Re: crops

["kristine hammond" <tinka@reno.quik.com>]

Greetings Sandy,
Some of us use a crop to get their attention for the entire ride.  I have a
horse off the arabian race track.  I have had him 2 years so far.....I am
still working on manners.  My crop is not to encourage forward movement, but
is a useful tool for gaining his attention, as discipline tool for enforcing
ground manners, and a "spanking stick" for those moments when the unexpected
buck occurs, or he decides to test the theory about not biting???  He is
also a very strong animal, physically and mentally.  I have found that he
does not tire.  He has almost as much energy after a 50 miler as before.  I
have never had a horse with his attitude before.  All of my previous horses
have had the attitude of........."Now that I know what you want me to do, I
want to do it."  In other words they responded to positive reinforcement,
words of praise, a treat, a pat and/or a Good Boy. This horse could care
less about positive reinforcement, as a matter of fact he seems to respond
to it with some directed misbehavior.  Yes, I got him very cheaply off the
track.  I have gotten a number of others very cheaply off the track without
this attitude.  He has come a long ways-but still needs to go further. He
won a lot of money the first year on the track, but was pulled off the track
on the second year after 7 races-he "lost" his jockey in 6 of those races.
I do not have the money to pay for the wonderful horse I would like to have,
and he was cheap.  I do think I can bring him around the rest of the way.
Why would I want to deal with  him????  He has absolutely outstanding
confirmation, 83/4in cannon bones, great hoofs, withers, neck, back, etc.,
etc. Strangely enough he is also a very smart horse-and he learns very
quickly, and takes very good care of himself.  He is very careful with his
hooves-never steps on anything, children, baby goats who wander between his
back legs, or people who fall down in front of him.  He has a resting heart
rate of 32, and never comes into a vet check with a heart rate of over 68.
He comes from a stable that is known for selling arabian horses back to
Arabia to further improve their breed, and has an incredible pedigree. He is
a gorgeous animal. I ride a lot at nighttime, usually by myself.  He is
great on these rides, very safe and reliable.  He also spent the first 15
miles of our first ride last year trying to buck me off.  He tries one thing
after another.  I have spent hours bringing him around to where I wanted him
to be.  Is he there yet????
NO!!!!!.  But he is much better.  If I do not continue to enforce the no
bucking, biting, no shying, etc. etc. rule with swift and effective
discipline I know we would go downhill fast.  He is the type of horse who
gets away something once-and it will take a month to stop it again.
No-he is not a killer.  But he needs to be controlled, and understand that
certain behaviors will not, cannot be tolerated.  By carrying my crop I am
reinforcing these ideas in his mind, as well as protecting other individuals
(horses and riders) from behavior which may be detrimental.  NO-he has never
kicked at a vet check, bitten another horse, menaced a human being.  I don't
think he will, But he might, and I, and those people I ride with heartily
approve of my actions.
Yes, I am the one who rides the whole race with a crop, a double bit, and
uses hobbles to saddle my horse.  I have spent hours retraining my horse,
but not all of it can be done at home!!!!
Sorry for being so long worded, but thank you for giving me the opportunity
to explain my actions.
Kriss
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandy Bolinger" <bolinger@bigsky.net>
To: "ride" <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 6:08 AM
Subject: RC: crops


> would someone please explain to me why a person would ride an endurance
ride
> with a crop???I've heard their explanation that they need to get the
horses
> attention ---especially at the beginning of the ride---which sounds kind
of
> strange but...OK...whatever...but why would ANYONE need a crop the last 50
> miles of a ride???Surely you've managed to get your horses' attention by
> then???(stallion owners need not reply);o]
>
>
>
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