Erika, tailing is a very useful tool on
technical rides where there are a lot of climbs. It’s basically a
form of “driving” and is a combination of two basic things you
should teach your horse.
Ground manners – Your horse will
need to stand quietly in line at Vet Checks and for the Vet to examine him
Handling - Your horse will need to
become accustomed to being poked and prodded and handled all over…EVERY
part of his body.
The handling with regard to tailing
requires that you get him used to having his butt handled. One of the Vet
Parameters is “anal tone”. You may also need to use a crupper
some day. It’s always good to associate something you want him to
do with something pleasurable. All horses like to be
“scratched”….mine will even point out a place for me!
He can’t reach his tail, which is why you see them backed up to a
post or barn scratching. If you scratch gently around the side of his
tail and dock, he will raise his tail in pleasure. When he does, continue
to scratch all around, underneath, and around his anus. Palpate his anus gently
and stick your finger inside. (Use a rubber glove if this bothers you) You need
to work on this because he will sometimes get a thermometer in there at
rides. Put a little “Show Sheen” or “Cowboy
Magic” on his tail and brush it out. While you are doing that, lean
back and gently tug on his tail, increasing the pull until you can rock him
backward without any response. If you have a crupper, put it under his
tail while you are scratching and tug forward gently. Take it out and put it
back on until he ignores it. Do all this gradually, always going back to
scratching and brushing. Practice every day until this becomes part of
his routine. Eventually he will relax and look forward to having you scratch,
brush, and play with his tail.
While you’re there, it’s also
worthwhile to part the hair on his tail with a small comb and look for ticks
and “crusties” that would indicate that you need to shampoo his
tail with something like “Selsun Blue”.
By the way, for those of you who rode Old
Dominion. We got 8 ticks out of Magic’s tail and one off his neck
right under his mane. You might want to check……
To be continued….
Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of erika p moore Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004
10:45 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Tailing
>If you learn to tail correctly - letting the horse
pull you up - it's as easy on you tailing up as riding up and a lot easier on
the horse.
It struck me as a funny thought. Congrats to anyone who uses this
trick successfully - you have my respect (and curiosity!)
