I have been around horses for Oh Jeez, 50 odd years, and I still find out new things regularly, somethings are true others myths, some just personal rules, so when I hear a new one, I have to ask.
I read on @Hoofpic journal that he has a 15' rule when handling horses, doesn't allow any horse into that space, now that it a new one on me, and sounds like a lot of real estate to claim as your own. Does anyone else have this rule? The biggest issue I see, if you have caught your horse, how do you maintain such a large 'bubble'
Now I have a personal space, but it is only 3 or 4 feet from me, LOL I once saw my stallion fall on his knees to avoid getting to close, he was chasing a cheeky colt and suddenly realized that he was getting to near to me.
Today I has finished with Gibbs and had him loose in the round pen, went out through the gate and brought Ace in to do her burrs, and Arab witches knots, he chose not to leave but to hang around with us. The whole time I was working with Ace he was well inside my bubble, I could either feel that soft mushroom nose on my arm, or the warmth of his breath, sometimes I couldn't feel him, but he was close enough when I took my elbow back I would hit him:grin: I never once asked him to step back, he was there, eyes half closed, just chilling, he never nuzzled, lipped, or mugged for treats, so I left him.
Now technically he was in my bubble, but it wasn't an issue. So how about you, how big is the bubble, and are there exceptions to your rule?
I read on @Hoofpic journal that he has a 15' rule when handling horses, doesn't allow any horse into that space, now that it a new one on me, and sounds like a lot of real estate to claim as your own. Does anyone else have this rule? The biggest issue I see, if you have caught your horse, how do you maintain such a large 'bubble'
Now I have a personal space, but it is only 3 or 4 feet from me, LOL I once saw my stallion fall on his knees to avoid getting to close, he was chasing a cheeky colt and suddenly realized that he was getting to near to me.
Today I has finished with Gibbs and had him loose in the round pen, went out through the gate and brought Ace in to do her burrs, and Arab witches knots, he chose not to leave but to hang around with us. The whole time I was working with Ace he was well inside my bubble, I could either feel that soft mushroom nose on my arm, or the warmth of his breath, sometimes I couldn't feel him, but he was close enough when I took my elbow back I would hit him:grin: I never once asked him to step back, he was there, eyes half closed, just chilling, he never nuzzled, lipped, or mugged for treats, so I left him.
Now technically he was in my bubble, but it wasn't an issue. So how about you, how big is the bubble, and are there exceptions to your rule?