ridecamp@endurance.net: Peeing on command

Peeing on command

Ruth Bourgeois (ruthb@tdsi.net)
Wed, 19 Mar 1997 09:00:13 -0600

I've noticed that the easiest way to get your horse to do something on
command is to let him observe other horses. They tend to copy what their
buddies do. Example- my mare stops and pees, my friends who are riding
with me stop and wait, and their horses decide that's a good idea and do
the same. They are teaching their horses to pee on command, so they
whistle. Monkey see, monkey do. Sometimes that works too well. Same
friend was going down the trail one day, just had to "relieve herself".
So she stops, proceeds to do this, her gelding immediately does the same
- almost pees on her! A little too close for comfort, I'd say!
As far as my horses peeing on command, well, I can't whistle... but, my
mare, being the smart horse that she is, knows when I saddle her up in
the morning for the ride that she's going to be out there working a good
long while, so when I lead her around before tightening the cinch,
she'll pee. She also pees when she sees me come out of the house at
feeding time, while I'm getting her hay. It's like she knows that when
there's important work to be done (like eating!) she'd better take care
of that first, and then not have to waste time when there's something
better to do. She's done this for a long time, and now my gelding also
has started doing this too, when he sees me go for the hay. They're
getting pretty good about not peeing in their "house" (a three-sided
shed, where they have their hay mangers and are fed). They each have
their spot now that they go to. Now, if I could just get the idea across
to them to go deposit their piles in the far corner or a muck bucket,
I'd have it made!

Ruth

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