Welcome to this issue of the “Performance Through Partnership”™ Newsletter!

There's lots going on, so it's a big one this month. Enjoy!

In this issue you’ll find:

The Exclusive "PTP" Newsletter Tip: How do You Define Aggressive Behavior?

Upcoming October and November Clinic Dates

Horses for Sale

Now Offering Horses for sale from our Rescue, Rehabilitate, Reborn! Program

Also in this issue...

I have a question for YOU! Here it is...

I'm wondering if you'd be interested in one-on-one horse training help. It could be by email or phone. You could even send in your videos for distance evaluations and "lessons."

I'm interested in setting this up, and I'm looking for some feedback as to whether or not it would be of interest to you.

Please let me know. Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Answers to Your Questions about Horse Behavior and Training:

1. Can You Tell me How to Keep my Horse from Biting Me?
2. How do Stop my Horse from Pulling on the Bit?

Do you have a question for me? Please, send it in! I'll choose at least two to answer in each issue. This is only available to you, newsletter subscribers, so ask away!!

Go to the ask questions page and type in the password you received when you subscribed to the newsletter.

Also, if you missed any past newsletters you can find them on the newsletter back issues page. Type in your password, and enjoy!

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Today's Tip: How do You Define Aggressive Behavior?

This may seem like an easy question to answer; biting, kicking, and striking are all obviously aggressive behaviors. Most horses don't exhibit these extreme behaviors though. That's why I think it's better to categorize behavior as dominant and submissive.

Sure a horse walking toward you on his hind legs is dramatic, but is that any more dominant than a horse that shoves you out of his way to get through a gate? I don't think so. I believe that the rearing horse is just more energetic and motivated, but the reason behind the behavior is the same in both horses. They are dominant and they view you as subordinate.

Dominant behavior can include shoving, pulling on the lead, diving for food, lagging behind while being lead, swinging the head toward you, moving any part of the body into your space at any time, pawing, and head-butting just to name a few of the hundreds of little things that horses do when they think they are in charge.

When I'm walking through one of the herds at Maverick Horse and Cattle Co. one of the behaviors I see is the "scratching post." A dominant horse walks over to a subordinate horse and unceremoniously, and very inconsiderately, rubs its head all over the other horse's rump. The poor sub horse just stands there and gets smacked by a heavy head and pushed around, seemingly resigned to her role as an unglorified scratching post.

We need to be able to recognize dominant behavior, so that we can nip it in the bud before it becomes a serious problem. Even seemingly innocent little moments when your horse gets to behave dominantly set a precedent not only for repeat behavior, but also for escalating behavior.

A horse that believes even for a second that he dominants your relationship can not be relied upon to respect you at any given time. That is especially true when he's in a state of excitement. It will be much more difficult for you to reestablish control, and that can put both your and your horse's well-being at risk.

So, pay attention to your horse's behavior. Set clear boundaries in a way that develops respect and preserves your horse's trust...the "Performance Through Partnership" way.

In the next "PTP" newsletter, I'll tell you how one seemingly small physical issue can create serious problems for you and your horse.

Be good to your horses and enjoy the ride!
Dale

Upcoming Clinic Dates

October 17th - Healthy Horse Day!

Learn the importance of creating a physically and emotionally healthy and balanced horse.

Professional Horse Trainer, Dale Rudin, Master Farrier, Terry Field, and Reiki Therapist, Rhonda Sherry (Reiki is used to direct the body's energy and support and maintain equine and human health) will put your horse on the road to health and happiness.

Topics will include saddle fit, balanced movement, the importance of hoof balance, and recognizing and relieving discomfort.

We'll begin at 10:00 am and continue to appx. 3:00 pm

Register to attend online by following the link below and enjoy this Healthy Horse Day for only $20.00! It's $25 on the day of the event.

Held at the beautiful Maverick Horse and Cattle Co. at 8405 Pettus Rd in Eagleville, TN

We need your horse for round pen, riding, barefoot trimming, shoeing, and reiki demonstrations!

To submit your horse for demonstrations email me or call me at 949-337-3269. It's only $60.00 to bring your horse for a training, trimming, or shoeing demonstration and that includes your entry fee.

October 31st - Trail Training Day at Maverick!

Come and learn how to fix common and uncommon problems. We'll begin in the arena working on communication and problems solving techniques and then head out onto Maverick's beautiful trails so you can practice what you've learned.

Held at Maverick Horse and Cattle Co. 8405 Pettus Rd. in Eagleville, TN

We'll begin at 8:30am Saturday morning and ride until approximately 3:00 that afternoon.

$75 per horse/rider $25 to audit

November 21st & 22nd - Troubleshooting Under Saddle

Solve problems such as speed control, laziness, resistance to the bit, missing leads, rough gaits, and more! This clinic is for gaited horses, too.

All breeds, disciplines, types of problems, and levels of rider experience are invited to come and learn how to get a better ride and develop a trusting and respectful relationship under saddle.

9am - 3pm $250 - horse/rider $35 to audit

At Maverick Horse and Cattle Co. at 8405 Pettus Rd. in Eagleville, TN

For more information about these and upcoming clinics, visit the clinics page on www.DaleRudin.com. Host a clinic at your own facility, and you and your horse can attend for free!

Just a reminder:

Your horse can only perform at his best unless he's comfortable and you are able to sit in balance with his movement. Pain is a huge distraction, and imagine what it would feel like if you had to carry unbalanced weight all day!

That's why we've designed our new line of Maverick Saddles. If you haven't had a chance yet, take a look at these saddles. They offer the quality, and functionality...not to mention they are really good looking, that you and your horse need to enhance your ability to perform and work as a team.

We're happy to answer any questions you may have, and are happy to tell you why we ride our own horses in these saddles every day.


Horses for Sale

At Maverick Horse and Cattle Co. We are proud to offer some wonderful horses for sale. There are horses of different breeds, ages, and at varying levels of training. There's a wide range of prices too.

All the horses have been fully evaluated so we can tell you everything you'd want to know about the horse's personality, conformation, training, and athletic ability.

We also pride ourselves on matching the right horse to the right person. Click here to see a list of horses current for sale. We also offer horses for lease. Many of the sale horses are for lease, and we have others available as well. Check the website often as new horses will be posted regularly.

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Reborn!!

In the last newsletter I shared our new program with you. We adopt horses that come to live at

We start working with them the "Performance Through Partnership" way to gain their trust and teach them how to be part of the horse-human team.

You can find photos and information about these special horses as they become available on the Horses for Sale and Lease page.

If you are interested in horse adoption or helping a rescue organization, please visit the Volunteer Equine Advocates website.

This organization is made of a group of dedicated volunteers that work very very hard to improve the lives of equines in need of help. They would appreciate anything you can do to help them out.

You are invited to come out and visit the horse and the ranch anytime. Contact the ranch owner and manager, Kolt Barber at 615-636-3046 or send him an email.


Your Horse Training and Behavior Questions and Answers:

How do I get my young gelding to stop biting me?? He grabs at me when I'm leading him, grooming him, and petting him over the fence. Please help!

Biting is dominant behavior that your youngster is using to assert himself. He wants to test his boundaries and see what his place is in your herd of two. Since this behavior has been ongoing, he's unfortunately learned that he's pretty high up on the pecking order.

If he was living in a group of older mares, they would NEVER let him get away with this behavior. Imagine him walking up to a wised ol' mare and trying to take a bite out of her. She, and her closest friends, would go after him without mercy. He'd learn his lesson the hard way, but well.

There are two things you need to do to "nip" this in the bud.

One: You need to correct your gelding immediately and deliberately whenever he exhibits this behavior.

Two: You need to take away as much opportunity as possible for him to get a hold of you.

Before you do either of these things, you need to make sure that you are consistent about setting boundaries and rules for your gelding. If you're leading him, he should stay a few feet away from you with his head positioned slightly ahead of your shoulder...so you can keep an eye on him!

If he's a few feet to your side, that will keep his mouth further away from your flesh as well. If his head or any part of his body starts moving toward you, snap your leadrope backward and toward your horse to send him back and away, and further to the side.

If he doesn't step away, turn toward him and back him up by snapping the leadrope rearward or slapping him across the chest with the end of your leadrope. This is what a dominant mare would to do make the same correction...assertively move him out of her space.

Once he backs off, take the time to put downward pressure on the lead until he lowers his head. This will soften his body and his mind, and preserve his trust in you.

If you're grooming, again stay as far away from his head as you can. Never turn your back on this guy. He'll take advantage if you do. You have to be very attentive so that you can reduce the incidence of the behavior and ultimately the behavior itself.

If your gelding does get a hold of you, bite him back! Curl your fingers into a "claw" and give him a quick "bite" on the nose. Stare him right in the eye when you do it, and wait for him to acknowledge your dominance by lowering his head or licking and chewing before you continue on.

Consistency is important, but not as important as you believing that you are the leader. Maintain your composure at all times. Stay relaxed and focused on being a dominant mare that is teaching your gelding an important life lesson.

When I ride my horse, she's constantly pulling on the bit. I mostly ride on trail. She really pulls when there are horses in front of her. Sometimes she'll pull the reins out of my hands to get to food too.

Horses push against the bit for a couple of reasons. It can be because they are unbalanced, carrying too much weight on the forehand, and are literally using the bit to help carrying themselves. They will also start pulling against the rider's hands if the pressure the rider applies is "heavy" or unrelenting. The horse becomes frustrated and learns that pulling the reins gives them a moment or two of freedom.

My recommendation would be to put this horse into a retraining program until she learns how to carry herself and trust and respect the rider's hands.

I'd put her in a snaffle and ride her in a smooth comfortable snaffle. I'd ride her in a round pen where she has room to move but I don't have to do a lot of steering and be in her mouth.

We'd start out with simple lateral work. I'd teach her to release pressure when I take the slack out of one rein. I would NOT pull, but take out the slack and put steady firm weight against the bit until she decides to do something to release it. Once she does, she will relax and gain a sense of having some control and choice when she feels pressure in her mouth.

This is the foundation upon which you would build her continued education, teaching her to soften when she feels pressure on the reins instead of stiffening against it.

I'd keep her off the trails for awhile until she can carry herself comfortably and confidently on light or no rein contact for periods of time while maintaining steady gaits and a relaxed topline.

If you can give your mare some time and retraining, you'll be rewarded with a happier horse and a much more enjoyable ride.