For heavens sake - and your horse too, take them out for a jolly good ride, have fun, relax, wade through streams, jump a few logs, let them have a gallop, forget about head sets and sitting perfectly, go out and admire the views, watch nature, they will soon liven up when they are outside the arena.Numb horse. Games to play?
try getting a Jolly Ball its a ball with a handle on the top that they can grab and toss around with their teethNumb horse. Games to play?
Do you free school and 'play' with your horses.
When I worked with the show horses they used to get seriously depressed by having no turnout and being very isolated. I would boot them within an inch of their life (on the owners words that I would die if they got injured!) and would just play with them in the indoor. They used to love nothing more than me running up and down, chasing me and out running me. They would squeel, gallop and just run riot. I will state though, the first few times I was a bit bamboozled as they were looking at me like I'm stupid saying' huh, why the hell am I loose- I shouldnt be free?' they soon came around though and they were always so much noticeably chirpier for a few days.
I used to find in hand hacking was a great idea too. Take the emphasis off actually working yet still giving them something to do.
On the ones that didnt show, I used to have what I called a little 'mad time'. On the ones that could jump I would set up a little course with some music and generally ride loose reined, make alot of noise, alot of praise and let them go a little crazy and blow off some steam.
On the ones that couldnt, I used to find the same atmosphere with just the odd blast of fast canter with loosed reins or no stirrups with alot of praise made them really cheer up. Dont think it was anythin special more that they were doing something different and it refreshed them from the normal school school school regime.
No comments:
Post a Comment