I’ve said this before; what works with one horse may not work with another.

I know some people who do not believe in the “Touchy Feely” approach.  That’s their opinion, and if it works for them, great.  They’re not interested in trying any other way but theirs.  Okay, whatever works for you.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but so am I.

I believe that you try different methods, and see what works with that particular horse.  Sometime you have to be aggressive, and sometimes “touchy feely”,  sometimes both, depends on where the horse is coming from, and what you are trying to accomplish.  Rules, boundaries, limitations, and consistency are a must no matter what approach you take.  You wouldn’t use a cast, if a band-aid would work, would you?

Drugs vs natural.  Both have their benefits, and drawbacks.  Anyone who has watched TV lately, has seen the drug commercials.  By the time they finished running the disclaimer, you wonder why anyone would take that drug to begin with.  I watched when my mother was alive, and now with my husband, the doctors just keep prescribing drugs.  One after another to counteract the side effects of the previous drug.  The amazing thing is that they never seem to remove them, when you don’t need them anymore.  There is just something wrong with all of this.  Don’t just accept this.  Ask questions, monitor the drugs effects (good and bad) and don’t be afraid to say NO!, what other options do I have?  This goes not only for you, but with your animals.  Read the side effects, and watch closely.  If you notice anything unusual, make that call immediately.

I have a friend who called me today saying “help!”  She works at a Thoroughbred breeding farm, and has a 6 month old Thoroughbred filly who has had major stifle issues.  She must be stall kept.  Red Flag!  When my Clydesdale was a baby she had leg and health issues, she had to be stall kept.  With the Clyde baby it was no big deal.  My Jack Russell and I would sit in the stall with her, and I would sing to her while she laid her head on my lap and napped.  Now we’re talking TB baby.  Whole different ball game.  After a month in the stall, she’s a time bomb waiting to go off.   She may not necessarily be a bad horse, just bad circumstances.  Not going to sit in a stall with this one.  From the conversation I’ve had with my friend, I’ve determined that she’s smart, bored, frustrated, and angry that she’s being confined.  Add colder weather and you’ve got quite a set up for excess energy.  She was never fond of people before, and certainly has not changed her opinion of them now.  She’s lashing out at anyone who tries to man-handle her.  Truthfully, seeing things from her perspective, I would too.

I’ve given her a few ideas on entertainment to work with until I get to go see her.  Big screen TV, Netflix, I phone, Skype, only kidding!  They’ve already started her on drugs.  I’m not totally for that.  Depends on what they are giving her, and how much.  Why do people feel the need to drug the horse instead of finding the basis of the problem, and fixing it?  At that age I’d rather do something more natural.  Some acupuncture, herbs, things to calm her mind, and body.  She just needs a program, to teach her things she can learn in the stall, that will help her when she gets her “Get Out Of Jail Free” card, something to get her thinking, and keep her busy.

Teach and reward may be an idea for now.   You can teach them a whole lot in small spaces.  But then again, this filly may not be in the mood to learn anything.  I’ll find out.

As for teaching some people new tricks, it’s like teaching pigs to sing – it just wastes your time, and annoys the pigs.  That IS cast in stone, end of discussion.