Correction when horse calls out for buddies while being ridden?

[Color_of_Light]

Question for all disciplines: What is your reaction when a horse you are riding whinnies for his buddies? How do you communicate to the horse that this is undesirable behavior? Said horses are usually herd bound, tense, distracted. Most eventually relax after a bit of work, focus on their work, and loose the distraction.

The correction should be made (whatever it is) immediately after the undesirable behavior, so the horse knows whinnying isn’t acceptable. What correction do you make (if any) directly after a horse calls to his buddies?

Sharp check of the rein?
A little yield off the leg?
Firm tap of the leg?
Small circle?
Tap of whip on the shoulder?
Ignore and just keep working?
Trying to think of more corrections that I’ve seen…

[Midwesterner]

Eh, my mare is 21yo and retired from everything but the occasional hack, so might not be what you had in mind for your question. She is definitely not herd-bound or tense, but definitely distracted when she calls for them. I usually laugh at her and tell her to knock it off.

[SugarCubes]

I have a new pony that was calling for his buddy the first few rides. I just ignore him and make him keep working, if he continues I make the work a little harder. He hasn’t called for his friend the past couple weeks so apparently it worked.

I tend to respond the same way to spooking, just ignore it, make it a non-event and eventually they learn to respond the same way.

[GoodTimes]

The first offense usually gets a quick little kick and a circle or change of direction since the calling usually breaks the connection to my hand.
Subsequent offences usually get a smack behind my leg while they’re still calling (typically more like screaming lol). I usually incorporate even more lateral work, circles, poles, etc. so the horse is never in a straight line and has to pay attention.

[Foxtrot_s]

I could never figure out the answer to that - when her mind is on yelling, it is definitely not on me. She’s not awful, tho.

[merrygoround]

Close your legs and do something that makes them pay attention to you. This is not the time for punishment but for a call to attention. I will admit that it is rather difficult if you are in a parking lot heading back to the trailer after time in the ring.

[Foxtrot_s]

If you are at a show with a barn buddy - keep it a secret that the buddy is there - like at the f.a.r. end of the show ground.

[mayhew]

I wouldn’t punish this, but would definitely do things to engage the horse’s mind. Transitions, circles, serpentines, bending, leg yielding, etc. I don’t think a tap behind the leg would be the correct response. That, to me, is always supposed to mean “forward.” Not “bad horse.”

[Color_of_Light]

Thanks for the answers. I ran across a post that talked about a horse whinnying for other horses. The answer was to correct the behavior or make the whinnying undesirable, yet no quick solutions were suggested. Wondered how people deal with this.

What if it was a stallion calling while being ridden? Same response?

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=mayhew;8723564]
I wouldn’t punish this, but would definitely do things to engage the horse’s mind. Transitions, circles, serpentines, bending, leg yielding, etc. I don’t think a tap behind the leg would be the correct response. That, to me, is always supposed to mean “forward.” Not “bad horse.”[/QUOTE]

That’s what I thought too. My horses would just go forward.

[Ellbee]

Two small circles.

Not in a mean manner, not slammed around, just directed around in two small, calm circles and then continue on with what you were doing. Every. Single. Time.

It did not take long before my gelding was visibly controlling his urge to whinny. He’d start to rumble, I’d start to turn and he would choke it off. It was really kind of touching. Sometimes he still couldn’t help it but bless his anxious little heart, he did try!

[merrygoround]

Stallion calling when under saddle

Color of light-“What if it was a stallion calling while being ridden? Same response?”

Absolutely! the last thing anyone needs is a distracted stallion… Under saddle you want them to turn into a preacher, not a one man band.

[merrygoround]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8723566]
Thanks for the answers. I ran across a post that talked about a horse whinnying for other horses. The answer was to correct the behavior or make the whinnying undesirable, yet no quick solutions were suggested. Wondered how people deal with this.

What if it was a stallion calling while being ridden? Same response?[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! the last thing anyone needs is a distracted stallion… Under saddle you want them to turn into a preacher, not a one man band.

[demidq]

I give a verbal correction as well, a word or noise my mare knows (NO or EH) while putting her to work on something that requires concentration. I also laugh at her and tell her she is a silly mare! A verbal correction is useful as you can carry it over to ground work or leading. Not loud or angry but firm!

[Foxtrot_s]

Mind does it in hand…

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

We have a whacky Saddlebred cross who calls out all the time. But the funny thing is, he doesn’t act otherwise distracted. He just likes to make noise. Sometimes he gets other horses stirred up, but he never gets crazy. He keeps on doing what he is doing, and doesn’t wiggle around or throw his head up. We don’t correct it because we figure it’s just who he is.

[microbovine]

I have a mare that is pretty tense when she is doing this. I don’t think a correction would help. I think it would make her more tense. I just ignore it, mostly. If I can think quickly enough, I try to give her something else to think about. Something she can do. When her mind comes back and she successfully completes the little distraction I gave her, she can get a nice reassuring pat.

The only thing I wonder is if it upsets or distracts other riders on the trails? I feel a bit apologetic when my horse calls out repeatedly at others passing in the distance. Not much I can do but ride more horse more often and hope it fades over time. I usually don’t ride alone.

I think the worst things to do would be to give a severe correction (their mind isn’t on you and they could react badly) or try to pat and sweet talk the horse (which might encourage the behavior).

[brody]

A little half halt and carry on attitude here. No punishment but a focus.

[jdobbs64]

Punishment or correction is pointless, I think. Just ask them another question and focus their attention and ride on.

[Pocket_Pony]

When the horse is calling out, their attention is out there, instead of with you. Their mind is elsewhere, obviously. So you need to get their attention back on you. I don’t think “punishment” per se is what is called for. In order to get their attention back, you need to change the situation. No moseying down the trail, time to circle around every tree you see. No endless laps in the arena, time to do figure-8s, changes of direction, changes of gait . . . anything that isn’t the norm in order to get them to pay attention to their feet and what they are doing.

If you’re on the ground, then it is ground work. Not lunging in circles, but moving-the-feet exercises - half circles, changes of direction, lateral work, backing (not in a punishment sort of way) and coming forward, stepping here or there, whatever.

“Change the thought,” as my trainer says.

I’ve had a horse do it occasionally, but just one call out here or there, not a constant whinnying fit.