tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post743473964762498379..comments2023-06-30T06:19:17.125-07:00Comments on Panic and the Pony: Trust and TrainingMona Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077277801514781079noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-21241744012904757202012-09-06T09:25:01.359-07:002012-09-06T09:25:01.359-07:00You can build trust by approach and retreat while ...You can build trust by approach and retreat while allowing your horse the option of leaving. Let her move her feet. Hose her in a larger area, holding the lead rope with one hand and the hose with the other. It might look like you are lunging her in a tiny circle. Hose one rear foot briefly and if she stands still quickly take the hose away, repeat. If you hose briefly enough you can catch her standing still in order to take the hose away. The key here is not to stop while she is moving, but not to put so much pressure that she cannot tolerate it. When she stops moving her feet, take the hose away and let her relax. Keep repeating the approach and retreat until she can stand still while you hose the top of her hip. Then go to the other side and start over. When she stands still as you hose either side, move back a little so you can touch her hip with the hand that is holding the lead rope while holding the hose with the other hand. Eventually you will be able to wash her tail and dock. The key is to stop hosing when she stands still, and to gradually approach the problem area while allowing her a way out.Kerrinhttp://www.citylimitsranchequestrian.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-56216007436887889142012-08-15T08:39:32.866-07:002012-08-15T08:39:32.866-07:00Yes please! It's funny you should mention thi...Yes please! It's funny you should mention this because I just came up with the idea of going and taking some lessons at some other barns to see what else is available and to get confidence on other horses. My email is info@monasterling.com if you want to send me an email so we can coordinate!Mona Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12077277801514781079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-84161159748105774672012-08-14T17:25:45.271-07:002012-08-14T17:25:45.271-07:00Federal Way isn't too far; want to come down f...Federal Way isn't too far; want to come down for a playdate? You could work on learning some skills without having to worry about over facing your mare.RHFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513212465360292806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-33355360263182519552012-08-13T20:34:27.116-07:002012-08-13T20:34:27.116-07:00Eh, some horses just really don't like wash ra...Eh, some horses just really don't like wash racks, but what you're doing with trying to make it a good place to be seems like the right idea. <br /><br />As for trust, I think your expectations might be a little too high at the moment. You've only had her what, a year and some change (I can't recall)? Trust takes a lot of time to develop and can't be rushed. My trainer has a very hot and spooky OTTB, but he would walk off a cliff if she asked him to because they've just spent the time together building up that bond (8 years). <br /><br />I know it's frustrating, but you're on the right track!Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12546115210959552767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-31526739240990275102012-08-13T16:25:27.980-07:002012-08-13T16:25:27.980-07:00Agree with Jeni, for some reason some horses have ...Agree with Jeni, for some reason some horses have a fear of a confined space with water. I've seen a lot of horses that you can wash easily outside of a wash stall but put them in one, and watch out... Lucas was one, could wash him for hours outside but he was scared in a wash stall.Justaplainsamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399124494395034612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-8818685127269064862012-08-13T13:24:00.988-07:002012-08-13T13:24:00.988-07:00Kate has great suggestions.
My two cents (you k...Kate has great suggestions. <br /><br />My two cents (you know I have them) - Bonnie gets very upset/nervious when I tie her in the wash rack and hose her off. However, if I take her outside and simply hold the lead she just relaxes and stands still. I can tie her to a fence post and hose her off too. It's the rack. I used to be a place where the rack was completely white in colour - bright white - she would immedately start the nervous wet poops, swaying, everything. Nothing I could do would bring her back to me. So I just hosed her off outside.Jenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906855143092978620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-52084691695091020292012-08-13T13:05:37.331-07:002012-08-13T13:05:37.331-07:00Patience is the key. And envisioning the outcome y...Patience is the key. And envisioning the outcome you want verses the one you don't want. Our thoughts are very powerful - this is something I have to concentrate on so hard to achieve. :)<br /><br />Kate has some great suggestions. Good luck!!Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941830352879493498.post-20243141369508153702012-08-13T12:12:59.878-07:002012-08-13T12:12:59.878-07:00I'd suggest breaking things down into very sma...I'd suggest breaking things down into very small increments. For example, with the wash rack, just leading by it, or into and out of it, without nervousness, would be a first step - much praise. Only move on to the next step when she's happy and comfortable with that step - and in my experience, if you go slowly and build each step with praise, she'll learn that she's safe and comfortable with you. It might all progress in a single day, or it might take a number of sessions - and if she gets worried, take her right back to a level where she's comfortable again and then try the next step later. Every time you take her too far out of her comfort zone, that will destroy trust unless she's got a lot of trust in you already. Take it at her pace, and just continue to build the steps. Sure you can make her comply and do something she's very worried about, but that's not the same thing as building trust, and if she does get used to it it'll just be by shutting down, which I don't think is what you want.<br /><br />Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com