Sasha testing me!!!!

[ROMANY 1959]

Well since Monday closest I've got to her is a quick neck scratch, but no closer. Soon as she saw the roap round my neck she was off, well today Y owner went to see what I was on about, and the cow came to her straight away!!!! She is now back at the yard... What can I say!
She obviously knew YO was a pro and we were numpties....
Join up weekend... She is on smaller restricted field at yard, see how I do Friday when I go to catch her..

 

[trefnantblackknight]

My 13.2hh will only let people who don't ride him catch him .... I went to get him the other day I was stood maybe 5 feet from him with his bum turned towards me and do you know what he did.... he started to back up very fast towards me little B***ard

Good luck catching your pony Friday

P.S I have owned him for 10 years never mistreated him and he still won't let me catch him

 

[Clodagh]

I feel for you, not being caught is THE most annoying habit.
I had a horse who my OH could catch every time, but could I get within 20 yards!? No way. I had to get OH to go and catch him while I hid around the corner, and OH doesn't even like horses.

 

[Brightbay]

She's not testing you - sounds like she's not particularly bothered about you. She's just showing your YO that she likes her. Maybe you could build up some better associations from her point of view, and she'll come to you too

 

[Enfys]

Does your YO feed her? Fill her water trough etc, etc ? Maybe just go in and scratch her neck, talk to her and then leave again?

As a YO I know my livery horses a great deal better than their owners, I certainly get to know their habits and personalities when at grass better. It is no fault of the owner and no-one take this as a criticism please, it is merely because I am here all the time, and owners aren't - because they have a life.

I walk my fields daily, feed the horses, water them, give them a scratch and then walk away again, they do not associate me with anything other than that. I can appreciate that to an owner, when their horse walks up to the YO/staff etc in preference to them that it can make you feel left out.

I think Sasha is getting to know you, and you her, and she probably is just seeing how the land lies, different people give out different vibes. Your YO may have a no nonsense approach about her that could be more familiar to how Sasha is used to being treated. All my livery horses react differently to me than to their owners.

Give her time I am sure you will be fine together.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Does your YO feed her? Fill her water trough etc, etc ? Maybe just go in and scratch her neck, talk to her and then leave again?

As a YO I know my livery horses a great deal better than their owners, I certainly get to know their habits and personalities when at grass better. It is no fault of the owner and no-one take this as a criticism please, it is merely because I am here all the time, and owners aren't - because they have a life.

I walk my fields daily, feed the horses, water them, give them a scratch and then walk away again, they do not associate me with anything other than that. I can appreciate that to an owner, when their horse walks up to the YO/staff etc in preference to them that it can make you feel left out.

I think Sasha is getting to know you, and you her, and she probably is just seeing how the land lies, different people give out different vibes. Your YO may have a no nonsense approach about her that could be more familiar to how Sasha is used to being treated. All my livery horses react differently to me than to their owners.

Give her time I am sure you will be fine together.

This is just what YO does mon to fri!!!! I see the point, maybe having been with us just 5 weeks is not time enough for a bond yet... We do fuss her, groom and care for her all weekend and lots of weekdays after work and school, but yes YO does hays, waters, feeds, rugs ect...

 

[Enfys]

but yes YO does hays, waters, feeds, rugs ect...

... all the stuff that makes her comfortable with no feedback, or effort, from Sasha expected. It isn't that she dislikes you, just that, sorry, you are less important to her physical needs than YO . (Someone did say that already I know)

You have to find a meeting place where you provide things that Sasha enjoys and feels comfortable with that the YO doesn't, so that she looks forward to seeing you. Picking at long grass down the lane, going for a fun hack, out to parties, treats etc (I am all for bribery and corruption if it works and doesn't cause problems)

I have had this conversation so often with some of my Owners, especially those that work all week, or don't come often at all. Their horses all come to them, a lot of it is based on bucket love, but their relationship with their horses is not the same as mine, I am quite impersonal with them, and I try to keep it like that, I would hate anyone to feel that their horse preferred me to them