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| Splint boots on the back legs for the first time - no worries! |
Well it's been a while since I posted an update.
His best buddy (the other two year old) left about two weeks ago, along with two other mares in his field. For the first week Rory would stand at the gate and whinny whenever anyone took a horse out. He's gotten past that now.
I tried the flymask again, now that he doesn't have his buddy to pull it off for him and he's left it on for several days now. I did take the ears off to make it harder for another horse to pull it off.
Rory has had one pair of splint boots on. We started with them on the front legs and he didn't mind me putting them on, but didn't know how to walk when I led him out and lurched sideways for a few steps first. Once he got used to them he was fine, and didn't do anything when I moved them to his back legs. (Brat STILL waves his hind legs in the air when I put boots or polos on his hind legs.)
One day a couple of weeks ago it was stinking hot and my morning routine was disrupted so I didn't bring Rory in for his breakfast. I decided not to bother that day, but went out into the field to give the boys a pat and a carrot as I do on days I don't ride. Rory looked up when I came into the field and went back to eating hay. He looked at me a couple of times before going deliberatly back to munching. Rory ALWAYS comes to me when he sees me, whether I call him or not. I talked to him and asked him if he was going to come and see me, then told him if he didn't want to that was fine - I had other horses to talk to. I went and gave the brat his carrots, pat and check over, then gave Rory's carrot to his sister. Rory was still munching. I thought it was funny that he was so obviously ignoring me, and left the field without going over to him. The next morning I went out and called him for breakfast and he whinnied and came over faster than normal. So who taught who a lesson?
We've done more in hand work and he's mostly very good about trotting with me and adjusting speed in response to light tugs on the lead rope. He'll stop with me too. Last week he had a turd day and keep running faster and refusing to slow down even after several stop/back/try again corrections. I was doing some body moving work with him to get him listening to me and he suddenly leaped away, spun and kicked at me - TWICE! In the leap/spin away he wrenched my shoulder (hoping it's just sprained and not a torn rotator cuff). He was far enough away that when he kicked he didn't come close to hitting me, and I was being determined that he wasn't going to get away from me again so I couldn't reprimand that behaviour. I actually had time to realize my shoulder hurt and wonder if I'd have to let go before making the decision that the little turd was NOT going to get away. We did some more body moving exercises after he'd stopped and he relaxed a bit and behaved himself. Ah well - stuff happens and he's been very good ever since.
I tried the flymask again, now that he doesn't have his buddy to pull it off for him and he's left it on for several days now. I did take the ears off to make it harder for another horse to pull it off.
Rory has had one pair of splint boots on. We started with them on the front legs and he didn't mind me putting them on, but didn't know how to walk when I led him out and lurched sideways for a few steps first. Once he got used to them he was fine, and didn't do anything when I moved them to his back legs. (Brat STILL waves his hind legs in the air when I put boots or polos on his hind legs.)
One day a couple of weeks ago it was stinking hot and my morning routine was disrupted so I didn't bring Rory in for his breakfast. I decided not to bother that day, but went out into the field to give the boys a pat and a carrot as I do on days I don't ride. Rory looked up when I came into the field and went back to eating hay. He looked at me a couple of times before going deliberatly back to munching. Rory ALWAYS comes to me when he sees me, whether I call him or not. I talked to him and asked him if he was going to come and see me, then told him if he didn't want to that was fine - I had other horses to talk to. I went and gave the brat his carrots, pat and check over, then gave Rory's carrot to his sister. Rory was still munching. I thought it was funny that he was so obviously ignoring me, and left the field without going over to him. The next morning I went out and called him for breakfast and he whinnied and came over faster than normal. So who taught who a lesson?
We've done more in hand work and he's mostly very good about trotting with me and adjusting speed in response to light tugs on the lead rope. He'll stop with me too. Last week he had a turd day and keep running faster and refusing to slow down even after several stop/back/try again corrections. I was doing some body moving work with him to get him listening to me and he suddenly leaped away, spun and kicked at me - TWICE! In the leap/spin away he wrenched my shoulder (hoping it's just sprained and not a torn rotator cuff). He was far enough away that when he kicked he didn't come close to hitting me, and I was being determined that he wasn't going to get away from me again so I couldn't reprimand that behaviour. I actually had time to realize my shoulder hurt and wonder if I'd have to let go before making the decision that the little turd was NOT going to get away. We did some more body moving exercises after he'd stopped and he relaxed a bit and behaved himself. Ah well - stuff happens and he's been very good ever since.
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