- Thread starter
- #11
Maybe Tuesday would be better. I forgot I volunteer for the SPCA on Mondays
Want FREE help with your horses?-Indiana
- Thread starter Egg_newton
- Start date
Tuesday is our free day, so anytime would be ok.
- May 19, 2009
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Good luck on your quest to learn about horses! I have had the amazing opportunity to work with miniature horses as well as Standardbreds, all on the same farm. I learned a whole lot by handling 70 different horses each day. The biggest thing I learned is that their happiness is paramount. You may be able to "make" them do what you want, but they will always be trying to find a way around your rules. You will always need to be on your toes, as you can't trust a horse that resents you. I have found that a horse will be more than happy to obey you, but he will need to trust you first.
If you get the opportunity to groom a herd, use it to its best advantage. There isn't much that you can teach a horse mounted that you can't teach from the ground. Have the horse move over sideways when you press the brush into his armpit. You are teaching him to sidepass! Have him drop his head when you put pressure on the halter. Don't punish him for not getting it right away, and don't push harder when he moves in the wrong direction. Try to imagine that the horse is a second grade student, and you are teaching fractions. You don't hit a child for not understanding you or getting the wrong answer, but you make sure you praise him for getting it right, even if he was guessing!
I wish I had a giant horse operation these days, and I would SO hire you! As it is, I am getting my first horse, after not owning one in over 7 years. Not worth your time to come out. Maybe you can find racehorse breeding operations near you. There is the occasional turnover in those places, and someone with your ambition would be treated like gold! And by that, I mean you'll be treated like dirt; given all the jobs that the owners don't trust that the others want to/can do; asked to stay late to watch a sick horse, etc. In other words, heaven for a true horse lover!
Good luck!
If you get the opportunity to groom a herd, use it to its best advantage. There isn't much that you can teach a horse mounted that you can't teach from the ground. Have the horse move over sideways when you press the brush into his armpit. You are teaching him to sidepass! Have him drop his head when you put pressure on the halter. Don't punish him for not getting it right away, and don't push harder when he moves in the wrong direction. Try to imagine that the horse is a second grade student, and you are teaching fractions. You don't hit a child for not understanding you or getting the wrong answer, but you make sure you praise him for getting it right, even if he was guessing!
I wish I had a giant horse operation these days, and I would SO hire you! As it is, I am getting my first horse, after not owning one in over 7 years. Not worth your time to come out. Maybe you can find racehorse breeding operations near you. There is the occasional turnover in those places, and someone with your ambition would be treated like gold! And by that, I mean you'll be treated like dirt; given all the jobs that the owners don't trust that the others want to/can do; asked to stay late to watch a sick horse, etc. In other words, heaven for a true horse lover!
Good luck!
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