It was as if Teddy knew that I wanted to catch him! What a nightmare!
I set out about 45 minutes before the farrier arrived thinking that it was a nice hot 32 degrees, I would wash Teddy and by the time the farrier pulled up Teddy would be ready to have his feet done.
Well as soon as Teddy saw me he was off. In the heat I tried everything known to man to get that bloody horse and it was no use. None stop around the paddock I went after that horse. Nothing. 5pm came and I walked over to the farrier explaining that just yesterday I walked right up to Teddy and got him with no issue whatsoever.
I went into the house and got carrots while the farrier waited. No use - the first carrot Teddy took from my hand and when I went to put the lead rope around his neck he bunny hopped backward out of reach and the second time he got a bite of the carrot and nicked off.
I was totally stuffed, hot and defeated and the farrier left without doing Teddy's feet.
I'm lost and out of ideas on how to fix this. If it wasn't for the catching issue we would be right on track as we have overcome so much! But six months later and there is no improvement with the catching at all - its actually worse.
What do I do now?
What you need to do is find a way for you to matter. All of his needs are being met with no imput from you. So why do you matter to him?
ReplyDeleteCan you limit his access to water so he only drinks when you are there? This is not cruel, this is creating desire in the horse to be with the human.
When I was at the Parelli center in FL, Cricket had no water in her pen. None. To drink, she would have to come with me to the community water troughs. We did this for 2 weeks. She also had no grass, no hay. The only time she ate was when I fed her or took her out to hand graze. Let me tell you, she thought I was pretty damn cool.
It's not about making him so thirsty he gives up. It's not about depriving him to show him who is boss. It's about creating a need in his life for you.
If you can, if your schedule allows it, take away all his water. In the morning, mid-day, evening, open up access to water. Stay there. Make it a set amount of time. If he doesn't come to drink, close off access (remove bucket, close the gate around the trough - whatever) and leave. Repeat the ritual until he figures out that his only access to water is controlled by you.
If your worried about him and the heat, start this when you can offer him water frequently so he figures it out quickly. Water him as often as you want but make sure it's you that controls the resources. Create a window of opportunity that closes. Don't wait for him - decide 15 minutes and if he doesn't approach in that time, walk away. HE NEEDS TO COME TO YOU. YOU ARE NOT HIS HAND-SERVANT.
He will figure this out and he will decide you are a little more important than he realized.
Thanks Lisa, I will give it a go. I'll have to try it when I take time off work as I live an hour drive from my workplace so I cant get back regularly enough. I'm hoping to take at least 4 weeks off, maybe more, from mid December. It's summer here and can get incredibly hot so I will have to do the water often.
ReplyDeleteBut how do you determine when it has clicked for him? Should I put the lead rope on him and lead him to the water or at least have it with me? Currently I can walk up to him now without a lead and have no problem. It's the halter or bridle he retreats from. If he see's it's just me I can walk right up to him, give him a scratch etc and just work my way up to his head and he's totally fine. Then I have the head-shyness.
It's hard to believe that the horse in the photos from the last post is the same horse from yesterday. And its so hard not to let him see my frustration - hot, red faced and swearing under my breath!
Also, I have spoken to the farrier and it works out he doesn't live far from me, the street behind (farm country but that's close). He has given me his mobile number so I can ring him when I have caught Teddy on a Saturday. He said that as he works his own horses early that day if I ring before 9.30am he will drive around and do Teddy's feet. At least that is positive.
Steve (my partner)said to me that Teddy is just too smart because he worked it out even before I was close to him. He thinks I should sell Teddy and get an "easier" horse. I did mention that we have progressed so much and he's of the opinion that after the day job the time that I have is being rewarded with frustration so I need to reconsider it all if I want to get my goal. He's words were also, "He's just the wrong horse for you" On the whole I wouldn't agree but sometimes I wonder. It does get tiresome but I really do want to be a good horse person.
You and I are half a world away so this is just me throwing out thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSo basically, when you just want Teddy for Teddy, he's rather obliging with being caught. When you want something from him, he becomes evasive. Maybe not every time but often enough that there is a pattern to when you can catch him and when you can't. Is that a fair assessment?
So maybe limiting his water isn't the best idea but it might help him bond to you so it's worth a try. It creates a bond of obligation and dependence.
If you can get your hands on it, I recommend reading "Whole Heart, Whole Horse" by Mark Rashid. There's a story in there that evokes these themes - teaching a horse that he can depend on people. Maybe Teddy's not been hurt or abused but he doesn't seem to see much use for people as leaders.
You need to decide what you want out of your horsemanship. If your feelings of affection for Teddy are strong enough, you can find away through this. If you continually resent him because you are getting further from your goals, then you need to find him a more suitable home and you a more suitable partner. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH EITHER DECISION. It is your horsemanship, your time, your energy - YOUR CHOICE to spend it how you wish.
Making the choice is very empowering. You can always change your mind but if you make your decision and accept it, new energy flows and it's much more positive. I've found this with Cricket and I need to find it with Bleu.
Yes that is a fair assessment and I will hunt down the book, thanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny about Teddy's needs as I was told he was the submissive one in the herd which doesn't seem his character at all but I've not had him with another horse in the 6 months I've had him. The other thing for me to consider is that the very moment I do finally get the halter or bridle on he is fine again. I worry that I caused this with the previous "new" bridle as that is when this all started.
I honestly believe that Teddy and I are together for a reason. Maybe its to get through this stuff and teach me the horsemanship skills I wanted, maybe it's for him to have a good home, maybe it's for me to learn patience and discipline, maybe its to discover when I have bitten off more than I can chew as i have a determined kind of character... whatever it is I'm not quite ready to give up on us yet. As you say I can always change my mind and I will give it another six months before considering moving him on.