Whooo Hooo a little baby step

Well this morning , I fed the horses as usual but this time,, Joe Joe didn't get his food till he approached me with his ears up,, I walked in the stall with his feed and he came toward me with his ears pinned as usual, this time I shooed him away, and we kept this up for quit awhile, finally he came toward me with his ears up , I was able to pet his snout and he started smacking , finally I put the food down and he ate ,, I stayed in the stall and pet his neck for awhile while he ate,, I guess that's a little progress ,,, at least he knows HE didn't shoo ME away. Very happy when we take baby steps.... We will see what happens tonight at grooming time,, We have to work on the biting

Gaining respect from your horse

Hi all.... this weeks topic is gaining respect. How do you do it. I am having some problems with Joe Joe.. Usually he is pretty good. exept sometimes in the morning and at night. In the morning ,, I am not sure if he is playing or just not listening. when we try to put the halter he tries to bit it and then tries to nip me , most of the time it is just with his lips no teeth. At night for brushing he steps into me (not always but I have be watching for it) he puts his ears back (not really pinned but close) he turns his head toward me and I am afraid he will try to bite, as he has done it before,, When I bring him in he comes at the closed door quick and has his ears pinned and is very pushy with his head.. I an not sure that it's aimed at me or the little mare Dakota. For the last few months I have actually thinking about selling him.. This morning I said it out loud 'Don I am thinking of selling Joey" well as soon as it was out of my mouth I started to cry ,, I don't want to get rid of him. I love him to death. I am not sure how to gain his respect. The other night Don was holding Joe while I brushed him he acted up a bit and then Don pulled the lead down shook it a few times and Joe was fine.. he stood for a long time quietly, when I try it Joe just gets more cranky and fidgety. I will keep working on him and do some more reading. I don't want to give up on him , he is a beautiful and smooth ride. Maybe once the round pen and riding ring is done I will be able to work with him more. Well I guess that's it for now ,, Any one have any respect issues or tips???
Bye for now

Saddened by some people

Yesterday I lost a little faith in people. There was a story on the news about an older gentleman who left his horses in a field to die,, just because he wanted some sort of tax break. There were 18 horses, that where basically starving to death. On the Heneke scale some of the horses where a one.. close to death. This man was not even charged with anything. What is wrong with people today. A lack of compassion, and common sense. I can not understand how some one in their right mind can watch as an animal is slowly starves to death. Have they no heart. Thank God for places like Days End Farm Horse rescue,, and all of the other rescue shelters. I understand that there are alot of people who don't like animals but why hurt them? what does it prove?
Then there is the horse slaughter I have seen blogs where some people actually are for the slaughter of horses? Why?

I think it takes a coward to hurt an animal. All they do is give you love and unconditional at that.

Farrier Visit

Well my Farrier came today,, it's always stressfull for me when he comes,, Dakota was a little angel,, Joe on the other hand ,, not so good,, he always stands relativly well for the first 3 then the last( back right) he falls apart,, and gets dangerous,, he not only kicks out but he also move toward you with his back end and sends every body flying back,, They had to put the gum chain on,, as long a joe keeps his head down,, he feels no pain,, so he is usually pretty good with it ,, any way I just can't watch,, especially when he explodes ,,, Joe had the gum chain on for maybe 5 minutes,, then it was off and they were done,, he always gets treats after. Then they were out of the barn and eating and playing again,,
I have been working on the head down cue,, Joe has it pretty good,, but dakota still needs work.

Crazy Lady

My little mare,,, This is a picture of me and my little mare last winter ,,, She is a little angel when she wants to be,, we've had her since she was 6 months and handled her alot , she stands in the crossties, does her feet really well ,, has never kicked out and is not pushy or rude,,, We brought the horses home Dec. 31 2005 and they love it ,,, Dakota lately has been coming at me in the paddock,,, head swinging and feet flying (front and back) ,, Well she scared me so much all I could do is get out,,, Well I got some advice from the nice people at the John Lyons discussion board and tried it.. I went out to their paddock (not too far in ) and she came running at me head swinging and her front feet coming off the ground,, I raised my hands and acted like a crazy lady,, she stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me through the corner of her eyes,, it almost looked like she didn't know what to do ,, she paused then tried again,, I did the same thing and she stopped looked at me like I was nuts and turned and walked quietly back to her hay,, It's been a week and she hasn't done it since,,, that night she was afraid to take a carrot out of my hands,,, she eventually walked toward me when I gave her the cue,,

This weeks topic of the day is Mares,, let us know your experiences with mares good or bad