The Old Folks Home

[bruceha2000]

Welcome, Roorooyew!

We're a bunch of young souls trapped in old frames and old souls in young frames, and then the occasional one who just never grew up, period. It's all good.

Or a combination of the above

We went to my wife's annual family reunion yesterday. At one point DD1 (23) and I were playing "toss the ball" with one of my wife's cousin's granddaughters (*) who I think is 5. She didn't talk a whole lot but fun. Picked up quick when I started feigning, looking one way tossing the other. Did that twice then she started doing it

.

Later I was thinking "you know, to Olivia I am so old (at 60) I should about be dead".

I don't feel quite that old! I am 6 years older than my wife, ~ 9 years younger than her youngest cousin and 36 years younger than her surviving aunt. Both were there and quite healthy.

* generations such that my wife is closer in age to her cousins' kids than to her cousins)

 

[getaclue]

Quote:
Smart kid! Yeah, I think we all wonder at times, what happened? We don't think we're getting older, until we try doing things we've always been able to do, and find out our minds can make contracts that our bodies can't deliver on.

 

[getaclue]

rooroo, time, patience, and persistence tend to be key in this situation.

 

[microchick]

Back in my 20s, I was very lucky to get my horse, Appaloosa/Morgan cross, when she was a yearling. No money for a trainer, I decided that I was going to gentle and train her myself. I made it a point to spend every minute that I could with her and keep a bag of treats with me when I was with her. Everything she did right, she got a treat. I broke her to lead by waving the proverbial carrot in front of her nose while holding the lead rope. When she ate, I was with her, teaching her to stand still while I brushed and curried her. This horse knew nothing but love as she learned. When she was almost 2 I started laying across her back when she ate. Other than a twitch of her ears, no response. Before I knew it, I was laying across her back and reading 'Western Horseman'. When it came time to saddle and bridle, she didn't care because she knew she was going to have a pile of apples to munch on. Finally I employed my mom's help the day I decided it was time to throw a leg over the saddle. I had her hold her bridle and told her to be prepared to jump out of the way because I didn't know for sure how she would react to a rider. I mounted and my Billie just stood there, signed and swatted flies with her tail. No big deal. Within a week she was walking and trotting around the corral. She was a perfect horse and she was trained with love. She would lay down and I could use her as a sofa, sitting against her belly and read a book. The vets loved her. She would steal their equipment out of their bags and trot around the corral with them while they treated the other horse I had, also a yearling.

I was forced to part with my Billie and her stable mate due to health problems and a forced move into the city. She went to a good home but it broke my heart. I miss her to this day.

As for getting older. I think I became aware of age when I worked and found myself taking care of residents in the nursing home where I worked that I had went with to High School. They were already victims of stroke and disease and only in their late 40s early 50s. Live is so precious. I thank the Big Guy every morning that I can wake up, dress myself, fix breakfast for my husband and myself, take care of my flock, work with DH on the farm and go to bed tired, but alive and relatively healthy. At least the aches, pains and problems with being 63 years old don't seem as insurmountable. It can always be so much worse.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Oh whew.... so sad for him but you will bring him around . I am very glad you have help. Knowledgeable help. Safety first though for both of you....

deb

 

[Bunnylady]

Yeah, staying safe is the biggie, isn't it? Because what I'm hearing here is a horse that has learned to say "no." An uncut male that is 4 years old has probably lived most of his life alone, so he has very poor social skills and an abysmal understanding of the dominance hierarchy (as is evident from his attack on the Appy). That he isn't human aggressive is a blessing, but he's the next worse thing. A horse that shows aggression to a human is saying, "I am in charge." By refusing to allow himself to be touched, this horse is saying,"you are not in charge," which is only slightly better and which can cross that line so easily. This guy needs to be worked with by someone who can show him, "I am in charge, and that is a good thing." Tricky stuff.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yeah, staying safe is the biggie, isn't it? Because what I'm hearing here is a horse that has learned to say "no." An uncut male that is 4 years old has probably lived most of his life alone, so he has very poor social skills and an abysmal understanding of the dominance hierarchy (as is evident from his attack on the Appy). That he isn't human aggressive is a blessing, but he's the next worse thing. A horse that shows aggression to a human is saying, "I am in charge." By refusing to allow himself to be touched, this horse is saying,"you are not in charge," which is only slightly better and which can cross that line so easily. This guy needs to be worked with by someone who can show him, "I am in charge, and that is a good thing." Tricky stuff.

X 2 - this is a situation where an experienced, knowledgeable person is vital.

 

[microchick]

Roorooyew, I see that you are in the Carolinas. Around here most people take their horses to one of the Amish trainers around us. Most of them have the last name of 'Yoder' as the different family names have different professions. I know that there are a lot of people that have had bad luck with the Amish but I've watched them work with horses breaking, training and making them both draft and saddle gentle, and I have been impressed with what I have seen. One of the local Yoder's sons used to bring the horses he was working with down to our house before we got our fence up, as two of our dogs used to think that the horses and buggies were put on this earth just for their amusement. He would stand the horse in the middle of the road and keep it calm as the dogs ran around barking at it. He said he was disappointed when we got our fence up and our dogs contained. He'd lost a good training tool.

I don't know what the Amish population is around you but north, Pennsylvania, Ohio for instance, there are a lot of Amish who could probably be a big help with your poor horse. For all their 'differences' they truly understand horses. I think if I remember right when we first moved to MO, talking to somebody who was going to turn their horse over to one of the local Amish trainers. It would take 6 months to gentle and train the horse but when it came back it would be ready to ride or pull.

I was reading your account of what happened to your horse and it breaks my heart. To me horses are big dogs that you can ride and I love dogs. I just don't understand how anyone can treat a horse that way. I would dearly love to own one again and came close to buying a Haflinger mare from our Amish neighbor. I am 63, much younger than my stated age except for my back which is probably 83 the way it feels some time. I remember how much back work it took to take care of my Billie and Missy and doubt if I could do it any longer. I told my husband when I got my chickens that I weighed getting a horse with getting chickens, goats and sheep and decided that the chickens would take the lesser amount of back work.

But my love of horses runs deep. My late father was in the service prior to WWII and was a master sergeant in the Army's Veterinary Corp. He was a farrier and rode in the Army's exhibition equestrian team. We had pictures of him riding his horse, also named 'Billy' and doing Roman Riding, jumping while standing on two horses' backs. Picture a short Colonel Potter from MASH on his horse, wearing Jodhpurs and that was my Dad.

To me anyone abusing any animal deserves to have the same abuse on their heads. I truly hope you are able to help your horse find peace and learn to trust humans again.

 

[perchie.girl]

I have had seven horses in my life starting in '67.
My mentor at the time was a woman who was trained by her Grandfather he was a Canadian Mountie. she was good with horses not people.
I have always counted the things horses taught me not visa versa.

1 Relampago lightening in Spanish She cringed when they unloaded him off the truck... he had a rep that she knew. Broke my back when I was twelve didnt find out till ten years later. I learned that dream horse often times was an illusion.

2 Dobbin replaced Relampago at thirteen I made the decision to have him put down he was 25 and had crippling ring bone but he taught me the ins and outs of elder care and general horse care. I learned to let go.

3 Goldie was an ex parade mare given to me and taken back. I learned the thrill of riding a very spirited horse with a loose rein and bareback.

4 Misty two year old standardbred off the auction.... she taught me how to stick on. and that leaps to the side are possilbe at any speed. and Patience and education with Dressage worked wonders with my communication skills.

5 Marque was Half Arabian Misty's son.... My one and only foal raised and trained by me I learned to drive with him. I learned that a horse can be trusted and yet still spriited enough to knock me on my kiester when i got too complacent.

6 Stony Thorougbred off the track bought from a dressage trainer. I learned that Thorougbreds are incredible goof balls. that Need A JOB.

7 Katee Percheron mare bought as a greenbroke 6 year old with the help of my trainer she was broke to ride and drive. and I still consider her green to this day. I learned how it felt to ride a fire horse.... controlled thunder ready at an instant....

deb

 

[getaclue]

Another way to sometimes find a decent horse trainer is to google Cowboy churches in your county, state. Go talk to some of the members. You can get a lot of information as to who's who regarding trainers.