What would you do...

[Mecate]

Does anybody have any suggestions about the following?

My mare sometimes gets so unaware of her surroundings that she will bump into people and run into them. Happened today when she was eating in the loafing shed and turned abruptly to check out something outside the shed. She pushed someone into the wall as she pivoted on her hind end and her front end came through.

It happens so quickly that it's tricky trying to see it coming. Mares, I believe her birdie has flown the coop when this happens, right?

Haltering her and being connected through the lead rope would be a bandaid; does anybody have any other ideas about addressing the symptoms? Any ideas about how to dig out the actual problem?

[reata]

Mecate your mare does not have respect for your space. If you were another horse, who she respected, no way known would she knock into the other horse while trying to see what was happening out side or behind her..and if it was a subordinate horse he would sure be aware of what was about to happen and git out of her way ..Or like you he would get bumped out of the way ..She IS aware of her surroundings.. and she IS aware of what she can do and what she can't do ..
Every time we are with our horses they are testing the boundaries.. putting pressure on us to see if we will yield.. a little step back and allowing her to crowd us a little are all noted by the horse.. they know what is going on 100% of the time.. Us humans.. only about 10% of the time unless we are disciplined and aware..
So its the little things.. stepping that shoulder back if we feel its invading our space.. asking her to lower her head just a fraction more than what she feels she needs to keep control of us.. watching her body language.. when is she DRIVING us?? some times you may have to pick up the lead and say hey listen here lady .. GIT out of my space.. NOW!! and other times you may just have to lift your energy and say .. tip your weigh back out of my space..
Get a friend to watch you around your horse and tell you every time you take a step back because the horse is pushing into your space.. I bet its every few minutes..I do this with my students and gosh the number of times I have to tell them even surprises me!! But its a great way to become aware of what the horse is training US to do.. LOL :eek:

[Mares Tales]

Sounds like her Birdie was outside the shed and that person just got in her way but, like Reata said, if she had respect for that person or people in general she would have gone around them with a wide enough berth to be polite. Horses are very aware of what a polite distance is....it`s one of the basics in their social law.

[Mecate]

Reata, Mares:

Thanks for the observations. I can think of lots of ways to address this now...and realize I must be much more aware and consistent. And yes, my friend was not in a good place when the birdie left. More good stuff to work on, and with feel!! Thanks!!

[Mecate]

Okay, so I am observing that I back up too much (because she comes in so close, DUH!) and am anticipating that and setting myself up to use my energy to make a wall between us. So far, it's working sometimes. My backup is a flag. Sound good?

[reata]

Mecate you don't always have a flag with you.. Unless maybe you carry the American Flag in your back pocket?? LOL
But you always have your energy and your arms with you, so use them .. Remember your not MAKING her do any thing.. Try to have it HER idea.. Your going to over do it, a little, but that is fine.. if you feel her crowding your lift your energy then your arms and then wave that energy or arms around until she takes a step back .. she has to move her feet..but watch her and as soon as you see her prepare her body drop the energy just a little ..and try not to chase her back ..you just want to drive her back a little, not scare her..if you are aware of when she is crowding you and you get her to move her feet and step out of your space.. a lot of the problems your having with your mare will stop..

[Mecate]

oooh...okay! Right. It's hard to carry a flag all the time! When I have it, I tap it on the ground. Will try energy tomorrow. Leaning toward her while summoning lots of energy is okay, though, right? You know, this is very empowering. Not that I mean I'm over powering my mare; just that this is leading toward better communication with her. Off to bed!

[Mulie]

I started becoming aware of this awhile back and it was very eye opening. It's funny though to think about being in a crowd of people and I'm always stepping back letting someone pass in front feeling like I am a polite person. So I really have to over-ride my natural inclination. It seems like while ago someone on this board said something like "You know if I were a fence post, my horse sure would NOT run into me" really got me thinking.

[FrancaV]

I'm not sure the fence post is quite the right analogy. While the horse won't walk all over or go through the fence post, horses do rub on and bump into fence posts. But they won't do that to the lead mare if they can possibly avoid it. ;) There's common sense and there's respect. The fence post won't get out of the horse's way but it also has no "bubble" and won't protect its own space with energy. The lead mare, on the other hand, won't even let an uninvited horse in close enough to rub or bump her except under artificial (generally man-made) conditions, and the uninvited horse knows it.

Horses are aware (more than humans) of their surroundings, so when a horse bumps into something it's not really accidental - he's made a choice to move in that direction, even though it means bumping into something, because it feels better or safer to him than moving in another direction. It's best for us fragile humans if a horse feels safer bumping into the lead mare than into us!

[Mulie]

Well, when you put it THAT way...........I guess it's NOT the best analogy!

[reata]

LOL Mulie, If it helped anybody its a good analogy.
I'm enjoying reading this thread.. How do ya give it the little stars****???
Keep the posts coming guys!! Share your thoughts!!

[Mecate]

Okay, Franca and Reata, putting on my lead mare suit, here's what I'm going to do: carry my flag when I can and use it to make the big statement, 'cause subtle is not working for me. Once I have my mare's attention, on subsequent opportunities, I will go for feel with my energy.

[FrancaV]

LOL Mulie, If it helped anybody its a good analogy.Very true. :)

I'm enjoying reading this thread.. How do ya give it the little stars****???At the bottom of the page when you're reading the thread.

[red]

Cracks me up...subtle isn't working for me either...you know that quote...how little does it take? Well, I have a pony who says how much have ya got? The key is to out think em, because you sure as heck can't out muscle em...lol..

onward!!!

love
red

just the site of that flag outta straighten her out...lol...
of course, we will be waiting for the reports...

**************************
make your own stars, reata!!

[Rodeobabe]

Well, your horse most certainly knows what shes doing. She feels most comftorable where she is and she isnt gunna go somewhere else so she'll just move you. You need to play more games on the ground to have her understand where she needs to be...How close she is allowed and not allowed.


Red:
As far as when your horse asks you "how much do ya got?" Play a game with her...... Make it fun for the both of you......You may not out muscle her, and thats not the point. Its not about whos stronger or bigger, its about the relationship and being partners, moving together. So when she asks you how much do you have say how much do you have....and play off of that!