This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Okay Mary Ellen, here is a story. You say listen to your horse and I surely
do agree. In this case there was such an odd reaction I wonder what was
going on. My large Holsteiner, I helped birth her and she is now 9, was
waiting in her stall for her food. when I come out the hay door everyone
knows they go to their respective stall. As I stepped into the stall with
an armload of hay I tripped and fell, rolling as I do to prevent serious
injury. The mare was absolutely panicked and pressed against the wall with
eyes rolling and there were loud snorts. I was afraid she would forge over
the top of me in her panic as I was right in the doorway. I had difficulty
getting to my feet and she continued this hysterical manner until I finally
got a leverage up and then she went to her hay as if nothing had happened.
What kind of horse psychology is that? It was a first for her but she is an
alpha mare and rarely panics?
Jean Gayle
Aberdeen, WA
[Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter ]
http://www.techline.com/~jgayle
-Original Message-
From: Mary Ellen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: fjord horse digest [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Saturday, May 29, 1999 10:51 AM
Subject: dominant mares bears
This message is from: Mary Ellen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This is from Mel Thomas
Due to some switching around, skinny (more slender) mare chubbier
gelding, we have switched pastures around.
Our dominant mare is by herself, with our gelding little appy mare in
another pasture, withinin sight sound. The alpha mare couldn't care
less, the other two are devistated. They cannot settle down, call at all
hours of day night, and run the common fence line. (This is the 4th day)
I've heard the alpha mare call once or twice, (probably saying GET A
GRIP), but she's not even remotely concerned. Actually, I detect a smirk
when the others call for her. She's eating, but her eyes squint like she's
laughing at them.
We will be separating them for at least two months, so hopefully, the 'two
horse herd' can gain some confidence learn to live without her.
Interestingly, when we ride the horses together, there is no dominant
horse. Each one will lead, follow, or get out of the way, depending on
what the rider wants, We have always ridden them away from each other, as
well, to encourage 'riding confidence'. They're young yet, 4 5, but it
does seem to make a difference.
BTW, we do have some little brown bears (or maybe their black, but they're
small) here on the west side of the Cascade mtns. In Washington. I have
run into them while riding other breeds. An old appy QH mare looked
waited for me to decide what to do. A very experienced QH gelding looked
the situation over said let's get out of here. Both times I trusted
the horse's instinct. If you listen to your horse, they'll normally let
you know what response should be taken.
If we were trail riding with one of my fjords (even though they are young)
they told me they were uncomfortable doing something, Believe me, I'd
take a second look, too. They are so honest, willing, that if they said
something wasn't right, I'd take a closer look. They have taken my husband
(a novice), I (experienced rider but novice mountain rider) on some
trails I didn't trust, but they did. And they told us not to cross a
narrow bridge with out looking, and we found a very, very slick dangerous
footing.
Instill trust, learn to trust, listen to your horse. ( keep a cow bell
handy)
from Mel Thomas
Snohomish, WA - (A Little Way North East of Seattle) where the sun is
shining, its glorious weather, I had to have a little surgery can't
ride or drive, or even work my horses for another month. I'm going stir
crazy not having my fjord fix daily. (Though I can see them outside the
house. But my husband - rightly so - has forbidden any hand contact!!)
Keep those stories coming. I can at least live vicarously through the rest
of you!!
