Why do some people just not discipline their horses?!?

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Sophstar

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I know everyone has a different kind of relationship with their equine friends and everyone tells them off/disciplines them in different ways but why do some people just let their horses get away with anything??!

Watching one lady on the yard today grooming her gelding and he spent over 20 minutes kicking his front leg against the stable as he wanted his food NOW but he didn't stop because she just kept saying 'nooooo' in a quiet voice. Another lady who lets her stroppy mare rub her face all over her sending her flying and moving round whilst tied up knocking her here there and everywhere . Respect people...teach your horses some!
 
I think sometimes you just have to look in the other direction and let them get on with it - so long as you are not having to deal with the horse/own the stables its damaging (eg working on a part/full livery yard with it) it doesnt really matter! I just ignore the way people handle their horses unless they ask for help as its not my place to judge and dont want to come across as a bitch or make people dislike me! :)
 
My pet hate!! I cannot stand rude horses. Mine are always the most disciplined on any yard we've been on and people always comment on how polite and well behaved they are. They are by no means the 'not allowed to breath'
 
My pet hate!! I cannot stand rude horses. Mine are always the most disciplined on any yard we've been on and people always comment on how polite and well behaved they are. They are by no means the 'not allowed to breath' sort of disciplined and do have freedom but little things like standing still when tied up, waiting for feed etc are very much 'drilled' into them.

Gosh, I sound so strict and horrible now!! :D
 
my horse rarely gets told off, maybe called an ******** when he moves as i'm bandaging but that's about it, he knows the rules and never argues them.

my one pony needs to constantly be put in his place, he is bolshy and can be very rude, if i drop my guard with him he walks all over me, literally sometimes. he knows the rules but pushes it everytime.

my other pony gets told off when he does wrong, he's young and learning but he's also a sensitive boy, if i go in hard on him then he WILL come back at me, if i 'explain' he's done wrong and correct him firmly then he responds. hard to explain really but hopefully you will understand what i'm saying.

i've seen many rude horses and i can't understand why they are allowed to get away with things, then i hear the owner talking as if it's their baby and find they make excuses all the time for their horses behaviour.

i've seen owners get dragged by their horse and again make excuses instead of correcting it but then complain that they have rope burn/bruises from them.
 
Not sure what is more irritating the constant banging of a rude horse kicking something or the constant accompanying and ineffective nooooooooooo, ooooh you are naughty etc..........
 
My pet hate is the concept of horses being 'rude'...

I have left a yard after I was overdosed on this peculiar idea

I don't think my horses have read Debrett's, and I'm pretty sure they communicate in the only way they know how without being terribly well versed in human etiquette
 
horseless jorge! said:
I definitely agree. It only takes a couple of sessions of telling your horse off after rubbing on your to get them to stop. Maybe the owners feel loved when they act like a scratching pole? :p
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The woman that does let her mare do this literally spends most her time saying 'my baby girl, ur sooo gorgeous'...the same mare that won't be caught half the time, refuses to step foot out of the yard without an argument and barges her way through anything including all the goddam electric tape:mad:

I think some people assume they are being 'mean' if they tell their horses off for not respecting a human's space and just doing what they want:rolleyes:
 
I can't stand horses not having even the simplest of manners (Like not backing off when you go to enter their stable/barging etc) but other than that it's their own choice whether that want to let it rub on them or not. It's just as annoying to have on owner shouting at their horse every 5 minutes because it moved slightly when they are trying to groom it than it is to have the horse banging IMO.

BUT when I got my horse on loan a year ago his manners were shocking, they're now a lot better. However he still paws when he's been tied a while or he's being tacked up and bangs at the door (First thing in the morning/Feeding time/If he has to stay in). And TBH I don't shout at him/tell him off, I don't react at all….He's doing it because he wants attention, so I just ignore it and carry on with what I was doing.
 
Frumpoon said:
My pet hate is the concept of horses being 'rude'...

I have left a yard after I was overdosed on this peculiar idea

I don't think my horses have read Debrett's, and I'm pretty sure they communicate in the only way they know how without being terribly well versed in human etiquette
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Couldn't agree more! And I like my boy rubbing his face against me, genuinely!
 
My horse is perfectly polite. But I let him rub his head on me. If I am going to put a bridle on him, and a bit in his mouth, I see it as only polite of me really! He doesn't knock me flying though.

He would never ever intentionally kick, bite or barge me though. His most annoying habit is neighing to his mate at shows, but I can't stop that :mad:

The vet always comments on how polite our horses are and I take that as a massive compliment from him :)
 
Frumpoon said:
My pet hate is the concept of horses being 'rude'...

I have left a yard after I was overdosed on this peculiar idea

I don't think my horses have read Debrett's, and I'm pretty sure they communicate in the only way they know how without being terribly well versed in human etiquette
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I don't expect my horses to understand the nuances of human ettiquette, but I do expect them to stand when they're told, not to kick the door, barge past, pull when being led, kick out, pull their feet away when being picked up etc. I don't expect them to know this instinctively, they're trained by persistence and firmness - not violence - but they will be reprimanded if they knowingly break the rules...
 
Frumpoon said:
My pet hate is the concept of horses being 'rude'...

I have left a yard after I was overdosed on this peculiar idea

I don't think my horses have read Debrett's, and I'm pretty sure they communicate in the only way they know how without being terribly well versed in human etiquette
Click to expand...

Agree with this! I don't want a characterless horse. So long as it is a kind temperament, safe (as in doesn't bite or kick or any other aggressive behaviour) then a bit of door banging and head rubbing is fine by me. I don't believe in squashing them into submission. Some of my horses are naturally polite, others (well only one) is in your face, but charming with it. Leave owners to enjoy their horses the way they like them.

I draw the line at horses becoming dangerous, or running riot dragging owners about, barging people etc as that affects others and is a safety issue. But a bit of head rubbing and pawing, not a problem. However, if an owner dislikes this type of thing and wants their horse to be faultless with their manners, then I will support them in the way I discipline their horse. It is their horse and my job to respect that. :)
 
This is one of my 'pet hates' people giving human emotions to horses.....they don't know they are being 'rude' to them another equine would be being friendly if they scratched an itch ( rubbing on you).
I know if I disciplined my horse she would not take kindly given that when I got her she was described as a lunatic and would not let anyone near her so I have spent years trying to gain her trust. And it isn't natural for a horse to stand still.... If they done that in the wild theyd be dead, so you are basically trying to eliminate the natural instincts of the horse.
 
Wagtail said:
Agree with this! I don't want a characterless horse. So long as it is a kind temperament, safe (as in doesn't bite or kick or any other aggressive behaviour) then a bit of door banging and head rubbing is fine by me. I don't believe in squashing them into submission. Some of my horses are naturally polite, others (well only one) is in your face, but charming with it. Leave owners to enjoy their horses the way they like them.

I draw the line at horses becoming dangerous, or running riot dragging owners about, barging people etc as that affects others and is a safety issue. But a bit of head rubbing and pawing, not a problem. However, if an owner dislikes this type of thing and wants their horse to be faultless with their manners, then I will support them in the way I discipline their horse. It is their horse and my job to respect that. :)
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Can Mollie and I come live at your yard please? :D
 
starsnrunes said:
I can't stand horses not having even the simplest of manners (Like not backing off when you go to enter their stable/barging etc) but other than that it's their own choice whether that want to let it rub on them or not. It's just as annoying to have on owner shouting at their horse every 5 minutes because it moved slightly when they are trying to groom it than it is to have the horse banging IMO.

BUT when I got my horse on loan a year ago his manners were shocking, they're now a lot better. However he still paws when he's been tied a while or he's being tacked up and bangs at the door (First thing in the morning/Feeding time/If he has to stay in). And TBH I don't shout at him/tell him off, I don't react at all….He's doing it because he wants attention, so I just ignore it and carry on with what I was doing.
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Well this is how I am . . . won't allow Kali to put others or himself in danger by being bargey, etc., but refuse to be "on his case" for basically being a horse. At our previous yard there was a livery who was always yelling, hitting and generally being aggressive with her horses - a) it actually stressed some of the other horses out; and b) it was disruptive and stressful for other liveries. I just think there are more ways to teach horses manners than shouting at them/being overly aggressive . . . and perhaps our expectations are a tad unrealistic sometimes?

P
 
Echo Bravo said:
Just read the post Do you shout at your horse.:D:D:D:D:D
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??? So not shouting always equals a badly behaved horse does it?

I'm not a fluffy bunny by any means, but I have discovered that shouting AT Kal doesn't work - winds both of us up and when he's stressed his behaviour is worse.

Doesn't mean I'm not firm with him, though. He leads, loads, stands well and stands beautifully at the mounting block (didn't when we first bought him). He doesn't bang his door, doesn't kick and has bitten only twice in the almost two years since we bought him. He isn't bargey, waits for his feed, lunges off voice commands. He has only tried to refuse to be caught twice - in the very early days and we nipped that in the bud. He does paw the ground when he's feeling impatient (been tied for too long, wants to go out, etc) and he does call alot in the mornings - but he doesn't get corrected for either - don't really see the point.

No, I don't shout at him - but it doesn't mean I'm not firm with him.

P
 
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It's difficult to draw the line between being firm and being harsh. I've never really had any problems with so-called "rude" horses; any I've had, and my friends' horses, have usually been pretty well mannered (with the odd off-day).

However I can remember a girl who was at a yard I went to, she got a lovely mare as her first horse (but had had ponies since she was tiny) as a teenager. The mare was fairly well mannered but could be a bit mareish at times, but nothing too serious.. anyway, the girl was pretty heavy handed with her, shouting, slapping etc and as the mare wasn't the submissive type (neither was the girl), she simply learned that baring her teeth, ears flat back, swinging her head around, turning her bum etc had the desired effect of getting the owner to p*** off.

The mare has since been sold on but retained this character and can be very difficult to work with on the ground.. but is fine with other horses and under saddle.
 
sheep said:
However I can remember a girl who was at a yard I went to, she got a lovely mare as her first horse (but had had ponies since she was tiny) as a teenager. The mare was fairly well mannered but could be a bit mareish at times, but nothing too serious.. anyway, the girl was pretty heavy handed with her, shouting, slapping etc and as the mare wasn't the submissive type (neither was the girl), she simply learned that baring her teeth, ears flat back, swinging her head around, turning her bum etc had the desired effect of getting the owner to p*** off.

The mare has since been sold on but retained this character and can be very difficult to work with on the ground.. but is fine with other horses and under saddle.
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It learning the difference between being aggressive towards horses and being assertive, horses are herd animals and we need to make sure we're leader of the pack normally through use of body lanuage.
Kicking the door etc I would also just ignore, they've learned that if they do this they get attention (either positive or negative), barging over people when handling them I don't allow however I tend to square off to them (there is a 17.3hh thug who sometimes ends up getting a slap but he's so thick skinned he barely feels it!!!).
We've got people on our yard who make problems for themselves, very mareish horse that doesn't like getting her girth done up, so they yank it up and then the mare tries to bite/kick them, I tack it up and gently put the girth up a hole at a time, still get faces pulled but no biting.
My mare is very well mannered on the ground to the point that the kids can bring her out her stable and deal with her (under supervision and with stools at the side so they can reach), if it every comes to a contest of strength who do we think will win?
 
DragonSlayer said:
I sellotape my horses to the floor, they don't move then....
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roflmao.gif
 
Tbh, I'm not bothered, as long as I don't ever have to deal with said horse!

Brought friends mare in once, barged into stable and nearly shoved me to Timbuktu by rubbing it's head on me... Certainly not allowed!
 
sheep said:
It's difficult to draw the line between being firm and being harsh. I've never really had any problems with so-called "rude" horses; any I've had, and my friends' horses, have usually been pretty well mannered (with the odd off-day).

However I can remember a girl who was at a yard I went to, she got a lovely mare as her first horse (but had had ponies since she was tiny) as a teenager. The mare was fairly well mannered but could be a bit mareish at times, but nothing too serious.. anyway, the girl was pretty heavy handed with her, shouting, slapping etc and as the mare wasn't the submissive type (neither was the girl), she simply learned that baring her teeth, ears flat back, swinging her head around, turning her bum etc had the desired effect of getting the owner to p*** off.

The mare has since been sold on but retained this character and can be very difficult to work with on the ground.. but is fine with other horses and under saddle.
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I find it most effective to be calmly assertive with horses, not loud, aggressive, or heavy handed which only makes some horses more stubborn. Be like a good parent, firm but fair. The best horsey advice I ever got was, "Stay out of the horse's drama." If my mare is throwing a fit, I try to deal with it calmly instead of getting into an aggressive battle of wills. Patient assertiveness is more effective than slapping and screaming at her.

Yesterday, she planted on the drive when I wanted to hack her out. I just kept calmly squeezing her with my legs and telling her to go forward. After about a minute, she did and was calm and well-behaved for the rest of the hack even though it was a very windy, spooky day. If I had whipped her and screamed, she would have only been more stubborn and determined to get *her* way. Instead I try the Zen approach.

In the stall if she tries to rub her head, I calmly push her away.

I think some owners and handlers get so aggressive because their human ego is on the line. They think others will think less of them if they don't make a huge show of bullying their horse into absolute submission.
 
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