tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post7786375727472933569..comments2023-09-22T12:22:01.872-04:00Comments on A Thousand Pounds of Fragile Horse: Confessions of AngerJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00141033474195269489noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-66150002403817956882011-06-25T22:03:41.320-04:002011-06-25T22:03:41.320-04:00oops, Jan and Carol! I meant "Endurance Gran...oops, Jan and Carol! I meant "Endurance Granny and Carol" - Carol, your trainer Joan must have been stuck in my head! lol!juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-49767452492218433362011-06-24T13:21:14.893-04:002011-06-24T13:21:14.893-04:00Juliette,
Very good thoughts! Thank you for you...Juliette,<br /> Very good thoughts! Thank you for your perspective on Buckshot and how hay wins his attention better than I do. I do need to change my bridling procedure to not compete with this food. So sorry about Sovey stomping on your foot (ouch!!) but it is so interesting to read your perspective on your calling to him- to bring out his best, even though you know sometimes his hatred/anger at past people misdeeds comes out as well. How inspiring you are! Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />Carol, thank you for your comments as well. I agree with you, after giving it more thought, that he didn't intentionally step on my foot. Good to know; thanks so much for your sharing!Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00141033474195269489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-82032360624082428732011-06-23T08:24:06.299-04:002011-06-23T08:24:06.299-04:00Jan,
I am so sorry about your foot. Intentionall...Jan,<br /><br />I am so sorry about your foot. Intentionally or not, foot stompings always hurt and can break bones. I was just thinking the other day that if archaeologists in the future find my skeleton they will say that this woman worked with big equipment that smashed her feet and toes! I don't wear proper boots and I do pay the price.<br /><br />I have had accidental and intentional foot stamps and I think Buckshot stepped on you accidentally. He was turning and probably did not really know where your foot was. As Endurance Granny and Joan said, there would have been other signs like ear pinning if it was intentional.<br /><br />Buckshot reminds me of Pie. Pie steps on me and sometimes runs into me because food is important and I get forgotten. The problem in this equation is created by me. I need to make sure that my body is not competing with food. You probably should remove the hay before you start the bridle process because you need his attention on you and his head available. <br /><br />By contrast, an intentional foot stomping looks very different. Last summer (June 1 to be exact) I went out to put Sovereign's fly mask on. He was eating grass. He stopped and put his head up. He allowed me to put the mask on. He then pinned his ears and took his left front foot and stomped with all his might on my right foot. There was no reason for this act except his hatred of all man and everything that was done to him in the past. (I am certain he broke something in my foot, but I was afraid to get it xrayed because I am addicted to running and I can't ever stop. I ran through it for a year and it started to feel perfect this May.)<br /><br />In addition to the pain, my feelings were so hurt. I have never hurt Sovey - ever. Yet he does that. That is the kind of horse he is. Reprimands only escalate with this horse so he would be off to the killer if he was owned by anyone else. I think of it as my calling to figure out how to embrace his good traits (perfectly great riding horse) and avoid his bad (biting, stomping, kicking). <br /><br />Your Buckshot is not like this at all. He is kind and takes care of you like my Pie and Foggy take care of me. Buckshot will forget you if yummy hay is around but you can control that and make sure that he is paying attention to you. Then, after your ride, reward him with yummy hay when he can fully enjoy it and step wherever he wants to step without hurting you.juliettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17488138405040629084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-82741528795527377382011-06-22T23:03:00.680-04:002011-06-22T23:03:00.680-04:00I agree with Endurance Granny that there would hav...I agree with Endurance Granny that there would have been other body language clues if it was intentional - pinned ears, etc. I've been stepped on and had the horse keep his foot there until I yelled and pushed. Obviously they shouldn't be that much in our space, but it wasn't on purpose when it happened to me.<br />Also, I have to try not to put human thought processes and emotions on horses. I think everything is much more in the moment for them.<br />I'm glad you forgave him and weren't hurt worse. It sound svery painful :(Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17207626703988850059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-82414934240087464622011-06-21T20:01:26.041-04:002011-06-21T20:01:26.041-04:00Endurance Granny, thank you so much for your insig...Endurance Granny, thank you so much for your insightful comments! You helped me see this incident more clearly and I really appreciate it. I will teach Buckshot a new way to get his bridle on, so that I don't have to push and pull on him. That's a great idea (don't know why I didn't think of it). And yes, I agree with you on the boots - always wear boots! Thanks again.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00141033474195269489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4383248353799801237.post-29815935319027549032011-06-21T12:04:45.261-04:002011-06-21T12:04:45.261-04:00Jan,
First a "granny" hug of friendship...Jan,<br /><br />First a "granny" hug of friendship coming your way. It really hurts when that happens! But please take heart that he in reality didn't mean to hurt. Now if he'd hauled off, flattened his ears, and kicked with his hinds, or out right struck out with a front hoof that is a different thing. But the horse can step on your foot and not have any idea it is your foot! They don't know if it is lump on the ground, a big old rock, or what so they just stand there ON YOUR FOOT. So don't take it personal, Buck Shot has no clue of your anger, and did not likely mean harm to you in anyway. He was just being a horse, stomping like horse's stomp and your foot unfortunately got under there. Just remember that a purposeful aggression of a horse has other signs with it, flattened ears, tighened rump in the case of kicking, biting, actually threatening behavior. Cussing when you get stepped on is normal too *LOL*.<br /><br />On getting his bridle on, spend time teaching him to drop his head on cue without the distraction of the yummy hay. Reward him with some small treat when he complies. He will catch on. Always wear boots, and you will probably someday get stepped on again, it goes with the territory unfortunately.All Who Wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15811193190492037859noreply@blogger.com