i recently bought an un"broken" mare and have been working with her a lot. i rode her for the first time yesterday and again today. she bucked a bit the first time but now she is fine. i have been training her myself and things are going splendidly. my only problem is when is comes to putting a halter on her or a bridle, she will not stop moving her head and rubbing me while i try to buckle the chin strap and what not. she has no problem taking the bit, she doesn't fight me on it, it's just with the buckling of straps. i am sure that i am not being rough with her and eventually i get them closed but it's a nuisance...can anyone help me?
2007-01-20 06:22:48 · 10 answers · asked by Angel R 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
This isn't an acceptable behavior for your horse display. Many people will say that it's your horse loving on you- but the truth is this is an aggressive behavior which you need to have her stop. It'll start off as soft, but then she'll get harder and harder until she starts knocking you in your face with hers.
Here's an easy non abusive solution. The most important thing I can tell you is not to bop her nose- this creates headshyness, a hard to catch horse, and a horse that raises her head at you everytime you go to bridle her.
The next time she goes to rub on you place your hand spread out behind her ears- about an inch from the poll. Start rubbing the two knots or pressure points you find back there gently until she moves her head away from you and starts dropping her head down. If she doesn't drop her head add more and more pressure until she does. The minute she drops her head let go of the pressure. Each time she goes to rub on you do this. And pretty soon she'll respect you as her alpha leader that she won't rub up on you anymore. This also works if you have a horse that bites or nibbles on you.
2007-01-20 07:26:17 · answer #1 · answered by silvaspurranch 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
For rubbing her head- that is what she wants! You are rewarding the bad behavior!
Most likely she is trying to help you- a lot of our horses try to "assist" you because either they are eager to get it off, or eager to get going. My mare will still do it every once and a while when putting the bridle on if I haven't ridden her in a while.
Or she may also have an itchy spot.
As to what to do: give her a poke ONCE and say no or quit it. If she doesn't respond with a poke, give her a jab once and say no. After your jabs/pokes- give her a haughty/angry look directly in her eye- shows you are dominant and won't tolerate the behavior. Your horse will most likely look away immediately from that look- when she does- quit it. She should get the hint quick enough- horses do it to each other in the pastures all the time.
This method works for pretty much every behavior that you don't want. After working with a horse for a while- all I need is a mean look and they will stop the behavior (as long as they know they shouldn't be doing it). Works great.
2007-01-20 16:30:01 · answer #2 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean no more to that horse than a fence-post or a tree. This behavior is so disrespectful to the owner, and will cause training problems later. She is looking at you like you are lower than her, and her training won't go much further, because she will soon wonder why she is taking orders from a fence-post. Same way with people who let their horses back up to them and scratch their butts. DISRESPECT! The minute she bobs her head just a little smack her neck or her shoulder and say firmly, "NO!" Try to put the halter or bridle on again (it would be wise to do this in a round pen with a rope around her neck, so when you smack her she can't run away) If she does it again repeat. Take a day off from riding until you get ground manners. No horse should be started riding until they have good ground manners. If they don't who's to say they won't take you off on a wild ride? Definately not you, because you are just a fence-post, good for rubbing on. Take the bridle and/or halter on and off for about 30 minutes in the morning (take note, do this on a day you can spend all day with her) everytime she even starts to bob her head and rub on you smack her and say "no!" Only for about 30 mins in the morning, then walk away for about an hour or so, do laundry, brush up on some training videos, then go back out and repeat the lesson for another 30 minutes. Repeat this until the evening. Remember, just take it on and off during the sessions. When you get it on lead her once around the pen, then take it off. Don't let her rub on you, make her keep still. once she is still rub her shoulder or neck to let her know that your touch can also be loving as well as firm. Repeat these lessons over a saturday and a sunday. One day after the other. Then on your last session of the last evening, go ahead and tack her up and work with her a little bit, only about 20 minutes, then dismount, and unsaddle her, then unbridle her. If she rubs, smack and say no. Then put it back on her and if she rubs, you know what to do. Just follow up with it after the ride for about 10 minutes. Once she finally has that, you can lead her around, take it off, put it on, without her rubbing, then you can restart her saddle training.
2007-01-21 00:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like you need to give her a little bit of attention first before trying to put on or take off the halter or bridle. It appears to me that she wants some attention. I see it as a way of showing you some affection.
2007-01-20 17:38:31 · answer #4 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to put her in her place and show her who is boss. She is trying to turn you into a "push over" by getting away with this antic that is not being corrected. She will continue to do and it will become a vice that may never be corrected if not nipped in the bud now!
Don't slap her in the face or on the head, but give her a smack on the neck and say "NO!".
2007-01-20 20:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by Lotsa Lops 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rubbing her face on you is a sign of disrespect, she's looking at you as a "peer" instead of alpha. This has to be discouraged. Some may think this is unkind, but a few good swats at the jaw when she tries it usually stops it after 4 or 5 times. She probably also has an itchy face after working, a nice brushing with a soft brush as a reward is also a good idea.
2007-01-20 15:36:09 · answer #6 · answered by Kris P 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Shes trying to rub her bridle off.Cause she thinks you wount get it on fast and she doesn't want to go, she rubbs on you.Just give her a smack on the shoulder when she does it and she will probably smarten up.Don't hit her to hard or you'll be looking for a new horse from the broken trust. Good Luck!
2007-01-20 14:48:10 · answer #7 · answered by powerraceygirl 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When she rubs you, play with her lips. Generally, horses dont like that. She should then come to associate rubbing you with something she dislikes.
2007-01-20 14:55:15 · answer #8 · answered by QueenA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your horse has no manners. That is one thing that I work on with all my baby's is to respect my space. I learned all this from Clinton Anderson. He is an awsome horse clinician. I highly recommend you check his website for some further information about ground work and horse respect.
2007-01-20 15:03:34 · answer #9 · answered by Southern Country Girl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Silvaspur gives 100% correct advise and he deserves the Best Answer. . . I give him a thumbs up.
2007-01-20 16:09:06 · answer #10 · answered by Just Q 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋