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MrsPig

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Just found this forum, had a lot of things planned this morning but I have been browsing thru' postings so not done much (my greyhound is looking very fed up!). It has been reassuring to see that even really "horsey" people have same sort of problems as me.

Quick resume of my situation - moved to France 3 years ago, my husband who is really the "horsey" one, works one week in England then one week here throughout the year. We brought our 2 horses over from England (16 yr TB mare and 23 yr Anglo/Arab mare). They live out all year at a farm few mins from my home. My problem is (got to be one) I look after the horses a lot of the time but find it difficult because the TB is soo... highly strung. She needs to have cream put on her white socks each day & also have extra feed but she is very difficult to manage - very strong and just drags me about - no respect! I have thought about giving her calmer in her feed to make things easier for me. The vet gave us Vetranquil to give her when she is being shod, I think it is ACP and it says you can give it every day - does this sound like a good idea to make things a. bit easier for me? Thanks for reading - any suggestions greatfuly received!
 
Hiya welcome to the forum :)

(I'm afraid your greyhound will have to get used to it, as spending hours mooching on HHO is a common complaint :p )

As for your horse, you may need to ask someone a bit more experienced with calmers I'm afraid, but I think ACP and other sedatives are normally given for a particular task (eg shoeing) as it quietens them right down but wears off quite quickly. It may be more beneficial to feed a magnesium supplement to your mare as this will calm her whole outlook, so more useful for daily handling etc.

:)
 
Hello and welcome - is there noone over there who could give you a hand or even exercise her to take a bit of the edge off? I think she must sense apprehension on your part and is being frankly unhelpful. I am only guessing, but if she has discovered she doesn't need to cooperate then she is plainly being rude and needs reminding about manners.

I'd be tempted to say she needs to do a bit of Parelli - but you get into awful trouble on here for that!
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Hello and welcome!! :D
I agree I think it's best solved by getting someone more experienced to help you handle and train her to make her more manageable :)

And uh oh brighteyes, not the Parelli debate again :D :D :D
 
Thanks for replies, I think you are right about her needing work, my husband (she is his horse) says that he will spend more time with her when he is here.
Sadly no experienced horsey friends here to help out! Unfortuately I don't hold out much hope of her changing a great deal as we have had her for 10 years and even when she was ridden daily she was always "difficult" She is very strong willed but I think some of her problem is she gets stressed about things and that was why I was thinking about ACP or other calmer to make it easier/safer for me to handle her each day. Any thoughts about that?
 
Hello and welcome *waves madly*

Do you use a pressure halter? I find that one of those and a long rope have made life so much easier with horses that have the potential to be a pain :).
 
Hello and welcome.
Funnily enough, my first day here was an all day'er! I was hooked straight away, I had discovered somewhere I could talk about horses all day, I posted so much in that first day!
Have calmed it down a bit now :D
Hope you enjoy the forum :)
 
Hello and welcome!

I'd vote for a magnesium based calmer in her feed - ACP isn't designed to be given on a daily basis and I'd be concerned about that level of sedation on a daily basis.

Mrs M's advice re a pressure halter is a good one - worked wonders on my bolshie mare!

Good luck
 
Hi and welcome :D
I would get your hubby to give you some lessons on handling her, I don't think a sedative is the answer. She has just figured out what she can get away with, if your attitude towards her changes then she will change too.
Get him to watch you with her and point out what you are doing that is giving off the wrong signals.
 
wellcome - we are a friendy bunch.

Agree with comments re ACP & Pirellei or Natural Horsemanship (Monty Roberts et al) both will work if followed to suit yo and your horse.

You could also try reducing feed to a high fibre/no or low molasis content. I have found this works when horse has become to opinionated. Also adding magisium supliment to feed can help i.e. Nupafeed, Naff Magic. Good luck.
 
MrsMozart said:
Do you use a pressure halter? I find that one of those and a long rope have made life so much easier with horses that have the potential to be a pain :).
Click to expand...

Hello and welcome!! I am a newbie too.

just want to echo MrsMozart and say that my friend has had excellent results with a pressure halter and long rope. I get the impression her boy has learnt that he can make up his own mind as to how he wants to behave but the way she is suggesting is likely to be the most comfortable and easiest!!
 
Hi

ACP is a very safe drug and CAN be used daily if required, until a horse's behaviour/circumstances improves, for very long periods if necessary. The only issues (apart from cost) are that horses will gradually metabolise it faster (so dose may need to be increased over time to get the same effect), it takes 45-60 minutes to reach full effect which may not be convenient and is no good for bringing the horse in from grass, and a period of excitement or stress will cause adrenaline release which will make the drug less effective as it works on adrenaline receptors.

MUCH better to educate the horse not to do it in the first place - use firm but quiet/kind and CONSISTENT handling - and the use of something to give you more control - a bridle, a headcollar and chiffney (clip lead rope to both - dont ever use chiffney on its own - the headpieces break and it may fall off and can be too severe if the horse pulls back hard), or (less effective in many cases) a pressure halter. Be patient and be prepared to take your time if bad behaviour starts. Stop and only proceed when they are walking to hand properly. Try and make sure you always win in the end! Horses quickly learn what they can get away with and it can take a very long time to unlearn that.

A long soft lead rope (10ft or so) may help if she tends to rear, but make sure you have it under control so you and she cannot get tangled in it. Lunge lines can be used but are generally too long and the thin nylon ones will cut your hands.

NEVER wrap the rope around your hand or arm and a single overhand knot in the end of the rope will stop it being pulled out of your hand in most cases. gloves are helpful - but use thin ones so you can still "feel" the horse through the rope. Stand at the shoulder, hold the lead close to (but not by) the clip, walk with your right arm up in a horizontal position so your elbow is at the level of the base of the jugular groove. A prod with your elbow there will check forward movement and can be used with pulling the rope round to make her bend round you to the left - and avoid her turning away from you and getting away. If she goes up - take all the pressure off by slackening your long rope - until she has come down, then quickly get control by taking up the slack again. DONT under any circumstances pull back - she may catleap towards you or pull the rope out of your hands and go over backwards.

Many calmers are a waste of money for most horses and wont work in extreme excitement - there is some scientific rational for Magnesium to reduce anxiety,but epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) are the cheapest way to provide this.

At these ages you would hope they would no better but that's horses!
Best of luck and dont get hurt!
 
Hopefully after two and half years MrsPig's horse will either be used to having the cream on or not require it any longer:)
 
hello and welcome to the forum

a coupe of questions;

what is the mare fed and how much daily?

does she get worked at all?

does she get tuend out? if so for how long/often?

is she pushy with you leading/picking out feet/fed times/all the time etc etc?
 
Oh God another one. This thread was started in June 2010, it's probable that the problem no longer exists, and extremely doubtful that MrsPig will be back after her four posts.
 
Nope, it would appear to be someone new making their first post. And a very long informative post at that, but sadly W A Y too late. MrsPig only made four posts on the forum in total.
 
WebLeC said:
Hi

ACP is a very safe drug and CAN be used daily if required, until a horse's behaviour/circumstances improves, for very long periods if necessary. The only issues (apart from cost) are that horses will gradually metabolise it faster (so dose may need to be increased over time to get the same effect), it takes 45-60 minutes to reach full effect which may not be convenient and is no good for bringing the horse in from grass, and a period of excitement or stress will cause adrenaline release which will make the drug less effective as it works on adrenaline receptors.

MUCH better to educate the horse not to do it in the first place - use firm but quiet/kind and CONSISTENT handling - and the use of something to give you more control - a bridle, a headcollar and chiffney (clip lead rope to both - dont ever use chiffney on its own - the headpieces break and it may fall off and can be too severe if the horse pulls back hard), or (less effective in many cases) a pressure halter. Be patient and be prepared to take your time if bad behaviour starts. Stop and only proceed when they are walking to hand properly. Try and make sure you always win in the end! Horses quickly learn what they can get away with and it can take a very long time to unlearn that.

A long soft lead rope (10ft or so) may help if she tends to rear, but make sure you have it under control so you and she cannot get tangled in it. Lunge lines can be used but are generally too long and the thin nylon ones will cut your hands.

NEVER wrap the rope around your hand or arm and a single overhand knot in the end of the rope will stop it being pulled out of your hand in most cases. gloves are helpful - but use thin ones so you can still "feel" the horse through the rope. Stand at the shoulder, hold the lead close to (but not by) the clip, walk with your right arm up in a horizontal position so your elbow is at the level of the base of the jugular groove. A prod with your elbow there will check forward movement and can be used with pulling the rope round to make her bend round you to the left - and avoid her turning away from you and getting away. If she goes up - take all the pressure off by slackening your long rope - until she has come down, then quickly get control by taking up the slack again. DONT under any circumstances pull back - she may catleap towards you or pull the rope out of your hands and go over backwards.

Many calmers are a waste of money for most horses and wont work in extreme excitement - there is some scientific rational for Magnesium to reduce anxiety,but epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) are the cheapest way to provide this.

At these ages you would hope they would no better but that's horses!
Best of luck and dont get hurt!
Click to expand...

Ok no probs hello new poster Weblec
 
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