Misbehaving in the Yard: Can Routines Cause Problems?

[@pearlshark001]

I really love like legit LOVE that you let him run into the pressure on his own. You don't rip his face off. Fantastic

[@barryhook2]

We always try to hold our hands still and let the horse walk onto the bit if they move when they've been asked to hand - as you said, he's teaching himself there.

[@philiplewis7252]

A true horseman,with many years of practical experience. We can all learn from this gentleman. Thank you for sharing another great video.

[@FestiveEquestrian]

It is so difficult to find an experienced horseperson who can teach me to drive in my area! I've been searching for years. The best I can do is keep looking and live vicariously through your videos.

[@oliveoil2x]

Absolutely. Discipline, structure, obedience and direction. Dirty words with young people or sassy horses, but it’s exactly what’s needed. It’s what gives us true freedom.

[@brendareed8412]

Thank you for catching this as it happened. It is so helpful to see the problem behavior. Thank you. I learned a lot as always.

[@jenniferlehman326]

They do need discipline in all forms of horsemanship. I know, I know, the D word is a bad word in most people's minds, but here's the thing, we as humans have discipline. We have discipline to have a shower, get ready for work, go to work, come home, fix dinner, help our kids with homework, which is teaching them discipline and a good work ethic for when they are adults, watch a bit of TV, go to bed and do it all again the next day. Dogs and horses thrive on Rules, boundaries and limitations that we, as responsible owners must give them or we have what people will call, "difficult" animals. So teaching a horse PATIENCE to STAND when told and not take any forward step until asked is as important as learning how to drive a car. When we're taught to drive a car, the first pedal we're taught is not the GAS pedal, it's the BRAKE PEDAL!! It's the same thing here, teaching him to stand quiet and calm, is as important as that brake pedal. Another great video Mr. Hook. Best Regards from a Retired Paramedic, a S&R Dog and Handler Team Trainer and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn. 💖🇨🇦🇬🇧

[@jessicat3951]

I have the same behavior, but in the opposite situation. My girl has a huge (HUGE!) paddock, but she gets annoyed if you don’t take her out for long enough. She gets pissed when you go back to the yard and she tries to maneuver you past it! I don’t mind her politely ‘asking’ for what she wants, but we do it my way the vast majority of the time. I do let her have her way more often when she isn’t working, so she knows I understand, and to know that communication with me does work. When she asks for water when inside the barn (when she isn’t working) for example, I get it for her immediately. She will literally stare at the water tap, or just stare at you intently while being groomed if she wants water. Love your videos. Thank you ❤❤❤.

[@chfgypsy]

Thus was spot on. Patience being rewarded.

[@juliawilliams4443]

Had similar just this morning - my young cob tried to turn straight across the road to home! I’m pleased because I handled it similarly to your advice (my boy wasn’t quite as naughty as yours though thank goodness!)

[@ronaldsmith6829]

A very familiar situation. We call it, 'the Railroad Station,' and, 'stop and chat.' I find it surprising how often this must be worked at to keep it fresh in their minds the horse must stand quietly when required to, wherever it is required.

[@loredelore7286]

Brilliant as always!

[@SagebrushRambles]

Nice informative video. Thank you for educating people on what was going on with Oliver.

[@MarcoNotPolo]

So glad you have done a video on horses misbehaving, like you said "they know what to do, they just don't want to do it" I have 2 out of 3 that have this attitude, haha, love it that they have this in their character but sometimes it can be a little frustrating, Can I ask Barry, why the head nodding/bobbing? Thanks for sharing this video, it's been very educational for myself in knowing how to treat my horses when this occurs Thank you

[@barryhook2]

Hi Marco, the head nodding/bobbing is another show of frustration. He has gone from rearing, to pawing, to not standing still and fidgeting, all decreasing in severity until the last thing to leave him is the head tossing. He has to have an outlet for his frustration one way or another until it leaves him and for Oliver the final outlet was shaking his head.

[@MarcoNotPolo]

@@barryhook2 awesome, great explanation, thank you Barry, I have one only horse that does this and I just let her do her thing not knowing why, now I do thank you once again

[@ainalase5531]

Глупости, не лошадь виновата, а учители без навыков!!!

[@HugsBach]

Always wonderful to see you and listen to your words of wisdom.

[@carlaperry1784]

There is always something I can learn from you.

[@joannafraser1481]

Love your videos thank you for sharing your knowledge to the benefit of all.

[@annamcknight2573]

Good to see a problem solved on video!

[@barryhook2]

Thought you'd appreciate this one, Anna!

[@annamcknight2573]

@@barryhook2 Thanks, Rhi.

[@Melody-st4df]

Yes! Fantastic! ❤

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Thank you!! Just goes to show that theres always something new to learn!! Awesome!!

[@melaniehellum1281]

Good work , thank you enjoy videos very much

[@arribaficationwineho32]

He is impatient and wants to move. Nice pony

[@comesahorseman]

And, they will indeed test you. If you're smart, and for their own good, you cannot give in. Don't lose your cool, but do not give in.

[@lucinaramsey4705]

What’s the purpose for the brown collar ? Looks very tight and uncomfortable.

[@barryhook2]

The brown collar is a 'neck collar' also known as a 'cattle collar'. Don't worry, it is not done up too tightly. It is being pulled forward slightly in this video by the throatlash which is threaded through it for safety reasons - to help prevent a bridle being rubbed off their face. We use it for all our horses, you can find a video here explaining all about them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYa3qoimp6eflbs

[@felicitytoad]

My pony prefers to run into his stable for his feed rather than go into the school. I usually go quick into the school but I'm going to try this 🗽

[@marilynroach8680]

Jenn is absolutely correct dis

[@paularityart]

Used to ride a mare stuck in routine....morning rides and the rest of the day to please herself......once took her out on a nice afternoon I ended up clearing a 4ft jump......without me horse 😂

[@pearlshark001]

Also and back off on his own. Your making it his choice so he can make the right one and not be forcing him. Essentially your teaching him to learn.

[@britbyname3620]

I don’t know too much about horse but isn’t this one breathing very fast ? just curious …..

[@barryhook2]

Hi there, Oliver is 'blowing' a little in this video, but not too much. I (Rhi) study all the breathing and recovery rates of the horses we have here so that I learn their 'normal' and can judge when they are reaching the limit of their current fitness, when they are improving (i.e. faster recovery rate, slower breathing after exercise). As he has just returned from a drive, it is quite normal for any horse to be breathing more rapidly than usual - just like a human being after going for a jog! Here Oliver's breathing rate is exacerbated by the fact he is frustrated by what he is being asked to do - 'uptightness' in horses can cause them to breathe quicker and also appear to recover slower as they are mentally 'wound up' as well as having exerted themselves physically. Thank-you for asking and we hope we helped you learn something!

[@pixie706]

I would have taken him out again as soon as he stood still ..is that wrong

[@barryhook2]

There is rarely 'right' or 'wrong' in training! In some situations for some horses, this may have been what we would have done too. In others - and indeed in Oliver's case on this occasion - we took him out of harness after he stood still. It can be a question of whether or not you have time to repeat the whole argument again, but sometimes it is clear the lesson has been learnt and would be better repeated the next day rather than risk causing further frustration - essentially punishing the horse despite him eventually doing as he was asked - by repeating the lesson immediately.

[@laurelldockall2399]

I think that rewarding the good behavior when he finally settled is a good idea. If you took him out again immediately after settling down that would not be a reward?? I don’t have horses but it is true for children and in my case grandchildren as well. lol ❤️

[@barryhook2]

@@laurelldockall2399 That's pretty much it, yes! Sometimes we must leave the yard again for whatever reason, or just to practice in case it is needed in future. However that was to be a lesson for another day - overfacing a horse with too much in one session can actually set them back further than you started!

[@witchhazel8583]

This little beauty is surely unhappy about something....

[@barryhook2]

Yes he was - horses like routine and this change in routine certainly upset him. With a few more sessions he realised that even if we turned around in the yard on returning, teatime was still on the way soon!

[@genlovell4662]

The horse looks like he can’t stand his bit. What your really waiting for is for him to give up protesting his bit.

[@barryhook2]

Hi Gen, Oliver is wearing a soft, flexible, rubber bit, which ordinarily he works very well in, with no problems at all - check out his video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnMfZubZ5V4m7c and has had his teeth done whilst he was here with us. Having worked with Oliver for many weeks, we can assure you we have a very good idea of what he was protesting about on this occasion.

[@janinehiggins1507]

There's no way I'd put a potential rearer in driving harness .too dangerous .🇬🇧

[@barryhook2]

That is quite fair enough as an opinion for your own practises, but personally we won't write any horse off on what it potentially may do, as any horse in the world can rear, buck and kick! This happened to be a 'one off' show of frustration for Oliver, an otherwise very well behaved, very easy-going horse to drive - just look at his other videos to see what we mean. It might also interest you to hear that Rhi's pony schoolmaster HDP Georgie was very much a serial rearer when younger and also a very good driving pony. Nowadays George knows and behaves better... most of the time!

[@eiloen]

Today on "What to do when your silly horse is being a shithead" At least he's pretty

[@annasswe7490]

That is a medicine hat paint tinker horse

[@arribaficationwineho32]

I always felt sorry for harness horses that hD to endure cuppers or cruppers or whatever went under their tails. How terribly uncomfortable!

[@barryhook2]

Thankfully ours are are made of soft leather and oiled regularly, so don't cause discomfort.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

@@barryhook2 thank you and i know the horses do as well

[@erikajegl2762]

Very hard to understand what you’re saying, Sorry I discontinued watching the video

[@barryhook2]

Apologies for that Erika, haven't had any other complaints but if it is the subtitles you are having trouble with we can understand entirely as they do not understand Barry's accent!

[@KKIcons]

I have found it is well worth it to watch a part over when (occasionally) needed, to better help understand what is going on, or to catch the whole story over the road traffic noises etc. This man's timing speaks for itself without words. He is a real horseman who is consistently fair to the horse. And finally, he has a rare ability to share in real time what is happening, and to teach. He has been so generous to share these hours of footage over the years. Our local hwy road conditions are unsafe, but Barry's videos have helped enormously to keep me in one piece while training my animals over the years.

[@lynnegee6814]

I agree, it's a bit difficult to hear Barry's voice on this one, but worth persevering. Also, enable ¿subtitles?

[@pachosto]

Maybe he has something hurting his mouth .

[@barryhook2]

Olly had his teeth done whilst he was here and the vet found no problems with his mouth. He is also wearing a soft rubber bit with no curb chain etc. so it should not be able to be painful for him.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

He is impatient and wants to move.

[@lucinaramsey4705]

I’m so sorry to say but I feel sorry for these horses, they are not trained properly and I’m no longer watching or commenting.

[@barryhook2]

And we are very sorry to hear you think that. We aim to train all our horses to be safe, happy and confident and to help others to do the same. Whether you think so or not, training with this aim is what we do for hundreds of horses a year and have done for a great number of years here at HDP. Sorry to hear you won't be watching or commenting again, as we would have been interested in hearing why you think they are 'not trained properly' and how you think they should be trained instead that would be better. After all, we can all improve from our own ignorance with help from others.