Howdy,
The photo above is of me & Lily taken in the summer of 2009, truly one of my favorite photos a wonderful memory.
Did you know leaving the halter on is dangerous and can be deadly? My horse and donkeys are very athletic they can take their back hooves and itch their face.
Important considerations
* The halter could get stuck on their hooves, fence or other objects.
* Strangulation can occur when they get the halter stuck on something and fight to get it off
* The halter can grow into the head of the equine (horse, donkey, mule) I have personally seen this and it is abuse
* Dirty itchy halter causes the equine to scratch and work to get it off it’s not natural (think how you would want to be treated)
Please learn how to teach your equine (horse, donkey or mule) To Catch You!
When interacting with your equine try to make this a time to connect bring a couple of pieces of green apple with you or a carrott to build a relationship of fair and safe leadership. Equine work best in training programs that do not require the equine to stay in the prisoner role. Yes, I said prisoner role, old school training techniques use fear to train equine and this is not a partnership. Donkeys cannot be trained this way they require natural training with fair, balanced and an honest trainer. Horses dream of being trained the way donkeys demand to be trained with dignity and respect.
The joy you will receive when changing your training methodology is enormous and your frustration will vanish. People say “treats make my equine nip” I say “Nope, use this as an opportunity to train” watch your timing let the equine turn their head away and then give them a reward takes just a few training sessions for them to learn how to politely accept a treat. Creativity is the answer you can do it!
Study Parelli if you don’t know how to play the friendly game and the catching game as they can teach you how to teach your equine to catch you. Bonus your membership is free for one month. On line videos, magazine and Parelli connect, everyone is studying under the Parelli’s very positive equine support and training. Working with equine is a dangerous sport you must be careful, have a plan, stay safe and not abuse the equine.
All of my equine come up to us every time we call them just like my dogs. The key is setting the animal up for success if each time you have time to be with your equine you are doing things to them that are not enjoyable why would they want to come up? Treat your equine the way you would want to be treated if you were living your life as an equine and watch the blessings start flowing freely.
The first step in training any animal is taming! The animal must trust that you will NOT abuse them or hurt them so try to think of it from their point of view and remember awareness is the first step in change. We subscribe to The Brayer a journal of the American Donkey and Mule Society magazine. Take a look this is a lovely way to learn more about donkeys and mules!
GOD bless you and your family two and four legs
Melody
granbee
May 31, 2012 at 10:35 pm
I was always taught to remove all man-made materials from the horse immediately after riding and brushing thoroughly. You are so very correct in saying that horses should be tamed to be point of requiring no halter for re-catching!