Sympathy required - and some lessons on "personal space"

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Cedars

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Evening all! Sat here with neck stiff as a board and a stinking headache, just got knocked flying by my youngster! I would recommend NOT standing directly in front of her whilst trying to teach her to walk over a hose. When she inevitably stands on it and it hisses, she WILL bolt forward, you WILL be in the way and she WILL run straight over you and you WILL smash your head on the floor! Been to A&E, all fine, just hurt ego mostly! Rookie error....

Anyway, after you've all stopped showering me with sympathy and hugs ;) I'm looking for some exercises that I can do in the school (or in the field but shes even worse in the field) to teach her the concept of "your space, my space". Those of you that have read my other posts will know that I'm working on getting her a companion, but until that happens (and it WILL happen, I promise, its work in progress) I'm looking for some things to do.

I'm open to ANY suggestions, so please don't feel ashamed if yours is parelli style or just bog standard! She likes to stand on top of me, she NEEDS to be near me constantly, and when I made her back up away from me today she ended up rearing and bolting round the field in excitement!

Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks xx
 
OUCH!!!!!!! My young mare did that to me last year and a goose egg on the back of my head. She started barging and trying to take off when I was leading her with a lead rope which of course was pulled through my hands, have sense now put leather gloves on. SO I started lunging her and she took off around my little areana(I use to breed pigs), let her go and just kept sending her on when she tried to slow down, till she was tired, caught her made a fuss of her and put her on the opposite rein, same thing happened. Went on for 4 days then it clicked with her. But at the moment I always lead her with a lungeline as 1) she never gets away2) I can pull her up with out my hands being torn to pieces.:):):):)
 
Oh no, I got sent flying (whilst pregnant) a fair few times by my cob youngster - she didnt seem to realise she couldnt just walk through me! I used a knotted pressure headcollar and a show cane, the headcollar gave me some control and i poked her with the show cane when she tried to walk over me lol, I didnt think it would ever work when my friend advised me to do it, but actually it worked a treat and we then bought a section a gelding who bought her into line in no time without being overly nasty lol! I have now sold her to a lovely family who were very impressed with her manners!
 
The biggest problem is that in the field she needs to be ON TOP of me. Literally, like stood on me, she stands on the poopascoop all the time!
 
Mine did this to me last October but there was two of the buggers to trample me !!

I'm still having my neck and shoulder fixed even now !!

They do seem to grow out of it a little but I have a lot of success with a Monty Roberts headcollar for backing up when asked, and for when they get bolshy being led.

Flicking the lead rope in their face if they get in my space seems to work too accompanied by stern words.

Hope you feel better soon and I would defo be getting a youngster a companion as a matter of urgency as it's really not fair to keep him/her alone.
 
Thats quite a good idea actually, my show cane...I didnt want to wave a whip at her cos I think she'd just go absolutely ape, but jabbing her with a show cane might work! She doesnt have a headcollar on in the field, and she is MARGINALLY better when leading. In our first show she did keep swinging her head into my stomach though!
 
My youngster was like that in the field too... stones in a tin, shook when she came too close worked, she ran off the first time but was then intrigued but they did keep her at arms length lol
 
Ooh now that IS a good idea! I dont want her to be scared of me, I just want her to p*ss off when i'm poo picking!
 
I would use lungeing every time! Good grief you poor thing, do hope you feel better soon. (((hugs)))

A gelding likes to get too close to me at my friends yard, I hate horses invading so I just walk up and push the shoulder groove and say back. I only did it twice and then when he tried again all I did was look directly at him and walked towards him. He doesn't come near me any more now and they can't work out why. Some people don't mind and just put up with it but I find it rude and so would other horses! If I was a horse I would have aimed my barrells at him long ago.
 
I did consider scaffolding to be an option! I did feel really bad though, she cut her coronet band a tiny bit in the process. Poor bubby =[ xxxx
 
Hot choccy and a very gentle hug!

Just lots of getting her to move her feet, and trying not to let her make you move yours :D.

If you want to get from point A to B and she's in the way, go direct, don't go round her. Take a lead rope and spin it like a propellor blade, it's great for getting neds to back up :D
 
I did try getting her to back up today and then she had a baby moment and went ape***** in the field! She also doesnt get that when I move her backwards I mean STAY backwards - she goes backwards and then forwards again to stand on me!

Thanks for hugs everyone! I do feel pretty pants. But my lovely OH just bought me pizza =] xxxx
 
Oh bless you...hope you're recovering! Youngsters, don't you just love them!

Can I use the 'Parelli' word without getting shot down in flames? The theory of becoming the dominant mare would seem appropriate here. You can use your body language to create a 'no-go' zone around you. There is one game in particular, involving a long rope on a headcollar (using feel and movement) to send your horse back and ask it forward again - at a refined level, you loose the rope and use your finger movement to send the horse back and call it forward.

Parelli has it's good points - it gives people a structure to work through and guidance of what reaction you are looking for and can be an asset if used with a good dose of common sense. I have a friend who uses it in a true form to a fair level, I personally found it a productive method for working arab colts and stallions (this is where the 'dominant mare' comes into play). I will add at this point that I do not practise parelli to the letter, it's just another technique you can use, or take parts from that helps develop your relationship with your horse.

I now have a 17hh+ ex racehorse who can become over excitable and sometimes needs a reminder that 5'1" of me is not there to be walked over. The reminder that works is one where I poke him in the chest with a finger, pushing him back and getting his attention, and then proceed to look like a right wally, in effect puffing myself up and pulling up my shoulders, setting my legs in a firm stance and pushing him further back by walking towards him but not touching him. It works and I believe it's based on dominance and submission. Horses want to be led, they just forget sometimes...!

Sounds a bit like the horse is attention seeking too....someone else suggested lunging, maybe some long reining, keep their little mischievious brain busy and maybe they'll be happier to be quiet and away from you a bit in the field!

Please recover and take all these bit of advice back to that field and figure out what works for you...bits and pieces of it all if you're anything like me!...the only thing I would say is that you shouldn't have to be rough, hard or mean to get the respect you deserve, and of course reward everytime they try to understand the funny language we communicate in!
 
PS - are you actively seeking a companion horse? Desperate friend is trying to find one for a small horse that will only ever be able to walk about, and not do much (not old) - very sad....
 
Alfies Slave - thanks for your advice, I wont shoot you down for saying Parelli! Could you explain more to me? In a PM if you'd rather not get eaten on here! I'm interested in ANY options.

The problem with lunging is that she's only a year old so far too young to be lunged. I was thinking walking her in hand round the villages etc might be good for her little brain but I dont want to risk taking her on her own in case she tries to bolt off and my OH works stupid hours so its a bit difficult finding time.

I want her to still love me and want to be with me but I need her to learn that this is MY space, back the ***** off! She's bent my poo picking rake this week after standing on it twice and then refusing to lift her leg! I was panicking I was gonna rip her foot in half so didn't know what to do!!! Would be very interested in that "game" - and any other suggestions for exercises that people have!

And Alfie - the problem I'm having is that during the summer, my mare needs to be on zero grass otherwise she gets obese, but the baby needs much more, so they cant be in together. As soon as the mare is back in work (kissing spines) and the winter comes so there is less grass all round, then we wont need a companion. Which is why its difficult! I need a companion horse to basically bully Puz as well - she needs someone who can genuinely raise a leg and pull faces and chase her away. Would be worried about putting an exciteable youngster in with a horse that shouldnt be doing more than walk. Would be interested to hear a bit more if they wanted some company for a month or two though?

Feeling much better today, whiplash caning but head is great. Thanks for the the hugs! xxxxx
 
My youngster used to barge at the stable door as soon as I opened it. Some very sage person recommended tying a plastic bag on the end of a stick and shaking it at him when he lunged for the door. It worked a treat both in and out of the stable. He's now good as gold with the added benefit that when I do start to ride him, he won't be afraid of plastic bags in the hedgerows.
 
There was a thing in H&H recently about a showing person who used a solid leadrope to teach youngsters to respect personal space. Essentially it's about 18 inches of broomhandle which attaches to the headcollar/bridle, with a rope on the other end for you to hold, you can use it to keep them at arms length and prod them away from you while leading.Not sure where you'd get one - you might have to make it.
 
Both interesting thoughts, thank you. Would be a bit worried about the stick injuring her but would definitely be worth looking in to it.

If she got used to the plastic bag, will she continue to move away from you though? I might start with the tin with stones and then move on to the plastic stick when it stops working!

Alfies Slave please reply! xxxxxx
 
I would recommend a Monty Roberts headcollar too, worked wonders on three of mine.

Have you tried an RA from Kelly Marks' Intelligent Horsemanship? If you look on their website you might find one near you and would only take one session to teach your baby about personal space.
 
When shes being led its not a problem so I dont feel I need a dually or similar, its only really in the fields (apart from the one time that she went to a show and that was mostly just excitement!

If things dont get better I will look in to getting a RA out xxxx
 
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