My friends horse, Sadie, has been through a big change. Her previous owner comitted suicide a while back and she was put out to graze. Now she is owned by my best friend. We always have trouble saddleing her up because she gets ancy and rears up a bit. We think she's a sad horse because her ears are always back and she's got that depressed look in her eyes. Do any of you know anything about natural horseman ship? And if so what should we do so that she calms down so we can get a saddle on? (by the way~ she's a wonderful horse when we go on trails and she never acts up apart from the saddle)
2006-11-12 22:57:44 · 16 answers · asked by Charlie H 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
We spoild her lots lol... be gice her soda! lol (she's a junk food addict) lol
2006-11-12 23:08:51 · update #1
Horses do miss the people, things and other animals they get used to but I would guess thie horse is uncomfortable with the tack or the method used to saddle her. And there are 'cinchy' horses that toss their heads and lay their ears back when you tighten the girth even though everything fits and you are doing it right.
Providing he has no physical problems - sore back, rib cage etc, see the following website for good tips on happy saddling...
http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechSaddling.html
2006-11-12 23:24:32 · answer #1 · answered by digitsis 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd have a vet look at her first. The odd look in her eye and the problems saddling could very well be pain. Ears being back are a sign of anger/discomfort. Have the vet do a full exam to rule out any possible physical causes.
I would not even try to ride her or do Natural Horsemanship on her until you know why she's so unhappy.
I'd also change how you & your friend interact with her. Instead of the goal being to ride her, why not bring her in and just groom her well. Try Clicker Training -- it's fun, and it's safe even for a horse who might be hurting somewhere. Don't make every interaction with people that she has be one of work/discomfort.
Look closely at the saddle and how ti fits her. If she's horrible for tacking her up but she's ok once someone is on, I'd wonder if her saddle wasn't hurting her. The pain would start as soon as the girth is tightened or the rider hops on -- and so the horse learns to associate tacking up with pain. One thing I've noticed is some people tend to use too-narrow of a saddle and that will cause pinching. Unfortunately if she's been ridden regularly in a painful saddle, it may take awhile for the pain and bad associations to fade... don't expect an instant fix if you try a different saddle. There are professional Saddle Fitters who can help you with this.
Best of luck!
2006-11-13 07:31:01 · answer #2 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very unlikely that rearing while being saddles has any relation to depression.
There are 3 possible causes for her rearing about the saddle:
1) Back pain
2) Saddle does not fit properly or the tree is broken
3) Behavioral.
Ears pinned is not generally a depression sign-- its agression, frustration, annoyance, etc. Depressed horses are more listless than anything, and their ears would generally stay to the sides and not perk to look/listen at things.
First run your hands all over her back and push and massage and see if you get a reaction on anything. Pick up all four feet (one at a time) and stretch and move and see if her back 'scrunches up' like it hurts.
Then have someone help determine that your saddle fits properly and that the tree is not broken. If she bucks at all this too could be a sign of a poor fitting saddle.
THEN you can work on retraining her. Take it slowly. Put on the blanket, walk her in a circle, put on the saddle, walk her in a circle, tighten the cinch, walk her in a circlet, etc. Do it slower, pet her, talk to her, etc.
2006-11-13 04:43:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She probably does miss her other owner if they were close at all. But that is not cause for her actions. If she had lost a foal or something I'd say yes. Depending on how long she has be left just to graze she may have come to like not having to work and she has a little bit of a fit at saddle time to try to get your friend to just give up. My mare did the same thing to me. I had been kicked 4 years ago and where she was I was no longer comfortable with the other peoples horses and of course she got pregnant a few times. Well we moved her and for the first month she was the exact same way. dances around got really nervous. Worked her back into it slowly. Have your friend when she ties her up to brush her really good talk to her, comb her, Clean her hooves. Just spending the time talking to her will help calm her. Bringing her in to just do this is a great way to teach her to be still when saddling. Also will make a bond between your friend and Sadie. She will be come more comfortable with your friend on the ground so to speak and believe it or not she will forget the previous owner.
Her ears are always back because she is paying attention to a noise behind her. Watch her ears and then watch her eyes. except when pinned to bite or kick, her eyes will be in whatever direction her ears are. That will tell you just what she is looking at and paying attention to.
2006-11-12 23:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer R 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think she is depressed, I think this behavior is just acting out to see what you will tolerate from her. I think you should tie her in cross ties or to a pole and do nothing but put the saddle off and on her. If she rears up give her negative attention to let her know that's not allowed, if she acts good praise her. She may also think if she does this you won't ride her so she gets her way. I would also check the fit of her saddle to make sure its not pinching or binding anywhere which may hurt her and cause bad behavior.
2006-11-13 06:26:13 · answer #5 · answered by ann 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadie I wouldn't say is depressed however Horses do love to be brushed, Groomed, given Apples and Carrots, the reason she isn't letting anyone on her or having a hard time putting a saddle on her is because she doesn't trust the both of you, you're both new to her. One of my friends has a adopted horse that was abused and she showed all the signs as Sadie does, so gain her trust first and show her your not going to hurt her, it takes time to gain trust just doesn't happen right away.
2006-11-12 23:05:22 · answer #6 · answered by Jamie W. 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She is cinchy. You need to retrain her to saddle. Take some time to work with her on despooking. Work your way up from just placing the blanket on her to then adding the saddle. Remember natural horsemanship works on the premise of pressure and release. When you saddle her and she rears up you are applying pressure but not releasing it. I would suggest to you, finding a professional trainer that can retrain her.
2006-11-13 02:18:59 · answer #7 · answered by dlcranch 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try sitting out with her, let her approach you and reward her. Be patient. Let her come to you and know you are there for her benefit. Don't just visit to ride her. Spend lots of time spoiling her, rubbing under chin, behind ears, brush her lots and keep her coat and feet meticulously clean (and oil feet) Horses like to see different areas without being ridden too. Walk with her on a trail and let her enjoy it. Does she have stablemates? She might be lonely.
2006-11-12 23:03:46 · answer #8 · answered by De 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes, i do know about natural horsemaship.
go the the yahoo group parellinaturally for information. please, please, please look into it!
this horse NEEDS someone to speak her language. i promise you, if you get going with natural horsemanship, you will see big changes!
go to www.parelli.com and read a few of the articles on the site. there's one on why a horse's ears would be back all the time and it will answer your questions.
really, natural horsemanship will help your friend's horse tremendously and i guarantee you will see changes.
2006-11-13 13:48:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it's not the saddle itself that is making her skittish, but the way that you are approaching her.
Try a different approach. Be confident so that she doesn't pickup on any nervousness you have yourself.
2006-11-12 23:07:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋