Re: RC: Jealousy

[Marv Walker <Marv@MarvWalker.com>]

At 04:43 PM 10/25/01 -0700, you wrote:
>I just got back from a pleasant afternoon ride on my almost-31-year-old 17hh
>saddlebred.  What a delight...but I digress.  Several people have responded
>to my post regarding my husband's jealous horse, all with helpful
>suggestions.  We don't really have anywhere to put a round pen, but plan on
>trailering to a trainer-friend's place who has, and putting it to good use.
>Attitude adjustment is in the cards; I won't let him have the last word.

Horses who act this way are either afraid or disrespectful.

Sometimes it is difficult to determine which of the two is the 
case.  Disrespect ~
"This is *MY* herd (feed, spot), you are a low ranking (non)member, get 
away!"
Fear (Bully) ~ "I'm afraid you going to do something to me so I'm going to 
make
the first move."

Strangely, the cure for both of these is the same ~ the establishment of a 
herd
leader / follower relationship.  To establish this relationship you 
demonstrate that
you have the ability and determination to be a herd leader.  Horses are 
genetically
preprogrammed to respond in a set way to herd dynamics.  When presented with
leadership actions, a horse will either comply or challenge.  If the 
challenge is
defeated, the horse MUST honor the leadership actions.  If it does not, it 
is denied
ALL of the security of a herd situation.  In Nature, if a horse is not part 
of a herd,
it is lunch.

You present a horse with leadership actions by controlling the horse.  "Do 
this!
Now this! No, do this! Stop! Go!  Go that way!"  Pretty soon the horse is 
thinking,
"This being is acting like a leader.  If it is acting like a leader and I 
am doing what
it wants, *I* must be a follower."

This is the essence of the Bonder procedure that I am known around the world
for and many of you have sent for by sending any email to 
Bonder@MarvWalker.com .

When I work an aggressive horse, and I've worked some lunch eaters, I take it
into an enclosure (round pen, or any place I can control the horse AND keep it
a safe distance from me).  I then go in the pen with a lounge whip and tell 
it point
blank, "If you and I end up in the same place and you are not showing me the
respect I deserve, one of us is going to die and I'm going to do everything 
in my
power to make sure it isn't me. Now, go in that direction."

If it moves toward me I will light it up and keep lighting it up until it 
retreats.  (It's
what would happen if he sailed in on a determined lead mare.)  On occasion I
have had them rear up and hop toward me striking.  The proper herd leadership
move is to meet that head on but I'm a little outweighed and four hammer 
hooves
short so I defeat that challenge by circling to the side and lighting into 
him.  The
only response to a direct side attack is to circle out and come back if it 
wants
to continue the challenge at which point I go at it from the side 
again.  All the
time I'm screaming at the top of my lungs "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
DOING??  WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DEALING WITH HERE???  YOU
***WILL NOT*** DO THAT TO ME!!!"

If they back into me kicking, same thing.

I only respond to serious threats, I ignore all others for the most part.  When
it is going around and there is no way it can reach me, it can cow-kick and
mule kick toward me all it wants.  It can snake its neck, bare its teeth or do
whatever.  If it moves toward me doing any of those things, I go nuts until it
moves away.

The important thing is is to present a wall of fire for them to come 
through.  They
do not get to be anywhere near me unless they are quiet and obviously 
respectful
and connected.

Once I get the horse to move away, he is conceding that I am a little 
tougher than
he is.  At that point I then begin directing him through the bonder 
procedure.  In no
time, he is a different horse, *I* have not had it fail.  I live and 
breathe this stuff, I
am intuitive when I work horses.  It comes from 50+ years of dealing with 
them.  I
have worked enough horses to where it is pretty much automatic.  It is 
***CRUCIAL
*** that you be safety conscious when working them.  Make sure you take all 
the
safety precautions and maintain your distance from the horse until it 
demonstrates
respect.  It will demonstrate respect by complying with your wishes.

The worse the horse is, the faster and easier it comes around.   Even after 
it comes
around take your time before you trust completely.  You will need to be 
aware of
any indications the horse *may* be entertaining those thoughts again and if 
you
suspect it, you give it a dose of, "I THINK YOU FORGOT WHO YOU'RE DEALING
WITH HERE!"  There will come a time fairly soon where it won't forget as 
long as
remember who is boss and what you'll accept.

My web site, http://MarvWalker.com/horse.htm contains all kinds of pages where
this theme comes into play.  It will give you a better grasp of dealing 
with these
types of problems.

Marv "I need to go somewhere so I can make a comeback." Walker