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Post by FirenLady on Feb 21, 2009 18:43:06 GMT
on Fire with pigs...I know I must sound like a seriously broken record. No matter what I try though nothing seems to work.  He's been much better behaved generally lately (I seem to have found some control), so I thought I'd take him up to the pigs see if I could get to the track in the woods before the pigs. Was all going well, most the pig huts were upturned for cleaning. We was walking through the woods when he spotted the pigs. He just looses it. My sweet lil Arab becomes a monster. Its always the same fine till he sees a pig. He becomes bargy, eyes stand out on stalks, I may aswell not be there. (I got off and led him, & when he was barging me I'd make him stop and back up). Even when we are away from pigs its still continues. Had to lead him home and school him in trot for 15 mins before he started making sense. I've tried just about everything I think. I don't want to buy a pig for him to live with as most of us are all veggies and would get attached & I don't want the responsiability of another animal to look after. He is soo good in so many ways, but this is his achilles heel. Any ideas? |
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haffyfan
Administrator 
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 21, 2009 19:21:55 GMT
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Post by spotti on Feb 21, 2009 20:53:32 GMT
OMG Haffy, I see why you want one so badly now! They are just so cute!!! FirenLady - I'd say no, don't give up. You said yourself that Fire is better than he was, and I'm sure if you give him more time then he'll be even better still...it just takes time and patience and determination. Obviously if you have other places to hack and can happily avoid the piggy place then maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just give up, but don't you just love a challenge?  |
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Post by ronansmum2 on Feb 22, 2009 13:25:39 GMT
Most of them totally HATE pigs, they are terrified of them...and it is genuine. They can't help it! I know that isn't helpful FL but the fact is I think you can learn to live with it, work round it in some way. Is there anyone at the yard who can ride out with you whose horsey isn't totally wild when it sees and smells pigs? If so try hacking with them but on no account should you give up. Don't want to be negative but I doubt if he'll ever get over it. I think it is the smell they hate actually, someone told me that, it's the smell!!! And he will be genuinely frightened so don't be too cross pet. He isn't a naughty boy, just a frightened one... |
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 22, 2009 14:55:46 GMT
Its funny - my RI has two pigs (not sure what breed - possibly pot belly) and they wander about the stable yard although they get shut in their house when there is stuff going on. Im sure the horses smell them but they dont seem to have a problem with them. She also has two donkeys - Princess really took a shine to them ;D They either love them or hate them. Luckily pigs arent generally around where horses are although you get donkeys at shows sometimes. I would just try and avoid them as hes not likely to come up against pigs anywhere else - much less stressful  |
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Post by brigadier on Mar 14, 2009 21:03:37 GMT
Just accept it really as Ronansmum says. Some things are not for changing and the less you stress the less he will stress!
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 16, 2009 19:31:05 GMT
Yes I think you guys are right about learning to live with it. He is soo good with so many things today two pheasents flew up underneath us and he didn't bat an eyelid, tractors, motorbikes, deer, chainsaws and he will stand on plastic. Last week I rode him parrell to the main road 25 m away during rush hour traffic and again he didn't care. I think I just gotta count my blessings. Whatever it is about them its very primal and not worth upsetting him over. He is rescued and I really don't know that much about his history, and you never know.
Me and OH went for a walk up past the pigs last week and its no where near as pretty up there as it used to be, and behind the first lot of pigs there are some boars which are pretty scary and agressive. I still head up the track towards them though and its got three irrigation markers (think bright red lollipop signs) and we used to only be able to get to the second one but both times we've been up there hes happily walked to the third, and would have gone on. Which is really good. We've been going on a different route too where we've been looking down on them and although we've been a good distance away hes not been bothered, maybe looking down from a vantage point suits him.
Anyway I'm not gonna worry/fuss/stress over it there are plenty of other places to go and just enjoy hacking. Thanks for the wise words and advice.
btw Kune Kunes are soooooooo cute! me wants! I bet theres such thing as mini sheep too and pygmy goats, bantams could have a farm of seriously cute mini animals! It'd be great and adorable!
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Post by duckles on Mar 16, 2009 19:40:05 GMT
Missed this one before, I think you are so right not to stress about it. I bet he will get better in time but even if he doens't he sounds pretty near perfect.
BTW while pygmy goats are cute, they are also really distructive- if you ever saw Gremlims- that is what they are like. We have them on your yard and they have eaten my horse's passport, broken (more than once) the lights on my horse box, chewed my tack, eaten sponges, I could go on and on. They regularly head butt my dog (and myself) and run around causing chaos- I can't help but be fond of them but they are a real nuisance. Mini sheep and bantams would be nice. You can get mini horses and donkeys as well. I really love the idea of the farm of mini animals
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 20, 2009 19:15:14 GMT
hee hee you'd need mini farm buildings too. I bet children would love to go to a place like that. Pygmys sound lots of fun. I bet they make you smile a lot.
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Post by duckles on Mar 20, 2009 19:41:23 GMT
Smile yes, roar madly also. THe owner has put little bells around their necks so you can hear them coming, running madly on their little legs to steal the horse food or nibble your clothes. Its very cute and annoying at the same time. They steal the horses feed from their dishes and amazingly, the horses let them!! If you give them food, they wont bother with it. I could go on and on- my advice don't get them!!!
But little mini stables and sheds- great idea for the mini farm- little mini hay bales as well!!
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mariedigit
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
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Post by mariedigit on Mar 22, 2009 20:38:31 GMT
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Post by rainbow on Mar 23, 2009 9:54:10 GMT
yeah my mate had some mini cows there called dexter's *runs off to find the foto of them* here they are they were so cute!   there was 3 of them but u can see how small they are in these fotos! |
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Post by mossh on Mar 24, 2009 0:19:50 GMT
You can srt of half see my head!
And why was i waving my purse at a cow?
And don't give up with the pigs, we have pig fillers you can borrow if you want?!
lots of hugs for you xxx
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Post by FirenLady on Mar 24, 2009 8:55:11 GMT
lol he's a bit of an idiot sometimes I'm afraid and fillers are the one other thing he dislikes! I can usually get him over them but when he decides he doesn't want to do one he does really stinky run out, where he moves sideways and we don't even close to the jump! (which hopefully with confident riding and controlled speed we will get over this year  ) Thanks for the offer though! Mini cows and sheep are sooo cute too! My lil bros just got some silkie bantams which are cute. although they wanted to call the hens Patrick and Rocky.....stupid boys.  I think a farm full of mini animals would be great fun, specially them pygmys.  |
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Post by mossh on Mar 24, 2009 18:40:01 GMT
so pig fillers are a definte no no!
bloody horses eh?
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Post by rainbow on Mar 26, 2009 11:03:08 GMT
thats katy isnt it? mini animals are so cute |
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
) Thanks for the offer though! 