[Prodomus]

Here is a link to a video of my 3 year old Sport Horse Stallion starting his "Official" In Hand Training. Warning to some that it is a bit strong, so I don't want anyone getting all upset.

This is a big horse (17.3hh) that has a great attitude and is starting his career - boundaries needed to be established for both him and me. It was a very interesting experience for both of us, changed our relationship somewhat to a more working relationship. Remember that this is my baby - I watching him being born, bred his mom (sister to my gelding), selected the stallion and have been his only handler since birth.

Well here goes:

 

[Sketter]

Beautiful Stallion! He is deffintly one BIG boy!

 

[lacyloo]

I don't know anything about dressage but whats the point in (in hand training)? Just curious. Is there a class for it or something? Or is it just simply teaching him how to lead?
Please excuse my ignorance lol

 

[Prodomus]

Both - he will show in hand YEH and Dressage as well as sport horse and inspections. But manners are very important.

 

[lacyloo]

Oh okay
He is stunning.

 

[HalfPass]

Wow...all I can say is he is very beautiful! Flashy young man!

 

[Vidaloco]

He is a handsome fellow and he seems to be taking to his training really well. I'm curious as well, since I know nothing about dressage either. We start ours right after they are born to halter work. Is this the same as halter training in the western world?

 

[~*~anebel~*~]

He is a handsome fellow and he seems to be taking to his training really well. I'm curious as well, since I know nothing about dressage either. We start ours right after they are born to halter work. Is this the same as halter training in the western world?

I'm assuming this horse was also halter broke as a foal, as most horses are. If you'll notice the horse is outfitted in a surcingle, bit and side reins. The purpose of this is three fold. The first reason is to get the horse used to tack, the aids and just generally provide a framework for further ground and in hand work. This work is also teaching acceptance and respect to the horse and beginning to teach the horse that he must let the trainer move his body where it may not be comfortable (this is really key in dressage because we are asking horses to move and build muscle and they can end up very muscle sore or uncomfortable in the new work). And finally, the trainer is just playing to see where the horse's boundaries are and how s/he can progress the training.

I don't think enough people work on this sort of stuff with their young horses, they just go straight to lunging.

Good luck!

 

[Allison Finch]

I don't disagree with any of this training, especially if he will become a breeding stallion. Rules must be clear and consistent.

What breeding is he? Sport horse is somewhat ambiguous. Your trainer looks familiar, what is his name? I can't get a clear view of his face with the video quality on my laptop.

 

[FlyinSoLow]

Wow he looks great! He really seems to pay attention!

I must admit thought I never found this type of in hand training beneficial to me or my horses (never have used side reins either), but its interesting to watch other people who do find it useful.

I love to watch other people do things, you can learn from everyone.

 

[RiosDad]

We have a mare at 17-3 and I am about 5-11 and she towers over me. You must be a tall girl??
I was really hoping the horse would connect. I noticed the whip cracked over his heals quite a few times. Sometimes before a command was even given?
For a hand raised foul he just now needs to learn how to lead properly??
Seemed to be upsetting the horse alot??
If someone tried handling my guy like that I would ask him to leave. No demand.

He is a big boy and I hope all this ground work goes well for you.

 

[nrhareiner]

I'm assuming this horse was also halter broke as a foal, as most horses are. If you'll notice the horse is outfitted in a surcingle, bit and side reins. The purpose of this is three fold. The first reason is to get the horse used to tack, the aids and just generally provide a framework for further ground and in hand work. This work is also teaching acceptance and respect to the horse and beginning to teach the horse that he must let the trainer move his body where it may not be comfortable (this is really key in dressage because we are asking horses to move and build muscle and they can end up very muscle sore or uncomfortable in the new work). And finally, the trainer is just playing to see where the horse's boundaries are and how s/he can progress the training.

I don't think enough people work on this sort of stuff with their young horses, they just go straight to lunging.

Good luck!

Except for the tack I do all that with my weanlings. They halter, lead, trot next to me, set up, stand, back. They also give every part of their body to pressure on the ground. I never lunge a young horse past the point they know how to lunge. No real reason to go past the fact that they need to know how.

I agree that every horse should know how to do this.

 

[FlyinSoLow]

Except for the tack I do all that with my weanlings. They halter, lead, trot next to me, set up, stand, back. They also give every part of their body to pressure on the ground. I never lunge a young horse past the point they know how to lunge. No real reason to go past the fact that they need to know how.

My 9 month old colt does all this too.
We work on our showmanship weekly.
I really have stopped doing any type of work toward 'lunging' becuase, like you said, he now knows how to do it and thats enough for me.

If it is really muddy outside I will take him into the roundpen or lunge him before turnout for a few minutes (only ever walk/jog) to prevent him from being too stupid in the mud. I think it helps, becuase he is small he can rip around (or try too) in a very small area and I don't want him to get hurt.

We do this even with the big ones.

 

[Vidaloco]

Except for the tack I do all that with my weanlings. They halter, lead, trot next to me, set up, stand, back. They also give every part of their body to pressure on the ground. I never lunge a young horse past the point they know how to lunge. No real reason to go past the fact that they need to know how.

I agree that every horse should know how to do this.

Thats what I was wondering if this teaches the same thing. We use a butt rope to teach a young foal to walk with a person, couldn't do that with this brute :lol:
I also wondered if the sursingle set up was similar to a Pesseo type training devise, is this like a first step toward that?
I really am stupid about all this dressage training, but I find it very interesting.

 

[nrhareiner]

We use a butt rope to teach a young foal to walk with a person, couldn't do that with this brute :lol:

Although I have used butt ropes on foals I have found that once they are about 3 days old I put a halter on them and a lead. So I can get the halter off once they are in the pasture. I then lead their dam and let the foal follow. By the time they are 30 days old they lead like champs and I then just lead the foal and their dam follows.

 

[NittanyEquestrian]

The OP can correct me if I'm wrong but this is not just teaching him to lead it is teaching him in-hand etiquette. When you have a horse this large you must teach them most of the dressage movements from the ground like piaffe, passage, I think you can do pirouette and even medium and extended trot in some form of in-hand or long lining. This is simply because no human is strong enough to push this guy into a surprise extended trot the right way and it's hard to teach, push with seat and leg and use whips while riding. Same for piaffe/passage. So this type of training will set him up to learn in-hand as he progresses through the levels. He needs to learn that it is NEVER ok to run over or past the handler. He also needs to learn that he needs to LIFT his feet, not shuffle or suck back. The point of whacking his haunches was because he was losing his natural gait. When you are starting a horse you never want to let them get lazy and shuffle or suck back. If the horse only ever learns to go up into the bit and come through with his hind end and engage then half the battle in teaching a dressage horse has been won from the ground before he is ever ridden. It might look crazy and confusing to someone who is not familiar with dressage or in hand work but it really does have a point. And the angles/lighting were bad for you to realize what was done to deserve the taps with the whip from the helper.

She also said that she plans on showing him in hand at the Young Event Horse and other Sport Horse shows. Look up young horse dressage and sport horse in hand classes and what they have to do and you will understand this training. It is really dressage in hand with an emphasis on big, suspended strides and a very willing and well mannered horse. Conformation and eye appeal are also factored in as well.

 

[Mercedes]

In all honesty, I couldn't watch past the halfway point, and here's why...

I see a man being unnecessarily loud. Loud with his voice, loud with his aids, loud with his energy. I see him being a bully and posturing in what appears to be a contest between him and himself as to which one can be the biggest wiener in his pants. The amount of pressure he places on the horse, imo, far exceeds what was required to get the job done...and that's not fair.

I get this is a big horse. Own some myself. I get he's a stallion. Have owned some myself. I get the need for their to be clear signals, and clear lines that aren't crossed.

I'm just not seeing in this video a horse that needs to be bullied to get the desired results. Your horse is a lovely individual, seems to be bright and agreeable. I have no idea what issues you were having with him on your own, but as long as you're pleased with the final results, my opinion will be of no concern to you.

Good luck with your boy!

 

[Honeysuga]

This is not halter breaking, there is a difference. The horse is already halter broken. This is for a class, "In Hand" correct me if I am wrong, but there are shows where the horses (warmbloods and such) are shown in hand and required to be absolutely perfect in their obedience to their handler. I have no connection to dressage whatsoever, but even I know that...

I don't see really any unnecessary force... It is a big stallion, possibly going to be used for breeding and in a discipline that demands absolute obedience. Sure they are not tiptoeing through the tulips with him, they are being strict, but I do not see anyone bullying or being mean...

Like Riosdad, I noticed the smack before the command, but it was only microseconds before the person on the lead started moving, it is teaching the horse to move as soon as they see the handler move, not to lag behind even for a second.

Also the horse is not allowed to move and fidget, which is why he got a smack with the whip when he shook his head, it is not allowed.

The smacking at the heels made him stay with the handler, not in front of or behind, but exactly beside...

In hand is 100% discipline, and I think with this type of training, the stallion will be obedient and do wonderfully in hand.

By the way OP, he is gorgeous.

 

[RiosDad]

In all honesty, I couldn't watch past the halfway point, and here's why...

I see a man being unnecessarily loud. Loud with his voice, loud with his aids, loud with his energy. I see him being a bully and posturing in what appears to be a contest between him and himself as to which one can be the biggest wiener in his pants. The amount of pressure he places on the horse, imo, far exceeds what was required to get the job done...and that's not fair.


!

I saw the same thing. Like I already posted, I would ask him to leave, no demand he leaves.