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I have been working with Alvin, a very naughty fjord who has been sitting for far too long. I've been riding him bareback in a halter, mostly because he is literally too big for all of the saddles and bits available but also because I want him to listen to me and not a bit etc.. just a personal thing.
when we are riding and in sync, it is stellar - he listens to my legs and my shoulders and I hardly have to ask him to trot and stop and go on the diagonal etc etc etc and it's a dream! BUT.... when he doesn't want to listen, it is SO obvious. I try to keep our work on the lighter side and incorperate new things so he doesn't get bored and can work on his balance. in the past week or so, we've been able to canter and I really think he likes it! unfortunately he now knows, after not budging on it for so long, that he can run with me on him. for so long, when I've gotten unbalanced on him (really only when he pulls a sharp turn - no bucking for him) and fallen on his neck, he stops dead in his tracks. but I rode him this weekend, and IMMEDIATELY he walked straight out of the arena doors and had NO reaction to me kicking him or pulling on the rein. I brought him back in - I had to fight him on that - and closed the doors. I mounted him from the ground and before I had gotten on him square he took off cantering. he is so big that my only option was to try to slow him down and steer him. we cantered a lot, only because he WOULD not trot - he needed to run.
while I'm sure that part of the reason he and everybody else is so goofy right now is because of the warmer temperatures creeping through Iowa, I would really love to work on his listening skills and his manners. we are getting better and better every day, working slowly on communicating and having fun. BUT.... does anyone have some tips on working with TERRIBLE listeners?? he is such a beautiful little boy and I have so much fun riding him; he is my good friend and I want to help him become a better boy!
when we are riding and in sync, it is stellar - he listens to my legs and my shoulders and I hardly have to ask him to trot and stop and go on the diagonal etc etc etc and it's a dream! BUT.... when he doesn't want to listen, it is SO obvious. I try to keep our work on the lighter side and incorperate new things so he doesn't get bored and can work on his balance. in the past week or so, we've been able to canter and I really think he likes it! unfortunately he now knows, after not budging on it for so long, that he can run with me on him. for so long, when I've gotten unbalanced on him (really only when he pulls a sharp turn - no bucking for him) and fallen on his neck, he stops dead in his tracks. but I rode him this weekend, and IMMEDIATELY he walked straight out of the arena doors and had NO reaction to me kicking him or pulling on the rein. I brought him back in - I had to fight him on that - and closed the doors. I mounted him from the ground and before I had gotten on him square he took off cantering. he is so big that my only option was to try to slow him down and steer him. we cantered a lot, only because he WOULD not trot - he needed to run.
while I'm sure that part of the reason he and everybody else is so goofy right now is because of the warmer temperatures creeping through Iowa, I would really love to work on his listening skills and his manners. we are getting better and better every day, working slowly on communicating and having fun. BUT.... does anyone have some tips on working with TERRIBLE listeners?? he is such a beautiful little boy and I have so much fun riding him; he is my good friend and I want to help him become a better boy!