 |
|
"I am scared to death of my horse!"
|
|
 |
|
Dear Keith...
Friday, July 13, 2007
Hi,
Remember me? You had spoken with me about getting my first horse.
We got her about 2 months ago. Her name is Fergie. She is a brown & white tobiano Paint. She just turned 1 on the 4th of July.
She has been really great. We've had so much fun with her. She has been very loveable and wanting constant contact with us. When she sees us outside at the house, she whinnies for us to come over to her. She is in need of some manners, as she is quite mouthy and tries to nip us constantly. But she follows us around like a little puppy dog. I've been spending an awful lot of quality bonding time with her every day. Grooming, playing, TRYING to train her, etc. We go out and spend time with her...gosh, about a half dozen or more times a day!
But that has all ended suddenly over the past couple of days. I entered the pasture on Wednesday with an apple for her. She started pushing me around when I didn't give it to her immediately. We went in circles for a second and the she turned and tried to kick me! I honestly don't know how she missed me. By all rights, I should have eaten her feet.
The same evening, I was walking over to the barn with her feed bucket and wouldn't let her put her head in the bucket, she ran in front of me and tried to kick me again!
Now everything I do, she spins around like she is preparing to kick me. I can't get near her suddenly without her pinning her ears down and sometimes she rushes me! I don't want to go into the pasture anymore but I have to get to the barn!
Nothing in her environment has changed. No feed change. The vet was just here and checked her out - she's healthy as a ...um...horse! Nothing has happened to make her turn on me like this.
I know she is lonely. Our 2nd horse (a colt) will be here end of August. My husband has been wanting to get a donkey - and thinks we should do that now for her sake - so she has some company. But I'm not too sure about that. I don't want to make matters worse.
What can I do???? Any suggestions as to why she hates me all the sudden??? This is an unsafe situation!
Thank you so much for you time, Keith. I really appreciate ANY advice you can give me.
Dana F
p.s. I've attached some pictures of Fergie. |
|
- - - - -
Reply
Hi, thanks for the pics. That’s a good-looking horse.
As I’m sure I said when I spoke to you, you need to find a professional trainer. Period. End of story. Do you see how it’s becoming dangerous? It’s only gonna get worse.
Here’s the list I carry on my site: http://www.horsemanship101.com/John-Lyons-Trainer-Links/John-Lyons-Trainers-US-1.html.
Regards,
Keith
|
|
- - - - -
Reply
You are right, a trainer is desperately needed...and fast!
Last question...can you ball-park me at how much a trainer costs? I know they vary...but I can't even begin to guess. Would it be hundreds...or *gasp* ...thousands???
|
|
- - - - -
Reply
That’s a very difficult question to answer. Rates vary among trainers, from area to area and depend, of course, on how much training you’re looking for. Also, be aware that while you may simply be looking to straighten out ground manners now, if you don’t, yourself, learn how to control the situation, then your horse will revert and then you’ll either be back at the trainer’s (paying more money) or you’ll be the owner of a dangerous horse. If you’ve had a horse just this long and it’s already dangerous, then that’s a pretty good sign that things will go from bad to worse when you try to ride it. (Think about it: You’ll be on its back – not on the ground, some distance away.) There’s also a matter of board, if you send your horse off to the trainer, vs. trailering in and out. Just look up several trainers in your area and give them a call. Please be aware that no trainer on the planet can fix your horse forever – every horse will revert. That means that you also need to get an education (which means working with the trainer) otherwise there will be no end to the expense/danger.
|
|
|
|
- - - - - |
|
|
|
|
|
Suggested Article: "Scared of My Horse"
Your horse wants to eat, sleep and poop. "Bonding" has never been high on his list.
You can have a terrific relationship, but it takes respect – and respect must be earned. Begin by realizing that you're the one paying the bills. Your...
from our Ask a Horse Trainer series > read more |
|
| |
|
Suggested Article: "The First Thing I Do"
If your horse went ballistic out on the trail last week... it didn't "just happen out of the blue." He's been telling you for weeks or months that he was going to lose it when enough pressure was applied every time he resisted (however slightly)...
from our Starting a Young Horse series > read more |
|
| |
|
Suggested Article: "Biting Horses"
How do you know the difference between a threat and an innocent stance? As you would expect, it's just common sense. A horse that's copping a bad attitude will couple his pinned ears with other facial features or body language that anyone (or...
from our Biting Horse series > read more |
|
| |
|
Suggested Article: "Why Does My Horse Still Have This Problem"
It's your job to be consistent simply because horses become mirror images of their owners. Let's say you buy a horse and the horse pulls on the bit like he's trying to rip your arms out of their sockets. Well, you can blame the previous owner for...
from our Horse Training Problem series > read more |
|
| |
|
Suggested Article: "Thought vs Action"
When you think different, you are different. The more you raise your expectations, the better your horse will become. Those two thoughts bring us to a concept called "Thought vs Action." Riding an "action" is how ninety-nine percent of the people...
from our Learning to Ride a Horse series > read more |
|
| |
|
- - - - - |
|
|
|
|
|
Goals
Horse Training School: I need a “kick in the pants” to move me ahead onto my next stage |
|
Kicking
Horse Kicking: How do you keep a horse from kicking and how do you get them to come around you with out being afraid? |
|
Young Horse Training
Starting Young Horses: The problem is my young horse....who needs a JOB Desperately |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
