<snip Petra wondering if it was an obediance problem>
Quote:
>I don't know as I have never had a horse that was barn sour, or had to deal
>with one. I wrote the above more as a topic to explore rather than as actual
>advice. If the horse is obedient it won't do this kind of thing, basically.
>Yes ? No ? Maybe ?
I can tell you my story. I was 12 when I got my first horse, who was
22 at the time (supposed to be younger . . . oh well, she evented,
competitive trail rode, and hunter paced through her late 20s, jumped
into low 30s, and trail rode and baby sat 'til her death at 38).***
had been a strong willed, abused horse. She stood in the stall with
her ***to the door and her ears half back, she had NO pasture
friends and was Boss Hoss at all times, and she was a bolter and barn
sour. Ahh, to be 12 again . . . I loved her to death, of course.
I "cured" her of bolting by canter so much that she got bored with it
and stoped running away. Canter isn't that exciting with some stupid
kid who goes, OK, lets go, then. And keep going, after you are sick of
it. The bolting disappeared never to return about 8 months after I
bought her.
The barn sour thing . . . well, I just would stop and get off and
stand there, waiting for her to get bored and start eating. Once she
was grazing, I'd get back on and let her keep grazing. Then we'd sort
of shift around to point towards home. Then we'd start walking and
picking/snatching grass. As soon as she started to rev, I'd start all
over again. By the end of our first year, she would walk or trot or
canter when faced towards home quietly (I used to not be able to trot
or canter AT ALL any time our path curved to face home--the whole last
1/2 of a ride had to be at walk).
To her dying day I let her snatch grass on the fly (she wasn't to stop
and eat, once we fixed jigging and bolting all the way home). I know,
I know, shouldn't let horses eat while riding, etc. I've never let any
of the other beasts I've owned or leased or trained for people do this
. . . but, hey, it wasn't a bad solution for an 8th grader/freshman in
high school!
The longer I had her, the happier, more relaxed, and more obediant she
became. I think all that barn sour stuff is directly tied to general
obedience and managment practices. Even an obediant horse, if alwatys
blasted home, will start to anticipate take off!
eileen morgan
The Mare's Nest