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My 4 year old horse still hasn't seen enough things. Last summer it was horse-eating pigs that were down corner from our house. They looked like the scariest things ever. They might have been bears. At first she was terrified of them but eventually she became curious and then finally they were alright. Goats replaced them after awhile and that was okay with her. Today we went farther and there were some sheep in a pen. She had been hearing them baa and was curious until she saw them. They were definitely horse-eating sheep. I tried some of the distraction techniques such as giving her jobs - lowering her head, backing up, etc. but they didn't really work. She knew they would come and eat her up as soon as she wasn't watching. We had a very quick trip home. We will have to go look at them again tomorrow. I dread meeting a cow which we surely will some day.
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Beissin says:
My fiancee' had read somewhere that Quarter Horses are bred for cutting, and he has the idea that if you put a Quarter Horse in a herd of cattle, it will instinctively begin cutting cows from the herd. This can't be! Every horse needs to be TAUGHT to cut, doesn't it? I don't think horses are born with the silly idea like "oh, there's a cow! I don't think she should be standing with those other cows. I shall move her away!" So, if anyone can help us out, I'd appreciate it! Thanks.
-Praise The Lord!
freyafjord says:
I can't help you out with this one. The horse that is afraid of sheep is a Norwegian Fjord, not a quarterhorse. I have a 41 year old quarterhorse but she was bred for racing, not for cutting. I don't think she was ever afraid of cows though. I have a feeling that cutting horses probably learn to cut cows very easily. Once they find out it's fun to boss those cows around they get better very quickly. I have no idea if a Fjord could be a cutting horse. Horses evidently like to have a job and get enthusiastic about what they are doing when they find the right thing. I know a trainer who gets people to work cows with their horses, not so much to work cows, but to make the horse and rider better partners. Many Fjords like pulling things and I've thought about training my Fjord to drive or pull heavy objects.
BettyJ
emily says:
I can only say this--some quarter horse lines are bred because they are good cutters--they have natural ability, just like golden retrievers retrieve and hound dogs sniff. But they still have to be trained and desensitized. My golden definitely retrieves, but not in any orderly fashion. He also loves water, which, given that we live in the desert, has to be an inherent trait--he DIVES into the irrigation ditch the second he gets off the leash. Fjords are bred for pulling, thoroughbreds for running. So there is some natural talent there, sometimes, but they have to be nurtured into their particular sport. Nonetheless, horses can do what they're not bred for--my best eventer ever was a solid quarterhorse. He jumped fabulously and loved to run, plus he was level-headed in the dressage, which a lot of thoroughbreds weren't. So just when you think you have them pegged....
emily says:
As for your Fjord, keep at it! Se's only four... That's pretty young to be desensitized to goats, cows, and (in my neighborhood) LLamas. It just takes time and mileage, I think. I'm working with Belle on similar things, taking her for walks around the neighborhood (I'm not on her back yet). Yesterday the neighbor's sprinkler went on and I just barely held on to her. The day before that a guy went by on a four-wheeler. And so on. She's getting braver, but it does take time. I can also give you the name of a guy in Corrales who will take her out on the trail and work with her on her trailer loading, too.
freyafjord says:
Yes, I would like the name of the guy in corrales who will take her out on the trail. I don't know if he will want to come to the Jemez, but I might consider some help. I have taken her trail riding but I don't have anyone to go with, at least anyone who is an experienced rider. There are hazardous out there I don't like to face alone. My Fjord actually is good about many things and totally fearless about artificial obstacles like flags or tarps on the ground or even milk bottles hanging out of trees. I'm sure with more miles she will be a very dependable horse. I had also planned on lots of trailering experience but with my sore shoulder I had to put that off too.
I think you must have my email address.
Thanks,
BettyJ
freyafjord says:
On the next trip to see the sheep, my Fjord mare decided they didn't eat horses after all. In fact they were very interesting zoo animals. It was such fun to stay there and watch them she didn't want to go home. We had to stay there about 15 minutes and she still wasn't ready to go home. I guess she is starting to learn not everything is scary, but we still have to face a cow sometime.
BettyJ
emily says:
See, sheep are pretty cool. Next thing you know, she'll be kissing cows... I wish B felt the same about Llamas. It's getting annoying that our rides always end right there at Llama Central (which is what we call that farm). I just can't get him to pass the llamas, and admittedly I wimp out because the ditch is narrow there and the last thing I want to do is end up in the water. So I just acquiesce and let him go on home.
PQH says:
Hi, I just so happened to run across this page. I am not sure what the question is about cutting horses, but I would like to offer you a little bit of information. Cutting horses are bred to cut cows, but they DO definately need extensive training. For most horses, it takes AT LEAST an 18 month training program with a professional trainer. The rider must be trained as well as the horse. I am learning now, and let me tell you, it's not easy. It is very hard work. Some of the horses with the best breeeding just don't make cutters at all. You should consider a 90 day trial (at least) of training to find out if the horse has the ability to cut. Some just won't do it, no matter what their breeding.
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