he looks great! please tell us how you are doing with him and your barn building plans!
I just stumbled on this thread and read the entire thing. I plan on checking it whenever possible and can’t wait to hear about the progress with your beautiful boy! 
I am late finding this thread also but I LOVE your charming posts Anna!
Your horse is absolutely lovely and you both have a natural instinct with horses. :yes:
I gotta say Puika looks rather pleased with himself! I think he is quite happy to have you!
Anna, you and Peter are fantastic to have taken on this project. I think you are building up a wonderful relationship and Puika is magnificent!!! Keep the updates coming, I love reading of your progress. :winkgrin:
Hi! Just my own personal bragg!
I had took him out completely by myself! It is nothing to do with horse, he was really patient with me, very careful and all in all - a piece of gold, it is me who I’m bragging!
To explain what’s going on: Remember, we got him less than a month ago and I had never ever before had anything to do with horses (except once in childhood at Zoo 
).
And now I have overcomed my fears and I had build confidence up enough to be able to do that! Not actually that I want it, to be honest, but Peter twisted his knee and is hardly limping from bed to kitchen, so there was no choice - myself or nobody. So i did it!
In the box he is very good - ask him to move on side, and he does - just a voice, a soft comand is enough. I’m using a large shovel to clean box, and he never ever tried to kick or something when I’m around his back legs.
But to take him out from his current box is not an easy task. Box is way too small for this boy, so he must be very careful to turn around and walk out through the door that is too low. And then outside there is a large concrete step and wooden bridges - one step on side and you are deep in mud.
So it is slow and careful job which needs very good cooperation (horse and human). And he was ideal - he waited until I got out, and only then followed very slowly, shoulder by shoulder until we got on stable ground, and then he was as good as any trained dog on lead. Peter said that he (horse) just likes me a lot and probably feels that I need a lot of help.
Then I bought him bucket of water and with just hand and voice asked him to step back so I can put bucket down and he did! Three careful steps back! I had no crop in my hand, nothing but bucket and my voice!
While he was drinking I was rubbing his head between ears, and he was good as gold again.
I feel so much better now - I know, it sounds very small archievements for you all who have experience and knowledge, but for me it is a huge step in the right direction! And I would not be able to do it without you all here and your help!
Sorry for this silly bragg about actually nothing, but try to remember how did you felt when you started!
In the box I’m stepping up and pressing with my whole weight on his back now, and usually he just makes small short kicks at the beginning, and then just ignores me in general, so for me it seems that he will enjoy riding one day. It will not happen soon, as his condition is not right yet to carry such a lady as me around, but I have hope that one day we shall nicely trotting around the fields. Maybe
Your posts are so lovely. It’s so nice to hear someone with so much commitment.
It sounds like your bond together is really growing. Soon we will be hearing about your adventures riding together!
He is so lucky to have found you, and you are lucky to have him.
I hope your husband feels better soon.
Yeah Anna! That’s great! Slow small steps… it’s all progress. Feel free to brag, sounds like you (and husband) are doing a great job with Puika.
I think you have done a great job with your new horse. You are so patient and have very good instincts. Keep up the good work. I hope your husband is feeling better soon.
Congratulations on your boy. I have not had a chance to read all of the posts, so maybe this was suggested, but for biting, keeping a small breath spray bottle and squirting his mouth when he goes to grab sometimes works well. Also, a squeeze bottle of lemon juice to spray in his mouth can stop the biting.
He is just gorgeous, Annacrew! I love new head shot - what a nice boy! I really enjoy reading about him!
Anna,
I think you are doing a fantastic job with him!!! He looks better than he did when you first got him.
I am completely enjoying your posts! Please don’t stop! It is so interesting to be communicating with a fellow horseperson in another country!
I’m joining in late, but love this thread and reading how you see horses, it is beautiful!! I also like hear how you do things in your contry!! SO NEAT!
He’s a beauty!
Gook luck with your new beautiful boy!
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WOW! I just found this thread too! Good job so far! I look forward to hearing much more.
I only JUST saw this thread!
I posted awhile ago about a three year old someone asked me to teach to LEAD (don’t even ASK how they had gotten him from place to place previous to that, you don’t want to know!). He was very, very mouthy–no leadrope or brush or jacket or sleeve or set of fingers was safe around him.
I am hopeless with any kind of “tack” remedy; I always end up sticking myself or dropping the tack. And as quickly as a horse might get the message from the obvious body language of elbowing and a smack as a reprimand, one that likes to play or test you will only come back for more, and one that’s timid and fearful will quickly get headshy and might stay defensive and prone to nip.
I managed to fix this guy within two days using a raincoat and a couple bottles of dish soap!
I soaked a leadrope in the soap, and poured it all over the raincoat sleeve and on parts of the brushes…the very first time he grabbed the leadrope, you would think I shot him! He of course dropped it INSTANTLY, and his maneuvers with his tongue were hysterical to watch as he tried to rid his mouth of soap. Same was repeated when he tried for my sleeve, and eventually the brushes. He learned quickly, and I didn’t get “blamed” for any of it!
Note that much of avoiding being bitten is a matter of positioning yourself so that you aren’t in the way of a horse’s mouth–never position yourself directly in front of the horse–always stand to the side, and lead from the side. A sharp dig into the bony area on the side of the horses face with your kuckles as the horse’s head swings toward you will serve as a “passive” reprimand to a naughty guy. But the soap trick will soon reduce the horse’s urge to do that, belive me!
A really aggressive horse will figure the soap out and begin to resort to other measures (head-butting you or striking with hooves, for instance). But those are really few and far between-ie, very rare-your guy sounds like he just loves all the attention, wants to express himself, and doesn’t know his own strength.
BTW, I hope your human child is feeling better! Keep us posted!
Hi! Thank you! Will try the soap on lead, as he loves to chow the lead! But so far his biting issue has reduced to, let’s say very minor level - today when I went to pick him up from pastures, he was nipping my shoe lace! If that’s all then great, I can cope with that.
I’m trying to be brave girl and taking him out just on halter, and so far I’m alive! He had not tried to bite me, not at all, but he was not very obedient as well - he was draging me behind I know, it sounds dangerous, but he just wanted to go for a drink first, so he went stright there, and I was left behind (rope is 5 m long so even at the rare end of him I’m in safe distance from back legs).
After the drink and a good pat between his ears I took him for a small walk (really small, not like Peter does) and he was ok - he was kicking a bit (to get rid of gas, nothing else, not on me, he was doing his own business) when I sent him around in circles and then I put him on pastures without any issues. And the same was at night when I put him in. He was just standing like angel when I put the lead on and undid his chain, gently nipping one of my shoe laces.
I’m still sweating cold sweats when I need to take him in or out, as there is not enough space for both of us, honestly, but so far so good - he is very, very good boy.
I must add about his biting issue - in the box, he just bite on the board, and then I pat him all around, and he is happy standing, enjoying every touch, but with a wood in his teeth. He is just so bored, andso playful in heart, so I presume he stops himself that way? (Or I’m just reading his actions completely wrong?) But seems that he has stopped his nipping most of the part and has learned that there are things that he just can not do - but he still tries to find at least something - like if fe can not chew on my sleeve, then shoe lace , such a minor thing… maybe that’s ok?
He does not try his limits with me. Not good training, not good beheivior, I agree, if I can compare he is like big sweet puppy on lead without training. And if I can poorly (but still) manage him around just in halter (he was always walked with bite, never just in halter, I presume he must be sweet boy! It is just me, who is such a … But I’m starting to feel the excitement of the moments when he is nice and when we are working in unison… when you can feel that partnership and understanding… It is such a great feeling… I presume, I’m hooked!
Anna,
You are hooked my dear.;)
That’s how it starts.
First just a small glimmer of hope that someday I will be able to do this, then next thing you know, you are riding and nothing in the world gives you the feeling that you get when you and your horse are one together.
To be honest, so far I’m very far away from riding, it is for sure. Maybe tomorrow? But if seriously - not yet, not yet, but it would be so much better to exercise him that way…
Take your time, you’ll get there.
But, when the time comes to ride him, I hope you are putting someone else on him first (not you or your husband). Because he’s a big guy and a fall from him could really do some damage.
I can’t remember if your husband had any experience riding or not, but you mentioned you don’t know if Puika has been ridden before? I wonder if you know a trainer that could work with you when the time comes?
I just enjoy your stories so much, I would hate to see anything happen to you!!!:no:
I would like to be alive too
I’m not planning to get on him and yahoo! play cowboys! No, no, no…
But I’m seriously considering how to get him used on something on his back. He was ridden bareback 10+ years ago. but since then - nothing.
Peter had some very small experience and now when somebody asks he can honestly say yes, I do ride… But he is 56, had died twice, had broken his backbone twice, his sholders and hips had been put together from pieces and he even had seen his own heart when his chest was ripped apart… (he was racing bikes when he was young) so I presume he really do not need new injuries.
I’m in much better condition and never had broken anything but few ribs which is nothing But let’s see… Never say never.
I’m now thinking which way would be the best to get him used to the weight on his back again. When he is in box where by some reasons I feel much safer to work with him, I tried to lean on his back. He reacted with few little kicks like Wait! What on my back? Then looked at me like Ah, it is just you! and that was it. He was not agressive or panicking, maybe just surprised, but in few seconds calmed down and then he was standing still with all the patience.He did not tried to get me off, or lay down or anything. Few light kicks is still far from desirable, but I expected worse reaction.
Anybody with ideas how to get him used on the weight on his back again, you are very welcome!
Better to start just with blanket? Or two bags with some weight in on his back?
Do it just inside the box or only outside?
Maybe leaning on his back on daily basic is good idea?
Any sugestions for dummies, please! (and if you think that I’m completely mad, I will welcome such opinion too ) Do not try to be polite with me! I do not know, I try to learn. I’m really open for any sugestions!
