Re: Preventing Herd Bound Behavior?

[Jim Holland <lanconn@tds.net>]

Michelle...

I have not a clue as to why this occurred.  Makes no sense to me. 
Usually if a horse is going to behave that way, they will do it on the
very FIRST part of the ride.  Can't believe the hill had anything to do
with it.  I would go back to the de-sensitization routine and just work
with it some more for now...can't do it too much.  Work on "calm down"
cues like dropping her head, use "work" (sidepassing, turning, etc.)
which she behaves this way.  Something she experienced obviously
triggered the behavior...the trick is to find out what it was and work
on that.  Perhaps the next ride will tell you more. I would be
interested to know what happens.  Let me know...

Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic

Michelle Fink wrote:
> 
>For the first 5 miles of the CTR ride, my mare was
> *perfect*.  She walked the first two miles like a seasoned pro.  Let other
> horses pass, trot ahead, jig by, etc. with no problems.  Then after a very
> hard climb up a hill (at a ski resort, it was a big hill) & a calm PR break
> she came unglued and got VERY herdbound to the point that I pulled from the
> ride as the footing was too slick for her jigging and antics.  She has never
> done this before, though I was warned when I bought her that she can be hot.
> So my question is, was the jigging response because the hill adrenalized
> her?  Scared her?  I got her home and rode the next day and she was still
> hot & silly.  Took her out alone the next day for a hard ride and she was OK
> toward the end.  The next day she had some buddying anxiety but we worked
> through it and she returned to her calm self.
>