tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post5986350737695618573..comments2023-11-30T04:11:25.341-05:00Comments on What was I thinking.....?: Pucker UpWolfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-49829361838870778852009-12-23T10:54:25.489-05:002009-12-23T10:54:25.489-05:00@smazourek - thanks for your suggestions! I haven...@smazourek - thanks for your suggestions! I haven't been hand feeding him anything since day one. IF I treat him, I put in on the ground. I like the suggestion of loving him up when he mouths. He is much better than he was, but he still does it. I will give it a go!Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-67867840839149290312009-12-23T10:23:47.366-05:002009-12-23T10:23:47.366-05:00You could post a sign on his stall that says, &quo...You could post a sign on his stall that says, "Caution, horse bites!"<br /><br />Also avoid giving him any food from your hands, if you want to give him a treat, drop it in his bucket/food pan. My own gelding gets mouthy if I give him treats from my hand.<br /><br />Another tactic you could try is recommended by John Lyons. Every time your horse comes after you to bite, you take his muzzle in your hands and just love him up (keep your fingers out of his mouth). It's gentle so he won't get headshy and it works.smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-50313202404293144212009-12-18T21:14:58.268-05:002009-12-18T21:14:58.268-05:00@Breathe - I like your idea about wacking those pe...@Breathe - I like your idea about wacking those people! :-)Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-53897314549572076292009-12-18T15:47:59.088-05:002009-12-18T15:47:59.088-05:00My horse was also very mouthy - curious horses oft...My horse was also very mouthy - curious horses often are. If you invite the touch, I've been told, it's fine. Only bites deserve a serious reaction.<br /><br />Next time, wack those people. Tell them clearly they need the discipline.<br /><br />I have learned some horses need more firmness, but you always start soft. that way they have a chance to get it right.<br /><br />I hope to see a picture of that lip!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13104422629934443842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-81926561622357250872009-12-18T14:40:29.880-05:002009-12-18T14:40:29.880-05:00When he first arrived (last May) he was out in a t...When he first arrived (last May) he was out in a the front paddock a few hours a day and the rest he was confined to his stall. He was able to see and touch the other horse over the fence. He is now outside from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with his friends. :-)<br /><br />I appreciate your support regarding his mouthiness. I was quite shocked at the nerve of some people.<br /><br />Gem and I have been together a few months now, and we have made real progress, which I will share in other posts. I have seen what you described at the first stables I was at. Trust me, I will be the primary rider on Gem and we will be learning together! Thanks for sharing.Wolfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743943656869294788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8766983761847636077.post-87563995230285523262009-12-18T14:13:14.855-05:002009-12-18T14:13:14.855-05:00It's nice that you spend as much time with Gem...It's nice that you spend as much time with Gem as you can if he is confined to a stall all day (at least this is the impression I get). You might want to take him outside and hand walk him instead of getting into lunging him all the time to get his energy out. In my experience all horses need time outside to rejuvenate their mind. Being in a stall for 20 or so hours a day is really not good for their heads. <br /><br />As far as his mouthiness goes, it's up to you to correct him and not everyone else in the barn smacking him upside the head, you're right it will eventually make him head shy. Stick with it and just tell everyone hands off. <br /><br />Gem may be an 18-wheeler in your trainers opinion but don't let that deter you from riding him. The only way you and he will get the connection you need is from learning together. I made the mistake once of letting my trainer sort of take over my horse and I rode him in one or two lessons a week. The trainer showed him, trained him and basically made me feel like I was the inferior rider (which I was at the time), but I was also kinder to my horse and didn't kick and yank him around courses etc... Even though I was driving a 17'2 hand Mack Truck around the arena i can tell you that he did things more easily for me than the 'experienced' trainer, who had the nerve to comment 'how come he won't do that for me', to which my response was 'because he loves me and not you'. So I guess my point in this little story is simply, don't let anybody talk you out of riding and learning and training with your horse just because they say he's difficult and you really can't handle that yet. Good luck in your next lesson.Grey Horse Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.com