AboutD LaChapelle www.Laurelmountainfarms.com Expertise I am a student of the Horse. How to deal with "problems" and find SOLUTIONS with real QUALITY that RESPECT the HORSE is my goal for this site. It has been my great fortune to be able to focus the last 12 years studying the Buckaroo/Vaquero style of horsemanship, this is what the Natural Horsemanship movement is based on. Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, Ricky Quinn and Bryan Neubert are my teachers and mentors. I continue to study and ride with these great horsemen.
I am happy to offer help in starting colts, re-starting troubled horses, helping you find a "better way" with horses and sharing with you what it means to be a student of the horse. Western show disciplines; Showmanship, Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, as well as Hunter Under Saddle and Three Day Eventing are my passions. I enjoy sharing my 30+ years of experience with all levels of horse owners; children, amateurs and serious competitors. Please visit me at: www.laurelmountainfarms.com
www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Experience
Organizations American Quarter Horse Association, USEA
Education/Credentials Learning good horsemanship is an oral tradition passed from master to student. At an early age I started riding with noted clinician Richard Sharake at Horsemanship West. Although I have ridden with many top flight trainers and instructors, Ray Hunt has been the most influential and has had the greatest impact on my horsemanship. To be a student of the horse and to in some small way pass along the gifts Ray has offered to me, is my greatest educational accomplishment.
Awards and Honors I have campaigned horses to many State and Regional titles. My horses and I have earned 14 AQHA High-Point All-Around titles, won multiple AQHA year end high point awards, and have qualified for the AQHA World Show.
Question my horse is sweet as can be but she likes to bite and has kicked my mom already. nobody else really gives her a chance and i love her to death!!! The thing is though she when i try to move her she lays back her ears and when you turn your back to her she nips and then she turns her butt to me. The most improtant thing though is that she dosen't trust me. Please help me.
Answer Hi Sara!
Reality check here! Your horse has NO respect for the human. The humans in her life are NOT leaders she can trust so she is forced into a position of having to take over and take care of herself. A horse would NEVER kick, bite, pin ears or nip her leader. This should tell you a whole lot about your relationship with your mare.
If your horse turns her tail to you, you are about to be kicked. MOVE HER! Do something to change her mind about what she thinks she has to do. Boy, in the horse world, you guys are at the bottom of the barrel. If you don't learn how to read a horse and change this basic behavior you are going to be spending some time in the Emergency room. You are in real danger here. DO NOT allow her to point her tail at you. This is the same thing as someone pointing a gun at you. Do you understand???!!!
Look at all your mare has to do to shape up to kick you! Do NOT allow this! Take care of what happens, BEFORE what happens, happens! Do not allow her to make you move back out of her space, pin her ears at you or shape up to kick you. If you have to give her a huge nip with the tail end of your lead rope, DO IT! Send her away from you, hard and fast...
I think you need good, hands on help NOW! This behavior has gone on too long and the fact that you don't recognize the trouble you are in is a huge red flag to me. This is a human problem NOT a horse problem. The lack of experience is very clear here. Your horse is just being a horse. She is not mean, or bad in any way. She is just surrounded by humans that don't know horse behavior and don't know how to become a leader she can trust. I want you to get to a foundation horsemanship clinic, NOW. I can't give you the type of help you need over the net. I think you are in harms way and you need the help of quality horsemen to get you through this before someone is seriously injured and the horse is blamed.
Look on my website or on the web for links to Buck Brannaman, Ricky Quinn, Bryan Neubert, Joe Wolter, or Tom Curtin. Look at their clinic schedule and get to a clinic. This is a mini, horsemanship school. These are world class horsemen and they can teach you how to be safe and show you how to get the changes you need in your horse. Someone will be in your area. Get there. You will also be able to meet people that can continue to help you once the clinic is over.
It is my job to offer you the resources necessary to improve your horsemanship and make things better for you and your horse. You are missing so much you really need help in person. Take this seriously. Get the help you need in person. I'm really worried about you and your Mom. I can only say one thing, don't allow your mare to push you around. You need to learn how to change this relationship and be safe. If you are out with her, take your flag, or a rope or your halter and send her away from you the absolute second she shapes up to be disrespectful. Then get to a clinic. Keep me posted and let me know who is in your area.
