retraining new horse?

[Anonymous]

Im picking up a haflinger this weekend, this will be the first pony I have worked with since I was a kid and they seem a bit jumpier than the drafts Im used to. 12-13 years old, His history is wishy washy but he seems pretty polite right now; hard to catch in the pasture but once he is on lead he obeys basic commands, lets me lift all feet, no sensitive spots, lifts tail a little reluctantly. He hasnt been worked in at least 2 years, just a pasture buddy with occasional riding. The rumors are that he was a pulling horse before the most recent owner got him, maybe mistreated a bit, any tips above and beyond the basic retraining methods in regards to potential mistreatment in the past?

thanks in advance.

Jared

[Donn Hewes]

Therapy? I hope you don’t mind my sense of humor. I start out treating them all the same. Since this horse is “new” to you I see it as an opportunity for both of you to make a fresh start. Simple example. I have brought home a few horses that are ” a little hard to catch on pasture”. I correct that the first day. I don’t ask any thing, or expect anything from this horse the it is not capable of, but letting me be the boss in the pasture is certainly with its reach.

[Anonymous]

I dont mind your sense of humor, dont tell those type of jokes to my wife though, she already thinks im crazy. I havent worked with horses in a few months since I left the last farm with a team and Im at the point where I can use a horse on my new farm but I dont “need” one, I am sick of hauling firewood one wheelbarrow at a time… the price was right and I have seen him ridden by 12 year old girls. I could get my money back at the meat auction if he is really that bad 😉 Any tips for catching them in the pasture. My first time in the field with this horse I walked right up and put the lead right on, second time I had to jog him around a little before I could catch him. Today I went over to fit a new rope halter that I tied up and he wasnt having it, the guy who owns him got some grain to catch him. I have a feeling he always uses grain to catch him and I know Im gonna have to work on that first.
Donn any advice you have would be appreciated, I listened to your talk at NOFA NY and checked out your farm videos done by the extension and I have a lot of respect for you. I appreciate your advice on this forum…

[Donn Hewes]

I think there are some real skills involved in working / training this horse on pasture. His previous experiences with the grain bucket will be working against us to start with. He probably has been having his way in other ways as well, but catching him on pasture is as good a place to start as any. First some questions. Is he on pasture by himself? How big is it? What kind of fences does it have? Basically I am using round pen techniques in a larger area. If the area is too large it can be more difficult to get the proper message across, but it can be done. In some cases (tough) it might be worth the effort to make the paddock smaller. 250′ by 250′ is a good size. Ten times that is a little big.

The principals are pretty simple, the patience and skill to make it work are the hard parts. Here the rules. You pick the place in the paddock where you are willing to put the halter on. Anywhere in the middle, something like that. Corners and fences are out. We are not trying to corner or trap this horse. Those methods might catch a horse, but won’t teach what we want. Never approach the horse unless it is standing still, looking at you. In the ideal world it would be standing facing you, but we will leave that for the round pen. It could be perpendicular with its head your way. Never approach the butt, approach by walking to the shoulder or head. But the horse is not standing still you say. The object here is to tell the horse to move (read run). You may want to modulate the speed and change directions, but never let it eat. Any attempt to turn it’s butt toward you should increase the need for him to move. He will learn to keep an eye on you. When he stops in the right area, ( he will stop if he has used up some energy, and you lighten up the pressure on him.) ask him if he will stand as you approach. If or when he decides to move or or turn away from you, you continue to drive him froward. He doesn’t need to run wildly, but he needs to keep moving.

The problem quickly becomes; how far do you have to run to make him move and keep his head up. This is where size of paddock can make a difference. Only the really zany like me will attempt this in a large apple orchard. I pretty much do it where ever they choose. There are tricks to making them run more than us. If they want a spot or the gate or to be with other animals, you go back and forth and exclude them from the place they want. My herd of horses have seen all this before. It is funny to watch them cavort for a couple laps with the untrained animal, and then they slowly say “your own your own” Then they stand at the gate and watch the show. In any case the trick is to not run as far as the horse. In fact most of us will need to run a lot less than the horse in order to make our point before we fall over.

It can be fun work. The trainer should be calm, and relaxed, not impatient. The horse is making all the choices and eventually he will realize the way out of this silly predicament is to let you approach and halter them. Then give them a little pat / rub and lead them as if nothing ever happened. A tough case will try again the next day. But because of your growing skill and their high intelligence it will not take nearly so long. Some young horses and mules will take a refresher about once a year. Usually some particularly sunny, fresh spring day, when you have absolutely no time for such nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Oh good, that is the method I used to use with the last mares I worked with. Once in a while especially when they were in heat the boss mare would let me walk up like normal and then turn and walk, I would drive her a bit around the field (6 acres) and then she would usually settle in and I would walk her out. Once I had to catch her team mate and tie her at the gate, I kept driving her away until she decided to come to me. The new horse has a pair of donkeys as pasture mates and when I was pushing him around the pasture ( 4 acres) they got the idea quick and just stood beside me. The gelding was soon behind.
All of my horse mentors around here are kind of “getrdun” people so its hard getting good info on body language ground work.

Another question I have had is every horse I have done this with quickly settles close by and turns to face me, what kind of cues should I look for to know if they need to go for another jog or if I should approach them. Part of the reason I decided to take a chance with this new pony is when I rode my bike up to the pasture the first time he gave me full attention and had on the kind of expression that I like to see.

And to clarify: My goal as a dominant horse is to prove I am more fit than them? The problem I see is the fact that I am more fit than this horse (6ft tall 145 pound runner vs 14.1 1200 haflinger) and I can keep on running and cutting him off with no problems, when is enough enough or is it good to make them tired (he was panting harder than I like to see last time)?

Thanks again, I hate the internet but when you pointed out this website at your talk I am sure happy I gave it a shot… this is all priceless advice that I cant get in my town.

Jared

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Jared, Glad I can help. I think to dominate, we don’t need / want to prove we are more fit than them. Smarter perhaps, and ultimately in control. Think how smart (and calm and relaxed) you look, if you can stand in one spot while the other guy (horse)does all the work. This makes the point we want him to get. I am glad I can help. I hope you noticed there is a field days coming up at my farm on June 17th. It is free to all NOFA NY and DAP NET Members. I don’t have a problem with the getrdun mind set. I feel that what we are doing here is REALLY getrdun, once and for all.

[menageriehill]

Id love to attend one of your field days. July 17 is a Tuesday. Plus a long drive from Arkansas.

[Donn Hewes]

Sorry, That Field day is Sunday, JUNE 17th. I can’t believe I did that. It is a long drive from Arkansas. Donn

[Anonymous]

I got him home easy, loaded and backed off the trailer no problem, He is easy to catch here, My wife and him are hitting it off. So far so good I am taking it real slow though. He acts like a draft 90 percent of the time but the rest of the time he is real jumpy. I need some more time and ground work to get a grasp on what is going on in his head.

[f3farms]

Jarod,
we bring home wrank untouchable ponies all the time.small pens and lots of love!!some of our ponies crave that love so much now that hey come runnin’.we have noticed that they actually like being worked and do not like being left behind(our 3yo mare will not stay in her pasture if we leave her home to work others-she want to go too).i too need grain to sometimes catch our ponies, but the kids do not(sometimes i think they think i am an evil man who will sell them if i catch them)need grain.
we too just brought home a new addition.i really believe in starting a new life at a new home.i do not give them time to settle in and feel at home.we sometimes work them right off the trailer.they quickly adjust and learn to follow along.
if you would like Junior to come over and ride him out alittle to get some spunk out of him let us know!!
Rob

i have a phrase i use with our children and animals”i make what is acceptable easy and comfortable and what is uncceptable very uncomfortable”
i got that feeling with the way Donn was descibeing his techineque.

[Anonymous]

just a quick update, He has worked out fine so far. I have done lots of ground work and rode him a few times. he seems to be road safe and willing. I havent driven him yet because the collars I have dont fit. Trying to find one that fits to borrow to get him to start pulling out some firewood. I tried to buy one at an auction but it seemed like people were paying full price for used. Im too poor for that. I can def tell he is a pony with his quick reactions but he seems confident enough where he isnt dangerous. We had a rabbit run out of the bushes while riding and he acted like if it didnt move he would just walk over it like a rock.

thanks for the insight everyone

Jared

[f3farms]

i may have a harness that will fit.it would be worth a try anyway.
Rob

[Anonymous]

@f3farms 35394 wrote:

i may have a harness that will fit.it would be worth a try anyway.
Rob

Im interested in your harness, give me a call and maybe I can come up and check it out.

677 3925

thanks
jared

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