Hi Susan, >>>This has actually concerned me, but I take such crap from people for "allowing" my horse to act this way. I know her enough by now to now that ugly, pissy mare faces are her way of being pissy, but the sudden, without warning at those behind her are self-defense modes.
I can't tell you how often I hear that, not just about horses but dogs as well. If an animal reacts to a situation it is often the judgment of other people that either prompts us to do something we don't really think is right or react more strongly. I think it goes back to the old way most people have been taught about needing to show them who is boss etc. Of course we do need to give them guidance, leadership etc but I often ask people the question "what kind of a 'boss' - leader are you" You can be like Saddam Hussein or you could be like Jimmy Carter? Both were leaders but with very different styles (not meaning to get this political just making a point). >>>I was told then to quit making excuses for my horse, but I didn't like that answer, and did not put 2 and 2 together until just this very moment! This is the typical response of about 80% of the horse people I meet - but that is just what they have been taught. I still think it all goes back to a basis of fear - on the part of the people. In no way does it mean that you shouldn't ask your horse for what you want and even be persistent & consistent about it but I think that if something isn't working you need to do something else. >>>Now I am thinking it was because she did not have an escape from the horses behind her! That makes perfect sense to me. >>>I can not tell you how much I appreciate feeling that I am on the road in the right direction. I was there when Whisper was only hours old and saved her life from foal fever and a new mom who refused to stand for her to feed for the first few weeks of her life and I can not stand to give up on this mare when I know she is sensitive and looks to me to help her, but sometimes I do not know how. This paragraph just gave me a whole bunch of new information. You basically have an orphaned-like foal who was imprinted in the true sense of the word. In that you were providing food and bonding in her early stages. Did her mother finally accept her? Was she then with other horses as well? I have met a number of horses in similar situations and I think it is very confusing to them when you have made such a close bond and then when you use methods that are using more instinctive types of approach (as are some of the NH approaches) it can be very confusing to these horses. I have seen horses put in a round pen that had no idea that they should actually move away from people and one mare actually had the very primitive response of showing heat signs when she was so confused she didn't know what to do. I don't know exactly how you trained her and it doesn't matter but perhaps it could give you some insights. I am quite sure that once you can help your horse and just know that you have support and help as you would like it. I will have a look at the photos as soon as I get them and write some directions about the specifics of things you could do. I also think that if you could combine this with the clicker it would be that much faster. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
