Dutch Harness Horse CROSS temperment update

[winfieldfarm]

For those of you interested, I am really having some fun with this Dutch Harness Arab cross I started the other thread about.

she is really learning to relax in the long lines. She’s got a fantastic free walk. She’s really listening and halting very square. Her trot is still a little stilted but she has moments of glory.

It’s her behavior out of the ring that has me still trying to find solutions for her. I have been doing a lot of ground work with her regarding go and whoa. Today was the first time she didn’t fret and fuss in the groom area while being tacked. But I had already put her wraps on and worked her in hand regarding go and whoa. At least she didn’t flip her head and display the stress behaviors as before.

She still kicks in her stall. Two hind kicks in quick succession, as if she’s bored, frustrated or whatever. I have put kick chains on her here and there but I don’t want that to be a habit.

Her turnout situation seems to be finally figured out. She came from a barn where most horses are put out individually with barrier fence between. She had been turned out with another horse here and there but never more than one more in her pasture with her. Here, she is a verbal kicky b****. I tried many configurations and she really was not happy. She was chased. She went after a pair of horses over the fence. She seemed okay with my ASB mare until there was a group over the fence. Then she herded my mare. I had to rescue my mare from the corner of the paddock.

We finally turned her out with a large half arab gelding who takes s*** from no one. He was like, eh, whatever and basically ignores her. Today she managed to behave with a group of geldings over the fence. Of course, one stupid one had to fall in love with the big beautiful new redhead mare. That gelding came in all worked up and wet. but she managed not to kill him over the fence, herself or the gelding she was in with. And she is VERY VOCAL, like obnoxiously so.

Her bucking in tack has really calmed down a bit but I am still taking my sweet time with preparing her to hitch. I think, even though she came from a privately owned big money barn, it still had the assembly line attitude. She’s just never been shown that she can connect to her handler and enjoy her work.

In a nutshell, I think she’s kind of cool. She’s been a tough nut to crack but we are getting to know each other very well. I am really looking forward to making something really special out of her.

Oh, one more thing. She is the most amazing shade of liver red chestnut copper penny shiny color you have ever seen. I have never seen anything like her hair color. Is this a DHH trait?

[Thomas_1]

She’s NOT a Dutch Harness Horse.

She’s a cross breed!!!

[twofatponies]

Nice!

Even my gentle, mellow, friendly new QH took a few weeks to settle in to our new routine. The first week or so he was utterly obedient, but a bit tense around unfamiliar routines (take him out on a trail ride and he would heave a big sigh of relief - hose him off or work him in the indoor and he was obedient but tight muscled and ears looking at everything). Then he gained some confidence and got cocky - hard to catch for a week, trying out his new attitude on the other horses, being mildly bossy instead of submissive in turnout, having a couple of low-grade temper tantrums. Then he finally got the hang of how things work and where he fit in and he’s just as mellow and relaxed as if he’d been there all along.

Sounds like your horse is starting to get the hang of how things work with you.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Thomas_1;4890836]
She’s NOT a Dutch Harness Horse.

She’s a cross breed!!![/QUOTE]

Yabutt, she is asking if the color comes from the DHH since she’s never seen it before. She has nev-ah referred to the mare as anything but a DHH CROSS. The thread title comes from her first post asking what to expect from the DHH side of her CROSSbred. Jeeze. Where the heck is that ignore button…

[winfieldfarm]

geez, Thomas, don’t get your panties in such a wad!

Yea, totally aware she’s a cross. Thank you SmartAlex. Yes, asking if the color is a DHH trait as it’s not a color I have ever seen in the Arabian side of the DHH CROSS i am referring to.

Thomas, sometimes you need to lighten up a bit and just enjoy the conversation. I’m asking about people’s experiences with a breed’s temperment and color, not whether I should attempt colic surgery in the barn aisle with a pen knife and a stiff shot of vodka…

[SmartAlex]

And I’m not going to ignore Thomas… I would miss all the good info and well deserved smack-downs

[Rudy]

I think it is the fact you keep putting DHH in your titles instead of refering to the cross.

Can confuse people if they don’t read through posts well.

[winfieldfarm]

there… i changed the title…now could we all stop splitting hairs and just discuss my questions? lawdy…

[Cartfall]

Let me add a little fuel to the fire here —:eek:

In my mind you have an Arab Cross. Put the better breed first I always say!!!:winkgrin::lol:

Actually in the drivinf\g world, you see so many crosses. That is what I found refreshing --the fact that most any breed or cross can drive, and yes some excell more but there seems to be an acceptance of those crosses. Imagine if you showed up to a reining class with a draft horse!!! (don;t flame me here folks, I am all for using whatever you have at home to do a sport!!!, I drive full Arabs and they are not what the dressage judges like to see. I drove them because that is what I had at home) Those reining folks would have a cow!!! Did I just make a funny?

[goodhors]

The Dutch Horses I have seen in person have a lot of depth to the red colors, both chestnut and the red bays. Some variation in shading, but part of the appeal of the Dutch Horses is the ease in matching them, for color and gaits. They are usually VERY close in the same red shades, unlike our Cleveland Bays for example. White trim is easy to match as well. Stockings and blazes are common.

We have often 4 different shades and color of bay on our Cleveland cross horses. All have black trim, manes, tails, legs, so husband says the trim is their Team uniform, not the color of bay.

I am going to say the red color is genetic, since the diet varies so much, but all those Dutch Horses have lots of gleam and sparkle when turned out.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=winfieldfarm;4891325]
geez, Thomas, don’t get your panties in such a wad!

Yea, totally aware she’s a cross. Thank you SmartAlex. [/QUOTE] Does being so rude come easy to you or do you have to work hard at it? By the way, you’ve obviously mistaken me for someone who gives a damn for your opinion.

Yes, asking if the color is a DHH trait as it’s not a color I have ever seen in the Arabian side of the DHH CROSS i am referring to.
Interesting * So seemingly you don’t know that it does make a difference if you’ve a cross breed rather than a pure bred in terms of what traits are inherited.

Seemingly neither do you know that original arabs were chestnut and that liver chestnut is pretty much normal.

Seemingly neither are you aware that Dutch Harness Horses can be liver chestnut. But take your pick and decide how comes your horse is the colour it is. If I could be bothered I’d post you some photos of the purebred arabs and DHH I’ve had that were chestnut and liver chestnut.

Thomas, sometimes you need to lighten up a bit and just enjoy the conversation.
Keep typing. I always yawn when I’m interested.

I’m asking about people’s experiences with a breed’s temperment and color,
I am indeed refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view. At the risk of being pedantic, you weren’t doing that though. You were suggesting your horse might be a DHH though I see you’ve corrected that now.

not whether I should attempt colic surgery in the barn aisle with a pen knife and a stiff shot of vodka…
Careful now, don’t let your brains go to your head!

[winfieldfarm]

Thomas, if there is anyone on this forum who relishes in telling people they are total morons for even posting on here, it’s you. Rudeness is your best color. Twice now, you’ve lambasted me about not being specific enough for your liking about referring to the horse as a CROSS. That’s not rude? Since when does my thread title have to pass the Thomas standards?

Why do you read into the blog and assume that it’s more than just casual conversation? Why can’t folks just throw questions around without you calling them out as utter morons?

Seemingly—I was obviously NOT aware that DHH come in this particular shade of liver chestnut. Apparently you missed the fact that I was posting this thread to get the answer to this question. Didn’t know my asking something was a direct correlation to my flaming stupidity in your eyes. Thought this blog was about asking harmless questions and getting harmless answers.

I yawn at your need to be the most knowledgable person on this board. I yawn at your need to humiliate rather than educate. You have so much knowledge and experience to share but you can’t help but cloud it with your annoyance for the rest of us underlings who couldn’t possibly live up to your standards of knowledge, sentence structure, and general personality traits. I know you are reading this and rolling your eyes at the lowly American chippy who dares to speak to you from below your throne. But there are lots more people reading this who would agree that your knowledge comes with a sharp tongue.

Okay everyone, a round of applauses for me! I’ve irritated Thomas so badly that he can’t help but post long diatribes with quotes and all, telling me what an idiot I am! You know you’ve made in COTH when you’ve peaved off Thomas! HAA HAAAAAAAAAA! Victory!

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=winfieldfarm;4897631]
Thomas, if there is anyone on this forum who relishes in telling people they are total morons for even posting on here, it’s you.[/QUOTE] I never said that but if the cap fits then please feel free to wear it.

Rudeness is your best color. Twice now, you’ve lambasted me about not being specific enough for your liking about referring to the horse as a CROSS.

By gosh you’ve got a great imagination.

lambasting = assault violently
correction = putting right a mistake or substituting what’s wrong

That’s not rude? Since when does my thread title have to pass the Thomas standards?
It doesn’t. But if you try to post for accuracy then you’re likely to elicit better response.

Why do you read into the blog and assume that it’s more than just casual conversation?
Blog? What blog? This isn’t your personal diary. It’s a forum. Folks who value form over content are sometimes disappointed when they come to forums as many of us tend to tell it like it is.

Why can’t folks just throw questions around without you calling them out as utter morons?
I personally think that if you ask the RIGHT question then you’re more likely to get the RIGHT answer but heck, you can do what the heck you want but you don’t get to determine response. That’s how forums work.

Seemingly—I was obviously NOT aware that DHH come in this particular shade of liver chestnut. Apparently you missed the fact that I was posting this thread to get the answer to this question.
ok so you didn’t know that. But let’s presume for a moment that they don’t.

Let’s presume everyone came back to you and said “well I never. That’s weird because DHH’s are NEVER EVER that colour”.

Then what? Is that when you say “oops well could the fact that the horse isn’t a DHH have anything to do with it!?” then we say “well silly you! Why not cut the crap and inaccuracy … So it’s half ayrab well doncha know they come in liver chestnut”

Didn’t know my asking something was a direct correlation to my flaming stupidity in your eyes. Thought this blog was about asking harmless questions and getting harmless answers.
You’ve a lot to learn

I yawn at your need to be the most knowledgeable person on this board. I yawn at your need to humiliate rather than educate.
You can put yourself out of your misery whenever you so choose. Have you figured where the ignore button is?

You have so much knowledge and experience to share but you can’t help but cloud it with your annoyance for the rest of us underlings who couldn’t possibly live up to your standards of knowledge, sentence structure, and general personality traits. I know you are reading this and rolling your eyes at the lowly American chippy who dares to speak to you from below your throne. But there are lots more people reading this who would agree that your knowledge comes with a sharp tongue.
If you want sugar coated then why don’t you pop along to the candy store? However I’m thinking that perhaps somewhere to help you with that enormous chip on your shoulder might also be of huge benefit to you. Please bear in mind that stable stupidity wrapped up in sweetness and light is still just stable stupidity and good information swaddled with ad hominem and profanity is nonetheless good information.

Okay everyone, a round of applauses for me! I’ve irritated Thomas so badly that he can’t help but post long diatribes with quotes and all, telling me what an idiot I am! You know you’ve made in COTH when you’ve peaved off Thomas! HAA HAAAAAAAAAA! Victory!
you flatter yourself if you think that someone posting hiding behind anonymity peeves me. The noise you make is akin to that of one of my cows pissing on a flat rock. The impact is no different to a Chihuahua yapping behind a gate.

[ASB_Stars]

Must be happy hour in the bog. :lol:

[Daisydonk]

There was me thinking that this was a nice friendly forum and I now discover that it aint.

[Rudy]

[QUOTE=Daisydonk;4897908]
There was me thinking that this was a nice friendly forum and I now discover that it aint.[/QUOTE]

Haven’t been here very long have you.

[Cartfall]

DaisyDonk,

this is a friendly place for the most part.

Every now and again, someone will step up to the plate and toss one out of the park to living things up.

So don;t take it to heart and just ignore the insanity and rudeness when it happens. As on any forum, take the good you can get out it and ignore the rest.

There are some really good folks on here with a lot of knowledge to share. Every now and again, we get folks who wander in and have no sense of humor. And there are folks on here with no sense of humor!!!

Life is too short for this gaaar- baaage!!! Chill out folks.

[winfieldfarm]

oh thomas…now you have me really laughing out loud…

chip on my shoulder? nope, not at all. feeling sorry for a grouchy ol’ Scotsman who must have the last word. sure…

Are you referring to me as the one posting behind anonymity, well, hard to be anonymous when my profile name is my farm name. Not that I would expect you to search me out. Have I had as much experience as you? no. Have I driven as many horses as you? no. Do I think you are a wealth of knowledge? yes. but…

I just don’t see any other point in your harshly replying to others’ posts other than the sheer fact that you are annoyed with our ignorance. Otherwise, why would someone who touts himself as a trainer and instructor use such methods to educate? Far be it for me to say that teaching by way of the rod is fairly old fashioned, don’t ya think. But you have a rep of pounding knowledge into the underlings by way of harsh corrections and references to our incapability to ever match your standards. I guess you could say that people should expect that from a forum but why? Why be like this? You’re right, I don’t get to determine the response. You are responsible for your responses. But why be so nasty.

I’ve read and reread both threads and I just keep coming back to you starting this by getting so annoyed that the titles didn’t say Cross. I just think it’s sad and comical that you have to get so bent over my not typing Cross in the title of my thread when the original thread so CLEARLY talks about it being an Arab cross (or Ayrab as you so affectionately insult the breed). The thread talks about the DHH side of the cross and asking questions about that half. And then you get bent when I light heartedly correct the (in your eyes) mistake and jab at you to not be so fussy. Then you keep dragging it out, inferring all kinds of nastiness my way. I think this is kinda fun to get you so annoyed with me. Showing a bit of your ugly side again, Thomas.

Whatever… can’t get me riled Thomas, I’m just skipping through the daisies having fun. I’m sorry you have to share the same planet with such a dolt as me! Tralalalalalalala

Count me in as a member of the “Thomas finds me annoying” club.

[winfieldfarm]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUNNIEST PART IS?

That we all know Thomas is checking this thread to see how I responded. It must be making him nuts!

Do you all want to take bets on whether he posts a final word?

Oh Thomas, we all luv ya, ya big lug.:winkgrin:

[hitchinmygetalong]

Worry, windfields. I’m 110% on Thomas’s side on this one. He’s a crusty, salty Brit from the Borders who has more knowledge in the tip of his little finger than I will ever hope to have in a lifetime and if you can’t handle his style, I’m sorry for you. I’ve learned a LOT from both Thomas and Goeslikestink and I would very much hate to see either of them leave this board.

Good luck with your Arab cross!