What a roller coaster! But I am SO delighted.....

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having gone from hopeful and optimistic on Friday to doom-and-gloom on Saturday, J's owner has just phoned to say she has made the decision that I can have him on permanent loan :) :) :) :)

So full speed ahead to an exciting 2018, I cannot wait :D SO excited :D

PS - if anyone has any good tips on stamping out occasional bargy behaviour I would appreciate it! I have really been trying for the past 18 months but it doesn't seem to be working - e.g. he is stroppy about having his feet picked up, he tries to barge out of the stable if I am not careful, he can be almost nippy about having his rugs changed..... he appears to have got away with it in the past! I have really really tried to set clear parameters of behaviour, reprimanded him for what is wrong and praised for what is right - he doesn't seem to care?
 
Great news. Really felt for you reading your weekend plans update.

My mare used to be bargy, and is now much better (but I got her fairly young so maybe easier to fix).
I am very consistent with her, I handle her the same way every time. Pick her feet out in the same order, at the same point in the routine, and she now holds them up for me (I now risk creating a new issue if things aren't done 'right' so beginning to mix it up a wee bit).
With the door barging I found that grooming her in the box, tied up, with the door open has really helped. Now I can get her to stand on the threshold and not move until she's asked. Probably not technically correct, but it's worked!
I've found that telling her off is counter productive - she's much better being set up for success. She wants to do the right thing which helps.

Hope you have an amazing 2018 with your boy.
 
Thanks McFluff that is really helpful - I'm used to the very polite and well behaved competition horses on the yard now, and I want J to be like them :D Really helpful about telling him off as well, I shall make sure I only praise

And thank you very much, I am so looking forward to 2018 :) :) :)
 
How lovely for you, lots to look forward to and plan for now that you know he is yours.

A bargy rude horse is either one that knows no better and has never been reared properly, that will need re training, or a properly brought up horse who has got topsides of a nervous or novice owner, that one will need a good taste of Mr Blue Pipe delivered at the right time.
 
Fantastic news :D

With barginess/ being a bit 'lobby' (thats what we call it :D ) consistency is absolute key.

I found doing a bit of groundwork in a dually or similar was really useful to set some boundaries.
 
LeannePip said:
Fantastic news :D

With barginess/ being a bit 'lobby' (thats what we call it :D ) consistency is absolute key.

I found doing a bit of groundwork in a dually or similar was really useful to set some boundaries.
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Then keep the boundaries rock solid. I bought in a young mare a few years ago that was rude beyond belief both in hand and loose in the field/stables. I am not used to rude horses so was not at all impressed. The mare had been correctly broken but then found herself in novice hands and she ran riot with her lovely owners. Her tricks included biting the thigh of anyone getting on her from a block, snapping her teeth at face level as she was tacked up, brushed or rugged and absolutely refusing to have her legs touched which was a bit odd as she would pick her feet up and place them in my hand with a voice command.

She has turned into a gorgeous mare now, thrives on strict boundaries and has become much more confident and calm, she actually needed 'putting in her place' with clear and consistent handling and rules to make her a happy horse.
 
I think it is mainly down to his adoring owner not being firm enough with him for the first 6 years of his life - she has said to me that he was getting above himself at 3, and it doesn't seem he has learned much. It is odd, he is an absolute sweetheart in so many ways, I think it genuinely is that he doesn't realise such things are 'wrong'

When being ridden he does try very very hard to please, and he can look worried sometimes if he thinks he isn't getting it right - I think more positive reinforcement is needed for him, much as I am tempted to give him a clip round the year sometimes he really doesn't seem to understand that

And thank you all for your lovely comments, I am on cloud 9 tonight :)
 
How exciting! So pleased to read that, I'm another who really felt for you on the weekend thread.

A lady at the yard did some groundwork with her own mare and transformed her, and she now helps other owners on the yard to do the same. I think it was Warwick Schiller's approach that she followed. The difference in her own mare was amazing, probably took about six weeks to get from very bargy, ignorant and distracted to watching her owner's body language, respecting her space and also being less spooky under saddle (she still has her moments when hacking alone though!).
 
Lévrier;13686681 said:
Thank you all very much :) :) I am still delighted, but increasingly frustrated with this silly snow - go away snow, I want to ride :D :D
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Hey, quit wingeing, Lev, you did a FUN RIDE on Saturday (I still find that to be incredible)!!

Seriously, I'm delighted that Jensen's loan has been made permanent, this is great news. The thaw has finally arrived so you should be able to crack on very soon, woo hoo!
 
Lévrier;13681433 said:
if I am not careful, he can be almost nippy about having his rugs changed..... he appears to have got away with it in the past! I have really really tried to set clear parameters of behaviour, reprimanded him for what is wrong and praised for what is right - he doesn't seem to care?
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I trained my horse Bob to put his head over my shoulder while I did the two front buckles of his rug up he could not reach to bite then. A couple of grooms have commented how sweet he is to want a cuddle when they rug up. I did not scare them by telling the real reason for this behaviour
 
Tiddlypom said:
Hey, quit wingeing, Lev, you did a FUN RIDE on Saturday (I still find that to be incredible)!!

Seriously, I'm delighted that Jensen's loan has been made permanent, this is great news. The thaw has finally arrived so you should be able to crack on very soon, woo hoo!
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LOL this is true - but, being me, I want to do another one now :D :D Snow is still ankle deep in the school tonight, so hoping it might have gone enough by tomorrow - I'm going to take my riding kit to work in hope :)

Sorry to keep repeating this, but thank you everyone for your replies, I very much appreciate them :) :)
 
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