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Ask Monty, April '09
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4/1/2009: To Monty: My pony, Tiki, has just recovered from an injury in his front right hoof. He spent a year on stall rest and gained a lot of weight. My instructor told me to hit him hard with the crop 3 times if he does not listen to my leg. Does this hurt him? Is it mean?
4/8/2009: The question I have is: how to stop a horse from kicking the other horses in the paddock? I have 2 horses that I cannot put out with the others because they will kick and hurt the other horses.
4/15/2009: Would you explain how you properly reward your horse when teaching him? Thank you, Mike Thomas
4/22/2009: I have a 4-year-old "boerperd" (this is a South African breed ) chestnut gelding. He seems to have a bit of American Saddlebred and Thoroughbred in him. I am training him in dressage and he is a very forward moving and he is willing to please his rider. I have him in a balance controlled trot at times, but his canter is still very rushed. His head is difficult to keep quiet and he does not accept the bit. I have been training him for 8 months now. How do I get him to calm down especially in a canter? Lots of people say I must give it time for him to be balanced, but is there a way to train him?
MONTY'S ANSWERS
Question:
To Monty: My pony, Tiki, has just recovered from an injury in his front right hoof. He spent a year on stall rest and gained a lot of weight. My instructor told me to hit him hard with the crop 3 times if he does not listen to my leg. Does this hurt him? Is it mean?
Monty's Answer: Dear Alyssa, I think that your instructor should turn with her back toward you, bend over and tell you to strike her three times with the crop. If she wants that, then you can ask her if it hurts. I can tell you that it will hurt, and I can also tell you that this sort of thinking is why he is misbehaving in the first place. It is never OK to hit your pony, and one should learn ways to deal with his problems without violence.
Question: The question I have is: how to stop a horse from kicking the other horses in the paddock? I have 2 horses that I cannot put out with the others because they will kick and hurt the other horses.
Monty's Answer: The only thing we can do for horses that act in a negative way in their social setting is to arrange their environment so that they are less likely to hurt one another. I advise people to make a small area available in the corner of the field. I suggest that they fence this off with one electric tape. Every time you see a "bully" acting aggressively, put him behind that tape as soon as possible. He will often rub the other horses over the tape and will cease to be aggressive after three or four repetitions of this suggestion.
Question: Would you explain how you properly reward your horse when teaching him?
Monty's Answer: Reward for the horse is not easily understood by us human beings. Money doesn't impress them much at all, and food falls well short of the mark as a reward. It is my opinion that horses regard stopping the work session for a minute or so as quite rewarding. If you are working your horse from the ground, a rub between the eyes and walking away will often be seen by the horse as the best reward of all. They will often follow you for your understanding.
Question: I have a 4-year-old "boerperd" (this is a South African breed ) chestnut gelding. He seems to have a bit of American Saddlebred and Thoroughbred in him. I am training him in dressage and he is a very forward moving and he is willing to please his rider. I have him in a balance controlled trot at times, but his canter is still very rushed. His head is difficult to keep quiet and he does not accept the bit. I have been training him for 8 months now. How do I get him to calm down especially in a canter? Lots of people say I must give it time for him to be balanced, but is there a way to train him?
Monty's Answer: The flavor of this question suggests the lack of "mouthing". In my book From My Hands to Yours, I explain extensively what I recommend in the area of "mouthing" your horse. It is a section near page 33 of about 2000 words. I think this entire book is very good for you as there will be many areas within its covers that will assist you in the work you are doing. Let me suggest that you get this book, study that section and let me know how it is going with an email once you have some progress to report. Also, a quick search of my website archives gives more information - click here for access.
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