AboutRick Gore (www.thinklikeahorse.org) Expertise Visit Rick Gore's Horse Site: www.thinklikeahorse.org --I am a student of the horse. I can answer questions about sacking out (Desensitizing vs. Sensitizing), dealing with spooky, abused or ex-race horses, rearing, bucking, horses that won’t tie or load into a trailer, working in a round pen/round corral, starting colts, dealing with aggressive or so called "mean" horses, herd behavior, biting, kicking, horses that won’t let you mess with their feet or head, horses that are hard to take a bit and hard to catch. I can also answer questions about using a bosal or hackamore, do's and don'ts, soft hands and direct reining verses neck reining. If you expect me to tell you feel good advice, you will be disappointed. 95% of all my answers will include the problem is you and not your horse. About 90% of most answers that I give out are on my web site, so if you read it you will probably answer your own question and may learn a few other things. I am like Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen) and Simon Cowell (Idol), you may not like what I say or how I say it, but it will be pretty true and accurate, in my opinion, judging from my experience.
Experience I am an experienced horseman with many years of riding and handling horses. I grew up in Texas around horses and horse people. I have started colts, ridden many horses with behavior issues and worked with problem horses. (I believe that most horse problems are normally people problems) I believe in and practices natural horsemanship. I continue to read and study books by great horsemen. I routinely attends clinics, talks with and discuss horse issues with other clinicians and trainers. I have never met a horse that could not be fixed. I believe it is never the horse's fault and with proper handling, all problems can be worked out.
Education/Credentials Rick has life long experience in being around and working with horses. Over the years he has watched good horsemen do the right thing and seen the wrong things done with bad results. Rick has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Question Hi. I am 14 and my mare had a filly. I have never had one before so I have no experience. She is now 3 months old and has no training for the reason that I go away to school. I realized that she has not been socialized and she runs way from me no matter how slow and quiet I walk. I know that she lives on my friend's 30 acre pasture with her mother and 3 other horses, including a 2 week old foal. I need to bring her to my barn but I cannot really do that if she keeps running away. I have tried following her around which doesn't help at all, getting as close as I can and squatting down and if i am close enough she will walk up to me and sniff me, but not close enough to touch. Then I also try to avoid eye contact which I can tell comforts her a little. So how can I get her to trust me and to get her to know that I wont harm her. Thank you!
Answer Stop trying to catch or touch her, bring her mom some grain, catch mom and lead mom to a small area and the baby will follow. Then spend time with mom so mom trust you and then she will let the baby get to know you.
Until you can spend a few MONTHS working with mom and baby, it is better not to try, every time you try and fail you teach the horse how to get away.
