Image is being bad! ( a little long) sorry!

gingerfleguel · 05-15-2006, 10:16 PM

Well hes not bad at home...its when we go to shows. I went to my first team penning this weekend....he did great in the pen, but while we were waiting, he behaves badly. I pen with the owner that I bought Image from. She uses his mom (confusing) so they have been apart for over 9 months and they still remember eachother. Now when we are in the warm up area...Image wont leave her side...when its time to go into the penning area...he freaks out and my friend had to walk out in the penn with momma just so he would follow. HOw embarassing. NOw the dangerous part, when any other horse comes around his "mom" he gets really mad and he will attempt to turn his butt around and kick them. I put a red ribbon in his tail...but i feel so bad because i cant ride near anyone without the fear of kicking them. Any suggestions as to what i can do to correct this? I guess he is just looking out for his mom, but after 8 months of being apart you would think that they would forget eachother huh. I havent tried riding without his mom there, but maybe that would make a difference. Any suggestions would be great!

**taelesean** · 05-15-2006, 11:42 PM

Horses have extremely long memories.....I've heard of horses remembering people and horses they haven't seen for as long as 20 years or more.

From the sound of it, he needs some more groundwork, learning to trust and respect you as his leader, and to build confidence in himself. These will only come with time and experience. I'd definintely try going to a few pennings or other shows where his mom isn't present. That way he'll be less distracted by mom and will actually become more confident in himself.

OSUJillyBean · 05-15-2006, 11:47 PM

You may also want to try using him as a "Lawn chair" bring him to the shows, sit on him, don't compete. Let him learn what showing is all about without the stress of having to compete.

**gbarmranch** · 05-16-2006, 05:36 AM

You can try tying him to the trailer, too, at his "Mom's" house when you go to just visit - and leave him there for a while... that way he learns that he can't always get what he wants and if he throws a temper tantrum too bad! I agree with the ground work too - he is showing you a lack of respect when he is around his mother, and that is only going to get worse if it isn't caught now!!! Love Clinton Anderson's answer to most everything training related for behavior issues!!! Very similar to the way we always worked ranch horses, most of which had never been touched until they were two. If it can work well on those guys, should really help with your horse - he is already almost there!!

gingerfleguel · 05-16-2006, 07:18 AM

Image had been to tonnes of shows before I bought him. He just seems to be very aggressive towards other horses. Even when his "mom" was team penning in the arena...he would whinny for her and kick up a fuss because she was gone...as soon as she came back he was fine. He just seems to really hate other horses. So I do tie a red ribbon in his tail, but the warm up ring is always full of horses so there is always that worry in my head that he is going to kick a horse. Thanks for the advice and I know I am really going to have to work on this. The comment about sitting on him as a lawn chair....When not competing I actually sat on him all day watching the whole competition.

ToveroMom · 05-16-2006, 08:06 AM

Absolutely tie a ribbon to his tail.
Until you get his behavior ironed out at competitions your main concern is going to have to be watching him like a hawk while you are working with him. Other riders and horses cannot be put at risk.

horses19201 · 05-22-2006, 02:53 PM

Maybe you could try making him work when hes near mom. Like backing or circles. Then let him relax hen hes away from mom.

Sorry for any typos its been a long day.

05-15-2006, 10:16 PM
gingerfleguel Kid Safe Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 5,494	Image is being bad! ( a little long) sorry! Well hes not bad at home...its when we go to shows. I went to my first team penning this weekend....he did great in the pen, but while we were waiting, he behaves badly. I pen with the owner that I bought Image from. She uses his mom (confusing) so they have been apart for over 9 months and they still remember eachother. Now when we are in the warm up area...Image wont leave her side...when its time to go into the penning area...he freaks out and my friend had to walk out in the penn with momma just so he would follow. HOw embarassing. NOw the dangerous part, when any other horse comes around his "mom" he gets really mad and he will attempt to turn his butt around and kick them. I put a red ribbon in his tail...but i feel so bad because i cant ride near anyone without the fear of kicking them. Any suggestions as to what i can do to correct this? I guess he is just looking out for his mom, but after 8 months of being apart you would think that they would forget eachother huh. I havent tried riding without his mom there, but maybe that would make a difference. Any suggestions would be great!

05-15-2006, 11:42 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	Horses have extremely long memories.....I've heard of horses remembering people and horses they haven't seen for as long as 20 years or more. From the sound of it, he needs some more groundwork, learning to trust and respect you as his leader, and to build confidence in himself. These will only come with time and experience. I'd definintely try going to a few pennings or other shows where his mom isn't present. That way he'll be less distracted by mom and will actually become more confident in himself. __________________

05-15-2006, 11:47 PM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,116	You may also want to try using him as a "Lawn chair" bring him to the shows, sit on him, don't compete. Let him learn what showing is all about without the stress of having to compete. __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen

05-16-2006, 05:36 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	You can try tying him to the trailer, too, at his "Mom's" house when you go to just visit - and leave him there for a while... that way he learns that he can't always get what he wants and if he throws a temper tantrum too bad! I agree with the ground work too - he is showing you a lack of respect when he is around his mother, and that is only going to get worse if it isn't caught now!!! Love Clinton Anderson's answer to most everything training related for behavior issues!!! Very similar to the way we always worked ranch horses, most of which had never been touched until they were two. If it can work well on those guys, should really help with your horse - he is already almost there!! __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

05-16-2006, 07:18 AM
gingerfleguel Kid Safe Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 5,494	Image had been to tonnes of shows before I bought him. He just seems to be very aggressive towards other horses. Even when his "mom" was team penning in the arena...he would whinny for her and kick up a fuss because she was gone...as soon as she came back he was fine. He just seems to really hate other horses. So I do tie a red ribbon in his tail, but the warm up ring is always full of horses so there is always that worry in my head that he is going to kick a horse. Thanks for the advice and I know I am really going to have to work on this. The comment about sitting on him as a lawn chair....When not competing I actually sat on him all day watching the whole competition.

05-16-2006, 08:06 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,784	Absolutely tie a ribbon to his tail. Until you get his behavior ironed out at competitions your main concern is going to have to be watching him like a hawk while you are working with him. Other riders and horses cannot be put at risk. __________________ In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. Aaron Rose

05-22-2006, 02:53 PM
horses19201 Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 681	Maybe you could try making him work when hes near mom. Like backing or circles. Then let him relax hen hes away from mom. Sorry for any typos its been a long day. __________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup ~Maggie~