My gelding Starski, who was Amished trained, had perfect manners and was perfectly remote when he joined our horse family of two geldings.
It was almost as if it just didn't occur to him that people could be a source of affection and companionship. He didn't avoid me, he just didn't initiate any contact. He bonded deeply and quickly with our head horse, a huge paint, however. They sleep like hamsters in the same stall and share hay.
What seemed to turn things around was to single him out for a lot of special attention that did not involve riding or driving or work of any kind. We went for horse hikes around the countryside with plenty of grass snack breaks. He loved being led away for a pleasure walk while the other two geldings glared at him with envy.
Sometimes I just let him out of his pasture/paddock area so he can mow our lawn, free as a bird, while I work in the garden. In return, when it's time to go back behind the fence he offers his head for the halter and comes quietly.
Being a Haffy, food is everything. Sometimes I just slip him a carrot or apple for no reason. That always cheers him up and earns me Haffy points.
I suspect he was just a foot soldier in an army of horses in his previous life and that teaching him he is valued for just being Starski opened his heart to frienship with people.
He's been with us now for two years, and I have been repaid many times over for the special time I spend with him. Althoug he's young, he is extremely careful with me under saddle and comes trotting when I call his name.
Nothing worth having comes easily, I guess.
Anne
--- On Wed, 2/10/10, Bonnie Beresford <beresb@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> From: Bonnie Beresford <beresb@sympatico.ca>
> Subject: [haflingerfriends] How to capture her heart
> To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
> Received: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 7:40 PM
>
> Hi Gang,
>
> I joined this group awhile ago when I bought a Haflinger
> mare and her filly. I haven't posted since then, but I lurk
> a lot.
>
> I have just moved my mare Folly and her 10-month-old filly,
> Chance, to a new stable where the owner is a well-known
> trainer in this area. My first lesson with Folly is Friday.
> Despite the months I have owned them, I have spent most of
> my time with Chance. She needed it -- I had to gentle her
> for handling, then halter-break her, then break her to lead,
> then teach her to lead well, then I fell in love with her
> gorgeous temperament and tossed out the whole absurd idea of
> selling her -- you know how that is! She is an absolute joy
> to work with.
>
> Her mom is a different story. Folly has never shown the
> slightest interest in me, or in anyone else, for that
> matter. She has been broke to ride and drive, and I can
> catch her, halter her, throw a blanket on her, pick up her
> feet, longe her in a circle, and I am sure I could saddle
> her and ride her, probably without incident.
>
> But she just doesn't seem to CARE. I walk up to her in the
> pasture, I start scratching her withers, I tell her about
> all the fun stuff we'll do, and she just turns around and
> walks away! It has been that way from the start.
>
> At first my impression was that she is disappointed in
> humans. But that's anthropomorphizing too much, assuming
> horses think like humans. To be more precise, I think that
> she just doesn't expect anything from people. She is
> obedient, but she seems to feel "There's nothing in it for
> me". I don't think she's been abused -- I do think that her
> permission has never been sought, nobody has really cared
> what she thought about life.
>
> If I can't capture her heart and get her excited about what
> we do together, she's liable to bail on me if the going gets
> rough. The fellow who will be helping me works on the
> philosophy that you have to make yourself important to your
> horse, and she has to see you as a leader, someone she wants
> to be with. I'm very much looking forward to these lessons.
>
>
> I'd like to update y'all from time to time and get your
> feedback on this journey, because I love to read about all
> the fun times you guys are having with your Haffies and how
> they are just the best breed ever. I just know there's a
> great mare inside that golden hide! Anyone else out there,
> please feel free to give me your thoughts on this.
>
> Cheers,
> Bonnie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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