Novice needs advices on naughty horse (We have a baby!)

[Dazednconfused]

[QUOTE=Penthilisea;2988970]
Everything you are doing so far sounds very good.
There are plenty of inside things you can do with your horse to build up his respect for you and keep his mind active without riding him.
We do something called carrot stretches with my horse, you take a small bite of any treat and (with your horse wearing a halter) let him stretch his neck to get the treat, usually sideways towards his hips. He can’t move of his feet or he “loses” the game. You can stretch up and back, down and back, curled up towards his chest, down to the floor etc. Make sure to go slowly, leading his nose around with the food. You’ll be amazed at how far he can stretch! Also be sure to stretch in both directions equally.

Come on COTH’rs, other easy stall and barn games to imrpove the relationship?[/QUOTE]

IMO, the last thing you want to do with a nippy/mouthy horse is handfeed it. That makes the problem far worse. I’m sure there are many other in-hand activities that don’t involve handfeeding.

[AnnaCrew]

HeartsorHospitals! Allways look at your house like that! It is treasure! There are much more families than old building for them. Everybody can buy a new prefab house with all the square surfaces, but without any spirit and continuity in it! I would never agree to change from old, stressed oak floor boards to the laminat which is so easy to keep clean (the only positive thing about it). I’m looking at my house like a lifetime project, but we do not rush like we do not rush with Puika - old house like ours heeds some time to tell its story It is soo interesting to research and discover thing, then try to estimate a date for the changes and decide to keep changes or go back in time more. Without any hesitations we took out all the new walls inside the house (there were a lot). We just keep our eyes open all the time as in diferent lights you can see different bumps on walls, and so far we have discovered 2 more former entrance doors (then we go outside and dig for stepstones and had found them too), paintings on walls under layers of silly oil paint that was coveringf old layers of lyme… It is so interesting, indeed. And by the way, we have a lot of ghosts here. Before we bought his house, I was not into ghosts at all, had always laughed about these stories, but now… We have full set (including animals, a ginger cat is most seen) of very friendly, helpful ghosts.

What story can tell a plasterboard that has been made a week ago and yesterday was put on top of plastic to become your bedroom wall next week? None. Old hoses are treasures that need be loved and cared. I am sure of it.

[HeartsOrHospitals]

Oh, I agree completely Anna! Our house has had a long and varied history as a stately single family home, then a rooming house, and who knows what in between. I was doing a clean one day and a letter fell out from behind the mantle - dated 1942, from a woman who lived here was a nurse. I was touched because I am a nurse as well. We, also, see where doorways once were, where walls once stood. We have hardwood in all but one room. We refinished the flooring in that bedroom (it had been covered over in vinyl tile - badly - by a previous tenant) to find that they had lined the floor in newspapers from the '50’s. Imagine husbands annoyance when I had the whole project put off as I carefully peeled each sheet, by hand, off the floor in order to preserve them :). It was fascinating reading!

Also, our houses will be here FOREVER. I have friends with brand new, expensive, newly built homes that are literally falling apart I have a ghost too. Probably more than one, but only one I know of.

So, back to the horses How are the plans for a cart coming along? Puika looks like he would be very handsome pulling a little cart

[AnnaCrew]

Cart will be delivered somehow next week, then a bit job on back wheels and then we shall start learning how to put him in - it will be another laughing story for you!
And I do not have any English terminology to describe the process so probably double fun for all of you. But it does not matter - he will be running happy soon and that’s the main thing. He badly need some serious job.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

Maybe I missed it, but has he been driven before?

[pegasus209]

Hi Anna!
I haven’t been able to get online in awhile and -My!- what a delight seeing all of your great pictures and reading your humorous and heartfelt updates!
Thank you SOOO much for sharing with us.
I love your place and all your animals too! Everyone looks so happy and healthy. I know I’m not the only one who wants to be adopted by the Crews!!! :winkgrin:
~Hugs to you all~ from Texas!

[Tiempo]

[QUOTE=Fairview Horse Center;3111977]
Maybe I missed it, but has he been driven before?[/QUOTE]

Without going back, I believe the previous owners used to drive him.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

@Tiempo;3112289

Without going back, I believe the previous owners used to drive him.

Ok, thanks. That would be really cool.

[AnnaCrew]

Tiempo is right - yes, horse has been driven - not much, just few times a year, once in 3 months for about 3 miles trip one way (to the mill with some bags of grain for feed and back), and sometimes he was in field helping with hay deliveries to the barn, but nothing hard.

The riding was the big mystery, as we had no idea has Puika trained for that or not, but driving we know - he is good at that and he likes it. Now the only thing is that old pwner will need to teach Peter all the things about putting the leather on and then - how to drive.

Puika actually looks very proud in cart, so i hope that cart will be delivered soon and you will get new pictures.He has all the leather for that, but last year the old cart collapsed and honestly, it is not repearable

But in general - yes, Puika knows how to do this job. Now the problem is - Peter don’t!

Never boring day in this house!

[AnnaCrew]

We already have an old cart like this
http://www.tip.edu.lv/zemite/rati.JPG

but wooden wheels are not comfy for any driwing so they will be used only like in this picture which is from our local willage - just for flowers

The new cart is nothing exciting - old cart too, not used for past 5 years, need some job and board replacement on top, but we are not looking for fancy things, just for something so the horse can do the job and get some muscles

It will look something like that
http://www.republika.lv/nimg/600/3602.jpg

[moonriverfarm]

Anna - saddle is in the mail! How grand that you will also have a cart for Puika!
I love hearing about the things you are uncovering in your house - and the ghosts - do you see them or just “feel” they are there?

[AnnaCrew]

Thank you, Moonriverfarm! Thank you! and again - the greatest thank You! Will PM in a minute!

Here are some pictures from today - Peter spent all day with Puika, and they both enjoyed it - there are many things that were not pictured like Peter putting blanket on Puika’s back and teaching him not to take it off… And other funny things, but I run out of elements for camera.

All morning I was brushing Puika and had a hope to show you that sometimes he can be a clean boy but! As far as he went out he did instant roll in mud, so here we go - dirty horse again. peter later brushed a bit him, but he was not such clean as at the morning when coat was really shiny.
He did this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2882.jpg

A bit games
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2888.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2887.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2928.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2919.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2915.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2911.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2907.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2904.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/barryz15/1-04-08/PICT2889.jpg

I’m soo tired now

[AnnaCrew]

Silly question - but in case - if somebody had made it’s own saddle cloth? I have nice fleece for inside and whoolen tartan for top, but I’m confused about the top line in the middle.

I was researching on Internet, looking at saddle pads and blankets, and I understand two things - blanked coud be just plain bit of material, but it is better if top line has shape of horses back and whiters.

I can do it, it is simple, but my problem is - if it is all about horse’s comfort, the tailoring top line means sewing two bits together, and for me seam can rub the horses back under the saddle.

If somebody has any advice how to do it right, I would be really thankful for explanation.

[moonriverfarm]

Anna - I sent a saddle pad as well - you can probably look at it for ideas. the seam in the middle should not bother him as the saddle has a gullet and the center of the saddle does not touch his back - you will see!:winkgrin:

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

There are many saddle pads that are not “contoured” to the horse’s back, although I do prefer the look of the ones that are. You can definitely use a plain fleece pad from a single piece, with no “fitting” on the back.

[system]

[QUOTE=CanterQueen;2987119]
This is what I do and have found it to work well. I usually grab a lip and pinch like crazy until he backs away. Then pats and rubs.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

My number one recommendation would be to get lessons with someone on how to properly handle your horse on the ground or even enlist the help of a professional to show you how to go about dealing with this issue with your horse. In order to fix a small problem like this you need to be knowledgable enough to know what to do.

Based on what you stated above you COULD be on the right track BUT you should NOT be patting and rubbing your horse after he bites! Biting is a no no. If you horse is biting you he is not respecting you and he sees you as another horse on a “lower step of the ladder” than himself. YOU need to establish your seniority as “alpha” mare (so to speak). If any horse bites me or bites at me, I give a firm knuckle punch to the soft part of the lips or an open hand slap, and that goes for EVERY time a horse attempts to bite me…It doesn’t have to be super hard, just firm enough that it surprises them. If done consistently, it works. Remember this horse is 1200-1500 lbs and you are probably 120-150 lbs, he can do a lot more damage to you than you can to him…

Still, I would enlist the help of a trainer, especially if you have not experienced this behavior and haven’t spent a lot of time around horses…

[Rancher]

[QUOTE=Gottlied;3116791]
My number one recommendation would be to get lessons with someone on how to properly handle your horse on the ground or even enlist the help of a professional to show you how to go about dealing with this issue with your horse. In order to fix a small problem like this you need to be knowledgable enough to know what to do.

Based on what you stated above you COULD be on the right track BUT you should NOT be patting and rubbing your horse after he bites! Biting is a no no. If you horse is biting you he is not respecting you and he sees you as another horse on a “lower step of the ladder” than himself. YOU need to establish your seniority as “alpha” mare (so to speak). If any horse bites me or bites at me, I give a firm knuckle punch to the soft part of the lips or an open hand slap, and that goes for EVERY time a horse attempts to bite me…It doesn’t have to be super hard, just firm enough that it surprises them. If done consistently, it works. Remember this horse is 1200-1500 lbs and you are probably 120-150 lbs, he can do a lot more damage to you than you can to him…

Still, I would enlist the help of a trainer, especially if you have not experienced this behavior and haven’t spent a lot of time around horses…[/QUOTE]

Who are you talking to? The OP has solved the problem. Did you read any of this thread? If you did you would see that a trainer is kind of out of the question.

[Kate66]

Hi Anna,

I have enjoyed reading the thread and your horse is truly lovely!! One thing you might want to be careful of is that I notice in your last photos that there is a long rope attached to the halter when your horse is running free? You might want to unclip when he is running gree, if he is OK to catch as he might stand on it and pull his neck or head down potentially harming himself.

[ThrghbrdJmpr]

[QUOTE=Kate66;3117631]
Hi Anna,

I have enjoyed reading the thread and your horse is truly lovely!! One thing you might want to be careful of is that I notice in your last photos that there is a long rope attached to the halter when your horse is running free? You might want to unclip when he is running gree, if he is OK to catch as he might stand on it and pull his neck or head down potentially harming himself.[/QUOTE]

It’s a chain not a rope. If you read the thread from the start you will read this is how he is turned out and always has been, he is well used to it. I believe I did read along the way that there is a fence in the works, but this is what works for now

[Seriously_Hunter]

Anna, I have enjoyed reading all about your adventures with Puika and wish you and Peter all the best!!!
You both have done such an amazing job with this horse! I look forward to reading this thread every night after work!! The pic’s are wonderful, and I’m totally in love with your home…