12/02/2023
Todays tip is about quirks. I have a list of things I 100% do not deal with, aggression, kicking, biting, bucking, etc… 100% a reprimand is in order for that behavior.
Then I have a long list of grey… 😅
I have horses I just always untie to saddle, or work around them if they are known to set back. I’m tolerant of a fresh horse, or one that tosses around some. I try to gauge where the behavior is coming from and act appropriately. I’m not a big fan when they are just doing it to be an a**hole, but if it’s not malicious, I’m pretty lenient.
I am 100% for making them behave for my shoer, chiro, vet, etc… they didn’t sign up for crazy, 😂 I did. I guarantee your horse can know the difference.
I don’t feel I can have a *great* horse without them being able to express themselves in their own ways. No one wants to live in a world where they literally get in trouble for every single thing. I also find by working around them some, usually whatever it was fades with time. I try to treat every horse like the individual they are, and I find they typically try very hard for me because of that.
Now some things I again, will not tolerate, period, but it sure makes for a better horse when we are both having fun. 💜
Pictured is my very quirky mare Puma. 🐯 This is a horse I feel wouldn’t have made in a lot of programs, and with oodles of patience… I am mostly on the other side of the drama. 😅
