Re: RC: Difficult Horse

[DVeritas@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/7/00 10:56:03 AM Mountain Daylight Time, 
(Traci135@aol.com) guest@endurance.net writes:

<< She has actually 
 done a 30 with her previous owner.  My problem with this
 horse is that she is out of control when taken out of her home
 environment. I am pretty sure that she will not stand still
 long enough for someone to take her pulse and I have read about
 standing in line for vet checks.  I am sure this will be a 
 major problem for her and I and everyone close by. >>

Traci,
    Your first sentence says it (endurance) is possible with this horse.  
    Your second sentence identifies your horse's method of controlling what 
she does or does not want to do.  You must not allow her this.  She is not 
the first horse to act "out of control when taken out of her home 
environment"....as long as you allow her that power, she will employ it.  If 
you can not get her to desist in that behavior SAFELY, please get 
professional help.  It will not take much, just someone who can deal with it 
once or twice and then you will have to pick it up from there.
    Persistence and consistency will pay major dividends in this regard.
    If you "think" something is going to be a problem, it is going to be a 
problem.
    If you are able, I recommend lunging the horse before she is ridden, but 
do not engender a "herd flight" attitude, get her to lunge quietly and 
relaxed for about fifteen minutes, then, calmly and resolutely mount her and 
WALK off smartly down the trail. (Controlling a "bully" is much easier at the 
WALK, than if they get their forward inertia behind their bad 
behavior....controlled trotting/cantering will come later)  (She might even 
view going down the trail as a relief from the lunging).
    There are many methods to be employed in dealing with this behavior, just 
don't give up...that can become a habit.
    If she is unsafe and you find yourself frightened (which could be a 
reasonable reaction to an out of control horse), think about why you own her 
and if she feels the same affinity for you.  Chances are that she is not as 
emotionally connected to you and you profess you are for her.
    Be realistic in this regard....there are alot of good, reasonable horses 
in the world.
    Good luck,
        Frank.