This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > level one Parelli Clinic [...] with Adel [...] > but have a real problem! If she is taken out of the corral (no grass) to > my driveway parking area (grass) where I groom and tack up the horses, she > is absolutely obsessed by the grass, and once she gets her head down I > think I could beat on her forever and she pays no attention. [...] > She is quite respectful of my body language IN the corral [...] > but get her out > where there is grass and that is all she can think of. [...] > Is it even POSSIBLE to get their attention even with grass underfoot? I > guess I should work her in the corral so she at least knows what I am > asking, understands it at least..any other suggestions? > > Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, frustrated by the Fjord grass obsession!
Yup, that's a Fjord, alright! My first reaction would be to put a bag over her mouth. Years ago, I gave up trying to trail ride Sleepy without an anti-grazing device in place. In his youth, he had done 3 summers of pack- and dude-string work, and was firmly convinced that he was supposed to refuel enroute! We had long-running battles---I tried pulling his head up, smacking his neck with a crop when his head started down, etc. Eventually, I made him a light mesh bag that fit over his nose and mouth, with slits around the bit. Once he figured out that, when he was wearing it, grass simply wasn't going to make its way into his mouth, he mostly quit trying, and became much more pleasant to ride. As for leading, I had to keep him on a VERY short lead, and watch him closely. If his head dropped even slightly, I'd warn him (Ah-ht!!!) and lift on the lead rope. I could lead him thru almost any grass; my husband (who persisted giving him a long rope, and was too-often oblivious to the precursors to grass-diving), kept getting his arm jerked out of the socket, when Sleepy crashed to a halt and stuffed his face with grass. Anyway, you might try putting a grazing muzzle on her for a few lessons, at least until you can get across to her that you are in charge, in all situations. Good luck! Marsha Jo Hannah Murphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon
