Ya know...

[threedogpack]

I think I am out numbered.

What is with riders who have “lookey” horses but don’t want to work through the behavior? On another horse board, mostly WP, there are repeated threads about horses that can’t settle at shows, who whinny at shows, who get rushy at shows. They all want a “product” to get their horses quiet.

what ever happened to “take 'em and let them get used to the show” stuff? If you have to “ride them down in the warm up pen”, shouldn’t you be looking at what you feed them and how often they get outside (and away from home) instead of adding more supplements?

Call me old fashioned but the first thing I’d look at would be feed and the second thing I’d look at is turn out time. The next thing I’d do is haul them .everywhere. and either lead them or let them stand tied to the trailer and whinny and/or look at what they want.

when did the “add a supplement and hope it doesn’t test” become the norm?

[re-runs]

“I think I am out numbered.”

Well, I pretty much stand with you.

“What is with riders who have “lookey” horses but don’t want to work through the behavior? On another horse board, mostly WP, there are repeated threads about horses that can’t settle at shows, who whinny at shows, who get rushy at shows. They all want a “product” to get their horses quiet.”

Most want a quick fix without the effort it takes to understand the equine species.

“what ever happened to “take 'em and let them get used to the show” stuff? If you have to “ride them down in the warm up pen”, shouldn’t you be looking at what you feed them and how often they get outside (and away from home) instead of adding more supplements?”

And may I add, proper training? And a relationship with the rider? and the rider learning to work with horses? and less emphasis on winning? Nobody wants to look bad.

Call me old fashioned but the first thing I’d look at would be feed and the second thing I’d look at is turn out time. The next thing I’d do is haul them .everywhere. and either lead them or let them stand tied to the trailer and whinny and/or look at what they want.

You are talking about investment in time, $ and some common sense.

“when did the “add a supplement and hope it doesn’t test” become the norm?”

Pretty much as far back as I can remember and I have been in the game for half a century. People are busy, time is money, some are lazy, others dont want to make that much of a commitment, dont have the self discipline…lots of reasons.

[goodhors]

Too much work to fix problems. Let’s get “something” that won’t make them work to fix their pet horse!! Mostly because they are not really a horse handler, they are a passenger.

I am also with OP, “If horsey don’t like it, they need a closer look, with more time being worked and playing to get tired in real life!” My horses need to be accepting of all the things we ask of them, so WE need to put the time in making them solid citizens. Training with “miracle drugs and gadgets” isn’t much of a training base to depend on.

All back to the “horse owners” in lowering the requirements a horse needs to be considered skilled or broke. Horsemen/women who understand the animals will want an animal with higher skills to call it broke. I don’t care what tack horse is wearing, they need to have great basics, so they can work for us as requested. Timid riders need to buy horses DOWN at their skill level, not drug or untrain the more reactive/responsive horses needing a more skilled rider.

Our horses ARE quiet, tie well anywhere, go FORWARD when asked, even if there is some wierd new thing they have to face in the process. It takes a COUPLE YEARS of steady work, in many situations, to get a horse who does that for you. But if people ask how you do that kind of training, those folks are QUITE UNWILLING to put the effort into making such a horse. Everything we do, have set up at the farm, causes an effect in managing the horses. They get trained as they are handled in daily life, which saves a lot of time over the long haul.

A wise older Trainer told us that EVERYTIME you interact with the horse, you are TRAINING or UNTRAINING it. The remark really stuck with me, and I just don’t let horse get away with stuff anymore. Doesn’t take much to get horse doing bad stuff, which happens with the timid handler or riders. I may offer a comment, but usually get brushed aside because it doesn’t involve Voodoo, gadgets or use of a “name method”. So I walk away and let them finish their “untraining” session with the horse. I no longer have the patience to listen to how their horse “won’t” do this or that. I just get on my horse and go riding without them!