Thou Shalt Stay Out Of My Space

Now that I’m da boss of da shoulders (Ace’s that is) I’m using that building block to keep him out of my space and to protect his space.

One of the most fundamental ground manners that our horses need is to repect our space. In the herd, they are very good at using their back legs and teeth to make other horses respect their space. It’s no different with the horse and human relationship. Ace needs to know that he has to stay out of my bubble unless he’s invited in. It’s a leadership thing and even more importantly, a safety thing. I don’t want him thinking it’s ok to run me (or anybody) else over. I also want him to know that I’m da boss of him – and keeping him out of my space is a good place to start.

Protecting My Space

Ace has never really shown any dangerous behaviors (other than kicking like crazy when we were first wrapping him for an abscess), so a lot of our space issues are about leadership. Sometimes he’s really good about staying a few feet away from me, and sometimes his nose is glued to my pocket.

Last night was a nose-to-the-pocket night. Granted, I had some cookies in there so I will say that at least he had a reason. Sometimes he’s able to forget about the treats I’ve got hidden, and other times he can’t. No matter what we were doing – desensitization, longing, backing, moving hind quarters – he was (rather athletically) twisting his head to keep it right next to me. He wasn’t obnoxious or pushy about, just very very persistent.

And while I’m not terribly stubborn, I can definitely do persistent.

Because Ace has a rather dominant personality, one of the best ways for me to establish my leadership is to move his front end. He’s much more reluctant to do so, but if I can get it anyway I know that I have his attention and respect.

So every time Ace turned that head to my side, I waved the stick at his nose until he moved it, and kept at it until he moved sideways away from me.

We played this game pretty much all night, no matter what we were doing. It was definitely a game rather than a fight. Ace’s ears were always up and he was always watching me with a soft but interested eye. I love when he’s like that. We just have so much fun with each other.

Later when I would send him backwards, he’d oblige and then immediately want to come forward to me. It took quite a few reminders until he realized that he had to stay where I sent him until I invited him into my space. He’d go backwards nicely, then walk over me expecting to get a treat for being good. I’d shake the rope and stop him, then send him back another step or two every time he tried to come forward. Eventually, he stood quietly at the end of the rope and waited for me to invite him back.

It was a fun session, and a good one for keeping up some basic manners!

Protecting His Space

Another way I’ve gained some leadership in Ace’s eyes lately is by keeping the other horses out of his space.

My hubby stopped by the barn on Monday to pick up our house keys (Dave and Tracie fed our kitties while we were gone for the weekend). And while he was there, he actually went into the barn just to visit Ace. The four horses were loose in the arena, and apparently he was able to get in only a pat or two before Marahute (backed up by the boys) chased Ace away. Ben sent them away and went over to Ace again, only to have Marahute chase him away again. He called me later to tell me how put out he was with the three of them for picking on Ace. He said he wanted to put Marahute in “time out” in her stall. Hehe.

So, the last two times I’ve been in the arena with the horses turned out, Ace has been sticking to my shoulder and I refuse to let the other horses chase him away. If they look at us and start to walk in our direction, I send them away. I can tell Ace appreciates this. He’s glued to me any time we’re all loose together.

After just a few days of this, the other horses don’t even try to chase Ace away from me. They see me come in and go up to him and just watch from the other side of the arena. I’m getting a little more appreciation and respect from Ace now since I’m successfully protecting his space.

I’ll show them who’s lead mare around here.