind plays up, the normal pacing up the fences I normally leave the one behind in their small yard so they dont hurt themselves. Other than another paddock buddy is there a trick to this. I was 2 hours from home last weekend by myself at 6 am in the morning when my wife rang and said the Gelding was playing up and calling out ( Loud) Im sure the neighbours love it at that time. All i have found on the subject talks about the horse going out riding plays up with the anxiety, but i dont have this problem its the other way round. The one going out never has a problem. I dont want them working themselves up and being hurt.

Any ideas as i would love to take either horse alone if i want.

Cheers

Syd

Again Syd, that is the personality or past History of the Horse that is not confident enough in it's own company. It can be how they are born, how they are weaned or where owners have fostered this type of behaviour in the past. I see it here with our agistees. They know certain Horses love each other so they make sure they put those two out together every time they go out for the day. I would be doing the opposite. I would put them out with other Horses and never together. They then go to a Show and complain bitterly that the Horse at the Float stuffed up their Dressage Test as it was yelling and digging holes. Well, what do you expect.? I hope you ride the calling Horse out too???? Would it be attempting that if ridden out??? Certain Geldings and Mare situations can be a problem due to a heightened testosterone level in the Gelding, one that the Owners cannot obviously see. The Mare could be a control freak :) .....or the Gelding a wimp :).....sounds like some Marriages I know hahahaha. I hobble the Horse at home or get the other Half to work it and to demand concentration so as to fix the Horse. Regards

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

Thanks so much for the tips re my ASH gelding. I'll follow your advice and get a video to you with him in halter. There is one on you tube, from the night he went lame (won't go forward etc.) but not sure how much use it is as I certainly didn't push the point with him as I knew he was hurting. Near the end of the video he kicks out his right hind leg, then when we stop that side sort of collapses? The night before he was lovely and soft/round. I'l forward it through youtube facility.
With regards to his breathing when collected...... Yes, he seems to have some trouble. His breathing seems "thick", not puffing, but you can definitely hear it at a walk when you shouldn't.

Cheers
Rache

There you go Rache. He doesn't sound good to me.

**********

Hi John,

In response to Donna about her quarter horse x tb gelding and his behaviour..we have a 4 year old appaloosa gelding that is almost exactely the same in behaviour and temperment..he is a very laid back horse and not much phases him - though we have done a lot of Natural Horsemanship with him and even though he appears not to be concerned on the outside - he is on the inside..he is pretty cruisy though, when we first got him my daughter took him out on a trail ride and he couldnt have cared less..however recentley he has started the odd buck out of excitement and it is exactley like John said - he just can't contain himself any longer - not being an extroverted horse at all whereby he would be all worked up and you know what your dealing with - he just holds it inside until he can't hold it in any longer!

Mostly this is in a group and a lot of the time he will be going fine for an hour or so and then he will let fly with a buck out of the blue..also he doesn't like other horses coming up behind him fast and will double barrell out at them..it is only because he is a young horse and it is all so new and exciting for him..but it is very annoying. We have spoken to a lot of people about what to do and as he is my 11 year old daughters horse it is very difficult. He is not being malicious or trying to get her off in any way he is just having fun and thinks that she should enjoy it too! We are now going back to the groundwork and try and work on more respect - that's what you get when you buy a young horse - it's like dealing with teenagers - they are constantly testing you and you can never lose the battle!! I am happy for you to give my email address to Donna so that we can get our heads together and see if we can come up with a solution together!

Have a great day John and hugs and kisses to Linda..


Sue

For such behaviour Sue, I discipline them. Warnings, then level one, then two so that they know that the rules say no kicking, no leering and no jumping in the air all of a sudden. That is where the one rein stop is so handy as the Rider, who ordinarily could not survive a reactive Horse, can get it's head around and give it a wack behind the leg to discipline it. I can't do the email thing as they all get lost in the system by the time I read them here.:)

********

Hi John



Just wondered what you would charge for foals that are born on our agistment property that the owners want handled from day 1.Halter broken, floating with Mum, feet etc.Basically the foundation stones for the foal from the start.I have your DVD and we do ours like that now.Green under saddle work we charge $70 per day with hay.

Just dont know what to charge????

Thanks and love to Linda XXX

Cheers

Amber WA

Same price Amber or divided by half say if half an hour with a Foal. It is still your time that you should be charging for.  Regards

**********

he's a 4yr old gelding (yes Thoroughbred). When i finish riding/brushing/trimming his feet etc, he just walks off, seeming to have no interest in me except pats. i wormed him yesterday and it was a nightmare-he was very nervous, white in his eyes. sometimes he wont go foreward if scared of an area, so i have to hop off to lead him then get on again. He needs more training. I have taken him on the road 2 times. He's having problems with his hind leg now, the previous owners said it was caught in barbed wire. Do you break horses to sell? Would you be interested in him? im in Molong NSW. i dont know what to do. Thanks for your time, Kelly.

Sorry my love but no. Especially problem horses with a limp :) Excuse my sense of humour :) He may be exhibiting the tension due to the Veterinary problems Kel. Get him checked out properly urgently. Regards

********

Oh and I helped one of my lovely agisters with her OTTTB, we

broke her to leg straps and hobbles and she is now very polite about

holding her legs up for the farrier now. I have a bit of time over the next week

or so we are re-mouthing her befor the girl gets on. The horse has had

a complete change of attitude since being here. She was a PIG to put it nicely,

she had a temper and was free with her hinds and also upwardly mobile. She is

now a smoochy happy pony on the ground and we just want to make sure she's as

safe a possible when the girl throws a leg over (Oh girls and OTTTB's!!). I

talked her into buying a few of your DVD's and she is now convinced that my

"tough love" approach was the way for this horse and with practice, her timing

is improving:o).

It's funny, the Thursday before last I cheufered one of my

other girls to a Manola Mendez (interesting fellow) Clinic whom we had

lunch with, and the owner of this horse tagged along too. Gees I think her

eye's were opened (even I was a little surprised) at how much "tough love" there

is in classical dressage. It was justified though in the cases we watched, WA

has a few too many ignorant and arrogant Adalusians, out of their box

and needing to be put in place!!

Enough for now, Talk soon!


Laraxxxooo

I think it matters not what clinic Lara, you do see horses that are a bit above their owners but as you say, the Professional Horse Trainer, no matter whether English/Western/Spanish or whatever, have the same set of expectations and demands re behaviour. Regards


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

I truly enjoyed your article on weak hindquarters. I am rehabbing a horse that came off a year of stall rest and wonder if you have a strengthening program I can do to start this horse successfully back to work. I can tell from your article he has a weak hind end. He will not gait anymore, paces, trots, myriad of gaits-- and his canter is disunited and he tends to want to drop into the pace after about 14 strides. I have just been walking this horse on long straight walks up/down hills, but I recently broke my own leg (and doing rehab myself) so I will be rehabbing myself as well (and probably not riding for another 8 weeks or so).

I have all winter to work with him and would like to get started on the right foot with this guy.

Jyl Snyder
Springfield OH

Aha, an Obama Voter :) Now I need to get my wife to write the her second article hahaha. I'll give her your email tomorrow :) You do have a good point because that subject is never taught either. Thanks Jyl and watch out for it. She will say yes. She is a lovely Girl :) Regards

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Hi John, just reading Mrs HPs article on fixing hindend problems. I have a 5 yo Anglo with stifle problems. I have looked at conformation which seems to look OK and have had the advice of 5 different vets none of which can agree on what to do. one says get another horse, one wants to cut ligament, one wants to inject into ligament, one wants to put hyaluronic acid into joint and one told me to find a steep hill and canter up and walk down then canter back up walk down etc for an hour a day for 4 to 6 weeks. I'm am totally confused and pissed off!! This horses stifles very rarely actually lock, sometimes you go to pick up her foot and it is stuck and comes with a clunk. Her stifles are more sticky and clunking around and she is a very very unhappy horse. Problems really started when horse came back from breaker. Supposed to be 3 weeks ended up being 7 and breaker still not happy, basically told me he couldn't get horse going properly and she was a bitch. When I went to pick horse up I was not happy with way she was going. Extremely hollow, ears laid back almost poking me in the eyes. I think the fact that the breaker wouln't have a clue how to ride a horse round or on the bit has definitely made things worse. Before going to breakers horse was already doing lateral ground work and was being lunged in relaxed round frame with no problems. The horse comes back I try to lunge her in same frame and she goes off her nut rearing etc. I ended up doing a little bit of work then turning her out for a year. since I have brought horse back in she started off totally unrideable, bounding rearing etc. I did lots of trailriding, groundwork at walk over poles and inhand lateral work and things got a bit better. Horse began to walk, trot, leg yield soft relaxed and round , which she couldn't do before, but horse can still not canter except in a straight line on forehand and preferably up hill. If I try to canter during flatwork even in straight line on local oval horse kicks out and kicks out........you get the picture. I'm going to give Mrs HPs ideas a go as I have already had some positive results. I'm not willing to let vets do anything while they cant agree what to do. I'm hopeful as this is actually a sweet, friendly, kind mare with some physical problems. Thanks for giving some of us that are out here tearing our hair out hope. By the way my cruel husband (joking) told me I couldn't spend any more of his hard earned money on this horse so I went and got a job 4 days a week so that if I need to resort to surgery etc I can afford it. Thanks for the information, Karen.

Goodness Karen. I can understand your frustration. The Veterinary Community, whilst brilliant in many ways, do have some conflicting ideas which does not endear confidence in their customers. I can tell you that one of the top Vets in this State told me personally that you may as well inject water into stifles as the new drug. I have not heard of the acid. I have seen 100% success with the operations, done standing up with local and takes 5 minutes if the Vet knows their stuff and ridden 3 weeks later. You must have an x-ray though as the Horse could have bone chips or other and no decision can be made without knowledge. You too could really do with a training regime as per the Lass from Ohio above. We find lunging in soft sand helps build them up (another Vets suggestion) :) and I wonder about the Hill option and probably wouldn't do that one personally. X-Ray first step and then you are better equipped to make informed decisions. I do hope you succeed.

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Dear John

We had a muscle therapist come out yesterday and we were told that our horse had one shoulder lower than the other.

When she goes around the corner to the left she tosses her head and compensates.

Also one shoulder muscle is bigger than the other but her hips are level and she was real tight in the shoulder on the offside.

I was wondering is this fixable?

And what treatment would be recommended?

Thanks

Lisa

Correct Riding Lisa. Not incorrect. A proper fitness regime once again, get a second opinion from a good Vet and make sure you are riding technically correct with well fitting saddlery and so on. Nothing beats proper Dressage Lisa. Regards

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9th NOVEMBER, 2008

Mrs. HP had her 4th operation and yes, there was infection on the Plate but it was removed and all seems to have gone well. She is seriously getting sick of it all and is now getting depressed.

CORRECTION TO EMAIL:  mrshorseproblems@gmail.com

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ARTICLE OF THE DAY

Mrs HP has been working on this for those who may be interested.

Fixing Hind End Lameness in the Performance Horse

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HORSELAW

Here is another one that I was involved in. The Plaintiff had me and the Defendant had Lawyers. The Defendant settled on the steps of the Court.

Want to buy a Horse? Go to this Months Horse Deals for a real Bargain In Australia, we have a saying. "Mongrels"

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HORSELAW

What goes around comes around.

In 2002, I allowed one of young Horses out of our possession on the agreement that the Local Gentleman who is well known on the Pony Club Eventing scene and gave him two years to pay the Horse off. He paid $10 and then became scarce. Real scarce. Padlocked Gates and didn't want to know me any more. As I get a bit weary of doing battle with smart asses, on behalf of other people, I had let it ride in the knowledge that one day, the Horse was likely to rear it's head as someone will want to get it broken in. That day came today when the people who had organized to purchase it for $15,000 brought him here to be broken in :) I felt sorry for them as he is a magnificent individual and the young Lass had obviously got her heart set on him. We have the Papers of the Horse of course as he was never paid for. Well, tonight he suddenly found my phone number, Funny about that. Couldn't catch him at all for 6 years and suddenly he wants to be all talkative hahahaha. You can imagine my reaction of course. Finally, this little smart ass has got his just deserts as he is a "Serial Pest" He has been terrorizing peoples lives for years with his lies and finally he has been caught himself. If he persists, I will name him here for you and show you some photos of his property. Including a Horse Float that he took $10,000 from an EFA Coach for and never delivered. I'll keep you posted.

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Hansen faces hearing to keep Norwegian jumping team's Olympic medals

GENEVA — Tony Andre Hansen will fight to keep the Norwegian jumping team's Olympic bronze medals Saturday when he answers charges that his horse was doped.
Hansen faces an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tribunal for the second time to examine why his horse Camiro tested positive for a banned pain reliever after the team jumping competition in August. He was suspended and did not compete in the individual jumping class.
The FEI panel must decide whether to disqualify Hansen and Camiro from the Beijing Games.
"I don't dare predict the result," Hansen said in Norway's Sandefjords Blad newspaper Thursday.
The 29-year-old Hansen was the best performer in a four-rider Norwegian team which won bronze under a scoring system where the top three count.
Without his scores, his Norway teammates - Morten Djupvik, Stein Endresen, and Geir Gulliksen - would drop out of contention, and the fourth-place Switzerland team would get the bronze medals.
The United States won gold, beating Canada in a jumpoff in Hong Kong, where all the Olympic equestrian events were staged.
Hansen's horse tested positive for capsaicin, a banned medication derived from chili peppers. It can be classed as a doping substance if used to inflame a horse's legs which encourages it to jump higher to avoid striking an obstacle.
He faced a six-hour hearing in September and has a second chance to present his defence to the FEI in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"I have two foreign experts with me, who can hopefully get me acquitted," Hansen said. "This time, I just hope the evidence is good enough.
"The only problem is that we don't know where the substance came from. We still think it could be from pollution. But how Camiro got that pollution in him is impossible to say."
It is the sixth and final drug case from the Olympic equestrian events to be decided.
Three riders were disqualified and suspended in cases involving capsaicin: Germany's Christian Ahlmann was banned for four months, Brazil's Bernardo Alves for 3 1/2 months, and Irish rider Denis Lynch got a three-month ban.
Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa, the individual jumping gold medallist in 2004, was disqualified and banned for 4 1/2 months after his horse tested positive for nonivamide, a banned pain-relieving medication.
Courtney King of the United States was disqualified and banned one month because her horse Mythilus tested positive for felbinac, a banned anti-inflammatory medication.

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A Sonoma County couple has been convicted of animal cruelty in connection with the death of a horse and the neglect of two others found in a pasture last year without water.

Salvador Barrera, 35, of Bloomfield was found guilty last week by a jury of a felony and two misdemeanors for neglecting and mistreating the three horses on his property on Lincoln Street. He could face up to three years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 26.

Barrera's girlfriend, Laura Valencia, 35, pleaded no contest Friday to a misdemeanor animal-cruelty charge involving one of the surviving horses. Her plea came after the jury deadlocked in her case, leaning 11-1 in favor of guilt, Sonoma County prosecutors said.

Judge René Chouteau sentenced Valencia to one year of probation and ordered her to perform 20 hours of community service at a veterinarian's office.

On Nov. 25, 2007, a neighbor heard loud banging noises coming from a stall on Barrera's property. The next day, the neighbor found a dead horse in the stall and notified animal control officers, who found that the horse, a 28-year-old named Yiyo, was emaciated and had no food or water.

Two horses in a pasture, named Katie and Jack, did not have anything to eat, authorities said.

Veterinarian Grant Miller examined all three horses and discovered that the dead horse had succumbed to a colonic torsion, or a twisted intestine, that was unrelated to the absence of food or water.

The two surviving horses were seized in March when authorities determined that they did not have water. They were placed in a foster home and, after a month of care, gained about 150 pounds each, authorities said. They have since been adopted.

"I am hopeful this conviction will send a message that people who abuse or neglect animals in our community will be held accountable for their actions," said District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua."

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Jockey wannabe caught damaging NY horse artwork

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Police in Saratoga Springs are looking for a well-dressed man caught on videotape knocking over one of several fiberglass horses that dot the city's streets.

Officers say a surveillance video from outside a realtor's office shows two men and a woman standing near one of the nearly three dozen decorative horses placed throughout the city as part of a public art project.

A man in a shirt and tie makes an unsuccessful attempt to mount the horse, then throws himself over the horse's back, knocking it over and sending him tumbling into the street.

Police say the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

Hi Mr HP,
Firstly best wishes to you and your family, My last email was to say I am working towards my very first horse and i'm still working, saving and waiting for the right on to come along. But in the mean time im still the trail riding queen and still loving it. Also I have fallen in love! his name is Thomas he is about 16.3hh ( im 5.2 so it would be a crack up to see me get on!) and solid black. He looks like he has standie in him as he has a typical looking head. He is the one of the few trail horses i have known that will work on the bit, ride in frame, (he has a great neck) and is so soft in the mouth i can have his head in my pocket with the slightest movement, he is just lovely.

Anyway the real point of the email, my mum came with me and they gave her a different horse then she usually gets, she got a little QH X she may have had stockhorse in her too. She was extremely bridle lame and very sensitive to flies, i have never seen a case like this before. We were told she doesn't like tight reins but mum and myself are old school riders and have never hung off horses mouths. She was so tense and was lifting her head in a really strong jerk movement as well as hobbling along like she was sore, she was waiting for mum to yank on the reins and when it didn't happen she went looking for it. After a while and a few trots and a small canter later she had relaxed and had a total different look on her face. She was bobbing less and had soft relaxed ears and eyes, because of mums rein handling.

But as we got closer to home she started to get worked up again and it was aggravated by the tons of flies, this didn't help mum as she is pretty nervous as she hasn't ridden in years, but she did well to stay calm, relaxed and loose on the rein. When we got back we told them about her and they looked at us like we are making it all up, a staff member got on and she played up for him too. When all she needs is a fly veil and a confident KIND rider.


Sorry about the long email, but it is sad to see this nice little horse ( who was great to ride when she relaxed) ruined by novice riders hanging of her mouth. But if mums little bit of handling can get her relaxed in an hour, then all she needs is a bit of work and time. I would hate to see Thomas go down the same track, which is eventual when they are part of a riding school. So i will just have to save up and buy him! lol

Thanks again for the knowledge to help horses a little bit even on the Trail

Kind Regards, Alexis aka Trail Rider

Gawd Alexis, you are starting to sound like me hahaha. Well done for being an observant, empathetic Horse Rider. You are in the minority. Regards

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Hi John,

Greetings from the south coast of N.S.W. After many years of resisting,
I've finally decided to hook up to the internet recently and have discovered
your web site and videos on u-tube. They are very informative. Hence this
email. I have an almost 5yr old qh x t.b gelding. He was green broke as a
two year old by a 'semi' professional. During this period he was always
ridden alone. He was raised with other horses around him and was a very
friendly youngster. He was also very playful, apparently picking up tyres
with his mouth, throwing them into the air and kicking at them as they were
landing! Anyway, he is not a nasty horse, loves human contact and is
definately not an alpha horse. I am a bush bashing trail rider and do not
compete in any discipline. I'd like to think that I'm a competent rider
(although everybody thinks they are).

Lol, me too :)

Once he was started up with a natural horsemanship method he was given back
to the owner. She started to ride him around and when she would ride out
with other horses, he would buck. He would put one buck in here and there
for no apparent reason and pig root. After he did this a few times she got
scared and never rode him again. He was put in a paddock and not ridden
again until twelve months later when he was sold to me. I didn't know about
the bucking when I bought him.

I started riding him around on his own and he was excellent. I had his
teeth done and had the chiropractor check him out just as a routine thing
and he was fine. When I started riding him with another horse we would be
walking along on a loose rein and he would put just the one buck in. Then,
further into the ride he would put just the one buck in at the walk, and
then another a bit later. He never bucked out and didn't do it to get me
off his back. I know he wasn't sore as he never did this when being ridden
alone and had been checked by a chiropractor. The first few times he bucked
I didn't address the behaviour because, quite frankly, didn't know exactly
what was going on. I got my hands on a pair of dummy spurs and when it
happened again I used the one rein stop. He gradually learnt that this
behaviour was unacceptable and the bucking stopped. Then, that behaviour
was replaced with full on double barrel kicking at the horse behind him for
no reason (such as a horse travelling up his bum etc, in fact the times he
has done this the other horse was about 4 to 5 metres behind). Once again,
I used a one rein stop to turn him around and around and around, using the
inside leg with the spur. He also came to stop this behaviour. Next, what
he started to do was nip at horses whilst out riding. On one particular
ride he nipped a little brumby a few times and copped a hoof in the face for
his troubles. Still on that ride, I thought that he had learned his lesson,
however, later again, he started nipping at the back legs. Each time he did
this, or even looked to do it, he got a short jab with the spur. This
behaviour has now virtually stopped, sometimes he forgets himself and then
gets a reminder from me. Fortunately the friends I ride with are
understanding, patient and experienced and know that it is behaviour which I
am trying to address.

Up until now I have been doing all these rides at the walk and sometimes the
trot, trying to correct the behaviour before I progress on. Most of the
trail rides I do go for about 3 - 4 hrs and I ride him a few times a week.
The problems only emerge when riding with others and I don't have the
opportunity to ride with others all the time (mainly just on weekends) as I
said, he's great on his own. About a month or so ago I was riding with a
friend, we had been riding for about two hours and he had been great. We
went for a trot up a hill and broke into a controlled canter. Whillst
cantering he put in just one giant buck. I immediately pulled him up and
ran him around on a one rein stop (without stopping of course) making both
him and I a bit dizzy. Anyway, I turned him away from the other horse, and
came back up the hill again at the canter and he was fine. I have to say,
that buck put the wind up me as he had momentum it has also made me
concerned of when he is going to buck if I go for a canter with other
horses.

I rode him last weekend and he was really good but we didn't do much
cantering, although there was one thing that he did (and has done a few
times before). I ride on a loose rein and I am a relaxed rider. The horse
always walks with his head dropped and is not excitable or nervous, in fact
he is a very relaxed horse. Sometimes I will be about 2hrs into a ride and
he will all of a sudden bring his head up, jig jog and become agitated, he
then chomps on the bit. This is at the walk with no change in pace by him
or the horse in front. Last weekend when he did this I turned him into the
opposite direction, rode down a hill and ran him up it. He ran so fast,
without encouragement he was really fired up. In fact, we went up and down
the hill six or seven times until he ran out of puff. After this he
relaxed, dropped his head and was fine. I don't think that I should have to
run him up and down a hill six times to settle him down. Also, we had been
riding for two hours in mountains so it's not like he was fresh.

This horse is not malicious, aggressive or nervous. I have taught him to
self load onto the float he now respects my space and is good to handle. He
has a paddock mate who he constantly 'plays' with. The other horse is in
charge, I don't know if he's trying to challenge him but they both nip,
double barrel kick, rear and chase each other and are great mates, they do
like each other.

I suppose my question/s this; Am I on the right track re the bucking when
cantering? Should I continue to do pull him up into a one rein stop and do
tight circles? What do I do when he gets prancing for no obvious reason? I
read one of your comments re jig jog, do I turn him in circles then as well?
Why do you think he is exhibiting this behaviour? Is he showing off,
thinking he is still in the paddock or what? Do you have any other
suggestions as I would appreciate as it is in the back of my mind when we
go off in a canter that he is going to buck when I don't expect it.

Sorry about the length of the email, I know you are very busy but I am
interested in your expert opinion.

Regards,
Donna

You sure are getting into this Internet then Donna :) I think you have done great but go read my jig jogging Horse article and that is what you should be doing. He sounds as though he has a touch of A.D.D. and is a character. I think he gets the excitement up him and the bucks are probably because he suddenly can't contain himself. The Canter is a catch 22. He really needs loping circles for 20 laps or until he is wanting to stop and then ridden another 10. To get the canter excitement out of the equation, caused by not enough canter in the Breaking in process. However, when you are not used to riding Buck Jumpers, it is a bit of a risk to ride one through the buck in case he suddenly launches into it properly. That is your Achilles heel. You would certainly wanting to be giving him straight line canter up a nice long and steep hill like 2k. The Pro Rider may wait for the one buck and give him a nice welt down the rump for it and just see what happens but to discipline him. However, are you sure he is not locking in the stifle?????? Bucking from the rear end instead of getting air from the front and then the back?????? Vetter check him out then Donna. Regards

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Hi HP,

I have a lovely soft and gentle 6yo ASH gelding who has been out on rest on and off for 3yrs due to suspected stifle/rear end problems. He is the most lovely and obliging little guy when he is well then suddenly, after a few rides, he will not want to go forward, threaten to rear etc. so obviously knowing his nature I know there is a problem. And I have always known when he is going to be uncomfortable on a ride as he clenches his teeth together and won't take the bit when he normally accepts it quite happily. One of his strangest moves is lifting his front legs up really high like a spanish walking horse when he's uncomfortable. He has only ever shown problems when I've insisted on collection. Vets and chiro's have been unable to tell me what's wrong, some have said sore wither, others sacroiliac, others stifle (He's even had acupuncture!). So... 2 weeks ago I bring him back in after yet another spell and spend a few days just walking and trotting in a straight line on flat ground, but insisting on collection at the trot. As usual after 3 rides he he clenches his teeth together and won't take the bit and when I do ride him he won't go forward or on the bit and does threatening little kicks. So... the next 3 nights I lunge him with running reins thinking it will help build his muscle and he can walk, trot and even canter perfectly on both sides completely engaged. So tonight I ride him and he feels lovely but when I'm taking his bridle off he launches himself backwards in pain. I check his mouth and there are 2 calloused areas on both sides of his tongue where he has obviously been biting it when ridden (very raw on the right side.... surprise surprise that's the rein he didn't want to canter on). No wonder he is so unhappy! Now I'm thinking that this has been his problem all along, the collection is forcing him to bite his tongue but lunging is fine as I'm not asking him to turn etc? And the spanish walk was trying to point out where pain was (he is a smart little fella)? What do you think? Have you seen this before? He has his teeth done at least once a year, if not twice but each time the dentist has been he's been on rest so I think any bite marks had healed. He's in a Myler level one bit. Just thinking that one of their curved level 3 mouthpieces that claims to put no pressure on the tongue might help? Any other suggestions? I'm desperate for any advice you have because he is the most sensational soft eager to please and quiet horse I've ever had, and extremely talented to boot. He's the type of horse that I could campdraft with just a halter on, unfortunately against the rules though!

Thanks

How about that then? They speak, we listen! I do agree with everything you have said. No doubt. I would continue his riding now in a Halter or Bosal and get him fit, doing all of the suppleness work etc. Make sure you have a read of my wife's first article which should be up in the next day or two. That will be of assistance to you. Then you will pin things down even more and get a better assessment re the tongue versus rear end problems perhaps. You should also video him, with a good video person who doesn't zoom out when they should be zooming in Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr and send it to us. Do the full work out in a Halter. The Horse could be biting the tongue due to one sidedness but caused by the rear end. You should certainly experiment with different bits in case. Is the breathing ok when collected???? Poor little Boy. I have seen the front leg thing many times and in fact two weeks ago. That has always been frustration. Regards

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Hi John,

I just wanted to give a little more info as from what I've read most wind suckers have social behaviour problems etc.

Ours is very friendly both with us and the other horses and his weight is fine, he just simply does this throughout the day. Do you think if we were to somehow keep him completely off the fences and anything else to windsuck off he might grow out of it/break the habit?

Or would it be possible to make a collar to fit him?


Thanks
Terri

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/Saddlery%20Sales%20Page/wind_sucking_collar.htm

I haven't seen the anti social problems though Terri.

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Hi Mr HP,

Just a note to 'Krazy' and others who have lost their nerve, after my huge accident I was put hospital for the night, lucky I didn't do much damage, I had some nerve damage in my hip and I pulled most of the muscles in my lower back. It was a few months till i was fit enough to get back on a horse and It was at least 2 months after that till i had the nerve. I went back and got on a plodder, a little horse that knew really well, that i had worked on a lot, but it still didn't stop me wanting to cry when we trotted.

I LOVE horses, i am bordering on obsession and i was crying!!! not good enough! i went and had lessons on 25 year old show horses who been there done that and started at the basics like walking,relaxing and balance, then moved to trot only when the idea didn't make me want to cry! I had 1 lesson every fortnight because that's all i could afford. It was the first time i had ever had lessons in my life (I was 22) and they helped so, so much.

It took about 10 lessons before I felt i could trail ride, I stayed on bigger, slower horses but I still felt the fear in my chest, but at least I was out there. When i had my first canter back in the bush i thought i was going to die!

But now I'm back to where I was, It takes time, it took me nearly 2 years of riding to get my confidence back. I went on holiday this October just gone and I had my first real fast canter without the fear, a good horse helps!

I have a few boys to thank like Kruger the 25 yr old pony club/show and school horse, Gilligan, Mickey (smoochy boy), Thomas and Oscar the little Clydie x who i met on holiday who up'd the ante on me and made me let go!

So to those who have lost confidence, find a good horse who will look after you, they are worth waiting for and don't put up with crazies.

Kind regards Alexis.

Good on you Alexis. Well done!


***********

Hi Mr HP
Didn't get this sent until today and it looks like it is too late as you already made the same comment. It is nice to find my thoughts on horse-shy horse were similar to yours.

This is a note for Colleen with the horse-shy TB. -
If you cant return the horse you could try to see if you can find out how bad he is and try to improve him.
If you want a very good opportunity to desensitise a horse to other horses moving around it at speed I can recommend a few places.

The warm up pen at a Cutting show - preferably a big show with lots of horses is the place. Or even a local cutting club practice day. You could just sit on the horse in the middle of the warm up pen while lots of horses canter around him. Cutting horses need to be well warmed up before an event. They might need to lope for 20 min or more before being shown so if every horse at the show is loped for that time in the one arena there is plenty or running around going on. There will be other horses just standing quietly in the middle of the arena too. He might get the message after you just sit on his back in middle of it all for a few hours.

If you want an opportunity to really, really desensitise him take him to the warm up arena for a big Reining show. Not only are there people loping in circles, they are also practicing rundowns at speed, sliding stops and spins and anything else that takes their fancy. This all happens with lots of horses in the arena. I have not seen a crash though of course it is possible.

There are some rules, like slowest to the inside, fastest to the outside, etc, which people would tell you on the day. Some of these shows are held at night, or the arena is open for practice the night before a big show the next day. It might be an idea to contact the clubs in advance to find out when and where you could participate. If one club does not suit, then try another.

I used to enjoy the atmosphere in the warm-up area of a reining show, quite friendly and a lot of action going on with the horses. There might be 15 or more horses working at speed in a dressage arena size, on a lose rein too. I used to think with amusement of the contrast with Dressage Divas who would get snotty and upset and expect to have the same whole dressage arena alone to practice in, and here were 20 of us hooning around flat out. I always thought that these warm-up areas were great places to calm down a young horse around other horses. Reiners and Cutters just expect their horses to be well behaved, the stallions too, and make sure they are.

If you are an English rider these events are a good place to see a different style of riding in action and pick up some new ideas. Any horse can compete in reining, you might get a low score but so what. They sometimes have encouragement classes at smaller shows where the equipment rules dont apply.
Emma

Yes Emma. Well said and spot on. I have fixed Race Horses that were getting beat consistently at these shows and turned one that used to finish on the outside rail to a Horse that would burst through a pack and bulldoze them out of the way. That of course is the next step but not at a Hack Show hahahaha.

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Remember the little Clydie Cross I broke in not long back? Wow, just look at her now :) Go Kerrie :)
 

***********

Hi john,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to fix my pony.
My gorgeous little 13.2 arab x pony is one of the most willing ponies you will ever come across.i have had extensive training on him and he has come a great way,however the only problem is that he doesnt come down onto the bit.
i have had people tell me to ride him in side reins,tie his head down with baling twine,ride him in a breastplate with a stirrup ;leather attatched to his noseband and down to the breastplate,now now way in hell would i ever do this however it is getting fustrating,he is 5 and since i broke him in (3) everyone has been telling me to wait untill he matures a bit more and he will come down onto the bit himself.
Is there any tips or tricks in getting them onto the bit
thanks a load
Nicki

Yes, of course Nicki and none of those are it. They don't represent Horse Training at all. You just need information Nicki and then you can do those things. Get yourself a good Coach, one that will get on and show you or Mrs. HP's "Above the Bit" DVD may help you. She uses a number of Horses that have never done it before, on that DVD and explains in detail. The subject is too broad to handle here Nicki .I can just say that your Horse must 'Leg Yield' first and if it doesn't, go back a step and teach it. Best of Luck.

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Hi John

As a keen reader of the various articles on your website I have adapted many of your principles and suggestions all with excellent results. I have recently experienced (to me) one of the most horrifying events in my life which was finding my 4 year old hanoverian hanging over the chest bar in my float, luckily my husband was strong enough to release the bar ,and put her front legs back on the ground, I literally learnt the hard way with what you say about so called removable chest bars not being so when you have a weight of 600kg bearing down on it, she was cut up a fair bit but nothing too serious and was given the ok by the vet, its ironic as I have been trying to improve everything i can with my float after reading your various articles on them, and it was also the first time I had used my video system since I had it installed so I think this aided in my quick exit from the car to attend to her thrashing around like a shark, she floats once a week for lessons and has never had a problem other than her pawing the ground alot, which I either put down to being nervous or bored and she can paw the ground at home when she becomes inpatient. I use a rope halter on her everyday and as a result her ground manners improved drastically and yes she had one on in the float but it was tied to twine which neither one broke when she pulled back so hence not feeling any give she completly went nuts which is what caused the accident to happen, I have only used a webbing halter on her since the accident just to clean her wounds etc and each time I put it on she seems to freeze and not breathe for a short moment?? which is something she has never done and all I can put it down to is a fear of the halter?? as it caused her pain?? I was hoping that you could offer some suggestions for future floating?? and for the first time she has to go back on the float? I am competely stressing out about it, that its going to happen again, and this time be even worse that it makes me sick to my stomach she is a VERY special horse and I value her respect very much and am hoping that I have not ruined her trust in regards to floating, she is very talented and we are bringing her on for a dressage debut next year so obviously floating her is a necessary part of our lives. Is there any excersises that you could suggest before we have to take her out again... like just loading her on and off a few times?? or taking her on short trips around the block? I understand that you are very busy and probably get heaps of emails about horse problems but I would really appreciate any help you could give me??

Regards
Megan (Queensland)

It is a frightening experience for sure Megan. Dangerous too. To get confidence again, nothing beats having company of course but to find the reason she did it in the first place would be most beneficial. Is there something wrong with your Float? I wish people would send photos of their floats when they ask these questions. Anyhow, I would not be taking and more risks and would be installing my invention of the Float safety belt so that the risk is eliminated completely. There is no point floating on a 'wing and a prayer' after such an event as there is a real risk that it will repeat itself. You get yourself a strong soft rope, like the Parelli type rope and simply tie the Horse down. Not pulling down but simply sitting dead snug with no slack in it so that the Horse cannot get off the ground if it tries. You tie both sides solid and you dismiss any thoughts of the Horse getting hung up. It does not happen. Your Horse sounds as if it doesn't tie up properly and that was the trigger. Fix that at Home so the Horse gives rather than pulling back in floats.

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Thanks John, DVD has arrived, I know you are a very busy person but two things I would like to know, you never seen to use a crupper, how do you keep your saddle from slipping forward on a flat withered horse and why do you have that central pole in the round yard, I would think it would be a problem with buckers snagging your leg, hope you have the time to answer I love your pod casts regards Bill

The Saddle is designed well and fits well. It has eliminated the ill fitting shoulder points that a lot of saddles had in the past. I have never had one slip. I don't like cruppers because I don't think they are quite nice to a Horse. I am experimenting on saddles so that I can have one in my name. Here is my latest. The pole is my lugging post. Yes, there is always a possibility but never happened. It is removable but it is the old story. Back the judgment and pluck the Rosemary Beads :) Regards

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Hi John, My name is Cathy and I reside in Central Queensland. I am writing to you about a horse that I purchase a while ago. He is a 6year old gelding that when you saddle him up he bucks. He did not do this when I first got him. But as we had substantial rain last year and our area is not safe to ride or work them when we have had three months steady rain.( must invest in an arena.) He had a lay off. I would have expected him to have come back a little fresh.... not like a bronco. Hence needless to say my confidence went out the window. When I was ridding him I told my husband that I have ridden allot of exracehorses that had better mouths than this one. I am not sure on his history, before the last person had him. He is a lovely horse and I am doing the seven games with him on the ground. He had no ground manners to speak off and would bite me often. The farrier hates shoeing him so I now only have him trimmed until his manners have improved. I have been on him bare back and he is ok, he seems very girthy when I the saddle him. I have ridden all my life and don't want to sell him. But feel trapped.
I would love any suggestions. I often visit your site. I hope Mrs HP is feeling better and back in full swing soon.
Thankyou very much Cathy

You wouldn't catch me on him bareback Cathy. Thrill Seeker you :) It sounds like the Horse needs re-mouthing and shown that you can stop him bucking the moment he tries it on the lunge. You can turn his efforts into an uncomfortable experience and brainwash the horse that  you can in fact stop him bucking. At the same time you would be re-mouthing him and he needs it, believe me. I simply would not accept that Farrier thing and he needs given the worx in terms of 'leg restraints' collar roping and so on because it is all linked to his thing about not giving but to fight, pull, resist and so on. He needs a 'tune up' Your Farrier would love you. I do have a leg restraints DVD for those wishing to tackle such Horses. The Horse is obviously a girthy type however and you need to work with him a bit in that area, not wanting to rip the girth up too tight at the start and lunging the Horse before girthing up again and you may do that 4 or 5 times until up tight. If he is doing it out of insolence and this is where your judgment and reading must come into it, I would be stopping him as I said. Regards

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8th November, 2008

MRS HP

She was operated on again today. Removal of the Plate and installation of an exterior metal contraption. She is in Ward S3, Royal Adelaide Hospital

Well, it all appeared to have gone well and she is feeling as good as one can.. Looks like something out of a James Bond Movie but I am up to that :) She sends her love to all who have supported her. She has a new email address for those wanting to contact her direct.

mrshp@gmail.com

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LETTERS OF THE DAY

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Hi John and Linda

Best wishes to Linda and hope she has a speedy recovery. Well i am back from Perth my father is still alive but we have decided with him to forgo any more chemo as it has knocked him around to much even thought the tumor has shrunk(it is still terminal) as soon as i left he stopped eating and drinking properly and he ended up in emergency and then being admitted for a lung infection and emaciation as he lost so much weight. They have put him on steroids and he has gained weight and come back to his old self again. The family have decided it would be best for him to go to a nursing home so he has 24/7 care and he is quite happy about that as long as he can have his tv and his smokes(outside of course) theres no point taking away the only enjoyment he has left.

Anyway my horse Jubes has 2 fused stifle joints and is also full of arthritis in his fetlocks and hocks. He is now in retirement in a beautiful green paddock and a couple of lovely paddock mates. We have got him on treatment that involves 1 injection for 4 weeks and this will keep him happy for about 6 mths and then we will see how he is.
Believe it or not i started riding a spare thoroughbred that a friend has i had been riding in deep sand on her property and he seemed to move okay but went quickly into a halt (in frame) but would then go to take one step back which she said he did all the time. So i started the one rein stops ok to the left but when going right he would try and move his whole front end around to follow. I just thought a bit stiff he is 11 and has only just started dressage type work. Had a long race career did a front tendon which has healed well. The owner said she found by time you got to the 3rd day of riding you really had to spur him up as he would start to get lazy(she is not quite as open minded as i am)
So did a bit of ground work lunged him on running reins and was going well. So decided to take him up to my place. Hubbie walked him up the road(our blocks are close together)i followed in car and noticed from behind he was really stiff in the left hind and he was now on firmer ground. Anyway put him in the stable hubbie put feed in and told me he could hear him clicking(we are experts at this as you know) checked his left stifle it was swollen and each time he moved it would click he was also dragging the toe. Anyway grabbed owner brought her up and showed her she had never seen anything like this before. We trotted him on the 2 circles in both directions and he was really bad to the right and dragged the toe. This stifle problem may have been there and as she worked in deep sand and hadnt heard any clicking wouldn t have realised what was happening. Hence him falling quickly into downward trans and stepping back in the halt to take the weight of his bad leg. She of course took him back straight away and i advised her to get the vet in as he would need anti inflams straight away and assess the damage. As she has just got another horse (3rd) i dont think she could afford it i offered to pay but she said no as it was not my fault what had happened. Luckily i had bute that we gave for several days but there is no real improvement she thinks time back in the deeper sand might help LOL. If not they are going to send him out to a station and see how he goes as they havent the heart to have him put down as he is a lovely horse with a great temperament.So for me it is 3rd time unlucky and i will not be going there again. On my block i have a 6yr and 4 yrold exracehorses that have finished careers early as they were too slow and the both have hind quarter problems both belong to my friend . But my little Kimberley Heritage Horse is pushing 29 looks absolutley great dear old Alfie. Went for a ride round the race track the other day and couldnt pull him up (old station horse mouth) he has never been that full of life before. No a click in any joint but tends to carry his head higher if he gets excited which isnt often. Is there any problem in putting a market harborough on a horse this age not much fazes him. I am going to try running reins to see how he reacts. have never done before as we usually only go pleasure strolling and if he takes off which is funny it is at this most beautiful floating trot that other horses canter to keep up with. I think you sand colic remedy has turned him. By the way i will keep that extra money on credit as in may buy the MH. Sorry this is such a long email have been so excited to send you news. So everyone take great care with OTTB especially physical problems as well as emotional. I have decided when we move to Perth next year i want to rehome a younger horse like Alfie is it Fred and Rachel that are involved with breaking and training the ones that have been rescued? Mine was a Wallal Downs Station horse which is near Kalumburu in the Kimberleys. YES WE CAN BARRACK OBAMA.

Maxine and Alfie

They are certainly a worry Maxine. I am really proud of you to have ben so perceptive to the Veterinary side of things. I am aware of a much heightened awareness of this subject throughout the Horse Community of late. About time. Best of Luck with them. I am sure Fred and Rachael will be able to put you onto one of those Brumbies. http://www.watkinshorsehandlers.com.au/

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Hi John

Having read you pages on handling foals I'm hoping you can give me some advice on two 6 month colts I'm getting in 2 weeks. They are Exmoor ponies that were born
wild as part of a Conservation Herd in the UK. They will not have been touched by people until they are herded and separated from their mothers who will be left on the common
they are grazing. I plan to keep them in a small yard area to begin with but any advice would be great. Once I've got them used to being handled I have a nice mare they will live with to teach them horse manners.
I have ordered your DVD on halter breaking foals. I'll use rope halters on them.
I have attached a picture of them taken in the summer.

Thanks

Jane Leadsham
Dover, Kent, UK

and very nice too Jane. What a cute photo? You will first need to get a Halter on them and be aware of being kicked too. Herd them into a stable and shut all the doors. No light above a door for them to jump through. Then, get a friend and take a piece of rope the width of the stable with a noose tied in one end. Wear gloves. Each take an end and walk down the wall so they change ends and run through the centre. Allow the rope to droop at chest level. When they reach the wall, the person without the loop hands the end to the other person by crossing over around the Horse and they put it through the noose, carefully and slowly sliding it up until it is around their neck just behind the jaw bone. It will be a slip knot now. Then quietly and softly play with taking a feel and teaching give. Until you can touch them, rub them and win their trust so you can put a Halter on them. That can be very difficult as they are head shy around the nose like you wouldn't believe. I simply throw a half hitch in the rope, over their nose and then you do have total control as it is actually then a "War Bridle" or a Monty Roberts Dually Halter :) Then you can slowly and softly get them giving until you can put a Halter on. Tie a 12 foot piece of old rope on the Halter and throw it on the ground for them to step on for a week, whilst you are nearby. They will Halter Break themselves then :) or......

take the same piece of rope, do the same thing with your friend and the friend hands you the other end. You simply then hold both ends and take a feel on the neck of the Horse, trying to restrict it, slow it, bed it and eventually getting to face you and you being able to stop it running as it gives more and more. You will not be on 'ounces of pressure' at the start with this. Any force you like taking into account the attributes of the Human, until you can start to influence them. You would be better in a small yard here but do be assertive.

Regards

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Hi there

We have just bought a beautiful TB gelding for my 16yo daughter who is absolutely quiet to do anything with. At home. I have just spoken to Chrissy who owned him previous to the girl we just bought him off.

Chrissy had him for 2 years and sold him at the sales due to the fact he is seriously horse shy. We have just paid a lot of money for this horse and now I have found out that when he's out if another horse comes up behind him or canters toward him he will shy.

My daughter has just spent 2 years with a frootloop of a horse and this one seemed perfect. She is going to be devastated. Her confidence levels at this point are not great and I dread taking him out.

What causes horses to be shy of other horses and is there anything we can do?

Regards

Colleen 

I am surprised that a Horse is a lot of money at a Sale. You mustn't have realized that over 80 percent of all Horses at Sales are 'shonkey'??????? Lambs to the Slaughter :)

Anyhow, it is caused by one of a number of things. Thoroughbred Industry Breaking in (mass production) and all going the same way all of the time and not meeting the real world. Possibly the use of Blinkers in the Breaking in process which some stupidly do and being at the bottom of the pecking order, a wimp of a Horse in personality or even eyesight problems. To fix them you must have a strong Rider who can sit the shy, get amongst a big group of Horses and make them handle it and get over themselves. Then they will believe providing they don't get Hurt in the process. Pony Club would be perfect but they won't allow you. The Western Training night at an indoor is the best environment as they don't complain and squeal like Hackies :) In fact, they will help you, croud you, squeeze you and maybe even drag you. That is what the Horse needs. Regards

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Hi John

Just commenting on the head collars of Clinton Anderson that Jodie was asking about. I am assuming she is referring to the rope halter brand that he recommends for ground work. You have seen it John I used it on Benny.

I didn't look :)

Now these halters are stiffer than normal and should not be used in strong hands or a sensitive horse. Clinton does recommend that they are for ground work training only. Benny being what he came as I used it all time. But he was an outstanding horse to lead and work with from the ground and very light. To improve him I lead him all over the place, did chores with him and it really improved him. And whenever I hosed him down I would just leave him to graze while I did jobs and yes he would stand on the rope and that was the key to really lightening him up. Amazing to see an OTTB stand on the rope and just casually back off without the freaking. (mind you he was well hobble trained etc) It’s only when I lead other horses that I realise how good he became. I only ever lunged him in it also and towards the end of his time with me he was amazing to lunge (once I figured it all out). It continues to be a good point in Benny now for Rowanne and she puts anything on that’s at hand.

Now oddly enough, Milly was terrible to lead. Not light at all. Certainly not like the OTTB and in your pocket just very heavy. She has certainly improved but not that true lightness but I have not done the chores with her like I did Benny. I did have her saddled the other day and whilst waiting for Amy to saddle up I mucked the yards out and grabbed the wheel barrow and took it out the back to empty and Milly was so light in doing the work with me so something in that. So take my own advise and do more chores with her. This works for dogs too. I have a mind to grab the halter off Rowanne for a bit and do some work in it. She is brilliant at ground work exercises so go figure.

Thanks for the updates on Linda – we anxiously wait every day!! Give her my love.

Luv
Tracy

Thanks Tracy. Right, so a stiffer, more aggressive Halter. Thanks for that info. I have a balance in between normal and Clinton then :)  Mine looks better but :) Regards

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Hi John,
Just a quick question about water quality. The dam our horses have access to is fed by natural run off from a clay based soil. As a result, it is usually the colour of milk coffee, but it doesn't smell and the horses appear quite happy to drink it.

Is there any problem with this type of water for their health, and would they be any happier drinking the clearer town water with its usual artificial additives like fluoride?

Thanks ~ JF

Horses don't mind that JF and in fact, it would be mineral enriched no doubt where Town Water would be pollutant enriched hahaha. They'll tell you when and if it goes stagnant. Cheers

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Hello Sir,

I am a young rider. About five yrs ago I was almost bucked off by a horse while taking lessons. And no I’m not and wasn’t in pony club! :P

On that day me and my class were riding as usual. I don’t remember what exactly happened but the horse (who was old and about to retire) decided to get me off his back.

I had recently been trained before this day on how to handle a horse when the horse suddenly decides to do something like this.

It is the same thing that you show on your website, you pull on one rein and make the horse go round in circles.

Unfortunately for me I was not strong enough to control the horse and this lead to the horse trying to buck me over the fence.

That is because of the Riding School Mouth.

I , stupidly, tried to jump, did and hit my head on the side of the fence. NEVER JUMP OFF HORSES!!!!! My helmet broke and I now have a nail imprint on that helmet. I learned a few yrs later that if I had not had my helmet on I would have died.

I was not allowed to get on the horse after and the horse was lead away and a few days later put down.

I wanted to get on the horse after but as time (days) went on I found I didn’t want to ride a horse. So my coach allowed me to lounge.

I fell in love with lounging but a while later my coach had to stop teaching and we didn’t have enough money to continue lessons. I didn’t want to continue anyway without her.

It is now five yrs later. I am working at a stable. I am also taking a course in school that teaches me about horses.

This course teaches us how to ride, take care of a horse, etc.

I am very fortunate to be taking this course.

However my best friend is the only one who is taking the course and knows what happened to me. None of my instructors or teachers know.

Sir, I choose this because I didn’t want them to slow down because of me or pay me extra attention. I wanted to learn like I had before and do the things they do.

What I haven’t told you is that I haven’t ridden a horse in five yrs, since that accident.

I have now only ridden horses twice since I started this and though I find myself relaxing and calming down every time the horse moves I find myself fearing that the horse is going to run away or take off and I will be helpless to gain control once again.

What fuels this even more is that the girls that I ride with all work at a stable or take lessons, a thing that allows them to ride almost regularly.

After five yrs I have forgotten most things, things as simple as how to get your horse into the corner more instead of allowing them to cut the corner off!

I feel like I don’t even have control over my horse enough to do this simple thing, something that makes the situation worse.

I guess you could say it frustrates me. I once was a decent horseback rider. Something like this was elementary, I did not even have to think of what to do, just did. I knew how to control my horse, not only knew how to control but I also knew how to ride. You talk a lot on your website about people using the reins way too much, that’s not the way it was. I knew how to use my whole body to control the horse and how to balance without the reins. Balancing on the reins isn’t done here, in fact we will drop our stirrups, and reins. We are taught to balance so that I should be able to ride with a glass of water in one hand and not spill a drop! ( I hope this encourages you and shows you that not everybody does that!) :p

However that was five yrs ago. I am now in a course where I need to be able to get over this fear and ride. I’m not sure how to keep my balance or control. I’m trying to relax.

Sir do you have some advice for me? Anything that I should know or be aware of?

Thank you for your time and if you don’t write back its ok. Talking to you and telling you this and reading your website helped.

I know that with Gods help I can conquer this fear but was just wondering if you had any advice, something that will help me with any of the issues here.

Thankyou,

Krazy

I doubt you were born with that name Krazy so I would start by changing it. That in itself is a psychological defeatist approach which would no doubt translate to your entire life. Change it to 'Princess" :)

Never worry about what other people are doing or how advanced they may be. It is only about you, your state, your improvement and so on. Put the hard yards in and you will get it all back and more. Never mind with negative thoughts. I am sitting here in a room with no Bed as my wife is operated on and I AM NOT thinking negative thoughts. Only positive ones. So keep at it, put the effort in, if you are fitness or weight challenged go and do something about it and get on with it. you will be good. Regards


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Hang in there! The lemon hair wash was a riot. Glad to see you keeping your sense of humor. I hope things are improving. Sorry about the poor company she has to tolerate at the hospital. Hope she will be past this and home soon!

Well I rode today. Just for a short time as there was work to be done. She was a little rusty but no major hissy fits. Remember you said too bad I didn't have a mare from hell to put in with her? Looks like I've got the next best thing. The new pasture mates (goats and a gelding pony... I believe I told you the mare died last sunday). Anyway that little gelding pony is a spitfire and she is clearly submissive to him. When I enter the pasture if she approaches me he chases her off and smothers me. Little bugger tried to chase her off when I was haltering her today and I had to continually chase him away but it has made a difference in her demeanor. I've caught her easily the last few times. Of course the pony cried and ran the fence the whole time I had her out and I had to work to keep her attention while we were riding but overall she was pretty easy to get along with today. I hope it continues....

Best to the both of you. Keep the updates posted as you can about Linda's progress

Lori USA

Great Lori and well done. Glad the Lemon Hair made you chuckle. t sure did me :)

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John I know I likely drive you nuts with all my questions, but I'd like to hear your feelings on this one when you can.

http://www.bitlessbridle.com/

Sincerely

Warren USA

Hi Warren. I don't have any issue with people riding in them and most horses go half reasonable but I do not like the way their action clamps the head of the Horse into a vice. Just like the Dually Halter in fact. I happen to think that is unfair and would therefore rather ride in a rope halter or a Hackamore (bosal) If you want to do such stuff, why not go for Gold and train properly rather than having an each way bet. Mind you, with a lot of Novice Riders', at least they are not swinging off Bits so that is good. Go Barrack :)

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Dear John


Any nuggets of advice very welcome! I recently purchased a 10yo TB showjumper (EFA D/C), nice jump action but VERY heavy on the forehand, also leans, runs and isn’t great at listening! I’ve also got 2 instructors offering 2 different views: one is suggesting massive amounts of contact and really holding him and riding him into self carriage, the other, less contact so he’s not being held and leaning on the reins and the usual take/give.

Subject to a number of technical caveats Zoe, Coach number One is correct. Coach two is dreaming. By the way, why are you buying a Jumper that is on the forehand? You got a death wish????

I’m a big fan of riding out with long reins (bought your green horse DVD) and with this guy it was really telling as he slipped and stumbled downhill and got really pissed off with me as he couldn’t use me to lean on and had to balance himself. He’s got a pretty shitty trot but when I rode him in a yard with long reins/no contact it really improved as he was less inclined to run – should I be doing this at all?

Ideally I would love to be able to ride him between the fences with light refinement so any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

Zoe

There must be a balance of half halts, as strong as is necessary gi