AboutRick Gore (www.freewebs.com/horseawareness) Expertise Visit Rick's Horse Site: --- www.freewebs.com/horseawareness --Rick is a student of the horse. He 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 and hard to catch, using a bosal or hackamore, soft hands and direct reining verses neck reining. If you expect him to tell you feel good advice, you will be disappointed. 95% of all his 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. If have some good information that you would like me to add to my site, please email me so it can be passed on to others.
Experience Rick is an experienced horseman with many years of riding and handling horses. Rick grew up in Texas around horses and horse people. He has started colts, ridden many horses with behavior issues and worked with problem horses. (He believes that most horse problems are really people problems)
He believes in and practices natural horsemanship and continues to read and study books by great horsemen. He routinely attends clinics, talks with and discuss horse issues with other clinicians and trainers. He has never met a horse that could not be fixed. He has fixed horses that would not; trailer load, take a bit, go through water, lead without pulling, allow you to halter or catch. Rick believes it is never the horse's fault and with proper handling, all problems can be worked out.
Education/Credentials Rick has many years 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'm a 51 year old woman that just bought my first horsee about six weeks ago. I rode when I was a teenager and then stopped for a lot of years. I started taking riding lessons (english) about a year ago with a great coach. I brough my coach with me when I bought Monty, he is a five year old quarter horse gelding with a very sweet personality. He is not quite as experienced as we originally thought but I think he has great potential for me. We have a couple of issues I would like advice on because I want to do the right thing for both of us. The first is ground manners, when in cross ties he will get nervous sometimes and raise his head and break them, what we are doing now is having two people so one can hold a lead rope on him in case he tries to break them, we are being patient and trying to get him to give to pressure and praising hin when he does. The next thing is getting him to take the bit, he's great to saddle and groom but soon as he sees the bridle the head goes up, I tryed putting a bit of jam on it and it sometimes shortens the time it take but he still doesn't really like i, soon as I get the bit near his mouth he's fine (this can take a while sometimes)He's been pretty good to ride so far, we are learning together but a couple of times now in the outdoor ring when I have been riding him he decides thats enough and he will stop or back up, and feels a bit upset or nervous or something. Anyhow since I don't want to get nervous (or hurt) on him I'm not sure how to correct this. He is a little bit heard bound but seems to be getting better that way and we keep him outside because he seems happier that way. Anyhow I hope I have explained everything. Am looking forward to your advice
Thanks
Answer Ivy, your coach should have identified these problems before you bought the horse. When buying a horse you need to do everything you are going to do after you buy it, like saddle it, ride it, bit it, tie it, this is a life long event and people approach it like buying a bike. Horse sellers are trying to get rid of a horse and they will say or do anything to do it. I get emails like this all the time, so it is very common, but it is sad that the horse ends up with the raw deal.
Just because you rode a horse has a kid, does not qualify you to train or properly handle a horse. This is a common and dangerous misconception. However, you are old enough to know this and you can decide to educate yourself about the horse. I hear the same thing from mostly woman, that their horse is so sweet and nice. All horses are sweet and nice. Especially when all you do is pet them and feed them. All horses are also very large, very strong, very reactive and can hurt you very seriously. Which is why it amazes me that people don't invest the time and effort into learning everything they can about a horse.
Your bit issue and your tying issue is not a horse problem. It is a people problem. You don't know what you are doing and your horse knows it, so he is training you. Your horse is not being bad or mean, he is being a horse.
Being crossed ties is scary and makes a horse feel trapped. A horse will allow this if he feels safe. Petting and telling him how much you love him does not help a horse one bit. They have to know you are a strong leader and that will keep them safe.
The bit issue is the same thing. This is a lack of trust and respect for you. The horse is showing you that you can't make him take the bit and he can fight you and resist and maybe you will give up, get mad, get upset and he will win. Very normal horse behavior.
I know you are thinking, but why don't other horses do this, they do! All horse test and horses try to not be dominate or be lower.
Spend some time and read my site, especially five pages, Horse History, Horsemanship, horseman tips, rope halter and tying a horse. This will give you a better understanding of the horse.
Until you learn the way of the horse, you will not be able to help this horse, you will spends countless hours fighting with your horse, you will spend lots of money on trainers, gimmicks and listening to others who own horses. Owning a horse does not make someone a horse person anymore than having a child makes you a good parent. Owning a horse is life change, once you learn around horses, you will be changed for the better, until then you will just blame the horse for all your lack of knowledge and it will not be good for you or the horse.
After you read those pages if you still have questions, let me know.
