Hello everyone, I have a problem with my mare, Whisky. As the weather is getting colder, I am wearing my jacket, hat and gloves, when I go outside. When I go to tend to her, she gets very skittish, snorts, and will not let me catch her. IF I take all this off then she is fine.
I even wear each item separate and she acts the same way. When my friend comes over wearing his hat she is very alert and ready to take off if she needs to. If we try to per her with gloves on she rears up and takes off.
What could I do to work with her to make her better or at lease less afraid of me when I have my jacket and stuff on.
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Horse Behavior and Training
Horse scared of people in jackets, gloves and hats.
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Hi chistenarosehorses,
From what you describe here I guess your horse has had a bad experience with a person wearing the clothing you mention. I gather you bought this mare recently. What you didn't realise when you bought her, is that she is a remedial horse. This takes special care and treatment. You don't mention how much experience you have with horses, maybe you can find someone to help you.
To make the life of your mare safer and yours too, you can desensitize her to the items you mentioned. In the wild horses have to desensitize to stimuli that turn out to be harmless, otherwise they'd run forever and would not find the time to eat and rest.
I suggest you start with a stick with a plasticbag tied to one end and build up from there.
Monty made a dvd called "Gentling your spooky horse", in which this procedure is shown.
If you feel uncertain, get help and take your time, most of all stay safe!
Miriam
Here I am again, I answered your question early this morning, forgot to mention the Dually halter! When working with a horse that you want to desensitize or gentle in any way, this halter can really help you. Please watch the videos on this Uni about the use of the Dually and practice on some gentle horses.
Did you watch "Spooky Kadina"? This series of videos will give you an idea of how to work with a remedial horse. Trust is number one in all these procedures.
Good luck and let us know how you're doing!
Miriam
Christena,
You have probably read somewhere or heard it on the UNI that ANY new thing or place will cause a horse to become skittish or shy away.
The horse does this out of fear and your little one needs to be desensitized against these things.
Not just in one place or with one person but LOTS!!!
Take each item separtely, while using the dually and lead rope.
Holding the item (hat, gloves, etc...) out for the horse to first smell, then touch the horse with the item first on the neck, then the mid-section, etc.... until the horse accepts this item.
Each time the horse moves, school her with the dually until she stands still and accepts this, standing totally still, not even swishing her tail.
Now take the horse in a different area and start all over, this will not take long, only a few minutes.
Each time your horse shys away from something do this, it works, I promise.
The reason I suggest doing it this way, is your horse already comes to you when you are not dressed differently and now needs to learn how to accept new things in a calm manner, wherever it may be.
This will build confidence in your horse that the new item will not harm it in any way.
I have a remedial filly and have to keep doing this with anything or anyplace new, it works.
Keep your adreneline down and breath deeply at all times, this will help the horse to remain calm with you.
One more thing to keep in mind is the time of year we are in. For most mares this is their last heat and this makes them a bit skittish as well, watch for blinking and work around this. You will both be happier with the results then, it will only last a short time.
Then try the above.
I have to work around my filly's heats, if I don't we both do not benefit.
Ronda
Thank you both. I have hade horses all my life and for the past 7 yeas I have been working to train horses. From 2004 to 2008 I have been using Dennis Reise, parelli, and Clinton Anderson. It was not untel I read "The man that listens to horses" and used Monties methods on a BLM Mustang that I rescued that I started my path to join up. I have been studing with the Uni for 2 months now and my mare (owned her for 4 months) is doing great. I find new things that she is scared of every day. She was scared of tarps but she is over that now.
Whisky (my mare) Will not shy away the items I wrote about first if I am holding them out in front of her BUT only when I am wearing them. That is what the strange thing is. I have worked with my mare with the stick and bags. We are doing great with that. She now stands still when I toutch her.
That sounds very interesting, corresponding to the "Centaur series" where a rider on a horse is different from the person on the ground. But I think the idea of desensitizing will remain the same. First step: wear only the hat. Follow her until she stops moving and then go away. The important thing in desensitization is to not sensitize the horse.
I like spooky horses because they are so clear.My horse was a plastic freak until I hung noisy tarps around the hay bales.It could be the noises the clothing makes too that spooks her,try a scarecrow person in winter clothes put it somewhere nearby and drop some hay around there.I find that the horses sort themselves out if I just set it up for them to learn.
Ronda, would you explain a bit about mares and blinking? Also, would you recommend that a novice such as myself should steer clear of doing training with my filly when she is in season? Last weekend when the trainer came she was really chilled out and so easy but there have been times when I feel quite scared of her! Thanks, Lizzie
Hi Lizzie,
When I say the horse is blinking, it's an outward sign that tells us the horse is in heat.
Basically what they do is move their tail to oneside, from the base. And you will notice their backend holes (trying to be tactful here) squeezing, open and shut, over and over again.(blinking)
Sometimes a milky liquid will drip from that area.
Some mares cannot stand to even be groomed in that area while this is going on, mine does not at all.
Some also do not like anything around their mid-section at this time, mine does not.
Now saying this, it is not always the case. I just happen to have a filly who has extreme heats during her season.
I have had STAR for two years and our relationship is very close, now.
Also I have been around horses a long time and know the signs of when to get out or away, this is something you can learn, from books or good internet sites.I learned it from those who were experienced and by observation.
You telling me you have been frightened of her indicates to me that you need some experience under your belt before you attempt too much with a moody mare.
Is there some way you can build your confidence with an older gelding with a calm spirit?
When a human has a fear of a horse, they sence this and it can be dangerous, not saying she'll hurt you but you have to be fast to get out of danger.
The trainer has probably seen much worse and therefore has no fear, the reason for her calmness. Don't worry right now about this, it will come for you.
Some mares are so uncomfortable when they are in heat that their learning ability is just not there, so it's kind of a waste of time to try to teach them too much.
If she will allow you to put a halter on her and a lead rope spend that time taking her for walks and rubbing her forehead, get close to her emotionally, don't push yourself on her, she'll trust you more for it.
Your confidence and hers will build and you will have a good solid foundation to work with.
Ronda
Ronda, ahhhhhhhhhhh I see what you mean - blinking has nothing to do with her eyes then! We've definately seen her squirt a milky substance and then known she was in heat but there have also been times when she just doesn't seem happy in her own skin - kind of troubled. I always worried it was just that we weren't handling her right or that she was just having a grumpy day. she'd get a bit skittish and spooky and that frightened me as she got quite jumpy and sensitive - she'd react to horses in another field calling out and seemed not to focuss on us being around or just barge into our space.
The bottom line is that if I notice her blinking I will be sure to be extra careful. It's the times when I don't see the blinking I'm concerend about. I will look this up on the internet to try and understand what other signs to look out for. The boys are gelded so thank heavens for that - they are so much more consistant aren't they?!
When do the heats stop? I'm thinking with it being November now that should be soon right?
Thanks for your explanation Ronda.
Best regards, Lizzie
Hi Lizzie,
Do as much research as you possilbly can. You will benefit from this so much and so will the horses.
Keep in mind that some geldings act like stallions when a mare is in heat, so be careful.
Heats, when do they stop? Good question. It all depends on the mare. Some have a hard time of it and they go late into the season.
Most are done for now, check this out with your vet, they can tell you what to look for as well, OK.
The best to you today,
Ronda