[MyBoyPuck]

Here's the situation. Two OTTB's who go through the same loopy goofball phase each spring. Both are feeling good, a bit fractious and not always wanting to listen to their riders in open space situations. They aren't horrible monsters, but we're talking re-establishing things like breaks (one rein stops), gait changes without bursting into a full gallop and basic attention span things such as moving past a scary object. (See Ode to March in the stories section for a laugh)

Would you:

1. Take them out together and work with them at the same time and try
to use the other horse around to my advantage?

2. Work with each alone?

I'd love to take each out with a dead broke calm horse, but none are currently available. I'd like to try option 1, but the other rider is less confident that I am and her horse is a bit more unrulely. Yes I realize one affects the other, but I'm trying to help her to get her horse listening better and get her confidence up at the same time. I can't do either without working with her on her horse. I'm afraid if I bring them out together, it may backfire if one acts up and gets the other one going.

thoughts? Also, I do not subscribe to any particular training method. I throw all ideas at the wall and see what sticks.

 

[ilovestitch]

I would say bring them out separate at least until you know that one will behave, then try to use that one as an example for the other horse. But if they both are acting crazy they will just feed off each other and i think it will backfire.