Overcoming new obstacles (part ii)

i recommend that you get your horse as accustomed as possible to water and mud and give him every opportunity to look at the situation, just as long as it's productive- ie, not trying to turn or back away. Also trying a set of spurs might help, they can be kinder that using your heels if used properly and often make the horse more responsive to your aids.

The problem is, there are always going to be situations you can't prepare for. The main thing is not to prepare for certain situations - It is to teach your horse to trust your judgement in those situations. If your horse has learnt that you won't put it in harms way and don't ask the impossible, it is fairly easy with a bit of patience to get them through anything.

I agree iwth almost all of the stuff said above me. Prepare as much as you can, and go when you get to it.

On the second one I would definitely hang on. I only ride horses that I know are smart enough to want to preserve themselves, and trust me. I would just kick and hang on. (and wish I had my old trusty SinWagon...had to sell him b/c of college)

Ok, I'm going to add to the situation (and it's not unrealistic, it's a situation I've witnessed):

Horse is faced with a ditch. This ditch has very little water in it, and the side the horse is attempting to cross is very low but the far side is higher and steeper. This horse has crossed water before without problems.

Coaxing does not work. Horse plants it's feet and refuses to move. Several massive kicks combined with being smacked across the butt and hollered at doesn't work, horse refuses to move. So, rider begins walking horse back and forth lengthwise, and slowly getting closer and tipping horse into a turn towards ditch using leg pressure. Horse begins rearing and spinning around anytime an attempt is made to face the ditch.

Older horse accompanied with rider and rode through ditch fine. It is early spring and very cold, so getting off and leading means very wet feet several miles from home.

Suggestions? (ROFL, honestly, this one stumped us!) Basically just patience? We spent a good 30 minutes with this one before said horse started throwing massive tantrums and wouldn't step within twenty feet of the bank. Would you soak your feet and end up shaking cold the rest of the ride to teach a lesson? Or do you think there was an ultimate way to make her go through that we didn't try?

Yes MM this is exactly the type of scenario I am asking about! I'm not talking about a horse that has never seen anything like this before, I'm talking about horses that do mud, do water, handle steep ups and downs but get to something that incorporates all elements in an intimidating way and go, Uh Uh don't want to do that. The difference in your case and mine is that there was no walking up and down the bank, the horse is in a deep rut the ONLY way is forward.

My way was to use absolute power, actions and voice that said to the horse you WILL go on or I will kill you. Basically I made my self more scary than the obstacle. Fortunately, as people like Riosdad say, by the time I had got to this obstacle my horse already had it ingrained that I will not be thwarted and I am the law.

Now we start to get into tricky territory! This is where people jump in and start saying that you should never rule a horse with fear. I agree totally. However in a situation like the one we are discussing there is no room to worry about the horses hurt feelings or delicate sensibilities. The horse is already scared, now it is just a matter of deciding what it is going to be scared of - going on or standing still. Get yourself and the horse safely on the otherside, on solid ground and THEN worry about soothing your horse. Sometimes I know what a horse has to do to be safe, sometimes there is no room for discussion and the horse HAS to concede.

Again this is not about a horse that has never seen anything like this, I am talking about a horse that goes through mud and fords creeks and can negotiate banks and things cleverly and confidently but gets to something just a bit more intimidating than is usual. What do you do?

By the way how did you guys end up getting the horse across? Was it wet feet, cold bum?

kiwigirl and I think alike and that is scary for her. My horse fought a lesser battle at a controlled water hole. It lasted about 5 minutes but it set his mind forever. He lost that battle so he thinks he will loose every battle he ever fights with me. Even a simple solid tie and he tries to break it is a battle he fought and lost.
So if I run into something scary, something way above my simple puddle in the bush his mind is already beaten and with a gentle bump of the spurs he will move out.
I too will yell at him while bumping and in the case of this ditch I would take him across on a 45 to discourage jumping.
I can feel for you in this bad situation and if 30 minutes doesn't get you across I haven't a clue what I would do.
The spurs settle a fight quicker and to get a solid horse, a good solid animal that looks at you as master a few fights need to take place.
Like kiwigirl I don't worry about his feelings and he seems just fine with the arrangement.

We actually didn't end up getting her across. We were mad as heck (it was approaching at the 45 degree angle that triggered the rearing and spinning RiosDad). In this case, I think a good set of spurs is in order.

We DID however, cross the road and make her work in a smaller ditch. We haven't had a chance to work her across the big ditch again yet this season (it's been so wet and muddy, it's full of water and the bank is slick now) but plan to now that fall has cooled things off and made the ground firmer.

It's not often we back down from a fight, but our way of thinking was it would likely teach her an even worse lesson if she freaked so bad she flipped, dumped her rider and got to run away.

I'll let you guys know what happens when we tackle it again

Well guys I can hear the crickets. I was hoping to hear wonderful solutions from people who have never raised a hand or spurred a heel on their horse, but - nothing.

I thought that continuing this thread would really give people the chance to answer the question: What would you do? I didn't want to hear "well I would prepare my horse thoroughly before attempting this", the horse is as prepared as it is ever going to be, now it has to do the job. I think the honest answer for some is "I would never and have never expected my horse to deal with a situation like this."

Riosdad I think you are right, I don't think some people expect much from their horse. To be perfectly honest I have no problem with that. I have friends that will not go horse riding with me unless they choose the trail for the day and I enjoy those rides. They are peaceful and undemanding, sometimes though I like to get a bit of a buzz on when I ride and I have the perfect horse for the job so why not challenge her and myself.

I am trying to goad the "You should never deal aggressively with a horse" brigade to front up and offer some alternative solutions but no one is biting!

Haha, well, let me tell you, I prefer not to deal aggressively with a horse if I can avoid it, but this little pony I was speaking about is going to get one helluva attitude adjustment when we go back to that ditch.

I deal with fear with a light hand, but in my experience, ponies like this need a much tougher hand at times. Maybe some would disagree, but I think all animals get a look in their eye when they're simply finished listening to you, and nothing under the sun is going to compromise with them. I don't tolerate that look, period. If you're snorting and blowing at something you've never seen, that's fine, I understand and we can deal with it in a compromising fashion based on how the horse best handles the situation. If you're planting your hooves 20 feet from a ditch with your ears pinned and evading every type of control I have, you're going to get your ass whupped.

For example, this same pony developed a lovely habit of pinning her ears and going through the "I'ma chomp you" motions when her somewhat novice 14 year old owner was playing with her (trotting with her in the front yard on a lead rope). I noticed it instantly, so I asked to please lead the pony. I spent a few minutes working on her bending, and moving how I wanted her to and then started trotting. She immediately pinned her ears and dove for my arm. I spun around so fast and just started nailing her as hard as I could across the chest with my leadrope, backing her up faster then she ever thought she could go.

I had to do this three times, and ever since that pony has trotted like a dream at anyone's shoulder on a loose leadrope.

Maybe there are better methods, but it's what gets across this ponies brain. Could I do this to my Arab? Certainly not, she wouldn't tolerate it. However, she's also had her schooling and I was able to teach her very quickly what was right and what was wrong with very little force. It all depends on the horse IMO. I'm definately not opposed to getting rough with a horse that isn't understanding my subtle signals and putting people in danger.

Haha, I don't think that's what you wanted kiwigirl, but I figured I'd rustle up them crickets a bit