How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

Last post 02-15-2012 10:25 PM by robison02. 5 replies.
Page 1 of 1 (6 items)
Sort Posts: Previous Topic Next Topic
  • 01-17-2012 12:58 PM

    How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

     Does anyone have ideas regarding keeping a horse from being sensitive to things both during show season and during the off season.  My teenage daughter's new quarter horse mare tends to be sensitive to the smallest things even at home.  We have been using Calm & Cool and seems to help some.  Last summer, her first show season with this mare, we used both Regimate & Calm & Cool and got along great.  But now that the mare is not being ridden much this winter, she tends to pace alot at times and lets small things spook her.  Can you use Calm &  Cool all year long, can they become immune to this, or is there a better product out their for the off-season??

     

  • 01-17-2012 2:15 PM In reply to

    Re: How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

    Supplements only mask the symptoms of the problem--and IMHO are a waste of money--and you actually want to solve the problem, completely. To do that, your daughter and her mare should find a competent natural horsemanship trainer to work with both of them, together. The trainer will show your daughter how to desensitize her mare, and more importantly, how to improve the relationship between the two of them.

    The connection between horse and human involves the human being the leading member of the partnership, and as the leader she makes the decisions. That means, in part, that the human figures out what it safe and what is harmful, and will be the horse's protector. The mare is spooking b/c she feels as though she has to be her OWN protector: unless she knows for certain that something is not harmful she does what any prey animal would do, she gets the heck out of there. She spooks at everything.

    But if the mare knows that your daughter is watching out for her, and would never ask her to do anything or go anywhere that's dangerous, she won't spook. You can't desensitize a horse to enough things to make sure she never spooks at anything, but you CAN teach a horse that she doesn't need to spook b/c her handler is her protector. Most horses want someone else to make all of the decisions--they need a leader--and they live in herds so that somebody is always watching for danger. In their small herd of two, your daughter watches for danger, but the mare needs to learn that she can rely on your daughter for that protection.

    I only suggest a NH trainer for your daughter and her mare b/c NH trainers know so much about the horse/human connection, but some other trainers know, too. If a trainer says you can drop the mare off and she will be fine when he's done with her, walk away and find someone else. Both your daughter and her mare need to work together on this.

    Until you find a trainer, you can work on desensitizing the mare by taking her to schooling shows, to other barns, even on trail rides. Expose her to as many unusual things that you can. Improving the relationship between your daughter and her horse takes too much to be covered by a forum, but books and DVDs by Monty Roberts, John Lyons, Mark Rashid and Stacy Westfall could at least show your daughter what kind of connection she COULD have with the mare.

    Please don't rely upon supplements to mask the problem. As you've seen, they don't solve the problem. Once a horse and rider become partners they can do anything together. It's an amazing journey, and it starts with something as easy as groundwork. I'm sure you can get some tips on doing groundwork from books and DVDs, but it will be easier and safer to work with a trainer. Good luck.

    ETA: Does the mare live alone? Horses are herd animals, and even if your daughter becomes the mare's protector, your daughter cannot be with the mare 24/7. If the mare lives alone, she should have a companion so that she can rest sometimes from being on guard. That may be why she's pacing: she's looking for danger. You don't need another horse, although that is preferable. But a donkey, a miniature horse, even a goat can be companions.
    Megan


    "The horse you get off is not the horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better."

    Anonymous




  • 01-17-2012 7:05 PM In reply to

    Re: How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

     Thanks for your information.  I probably did not explain our situation the best.  Horse & rider get along great.  In fact, they won many classes last summer and made it to finals in the State 4-H Show.  The mare was great last summer during show season.  It is now when she is not getting attention or being ridden that she likes to act like a kook at times.  We do have another horse just a pen away.  We had not had another horse until last spring, so I do agree that helps.  Any other suggestions??

     

  • 01-17-2012 8:03 PM In reply to

    Re: How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

    Another factor that could weigh in here: what are you feeding her? The same thing that she was eating when she was being ridden regularly? If so, she's probably getting too much for her work level. If she's still getting grain, dump it. Unless a horse is being ridden very heavily, she doesn't need grain. Just a quality hay, with salt and a few vitamins, is all she needs.
    Megan


    "The horse you get off is not the horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better."

    Anonymous




  • 01-17-2012 10:01 PM In reply to

    Re: How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

     It's the Magnesium in the Calm and Cool that is needed. Oh, they're tricky, alright. Not telling how much magnesium is in the analysis and had to go to three different pages while they mentioned other ingredients off hand without any values. Ugh!!! They think we're stupid!  Magnesium has over 500 jobs to do in the body. If she is eating alfalfa, the calcium could be high, making both phosphorus and magnesium deficient. Short of testing your hay and knowing where the holes are, I would supplement straight magnesium, starting at 5g/day. When not in work, she certainly doesn't need the fat and starch in Calm and Cool... likewise, no grain. 2% of her body weight in hay (hopefully grass hay) per day in a slow feeder, which will keep her metabolising food longer, keep her happier longer, keep her warmer at 5am  and  essential to avoiding ulcers in such a mare. Trace minerals are also important. So are other things that are missing in hay, like 2IU/lb of body weight of Vit. E/day, 1tbn. of salt to drive thirst and avoid colic, and 4oz. of fresh ground flax for the omegas, a shiny coat and as an anti-inflammatory.  That, and a buddy right next door should help.  I would get two slow feeders. Put one on the buddy's side and one on the far side. Encourage her to move with a purpose, relax and get off the fence. If the buddy is right next door, she will. Do not let her continue. Ulcers can crop up real fast and are expensive to remediate. I would also be feeding yeast for a healthy gut.

    It's good nutrition that eliminates the need for supplements most of the time.

    Hope this helps...

  • 02-15-2012 10:25 PM In reply to

    Re: How to keep horses calm and less sensitive to things

    Definitely look into what she's eating, for starters. Sweet feeds and alfalfa=high sugar content. High sugar content=hyper horses (in many cases, but not all). If you used Regumate successfully in the past, I would definitely put her back on it. It's basically hormone therapy and can be very helpful in maintaining a mare's temperment. Some horses are just high-strung regardless and you have to adapt to their needs. If she paces the stall relentlessly, maybe more turn-out time wuold help. Maybe a longer lunging session prior to riding will help with the spooking.

Page 1 of 1 (6 items)
Featured Offers
  • Save 10% on the Best Selection of Books and DVDs Online at HorseBooksEtc.com.
  • Receive $5 off your next purchase of Safe-Guard Power-Dose
  • 100% All Natural Wunder Hoof is a Quick, Easy and Affordable way to a Strong Healthy Hoof; Build Thicker Walls & Improve Hoof Condition.
  • Keeping your horse's hindgut healthy can be a challenge, learn about Proviable-EQ a new product from the Makers of Cosequin.
  • Steadfast Equine - a uniquely different joint supplement. Visit www.arenus.com to see the benefits of a more complete joint health supplement plan.