Fluffy bunnies

If fluffy bunny is a term used in a derogatory way for people who use 'different' methods then I am a fluffy bunny. I used to be a traditionalist, smack em if they napped or did anything I didn't want them to do, used gadgets etc. My warmblood taught me a different way because she didn't put up with MY ways. I found IH and now classical, my approach is firm but fair. I listen to my horse, I take my time tacking up looking for signs of stress, I look for signs of discomfort and pain and treat accordingly, I don't just say 'they are being naughty or stubborn'. I am patient with them, if they are fidgeting or anxious because I have taken them away from their friends I understand the behaviour, I don't punish it. I am patient with training and don't push when I don't feel the horse is ready. But I am not a walk over, my horses back up from me when I enter the stable, they do not come into my space unless I ask them to and they do not eat until I am out of the way. If my not using a whip to punish or taking my frustrations out on the horse makes me a bunny hugger then so be it, I have a much better relationship with my horses than I have ever had, and I like it that way.
 
Ahh, its the fault of Parelli, should have known really.

What zangersheide has written is far from the norm on most yards BB. If you behave like that with your horse I support you, but not many do.
 
Well I use a stick/use a pessoa and sometimes a martingale/ride cross country and show ponies, so does that make me cruel and old school? If so, fair enough, I don't take the opinion of 'usernames' on the internet to heart. So if I used NH methods or whatever and was termed a 'fluffy bunny', I'd smile and say 'Well, that works for me' and move on. People don't like being called fluffy bunnies, but the same people are happy to tell me I'm a cruel witch for doing what I do and for racing.

My horses are happy. I'm sure people such as Zanger have very happy horses too. So all is good.
 
Pale Rider said:
Ahh, its the fault of Parelli, should have known really.

What zangersheide has written is far from the norm on most yards BB. If you behave like that with your horse I support you, but not many do.
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I find I am usually in the minority on yards who behave the way I do with my horses and it does cause people to isolate me at times, because they think I am 'weird'. I am very normal and can be very firm if my horses are walking all over me, if they are being impatient and getting ahead of me they get backed up until they walk at my pace, they soon learn its going to take longer to get to the field if they rush and try to control me, just because i don't continually smack my horses for just being horses doesn't mean I am soft. But they get lots of praise and strokes and of course kisses. I love my horses, why would I always want to be bullying them and smacking them, for one its extremely exhausting for me :confused:
 
Fluffy Bunny/Bunny Huggers do not understand anything about how to keep and treat animals, correctly and fairly, for their own good. Nor can they see any need to curb certain behaviours or situations - firmly if necessary.
 
zangersheide said:
I find I am usually in the minority on yards who behave the way I do with my horses and it does cause people to isolate me at times, because they think I am 'weird'. I am very normal and can be very firm if my horses are walking all over me, if they are being impatient and getting ahead of me they get backed up until they walk at my pace, they soon learn its going to take longer to get to the field if they rush and try to control me, just because i don't continually smack my horses for just being horses doesn't mean I am soft. But they get lots of praise and strokes and of course kisses. I love my horses, why would I always want to be bullying them and smacking them, for one its extremely exhausting for me :confused:
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I too insist my horses lead nicely etc. Like you I do correct them and as you say that doesn't mean hitting them or worst of all, for a horse imo to understand, let them drag me one day and then expect them to walk 'nicely' the next. Being consistant is I believe something humans fail at and horses very quickly get confused and behave accordingly. I know this because I wasn't consistant with the basic rules myself once over. :D
 
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