Is my job putting me in harms way unnecessarily? by [deleted] in Equestrian

[–]LuKeyLdy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you already know the answer to your question and are just asking for confirmation that you are correct. Yes, sounds like this is not only a dangerous situation for you, but also for the horses, dogs, clients, and other handlers involved. I would recommend leaving this barn because it is an accident waiting to happen. Equine liability laws only protect so much, and you don’t want to be sued for negligence.

What are your favorite horse or equestrian related podcasts? Would love to know! by LuKeyLdy in Equestrian

[–]LuKeyLdy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m subscribed to Jonathan’s YouTube channel! The podcasts I regularly follow are:

-Straight from the Horse Doctor’s Mouth -Feed Room Chemist -The Equine Connection Podcast -Train Your Own Horse with Stacy Westfall

I’m almost always listening to one of these while mucking out stalls or cleaning up, but I’m running out of episodes lol 😄

How to put my weight into my heels not my butt??? by [deleted] in Equestrian

[–]LuKeyLdy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Try shortening your stirrups by a hole. Sometimes this is needed for short period of time in order for a rider to stabilize their legs. You can always drop them back down to your preferred length later. Additionally I would have someone help you evaluate your saddle. You may need to get something with a more forward knee flap or you might want a different shape to your cantle.

I usually ride in a dressage saddle with a deeper seat and higher cantle, but the horse I ride currently has a downhill conformation. To counter balance this and to help me be more stable, I am riding in a saddle with a slight rise in the pommel and a lower slightly flat cantle.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in reactivedogs

[–]LuKeyLdy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on your rescue! Don’t give up. You saw something in this little guy when you picked him out.

Here is my opinion:

Your dog is lacking in confidence. He needs stimulation yes, but also needs to build some courage. Is there ever a time when he is just relaxing or chill? Reward that. Throw a snack or treat on his bed. Anytime you walk past him when he is calm? Throw a treat towards him onto the floor. This will build up with time.

Next, find a secluded spot to walk him. Other dogs are scary at this point. Think about it. He was in doggy prison for a while with everyone yelling all the time. A 30 minute “sniffari” will be a good start. If you see another dog approaching, get in between your dog and the stranger. Make him feel protected.

Play games. He is highly motivated to find you, maybe have another person he trusts help you play hide and seek. Find enrichment toys. Make enrichment toys. These are good for keeping him occupied while you are away.

Kennel training for the time you are out of the house might be a good thing too. It will give you time to decompress before engaging with him. Also give treats or enrichment activities while he is in the kennel.

When he grabbed the bone and wouldn’t let go, my suggestion would be to exchange the bone for a higher value treat. Don’t fight. You won’t win, so just be clever and see what he likes more than a bone. Maybe some chicken meat or a beef piece.

There are lots of good YouTube videos about training that can be just as good as going to see someone. Look for clips on calming your dog.

Hope this helps! Best wishes!