How do you get a ten year old horse over being afraid of white plastic rolling across field, for instance?
2006-11-08 04:31:45 · 8 answers · asked by troubled 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
A similar method that Jennifer mentioned worked with my mare. I could not clip her with out sedating her and using restraint. I couldn't make any type of buzzing sound without her flipping out. Finally I bought some cordless clippers, turned them on and set them on a ledge directly over her feed bucket and it worked like a charm and only took about a week. Just try leaving white plastic all over the place where he can't go anywhere without seeing it. In his stall, in the paddock, in the aisle way........................
Good luck!
2006-11-08 06:56:46 · answer #1 · answered by wmponygirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I watched a Clinton Anderson show where he did almost the same thing Sarah mentioned, except instead of rubbing the plastic all over the horse, he dragged the plastic in front of the horse. This got the horse to follow the plastic, almost chasing it, which in his mind, made him bigger and badder than the plastic. Once the horse had no problem chasing the plastic bag, Anderson began rubbing him with it.
With my mule, I just left a big tarp in the paddock and put his grain bucket on top of it every feeding. He either had to step on it or go without dinner. Once he was unafraid of stepping on it, I'd carry his grain bucket around the paddock and drag the tarp behind me. Didn't take long before he was picking up the tarp and dragging it around himself. ;)
2006-11-08 13:01:36 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is no joke, i herd this from a race horse trainer. By a couple of chickens and put them up with the horse a night. Chickens are flighty animals and always jump around. Your horse will get use to the movement and will start to become more calm. Also working him around obstacle courses with tarps and cones and moving items will help a lot. This will take time. Just be patient with him.
2006-11-08 13:38:37 · answer #3 · answered by iwishiwasrich 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the key to despooking is familiarity and consistancy. With my young horses, I tie bags to the posts in the corral. It's there all the time, they get used to it. We do the same with tarps, hoses, etc. We have cats, dogs and chickens, so they are used to all those too. My horse saw a turkey on a trail ride and was fascinated. I couldn't get her to look away, but she didn't spook.
2006-11-08 13:03:48 · answer #4 · answered by horsinround2do 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a bag on the end of a long stick and rub it all over him and show him that its nothing to be scared of. If you arent scared when you see the plastic bag or (big scary thing) your horse wont be as scared. Every time you see something you think your horse is going to be scared off you probably tense up and wait for his reaction. If your not scared he shouldnt be either. Try www.parelli.com
2006-11-08 12:43:04 · answer #5 · answered by sarah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wouldn't sugjest the chicken idea. my old stable had chickens, and they could go in and out of the stalls as they pleased. well my horse doesn't like chickens and trampled the poor little thing.
try to tie the bag up in his stall or paddock. let him live with it all the time. bring treats to him from the plastic bag. when you shake a plastic bag around my horses they come running because they get carrots from it.
2006-11-08 20:41:00 · answer #6 · answered by iluvmihorse12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hire an animal behaviorist who specializes in horses.
2006-11-08 12:39:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i don't know
2006-11-08 12:37:17 · answer #8 · answered by ret802@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋