hi im having problems with horses pushing and being boisturous by the gate when trying to get another horse out there is 7 horses in the field aged 1-20 mostly youngsters but a couple of them have become very pushy at the gate to get out because not all the horses are mine and most of the horses dont respond to the whip i was wondering what other options i have ? please help
btw sorry if this makes no sense please tell me if it dont.
What kind of whip do you use? I suggest a lean and mean dressage whip or a lunge whip that is thin enough to make sharp noises. Don't let them even get to the point where they are all crowding by the gates - use the whip before that, as you are approaching the gates with your horse, walk with confidence and keep a LARGE personal space around you. When anyone enters it, MEAN it when you use the whip to send them out of your space. You don't need to hit them senselessly, just a quick, sharp touch to get the message across, and swinging it around you to reinforce the size of your personal space. Pretend you are a mare and the gate is your foal you need to guard, and try to act with the consequency and the strong opinion of such mare.
hi i dont really want to use anything harsh as not all horses are mine and the horses dont care no matter what you do they know that when someone comes to get a horse its feeding time therefore they dont listen to anything you do but i will have a go at this thankyou
You don't need to be physically harsh. The lean n'mean dressage whips just make more noise and their touch is quick and stingy, as an insect bite, instead of a flat and unimpressive "thump" that a stiffer whip might give and that just lets the horses to stay dull. What you really need is more self confidence to preserve your personal space and precise timing not to let the herd to crowd you. Watch the horses in the pasture, how the more dominant horses don't let those lower in rank to invade their personal space - how they use their body language to show they mean business. You can do the same.
Be careful, though. You don't want to push them into fighting you.
The snap of the whip will come to mean nothing. Grab your lunge whip, hold it waist height and swing it side to side. One horse will walk into it, get a good smack on the shoulder and move away. Continue to swing the whip side to side and move toward them. They will soon be trying to get away. Do this each time you enter the gate and they'll soon start hanging back.
This or, I sometimes will just use the end of my lead to keep the "bubble" around me clear. I have learned to swing it in a vertical circle (up and down) with my arm outstretched. I just walk where I want in the pasture swining my rope and the stay clear. A few have been hit with it, so not they know when they see it. I am not good with too many things in my hands, so it is easiest for me, who is a bit of a clutts. I also use it when I am leading and a horse starts pushing past me too. Comes in handy. I do know that there are horses who will not respect that, but IMO, most will. One who won't may not respect a whip much either.
Agreed to what is posted above take a lunge whip with you. A lot of the time the mere sight or cracking sound of the whip is enough of a threat that they move off. If they challenge you give them a tap on the shoulder or hip and make them move off. Once this becomes routine they will stay away automatically. Even if some of the horses aren't yours you have a right to your safety and space. Being crowded by multiple horses is dangerous you can be shoved down, bitten or kicked. Asserting your dominance and space with a lunge whip isn't abusive. Your safety comes FIRST don't forget that.
When horses at my barn i ride at are pushy or agressive (expesually during feeding time because they are out at pasture and are fed all at once) we take a lunge whip without the cord and if the horses get to close and invade your space, they get a good hard whack on the shoulder or flanks. Dont be afraid to tap them. The same goes when the horses rub on fences or push on them.
You want to REALLY make 'em move, tape a plastic grocery bag to the end of your whip. Most horses you see in these stables haven't been exposed to that much and will go flying off like if a dog charged into the middle of a flock of pigeons. You'd want to make sure that no one got flattened by doing that, though. :P
You will have to use a whip or something just to snap to get their attention that you mean buisness.
I have 4 of my own horses and 1 boarded here (I used to have 3 but they moved out of province) and they all know when I walk in I am in charge, not them. When I take hay out for them I carry a buggy whip, I don't even have to swing it, they know stay back until the hay hits the ground. My youngster who is going to be 4 has always known to stand back, I can leave the gate open when I am taking 4 of them out from feeding to the pasture and he will not move past the open gate unless I call him through......they aren't dumb and with a whip you don't have to even hit them....swing it back and forth in front like someone said....
Is this your place or where you are boarding at? If its your place, you can make the decision how to deal with them. If the other owners don't like it, they can move their horses. If its where you board, have you talked to the owner/manager? See if they have a problem with you disciplining the horses. I don't think they will. Again, if the owners of the other horses have a problem, they can move their horses or get the behavior corrected so there isn't an issue.
The first few times you probably will have to smack a horse or two. The next few times you might just have to wave the whip at them. Not too long and they will stay back on their own. Posted via Mobile Device
thanks for all your advice and i willtry out with a lunge line for a few weeks to see how it goes but most of the horses are not scared of the whip even when it touches them but ill take all theadvice on board
thanks everyone
They are not respecting the whip because no one has taught them to. And they won't unless you get after them hard, and change your body language so that they see you as being in charge.
Get after them so that they are off of the gate and you.
Instead of them invading your space you need to invade there's. Going to them with a higher energy and making them move from the whip will help you get the point across. Be firm when you smack them. You can't always peck at horses to get what you want. They don't respect the whip? Then it's time for a new lesson. Be firm and MAKE them move. Your the boss of the pasture when your in it not them. Posted via Mobile Device
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