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Young horse

3K views 26 replies 12 participants last post by  thenrie 
#1 ·
My horse is almost three. I have started riding her, she was doing really good, until she flipped over and stated rolling, i got off of her before she rolled on top of me... But i do not know why she did this, and how do i stop her from doing it again? She also twists her head down really low making me fall off balance. I do not know why she is doing this, i have tried to put my foot forward so she would smack it was to would twist her head, but it did not faze her at all. I am thinking maybe if a started her under bit that she would listen more to me when i am on her back. She was doing really good on the halter, but she just started doing this, i have also tried to take the whip along, but it makes her to nervous. Can anyone give me ideas?? :?:idea:
 
#2 ·
Uh ... hold up. Just so we are not misunderstanding you.

1) Is the horse saddled when it lays down and rolls over? Or are you attempting to do this bareback?

2) You are currently using only a halter?

3) Has this horse had any ground driving training?
 
#6 ·
I would have a trainer help you with this. When you say whip, do you mean a dressage whip, or a crop? Have you introduced her to a bit or saddle at all?
 
#7 ·
Your horse is rolling because she can, and because you don't really have any means to control her or communicate what you want her to do.

I think it would be best if you at least worked with someone who has experience starting young horses.

Beyond that, you need to start over. Get your horse used to the saddle. Lunge her with the saddle. Introduce the bit. Get her flexing with the bit (actually, make sure she flexes nicely with the halter first). Ground drive with the bit so you have some control when you get on. There are lots more details that cannot be explained well on a forum, especially if you haven't done it before.

If you are going to do this, you need to educate yourself. Invest in some training DVDs and colt starting clinics. Check out the threads on horse trainers, look them up on YouTube, decide which styles you like, and consider buying some of their materials (or try to borrow stuff from people you know).
 
#9 ·
She has been saddled, i have been getting her use to the bit. She does nice in the saddle, i have rode her in it before, i do prefer no saddle, that is why i was not using one. I do not have a trainer at this time, the one i had it did not work out.

She does turn and go forward, and back up on on command. But she just started this rolling thing.

By whip i mean my whip it is about 3 feet long so i can reach her back end to tap her, i have to have both hands to control her.

She was throwing a fit, and put her head so low i could not get it back up, that is when she rolled. I did punish her, but i hurt my foot so i could not get back on her.
 
#11 ·
I did punish her, but i hurt my foot so i could not get back on her.

I am sorry, but this bothered me. Why do you need to punish a horse for doing something natural, like rolling? Please, get a trainer...
I go by the saying "If the horse isn't doing it right, your asking for it incorrectly" and "it's never the horse, it's the rider or equipment". Obviously your horse is bothered by something and doesn't need to be "punished" for it.
 
#12 ·
How many years riding experience do you have?
Is this your first horse?
Was the horse hot and sweaty when it rolled?
It could just be that the horse wasnt taking you riding bareback & in a halter seriously - like game - and thought it was OK to roll
I also think you should be working with a trainer but if thats not an option then go back to a saddle and either a bridle or at least a proper sidepull bitless bridle so you have more control
You should be in a confined space, if a horse thinks about rolling a good smack behind your leg with a schooling whip usually pushes them on but I'm not sure you have the skills for this
 
#13 ·
If you ride with a saddle and bridle, you'll have more control when she tries to roll. Don't give her her head and keep her moving.

Now that she's done it a couple times, it might be difficult to prevent it next time. And when you do stop her, she may pitch a fit, so be prepared. Most young horses will try to challenge you at some point (as many older ones will, too).
 
#17 ·
So, if you have started other horses, you've probably run across other shenanigans (i.e. bucking, etc..). It's not too different, in a way. Try to intercept the behaviour before the horse really gets rolling. Once she's part way down, it's a lot harder to get her back up. You've already picked up on the fact that she lowers her head right before rolling. Take her head away from her, and keep her moving.
 
#19 ·
Even if you are very experienced, when dealing with youngsters it is important to be able to react quickly in case of rolling, bucking, etc. so that such behaviors don't become a habit. Get help from another experienced horse person, even if it is just another set of eyes on the ground to help spot the small signals that you might be missing that would signify your horse is about to engage in some kind of unwanted behavior.

Have you ever long lined her with a bit? That can be a very good way to teach a horse how to correctly respond to some of the rider's cues.
 
#20 ·
She did much better today. I went out with two other people and walked her over to the first person then turned her, and i rode her her to the other person, about 20 FT away! She did really good, and every time she went to throw her head around i would tell her no. She listened, but i did have to lunge her around a few times to get her to listen. I am very happy with today's results! :D
 
#21 ·
You don't really have the ability to train a horse, if you are letting her get her head down and you can't get it back up.

And you should be able to manipulate a crop and reins at the same time for that matter. That you can't tells me that you are in over your head here.

This horse has your number, and you are only going to get hurt if you continue with this.
 
#24 ·
Sassy, takes some good advice. You are not ready to be training horses by yourself. Get some help, a lot of help, before you get hurt seriously. Everything you have said indicates you need to be an understudy to a professional trainer.

Do Not be so set on doing it yourself that you get hurt seriously. You've said you know your horse, but all of the actions you've mentioned her, say you'd like to know your horse, but really don't.

We are not belittling you, just trying to stop an accident from happening.
 
#26 ·
I am going to throw in my 2 cents worth here. Take it or leave it, nobody here is trying to belittle you or make you feel bad. I have trained or help train several horses and I still ask for help. Get somebody more experience or another set of eyes. Just because you have trained a few horses and it has gone well does not mean that you can train everything. If I ever get to a point where a horse is doing something and I am not sure how to fix it or work through it I call somebody. Nobody here was trying to hurt your feelings or say that you can't train just that in this particular problem it seems like you need help.
 
#27 ·
I just have to put in my two-cents worth...so take it for what it's worth:wink:.

Nothing you have said sounds to me like your horse is doing anything dangerous, or that you can't handle it. In fact, I'm wondering if this horse is the one in your avatar.

If so, this horse will be a piece of cake to break. You just have a little bit of a spoiled brat syndrome going on. However, just like a kid, it can start out pretty innocent, but can get out of hand in a hurry if you don't correct it quickly.

You are going to have to train her with a saddle and a bridle. Just accept that. You are not going to train her, with any precision, bareback with a halter. There may be folks who can, but they get paid thousands of dollars to do that. You're not in that class...neither am I. Train her first, then ride her bareback all you want!

You have to be able to control her head with authority. That starts in a halter and lots of ground work. Then you bridle her with a bit (I like to start in a simple O-ring snaffle). Then you saddle her up and do more ground work (I actually like to saddle first, then bridle). Then, when all that is going well, you step into the saddle. That's where this horse will be a piece of cake, compared to others I have known. Now you start doing from the saddle what you trained her to do in the ground work. This process will take months, not days or weeks, to do it well.

I also recommend the use of spurs. When properly used, they seem to greatly enhance the horse's ability to learn and retain training, and seems to make them much more willing to comply with simple cues. Seldom do they need to be used roughly if they are introduced early in the training, before bad habits develop.

Now, after you have done all the above, and she decides to lay down and roll on you, a few good jabs in the ribs with the spurs will break that habit very quickly. When she tries to lower her head, you take her head to the side and don't let her get "the bit in her teeth", so to speak.

It all starts with ground training. That's where the beginners always skimp, because they are anxious to get on the animal's back and declare it "broke".

Remember, a lot of folks trying to help you here are basing their answers on their experience as show riders and trainers. You are not going to make a blue-ribbon show horse out of this one without help from a pro (or at least a very good) trainer, as has been suggested.

However, there is absolutely no reason why you can't make her into a good, reliable pleasure riding horse.
 
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