First of all, a mini rant. My internet connection is really slow lately, so on some blogs, posting comments is an issue. There is a reason I use the pop-up option for posting comments on my blog; it's faster. When I am on a blog that uses the option to post the comm box below the post, I have to click on the "comment" button, then wait while the window with the blog post opens, then make my comment, then hit post comment, then wait for it to open in another window that adds the word verification, then do that and hit post comment again, then wait for it to cogitate and tell me my comment was accepted or is awaiting approval. Very time consuming folks! And one reason I don't post comments as often on those blogs. With so many good blogs to read, commenting takes a lot of time to start with, and that system really slows things down. Anyway, enough ranting!
I got to ride my Beamer today, bareback around the hayfield, practicing all the things Gail was teaching me about body position, arms, shoulders and wrists. When I got back, just for fun I practiced dropping the reins and getting him to spin. Woo-hoo! Try spinning with your arms held out, bareback. And then ask him to go faster. Yeah! That was fun! Then I worked on backing up without using the bridle. A little more difficult, but we did it. Beamer and Url are getting along really well, in fact I left the pen gate open while I went riding and Url contentedly stayed put- now how many cow critters will stay in a pen when the gate is open?
Chickory continues to be standoffish, and I've come to a conclusion about her. She got really sweet when Kai was born, and after he left, she reverted back to being suspicious of people, unless grain is involved. When I round penned her, she never got really soft, just barely allowed contact. Yesterday she would come about 10 feet away, stand there licking and chewing, but wouldn't give me that last little bit. I quit the session when I could touch her. That took 2 hours. So I'm wondering if this is a hormonal issue with her, on top of her natural inclinations. I had someone suggest to breed her next year to see if that settles her, which may not be a bad idea, but I'd like some input- especially from those of you who have worked with mustangs, as Chickory was basically a wild range colt when I bought her. How can I get through to her? How can I get her to trust me enough that I can walk up to her anytime, anywhere and catch her? All her experiences with being caught are good ones; she has never been abused, or worked too hard. She gets brushed, hand grazed, and if it's a day when I have time to work her, she always does willingly what is asked of her, and gets put up on a good note. She has me puzzled.
9 comments:
Sounds like an independent Lady?...Or maybe she just will remain one of those horses that doesnt trust 100%?
With being a Mustang, I think she does well with humans. You have done well with her.
ok shirley, pop up enabled:D but no word verifcation, only comment awaiting approval. i don't like word verifcation.
Cheyenne, she is a registered Quarter Horse, but ran with a large herd of brood mares that are untouched except at weaning time when they are run in, the foals sorted off, and run through an auction on the ranch. She had no handling other than being run through a chute, had a halter put on her, got sorted into a pen with other colts, then put through the auction and loaded into my trailer. If you go to my labels and click on Chickory, you can see all the issues wee dealt with in her training. It took her 2 months before I could halter and lead her; this is one tough minded filly.
I have one small recommendation. Take her away from her buddies, someplace totally different. It can be around other horses, in her own pen, (preferably next to a crabby horse) but you be the only one she knows. Then just be your normal kind self. See if that helps.
Any time we have done that with a horse it changes their attitude towards us for some reason.
I agree with CCC, put her alone , where her only contact is you .It forsces her to some degree to make you part of her herd. If you think it is hormonal , what about Mare calm(Revas remedies,I think )Or I believe it is rasberry leaf that helps to settle mares. She has come a long way , hoepfully this is only a little setback
Im far from an expert, but I agree with CCC, and just keep handling her everyday, or multiple times a day, not necessarily for long times, just catching and brushing or petting or feeding.
She may never become a horse that friendly and it may not be becasue of how she's being handled (or wastnt handled), what were her parents like?
Crystal, I'm not sure about her parents, but I think I could get ahold of the owners by phone.Her sire is a son of Docs Hickory and they ride him, I think he was shown. It may be interesting to see what they have to say.
As far as putting her somewhere away from the rest of her herd, since I can't do that at home I might be able to board her at the arena I ride at for a while and see if that helps. Thanks for the advice.
Love the pop-up window, too. The other options take a very long time to load and reload, and often freeze up on me. I don't like the word verification, though. I'd rather just approve messages myself. So many times, after typing a comment, and the word verification, and I've clicked submit... and my comment just vanishes into an error message. This seems to happen less often without word verification.
As for Chickory, maybe old habits die hard. Evading humans and only relying on her equine herd is the basis of her early life and one she is most used to and feels more normal for her, I would think.
But like you said, someone who has trained mustangs would understand how to work with this behavior even better, because even wild mustangs are well known to come around with good training. Have you talked with Karen (Gettyup) of Life at the Rough String or Mustang Diaries?
I'm right there with you on your rant!!!
I'd get her by herself like CCC suggested. With the mustang gentling, I find that it makes the horse look for you. You're bring it food, water...attention. Since they are herd animals, they need companionship and will search it out.
But, a lot of her actions sound like her personality too. She will probably never be a pocket pony. I've known horses that are just fine without the human, but just go with the flow because they've been trained to accept us.
She's independent and somewhat aloof...and you may just have to settle for a 'meeting in the middle' with her.
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