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RE: [RC] [RC] ? OT - Pasture Manners - Jim HollandYou bet, Stephanie! When they are in the pasture by themselves, THEY sort out their herd hierarchy. In the presence of "DA BOSS", i.e...Me or Joan, they BETTER be perfect ladies and gentlemen. We will accept nothing less and ANY aggression toward us or another horse in our presence will get an immediate "I'm gonna rip the meat off your bones". <grin> Just a "look" should get a step back and an immediate response. I'm sure I've told this story before, but some years ago, Sunny was pastured with a large herd of brood mares in a LARGE pasture. If you showed up with a halter, they all left for the hinterlands. I had trained Sunny to come when called. After awhile, the mares began to see that Sunny got treats and "scritching" when he came over. A few at a time, they began to come over to check it out and sample the treats. As the "herd" getting treats increased, some "bickering" began to take place amongst the mares...so I started showing up with a dressage whip. Any mare who laid her ears back got chased out to the perimeter..no treats! This is how the "lead mare" deals with young horses in a herd. It didn't take long until they all stood around politely in a circle awaiting their turn. I could catch any of them, since I didn't pose a "threat" and they considered me "herd leader" when I was there. Bottom line, you BETTER be herd leader around your horses or you risk serious injury. IMHO, aggression toward a human or another horse in the presence of a human is unacceptable under any circumstances. Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp- owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of RDCARRIE@xxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 5:10 PM To: Stephanie E Caldwell; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] ? OT - Pasture Manners You and everyone else who goes in the pasture need to do just what you did with your gelding - don't tolerate any of that $#%@ when you or others are in among the horses. They need to learn to behave when people are among them. They can learn to mind their manners and their tempers while under saddle, and can do the same in a herd situation when their people (who should be the alpha members of the "herd") are present. We have 6 horses who usually run together. All know to behave themselves when we're among them, except for our little Paso Fino mare, who hates my young Arab gelding with a blind passion. A moment of inattention on my part, coupled with her behavior, cost me a broken elbow this past Feb. when she suddenly swung her butt to kick at him and her hip knocked me flying. She's getting better, though, as we continue to really get after her whenever she misbehaves toward him when we're in the pasture. We don't hit her - but we do bellow at her, advance threateningly toward her, etc. - basically, our horses are more afraid of what they *think* we might do to them (<G>) if they screw up than they are intent on inflicting damage, etc. on subordinates. Don't get me wrong - our horses are not afraid of us - they all crowd around for cookies and hugs and scritches when we enter the pasture. But they darn sure know to behave themselves...even if one of us is right in the middle of the whole herd handing out carrots. I have a friend who REALLY has the alpha mare act down to a "T" and every one of her horses snaps to attention when she speaks. Dawn in East Texas =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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