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I'm TOO SHORT! HELP!

2K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  SplashsKwikSand 
#1 ·
Ok....:think: So I took in a horse that had previous HORRIBLE abuse and severe neglect. We're talking about a 1 to maybe a 1 1/2 in terms of body condition. Her eyes captured my soul when I went to get her. She is BEYOND willing to learn, and wanting to trust, but obviously with her past it's more difficult. I've had her for a couple days, and I KNOW it's going to TAKE TIME, but here is my problem. She's a 1/2 Clydesdale-1/2 TB 4 to 5 year old mare. Because of her severe neglect she stands only approx. (I haven't been able to stick her because objects scare her) 16.2 and has a disproportionately LONG neck. I've worked with Thoroughbreds before and didn't have a problem, but because of her LONG neck I'm afraid it'll be difficult to gain control of her head (ie teaching her to give me her head). I do alot of my training through hand cues and head work on the ground (I do also do body work as well, but only AFTER I have full control of their head). I'm only 5'2. My husband is 6' and he can't reach her eyes when she throws her head in the air. :shock:. Any suggestions?
 
#2 ·
welcome to the forum I am 5'2" and ride a belgian he also was not trusting I know a lot of people will say this is wrong but I use treat to get him to give in. When he got scared it would not chase after him I would pull out some treats and call him to me the sound of the plastic is all now he is my best friend with or with out the treats
 
#3 ·
I do positive reinforcement through praise and then they get a snack after the session is done :) Alot of my initial head control training is thru pressure behind the ears. When they give me their head I release the pressure. It's worked WONDERFULLY for the other horses I've worked with and is AWESOME when it comes to putting on the bridle.
I can barely touch it when she has her head down. :shock: I really don't want to have to use treats, but if it's my only option it's something I'll have to do. :-|
 
#4 ·
Hi,

I second the use of treats or other positive reinforcement. Praise is not a PR though. You need to use something that is actually desirable to her. While scratches & rubs are effective for many horses, to many others, especially previously abused ones, being touched by a human is not rewarding - may be felt as downright punishing. I have had success teaching horses to tolerate & then actually enjoy being groomed though, with the use of other PR. I agree that negative reinforcement(release of pressure) is generally a good training tool too, but considering her background I'd be wanting to make every experience I could a Good one & avoid doing unpleasant stuff to her.
 
#8 ·
Treats and munchies were about the only things I could use to draw my mustang in closer when I first adopted him. He was fearful of being touched, but eventually he figured out that he would get a reward for letting me touch him. Nowadays, he rather enjoys his grooming sessions and is always happy to stand quietly while I brush him. That treats are just something that he gets as a "thank you" after he's allowed me to catch him in the pasture, and after he's picked up all four feet for me and allowed me to clean/maintain them.

As loosie said, it's a matter of teaching them to tolerate touching/praise... and somewhere along the way they find out that it's actually pretty nice.
 
#5 ·
Use a carrot or a slice of apple for a treat. guide her nose down with it and don't touch her.. let her touch you. If you touch her, she goes back to not trusting you. Does that make sense?

I second starting with positive reinforcement. Everything needs to be a positive experience. Height does not matter, if you do it right she should feel safe in your care and begin to relax and trust you.
 
#6 ·
I've worked with abused horses before and I always gain their trust before attempting to train. I have had no problems with the other ones with the way I train. I spend countless hours ( I mean countless....singing, talking, just being around them.) with them before ever trying to work with them. My problem is that I can't reach it!..lol

She is not a fan of carrots, mints, licorice, or apples. I've tried giving her all 4 a couple times and she just won't eat them. She does like her grain though.

I did kind of have an idea in a dream last night. Our barn has a step up of approx. 18 inches. I wonder if standing on that would work. I guess I'll find out.

Keep in mind this won't happen until I trust her enough and vice versa. May take a week or 2. She's not the worst I've worked with, but she's definitely the tallest BY FAR.
 
#9 ·
I've worked with abused horses before and I always gain their trust before attempting to train.
That's a great attitude/approach, IMO. Perhaps because others you've had haven't been so traumatised/taken so long to come around, you're feeling like she 'should' be accepting of pressure, etc by this time. I'd just keep reminding myself that they're all individuals & not try to hurry into stuff she's not ready for, even if it's something that other horses find easy.

She is not a fan of carrots, mints, licorice, or apples. I've tried giving her all 4 a couple times and she just won't eat them. She does like her grain though.
There's nothing to say you have to use a certain kind of food. I personally wouldn't use apples, lollies or grain, because if you're going to use it for training, chances are she'll be getting a substantial amount, so not good for her. Perhaps a bit of alfalfa chaff, rosehips, fresh grass, thistle or fruit leaves or such.
 
#7 ·
What if you, as you suggested, used a mounting block to work with her head. Or maybe you could find something to work as an extension of your arm, so you can still touch those areas, but not with your hand. Maybe like a small crop or carrot stick? Just a thought. Obviously you'd need to get her used to whatever object you use, but that way you can "reach" her head but just not with your hand, until she learns to lower it under the pressure. Once she knows what you want, she should lower her head enough for you to just use your hands.
 
#11 ·
just a year and a half ago my sister got a colt who's mom and the herd he was in were taught to fear people and soon abandoned by the owner who kept all the horses. When we got the colt, no one could get near him. He wasn't crazy and never kicked out or anything, but the way my sister got his trust was by sitting in the stall he was in and she had the radio on.. One of her favorite songs came on and she hummed the tune of it.. She ended up getting him to lay down and he fell asleep.. She was in that stall with a crazy wild colt for 5 hours straight until he was asleep. Only then was when she moved and it woke him up but he didn't move. After half an hour, she was finally sitting beside him humming the exact same tune to her favorite song and he fell asleep again. I had walked in after that and had woken him up but it was amazing to see how close she had gotten to this colt in 5.5 hours of just knowing him. That was a bond I had never seen.. even with abused horses. He is her baby now and he only responds to her, but other ppl can pet him but my gosh, you're screwed if you want to halter him without my sister around.

You just need to find what's right with you and your mare, if it be sitting in her stall and humming, or being a goof, or what have you.. She will come around eventually.. No matter how long it takes. It's just pure patience and faith that she will come around.
 
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