The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

how to fix this?

14K views 143 replies 21 participants last post by  coffeemama 
#1 ·
Sorry in advance for the novel, lol, but I've been thinking about this a lot the past few days.......

Okay so, I have an OTTB. He is 11 years old, and was on the track as recently as April of 2008. Thats a long time to race for any horse. When I bought him (from an interim owner) she had never been on his back. He basically had no training on how to be a riding horse, so it was going to be completely up to me. I read up a LOT before I finally decided to buy him, and everything that I'd read said that they were relatively easy to re-train, and very willing. So I bought him, and the re-training began. We worked on some minor ground issues, and I basically taught him everything he knows. Voice cues, leg cues, neck reining, backing up, how to respond to a hackamore, etc...basically everything I would need to ride him. Well, its been six months, and until the beginning of December, we were doing FABULOUS. We were walking and trotting and I was almost ready to get him to canter....keep in mind, at a trot, after the first couple of times keeping him on a tight rein, I could let my reins out and he wouldn't speed up. We had worked out his issue of being gate sour, and he was actually getting better about being saddled up (when I first bought him, he was very girthy)

Until the one day I decided to try something new. I know that he does not do well on a single tie. He is very fidgety, likes to get as close to other horses as possible, unties the knots in his lead rope and is generally just a silly horse. Well, on this day I decided to just try him out, since someone else was using the cross ties, and I didn't want to wait twenty minutes to tack up. Big mistake. In all of his fidgeting, in between tightening his girth (I do it twice while he's tied and once before I mount up) his saddle slipped back, and because the girth stayed in place I didn't notice. When I went to mount up, he was fine, and after a few minutes of walking around the ring I asked for a trot. He bucked, and then took off into a very nice and smooth canter. I managed to get him under control, dismounted, fixed his saddle, and got back on. I was nervous, he was nervous, so we just did some more walking and I let him slip into a trot for a few strides before walking him again and getting off. I realize that blow up is my fault.

Then we got a sudden onset of winter rain, so the arena was a complete mud pit and I didn't ride for almost two weeks. I went out and we lunged just to keep him working, which he likes, but I did not saddle up. A few days ago, it was dry enough that I could finally ride in the arena again, so I saddled him up. There was a breeze blowing and a cool front was due in over the weekend, but we've ridden in similar weather just fine. I managed to get one decent trot transition out of him before he blew up, took off into a fast canter/gallop, and over his shoulder and onto the ground I went.

There are a lot of problems in this. One being that everything I read was based on re-training a four or five year old with not very many starts to their racing career. Ice has 95 starts, 42 of those being ones that he either placed or won....so he knows how to run, and that's essentially all he knows how to do. Two, he is naturally a very stubborn/dominant horse. The problem is also not going from a walk to a trot....its coming back down to a walk from trotting. The problem did not start until after he bucked/took off on me.

I have a feeling that I could stick his fits (that's essentially what they are) if I knew that they were coming. The dilemma with that is that expecting something to happen might cause it to happen, versus him just being a brat. At the same time, I don't want to get cocky, try and fix it, and then end up hurting myself. Also, I have no idea how to correct that behavior. One rein stops/circling him only keep him from moving his feet, they don't stop his brain from telling him to do so. So does anyone have any tips? I plan on going out to the barn and talking with our western trainer tomorrow about pricing (she's previously spent three or four years breaking babies, and also has experience with problem horses) for a month or two of training, but I do want some opinions on how I can fix this myself.

Soooo, any suggestions? I ride Western, and would consider myself a pretty decent rider. A few people have already told me I should sell him, which just doesn't seem fair (at any rate, I'd have to get him formally trained to even think of selling him for more than a dollar, and if I do that then I might as well keep him). Oh, and if you've gotten this far thanks in advance!
 
See less See more
#70 ·
I applaud your efforts in making sure to check for pain problems but it does seem like a behavioral issue as well and there isn't really getting around lunging and ground work. If your horse has arthritis then start him on adequan, legend, polyglycan or whatever and put his butt back to work.

Round pen sour? No mam. If he's fine for 5 minutes he can be good for 10 more or 30... (Not advocating lunging the crap out of your horse for 45 minutes) Lots of directional changes and transitions and breaks make the most of your lunging sessions.

I agree with a previous poster that a mechanical hackmore isn't a great idea... Go with a mild snaffle type bit or if your so against it go with a side pull.. something that doesn't cross your signals.. But remember a bit is only as harsh as you make it!
 
#71 ·
I read your reply to the post about the video and again you are saying "he did this because" and making excuses. He's not scared of your whip, he's figured you out. He is playing with you. This horse has no respect for you and if you don't solve the problem now he's going to get more dangerous. I don't think you have the tools to teach this horse as you are just learning yourself.
You said you didn't want to send him to a trainer because you wanted to learn. You can't learn by teaching. That doesn't make sense. A teacher has to learn first before he/she can teach. Therefore, you need to learn under a trainer before you take on a project. You need to know what this horse needs before you start training.
 
#73 ·
Thank you starline, but the "round pen sour" was almost two months ago.....I can give you the barn number and anyone here can talk with multiple people who've seen him act up, and that's exactly what they suggested....to give him a break, try something new, and go back to it later. I'm sure if I keep the round pen up for another month or so, he'll start acting up the same way again.

I read your reply to the post about the video and again you are saying "he did this because" and making excuses. He's not scared of your whip, he's figured you out. He is playing with you. This horse has no respect for you and if you don't solve the problem now he's going to get more dangerous.As I said before, he does this with EVERYONE. I have had three people lunge him other than me, both my English and Western trainer at the barn, and my BO. The "excuses" are legitimate. If you or anyone would like to see a video of them lunging him, I can get that. I don't think you have the tools to teach this horse as you are just learning yourself.
You said you didn't want to send him to a trainer because you wanted to learn. You can't learn by teaching. No, if you've read any post where someone has said get him a trainer, I have responded that that's exactly what I'm doing. What I said is that I want to be involved as much as possible, and I want ideas because I'd like to have a plan to discuss with the trainer. That doesn't make sense. A teacher has to learn first before he/she can teach. Therefore, you need to learn under a trainer before you take on a project. You need to know what this horse needs before you start training.
The videos of everything else should be coming in the tuesday/wednesday area....should I get this groundwork video of him in the saddle, or on the ground, or both?
 
#75 ·
Amen westonsma. I agree completely...except for the Dennise Reis part, but that's a whole different issue.
If your trainers are round penning him and he's doing the same thing you need different trainers. That is basic stuff and if your trainer can't get his respect in the round pen you are in serious trouble.
 
#76 ·
Originally Posted by Semperfiwife
I read your reply to the post about the video and again you are saying "he did this because" and making excuses. He's not scared of your whip, he's figured you out. He is playing with you. This horse has no respect for you and if you don't solve the problem now he's going to get more dangerous.As I said before, he does this with EVERYONE. I have had three people lunge him other than me, both my English and Western trainer at the barn, and my BO. The "excuses" are legitimate. If you or anyone would like to see a video of them lunging him, I can get that. I don't think you have the tools to teach this horse as you are just learning yourself.
You said you didn't want to send him to a trainer because you wanted to learn. You can't learn by teaching. No, if you've read any post where someone has said get him a trainer, I have responded that that's exactly what I'm doing. What I said is that I want to be involved as much as possible, and I want ideas because I'd like to have a plan to discuss with the trainer. That doesn't make sense. A teacher has to learn first before he/she can teach. Therefore, you need to learn under a trainer before you take on a project. You need to know what this horse needs before you start training.


If he supposedly "does this with everyone," then everyone is wrong. As far as being involved, fine. BE involved. But don't think that you're going to be able to "tell the trainer" how you do it and what you think he/she should do or does wrong. Telling a trainer what you think should be done is an insult to their expertise, and most likely will chase a person off. So coming at the trainer, "I have a plan to discuss with you." says, "I know what I'm doing, but here, you do it." You need to tell the trainer what happened, in a short description, and tell the trainer that you want to happen. He/she will ask any other questions they need to know. Back up, let the trainer have a session or two alone, THEN come watch. This way you're not there to distract your horse, and he can focus on the training. Don't offer up any, "Oh man, he does that every time I do this." That's one of those redundant things the trainer isn't going to want to hear.

Any ideas you get should be information your trainer offers you. Some trainers are OK talking you through what they're doing. But don't expect this to be a one-time fix, or to be fixed in 4 or 5 sessions. It probably wouldn't hurt to have the trainer put 30 rides on him. Not 30 days, 30 rides. Then he'll be green broke enough for you to ride, but only under the instruction of the trainer.
 
#78 · (Edited)
Thanks everyone......thats a little harsh to say that no one knows what they're doing, I can respect the fact that I may not when it comes to really training a horse, even though I have free-lunged other horses before. But why don't I just get a video, most likely of the trainer I intend to use along with that ground work, and then you all can judge it since that's whats happening here anyway. The "chasing after him" scenario was referring to August, not now....even though you cant see me in the video, it would be obvious if I really were chasing him around with the whip. I'll say it again, as of now, to get him to reverse, I have to just make a motion to step in his path, and say "reverse". To get him to stop, I drop the whip, hold out both arms and say "whoa" this is all done from the middle of the round pen.

To me "discussing" and "telling" are two different things--I would only presume to tell her what my goals are as far as where I want him to be at the end of everything. Anything else that would be suggested would be just that, a suggestion....a conversation of what she thinks is best versus what I want. If she just has a "one size fits all" training method and says " doing this and ONLY this will definitely cure him", I'll find someone else. Not every trainer knows everything, and since he is not a normal green riding horse, normal methods might not work the way they are intended.

Should the ground work video be in the saddle, from the ground, or both?
 
#80 ·
Thanks everyone......thats a little harsh to say that no one knows what they're doing, I can respect the fact that I may not when it comes to really training a horse, even though I have free-lunged other horses before. Ok, back to my nitpicking, you don't know how to longe a horse, so you don't need to get defensive. Just accept the advice, say to yourself, "I really need to learn this stuff. Maybe I should just listen." You can't "free longe" a horse if you don't know how to longe a horse. And I don't care how many times you say it. Plus, your barn COULD be one of those full of the famed pet owners, how would we know?

But why don't I just get a video, most likely of the trainer I intend to use along with that ground work, and then you all can judge it since that's whats happening here anyway. That's what's happening here anyway? What, the trainer was the one standing in the roundpen? No. That was you, and a friend. Two people in the roundpen at one time trying to longe a horse and videotape at the same time is NOT going to work. You asked for the critique when you posted the video. And if you feel that your horse is going to do the same thing with the trainer, then you seriously need to take a step back and reconsider even getting a trainer. If you aren't confident that your horse will perform differently under REAL control, you need to find him a home who can. And yes, I'd like to see a vid of the trainer working your horse.

The "chasing after him" scenario was referring to August, not now....even though you cant see me in the video, it would be obvious if I really were chasing him around with the whip. Even in 3/4 mos, YOU haven't learned "not to chase him." Because essentially, that's what you're doing, whether you think so or not. And it IS obvious...

I'll say it again, as of now, to get him to reverse, I have to just make a motion to step in his path, and say "reverse". To get him to stop, I drop the whip, hold out both arms and say "whoa" this is all done from the middle of the round pen. The stepping in front of him is the proper cue.

To me "discussing" and "telling" are two different things--I would only presume to tell her what my goals are as far as where I want him to be at the end of everything. This would be the right thing to do.

Anything else that would be suggested would be just that, a suggestion....a conversation of what she thinks is best versus what I want. This would be the wrong thing to do.

If she just has a "one size fits all" training method, I'll find someone else. Not every trainer knows everything, and since he is not a normal green riding horse, normal methods might not work the way they are intended. This is the wrong thing to do too, even though no trainer knows all, they have a method that works for them, and since they know more than you, you can only judge as far as how easy it is for you to do what your goal was set to do. And he is a normal green horse. A non-normal horse would be riding a zebra.

Should the ground work video be in the saddle, from the ground, or both?

The video should be of the trainer working with your horse, and then you can get our opinions on the trainer and how he/she is working with your horse.
 
#81 ·
Can I jump in? I want to address the "dominance" that everyone mentions. With this horse, I think a more oblique approach might suit him and his owner better.

I realize that the video was taken for evaluation purposes. Nevertheless, I think his balking was directly because he was getting no response back. The verbal "good" didn't seem to mean anything, I feel. I think letting him stop, going over and giving him a scratch on his tummy, something to say how pleased you were, would be a better response by the human.

In other words, he kept giving the right answer, but you kept asking the same question over and over. Of course, the session wasn't a training session, but then again, HE didn't know that.

Just another opinion to add to this lengthy thread.:)
 
#83 ·
I understand what your saying and I respectfully disagree to a point. THis horse does need direction and I agree that she needs to quit talking so much to him and reinforcing what she wants, but I think she should apply preasure when she wants something and then release pressure when he does it right. After he's done with the exercise and she asks him to stop, then a good petting would work. I don't think he needs petted everytime he does something good. He just needs a release of pressure.
I completely agree with asking the same thing over and over again. Everytime your with your horse they're learning something, so everytime you are with your horse is a training lesson in my opinion.
But, my bottom line is there needs to be a good trainer or experienced horse person to teach her what she needs to know and to teach this horse because she doesn't have the experience or knowledge to do it.
 
#86 ·
I think part of the problem here is the attitude toward the horse. The horse is getting by the best way he knows how. He is not getting what he needs from those handling him and is doing what he has to to get along. He is not being stubborn, angry or a donkey butt. He is confused and needs some help getting right in his mind. He needs to be with a horseman who knows how to help him get where he needs to be in his mind and body. If you approach a horse with an attitude of "I'm going to show you who's boss" you may get him to do some things but you won't get what the horse could give you if you approached him in a better way. A horse has a lot to give and he will give some in spite of what you do but he will give everything if handled with feel and timing.
 
#88 ·
If you approach a horse with an attitude of "I'm going to show you who's boss" you may get him to do some things but you won't get what the horse could give you if you approached him in a better way. A horse has a lot to give and he will give some in spite of what you do but he will give everything if handled with feel and timing.
I am very intriged. I think I know what you mean...which is kinda what I'm trying to say and failing miserably, but could you explain what you mean by approaching him in a better way?
 
#91 · (Edited)
westonma-I was referring to the judgment as what was already happening. I assumed that since the original debate was that he had no solid foundation and that was his problem, it would be fine enough to have me doing the groundwork. Never the less, I'll see if she has time to do it on Tuesday, and maybe get her evaluation ride in to give the run down of what needs to happen with him. I also don't think I worded that phrase right... "versus" wasn't really the correct word to use, I meant something more along the lines of "using her ideas/concepts on training to get the results I want."

Beling-I pretty much have that approach, but since the video was only two minutes long, and the camera memory was full, we didn't catch the whole session. Usually thats exactly what happens, every so often (I try to end it after he turns in to me to reverse, rather than turning out) we'll stop, I'll let him think about it for a minute (till theres licking/chewing) and then go over and pet his face, pat his shoulder, etc.

Kevin-I may say that in humor, but if he really didn't like me, I'd probably really know it by now. I do realize that he's only doing what he knows how to do to survive, which, in the situation of having a rider on his back, would be to go as fast as he possibly can. I where I thought he would know what to do, a simple walk. We only recently started a trot. I think my problem in the situation where he bolted was, after being off for a week, and with the cold weather, I made the mistake of assuming we could pick up right where we left off with no problems. Essentially, I asked for too much too soon, witout refreshing his memory of "this is what I want"
 
#94 ·
Justsambam, I have to say, you are taking the criticism really well.

After watching the video (and the ones on the lunge line), your horse is really confused and really unbalanced. I do not believe free lunging will benefit him at all at this point. He needs more communication. If I were into groundwork (and personally, I am not) I would restart him on the lunge. I would put him in a snaffle bridle, remove the reins and run a lunge line through the bit cheekpiece, over his head and attach to the far side. I'd then put him on a small circle (10m?) in the round pen and work with him on walk/halt/reverse on that small circle until he's comfortable travelling the same circle without tension on the line or needing constant input. Then you can add in some larger circles and other gaits.

I disagree with some people who insist you're not capable of doing any work without a trainer. Certainly you do the above exercises and a few slow, simple ones under saddle.

My feeling with this horse is that his reaction to confusion is to go FORWARD. I would venture to say that's why you are having issues under saddle. I think you'll have to recognize that reaction and also to give him confidence in his work.

The first under saddle work I would do with him is simple variations of walk/trot/halt. I'd do plenty of walk to halt, back to walk and introduce a turn on the forehand once a quiet halt is established. When he's stopped anticipating going faster, I would start walk/trot transitions again. I'd aim for that upward transition to be VERY quiet and bring him back to a walk after about 3-5 strides. 10-15 walk strides, back to quiet trot for 3-5 strides. Repeat a few times, mix up with the walk/halt/turn on forehand and circles and reversing directions. Keep your hands quiet - but also make sure that he responds when you say to respond. If he wants to trot 15 strides instead of 5, put him on his butt once and then go back to being quiet.

These exercises will help you establish your brakes, introduce your leg as a lateral aid (not just forward!) and also to start acclimating his brain to a quieter, less rushed state.

As an aside, he appears to have lost condition in the last few months? Is he getting turnout? Is he eating plenty of hay and a complete feed (no sweet feed!)? If all those are met, I think the loss of condition is a good indication that he's not working correctly at all.
 
#95 ·
He looks okay to me in the video. a little undermuscled though.. and i have to say i love the voice commands and the way he reverses when you ask . he has a short stride and it looks a little off to me. maybe hes just not balanced as mentioned before. i think if you keep up the work you'll have a great partner. My tb mare was a nightmare at 16 y.o after being turned out as a broodmare since she was 7. its been a year , she had to gain over 500 lbs and were still finishing up training. i dont think any horse is ever done training haha theres too much to learn =].
 
#96 ·
Thanks to you both. I know he is very unbalanced, he does a lot better with consistent work, he remembers how his feet move, but that was the first time he'd done more than walking to and from the stall in three or four days because of rain. Not to mention I think that round pen might be 50 feet, which is pretty small, and he's definitely not used to tight turns. I actually just got a surcingle and some draw reins (with the donuts) so we're going to work on his balance and topline, since I don't think that will have any effect on whatever training he might need/go through. I would definitely agree with your statement about the confusion, after all that's what he was trained to do, lol. Like I mentioned to kevinshorses, we've only recently begun trotting work, I spent a little under four months getting his walking, halting, and backing up down smoothly, and so if I were consistantly riding him now, it would be just about three months of w/t work. My mistake was probably thinking he could trot perfectly well after a week of cool weather and no work, and remember everything we'd been working on. I'm going to talk with the trainer I want to use after she rides him and see if she really thinks putting a bit in his mouth would help him, and if so, what kind. I have a D-ring snaffle of medium width that does nothing for him, but I've considered something also with a low port maybe to give his tongue a little more wiggle room so he doesn't try to push it out. Regardless of what the people here say, I was planning on getting lessons (or I had at least requested them as a Christmas gift) sometime this Spring, so whether its training or lessons is really just a matter of how much money I want to spend.

As far as I know, he is getting turnout.....but we have NO grass where he's boarded at, or at least not in the back four pastures. Theres grass in the front thats reserved for the geriatric crew and the babies, and we also have a nice lawn that I hand graze him on every time I go out. He gets four flakes a day and 2 scoops (however much that is) of senior feed daily. I don't think he's lost condition, he's definitely gotten fatter, lol, but thats due to the fact that this off and on rainy weather we have has kept our arena pretty soupy. Compared to the August video, he has more muscle in his shoulders, more fat, and less rib. Beware though, he also does have a skinny side. Check my pictures, for some reason his right is always a little skinnier than his left.

BP-See the answers above xD If I could get over his fear of ground poles (more than one, and its a monster trying to eat him!) I might be able to get his butt looking a little better, but the three months of tons of trotting did wonders for his shoulders.
 
#97 ·
the side reins and surcingle will help on the muscle part . try a french link snaffle. thats what ive used on all my ott tbs and they all loved them the hardest bit i ever used was a kimberwick then downshifted back into a french link. consistancy is also the key =]
 
#98 ·
I also noticed in that document LarissaL sent me (I think its back at the top of page 8 ) that occasionally they use elevator bits on the track, specifically for horses who have problems stopping. Would this also be a possibility (to start with, and then work down from, if needed)? I've seen debates on the effectiveness of the bit, since some say unless the "emergency brakes" are applied, it works like a snaffle does, while others say its just a harsh bit period.
 
#99 ·
the elevator just makes them tuck their heads in and can make it work against you , he can grab the bit and run easier. if you want something with a curb effect id use a kimberwicke . they arent too bad . i happen to like them the best out of any curb bit out there.
 
#100 ·
Whats the western equivalent to a kimberwicke? lol Looking at these pictures of kimberwickes on chicks, I don't think that my headstall will fit into those top slots....however, looking at western bits, i'm having a hard time finding something that ISN'T shanked.....
 
#103 ·
Amen!!!
To the OP:
Get yourself educated and work on your horse with feel. I don't think you have enough background to know just what to do with your horse. The video you posted shows a horse that is unsure of what is expected of him and quite nervous. As I said before find a GOOD trainer and let him/her do the training while you take some riding lessons.
 
#102 ·
Actually even though the bit attachement on the Kimberwicke looks small, it should fit your western bridle...If you have anyone at your barn who has one, I would try it first, and see; both on your bridle and the horse...Lol!

I would also find a cavesson, to keep his gaping habit to a minimum; my Appy that I took on as a project this spring\summer was a gaper, so after I had his teeth checked, I put on a cavesson on him. After working in it a couple of weeks, I started taking it off every couple of rides, then every other ride, til I didn't have to use it anymore.
 
#104 · (Edited)
Tripp, if you've read the whole topic (I don't blame you if you haven't) westonsma suggested the exact same thing.....put him in a harsh bit (she suggested something like a twisted wire snaffle, or some other bit that she attached a picture of, but I can't see it) and teach him to obey it that way, since as of right now, with the snaffle he's had previously, all he does is run through it, gape his mouth/wag his tongue, stretch down and out, and try to push the bit out of his mouth/get it under his tongue. The bit I bought for him was a D-ring snaffle (since I thought exactly what everyone says "simple and safe"). I DO think that using something with a low port might help with the tongue issues, and as mom2pride suggested, a cavesson for the gaping. If you have any training suggestions as to how to fix that, I'm more than welcome to hear them (less money spending for me! lol).

He is always nervous in the round pen, even moreso on a lunge line. I honestly think it might be the lunge whip. This was how he was even before I got to him....the first time he was ever in the round pen, my BO lunged him for ten minutes, and he had the same "deer in headlights" look about him. However, under saddle, he was much more relaxed, I assume thats because he actually had a small clue as to what we were doing.

I have taken riding lessons before, thank you. I've leased horses before buying this one, so I know about the riding....its the specific training that I don't know, and the only way I would be able to get better at communicating specifically with him is by well, taking lessons with him. Which unless you want to pay for everything lol, I can't get him a little more broken in and take riding lessons on him all at the same time.

Hopefully, I'll be able to catch the trainer early tomorrow and get her to do some work with him in the round pen/do an evaluation ride, and get her opinions (all on video for you guys, or at least most of it) and then report back.
 
#105 ·
a snaffle is not a harsh bit. That's the point. The longer the port, the harsher the bit. The harsher the bit the more your going to screw him up.The horse is running through the bit because you are not teaching him right and fixing the problem. The horse is nervous in the round pen because you are not teaching him right and fixing the problem. I feel the minute you take responsibility for his behavior and stop making excuses the's going to be a much happier horse and your going to be able to look at things alot different. I will be the first to tell you that I could not train this horse. I agree 100% with Kevinshorses and what he has said throughout the thread.
I think you need started from the beginning and retrained too. I had to do this after meeting people in the beginning that taught me all wrong and then I found an amazing trainer that works through feel and with the horse instaed of against the horse. In my opinion, you need this too.
The first few things a trainer is going to do with him is put a snaffle in his mouth and teach him how to ride in it and put him in the round pen and undo everything you've done. No excuses or reasons why he acts that way, they will give him confidence in what he does and make their direction precise and confident so he knows what's asked of him and what he should do.
I hope your trainer can do this.
 
#106 ·
"Everything I've done"....the problem is, I didn't do anything, except maybe go along with what ever other people have told me. Before I personally handled this horse, I had someone else come out and ride him, come out and lunge him, come out and look at him. She is a very accomplished friend of mine, she currently jumps 3'6" on her 16.3 TB and has been riding and taking lessons since she was 12 (shes now 20). He was nervous on the lunge line, and she commented on this. When she rode him (which was just at a walk, and in a d-ring, although not mine) I saw and she commented that he was very forward, and that he felt like he wanted to "go"....however, he was much less nervous in saddle, and toned down even more when we brought in his mare friend to hang out. Before I lunged him in the round pen, I had my BO do it for me.

What I have I done specifically? I rode him in a hackamore for four months without incident, I taught him how to halt, back, back in circles, stand for mounting from a mounting block, trot on a loose rein, how to respect that he's not ever to bite me, how he's not supposed to swing his butt in to me, how he's supposed to let me walk in circles around him in his stall if I feel like it and not crowd the door as we walk through it.

As for his training, the trainer does feel like he needs specifically in-saddle training. She's going to work with him for one month, five days a week, and after the first week of specifically ground work, she'll start in-saddle work. So even though that's only 15 rides give or take, sixteen with the evaluation ride. she doesn't think he'll need much more than that, and if he does at the end of the month, then we'll talk about it. Both the BO and her know his personality like I do, and we know he's quick to pick things up. She is going to try him in her western hackamore first (mine is the english type), and if she feels she needs to change it during the ride, then she'll switch to my snaffle (I rigged it up on my headstall today just in case), or whatever other bit she may feel is appropriate.

She's riding him tomorrow at 2pm, and I plan on being there a little early so I can groom him myself and check him over. The video of it all should follow.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top