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Green Horses in Open Field...

4K views 15 replies 14 participants last post by  Woodhaven 
#1 ·
So I am riding two green horses for an older couple. Both horses are green but very different.

I have experience riding green horses but mostly in arenas. The thing is that at this farm they only have large fields to ride in.

I was wondering if you have any advice on specifically riding/training green horses in an open space?
 
#2 ·
Riding in an arena provides a confined area and a fence or wall to guide the horse's movement, but riding in a large field can have advantages for developing longer strides and working on varying terrain. How green are these horses and what specifically are you trying to work on?
 
#3 ·
If that is what the horses are used to and have been riding in their whole lives (or most of them) I bet you will be fine. My 5 year old is extremely green but is BETTER in fields because he was a trail horse with his previous owner and it's what he's used to/where he feels most comfortable
 
#5 ·
All of the years I started colts -- 50 of them a year for at least 15 years -- I only used a pen for the first 3 or 4 rides and then went to the fields and trails. We still ride young horses out after their first 3 or 4 rides. We think arenas handicap both riders and horses. We do not ride future show horses in an arena until everything is going perfect in the open.

When your goal is to teach a horse to stay between your reins and your legs, you can do that anywhere.
 
#8 ·
Totally agree!

Taking the young'ns out is the best thing you can do for them. A green horse will not have the balance or coordination to ride in smaller spaces like an arena or even a round pen.
 
#6 ·
When I first take colts out in open country I don’t give them a lot of time to think for themselves. I will ride them off on a loose rein for 30 to 40 or so yards then turn them around, yield the hind qtrs or maybe even back them up a few steps before I ride off again on a loose rein. I will repeat this throughout the ride and might even trot or lope some circles along the way to keep their attention on what I might ask of them next. If the colt was anxious I would shorten this distance to keep them thinking about me the rider. Over the days of training as they build confidence in big country I will ride them out farther on a loose rein and give them more opportunity to prove themselves to me. I will also change gaits “walk, trot an canter” during this training with an emphasis on the trot which as we know is the training gait. They need to get comfortable in all gaits in upward and downward transitions and open country is a great place to do it.

They key is to give them a job and keep them thinking.

Best of luck.
 
#7 ·
I'm actually enjoying working my greenie in an open field (I do miss the nice footing of a groomed arena, however!) I feel there is more opportunity for real training when you're not confined to a specific space - I'm happy to have a horse who is really getting broke, not just trained to follow a wall. I agree with everyone else - if they start getting antsy, do something different to keep their brain on you, such as circles, serpentines, move shoulders/hips, work on transitions.

Make sure YOU stay relaxed, so your horses don't feel there is something to be worried about, and be cautious that you're not holding them back out of fear they might take off. No reason you have to progress to cantering until you're feeling confident at the walk & trot. Enjoy the new opportunity!
 
#9 ·
If you're confident in an open space, I'm sure you will be fine. I backed my 3yo without an arena or even enclosed fields. We do all our schooling in open fields (no fences), and on the trails. She is very level-headed and has learnt more in the wide world than I could ever have taught her in an arena.

I think Cherie absolutely hit the nail on the head when she said, "When your goal is to teach a horse to stay between your reins and your legs, you can do that anywhere."

Wonderfully concise and to the point, as always, Cherie.

I think that is the maximum goal, and you can take it to the level you wish.
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#12 ·
I just started my 3 year old mare 3 months ago. She has had 10 rides now. Her first 2 rides were in the round pen after that I got her out in a open field, back roads, and trails. I ditch the round pen as soon as she had all the basics. Makes a better trained horse I think anyways. Last week I took her on her first off property trail ride and she did awesome and also cantered for the first time with a rider. :) Good Luck!
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#16 ·
I would often have to start young horses out in the open, had no riding arena with good footing and managed ok. With one horse when I was out riding and came across a space that had fairly good footing and was level, I would walk around it a couple of time to see what the footing looked like on the perimeter and it was almost as if I had put up an ivisible fence for my horse, he knew that was the area that we would school in. I guess they can buck you off just as easily in a pen as out in the open, only good thing, you won't land on a fence post when in the open.
I have to admit when I had a decent riding arena I did like it. Now I have a new horse that has had limited schooling and I have no place but the pasture for this so am back to that again, but we are managing it. Have had her out a couple of times to school and she's been good. She has been used for occasional trial riding before I got her.
I do think that schooling in the open gives you a lot more control over your horse as there is no fence to help you. I find they don't get as bored as they can get if only ridden in an arena.
Enjoy your riding with the new horses
 
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