Horse Training Success

Well tomorrow the votes get counted and the winning horse tip is chosen. Today we have a few more to choose from for your enjoyment. With today's tips you'll be able to approach your horse, pick up his feet and feed him 3 different medications....




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I acquired a young mare to add to my broodmare band, a three-year-old. She was a beauty, and I was thrilled to get her. A couple of days after I got her home, I went to give her what would become her daily grooming routine - tied casually outside the run-in of her pasture, I curried and brushed her thoroughly, combed out her mane and tail, and started to clean her feet. When I went to pick up the first front foot, she resisted slightly, allowed me to pick it up - then suddenly sat back against the lead, pulling so violently that the snap gave!

At first I thought something had spooked her; her feet were in excellent shape, obviously she'd had good farrier care, so I started again. Again - she slammed back against the lead, this time breaking her halter and sitting down from the violence of pulling back! Well, this was definitely not going to work - they must have used a tranquilizer on her for previous hoof work, but I was NOT going to do that!

So. . . .she went into a smaller paddock where I could control the feeding environment and not worry about other horses. My horses all received grain twice a day, in a rubber feed pan on the ground. Every time she was grained either my husband or I stood next to her feed pan, and worked our way around handling her legs. We did not put a lead on her, so there was no resistance to leaving if she wanted to, but in order to get her grain she needed to tolerate having her legs and feet handled. We took it slowly at first - just getting her to allow us to rub her legs. Once she was comfortable with that, we began asking for her feet - actually teaching her from the start to 'give' us her foot rather than us reaching down and 'taking' it. She became quite good, although the first few times we actually had a farrier out, she was still untrusting and one of us would have to pick up her foot first; then she'd allow us to 'hand her over' to the farrier. She actually ended up being one of the easiest to work with, because once she gave a foot, she never tugged or pulled, or did any of the aggravating things that some horses can do.

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I give my horse bute daily due to a right front strained tendon that left permanent damage and other leg bone problems. He has had this one bute daily for at least 10 years. To make it simple (and I have tried everything) I ended up using applesauce. He loves it, I can buy it readymade in store, it has no added no sugar and is inexpensive.

I put one bute in the bottom of a cup and add just enough water to barely cover the bute - depending on the brand of bute it takes 5 to 15 minutes to dissolve. Then I add about 3 oz applesauce and stir with a spoon. He gets this every evening on top of his sweetfeed. I just pour and rake the cup out in the middle of his grain. Not a speck is wasted. Simple.

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We have a lovely cob, standardbred. Rescued. She was obviously on regular worming program in the trotting stables, so any sign of a worm tube or similar she becomes a nervous wreck. We tried mixing the paste with her favourite foods, oat balls, but no way. Our breakthrough came when our 9 year old suggested hollowing out the core of a carrot with an apple corer, filling it with paste then sealing it shut. It worked a treat.

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To get a horse to eat a pill, put each one in a raisin. He will swallow all of them.

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I recently adopted a wild Kiger Mustang colt from the Bureau of Land Management. He is a yearling and when I said wild, I mean WILD!

I started working with him immediately, multiple times a day. Short, sweet lessons to make contact without tiring him out. One thing I wanted to do was to be able to just touch him, without grabbing his halter or short catch rope. I had caught him enough with the rope to rub and touch him and had learned his "spot" that he loved to have me itch, without restraint. Now I wanted to be able itch that spot without "catching" him first.

Day after day I would go through the same routine, reaching out with my open palm, as if I held a cookie or apple in it. He would tilt his head and eye my open palm and duck away, every time, time after time, after time!

Now I have always known and taught that a Cougar is the horses enemy and how we ride on a horses back, initiates the Cougar flight or fight instinct in a horse. All of a sudden, my little Mustang and his reaction to my open palm, turned a light on in my brain. I immediately made a light fist, offered it to him, and he stood like a rock while I reached his "spot" with that closed hand, and then scratched. I was so excited! Break through!

We also have a mare who at some time in her life, has been abused. She has little trust for humans, even after years of only good things in her life. She also is very hard to touch, without catching first. I rushed out to the pasture, sidled up to her and offered her my fisted hand, instead of my open hand, and she stood while I petted her. A first in YEARS of owning her.

Such a simple thing to figure out after a lifetime (60 yrs.) with horses.

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