I got a horse, now what? update 1-22-11

[Terri O]

I finally got to the end! What a long thread. I am so happy that things are turning out well for you Mr 29! My horse used to be named "Cody" Now he is Brodie. I had negative connotations with the name Cody. In fact, I have a nice wooden stall plaque with "Cody" carved into it...just remembered that! If you would like it (or any one else with a horse by that name) PM me and we can arrange it! I'll be glad to get it out of my tack room...Terri O in WI

 

[geebs]

Hey cool idea.. we need to post our old stall plates... I have one named Bay-Be... anyone need it?

 

[twentynine]

Update!!!!

guys I think he has started to feel at home. More energy, moving around more, eating more. He is now resting the left and right rear leg, not just the right.

And---- don't know how to explain it---- he is being a little more tempermental. Kind of like a kid pushing the limits.

For instance---

Yesterday, I was brushing the mud out of his coat, I gave him a good going over. He had decided to lay down in a mud puddle so his hips, belly, flanks and ribs were all deeply incrusted with mud. I got the mud off of everywhere, but when I got around to brushing it out of his flank, he reacted. Had the rope halter and lead rope on him and I had the lead rope tied off long and loosely to the gate. I was bent over brushing his nether regions when my hat just flew off my head. Happened so fast I really had to stop and think about what happened, then I said nah couldn't have. I know horses are sensitive in this area, but this isn't the first time I brushed him and he had never reacted before. I put my hat back on my head, went back at it again with one eye watching him. Sure enough soon as I bent over, he turned and snatched my hat right off my head. I picked my hat up put it back on my head, scolded him, gave him a poke in the ribs with my thumb, he did not like being talked to in loud voice, his ears pinned back. Then I tied him up close to the gate on a short lead. Evidently once I gave him the idea that I was not to be fooled with he submitted, stood still and allowed me to finish brushing. I did use a little more caution when brushing around "the back of his underside".

I brushed him again yesterday afternoon. He was still pretty clean, but I kind of needed some relax- downtime- ctrl/alt/del-reset time. You guys know what I mean, turn brain off, just do something for the sake of enjoying it. Any how I gave him a brushing in his stall, no halter or lead rope on him, he stood, relaxed, and no "reaction" at all. Maybe he just had to give me a "try".

 

[katrinag]

You will see that as he gets set in and feels better they will see how just how far they can push. Think of them like a kid. How far can I go push mom/dad before I get yelled at. Remember to praise as well as correct. Sometimes we forget to praise more. I know I am guilty of it too.

You will also find that they have good days and bad just like us. You just have to roll with it.

Not sure if you have asked about treets yet or not, but I like to vary it up. Apples, carrots, squash, peppermints(only sometimes), bread, oats, lettuce, leaves and branches. I think you get the idea. I try to think outside the box. I know I will catch flack for this but she also LOVES BK fries. She only gets them once in a blue moon.

 

[twentynine]

I have been using (I was told not to) 3 or 4 kernals of whole kernal corn. My wife bought a ready made bisquit looking thing from TSC suppose to be carrot and apple. He won't touch'em. Frankly I smelled the things, kinda tasted it too and I don't blame him.

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

Quote:

 

[bantamamba]

It sounds like he's just testing you and being a bit of a butt. Perfectly normal. As for my horse, I find speaking in a low, growly and obviously angry voice is enough to get the point through when she's being naughty.

If you have the time, maybe you two can attempt homemade horse cookies? A simple recipe I use a lot -- uncooked oats, unsweetened applesauce, molasses, and a bit of vegetable oil. Play with the amounts for sweetness/volume etc.. Then just mix it up and put the little globs on a well-Pam'd cookie sheet and bake at 300 until crisp, unless you want them to be slightly chewy. Then let cool and voila! You can also add shredded carrot and apple and other things, I just prefer the applesauce because it mixes in easier.

The gang all love it, and it's less expensive than buying a tub of questionable market-grade stuff. (Plus these are just tasty enough that your human family members might want to try them too.

) I am planning to cook up a variation involving mashed sweet potato later this month.

Edited for mention of potatoes.

 

[twentynine]

Quote:

And sweet feed ain't all that sweet either!!!!

What's the big deal, ain't you guys ever wondered how that stuff taste?

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

Quote:

And sweet feed ain't all that sweet either!!!!

What's the big deal, ain't you guys ever wondered how that stuff taste?

I only have dog, cats, and birds. No way am I trying their food, it stinks badly enough. They love it that's enough for me. One of my friends tried a peanut butter dog treat.

 

[ducks4you]

You're on the right track with desensitizing him when he reacts. Bear in mind that you DON'T have to thoroughly clean him up to train him to stand for a thorough brushing. I kept me first herd outside, in a lousy pen, where only the shelter was (mostly) dry all year. (Sometimes the turnout reminded me of WWI and the trenches.) When my horses rolled (in the mud,) they were TOTALLY CAKED with mud. Even though brushing wasn't a real issue, it was more important that my horses let me brush where the saddle went. I didn't have to be thorough to make the point that I was the boss. I certainly wanted to win small battles. I didn't want a major engagement because if my horse was afraid of what I was doing, we would fight, and I would lose.
ALSO, horses LOVE to roll in the dirt OR the mud, right after you've given them a thorough grooming. Dogs do the same thing after a bath, you know.
Have you (de)wormed him yet? IF not, show the syringe first, then stroke him on the face with it before you shove it in his mouth. I've done training with used worming syringes filled with molasses, and that helps, too. One of my original horses (late 1980's) was frightened of wormer syringes, but stone-cold-broken to everything else.