Horse turns skittish

[HAY MAKER]

Msage,run the free loader off,and let that horse regain her confidence,just leave her alone for how ever long it takes for her to tell you she is fine,and if you caint listen understand a horse,find someone that can,that's my advice,Leave her alone tell she tells you she is fine,if I had the time ...................
good luck

[mrj]

I hope this is not the case, but is there any possible way she could have been exposed to rabies?

Unusual behavior is one of the symptoms, and if she should suddenly die, it would be well worth the cost and the worry to have the brain tested.

An area veterinarian just had a story about some 'near misses' on diagnoses of diabetes in various animals which could have caused people their lives had they not been discovered in time. There is limited time between exposure and treatment in humans and no recovery is possible if not treated in time. It seems being overly cautious if NOT overly cautious!

mrj

[JF Ranch]

MsSage,

I don't think you have much of a problem with Holly, so don't make more of it than it actually is.

Your friend is obviously over her head with her horse and she needs more training than her horse does! I'll bet that she has learned just enough from RFD-TV to be dangerous and doesn't understand how to get past snapping a whip.

She is doing much more harm than good, so she either needs to leave or at least discontinue her so called "training". That's for her horse's benefit as well as yours.

It sounds like your horse has a nice disposition and I think she will come back to where she was if you work with her correctly. I agree that if she's not sound, you will need to get her over that first.

There is nothing wrong with ditch riding or trail riding. Remember that long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training make a useful horse. If you can't put long rides on her, work her harder while you're riding, so that she gets a good workout. Keep in mind that you need to get her to do the correct things at the same time you are riding the trail. Clinton Anderson will give you good ideas about what you can do on the trail to train while you ride.

While I think Clinton is excellent, there are others who are probably just as good. I would definitely recommend that you get his DVD's (or one of the other good trainers). He is an excellent teacher and by viewing them repeatedly, you get something more from them each time. If you feel that you are over your head, you can always find a professional to help you.

If the DVD's seem too expensive at his website, you might check places like ebay for a bargain.

Again, there's nothing that can't be fixed so don't worry about Holly being ruined.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Horse are kinda like kids.....they don't come with instruction manuals....

But most of the time with patience and persistance you can work thru their problems. Or more accurately their "people" problems. Not every horse is the same...altho basic training works on them all.....some take longer than others to grasp a concept. Just as people do. Some have to be reminded more often than others until they 'get it'.

We've got one now that is an extremely slow learner. From one day to the next every ride is like, "You want me to do what???" Yeah dude....I"m askin you to do the same thing you did yesterday!!!!! But his blood lines we've been told by numerous people that have them...that that's how they are...but one day the light comes on and the get it. He's fixing to be traded for something else most likely just because he's not progressing at the rate Amanda wants him too....(she doesn't have the patients for his crap) And that's not a bad thing. Some people and horses just don't click. And if it's not a match....you find somethin else. So we have a friend that really likes this horse....that has a grey gelding we will be goin to try out this next week.....hopefully they'll get along. We've had this horse for 2 years....so it's not like we are just givin up easily...it's been a long hard road to this choice of trading him.

Oh...and there's nothing in the world wrong with asking for professional help. If it can make things easier or safer in the end.....that's the route to take.

[Faster horses]

As I told Mssage in a PM, we are lucky that good horses are very
forgiving. I've seen them save peoples lives and often times,
that person didn't even know it.

[MsSage]

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]