I once had to treat a horse that picked a fight with the horse in the mirror…
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Beautiful horse!
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Because it does relate to this thread, I used to ride a stallion that wanted to fight his reflection in the mirrors of the indoor arena. Every single day, for years. He was really difficult to longe in there because he would get distracted and stop. Should he eventually have gotten over it? Probably. Did he? No. He could never be ridden on a long rein or allowed to look in the mirror when he was in the indoor.
I used to think that horses should be able to adapt and relax in pretty much all situations. I don’t believe that anymore. I liken it to a bad job environment. It might be perfect for someone else, but it doesn’t work for you.
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That’s the thing - she wasn’t afraid, until she was unable to figure them out. She wasn’t scared OF THE STRIPS. She was unable to figure out how to pass through them which left her alone in the barn. Thats what flipped her out. Again, she’s not scared of the strips. She can’t figure out how they work.
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I think you’re getting bogged down in semantics. You described her as upset and frantic on her own and not in hand. It doesn’t really matter if she’s scared of the strips or scared because of the strips. She’s scared.
I think it would be really helpful if you at least considered that what she shows on her own is how she actually feels about a situation, and that the only reason she’s not like that in hand is because she learned along the way from someone that she cannot be. Fear, anxiety, not understanding–these types of things can all be shown in ways other than a big blow up or panic.
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She walked through them fine probably 20 other times that day. What would you like me to do, invent a crystal ball that would tell me she would suddenly FORGET how to walk through them?
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And also - this whole “what a good girl for doing something she was scared of!”
That’s what a relationship with a horse SHOULD be. Trust and understanding that you aren’t going to ask them to do something that would hurt them. Shayney trusts me that I won’t ask her to do something impossible or painful. That’s a normal, and good, horse/human relationship. I’m not sure why you keep making it out to be something horrid.
When a horse takes a hard look at a fence, should the rider pull the horse up and say “no, pookie is a little scared, no jumping this fence” or do they leg on, using their relationship to say “we can do this, trust me!”
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No, of course not. But how about when she’s upset like that, you try approaching it like she’s that upset?
You’ve been dealing with this for a long time. It doesn’t seem like things have changed much. There’s zero harm in just trying a different approach.
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I did. I showed her how to walk through them with repetition. When that didn’t work, I tied them back again.
What are you suggesting I do different?
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If she was frantically upset in hand, you would’ve sent her through 200 times, even if she didn’t improve after, say, ten times?
If that’s your approach with a frantically upset horse, that might be the problem.
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@endlessclimb YOU know your horse. She IS a pretty little thing. I’d love to have her flighty self in my barn to ride in the hunters. You’re never going to convince people who haven’t fed her, trained her, and nurtured her for 5 years believe where you’re coming from. There is ZERO shame in moving a horse along who doesn’t meet your goals. It’s what we constantly preach. That the goal is to develop a horse for its niche and give it skills SOMEONE will want.
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There’s a difference between wanting to deep dive into what is making a horse tick and devoting years to it and… wanting to progress, go do things. If OP wants to ride out and camp with a horse this would not be my first pick by a long shot. There is a lid for most pots; this horse and OP are mismatched, that’s ok. Horse has indicated where she is comfortable and OP sees it, knows it. She tried, horse isn’t happy and OP’s plans are looking bleak. Call the whole thing off, especially since OP strikes me as a reasonable horseperson and horse is clear about who she is too. I don’t see where either are at a fault.
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As soon as she was in hand, she went though the strips fine. For the millionth time - her behavior in hand is NOT the problem. She has this inability to apply that lesson to what she chooses to do when free.
The 200 times was to attempt to concrete in her brain HOW TO DO IT. Head down, walk through. She was not frantic about anything during the in-out-in-out lesson.
Why are you insisting on a narrative in your head, that I’m just perpetually traumatizing this horse? You seem pretty set on it.
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Dude, yes, I get that. I am suggesting that this horse is just as upset in hand as she is on her own but she’s learned that behavior isn’t allowed. So, she’s just as upset in hand as she is on her own, but she’s not telling you in a way you understand.
Let’s pretend how she is on her own is how she actually feels about the situation. Do you think she’s going to actually learn anything in 200 passes if she’s that upset? No, she’s not. Which…is what you’re complaining about.
There’s zero harm in trying something different. She’s sure not learning in how you’re approaching it. You’re frustrated. I’m sure she’s frustrated. So try a different approach?
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The strips are tied back. We’re starting over. I’m not sure why you are continuing to preach to me here like you’re telling me something I’m not already doing. But… thanks?
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You asked what I suggested you do differently. I responded: treat her independent responses as her honest response. I am only answering your question.
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And in regards to being scared of the strips - today was very windy and she intentionally was standing where the tails of them were whapping her in the ass, in the face… she’s not scared of the effing strips. She literally forgot how to walk through them.
Just like she forgot the electric fence will shock her 20 times in a row.
Just like she continues to touch electric fences.
Shayney No Brainey was her name at the track. She’s never had good sense, apparently.
But apparently every single person who has handled her her whole life is just doing it wrong.
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You know, there’s an option when horses don’t respond to training in the way we expect. We can ask what’s wrong with the horse. Or we can ask what’s wrong with our approach.
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Sure.
But you fail to understand sometimes it’s the horse. Not often, I’ll give you that. But sometimes, it is.
I have this horse. She’s super sweet. She’s also super stupid.
That’s ok. I was asking if anyone else had a stupid horse and if they had things that helped them improve. Most examples here, including yours, involve molding their world around what their little pea brains can tolerate or work through. That’s cool, but the reality is that doesnt work for folks who arent on their farm 24/7. If she has a subsequent meltdown about something else (God knows what) while I’m at work, there will be no one to help her for 10 hours.
I can’t predict when or what her brain will short circuit over. You can’t either. No one can. It’s non-sensical.
I appreciate that you think this horse is just a product of bad handling. But on the flip side of that I feel sorry for your horses that are being pestered forever, because you believe that any horse can fit your mold if you just change enough handling techniques.
Some are just dumb. Some have a screw loose. They can be born this way. I’m not sure why that doesn’t register as a possibility for you.
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Huh? I don’t send my horses through something that freaks them out 200 times, or tie them up for hours.
It’s weird that you think that the suggestion that you believe what your horse is telling you when she has the opportunity to do so is wrong. But I hope both she and you find a better fit. Best of luck.
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