Comments on: A Better Way to Deal with Bad Behavior http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/ How to Get to Yes with the horse you have Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:47:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sue james http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-149 sue james Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:55:47 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-149 I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post

]]> By: Janice Snider Morgan http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Janice Snider Morgan Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:08:33 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-125 Nice post, Sharon. Good observations, but so sad for the racehorses involved. How terribly that we treat animals in the name of many sports. Nice post, Sharon. Good observations, but so sad for the racehorses involved. How terribly that we treat animals in the name of many sports.

]]> By: Nell Walton http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Nell Walton Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:28:25 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-124 Great post! Very interesting reading........ Great post! Very interesting reading……..

]]> By: sharon http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-123 sharon Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:26:32 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-123 Kathy, exactly the response that I had reading some of the comments. Does this say something about what is 'classical' or do we really know how the Old Masters would have dealt with such things? Let's read from Gueriniere, speaking of the horse's nature, "However, when the nature is rebellious and one is not able to define the source of the obstinacy, one runs the risk of using methods that are more likely to produce new vices than to correct those one thinks one understands." Hmmmmmmm.... Kathy, exactly the response that I had reading some of the comments. Does this say something about what is ‘classical’ or do we really know how the Old Masters would have dealt with such things? Let’s read from Gueriniere, speaking of the horse’s nature, “However, when the nature is rebellious and one is not able to define the source of the obstinacy, one runs the risk of using methods that are more likely to produce new vices than to correct those one thinks one understands.” Hmmmmmmm….

]]> By: Kathy http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Kathy Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:26:18 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-122 I had read that person's experience on the CD list as well. She gets it, too bad so many of these so called classically trained advocates on the list don't. I had read that person’s experience on the CD list as well. She gets it, too bad so many of these so called classically trained advocates on the list don’t.

]]> By: sharon http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-121 sharon Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:06:37 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-121 Thank you for your comment, Mary! Since I agree with you :-) it is really hard for me to relate to those who don't/won't accept that the horse might have a point of view that should be considered!! Thank you for your comment, Mary! Since I agree with you :-) it is really hard for me to relate to those who don’t/won’t accept that the horse might have a point of view that should be considered!!

]]> By: Mary H. http://www.horsemansarts.com/2009/12/a-better-way-to-deal-with-bad-behavior/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Mary H. Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:35:03 +0000 http://www.horsemansarts.com/?p=558#comment-119 Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it, Sharon! I've had experience with about a dozen different barns and all sorts of different boarding arrangements. Many problems with biting, kicking, aggression, bad behavior in general can be "magically cured" by giving the horse adequate exercise and 24-hour turn out with other horses. Even 4-6 hours of turn out can make a big difference in personality and problem behavior. One reason I am against "punishment" is because in many cases, our so called "punishment" of our horses and dogs is not actually reducing the unwanted behavior. It might make the rider feel good to slap the horse for biting or back the horse 30ft for invading the person's space, but do we actually see a reduction in the bad behavior? Besides, when the horse displays "bad" behavior, it's usually for a reason. He's trying to tell me something! Why should I punish the horse for telling me his saddle is too tight on his withers, his bit is pinching his mouth, his back is sore, etc....? Behaviors happen for a reason. And if behavior gets bad enough to be classified as "problem" behavior, maybe it's time to start listening to the horse. Mary Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it, Sharon!

I’ve had experience with about a dozen different barns and all sorts of different boarding arrangements. Many problems with biting, kicking, aggression, bad behavior in general can be “magically cured” by giving the horse adequate exercise and 24-hour turn out with other horses. Even 4-6 hours of turn out can make a big difference in personality and problem behavior.

One reason I am against “punishment” is because in many cases, our so called “punishment” of our horses and dogs is not actually reducing the unwanted behavior. It might make the rider feel good to slap the horse for biting or back the horse 30ft for invading the person’s space, but do we actually see a reduction in the bad behavior?

Besides, when the horse displays “bad” behavior, it’s usually for a reason. He’s trying to tell me something! Why should I punish the horse for telling me his saddle is too tight on his withers, his bit is pinching his mouth, his back is sore, etc….? Behaviors happen for a reason. And if behavior gets bad enough to be classified as “problem” behavior, maybe it’s time to start listening to the horse.

Mary

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