Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Bad habits are hard to break

Last week, Laura Crum over at Equestrian Ink wrote a great post on Freak Accidents. She made some super good common-sense points about what not to do, both under saddle and on the ground. I found myself nodding along with most of them, but when I got to the advice on ground handling, there were a bunch of things on the list were I thought, "Ooops, I do that!"

Yeah, I know, I'm baaaad.

For example, I rarely use a lead rope when we're at home. We have a system down for morning and evening feed, everyone knows their assigned places and what's expected. Oberon in the stall, Red and Taran tied in the barn, Cash in the aisle. I just grab halters and put horses where they go. Everyone plays along, except sometimes Oberon, who pretends to spook at the gate. It's no fun hanging on a spooking horse's halter sans lead, so we've started to use one on him.

I'm the worst about using a lead rope with Cash. I often don't even put a halter on him - instead, I grab his fly mask and use that to lead him. As Oldest Horse, he also gets special privileges during feeding time, in that he doesn't get tied. For whatever reason, after losing Saga, he panics if he's tied while eating, and starts pacing, completely forgetting to eat. So he gets to be loose. Usually he stays put, maybe wanders to the water trough for a quick drink before finishing his food, but he's got free rein of the place during mealtimes. I know, I know...

I'm terrible about leading horses from the "right" side (i.e. their left). I even mount them from the wrong side, and I'll use just about anything handy as a mounting block. The trailer tire well is a favorite, since it's on the way out of the barn. As to why I get them used to leading and mounting from the wrong side - years ago I worked at a guest ranch in Colorado. I had to dismount on a very steep, narrow trail, then remount again. The only option was to do this from the wrong side. Fortunately, my horse was a saint and had no issue with this concept, but since that day I intentionally do things "wrong" so that if I have to, my horse isn't upset by it.

Another bad habit - I put their blankets on in the field. No halter, no lead, just toss them on and fasten them up.  Fortunately the field isn't very big and the boys are used to this, but someday I'm going to have a shredded blanket to show for my efforts.

I've gotten complacent around the boys. I've been treating some strange lesions on Cash's right fetlock, and when I scrub him with chlorahex, I sometimes put myself in bad positions. Tonight Cash stomped at a fly and almost caught me in the face with his knee - of course my face shouldn't have been there. I'm lucky that the reminder didn't result in a bloody nose.

It's funny, when I boarded I never would have done this stuff. It's only since I've been keeping the boys at home that I've started with my bad habits. But lest you think I am a horrible horse owner, I do have some good ones.
  • I talk to the boys constantly. "Coming behind you with the wheelbarrow, Red," or "I'm going to put your blanket on now, Oberon," or "Come here so I can take your fly mask off, Cash." It seems to make a difference, they at least understand my intent if not my words. 
  • I always, ALWAYS wear barn shoes to the barn. Paddock boots or rubber boots, but never tennies or slip-ons. I also always wear pants (usually yoga pants), even if it's 100 degrees out. The boys recently had a minor altercation as I was haltering for dinner time, and I got accidentally stepped on and knocked over. I was lucky to escape with some scrapes, but I would have had a broken foot and a mile of road rash if I hadn't been wearing boots and pants.
  • I always wear a helmet. 'nuf said. :)
Of course, with Echo's pending arrival, it has occurred to me that I'm going to have to clean up my act post-haste. He's only ever led from the left, with a chain over his nose (eek!). He's only used a (normal, plastic) mounting block three times in his whole life, and today was number three. I'm thinking that using the trailer to climb aboard - from the wrong side! - is probably not going to be an option. (Note to self, add mounting block to the shopping list). We're done with blanket season, but when the time comes, I don't think I'm going to be just tossing one over him out in the field at 10 p.m. while he munches on hay.

So, what bad habits do you have around horses? I know I can't be alone!

35 comments:

  1. I've got loads! Blankets go on in the field with no halter, come off that way too. I'm very lax about footwear, will use just about anything to haul myself onto Charlie (currently use a chair at home) and typically use the tire well away from home. I'm bad about holding onto him - I try to pretend he ground ties when in fact he doesn't. ;). I don't always run my irons up when I get off to set jumps and I constantly forget to check my girth when I get on. But I always, always wear a helmet.

    Feel Echo out - he may surprise you with what he'll tolerate. Charlie certainly surprises the crap out of me everyday with what he puts up with. :-)

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    1. Oooh I'm so glad it's not just me!

      I'm also bad about riding with a loose girth - when I'd take lessons on Cash, my instructor would say that "You could drive a train through your girth!" Somehow the saddle never slipped.

      From all reports, Echo seems like a level-headed guy, so hopefully he'll learn to put up with my foibles!

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  2. I'm always directly behind my horse when I brush his tail. Stupid, I know and I have no excuses.
    I had a close call this summer when I crouched down next to my horse with my right hand on the ground for balance. Next thing I know I was pushing my 17.2 Hanoverian off my hand! Thankfully it wasn't broken and only had a small wound with the gnarly bruise. I haven't since placed my hand on the ground while crouching.

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    1. OMG your hand! I'm sooo glad you didn't break it, that sounds scary!

      As for standing behind them when brushing a tail, I do that too. Usually I'm off to one side or the other but sometimes I'm right behind. Another bad habit to add to my collection!

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  3. There was a time when Red had never been mounted from the left, and Oberon had never seen a mounting block, and St. Cash had never been blanketed anywhere, never mind in the field. Echo will learn a lot, and I expect he'll learn it quickly.
    And given that the choice is Cash eating or Cash not eating, I don't see a problem with making him comfortable. It's not as though he poaches!!
    I thought about the possible effects of fly-stomping when I was scrubbing his fetlock the other day, and trying to see the inside of the leg while squatting on the outside...

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    1. Hopefully Echo will watch what the other horses put up with and somehow absorb from them, lol!

      And yes, I almost got a knee in the face doing exactly what you were. I SHOULD have moved to the other side to scrub the inside of his fetlock, but reaching around just seemed easier. Oh well, lesson learned...

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  4. Ha, I pretty much do all of those when I'm at home and sometimes even when I'm by myself at the barn I board at, I'm bad with being safe. I always stress safety with the kids I work with, but when I'm by myself rules pretty much go out the window! Except for the helmet thing, I almost always wear my helmet :) I'll untack Jetta in the aisle way (only if all the doors are closed though!) without tying her. She pretty much ground ties though. I never halter to blanket, I will sit on the ground next to their feet, for instance when I was getting Tux prettied up to meet his new owners I sat on the ground and blow dryed his feathers. I only do it with horses I trust, but it's a good point that we should try to be a little more safe... And I think it's good for them to learn to be mounted and led on either side (something I always teach my babies) and to stand to be mounted from any random object (or a hill) because it's just plain useful!

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    1. Haha, I can just imagine blow-drying Tux's feathers! That's too funny! I'd have probably pulled up a lawn chair to get comfy. ;)

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  5. All those bad things you listed that you do? That is pretty much how I operate. I'm a bad person.
    I DO use proper caution with Maestro (for obvious reasons) and the yearlings (they like to do stupid things) but other than that I'm pretty bad.
    I hardly tie horses up when I'm fiddling with them. The whole crew is well used to me picking hooves, putting on ointments, putting on rugs, taking off rugs, sponging them with insecticide... etc. without a halter or lead.
    Since they all wear rugs, I usually just grab the neck strap.
    I also do sometimes go our with flip-flops or (gasp) barefeet. I have a 'shame' picture of me on kneeling on the ground, with barefeet, kissing Piccola on the nose. When she was only a few weeks old. Bad.
    I'm most lenient with Taffy. I lead her around the farm with just a hand under her jaw. Or even better, just let her loose and she'll follow.

    Mounting block? What mounting block?
    Don't even get me started on my feeding routine. Although I've had to change that because my new workers got frightened. Oops.

    My motto: Do what I say, not as I do.

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    1. I like your motto! I should adopt that one. ;)

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  6. I don't think leading from the right side is incorrect, or what the Equestrian Ink author meant by "lead them from the correct position at all times". A horse should lead just as well from either the left of right side - the incorrect position would be allowing your horse to fall behind you and ending up dragging on the lead. The horse's head should stay at your shoulder, that way any spook is less likely to result in you being knocked over.

    I also think that you should be able to mount from the either side - though obviously you should get your horse used to being mounted from the 'wrong' side gradually rather than just leaping on. Leading from both sides and mounting from both sides makes for a horse that is less one sided, IMO.

    I'm certainly a little blase about my own horses at times - I cover in the paddock without tying up, and have been known to (gasp) push a wheelbarrow whilst leading a horse (naughty!).

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    1. Anon, you're probably right about the leading position Equestrian Ink was referring to. I always lead them right at my shoulder, I just don't always lead from the same side.

      It definitely seems like we all blanket/rug up without halter and lead, so I'm in good company. Pushing a wheelbarrow while leading a horse is a new one, though! Maybe I should try that with Oberon to get him over his "fear" of wheelbarrows! *giggle*

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  7. Also guilty.

    I also do most procedures ground tied / not haltered with Val - blanket and unblanket, work on feet, groom, tack up and untack... I mount from weird places (the metal gate) and on the wrong side.

    I think our horses become more tolerant and well rounded when we mix things up for them. The helmet is a must though.

    Seems like the trick is to know when you can and can't get away with bending "the rules". I don't even try to ground tie when the goblins are about. I'll bet once you've earned Echo's trust he'll be as easy to work around as the others. :D

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    1. Agree about them being more tolerant and well-rounded when we do different things. That goes for under saddle as well as on the ground.

      It will be interesting to see what boogers Echo and what he doesn't care about. So far on the list of potentially terrifying items I've got the donkeys, the llamas, the chickens, the dog, people on bikes, people with dogs, tree stumps, cars... we're going to have our work cut out for us!

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  8. I will lead them around with a halter, but without the chin strap clipped. I also let them rub their heads on the posts by the cross ties after the bridle has been taken off. Overall though, I'm pretty good - especially bc I see all the kids do bad habits and I want to be a decent example.

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    1. Oooh, one thing I do not do is let horses rub on me. A friend of mine once got pinned to the wall while her horse rubbed his face on her torso. She ended up with three cracked ribs! However, I'm allowed to rub THEM if they ask nicely. I keep an old towel in my grooming box just for post-ride face rubs.

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  9. I don't really see leading/mounting from the horse's right side as a problem. You are right, life isn't by the book and sometimes you can't do things 100% politically correct all the time.

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  10. Since Lilly is boarded, I'm not a part of her daily feeding/turn in/out routine, but I've been known to blanket her in the pasture without a halter. For the most part, my bad habits occur in the cross ties when I'm grooming or working on her hooves and I'm especially bad when I'm clipping her legs. I literally crawl around underneath her because I have to in order to get a good clip!

    While I trust her completely, it's always in the back of my mind that she could spook and unintentionally kick out or step on me somewhere. So while I might be in compromising positions at times, I'm always mindful about what's going on around me and I never get lazy about what I'm doing.

    I'm actually quite safety conscious. I don't want Lilly to get hurt and if I happen to get hurt, it's less time I get to spend with her!

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    1. You're spot on with the comment about trusting her but always having it in the back of your mind that something could happen. I know what I can "get away" with my guys, but I'm always aware that they're horses and things could change in an instant.

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  11. Leading and mounting from both sides is a very good thing to teach your horses. We insist that our therapy horses be comfortable working from both sides. I usually lead Harley on the left out of habit, but have worked him on both sides in the past.

    My barn lets all of the horses (except mine) run into their stalls from the paddocks for meals. I dislike this practice very much, but it is not my place so I cannot really say anything. I think requesting that my horse be led in each and every time is statement enough.

    I am very safety conscious, since I am a certified therapeutic instructor. I think that the worst I do is give my horse his allergy shots while in cross ties. He is more than needle broke and just stands there, but some may say that is a no-no.

    I can't afford to be bad right now, since I am expecting!

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    1. Val, I can imagine that as a therapeutic instructor, you are head and shoulders above most of us in being safety-conscious! That must take a whole 'nother level of awareness.

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  12. I'm really bad about making my horse stand still when mounting. As soon as I have a foot securely in the stirrup she tends to walk off. Considering she used to jig away, this is an improvement, but still bad. It never really bothers me when we're in an arena, but in the middle of a field or on a trail it's definitely a nuisance. I suppose I really can't use the "she's off the track" excuse anymore either, considering she's a teenager.

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    1. Megs, I used to have that problem with Cash. I was thrilled if he stood long enough for me to get one and count to "one" - considering where he started, it was a miracle he'd do that. Of course now he'll stand for an hour at the mounting block, lol!

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  13. Glad you liked my post jenj. But yeah, I sometimes put my 33 year old horse's blanket on without catching him, too. Though the last time I did it I was sorry, cause he's still a big spook, and he sort of moved off halfway though. I did admit in the post that I get lax about things, too--but then something will happen (as others have said) that will remind me that I need to be careful. The big goal is not to get hurt, and I'm willing to be vigilant--because getting hurt sucks.

    I do like my horses to lead at my right shoulder, with me on the left...but I don't see anything wrong with leading from either side if you and your horse are comfortable with it.

    And yeah, 33 year old Gunner gets babied just like Cash, and if you met him, you would see that I do let him push on me a little--its hard to be too "firm" with a sweet old horse. Still, I try to remember the goal--not getting hurt.

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    1. Laura, your posts always make me think! You're totally right about the goal of not getting hurt, and while I've always got that in mind, I am also not as careful as I should be.

      It's hard not to baby the old guys, isn't it? Cash gets extra grazing time, extra cookies, extra feed... but hey, he deserves it!

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  14. I'm lax on some things, and rigid on others. The one thing I won't do is ride without a helmet. Way back, a stable mate had a fatal riding accident, and it scared me straight on that issue.

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    1. I had the helmet-wearing beat into me by my adopted horse mom. If I showed up to ride without a helmet, gloves, and a belt on, she would just stare at me until I went and found whatever piece of attire I was missing. I had quite a few lessons with bailing-twine belts, as I recall! And strangely, belts are the only thing that didn't stick.

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  15. I have bad habits too. I don't snap Ozzy's halter half the time, for example. I think risks are part of owning horses. Part of safety is being aware of which risks you're taking and knowing which things you won't budge on. For example, I ALWAYS kick both feet out of the stirrups before I dismount. I never ride without a helmet. I always use quick release knots. Some of it varies horse to horse. I am much more careful around client horses than my own guys, for example.

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    1. Dom, I'm with you on the always kicking feet out from stirrups, riding with a helmet, and using quick release knots or some sort of tie that will let go (I have some velcro-release ties). Well, except for Oberon, who knows he can get loose, and then we hard-tie him and let him fight it out if he wants to. As you say, it's horse-dependent.

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  16. Welcome to my life with Immy. EVERYTHING I do I have to think about, seeing as even a accidental body signal on my part can be completely misinterpreted by her and send her into a total panic. Everything I do with her is about safety, seeing as until she is a little more broke, nothing I do I can do with 100% certainty that she won't freak out. Even things I take for granted with everybody else, like picking feet, have to be done in a certain way - she has to be caught and the leadrope has to be connected to me or something else, or you can forget it... if you just walk up to her in the paddock to lift a foot, she's gone before you can even bent over!

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    1. Yeah, I think my laxness stems a lot from the fact that my guys are pretty dang broke. Hopefully Immy will end up that way too, it can happen!

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  17. I'm guilty, too. I got Willie as a teenager and had major First Horse Syndrome, plus he was destined for a career around kids as my 4-H horse, so I made sure he was exposed to a LOT. One of the worst things I've done is duck under his belly, pitchfork in hand, because I was too lazy to walk around him in the stall. Thankfully, he's a saint! (This is why he also now has special Old Man Privileges.)

    When I got Jabby, I had to adjust my routines a bit -- but I mostly trained him to deal with all the same things as Willie. I'd bring a halter and lead rope with me when I changed blankets in the field, or spend a few extra minutes teaching him to stand next to a scary chair to be mounted -- an extra challenge considering he was very cold-backed when I got him.

    I handle my horses completely by myself 99% of the time, and take them into a lot of situations with non-horsey public underfoot. My expectations for them are much higher than the show horses I work with for a living!

    I'm still guilty of doing stupid things (I add them to the "How to Get Kicked Out of Pony Club 101" list in my head), but I also have two very well-mannered horses who can deal with just about anything -- not a batted eyelash when a wayward toddler runs a trike into their legs, or comes running up behind them with a balloon in hand. During a crisis, I know I can probably trust them to behave if, say, I have to pony both of them out of the same car window, on the "wrong" side.

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    1. It sounds like your horses are like mine, and you have very high expectations for them. We also have a lot of interactions with the non-horsey public, and those are always the situations that worry me the most. The list of things that can go wrong is unending!

      Also, I wanna see the pic of you ponying both your horses out the car window. That sounds like a story in of itself!

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    2. Sadly only one photo still exists:

      https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4aQVhAqrY0E/Th0Y75OPKLI/AAAAAAAAEDI/74l4kpmH0Mg/s600/badponies.jpg

      Their pasture-mate ran over me, and I had three horses to catch and move across the farm in a hurry. I hopped in the car, drove my two home, then hurried back for the third.

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