Behaviour issues?

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Merrick

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Just out of interest after reading another thread regarding being evicted off other forums for daring to endorse a quick slap.... How well behaved are your horses and why?
We have 2 mares of 16.3-17hh, a 13.2hh sec C and a 14.2hh sec D. Had vet out to do vaccs and sec C has foot abscess and vet made a point of complimenting me on their behaviour. They all stood like a rock for jabs and yes ok little one jumped when hoof testers located the abscess but he stood still while it was dug out, drained and poulticed bless him.
My response was they are too big to not have good manners, you can open stable doors and they wait to be invited out, they take a step back if you open the stable door to go in, they move over when told or to a slight nudge behind the girth area. And here is my point......( get ready)....I admit they have all at some point had a short, sharp reminder about exactly who is in charge. No one is allowed to bite or kick, but like children I honestly believe that horses ( and all animals probably) prefer to know their place and respect their handlers. After all, they get 23 hours out in a field a day to do as they please.... In the remaining hour I want to enjoy them and they evidently love us because they call " hello" from the field and ALWAYS come over if we walk across to full water up...
So am I awful for admitting I have smacked them all?
Please don't shoot me down- I am not talking beating them up, a swift slap with an open hand is the preferred method and it doesn't need to happen often either!
Vet said she had just come from a 12hh pony that walked over or through 4 people ( including her!)
 
Totally agree with you. Mine have all had a little reminder at sometime. They then know where they stand and everyone is happy.
 
I agree. There's a big difference between a quick smack and a beating! I have a 16.2, 2 yo who often tests boundaries and sometimes I have had to give him a smack on the chest or neck. But it reminds him he's not in charge. The vet, the freezemarker and several of the local hunt have commented on his good behaviour. He's happy and loves company, and both horses come at the canter when called.
 
Totally agree. When I got my 17.2hh ISH I was told he will bite and try to kick in certain situations because of how he was treated in the past.

His past is not my fault and can't be changed now so no use feeling sorry about it. First few months he did try to bite and kick me over small things, so he got a quick smack. His reaction? He backed off and didn't do it again. Knowing that he isn't going to get away with such behaviour now, his is 100% better. No biting, no kicking, very rarely any grumpy faces these days. Can lead him on a loose rope with no pulling or silliness. He is now relaxed and happy because I initially had to reprimand.

So yes, a quick smack on the shoulder (which, lets face it, probably hurts your hand more than it hurts them - the sound more likely shocking than it actually being painful) when the alternative is being kicked or bitten...

It doesn't always work, granted, and I would never agree to hitting a horse with a closed fist or on the head.
 
Haha you should of seen the look on my yo and another liveries faces when my 17hh brat got a smack with a showing cane..he was half rearing/jumping around for a farrier at the time, said brat then stood without even needing to be held.

Stupid yard owner should listen to me when I say one swift smack and he will behave, maybe then the stupid wench wouldn't of been knocked over and reared at in the past week..

9 out of 10 times he saint the sort that ground ties whilst hot rubbing in a field etc BUT he is a total brat around other people.
 
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