|
Boogie
Jul 14, 2006 14:55:56 GMT -5
Post by heidigrex on Jul 14, 2006 14:55:56 GMT -5
Hi, brief post for now. I am Boogie's new owner. Unfortunately I do not have a good digital camera, so it will be a bit before I can post pictures. Boogie is getting lots of good food and more attention than he cares for, but it is what he needs. Thanks for the interest, and I will post again later when I have a bit more time.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 14, 2006 15:02:55 GMT -5
Post by appylover on Jul 14, 2006 15:02:55 GMT -5
Hi Heidi. Glad you joined. I'd love to see more pictures and updates to see how Boogie is doing! ;D
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 15, 2006 1:36:37 GMT -5
Post by shireluver on Jul 15, 2006 1:36:37 GMT -5
It's about time you got here Heidi ;D
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 15, 2006 23:46:50 GMT -5
Post by heidigrex on Jul 15, 2006 23:46:50 GMT -5
I think I am seeing just a bit of change in Boogie. I think he is getting just a tad curious about me. He acts like he wants to approach me even when I don't have food. Don't know if it is really curiousity or he thinks maybe I have some food on me that he can't see. Some of it is when I am standing or sitting on the bucket in his pen, and he will approach me a bit from either the front or the back if I ignore him. Also today I was outside the pen leaning my elbows and chin on one of the bars - he came up and put his face about a foot away from mine, just looking at me.
That's the good part.
The other thing is I think he may be developing just a hint of food aggression. When I walk in with his food, he is right there, dancing around, wants it now, may dance sideways to me, not actually turning his butt to me, but......I know that horse's will often go to testing who is in charge as soon as they start losing their fear. I am wondering what is the best way to make sure he knows that is me while still trying to tame him. I can't touch him at all yet.
Maybe just move his feet around the pen a bit? I had started just stepping towards his shoulder in the pen to make him move forward, then at some point stepping just a bit in front of him to make him stop. That was a couple days ago, and he got so nervous that I quit, but maybe it is time to start that again. Or???
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 17, 2006 14:30:18 GMT -5
Post by cat67 on Jul 17, 2006 14:30:18 GMT -5
I would either (a) not go into the pen to feed him (throw hay over, hang a bucket on the fence where you can reach it from the other side or (b) go in there with a whip when you have food and make him stay away until you have put the food in and left the pen. That will not scare him off of you forever or anything, but he needs to know to stand clear until you have fed him and left. You don't want him to get it into his head he can charge you for food. He needs to give you a safe radius of space - he can play and be excited about dinner, but not on top of you. Then when you don't have food, if you have time, I'd do what you're doing - just sit in the pen and ignore him. Like sit on the fence, if you have a sittable fence and read a book. Works wonders. Even the spookiest unhandled beast cannot, for some reason, stand to be ignored. They are kind of like men that way, ha ha. If you ignore them, eventually they will come over and start checking you out! If he comes over, don't move and don't even make eye contact at first. Let him get really comfortable with coming over and sniffing around you before you try to stare at him or touch, and then see what body part he's OK about. It may not be what you expect. I've seen horses who were fine about you touching their nose but not their neck at first. Since you are seeing food aggression, I would not bribe him with food (too bad, that's the easy way) but he sounds curious enough that you won't need it. He sounds like he has real potential - he's not scared to death of you and this is pretty close in time to his ordeal of being chased into the trailer and moved, so you can see that didn't make him scared for long.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 20, 2006 12:54:16 GMT -5
Post by shireluver on Jul 20, 2006 12:54:16 GMT -5
Heidigrex, how is Boogie doing? Any progress on getting him to trust you yet?
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 20, 2006 23:05:08 GMT -5
Post by heidigrex on Jul 20, 2006 23:05:08 GMT -5
Well, here's the latest.
Boogie showed his first clear-cut act of aggression yesterday.
He has gotten quite comfortable eating out of a tub with me holding it in his pen - as long as I stand quite still. If I even think about moving, he will shoot backwards. Anyway, yesterday I was pushing his comfort level just a tad by wiggling my thumbs while holding his feed tub - really scary thumbs! He wanted his feed, couldn't handle the thumbs, so he turned clear around and started backing his butt up to me ):-(
I was by the gate, so I just took the feed and left. I got the lunge whip, went back in, and we started over. He managed to eat in spite of the thumbs and even bumped my hands a few times by accident with his nose. Apparently as long as HE bumps me, it is not too big a deal.
He didn't do any further butt in my face stuff.
Anyway, husband has now banned me from Boogie's pen unless he is around. Don't much like it, but I can see his point. I am still standing right up next to the panels with my arms on the inside holding his tub, and he does not like any wiggling thumbs or fingers but is getting over it somewhat.
My husband wants to make a squeeze chute out of a couple of our panels and get him in it and just pet and touch him until he gets over it. I'm not crazy about the idea. Even if we get him in it, unless there are posts in concrete holding it up and a top on it, I am afraid it could be bad. I did at least get him to agree to get our Indian farrier out to advise and maybe help.
I think Boogie is going to really make us work, and I sure don't want anyone getting hurt.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 20, 2006 23:11:24 GMT -5
Post by jennywho on Jul 20, 2006 23:11:24 GMT -5
I went through the exact same thing with Tanner for quite some time where it was okay for him to touch me, but he would get aggressive when I tried to touch him (cow kicking, biting, striking, etc) Please be patient, eventually he figured out that he liked to be scratched, now I have to work to keep him away from me. The interesting thing (to me) about him, is that I actually made better progress getting him to let me touch him when feed wasn't involved after he got over his initial "the alien is going to kill me stage". Good luck and hang in there. It will all be worth it in the end.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 28, 2006 20:17:51 GMT -5
Post by shireluver on Jul 28, 2006 20:17:51 GMT -5
Ok guys, it looks like I am picking up Boogie tomorrow and he HAS to have a new home. I can not keep him for very long.
Pleeeez let me know if you have any ideas for him.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 28, 2006 23:46:45 GMT -5
Post by jennywho on Jul 28, 2006 23:46:45 GMT -5
I wish I had some ideas for you, but SO is still really mad that Tanner is here. LOL.
With time, these wild boys can and will turn around. I am amazed daily at the progress Tanner makes. Whoever gets him just needs to appreciate the baby steps and realize that even a little progress is actually a big hurdle. I have a feeling that if I get to keep Tanner (still debating) he WILL be the best horse I have ever owned. My horsemanship skills and self confidence have improved greatly since he came in my life and I get the biggest thrill from giving him a goodnight hug before I leave at night.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 30, 2006 20:20:59 GMT -5
Post by ericpattymartin on Jul 30, 2006 20:20:59 GMT -5
a squeeze chute worked for us on our yearling appy filly couldn't touch her and she would try and kick you and bite. She is now 2 yrs old and a pocket poney but still likes to nibble alittle bit. Shire where are you located?
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 31, 2006 10:28:10 GMT -5
Post by cat67 on Jul 31, 2006 10:28:10 GMT -5
Shame Boogie is too wild to have gone to that clinic...I would love to hear Rick's 2 cents worth on him. Will he ever come out to a private property and do an eval? I would certainly be open to contributing for him to take a look at Boogie and offer a professional opinion.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 31, 2006 11:59:35 GMT -5
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 31, 2006 11:59:35 GMT -5
shireluver, I mentioned Boogie's story to Dorothy this weekend at the clinic; she was going to give me some names of Portland area NH trainers. There is Steve Roether, but apparently he is away a lot giving clinics.
Still, it sure sounds to me that some NH training is what Boogie will need.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 31, 2006 12:28:27 GMT -5
Post by shireluver on Jul 31, 2006 12:28:27 GMT -5
Currently, Boogie is located in Wilamina, OR, which is west of Salem. I'm sure Boogie would benefit from any training.
At this point in time, I think Heidi's husband has decided to keep Boogie. I know, the roller coaster ride is very emotionaly draining, but Heidi needs to do what is best for her at this point. We know the horse will be taken care of, so for now he will stay with her husband when she relocates.
She will not be able to be back online until August 8th or so, so we look forward to hearing from her then.
Oh, I'm in Harrisburg, which is about 20 miles north of Eugene.
|
|
|
Boogie
Jul 31, 2006 13:08:49 GMT -5
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 31, 2006 13:08:49 GMT -5
Well that's some good news for Boogie! I hope things work out for Heidi... If it comes down to it, let me know if you/her husband need some names of trainers.
|
|