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.
**
ALL PHOTOS ON THIS SITE ARE FREE TO USE.
Turn up the volume
One Week Average
Hits:
January 2008 -
1,573,048
Ranked 4th in the World - Horse Training.
THE SICKEST SHOW ON EARTH
Just when it seemed that the Chinese had plumbed the
depths of animal humiliation, along comes something
even worse.
The country which gave you bears riding bikes now
proudly presents ... lions and tigers on horseback.
In one of the nation's most notorious zoos,
applauding spectators are treated to a bizarre
display as a 30-stone lion leaps on to the horse's
back.
Scroll down for more...
Never seen before: A lion rides on a horse's back
Then it rides around the ring while a trainer with a
whip keeps it moving.
After that, a 35-stone tiger climbs up on the same
terrified steed for its turn in the limelight.
The shocking pictures come from the animal park at
Xiamen in Fujian, south-east China, where the public
seem to delight in humiliating circus-style stunts
and have no regard for animal cruelty.
Conditions are poor, with big cats including lions,
tigers and leopards and other large animals
including bears kept in solitary confinement in tiny
cages.
Elsewhere in the country, bears ride bicycles at an
"Animal Games" in Nanjing.
Scroll down for more...
Trotting together: The lion clings onto the horse as
they trot around an enclosure
At the Xiogsen Bear and Tiger Mountain village in
Guilin, live animals are fed to tigers as a show for
tourists. Bears pulling cars in a race with a strong
man caused anger after the bizarre stunt was shown
in Jinan last year.
In a display in Changchun, a tiger is put in a cage
with an ox while muzzled so it tries to attack its
prey but cannot kill it, producing an agonising and
long-drawn-out battle.
Save China's Tigers, a charity which has a branch in
the UK, campaigns to save animals trapped in the
country's zoos.
It carries out public education schemes in China to
raise awareness .
And it aims to free tigers from their cages, set up
breeding programmes and reintroduce the proud
creatures to the wild after teaching them how to
hunt for themselves.
10th February, 2008
THE ASSESSMENT (cont'd)
For those
of you who may have missed this, go back two days
and read where we started and then yesterday.
Anyhow, Mrs. HP has been progressing nicely with the
little Boy and he has been improving steadily.
He
now leg yields
Is
between rein and leg
He
is supple
He
is 'straight'
He
is bending and flexing in the way of travel
His
overall attitude has improved markedly. He is
happy and he actually wants to please. He is
saying to Mrs. HP, "thank God you know what you
are doing"
He
now goes directly into the canter strike off on
demand.
Therefore Mrs. HP can influence the leads.
That
now means correct leads into strike off 8-10
times where before he didn't know what a lead
was.
He
is more balanced and therefore slower.
He
is starting to lift in the shoulders during
strike off.
Indications of stifle complications have
improved by 70%.
Saturday, young Rider came. We now have some more
information. Pony had been not completing a full
circle,
coming to a stop and pawing the ground. The
next and most valuable piece of information.! That
equals:
Complete frustration
Complete confusion.
A helplessness leading to the necessity to dream
up other ways to be heard. Called communication.
These then included:
Kicking up.
Scooting.
Pig Rooting.
Last night, Mrs. HP walked up the path past the yard
of the Pony and she saw him look at her and thank
her.
Today, the young Rider came back and by all
accounts, went well. Pony is now completing
serpentines with simple changes of lead and picking
correct lead down the long side on the straight.
Pony improving fast, Child rode Horse after Mrs. HP.
Child was able to put Pony head down, noticed that
mouth was much better and Pony stopping very easy.
Had a good ride with no real glitches.
Sunday, Child Cantered Pony, had a good ride and
Pony being very good.
So the
results of the assessment are that this is a very
nice Pony who didn't get the education that he
needed and over the period of Pony Club etc, has
become more and more frustrated, has been
communicating but wasn't heard and it is an absolute
credit to the Horse that he didn't choose the 'Bury
the Rider' as his first option. His temperament is
too good. The true test of very good temperament. He
now has a happy face. Yes he was exhibiting soreness
related issues which was affecting him a tad but
nothing that correct training has virtually fixed in
the space of 5 days.
**********************************
ASSESSMENT TWO
During the week, I also had an assessment. The facts
of the case are this:
Standardbred Horse purchased by Novice Mature
aged Riders.
Horse a little difficult to mount, Rider 90kg.
Next day, horse bucks Rider off during mounting.
Rein handling during mounting from BHS and with
no controls
They ring Seller who says they are not sure if
Horse is broken in or not but it could have
bucked off previous owner. Haha, love that after
market service.
Horse arrives, I test it's mouth which is average,
temperament seems good and as you would expect.
Saddle it up and get on without a problem at all.
Put the Horse through it's paces in Round Pen...no
problems, open the gate and ride around the property
where I find that it had not been exposed to
anything outside a race track. Snorty, worried,
un-bold, creeping along waiting for the Lions. 15
minutes later, horse has improved 100%, trotting and
cantering around arena, mouth improved two point
already, starting to listen to seat, put the head
down, over trot poles. Lovely Horse. Adjourn back to
the tie up Rail and the Owner asks if we can check
his saddle. Goes and gets it out of the car and
there is the information that we were looking for.
English Saddle that didn't fit correctly. Rider
90kg, mid life, lack of athleticism, almost tore
whither off horse no doubt, horse warned and then
the next time took the only real option it had
because it would have been painful. Buck Off. Fair
enough...good horse :) I was riding in a better
fitting saddle and one designed to distribute weight
fairly across the back of the Horse.
After, we were checking out other saddlery just
outside the gate of the round pen and the Horse was
free inside it. The Mare kept coming over to the
gate and reaching her neck through the bars in an
effort to communicate with me in a loving way. Such
a compliment and a communication that I certainly
didn't miss. She was thanking me.
So on both assessments, I guess the key is "to
listen to your horses" They tell you everything if
only we can listen. To the other 10,000 Pony Club
Horses out there who are having similar problems, I
hope that people reading this may help your lives
too.
Here is another Horse that
only had one option left. Sometimes you can't
communicate at all.
This next clip was sent to
me by a young Breaker of Race Horses and it relates
to the "One Rein Stop" He is obviously quite pleased
that he was able to stop this Horse bucking. It had
bucked previous people off. I commented to him that
he should learn how to mount these or he will be
buried one day and that his front mouth rating was
down a tad and he can improve in that area. Note the
head carriage of the Horse. Mind you, the Racing
Industry really doesn't care about things like that
but I like control and such a frame can equal the
bolting Breaker :)
Telstra
turns on soft touch
TELSTRA'S agreement to make faster broadband more
available shows its confrontational attitude towards
the government has softened, according to analysts.
The telco this week said it would flick the switch
on ADSL2+ broadband in more than 900 telephone
exchanges, making faster broadband available to 2.4
million customers.
Telstra said it was willing to enable the service
because the new government had endorsed the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's
stance not to regulate ADSL2+.
The telco had previously only enabled ADSL2+ in
exchanges where a competitor operated.
TELSTRA'S
decision to enable high-speed broadband services was
met with rounds of applause in Canberra, but the
telco's competitors have cried foul, urging the
competition regulator to even the playing field.
Primus has asked ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel to look
into Telstra's actions
As news of Telstra's launch made headlines, Ravi
Bhatia, CEO of broadband provider Primus, quickly
penned a letter to the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission.
Mr Bhatia said his main concern was the false
perception Telstra was giving.
"Telstra is saying the federal Government has
guaranteed that they won't have to resell their
ADSL2+ services to third parties. This is wrong," he
said.
In his letter, Mr Bhatia told ACCC chairman Graeme
Samuel that over the past eight months Primus had
been attempting to access a number of Telstra
telephone exchanges in order to install its own
ADSL2+ equipment.
"Telstra has, however, outrightly denied us access
to almost 50 per cent of exchanges that we asked
for. In our view, Telstra is intentionally engaged
in this conduct to deny and restrict ULL-based
competition," Mr Bhatia wrote.
The pricing to rent Telstra's raw copper wires,
known as ULL or unbundled local loop, is a key to
broadband competition using ADSL technology.
Mr Bhatia believes the new federal Government is not
aware of how Telstra works.
"Telstra has denied competitors access to exchanges
and ISPs need access to those exchanges to deploy
their own networks.
He said this had stymied the development of
facilities-based competition, and said the
Government was not aware of this.
"I don't think Stephen Conroy knows the tricks that
have been happening behind the scenes at Telstra,"
he said of the new federal Communications Minister.
Industry group Competitive Carriers Coalition, said
Primus's move was a sign of frustration among ISPs
fighting the telco behemoth.
"Primus's move to write that letter reflects
industry-wide frustration with the increasing
difficulty in gaining access to Telstra exchanges in
order to install your own equipment," CCC chairman
David Forman said.
ISP Netspace said it would consider following
Primus's lead if Telstra did not change its
position. "In the event that Telstra will not
willingly provide wholesale access to ADSL2+,
Netspace will call on the ACCC to intervene and if
necessary consider a declaration of ADSL2+
services," Netspace regulatory affairs manager Ben
Dunscombe said.
Simon Hackett, managing director of Adelaide-based
ISP Internode, said he had contacted the ACCC and
Telstra Wholesale for "more clarity" on the
Government's position.
The ACCC and Senator Conroy could not comment by
press time.
Telstra's public policy and communications group
managing director Phil Burgess said Primus was
attempting to get a free ride on Telstra's network
at the expense of the carrier's shareholders.
"If Primus wants to compete, they should go to
Cisco, not the ACCC; they should go with an
engineer, not a lawyer; and they should go with
money to invest in Australia, not a request for a
free ride on the savings of Telstra shareholders,"
Mr Burgess said.
Mongrels!!!!!!!!
LETTERS OF THE DAY
Hi HP,
Just wanted to thank you for this wonderful website
and the DVD's I have gotten from you.
I have just a couple of questions I wanted to ask
you,
first was just wondering is it is best to harrow
your paddocks or pick all the poo up and make a
compost pile?
The main paddock is about 15 acres with a mix of
bush and grass with 2 horses in it
The Harrows can be a bit rugged and rip out root
systems. I prefer a heavier lump of Mesh. f72. Doing
that is fine but picking it up and composting it is
the ultimate of course. When horses are kept in
yards that have a nice sand base, the compost has a
sand content and that is good for your paddocks.
.
Also I have a pony 13.3 and 10yrs that is ear shy he
used to rear up but after slowly patting and rubbing
his poll he lets you put a bridle on him but he
never really gets use to it, I was just wondering if
you think we should get your leg restraints DVD to
use with him or would a neck collar help or both? I
do not have a round yard.
Also the other day he pulled back in the float and
broke his lead rope, he is normally fine, we were
trying to load his friend into the float and
couldn't get him on so I am not sure if that is what
upset him, so now he is nervous going in and flies
backwards when coming out. Is there anything I can
do to fix this?
He is also hard to catch it takes 2 of us to get
him, once he is cornered he is fine and he is great
to ride.
Thanks for any info you can give me
Karen
This is the classic example why such Horses
need to tie up properly and never break free. The
victory they get is then used to add to their
suspicion and flight and they go from bad to worse.
You need to make every post a winner with a horse
with that profile and so a neck strap would be a
good idea, as would good facilities if you don't
have them now. The Tie Up Rail is such a valuable
unit for overall good management of Horses. That and
the Round Pen.
In so far as the bridling goes, if you are
successfully bridling him and he is improving bit by
bit, you can manage him with care, you wouldn't have
to go to the tactics as in the Pod Cast. That was
shown so that people could fix the horse that simply
can't be bridled. Then, action is required. Regards
Eight
years ago we downloaded your article on buying new
horses for novices. We bought 2 quarter horses for
our young daughters that were great but both went
lame at various times. We since bought 2 standard
breds, they were trotters. What an amazing breed. My
daughters now compete them at pony cub, one is grade
2 the other 3. They race them up a hill at a gallop
then apply the breaks and they completely stop no
excitement. They are great in games. My older
daughter all her own fault slid off her horse at
pony club going around a barrel and the standard
bred immediately stopped and put his head down to
check she was OK. He was obviously upset. The only
negative is the brand with many judges and
instructors looking down their noses. One is a
chestnut and when she boot polished her neck
everyone thought she was the best thoroughbred they
had seen. Can they buy her?
Yes, it is one of the crying shames of the Horse
Industry that the Harness Racing Authorities just
don't get it. They have been lobbied left right and
centre via my Readers' but they will not travel into
the new age. Micro chipping. It is disgusting, just
as the Jews with Hitler and it send lovely horses to
their Grave. If they loved them a little more they
may even discuss it at their Committee levels but
the dark ages seems here to stay. :(
I know you are going to be in shock but...... just a
little question, no novel hahaha QH x Brumby 3yr
old. All ground work completed. Can I get her broken
in while bun in the oven as she has been in foal
since 8 Nov 07.Had preg test all good and shes as
happy and healthy as a girl can be. Just wanted to
know your thoughts.Thanks Amber
I'll pass on that one Amber.
One never knows what the future holds so I like to
limit risks. Cheers
-----------------------------------------
Hi again
Mr. HP,
My question today is about the breed of horse that
is best suited for dressage. I own an Australian
Stock Horse and I am rather partial to them. I have
found my mare to be intelligent, trainable and
having a 'presence' required for dressage. Yet, when
I read the monthly Horse Deals I notice that
Warmbloods are very popular for dressage. I love
dressage and am working towards competing, but
Warmbloods are just not in my budget. Why are they
so expensive? Also, I do admire the Standardbred. I
have watched the intro DVD of Mrs. HP retraining the
Standie and I am thinking of getting one but I am a
bit nervous by thinking that only someone of Mrs.
HP's caliber could retrain a Standie. The Standie
would also be in my budget! Do breeds become
fashionable for a while which pushes up their price?
Caroline.
The price of the Standardbred will lift, no doubt
about that. As more people realize what a great
moving Horse they can be and Dressage Judges lose
their bias, they will be more expensive and they
will win at Dressage. I don't think prior to that
DVD, Dressage Training was ever considered with
their rehabilitation. It is happening and their is a
movement at foot :) I personally know of dozens of
converts. The Warmblood Horses are the best for the
Sport hence their value. They are bred for it and
built for it however, the stock horse should never
be over ruled. I have met some exceptional moving
stock horses and when you combine their temperament
and trainability, given the Rider, they can brain
many Warmbloods. Remember, many of the Warmblood
Owners can't ride them or their movement. They have
become a status symbol and we are just coming out
the end of a fashion which I called, "Mine is bigger
than yours" The bigger the better. The Queens had to
be sitting on the tallest Horse. Even 5 foot two and
eyes are blue Queens, riding around on monstrosities
that they don't have a hope in hell of adequately
training. Too much Horse :) I love this Sport. It is
colorful as Hell :) Cheers Read two letters down!
---------------------------------------------
Hi John,
I just read your atricle on Natural horsemanship
explained (found by google). I agree with everything
that you have mensioned, unfortunately by experience
in some cases. What I would like to know is your
same explanation on the Quantum Savvy program. I
have been looking into it and it seems to be the
Parelli method with some differences. Would this be
a collation of methods in one that you would agree
with. I am hungry for something to learn with the
natural horsemanship way but find every corner I
turn there is something lacking in all. I can't be a
devoted follower to these programs to a degree as i
have 2 young children who also like to handle the
horses and they are too young (5 & 7yrs old) to
understand the methods used. Therefore I need my
horses to be comfortable and safe no matter how they
are handled in any circumstance.
I hope that I have made sense.
I'll be looking forward to your responce. Feel free
to call on my mobile below.
Kind regards,
I understand. Quantum Savvy is Pat Parelli. Pat
Parelli invented it, not them. They have re-packaged
and branded it for financial reasons only. It is all
useful and everyone should understand and be able to
do it but not to get wrapped up in it. Use it as a
part of your package. There are many other great
Horse Trainers of the World so take the best from
them all./ NH cannot compete with some of the
techniques I use. Not a hope in Hell so take a bit
here and a bit there but the principals are great
and correct. Regards
--------------------------------------------
Hi John &
Linda,
I was at your Perth clinic.
As usual I have been reading your website most days
and always find it informative and interesting, I
have also just got a lovely stb mare due to your
influence and what your readers have to say about
them and I can say she is a darling and so easy to
handle and train, a sweetheart. I got her just
before xmas, she is 4, had not raced much, doesn’t
pace, walks, trots and canters but had not been
broken to saddle. I worked her for the first few
weeks in a roller with the running reins and she
only needed them for a few sessions, she now just
stretches down by herself and carries herself in a
lovely frame whilst lunging. I then lunged her for a
week or so with the saddle on and lent across her
back each day and by the fifth day could get on her
and she took to it all like a duck to water.
I did all your techniques for checking her mouth,
front brakes, lateral, reverse in hand, one rein
stops with the lunge rein through the roller and she
has the best mouth, light and very responsive, I was
quite amazed. I have taught her the one rein stop
and I only have to turn her head slightly and she
comes to a complete halt. The easiest horse I have
trained from scratch. I took her in hand for a walk
around the roads, past bins, dogs, cars, trucks
whizzing past and she didn’t bat an eyelid, so I
felt fine to venture out into the pines and around
my local area after only her fourth ride, since then
we have not looked back, I work her 5 times a week
for 20 - 30 minutes only each time, 2 bush sessions,
2 arena sessions(in hand work and ridden) and 1
lunge session, although not asking for too much
roundness just yet but whenever I ask for any she
automatically rounds up, she stops when asked
immediately and the trot is the most beautiful I
have ridden, she is cantering on the lunge fine but
have not done this ridden yet as I want to get her
trot more balanced and her more round at trot before
canter work commences, but all going good. We are on
a pleasure rein the whole time at the moment with a
few minutes of asking for a frame and roundness
before back to pleasure, she is ready in the next
week or so to do more work in a frame and commence
ridden canter, I will do that out in the bush the
first few times going up a hill and let her have her
head and see how she goes, I am sure she will be
fine but don’t want to overface her, happy for her
getting used to walk and trot out for a while first,
but overall I am very chuffed with her attitude, she
just wants to please, is very sensible and reliable,
wants to work and is a lovely natured girl, I feel
blessed to have got her, will keep you informed of
our progress. I am hoping to show her eventually as
she is a lovely looking one too with the most
beautiful floating movement, I hope to make a
dressage horse out of her and show some of those
snobby warmblood owners how nice a standardbred can
be!!!
I will do all I can now too to promote this breed
and will never turn my nose up at anyone who takes
one on, years ago when I was a teenager I was
brainwashed to just think nothing of this breed and
would not even go look at one but after all the ones
I have now seen and the stories I hear about how
lovely natured they are I hope more people will be
converted like I have been and give these lovely
animals a second chance!!!
Take care, keep up the good work and speak soon.
Kind regards,
Thanks Emma and congratulations to you. Well done!!!
I do remember you :) The only suspect one's of the
Breed have been Mares but only a few. They are
darlings generally. Thanks
------------------------------------------------
Emma
Hi I have
just read your article online and it was very
informative. What do we do with a horse that gives
no warning that he's about to shy at something. My
daughter was riding my Anglo in the bush yesterday
when he shied at a log that he caught out of he
corner of his eye and jumped clean off the track.
She fell off and the horse went west. As we do
endurance riding and have done for many many years
this can be quite scary if the next time we can't
get the horse back. Should we do more training with
spooky things at home?
Please help
Sandra
Yes Sandra, the more the better but some of that
Breed are like that but I really can't remember one
that I haven't been able to influence positively by
'bold riding' assertive, exposure, the more the
better. The bottom line here however is that the
Daughter simply has to learn to ride the shy. She
does that, problem solvered. Yes I know you want to
improve the Horse but so must the Rider for falling
off is the worst nightmare in terms of hoping to
improve one of these and clearly that rider couldn't
be the one to expose the Horse to more because a
prerequisite is that such Rider doesn't shift which
is also what gives such horses more confidence
anyway. Relaxed and balanced as Hell :) Regards
------------------------------------------------
To Cindy,
Is your horse already broken to harness? If he is
and has done alot of hours in the cart then possibly
he thinks this is how he has to turn.
When a horse is in a cart they can not bend as such
to turn, they have to turn on their hind quaters. I
noticed something the other day with my horse after
I had him in the salky for the first time. After we
had finished I went to put him away, untied him from
the rail and turned quite sharply and he almost face
planted ;p cause he did not yet see the diffrence
between being in the cart and out of the cart and
thought he could no longer turn like he used to. He
quickly worked it out. Strange, never saw that in
the young horses I used to break in ;p maybe older
humans are not the only ones who over think things
;p
Also I would look into the horses history, if he is
broken to harness, if he is a standardbred keep in
mind the fact that there is a big diffrence between
a gig and a proper cart/sulky. SB's never use
britching etc and alot do not use blinkers etc
(blinkers on a horse not used to it can have the
opposite effect then they are supposed to, it is
stupid that they make competative harness horses
wear them, ancient practice, why make a horse wear
something it does not need to. I know I would not be
more quiet if I could only see a tiny sliver and
there was a sound like a gun or somthing going off.
Any how back on topic) Also a heavy wooden cart
reacts diffrently and has more push pull effect.
I can not recommend one of these more to anyone
learning to drive thier standard bred or breaking in
a horse. They are very easy to stick in if your
horse plays up, but you are easily deposited on the
ground if they tip up (aka you are not hurt by the
gig, maybe the ground but not the gig, unless you
get flung into the cross bar, that only happens if
you are running around a track and have a foot
hanging out of one of the foot rests and your horse
freaks cause of the big sprinklers on the football
fields and fall forward and just grab the cross bar
with your hand in time, but your feet are dragging
under you and your butt is just in the seat, you
have lost your reins and your horse is bucking, then
he trips and you crash in the cross bar, possibly
dazze yourself as well but no one is really sure,
cause no one else was there, jump up fix your gear,
check your horse and keep on going around ;p Not
that I would have had that happen to me ;p sometimes
the best lessons learnt are the ones that hurt ;p)
They are made out of steel (the aluminimum ones for
racing are no good, well they are good but not for
learning I think) they can bend a bit but generally
will not be ruined if the horse goes down and your
horse will not be ruined by the gig either cause
they do not break (Thankfull I am pretty sure they
have stopped people from racing with wooden shaft
carts as they are very dangerous, for everyone
involved)
They are easy for the horse to learn to shaft in as
they are light, and if your horse is having
difficulties with shafting you can jump out and lift
the cart off the ground and push them around a bit
so they work it out and do not get stuck. Easy in
Easy out (if you practise getting in and out ;p)
They are cheap to if you take your time to find
them, I got this one for $200, there is a bit of
surface rust but it just needs a bit of sanding and
paint, structurly it is still good.
The only downside is that they do not go well on
rougher terrain, and you can be tipped out, or
shaken to death as there is no form of shock
absorbtion other then your butt ;p
Thanks, hope this helps a little
Kristy
Thanks Kristy
------------------------------------------------
It happened to me.
I loaded my beautiful 15hh Standardbred filly onto
the float no problems.
Tied her up and went to load the little pony who
belonged to someone else in need of a lift.
The little pony made such a racket and noise, he
really didn't want to get on the float. He banged
and crashed his way up, my filly got spooked and
pulled with all her might.
She was wearing a cotton rope standard PC issue,
tied up using the PC quick release knot and it was
all attatched to a lovely shiny metal clip.
So she pulled the clip broke, the last few threads
of rope pulled through the gaping hole in the clip
and I watched my beautiful bay filly catapult
herself backwards out of the float. It all happened
so fast, yet kind of slow motion, as I was able to
get out of the way in time while she did a backwards
roll down the ramp.
I don't understand how that can happen unless the
back was down and the bum bars were open but the
Horse was still tied up????? Unless you had chains
and that broke????? or did you have no division and
tied the horse up to then load the other one???? If
any of the above, the greatest mistake in the Horse
World was unfortunately made!!
Her head came crashing down on the road and a pool
of blood was visible even before she stumbled
drunkenly to her feet.
There was a gaping hole in the side of her head just
behind and slightly above her eye revealing
something pink about 2 inches inside.
I felt sick! I only stole a very quick look before
running to sit in the car in tears!
I don't want that to happen again, so I'm really
curious about your float design ideas, especially as
we have finally decided to bite the bullet and
invest in building a new float.
I must warn in advance though, the thought of
floating has me in a cold sweat days before the
event, even if it's a horse I've purchased and being
floated to my place by someone else.
When I hear the float arrive, I get into such a
panic, shaky hands, difficulty breathing, wobbly
legs, the last time I actually gobbled down a glass
of wine.
Feeling a lot better, but not being used to alcohol
and the effects of it, I boldly went out to greet
the new arrival and shut the front door on our new
puppy's leg! Lots of screaming, but walking soundly
again after 5 minutes.
My question is:-
As we only have little wee ponies who are very
maliable, would it be possible to design a float
that has a small front loading door only?
Or is there are law that says you must have a rear
loading float with ramp etc?
Also the design I had in mind was to accomodate 4
ponies travelling sideways but without dividers.
How necessary are dividers?
The last show we went to, a friend came up and
helped me to float the horses to the show, he
managed to fit 4 of our ponies on a double float by
removing the divider and tying them up side by side
facing frontways.
Shoulder to shoulder they looked very happy from
behind (I was following in another vehicle that's
how phobic I've become I couldn't travel in the same
vehicle as the one pulling the float).
I've been thinking of purchasing your ebook Design
Improvements for Horse Floats, but I've half a mind
that some of the things posed in the book wouldn't
even apply to me, as my little ponies probably
couldn't even reach some of the hazzards you've
pointed out on your web site.
Obviously I would need to reintroduce myself to the
float, take it out for a few trips empty, then with
our most trusty traveller and so on.
Would love to hear back from you.
Cheers,
Sarah.
No Sarah, you don't need it. Ponies are a non event
with floating. There has to be a height cut off
where Horses either can or cannot lose their brain
re Horse Floats and Ponies do not. Do you know that
I have not had one Pony in my Career, that has had
difficulties of any description with Floating. You
could herd them in like Goats and it wouldn't
matter. The less in the float the better in fact.
The more divisions etc, the more danger. Hope you
come good.
-----------------------------------------
Hi there,
i have a 7yr old t/bred who we have had for 2 yrs.
His behaviour slowly but steadily has gotten worse,
on and off the ground due to back
problems(sacroilliac) He has an offset pastern and a
club foot, we tried to keep him barefoot but the
club foot toe was wearing too much. I am in a
terrible position as we have a small acerage ,4
other horses and money is an object.I cant sell him
in this state and want to know at what point do we
say, this horse is in pain is it better to have him
euthanised to avoid him any more dicomfort.
He is depressed and very angry, picks on all the
others and because of this dosnt get any physical
contact from them, they are scared of him.My farrier
says i should get rid of him, he did 9 poos last
shoeing! He is a very nervous horse who has just
gone back to his primal state of fear flight. I dont
know what to do! Look forward to you thoughts on
this, thankyou, Yvonne
I agree with the Farrier Yvonne. Why did you buy a
horse with a club hoof?
----------------------------------------
7th February, 2008
THE ASSESSMENT (cont'd)
You may remember yesterday
that we were noting various relevant issues with the
Horse, in case any of them could point to the real
reasons behind the behavior. From memory they were:
The leading and
subsequent over confidence on the ground
The face when mounted
The back legs bouncing
together on the lunge
The kick up and scoot
into the canter transition
One kick up for no
apparent reason during canter
failure to leg yield,
be supple, balanced or round
Good lateral mouth -
poor front mouth.
Disunited at canter.
So the ride today found:
Softer in the Bridle
Off the leg
Starting to naturally
slow down in the canter pace
More supple
Canter leads not
understood by the horse, therefore doesn't go on
the aid so that the lead can be influenced.
Less cocky and wanting
to please more and of most interest....
the canter stride
started to get more length with the two hinds
showing more proper scissor action rather than
bouncing along together. More investigation
needed.
Which brings me back to the
issue that I briefly raised last night....
The athletic ability of the
Horse to carry us properly and the often negative
Veterinary implications when we don't think about or
understand this process.
People may wonder why I
teach my 'Breakers' to leg yield on about the 7th
day of their ridden career. For a start, I cannot
stand riding Horses that don't feel comfortable,
that go around like Motor Bikes unless flexed off
and I have learnt, even if I haven't read or
followed the principals of Classical Dressage, that
to prepare a Horse in the best possible manner is a
highly responsible thing to be doing as a Rider and
that you will reap the benefits a thousand fold. The
list is way long.
So when horses show signs
of soreness and when Chiropractors say the horse "is
out here, here, here and here" spare a thought about
your Riding because you could be crippling your
Horse simply by your riding style. Do you just jump
on and go? It is a serious
issue but only grasped by the better Riders of the
World. Most have never heard about and will never
hear about it. That my Dear Friends is a shame :(
HELLSTRA
Well,
what do you know. Suddenly, just like that, they are
going to turn on Broadband 2 in over 900 Exchanges,
almost immediately. The same Broadband 2 they have
been hiding for years. I hope none of you are
sucked into using them. Go here for better prices:
Mongrels!!!
A recycled cardboard bed may not sound like the
answer to a good night's sleep, but for horses it's
a different story.
Christchurch business Airlite produces the cardboard
bedding in a small Hornby factory and is slowly
building a loyal four-legged clientele.
The Airlite "bedding" business came about after
Airlite's Sue and Donald King's own horse became ill
after cutting its leg - a complication they blamed
on the sawdust in his stable.
"It's a modern wonder material in a lot ways - it's
clean and it's recyclable," says Donald King.
After two years researching whether the cardboard
bed concept would work in New Zealand, they imported
a $70,000 machine to process the cardboard.
For the last four months they have been slicing and
dicing corrugated cardboard, although not all of it
is created equal and the Kings have a preference for
what they use.
"It's sorta like making a cake, you've gotta blend
it in and try to make a consistent product," says
Donald.
There is, however, vast quantities of cardboard
available and Airlite plans to use about 600 tonnes
a year initially. It is just a tiny percentage of
the 55,000 tonnes generated in Christchurch alone,
and less than a fifth of that is currently recycled.
The Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust has helped
the Kings get off the ground with $10,000 seed
capital.
''To be able to hold that waste product in
Canterbury for a Canterbury product, and a product
with integrity is a great thing," says fund
spokesperson Linda Norris.
The end result is 20kg bedding bales. And, while
it's early days, Airlite already have 150 bales on
order a month, selling for $15 each. They have even
had enquiries from Japan, but plan to focus on the
domestic market for now.
They say it is as good for smaller animals as it is
for horses, but it takes a bit of convincing at
times.
"It's not like hula hoops or something where all of
a sudden it's a fad," says Donald.
And, to complete the sustainable loop, once the
bales have been used they can be added to compost
for the garden.
------------------------------------
Police payout after horse seizure
A police force is facing an £80,000 damages bill
after a High Court judge ruled they unlawfully
seized a horse.
Lancashire Police officers suspected the Irish-bred
palomino gypsy cob called Romeo was stolen property.
By the time he was returned to his owners they had
been deprived of the chance to put him out to stud
and to produce valuable and much-prized foals.
The judge awarded owner Brian Cash the money for the
wrongful detention of Romeo for four months in 2006.
Romeo was expected to earn £500 per mare in stud
fees so he was sent from his home in Ireland to stay
in Blackpool, where builder and horse enthusiast
William Brown planned to obtain local mares for him
to serve.
But police suspected Mr Brown of money-laundering,
theft and handling stolen goods and seized the horse
in May 2006 and kept him until August.
'No evidence'
Deputy judge David Donaldson QC said that the police
initially had grounds for suspecting Romeo had been
stolen, but by mid-May inquiries had provided no
evidence to that effect.
The detective in charge "sat on the case" hoping
that some evidence would emerge against Mr Brown,
but nothing did.
But the High Court judge rejected other claims by Mr
Cash for loss of stud fees, the cost of buying a
replacement stallion and loss in the value of Romeo
due to alleged ill-treatment while in detention.
Romeo was sold a year ago for £115,000 to an
American who had already bought four of his foals.
LETTERS OF THE DAY
THE JUNIOR HP BREAKERS CLUB
Hi John
OK, I will have a crack at it. May need to take some
dutch courage each time, but hey, whatever it takes.
Now, I don’t have the mouthing dvd so my question is
should I get the old one or should I be looking to
get the new one? When you let me know I will order
that as well as the “riding and training the green
horse”.
Hey, I may even have some videos taken of the
“novice” breaking in the HP way. May get my 15 mins
of fame.
-------------------------
Day One. Hardly bat an eyelid !! Good with
hobbles too, and it was unfair of me to say she was
ignorant :) !!!
----------------------
and the 'young Caitlin who has just saddle broke
this Standardbred Mare with issues :) Hell, Horse
Breakers may be a dying Breed hahahaha. I know I am
:)
------------------------------
Hi John
I have written to you a few times about my little
mare. We have had some ups and downs but are
hopefully on our way now. I have just got her back
from a lovely professional who worked with me on
this mare out at her property and I am pleased with
how she is going but I just have a few questions for
you. I hope this ok I know you are busy :)
1) The professional commented that her mouth is
quite bad and a bad job has been done in the past.
She can bare down on the bit and ignore it whilst
being very light at other times. What equipment do i need
to start re-mouthing her ?
Melissa, from the point when my Re-Mouthing the
Horse DVD comes out, that will be the one for any
horse that has previously been broken in. The
Mouthing DVD will be for Horses to be broken in and
they are specific for the purpose. My DVD people
picked the wrong time to go on Holidays. Back
yesterday and now working on releasing it.
2) The trainer taught her to leg yield as she is
EXTREMELY sensitive to leg and rushes forward or
into the next gait. I have also just received your
leg yielding dvd so I know more about this myself
also. Is there a way to desensitive her a little to
movement in the saddle and with legs ? She would be
great for dressage but a little too sensitve for me
as whilst my riding is quite good, I by no means
ride as well as the trainer she was with. Am working
on it though :) and lastly
Fix the resistance and stop the rushing forward,
with leg on and the horse will cease being
sensitive. It is compounded due to the evasion which
is successful and there continues to promote the
sensitivity. Do not accept running through your
hands under any circumstances. Do not be gentle or
soft when the horse attempts it. Go up the scale to
the point where you ensure control and then down
again.
3) whew (nearly done hp don't fall asleep), she
tends to be a drama queen about stuff. I liken her
to a 15 year old girl. ( I can say that bc I was
that age once and I teach em). Aside from the 7
games are there techniques to getting her reactions
to be less. she will come back to me but tends to
get herself over excited.
She is a lovely little mare, willing to please,
loads of character, I saved her from starving to
death and some of her senisitivity is from not
coming from an ideal environment to begin with. I
just want our first rides out to be positive for
both of us. Thanks for your time. Its very much
appreciated.
Melissa.
Leg Restraints Training would remove the propensity
to run and diminish the 'flight response' Regards
-----------------------
Thankyou
for the quick and detailed response :-) . For sure I
agree that a horse could jump on you from alongside,
and even go further as to say from the shoulder the
horse is blocking your vision from a potential
spooky object on the outside. Like you do with your
rope hand from the front, from the side, I would
throw my hand up towards the eye of the horse and
from earlier training (to move away and turn etc),
would HOPE this was my only chance of a change
of/prevention of a squash.
True and that does work if you are quick and you
have enough loop to allow you to do that :)
As a mere mortal myself, I realise that we grow very
complacent when leading 'quiet' horses around and
fail to read the signs and can easily get jumped on.
Anything can suddenly appear and startle the horse,
you just have to hope the horse has enough respect
to not jump on you even though it is scared and
wants to go to you for safety of sorts.
The more complacent I am, the more relaxed horses
are :)
I look forward to your podcast because I am forever
learning and have an open mind. I guess it is
difficult to get past a mindset and a way of doing
things that has worked so well in the past. Having
said that, I have altered my handling from pony club
days of holding much closer to horses head as I
realise if they jump you need the slack in the rope
to give you a chance to respond before your arm gets
pulled out of it's socket. I learnt that the hard
way with a young mare on her first outing, she got
very ansty, very nervy and started to behave really
silly and backed in amongst people etc. I dismounted
but before I could get reins over head, or halter
lead rope from around neck, she went up, i of course
had reins yanked from my hands, knocked to the
ground as she charged past me and ended up with a
broken finger and a horse on the loose. So I fully
realise what you are saying when you tell people you
need to have a long lead rope etc to have control.
She was a very interesting mare and one that I would
have loved to have learnt how to deal with from you,
butter wouldn't melt most of the time with the
myriad of ground work I did with her, but when her
mind went, it went completely and you could have hit
her over the head with a 4by2 with no reaction I am
certain, but that is all the past now, but she has
put me off cleveland bays!
As an aside, whilst I have your attention somewhat!
I took Tb off the property for a bush ride
(previously been using 10acres of bush on property
as a break from arena work) and was looking for
advice as to what you would do. The 'bush' was
3minutes up the road and he was well behaved, but
after a few 100metres alone I felt him slowly
becoming more and more anxious. I was on completely
loopy reins and walking. I turned back for home and
he jig jogged a bit (like he used to do in 10acres
on property) and i corrected this as it came up and
we fast walked home. Would you have just pushed on
with the ride? or just go a little further each time
to give the horse confidence?
Thanks again :-)
I would have pushed on, 15k. Good yarn :)
Regards
--------------------
Dear John,
I would like your advice on hoof trimming D I Y, I
would like to learn some basic hoof trimming
skills,I did ask my farrier,but he said he was in it
to make money,not teach :(
Im very keen to learn, having trouble seeking the
know how
I have looked into doing a course but there are none
in this area.
Thanks Nat
I just wanted to congratulate you & everyone else
who are giving
the much maligned Standardbred the acknowledgement
they deserve
as a part of the horse community other than racing.
I don’t want to go on about how awesome they are as
I am sure
anyone who has had anything to do with them will
know.
As far as our Standie with the 122 starts.We
followed his racing carreer
& there were patches were he raced at least once a
week.
He originally come from NZ & had several owners so
maybe his racing
Schedule was a bit disjointed at times…or maybe he
had some injurys..
Anyway that’s all in the past & he has a life long
home here with us.
Just to clarify the jumping comments.He is not a
jumper & will never be.
Thanks for your comments on the dropping of the
reins & definitely taken
on board.We had the young girl ride him once just to
try & get his confidence
on certain things as her gets really nervous at
times.He was flat out stepping
over a trot pole or a puddle of water.The standies
can be such nervous horses.
Its interesting the comments on the horse industry &
the pleasure industry
as far as neglect & cruelty.Its a can of worms that
many have opened over the years.
Whilst the “wastage” from the racing industry is
enormous I guess the same can
be said for the pleasure industry & the many
irresponsible breeders pumping
out thousands of foals a year for a limited or no
market…
Should be people be accountable for breeding horses
for no apparent reason?
ie…oh,I just wanted to see what sort of foal my mare
would throw????
Anyway,I am sure we could go on & on about this
subject.
Thanks again John & standie fans…
Here is before & after pics of our beloved standie…look
at that kind eye…
Awe, how cute is that. Lucky
Horse indeed. All the best with him. A credit to
you.
---------------------------
Hi John & Linda,
I am not sure if I am taking the correct approach
with Fred during lunging. I haven’t been doing as
much (approx once a week) lunging with the running
reins as we did at first seeing as we ride a lot.
Fred has now decided that when we start lunging it
is a great opportunity for him to run around like a
maniac for the first 5mins. I just thought that
maybe he just wants to have a bit of run and a buck
here or there. While he does this I just stand in
the middle and wait for his burst to stop then carry
on with the work. He is good after his run but I
wanted to clarify that I am doing the right thing or
am I teaching him evasion?
Thanks for the advice.
Rach
Not a problem Rach. He is a stabled/yarded Horse.
Expressing himself :) (standardbred) Regards
Hi Mr HP,
I am just writing in response to a lady who wrote to
you about working and riding in walking shoes rather
than boots. I just wanted to let her know about my
boots which are a Dublin brand and are extremely
comfy and durable. I have had these boots for nearly
a year and they still look great, protect my feet
and i can work all day around the stables, yards and
paddocks. My usual 'horsey' work day includes
several hours of riding, cleaning, mucking, walking
fences and also pony rides. I am in these boots from
8am till 5pm and my feet have never hurt. They are
Dublin Advance Boots and they have elastic sides and
a zip up the front so you can flex your feet better
and it also makes them easier to get off. They cost
about $100 but i got mine on sale for $70. I hate to
think what would happen if her foot got stuck in the
stirrup with no one around, it's worth the $100
investment!
Thanks Alexis.
Thanks Alexis and that reminds me. Here:
Hi John,
We are going to be trialling a mare for my 11 year
old daughter on the weekend. The horse is natural
horsemanship trained and has impeccable ground
manners. She has been ridden mostly on trail rides
and CTR's - always placing. She is fine with dogs,
tarps, cars, water etc. My daughter would like to do
a little bit of arena work, jumping and trail
riding. My daughter has no trouble catching her or
saddling her. She is 6. Two things - she has only
been ridden by adults but appeared fine the couple
of times that my daughter has ridden her. Also -
this is the big question - my older daughter noticed
that she was clicking in the back legs - Mmm....
well she was reluctant to canter for my 11 year old
daughter - ears back and swishing her tail - but
when asked a little firmer cantered (my older
daughter had no trouble getting her to canter though
still got the swishing tail and ears back) and she
put in a little bounce once when cantering up a
slight hill - on the flat no problems. She will
happily walk down hills, backs up very easily no
problems. If this is stifle problems would correct
riding fix the problem? She has only been ridden a
few times since the EI mainly on trail rides. Would
circle work be not good for her? She has been bred
by the owner - and has the utmost respect for him -
will do anything he asks. He did say that when he
broke her in she wouldn't canter for his daughter at
first but she did for him and she did pop straight
into canter when he rode her. I totally trust this
person (not many people that I would buy a horse
from that I don't know - too many shonky people out
there!) and he has said that he won't sell the horse
to her unless he is 100% sure that my daughter will
be safe on her. This horse has never put a foot
wrong for him as she has total respect but would she
for someone that she doesn;t know? Would it take
sometime for my daughter to build up that trust?
Thanks
Sue
Ok Sue, firstly, it is not about trust, it is about
respect and your daughter will either get that
straight up or she won't. I don't like the sound of
the ears and swishing tail! It is not possible to
answer the stifle question because of the Horse
being out of work as lack of muscle tone can cause
this tendency but only a complete Vet investigation
will answer that question for you. You have your
warnings. The fact that the Horse never put a foot
wrong with the Owner is not relevant to your
Daughter. Unless one knows the entire profile of the
Horse, one wouldn't know. It may be that she is a
'blokes horse' or other things. You must completely
assess the Horse via ridden trials of a proper
longevity to know that one. If the Gentleman is
Western orientated, the Horse may have been ridden
very young. That also will affect their soundness.
You should get a Vet check and in particular, stress
tests on the front fetlocks and pasterns as well as
pointing the Vet to the rear end. I have met
an arthritic 3 year old and a number of 5 and 6 year
olds. Regards
Hi
John
My name is Thea
Back in November last year I purchased a Clydesdale
mare (Beth) and her beautiful ¾ clydy ¼ paint filly
(Hope).
Poor old mum is a bit of a sad case. She has had
very limited handling. She wears a holter 24hours a
day 7 days a week. I can only catch her with food.
Unable to pat her down her legs, back, hindquarters.
Only just now can we pat her neck and face.
Apart from being unhandled she is lovely and quiet.
And has picked up a lot in condition since November.
I purchased the above horses after my beloved stock
horse cross was put to sleep.
Unable to find a nice riding horse.
Beautiful Hope was 6.5 wks old when she arrived
unhandled. It had taken two weeks of just sitting
and letting her investigate me until one day she
just let me pat her. From this day forward she has
not looked back. She loves to be scratched all over.
She lays down and allows me to sit on her. She is
holter broken however just recently she has started
to do little rears as I am leading her. it appears
to be just playing. Is this something to be
concerned about?. It doesn’t bother me. However my
mother inlaw thinks she is two big to be doing this.
At 20wks she is 13.3hh. She doen’t always rear up.
Only on windy days or if a horse is running around.
I can also work with her with ropes around legs and
body she loves it. And just in the last month I have
started to get her to back and turn with and without
a holter. When I don’t use a holter it’s just a nice
soft lead. The lead is placed at the base of the
neck like a set of reins. I stand at her shoulder
and with very little pressure she will back and
turn.
I can rug her & trim feet.
As she is only 4.5 month old what other things
should I be doing with her. Bearing in mind mum is
unhandled. But is very happy for me to work with her
foal.
Enclosed is photo
Cheers Thea
p.s. Thanks for your time.
Wow Thea, lovely Girl! I can
read your mind as you write and I can tell that you
need to just up your demands and pressures a little.
You are doing well but you are just short of the
mark a touch on your style. I understand that you
are following the gentle art of Horse Training but
you can lift it a bit. You should be weaning her in
a couple of weeks imho. If she was mine I would have
her off the Mum for Mum's sake. She is way big and
strong enough. If she doesn't tie up she should be
pronto. Hobble train her too and teach her the 7
Games. Well done though. Don't get me wrong. Regards
------------------------------
Hellt there,
It is Cindy. How are you. I have been making much
more progress with Wacky (mac) He is really filling
out. I had A hay delemer and I could not get the
kind of hay I wanted. All I wanted was good old
oaten with nothing else in it. It proved hard and I
was almost about to give up when my farrier pointed
me in the right direction. I found a secret supply.
They export to Japan so it has to be of exteme
quality to pass. It was cut last year as he had none
left from this year. It was so cheep $6.00 a small
bale and Green as Green hay can be. It weighs heavy
and mac has taken 1 week to get through the first
bale. That is ablib amounts.
He had been freaking out when the wind blew in from
the west and south west. It took me a few weeks to
work out why he was so darn moody all the time. I
realised that it was only when the wind blew from
thoes directions and thought I will just have to
live with it. He would line me up to kick me have
his ears back when I pat him ect ect and still come
running in on me on these days. I have finally put a
stop to it. He was reacting to the shed next door to
us as it bangs with loose iron. I went into the
paddock to see if I could stop the iron flapping and
rip it down. No need. I tried but with no success.
Since I went and touched it he has been nice as pie
all the time. So now I feel that I am ready to start
looking at getting him assessed and some training in
the saddle going.
I will have to arrange this soon as I can. I was
also thinking about building a cart for him. I have
an old mate here who has clydes Dales and cart. I
think I might ask him is he can help me with harness
firring and so on.
Can you Please tell me is it a normal thing for a
horse to not step with his back legs when turning. I
have noticed it recently and that he does it all the
time. He just steps with the front feet with back
feet planted to do a 180 turn. I heard his hip pop
the other day when he finally steped with the back
feet to walk forward.. Lazy or is it something else?
Cheere for now From Cindy
It depends Cindy. A lot won't step, some only one
step and others more. Your Clydie Man will know. Get
him to check him out. They are big on turns. "Gee
Off" "Come HIther" :) I hate wind with a passion. It
puts me in a bad mood where I never really have the
problem. I used to live in a windy place and never
again. Hope all goes well with the harness.
6th February, 2008
HI All,
Thanks for your responses. Due to the positive
response DCSA have agreed to run FEI classes at
their 24/02/08 competition. Entry Forms can be
downloaded from www.myaushorse.com.au and entries
close on Monday 11/02/08. As the day was previously
advertised as an unofficial and Young Horse day the
preliminary to advanced classes will be run as
"unofficial", however the FEI classes will be
"Official". If anyone has any queries you can
contact Kathy Ordynski on 83836885 or kathy.ordynski
THE ASSESSMENT
We commenced the assessment
of the lovely little Pony today and as I have said
to you a thousand times, we must always start from a
position that nothing is the fault of the Horse and
work from there. First carefully looking for any
possible Veterinary issues which may be behind the
behavior and then onwards from there. As in most
cases, the end result (if not Veterinary) is
normally caused by shortcomings of us Humans, caused
by the lacking Educational Systems that are still
not anywhere near up to par. In this case we are
dealing with Pony Club.
In the case of this Horse,
nice little Fellow, quite normal temperament but he
is allegedly doing the scoot on his Kid Rider, not
in any dangerous way but enough to make the riding a
bit of a turn off for the Child. Observation is such
a neccesity and one must not miss a trick when it
comes to the assessment for everything is relevant
and one thing missed can give a false reading.
When the horse arrived, we
noted that it was in a rope halter but being led 'by
the beard' Then today, when getting the Horse from
it's yard, we both found that it had a lack of
respect on the ground, a matter to be stored in that
back of our minds in case of later relevance.
Then the check of the
Mouth. Lateral Mouth reasonable and manageable and
the particular Pony Club does perform One Rein
Stops. Front Mouth, like a plank of wood. Back
up.....non existent. Back up being not taught at
Pony Club and a lack of backup on a Horse having a
direct influence on the lack of quality of Mouth in
my experience.
The 'scooting' is
apparently happening when the Horse is asked to
Canter and accompanied with occasional 'pig rooting'
Obviously the next thing to be slotted into that
filing cabinet in the mind, reminding us to look at
rear end Veterinary of course but to keep an open
mind.
On lunging the Horse both
ways in the Round Pen, running free, we noticed that
both rear legs were operating almost as a Kangaroo,
with very little engagement. Almost cantering with
both back legs together but not quite. We also
noticed a reasonable amount of 'dis-uniting' at the
canter. Again, another point to put in the back of
our minds.
On mounting up, the Pony
had 'the face' on, telling us that it too is not
happy with past ridden experiences and that Horse
Problems are always a two way street. A point often
forgotten as it is almost always and upset Human
with no thought of what the Horse may be going
through. Mrs. HP requested an upward transition and
got the hind legs kick up to the sky trick and the
horse 'scooting', attempting to run through the
hands. Once more, the poor front mouth being
relevant.
The next observations all
came very quick of course. Pony not leg yielding,
laying against the inside leg, going around like a
Crab, not straight, supple, above the bit, resistant
and the list goes on as we always talk about on
here. Several more transitions showed the same
result, kick up to the sky where you would swear the
Horse had stifle/patella problems and accompanied
with the quick escape sprint. Just as if the Pony is
frightened about something out the back end.
Veterinary or could it be whips? Some Horses take
the confused and repetitive whip use, seriously
where other Pony Club Horses treat it as a blow fly
and ignore it, the leg, the bit and just live
through another day. So this matter also goes to the
back of the mind.
Having got the Pony to
Canter and achieved some consistency of canter,
there was even one kick up to the sky at the canter,
for no apparent reason. Normally a classic pointer
to Patella problems. The Tail of the Horse is
hanging beautifully almost all of the time with
sudden little twitches and then swishing, only
during the canter transition or momentarily only, at
the canter with the rest of the time, tail hanging
nicely. Mouth improved markedly and Pony starting to
listen to seat.
So by the end of the ride,
what is the answer? Well, more information wanted :)
It is however, both our opinions that the Pony is a
very nice one and that the negative symptoms being
exhibited are most probably not Veterinary in the
pure sense of the word but ridden induced whereby
the wonderful foundation stones as found in
Classical Dressage have not been promoted and
taught, thus leaving Horses with no other option but
to find ways of carrying Riders', in a crooked
fashion. That slowly and surely builds incorrect
muscle tone via compensating where the correctly
ridden Horses do not suffer that physical request.
Mrs, HP taught the horse to leg yield by the end of
the ride and tomorrow will be it's first experience
of being shown how to carry a Rider and be given the
best possible chance of achieving the task with the
least discomfort. That then will answer the question
'Veterinary or Ridden induced pain'
Now we have a massive
subject that cannot be handled here but I can here
it being said now, "But this is Pony Club!!" ....and
I say, "So what, teach it and stop selling Kids
short. They may surprise us" At the same time I can
hear the Horses out there, "Go HP"
and so to a related matter......
I noticed you go with the follow on behind horse
leading method and was wondering how this would work
if the horse spooked and jumped on the back of your
legs? I know of a woman whom this happened to and
she had her knees shattered.
I anticipate that you will answer that the horse
will be so well trained as to know not to come into
your space and would never think about spooking onto
you, or perhaps even spooking at all :-) .
No Emma, I have the luxury
of knowing exactly what they are doing even though I
can't see them. If I sense a spook, I just throw my
rope hand in the air and any thought of running at
me is removed. Can I ask you this?
If you are leading a Horse
alongside of you, far closer to your Body than my
horse is, and it jumps on you, couldn't you get
crushed knees and the rest?? Of course. I have seen
people mowed down and galloped over the top of. I
have seen horse to the scoot and kick people in the
head on the way out because they already had a head
start because of their requested position, rather
than back out of the way.
I am of the old school and like to have the horse
next to me, with some slack in the rope (not 'by the
beard'), and with my ground work have taught the
horse to be able to turn away from me on a circle
when leading etc. and if they were to jump I would
have some chance to stop them coming onto me due to
this ground work.
If a horse is behind you, how do you know where it
is looking? where it's mind is at and therefore, how
can you 'read' the horse?
Just because it is
alongside of you, doesn't mean that the mere mortal
ever knows where it's mind is either Emma.
Further to this, i was wondering what you would
teach a child just starting off in the world of
ponies?!? If walking in front with slack, would the
pony not take advantage and try and eat and drag
said child around? Step on child?I guess you would
argue that they could do the same next to them, but
I (perhaps naively) assume you have more idea of
what they are up to from there?
If the Child was taught NH,
it would be way further down the rope from the Horse
than anyone who follows the leading at the shoulder,
even if they do have some loop in the rope. The
Power of control at Halter is directly relevant to
the amount of slack and loop in the rope (once you
have been trained NH) Therefore, the Child, NH
trained and down the rope away from a HOrse would be
the only Child that could stop a Horse eating grass
and generally taking advantage as they all do when
led at the shoulder.
The Tb I am currently working with, always tries to
slot in behind me when i am leading him and I am
correcting this to walking at my shoulder, about 3/4
of a metre away and with the slack in the rope.
So anyway, if you have the time, I am just curious
and was wondering what the answer would be and just
trying to further understand alternative methods!
Thanks in advance
Emma
Very difficult to explain
Emma because not many people outside the NH circles
can appreciate what I would be talking about here. I
will do a Podcast on this the very next time I get a
Horse come here that even you couldn't lead. Then
you will see the Power of 'down the rope' if you
have the training to be able to use it. It is 1000%
more effective than everything pre 1989 (the day Pat
Parelli went to Roseworthy :)
LETTERS OF THE DAY
I just read the letter about the 16.3
Standardbred with the mounting problem. I leased a
mare a few years ago that did the same crap during
mounting. She would spin as soon as you got on or
backup at a million miles an hour. If you stayed on,
she was fine to ride. Sometimes she would do it and
sometimes not. It turns out in her case, it was
saddle fit. She had a glitch somewhere, & some
saddles hurt her and some didn't. She was good as
gold in a treeless saddle-never did her crap while
being mounted. I bred the mare-and kept the filly.
After being under saddle for 3 months, I turned in
the saddle and the filly broke in 2 bucking until I
came off. She was not startled or frightened-just
wanted me off. I immediately switched her to a
treeless saddle and have not had an incident since.
The only time this filly ever bucked was when I
twisted in the saddle. I think that the mare had a
genetic conformation glitch (you couldn't see
anything & she was never lame) which her filly
inherited.
Anyway, consider saddle fit as a cause. I was
perplexed since after the mounting blowup with the
mare, she was always fine during the rest of the
ride.
Elly
Very interesting indeed
Elly and completely believable. The Horses were
communicating to you.....loud and clear hahahaha. We
really have to 'Listen to our Horses', don't we?
Thanks for that valuable information. Saddle fit is
a big issue for sure.
------------------------------------
Dear John,
I'm sitting here in Californian with David Farmilo
and we have a horse
(Stallion) that was very sweet. I had to send him
away to a "trainer" 2
years ago after I had an accident and could not care
for him.
I got him back with broken ribs and a broken coffin
bone, and the foulest temperment you can imagine.
I have had him at home, but he is very aggressive
and I can't trust him enough to train him.
He lets us in the stall to feed and clean and I can
go in and brush him. I can also rasp his front feet
but he won't let us near the back.
David said that you might be able to offer some
suggestions. Which of your products could I buy that
could help me progress the teaching.
Thanks so much,
Brian
Orange, CA
Poor Bugga, I feel so ad
for you both :) I'm going to be there next year so
there :) There is one thing that I learnt a long
time ago Brian and that was that you sometimes have
to be strong with Stallions and Colts, to keep the
pecking order in place but you can never be cruel
and unjust and if you ever are, they are highly
likely to turn and they don't forget. Such is the
problem with your horse no doubt and why shouldn't
he indeed? I take it you have gone through all of
the 'advance and retreat' systems and the Natural
Horsemanship with this Horse???? If not, take that
approach but it may not overcome the distrust that
has built up. I take it he kicks?? The key here is
to get the Horse to believe that we can handle his
back legs AND IT CAN BE and non event. Non
threatening, non painful and so on. Only then can
the Horse have a shot at confronting his daemons.
How you achieve step one of this scenario is the
question of course. Obviously we must look for the
most gentle option but that will depend upon what
options you may have exhausted prior to now. Clearly
however, whatever option it takes to get to a
situation where you can handle his back legs and
commence the repairing process through trust, must
be taken. So lets say you have exhausted options 0-5
on the scale of 0-10. Option 6 may be simply
blindfolding the Horse with black calico, completely
over the near side eye and then going back to
advance and retreat, softly softly and working back
to his rump where you can just scratch him and so
on. Gradually build over each session. It could be
that you use a fake rubber hand on a stick to extend
from the rump down the back of his ass on other
sessions, ignoring his kicking and getting him to
believe. The Horse has to be tied up of course.
Option 7 could be to perform the 'endorphin tap' on
the Horse and handle his back legs from behind him,
as he lays on the ground. That could overcome a
number of other things. Option 8 would be to use one
of my collar ropes and a back leg strap, accompanied
with a blindfold to install the equipment and then
quite simply, you can handle his back legs all you
like, how you like, in perfect safety and be able to
tell the horse that you aren't going to Kill him.
Don't try any of that without my DVD on Leg
Restraints training and the proper equipment. Kind
Regards. Go Obama :) I have visions of Bill being
beneath the desk in the White House if Hill gets in
:)
This bloke is 19 hands :) He
wouldn't let them trim him either :) Two days later.
-----------------------------
hi John
just a suggestion for not whacking in the teeth when
jumping - you had advised to throw away the rein,
which works, but does leave the rider open to horse
running out. An easy alternative is to maintain
contact but move hands to hold mane a stride or 2
out from the jump. Hold mane at a maximum of 1/3 of
the way up the neck. This will prevent horse being
whacked in the teeth on landing, still lets you have
good control into the jump and also helps keep the
rider with the horse. I used to hate the idea, but
that was because I thought you were meant to hold
mane up near the ears - put me off balance and I
refused point blank to do it. Had a tiff with my
instructor at the time and it wasn't until I asked
how far up the neck do you have to hold mane, that
we realised we were talking about two different
things!! Instructor even said, I can see why you
refused to do it LOL
Yes K, good suggestion and
yes, that works well. I do think that the Horse
isn't equipped quite yet for jumping though. When
they are more like this last Horse then it comes
easy for all concerned.
Something is going right with my horse (the nervous
arabian). We are speeding around on trails, hooning
around the agistment tracks and he hasn't had a
tizzy for a while. Had a look at the upturned
bathtub this morning, but then promptly forgot about
it. I think he must have been abducted by aliens and
they have given me a substitute :) It shouldn't be a
feed issue, but since I have cut out the biscuits
(pre mix) he was having, he has been wonderful. He
never looked over fed, in nice nick, but not fat.
Still in good condition, so I think if he needs
anything we may just up his chaff. Going out on the
trails isn't new, we do that every weekend for a
change of scenery - we both like it. Anyway, I will
just have to live with him being a good boy, the
harshness of it! Always nice to be able to recreate
it though, hence why I am trying to figure out why
the change.
Have a great day
K
Just go with it K. Well
done
-------------------------------------
Hi John,
just caught up with the latest on the HP page (Pony
Club ). It amazes me that we have these kids that
don't want to explore the next step on their horses,
especially when under instruction from Linda...a
golden opportunity begging to be embraced. A lesson
with Linda, and not a great cost to the rider may I
add. ? would they canter if paying the usual hourly
fee that our good instructors change? I wonder...
Well, as you know, we have a kid who would give her
left arm ( and has in some ways) to canter her horse
without her head spinning and her legs feeling like
they don't belong. So, to all the youngsters out
there, sit tall, take a deep breath and move on with
your riding and enjoy it. Take advantage of the
wonderful privilege of access to gifted instructors
who give up a days work for the good of Pony Club in
our state.
Cheers and keep up the good work Mrs HP.xx
Very nice. Thanks. xx
--------------------------
HI HP,
I'm wondering can you help me?i bought my horse
willow as a 2yr old Ive had him for 12 years,when i
bought him he was broken and riding(young i know)i
rode him lightly for a few months and then put him
out to grass for 2years.he always had a strange
canter in the left rain but i didn't think it was
much of a problem as he always seemed happy to be
ridden.i done endurance,trail riding,show jumping
and dressage over the years so 2 years ago i put him
out to grass for a holiday.since i brought him back
into work 3months ago I've had allot of problems
with him, firstly he got a bad chill but we caught
it in time and he was treated by our vet.when he
recovered i put him slowly into work.his walk and
trot are fine well balanced but when i ask him to
canter,he cant on the left rain.the only way i can
describe it is,he takes off on the correct lead then
after 2 strides he becomes disunited and its like
the front legs are cantering but the back legs are
not.i decided to get a new saddle fitted and started
to lunge him in a shanbon, again walk and trot were
perfect he was working well from behind.when i asked
him to canter his head became high and he became
disunited...but i pushed on.....only to have him
charge at me and narrowly miss my face with his two
back legs.i decided to ride him to see if he was
just being a brat when being lunged when i mounted
up he tryed to kick me,when i cantered he stopped
dead in his tracks.I've been told horses broken in
young have serious back problems when they get to
their teens i.e dipping back due to bones not
getting time to develop.I've had vets look at him
through the years and nobody seems to be able to
pinpoint the problem.I'm at the end of my tether
I've also had teeth rasped,changed his bit and had a
chiropractor to look at him but still had no joy.I'm
putting him on pain killers for the week to see if
he goes well,if he dose I'm considering retiring him
as i know there something somewhere not right!!!
any advise would be a bonus
kind regards
Lindsey
It sounds to me as if the
Horse is trying to tell you something Lindsey. For
sure. You need to take extensive video and you can
send it to me if you wish or put some on utube. Then
we can give you a more definitive opinion. I would
not be persevering with the ridden training until
you have an answer either way though. Not fair on
the Horse Lindsey. Best of Luck. (Tell your video
person to actually zoom in on the Horse :)
---------------------------
I am in New Zealand and finding portable round
pens for horses is like finding hens teeth...
however I do have to have some more cattleyards made
so was hoping to use the round pen for my cattle as
well as horse training, hence why I was thinking
about constructing it with the posts driven into the
ground. We need to put in a crush/headbail and
something to draft with so this is a good
opportunity to make a nice area to work in.
An idea of what diameter to make it and what height
works best would be helpful. I would like to be able
to ride in it at a canter so probably 18-20m? What
do you think?
Also what height should I have the centre post for
tying up? I am assuming that it will need to be
driven very deeply into the ground, I was thinking
of having it covered in rubber or something similar
to make it a bit more horse friendly.
kind regards
Jane
Post One Metre in ground nd
7 foot out of ground Jane. Here take a look at my
comdom :)
CLICK THE ICONS. THEY WORK
You can canter in a 12
metre diameter yard on a balanced horse but 15 would
be the minimum Jane.1.8metres is the minumum height
but I prefer 2.1m
I thought you might like the pix I took of Merlin
my "tiny" 2nd X Andalusian wearing his sleighbells
that I bought him for Xmas. He's over 17hh now and
still growing... His half sister - [our latest foal
that I told you about] is taller than he was at the
same age, so I'm wondering how big she will end up.
Merlin had problems with metallic noises such as the
sword hitting the moors head so I bought these and
ride him with them for desensitising. They are very
loud and very musical and sound fantastic! Also
quite good for maintaining a constant tempo in each
pace.
I figure if he can cope with these and the other
scary things that we do in our training then he can
cope with just about anything.
cheers
Jane
Unreal. What's the next door
neighbour saying? "You aughta see that crazy Shelia
next door" hahahaha
-------------------------
Hi HP
Here is something you will appreciate – seeing as
you can’t do it in person try this: http://www.slapcorey.com/
I know it’s further publicity for the little pea
brain but gee it’s fun.
Cheers
Jo
I just hit the little
bustud 60 metres!! Yay. Thanks. I just tried again
and got him 137 metres :)
------------------------------
Dear John, OKAY OKAY...I bought a Standie....5yo
trialled but never raced, dark
brown/bay...14.2hh...a really soft relaxed calm
boy.....*sigh* okay! Just gotta give him an
appropriate name....as Speedy just isn't him... :D
Thanks for your comments I know that I have a
wonderful horse. Pictures as soon as I get the
batteries re-charged.
Regards Lauren, George, Trevor and ?.....
Nugget :)
cant help but comment on the poor standie who
trained and raced for over 8 years 122 starts thats
only 20 starts per year if the horse started racing
at 2 what did he do for the rest of the year he had
32 weeks not racing.most only have a handful of
starts as a 2-3 yr old. trainers do want them to
last not all trainers but a good few. also i bet he
was fed wormed teeth shod done etc etc dont get to
122 starts without someone looking after his
welfare.you could say its the horse but you could
also argue that his trainer looked after him.in
harness racing the money aint very good so most
people have to love the horse.yes there are rotten
horse people not just in the racing industry look at
the well meaning people with the kids pony rotting
in the paddock because they cant bear to part with
it.look at its feet teeth when was it last wormed
nothing to eat.sorry but thats my 2 cents worth the
racing industry does deserve a lot of flak but so
does the horse industry as a whole.good on you for
saving this horse may he live a great life but pls
dont assume all race horses are hard done by.i hear
it on a daily basis from well meaning horse people
from other horse sports who seem to think that their
chosen horse activity is ok but racing horses
isnt.jenny
Yes, dead right Jenny. There
is as much or more cruelty and neglect in the
Pleasure Horse World than the Racing Industry. No
doubt at all. Lovely Horse, ey?
5th February, 2008
Day Off. Mrs. Hp has a new
challenge for this week, a Pony who does the runner
on Kid Riders and so we shall see what unfolds. I
have a buck jumper and a couple of re-mouthing jobs.
-------------------------------
Australians overcome horse flu to qualify for
dressage
Australia have booked their place in the team dressage at this
year's Olympics after overcoming a chaotic buildup
dominated by an outbreak of equine influenza.
Australia scored 196.167 points at a regional
qualifying event in Sydney, bettering the 194.792
Japan recorded at another qualifying event in France
last week.
Japan is now vying with New Zealand for the last
regional berth. New Zealand will perform before the
judges in Palmerston North on Thursday.
The Australians have now qualified in the team
events for all three Olympic equestrian disciplines,
dressage, show jumping and eventing, to be held in
Hong Kong.
It is a remarkable success after their hopes had
been left dangling following last year's outbreak of
equine influenza, which brought the Australian
equine industry to its knees.
"It's terrific. Obviously a lot of effort has gone
into getting here so we are very, very pleased,"
Australia's high performance manager Brett Mace told
Australian Associated Press.
"It is really just the start now towards the
Olympics."
Go Ozzies Go!
STALAG CORIO
TO FULLY take in the brutality of yesterday's Hunter
Cup, you must consider the whole story.
The 13 horses who waged war at record pace over
3065m at Moonee Valley had spent the previous 48
hours locked in the "Big House", treated like drug
mules.
Some bright spark at Harness Racing Victoria decided
it was in the sport's best interests to have the
Hunter Cup horses at the Geelong paceway, under lock
and key, for two days before the race. Something
about integrity and protection.
Forget the fact the players were treated like
criminals, the banner race was run under a cloud of
distrust.
As usual, the race was hell. It has not been run at
a more frantic pace.
But compared to the pre-race, it was a picnic.
Safari, a ball of hormones at the best of times,
suffered most at "Stalag Corio".
He wouldn't eat or drink.
He sensed the aptly named Good Lookin Girl was
nearby and spent most of his incarceration frothing
at the mouth.
Penny Veejay also lost the plot, terrorised by
mozzies, go-karts, greyhounds and the hum of the
Princes Highway.
Winning driver Natalie Rasmussen said the race was a
dream -- the relentless pace up front played into
her hands out the back.
But the build-up was "a nightmare, just revolting".
"The day we got there, there was a dog meeting on.
The horses thought they were there to race and got
anxious straight away," said Rasmussen of the
48-hour lock-down, during which she slept two nights
on a bench in the women's drivers room.
"There were go-karts the next day. The mozzies were
horrendous. My horses just stood in a corner of a
paddock not knowing what to do, not knowing what was
next. The highway was close as well. It was s---thouse.
"I can't believe they made us do that. It was
disgraceful."
Rasmussen should not have had to make a political
point in the post-race minutes. That should have
been all about joy and relief.
Rasmussen is a tireless worker. These moments should
not be hijacked by administrative blunders.
Incredibly, she was fined for going on about the
issue in her acceptance speech.
As far as Hunter Cups go, yesterday was fast but
clean.
Only one horse, Smooth Crusa, failed to step.
The hungry, thirsty, frothy Safari worked from back
in the field to be outside the lead before the
halfway mark. He scraped his way to the lead
approaching the final bend, but had done it hard for
48 hours and three minutes.
Blacks A Fake pulled wide in the straight and
gobbled them up in the last stride. The best horses
have a knack of winning in cramped finishes.
Before the subject of "Stalag Corio" came up, a
thrilled Rasmussen said she was rapt more for the
horse than herself.
"Maybe now they'll start calling him a good horse,"
she said.
The good horse will now attempt to win a record
third straight Inter Dominion. Maybe only bad luck,
another good horse or "Stalag Corio" could ruin it.
LETTERS OF THE DAY
HORSELAW
Firstly, we have a $20,000
pop sold by another well known Dressage Queen who
has more money than a Bull can ----- (why do they
bother?) Unsound, she would have known it as it had
been having corrective shoeing for yonks and other
stuff. Yet another EFA Member. I am starting to
believe it is more dangerous to buy from an EFA
Coach than a Horse Dealer down the back streets.
Welcome to the Horse Industry Folks where those who
and so to a related matter......
