Adiva Murphy and Pal
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY – FOUR PART QUESTION
Question: So when they try to knock into you what is the next step? I haven’t quite figured out how to work the stick yet but I have been using my lunge line.
Answer: Get familiar with that stick – it is your new best friend. I used to stumble along with the rope for years because I felt it was too much to handle having a stick in my hand, but once you realize you use it like a longer arm….it is FANTASTIC!
Question: We have been having some MAJOR PROBLEMS trailering my horse preacher. He is an x-racehorse and hates to load on a trailer. We’ve tried everything people told us to try. He got on there a couple of times but thats all. Tuesday my mom went over there and fed him in the trailer and when we got there a friend (Jason) went into the trailer nervous and scared. When he started to tie him up Preacher went BAZERK and Jason started to freak and get loud with him. I know you’re probably not supposed to get loud. So how can you get him from being non trailer shy and get that horse onto the trailer so I can go to my lessons and shows? He’s a real sweet boy.
Answer from April Reeves: Your problem is serious and difficult to fix unless you are skilled in groundwork. Your friend Jason did not help either. There is no excuse to raise your voice to a horse, and doing so just set you back. I’m always the type of person to tell it truthfully – loading a difficult horse is a dangerous thing to attempt without experience.
Pat and Linda Parelli - Love, Language and Leadership
Question: Hi April: I have a couple of questions:
1) What is Parelli training?
2) Where can I read more about Parelli?
3) What are your thoughts on getting a horse from one of the accredited horse rescue facilities?
4) I am 5’4″ 170 lbs and am interested in getting a horse in a year or two. It has been recommended to me to get a thoroughbred 10-20 yo. How about a Standardbred? I am taking beginner lessons, I was an avid rider 40 years ago. I am 58 yo and on a weight loss program. My reward will be a horse after a couple years of lessons for pleasure riding and to maybe learn very, very novice dressage for my own pleasure and dropping 30 lbs. Your advice and comments are appreciated. Thank you.
Answer: First, I have to say good for you! Getting back on a horse is a big dream, and good for you to be brave enough to do it. Owning a horse will help in your other goals, especially for strength and mental happiness. Horses do so much for us.
Parelli Training
The system of Parelli training is to work with your horse on his level; meaning that you, the human, must learn his language and speak to him in his language. This includes body language, voice (lack of it), mannerisms, and ‘play’.
Question: I have been a traditional English rider for almost 30 years now. I am currently at level 2 dressage, but hope to go higher with this horse. I have also ridden the hunter circuits.
My question to you is I have no real information on how Natural Horsemanship works with the English riders. My dressage gelding right now displays some rather undesirable manners. Would learning NH help us, and is there a way English traditional riders can learn this. I’m not interested in the ‘cowboy’ way.
My trainer is also curious about whether or not NH could be integrated into our programs.
From April Reeves: Thank you for this question! Yes, Natural Horsemanship can and should be a part of all English disciplines, and especially so since many of the horses are much larger and full of personality.
Horses ask us to step up and lead with confidence
Question: I have a mare she gets spooky when leading sometimes. My friend told me to speak softly and quietly and pat her when she is like this but she is just getting worse. Should I be nice to her, speak nice? It seems to make her worse. Why is this happening? Does she not like me anymore?
Answer from April Reeves: Here is a classic example of humans expecting the horse to react and think the way we do. Let’s break this scenario down into how each is thinking at the point where your mare spooks:
Adiva Murphy
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: We’ve been doing a lot of road riding lately so the ditches and the grass is very long. We of course have some trouble keeping the horses from snacking all the way. Jenny is finding that her horse who is quite poky anyway is getting slower and likes to stop to eat. That means that she is either always pulling on his face or kicking or both. This causes him to get a little nervous because I am not sure if he knows what he is doing wrong. On our broke horses we have always just had the thought that if they could grab a bite and keep going no big deal. Is this the best answer or should we be approaching this differently. I don’t want our rides to always be a fight and when the grass is so long it is hard for them to not want to eat. Any suggestions?
Answer: Well it is pretty easy to stop it…you need to make it a rule that they are not allowed to eat at all. I am firm about this with my horses because it is annoying and I don’t want to pull on their face.
Here is what I do and recommend:
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Intoducing Pal to the Horseman's Stick
Question: I know how to get them to get their hind end away from me but what do you do when they want to run you over with their shoulders?
Answer: Mares especially will do this. You need to use the stick to be most effective. Start by being in front of her and tapping the ground between her front legs…that won’t get a response but you need a cue and a phase 1 – tap harder so it runs into her and start escalading higher until there is a try to move back. A TRY. Build on this until they are taking at least one step back and taking it RIGHT NOW. Remember to stop the pressure when you get the response you are looking for. When this is really good with the stick you can toss the rope rhythmically at the MIDDLE of the chest and it will have the same effect. (or your hand tapping the shoulder from the side etc…)
Watch Adiva's Video Here
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: I am hoping that you can give us some suggestions on how to handle our three foals from this year. We are totally baffled and so have come to the expert looking for advice.
Fancee, Magpie and Missy are great once you get a halter on them. They will lead, back up, allow you to pick up their feet and yesterday they got their first official trimming and were as quiet as they could be. The problem arises when the halters come off. They will not come anywhere near either Jack or I. When I put their feed in their buckets they run from me like I am the devil. Never has this happened before. When we finally corral them and get halters on them, they will nuzzle up to me like I am their best friend in the world. Magpie scares me when we try and get a halter on her because she tries to go over the fence that is taller than I am. Again, once the halter is on she is just fine, in fact she is the smartest one of the bunch this year.
Normally by this time the foals are in my space and fighting to be the first one to get scratches from me. I am at a loss as to why these foals are acting this way. The only thing different that happened this year was that the foals were out on the hills in a herd situation but they saw me as much as any of the previous foals have.
Answer: First thing I would do is put some time aside for a few days to ‘spend undemanding time’ – grab a bucket to sit on and sit in the middle of their pen for about 30min. don’t do anything, after about 10 min they will get curious as to why you are there…let them smell you, nibble on the jacket etc. Try not to pet them until they have checked you out. Day 2 – when they come up to you sitting on your bucket – pet them in their favorite places…etc etc.
Adiva Murphy on Homestead Morgan Mare
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: My young mare kicks if I don’t put her out right away with the others. She also kicks in the stall a lot, especially if another horse is being fed (jealous?). My thoughts are to use a form if kicking chain. I hope she doesn’t freak out and panic or get mad. My friend gave us a pair of those wraps with the weights they use on horses to make them lift their feet higher. Could they work as a foot chain? Will it be a bit painful when she kicks the stall wall?
Answer: I am not a fan of kicking chains and have never used them. However they serve a purpose and will cause the horse to discipline herself the moment she kicks. I am not against somebody trying it as long as the horse does not get hurt.
Adiva and Pal
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: I purchased a 4 year old mare with a questionable background. She is terrified of sprayers, whether it is on the hose or a spray bottle. If she hears the hiss of a hose–is backing up and snorting. Same thing with the spray bottle. Is it the hissing sound that’s frightening her? Or is it the water spraying itself?
Answer: My recommendation; and by the way this is a common problem – a lot more common that you might think!! It does not mean the mare was abused – she sounds sensitive and has a strong instinct to protect herself.
No Bridle or Saddle!!
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: “I ask my horse to do something and he does something quite different. Even if I get mad at him, he just doesn’t get it. My neighbor says to keep on him and eventually he will come around. Is this true? Can you help me with this? Do you have any tips or some way I can understand what I’m doing wrong?”
Answer: The rider needs to learn to make a lot of adjustments so that the horse can understand. If they do not understand something try asking the ‘question’ different.
Don’t focus on what the horse is doing wrong, otherwise the rider/handler will usually end up scolding the horse rather than focusing on teaching the horse what is right. The horse just becomes afraid of doing the wrong thing and the problem will lead to more problems.
A SPECIAL POST BY ADIVA MURPHY
Question: I am having a problem with my daughter and her pony. She is only 5 years old and she has a pretty great little pony that she rides and takes lessons on. The problem we have is that the pony (Bambi) has learned that if she pulls on the reins she can rip them out of my daughter’s hands. I got on her and she tried a couple times for me but quickly realized that she couldn’t pull the same thing with me and quit trying. As soon as my daughter got back on her it was the same problem. I told her to be ready for it and hold the reins for dear life but of course she just isn’t strong enough. Can you offer any ideas on what we can try? I am just not too sure where to go next.
Answer: Two suggestions –
ONE; teach the one rein stop as soon as the pony lurches the reins – bend its head – bending is more annoying to the pony = will stop doing it. Also a 5 yr old cannot win the tug o war. So that would help cure the issue – because the pony will respect the little rider…you cannot fix the issue – same as I can make a horse understand new things and train it very well but it will only be as good as its rider…and the respect it has for that rider.
aprilreeveshorsetraining 