One of my newer projects is a big warm-blood mare.She's older and used to be a top hunter horse. Contessa (for that's her name)has been out to pasture for three years because of an injury. I'm bringing her back into light work this summer. I've only been working with her for a few days now but I have already discovered that she has a nasty kicking habit. Tess hasn't tried to kick me yet but anyone else human or horse that walks near her tail whether I'm on her or not is in danger of being injured. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can possibly prevent her crabby mare kicks or should I just deal with it by putting a red ribbon in her tail every day? When people at my barn heard our trainers had given Tess to me to work with they were stunned. Tessie is known for violent mood swings and has made many enemies at my barn.So far besides the kicking she's been very sweet but I would heat for someone to be hurt because she decides she wants to practice her karate!
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Hi HorseCraz,
Did you watch this week's lesson yet? This could be very interesting for you, since it deals with a mare that kicks! There must be a reason for her reaction, many mares prefer to keep other creatures far from their hindends, for hormonal reasons. Only when at the peak of their heat, they accept a stallion in that position, not before and not after that moment.
Now that doesn't make her mean or agressive, she's only protecting herself.
Sure you want to be very careful when dealing with a mare that finds any approach one too many, you could get hurt, or somebodyelse could. Watch the lesson on Saffy many times, timing and understanding how to help her find a way out of her fear could be the answer to her problem and a great learningopportunity for you ( and those people at your barn, that thought the problem was unsolvable! )!
Stay safe and please keep us posted on your progress,
Miriam
Thank You Miriam,
I did just watch Saffy's video lesson and I did find it a bit helpful. The only problem is that my trainers do not let us experiment with their horses. Whenever I try something I learned here I have to hide it from them :( (I hate doing that)even join up because we're not allowed to chase our horses in the turn out. Don't get me wrong they are great trainers! but they are eighty something year old twin ladies so tend to be very traditional and not too open to young peoples ideas. I'm sure I can find something to do with Tess but the lines rapped around her hind legs isn't going to be accepted well at all!
Just a daft idea and you may have already tried this, but can you get them to watch a few of Montys lessons on here, or get them to a demo! Perhaps they might just let you use these methods. Gotta be worth a try & they can but say no!
Hi HorseCraz,
We all have or had to deal with others that think traditionally and cannot imagine what could happen if you give horses the choice of cooperation etc. I know it's a struggle, but it's worth the try.
Monty says: " Let the horses do the talking! ".
Could you work with Tess and just let it happen, that the line touches her hindquarters and be surprised by the result. The trainers gave Tess to you for training, I guess they will not be watching you all the time. I don't mean you should do things sneakily, but often during training we have to go to plan B, because it turns out to be a better choice. This could happen to be your better choice.
I don't how experienced you are and if you feel up to the challenge, but remember Monty developed his methods without the support of others, including the strong will of his father against these methods.
I wish you courage and lots of luck!!!
Miriam
Thank you every one for your suggestions. I am only a teenager and because of the training differences between my trainers and I, I guess you could say I'm rather inexperienced with natural horsemanship training. I'm sure I'll find a way to work with Tessie we don't have a very big property and their only one place we are allowed to lounge because of the footing...Right next to one of the twins houses. But I'm sure it will work out. I just wanted to make sure I didn't make my trainers sound cruel. They do care about the horses and try to teach us to praise them but sometimes they just get a little to forceful with them and that's what I don't like.