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More reader submitted horse tips. Yet again, there's too many good ones today. These ones are detailed and worth the read. Enjoy!
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I have a pony who was constantly and severely shaking his head. I had the vet out twice to see what is wrong. According to the vet it could have been ticks in the ears, because you couldn't get close or even touch his ears. Then the vet dosed him, and we have cleaned out his ears with a liquid, which didn't make a difference. We then tried something else and have put some tick grease in and on his ears, which didn't make a difference. The vet eventually gave up and said that this is a very unusual situation and that she couldn't get to the problem and didn't know what to do. I have phoned everyone I possibly could, like horse breeders, horse trainers, horse hospitals, other vet and doctors, everyone who thought that might be able to give me advice. Everyone had their own opinion of course, but I have listened and thought about all that was said.
I immediately taken AJ out of the sun and kept him in his stable for a week (He was sun burned and therefore sensitive for the sun. Note - this pony has pale skin). We gave him a nice bath and also dipped him, cut the hair that might have irritated him on his ears and in his face.
After day 1, I could already see a difference and that he was not shaking his head so much anymore.
After day 2, he almost been back to normal again and stopped the head shaking.
Day3, He was happy again and in the shade all the time (in his stable), no sun that can burn him. I now when we take him out, we put sun-block on his face and ears, cream for skin irritation and buzz-off for the flies etc. I am still looking at the possibility to design a cap for his head, which will give him shade over his face and ears, keeping his head in the shade when he is ridden.
It would have cost me a fortune if I had to take him to a horse hospital, which was an option an my next step that I would have taken).
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Sticking with the "win them over with food" theme, here is what I do on trail rides. I throw a few treats or carrots in my saddle bag. Whenever we encounter a bike rider or hiker they usually want to stop and look at our horses. I ask if they would be willing to give my horse a treat. People usually enjoy doing that.
The benefit is when we come upon something potentially scary on a ride my horses ears go forward in perky anticipation instead of fear and they start thinking "treat dispenser" almost immediately.
Recently we passed hikers with large back packs and the horses never even seemed to notice, they were so focused on a possible carrot. I don't know if there are any potential drawbacks to this method but so far it has been fun.
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One of the most common ways a horseman will greet a new colt is by walking
up, and letting the horse smell their hand. Many sources say that you should do this with your fingers curled, palm down, because then your hand looks like a hoof, instead of a claw.
However, I have noticed that when you are in the round pen with a new horse, and when you are first trying to get the horse become comfortable with your presence, lifting your hand towards the horse has a tendency to make the horse move away.
After several times of this, all with new horses, I began to wonder just why that was. Then the answer was obvious.
Let's think of it in horse terms. Yes, your hand can resemble a horse's hoof, but have you ever watched new horses meet? How often do you see a new horse walk up to another with a hoof in the air! If you did, you would probably have a stallion battle on your hands!
Raising your hand towards the horses nose is an act of dominance. If it is your old gelding who already trusts you, well then it wouldn't be a problem. If it was a stallion, and you were trying to establish control in the round pen quickly, I would do the same thing again. However, what do you do with a calm horse that you have never met before?
Have you ever noticed how a new horse will walk up and gently breathe into the nose of another? They gently smell each other.
Instead of marching up to a new horse with you hand out, maybe next time try walking up, with your hands in your pockets (or behind your back if you do not have pockets), and gently "breathe" into the horses nose. Notice I did not say "blow". Blowing into a horses nose is an act of aggression. Instead of trying to make the horse smell you, just walk up and gently breathe into their nose. Let them smell you... "Then" gently reach your hand up to their nose, let them see that you will not hurt them, and then you can continue on.
Just an old Western Whisperer Tip
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This tip was told to me last year after i had my horse for only a few weeks. My mare became impatient waiting for her food to be delivered, impatient to be haltered, just plain impatient about me in general and would start pawing her stall floor or gate, which was really annoying and bad mannered.
The tip I was given on how to correct this problem was to back her up 2 times anytime she gets impatient. It must be 2 times and she will quit. I did not have to go into her stall to do this, I just made myself appear bigger than her and she would back up. Well it worked for us and I have used this method a lot with other horses in the barn without even going into their stall.
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After buying my untouched, not yet weaned colt, I had to get real creative introducing him to different things. Knowing that I would be clipping pig hair, fetlocks and ears one day, I started early. To get him to ignore (and enjoy) the clippers, I bought a "personal vibrating device". I would put it in his feed bucket and then pour the feed on top. It made quite the racket but eventually his gut would win over the bumble bee in the bowl! Not long and he would move the "device" around the bucket with his nose no problem to get to all the feed. After he got used to that, I would rub it all over him. The first time I clipped him, he actually dropped his head and fell asleep!
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OK folks. Which one is today's favourite horsey tip? They're all great really... so leave a comment.
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