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Won't stand still!
I have a 20 year old Anglo Arab gelding, he has always stood still while I wrapped his legs after jumping him. My problem is that he has started circling his stall when I try to wrap him. I have tried putting him on the cross-ties when I do it, but he just walks back and forth on them. I don't want to tie him in his stall because he has had a very bad experience while tied in his stall.
HELP!
Emily
Hi Emily,
I would suggest this: Take him out of the stall, don't tie him and attempt to wrap his legs. When he starts to circle, rather than trying to restrain him, have him keep moving in the circle, both directions for 5 minutes. Then put a stop on him (Whoa!) and attempt to wrap his legs again. If he circles, let him and make him work at it, both directions. After another five minutes offer him a rest while you wrap his legs. If he circles again, keep him moving. What you are doing here is making the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy. You may have to repeat this process numerous times initially, but it will get the horse to stand while you wrap him.
Also, he'll be so used to moving around you that when you go into the stall to do this and, if he circles, you could actually have him circle around you in the stall. Do not push him hard in the stall it is a very small space. If he does well outside the stall, he will probably do fine in the stall. As this is a new behavior, has anything changed in his routine that may have prompted this? I agree it is best not to tie him. I train my horses to stand untied for most everything I need to do with them. As you probably know, this is not about restraint or control; it is about willing cooperation, partnership and mutual respect.
Please keep me posted and let me know how it all goes. I am here to help.
Aloha, Franklin