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Conference noted::equitation

Title:	Equine Notes Conference
Notice:	Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:	MTADMS::COBURNIO

Created:	Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2080
Total number of notes:	22383

1626.0. "Afraid of Leather--Really!" by BONJVI::PIERCE (Happiness is Arabians) Tue May 12 1992 09:29

I have been real hesitant about putting this note in here, because I know
alot of will just not believe me.  But I have talked to alot of horse people
and a vet about this and they all agree.  So I thought I would share a very
unreal story with you.

I have been wanting riding boots all my life, I finally get a pair and I had
them cut down to fit my short leg.  I pick them up from the cobbler and take
them to the barn and I put them on the barn floor while I and Carolyn get
our horses to go for a ride and try out my boots.

As soon as Carolyns horse Shree comes into the barn area, she starts to act 
up in a big way..she is snorting and fidgety.  As soon as you touch her
back she is in [[TOTAL]] pain!  I have never seen a horse in such pain in 
my life.

I tell Carolyn it is the boots, she is afraid of the boots..Carolyn thinks
I'm crazy and says she hurt her back, or she has cold-back from all the rain
the other day.  She puts Absoben on her and gives her some time off.  I
realize my boots still do not fit.

I take my boots back to have them enlarged and while they are gone Carolyn and
I ride everyday for a week.  Shree is fine, her back does not hurt anymore.

I get a call my boots are ready and I go and pick them up.  I take them to
the barn and we go and get the horses...all this time thinking Carolyn was
right Shree had cold-back...well.... Shree smells my boots from outside the
barn and she gets all upset again and goes into muscle spasms in her back
again!

Carolyn is still not sure it's the boots causing the problem.  We let the
horses go and we go and get Carolyns boots.  We show one to Shree and Shree
is fine, she is smelling the boot, licking it and playing w/ it.  We show her
my boot and she [[FLIPS]] out and it [[TOTAL]] scared!  Her back is in worse
pain now.

We are sitting there with total dis-believe on our face...we are stumped.  A
horse [SO] afraid of boots that she has a bad back!

We wait a few days and we keep putting the Absoben on her and walking her out
in the ring...We ride her (w/out the boots) and Shree is fine again.  We ride
for a week and she is great..we're jumping and everything..

Then, you guess it, I ride w/Shree again, I did not wear my boots but I did
have on a pair of schooling breachers that I had worn before and I had worn
w/ the boots...well you guess it...Shree knew I had worn the boots w/ the 
pants before (they weren't dirty so I did not wash them) and she reacted in the
same way...freighted and upset and her back in spasms again!

Our guess is that Shree was hit/beaten w/ a type of leather that smelled just
like by boots and the memory is so very bad that she still reacts.  The
memory triggers bad memories.

When we got Shree (2yrs) ago, you could not go in her stall w/ her leather
halter..she would pin her ears back and lunge at you and act scared.  We have
finally got to the point that her halter is okay....but now she hates my boots.

I have rolled my boots in manure and tried to clean them w/alot of dif' cleaners
and tried to change the smell..so far no luck...she still reacts to them.

So after years of wanting boots, I can no longer ever wear them!  I can not
even go buy another pair.  There is only 1 brand of boot that fits me, and it
made by Deven Air and it's a very very large calf and they are the only 
company that makes them.

Have your ever heard of such a thing?

Louisa

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1626.1	Stranger things have happened...	TOLKIN::BENNETT	Was that 'No Gnu Taxes?'	`Tue May 12 1992 12:34`	3
	Bizarre indeed. Watch how you act when you have the boots. If she thinks somethings going on - she will react. Act casual and wear them when you feed her :^}.
1626.2	it can happen.	ABACUS::MATTHEWS	DEAth Star	`Tue May 12 1992 12:36`	20
	re.last I have a suggestion you might want to consider. If what your saying is true, and you think its the boots, that some lininte and test on a spot to match sure you dont get discoloration on the boots and cover your boots with the same stuff you put on the horses back.. either that or get a acan of new car ordor and spray it in her stall... honest dont believe me , try it and you'll see. they get used to those kinds of smells.. i curious to see what you have tried later tho' wendy o'
1626.3		BOOVX2::MANDILE	Engage brain before opening mouth	`Tue May 12 1992 13:24`	16
	Well, it really isn't that surprising to me....Someone I know has a horse that was tied, and then beaten. The horse will kill himself trying to pull free when tied, unless there is a rope laced thru his halter and around his neck. Maybe whoever abused Shree wore those kind of boots?? Try removing some of her "chestnuts" from her legs, and rubbing them all over the boots. Try contacting any SPCA for horses and see what course of action they suggest. They are used to abuse cases, probably more bizarre than this! (MSPCA in Methuen MA deals with horses..) Lynne
1626.4		BOOVX2::MANDILE	Engage brain before opening mouth	`Tue May 12 1992 13:25`	3
	Oh, I forgot a trick that might work.....rub some Vicks near/around both her nostrils. That might keep her from smelling anything!
1626.5	Thanks	BONJVI::PIERCE	Happiness is Arabians	`Tue May 12 1992 13:37`	11
	Thanks! I will try all the mentioned! I espally like the vicks idea. I only hope I can get the leather small out and a new smell in w/out harming the boots. The are brandi-new but you would'nt know to look at them. I left them smudged in manua to try and hide the smell,but she know where they were at all times. Can you see me in a show..."Sorry judge, I can't shine my boots the horse I came with wont let me" :-) Lou
1626.6	Vicks	CSC32::KOELLHOFFER		`Wed May 13 1992 01:04`	5
	A second vote for the vicks . In Colorado hunters use it when packing out meat. Some horses freak at the smell of blood. With the vicks no problem. Carl
1626.7	make new connections to them	CSCMA::SMITH		`Wed May 13 1992 10:55`	13
	What happens if you get a new saddle? You might make things easier in the end if you get her accustomed to the smell. First, by having the smell on you when you grain her, then bring them with you when you grain her, then after a while leave them in the barn somewhere at night, then leave them by her door at night while she eats her hay. Go slowly and only bring them around with things she looks forward to. She will gradually associate them with good things instead of whatever she connects them to now. (or, for a quick shortcut, throw them in the pasture and let her kill them thoroughly with many good stompings. Wait until she nolonger hates them or until you wouldn't want to wear them anyway, which ever comes first ;^)
1626.8	reply	BONJVI::PIERCE	Happiness is Arabians	`Wed May 13 1992 11:46`	14
	The problem is whens he smells them her back goes into spasams..she can't be ridden for 1 week after she smells them. I think Caroly would like to ride her horse sometime this year. :-) It took us 1yr to get her to like her leather halter. Nylon ones were fine, but not leather. She never reacted like this thou. I wish you call could see the fear in her eyes when she smells them..she totaly flips. Her back gets into such a state that you can't even brush her or touch her. Lou
1626.9	get them to smell like you	REGENT::GARROW		`Wed May 13 1992 16:50`	5
	Try wearing your boots when not around Shree so they smell like you and not new!!! may take awhile....but the new smell will rub off and start smelling like things she is used to.
1626.10	Inquiring minds want to know	ESCROW::ROBERTS		`Thu May 14 1992 11:33`	2
	You mention that this mare was frightened of her halter, but not the saddle or bridle. Were these non-leather?