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Behaviour and Training
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It is
safe to say that no horse (or pony) is born bad. However,
temperament is hereditary and some horses will be born naturally docile
and others will have a tendency to wilfulness. Everything depends
on the early training and conditioning a horse receives - the horse who
inherits a placid temperament may tolerate bad handling while the one
who inherits a tendency to stubbornness or a more aggressive temperament
may end up being 'difficult' or even dangerous. |
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No web site can hope to cover everything there is to know about horse
behaviour - all we can do is help you to find out more. We will be
publishing articles on this site, providing links to other useful sites,
and recommending books that will help you learn more.
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Reasons for Bad Behaviour
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Management and Veterinary
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Riding
and Training |
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Very simply, all bad behaviour fits under one of these two
categories. Identifying the likely cause is the first step
to solving the problem. Your best allies may be a
knowledgeable equine vet and/or an experienced instructor/trainer.
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Biting
The nappy horse - including rearing
Stable Vices
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Feeding: too much feed or the wrong types of feed in
relation to the amount of work the horse is having. This
is one of the most common causes of bad behaviour. If he's
misbehaving, reduce his concentrates as a first step.
Pain:
could be due to something as simple as an ill-fitting saddle
or bit - or may have a physical basis (teeth or back being
the most common.) Check your tack and consult your vet.
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Poor training: this could go back quite a long way or could be
due to the inexperience of the present rider. Consider if
the bad behaviour is new - what has changed in his management
Instinct:
a horse's natural (herd) instincts can lead to behaviour that
is considered 'bad' - but which is in fact quite natural. A
horse must be trained carefully and patiently if it is to overcome
its natural instincts. |
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Recommended
reading, more here.
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HELPMAIL: If you
can't find the answer and need help urgently, please e-mail:
help@saddleup.org.uk
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[ Behaviour ] [ Breeding ] [ Farrier and Hoof Care ] [ Feeding and Nutrition ] [ Veterinary ]
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