TGM
Well-Known Member
With all the reference to "bunny huggers" on here recently I just wondered how we all rated in the "bunny hugging" stakes!
Are You A Bunny Hugger?
- Thread starter TGM
- Start date
S_N
Well-Known Member
I'm interested in some of the ideas, but then IMO, a lot of it is just good old common sense, that I have grown up with and take for granted!! An awful lot of it I find incredibley annoying though!!
sally2008
Well-Known Member
Definately wouldn't describe myself as a bunny hugger! I prefer a more common sense approach and try and stick to the middle ground - if I have a problem with a horse I always try to rule out any physical reasons for non-cooperation, afterall they only have a few ways in which they can indicate something is amiss. I believe horses are pretty soical by nature and do put up with alot before they start to complain. Having done that, I would then feel justified to use discipline if I thought it necessary. Hopefully my horses' health and behaviour backs this up.
kayleigh_and_rocky
Well-Known Member
I'm interested in NH ideas but believe that they dont always work on every horse and a combination of both ideas are needed. Some horses respond to phsyical things some horses respond to NH things, its about judging which horse requires which approach.
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
Totally agree SN, mostly just common sense marketed well.
I better not say too much, the last time I posted about this Kelly Marks or someone like that posted on here to disagree with me (and several others!!)!
I better not say too much, the last time I posted about this Kelly Marks or someone like that posted on here to disagree with me (and several others!!)!
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
!00% with SN and CC!
It's plain old common horse sense, nothing new at all. If everyone could take the time to watch their horses, they'd do it naturally themselves; no need to pay a fortune for it.
It's plain old common horse sense, nothing new at all. If everyone could take the time to watch their horses, they'd do it naturally themselves; no need to pay a fortune for it.
BBs
Well-Known Member
I agree with JM7
Blackhawk
Well-Known Member
Have to agree with JM7! I think most of it is common sense. You can get a lot out of just spending time with your horse and learning their behaviour. Less expensive too
riotgirl
Well-Known Member
No bunny hugging here!!
kayleigh_and_rocky
Well-Known Member
I agree its common sense......but SO many horse people lack in common sense, something you have to agree!!
Sparklet
Well-Known Member
To be honest I dont really care what bunny huggers do as long as they dont try to ram their way down your throat because it is the right way.
Someone at our yard was a BH and spent two years trying to get her horse loaded.........I made the mistake of offering to help her one day and she flipped her lid. Her way was right and 'me and my type force our horses into lorries and trailers against their will'.
Both my horses skip up the ramp and have never even needed to be encouraged.
Someone at our yard was a BH and spent two years trying to get her horse loaded.........I made the mistake of offering to help her one day and she flipped her lid. Her way was right and 'me and my type force our horses into lorries and trailers against their will'.
Both my horses skip up the ramp and have never even needed to be encouraged.
darksided
Well-Known Member
Rather just use what works best for that particular horse, whether it be NH ideas, or a more physical approach. But never violent.
But to be honest I'd really rather not ever use violence, unless it was a dangerous situation.
But to be honest I'd really rather not ever use violence, unless it was a dangerous situation.
kayleigh_and_rocky
Well-Known Member
Works both ways though, my old old YM (about 3YMs ago) was awful 'the only way you can get that horse in there is to beat it' and my friends horse ended up breaking its back falling from being beaten trying to get it on! Though this same horrible man once grabbed a horse by the head in a chifney and sprayed a power hose in its face because it moved away when he was trying to hose it off and trod on him. hm.
PErsonally like i said, theres a mid way point, and thats where i am. I judge each horse and treat it accordingly
PErsonally like i said, theres a mid way point, and thats where i am. I judge each horse and treat it accordingly
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
I'm with you - I don't mind people being into NH etc but I won't have it rammed down my throat.
My horse used to be terrible to load but we worked through it with food as a bribe a few times. He is totally ruled by his tummy and he now knows if he goes on the trailer he gets a treat - in fact he now doesn't need one and has stopped looking for one, just goes up the ramp and stands nicely. I didn't need to pay a fortune for books and gadgets to get him loaded, just took time and patience (it's probably very un-NH to give your horse a treat for going into the trailer!!
).
Parkranger
Well-Known Member
I know a girl who is quite traditional in her ways but does incorporate alot of NH into how she trains/handles horses.
I agree that alot of NH is cleverly packaged commonsense but I learnt alot reading Kelly Marks books that wasn't just commonsense and went against what I would think was the 'right thing to do'.......
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
I agree that alot of NH is cleverly packaged commonsense but I learnt alot reading Kelly Marks books that wasn't just commonsense and went against what I would think was the 'right thing to do'.......
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that applies to men as well
Sorry, I apologise for lowering the tone
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that applies to men as well
S_N
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that applies to men as well
Sorry, I apologise for lowering the tone
[/ QUOTE ]
LMAO - you???? Lower the tone?????? NEVER
[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes the only thing that works is a crack on the bum and a schoolmistress voice though!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that applies to men as well
[/ QUOTE ]
LMAO - you???? Lower the tone?????? NEVER
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
Oi, cheeky!!!!
LMAO
It was just waiting to be said though wasn't it?! Don't tell me you didn't think it either!!
LMAO
It was just waiting to be said though wasn't it?! Don't tell me you didn't think it either!!
Sparklet
Well-Known Member
Its not really a choice between Natural Horsemanship and beating up the horse though is it? Most of us manage very well without either.
My only advice to anyone really is to take the time to create a good loader and dont save loading tuition until the day of the first show.
My only advice to anyone really is to take the time to create a good loader and dont save loading tuition until the day of the first show.
S_N
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Oi, cheeky!!!!
LMAO
It was just waiting to be said though wasn't it?! Don't tell me you didn't think it either!!
[/ QUOTE ]
NO, I would never think such a thing!!
*sorry TGM*
Oi, cheeky!!!!
LMAO
It was just waiting to be said though wasn't it?! Don't tell me you didn't think it either!!
[/ QUOTE ]
*sorry TGM*
Super_Kat
Well-Known Member
JM7 hit the nail on the head!
Kat
xx
Kat
xx
dwi
Well-Known Member
I ride bitless, barefoot on the back feet and I've had a monty roberts trainer out to deal with my horse.
Despite years of working at a riding school and having two horses on loan I was stuck with how to make progress with her behaviour when i first got her because it was so far away from anything that I had met before.
If she's naughty she still gets a smack but write off bunny hugging at your own cost. Bitless and IH techniques work for me in complementing years of BHS training.
Despite years of working at a riding school and having two horses on loan I was stuck with how to make progress with her behaviour when i first got her because it was so far away from anything that I had met before.
If she's naughty she still gets a smack but write off bunny hugging at your own cost. Bitless and IH techniques work for me in complementing years of BHS training.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
I have a bunny and I'm not ashamed to hug him!! There! I've come out!!
In response to your poll though, I agree that NH is mostly common sense and that there isn't only one 'right' way to do things.
In response to your poll though, I agree that NH is mostly common sense and that there isn't only one 'right' way to do things.
Tia
Well-Known Member
Excellent poll TGM! I found the results very interesting in that most of us voted that we are interested in NH/IH trails of thought - seems bizarre really that so many people on here would admit to that when the general consensus on here has always been that those sorts of people have something mentally wrong with them.
Curious also how so many are saying on this thread that NH is just common sense and yet the moment anyone puts up a post about it we see a completely different reaction.......which I often find that some people's reactions verge on them being quite aggressive!
Curious also how so many are saying on this thread that NH is just common sense and yet the moment anyone puts up a post about it we see a completely different reaction.......which I often find that some people's reactions verge on them being quite aggressive!
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
I put option 2 - I do some of the games - but really they are common sense. On occasion I will resort to using a strap or a whip.
Sunday - Chancer learnt that going backwards and turning round on the long reins after being asked nicely several times to walk on = one smack up the backside with the schooling whip - instantly cured and not repeated his evasion. No, he was not frightened, just wanted to get back to the nice grass he had to walk past. He had done this the week before, hence why this time I was prepared with a whip to ask him to move on as flicking the side reins and verbal commands were ignored.
There are times when no matter how nicely you ask, you occasionally have to be a little more stern with your requests, especially with a very clever and occasionally bolshy cob.
Sunday - Chancer learnt that going backwards and turning round on the long reins after being asked nicely several times to walk on = one smack up the backside with the schooling whip - instantly cured and not repeated his evasion. No, he was not frightened, just wanted to get back to the nice grass he had to walk past. He had done this the week before, hence why this time I was prepared with a whip to ask him to move on as flicking the side reins and verbal commands were ignored.
There are times when no matter how nicely you ask, you occasionally have to be a little more stern with your requests, especially with a very clever and occasionally bolshy cob.