Well maybe not accidental, but certainly not formal targetted training.
A combination of little things that I've noticed after someone's comment about him not biting anymore made me look at the overall changes in Luka's behaviour on the ground.
Biting, or even just nipping, has never been a problem with me but was in his last home. Someone last week, who knew him then, was watching him on the yard and asked how I'd manage to beat that out of him when no-one else had - I think the comment probably explained the cause of the problem and I did say that to the person
. It seems he did properly bite, drawing blood and ripping clothes, but I suspect it was largely in self defence with maybe an element of getting in first if he saw an action as threatening. He was late gelded and can be a bit mouthy but that's all I've ever had from him and I don't think the staff at the pro yard he was at a few times ever had an issue either - good calm handlers though who dealt with individuals not what they felt a horse should be.
He's so much braver/relaxed around people he doesn't know well. He's now chilled about them putting a headcollar on and leading him, though it's best they do it his way ie use the throat clip and lead on a very loose rope. Bribes, although welcome, are no longer needed. I'll only ask quiet people to handle him though, no big body language or egos are wanted and I'm also not sure how well I'd trust him with someone nervous, I think he'd be quick to take control though maybe kind enough to humour them anyway.
The rearing in the yard has pretty much stopped. Now maybe I'm better trained at paying him attention when he's in, but I think now he's also more confident he doesn't need me there to look after him and so my walking away isn't an issue. We may still get the odd one when the farrier comes, but if we do it's at the start and then he settles. Likewise the strike out with a front is now rare - pawing may take longer but is no longer so frantic that I used to wonder if he had some tunnelling animal in his breeding
Standing still seems to be improving too, sometimes helped by a few pony nuts if he thinks I'm talking too long. Interestingly though he will park untied to be untacked, go figure
Getting cream on hind heels is now an easy job, initially it would involve kicking out and later moving away, now the most he does is lift the hind when I start and I think that's because if he isn't paying attention he thinks I want to hoofpick him.
He hasn't broken away when tied up for ages, that's quite a saving in leadropes.
He's generally a lot calmer in the stable as long as another horse is in sight. I don't tend to do much with him inside though except change rugs, and if other people are doing him I tell them to do that outside. If he's wound up he still has a tendency to barge out the door and again people are warned it may be best to put the headcollar on over the door. I do wonder if he'd be better in an outside box rather than the barn, but the indoor ones are cooler in the summer and have better airflow all year.
Some things don't change though. Dragons and tigers still exist and must be pointed out at every opportunity. Mud and puddles are to be avoided whenever possible, getting those white socks dirty is a no no in his mind and there have been mornings I've took his headcollar off and then pushed from behind! Any quick moves near his head, or someone he doesn't know going to his face, show he's still headshy, but given the beating comment that's hardly surprising, likewise he doesn't like having his face brushed despite collecting mud behind his ears.
I think it shows how much horses change with just day to day handling and attitude. Yes he's bright and picks up on things quickly if it makes his life easier, but that can be a problem in itself if not used well. Now I don't worry about asking others to handle him but I will always remember his attitude to his owner the first time I saw them together and it was not nice - I was glad I'd seen him on my own first and made my opinion then but even so it made me wary of who I asked to cover for me forquite some time and was why I paid a small fortune to send him back to the pro yard if I was away.
A combination of little things that I've noticed after someone's comment about him not biting anymore made me look at the overall changes in Luka's behaviour on the ground.
Biting, or even just nipping, has never been a problem with me but was in his last home. Someone last week, who knew him then, was watching him on the yard and asked how I'd manage to beat that out of him when no-one else had - I think the comment probably explained the cause of the problem and I did say that to the person
. It seems he did properly bite, drawing blood and ripping clothes, but I suspect it was largely in self defence with maybe an element of getting in first if he saw an action as threatening. He was late gelded and can be a bit mouthy but that's all I've ever had from him and I don't think the staff at the pro yard he was at a few times ever had an issue either - good calm handlers though who dealt with individuals not what they felt a horse should be.He's so much braver/relaxed around people he doesn't know well. He's now chilled about them putting a headcollar on and leading him, though it's best they do it his way ie use the throat clip and lead on a very loose rope. Bribes, although welcome, are no longer needed. I'll only ask quiet people to handle him though, no big body language or egos are wanted and I'm also not sure how well I'd trust him with someone nervous, I think he'd be quick to take control though maybe kind enough to humour them anyway.
The rearing in the yard has pretty much stopped. Now maybe I'm better trained at paying him attention when he's in, but I think now he's also more confident he doesn't need me there to look after him and so my walking away isn't an issue. We may still get the odd one when the farrier comes, but if we do it's at the start and then he settles. Likewise the strike out with a front is now rare - pawing may take longer but is no longer so frantic that I used to wonder if he had some tunnelling animal in his breeding
Standing still seems to be improving too, sometimes helped by a few pony nuts if he thinks I'm talking too long. Interestingly though he will park untied to be untacked, go figure
Getting cream on hind heels is now an easy job, initially it would involve kicking out and later moving away, now the most he does is lift the hind when I start and I think that's because if he isn't paying attention he thinks I want to hoofpick him.
He hasn't broken away when tied up for ages, that's quite a saving in leadropes.
He's generally a lot calmer in the stable as long as another horse is in sight. I don't tend to do much with him inside though except change rugs, and if other people are doing him I tell them to do that outside. If he's wound up he still has a tendency to barge out the door and again people are warned it may be best to put the headcollar on over the door. I do wonder if he'd be better in an outside box rather than the barn, but the indoor ones are cooler in the summer and have better airflow all year.
Some things don't change though. Dragons and tigers still exist and must be pointed out at every opportunity. Mud and puddles are to be avoided whenever possible, getting those white socks dirty is a no no in his mind and there have been mornings I've took his headcollar off and then pushed from behind! Any quick moves near his head, or someone he doesn't know going to his face, show he's still headshy, but given the beating comment that's hardly surprising, likewise he doesn't like having his face brushed despite collecting mud behind his ears.
I think it shows how much horses change with just day to day handling and attitude. Yes he's bright and picks up on things quickly if it makes his life easier, but that can be a problem in itself if not used well. Now I don't worry about asking others to handle him but I will always remember his attitude to his owner the first time I saw them together and it was not nice - I was glad I'd seen him on my own first and made my opinion then but even so it made me wary of who I asked to cover for me forquite some time and was why I paid a small fortune to send him back to the pro yard if I was away.
