----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 11:54
AM
Subject: [RC] How soon to take green
horse on 1st trailride?
Well this is Rascals girlfriend Honey. The 7 yr.old I just started
backing last fall and this summer. Gist is:She was in pasture 4 1/2 yr, little
handling. I've had her 3y.Had to lern to ride decent. studied John lyons
techniques and have used with her. She was very spooky and suspiousious of
everything new. Tended to bolt if frightened. Have worked Verrrry slowly with
her till she really trusts me and both of us are more confident.People make
fun of me for taking her so slow, but what the heck its my horse. I have now
ridden her in our arena 30-50 times. We are at the walk, stop, turn, getting
light on the bit practices, One rein stops, stopping when I get off balance.
Going round cones, serpentines. But all at a walk. She is now showing her lazy
side. She has only trotted a couple times 2x with me last fall, one of
which she spooked and bolted. She gets tense when she trotted before.
I have tapped her to get her moving under saddle,(3x then she moved off
my leg)Only tapping, harsh use of a whip would terroize her. She is smart, and
if I take small steps, she is fine and willing.
Now the dilemma. . .
Should I get her trotting in the ring with some force, (tapping with crop
till she does)?Before I take her out? Or should I take her on a walking
trailride (with her two trailriding buddys) first? and let trotting come
natural.
John Lyons says don't force then to trot, just wait ,till they do
it and then pick up rein and slow then or turn then if they get excited.
She is actually lazy in the ring, and to get her into a faster
walk, as opposed to a plug walk (while falling asleep). I have to Squeeze,
squeeze, etc. I have been considering using a crop or spurs,. I know she trust
me a lot more than when she first came here and spook training helped
her alot. She has spooked 2 times under saddle, but the last time she stopped
the bolt when I gave her the one rein stop. Ah, progress. But I think she is
getting bored. (Which for her is a good thing sometimes)
So should I do more in ring? Like getting trot (but having to force
it) or just riding her out, and waiting for her to trot with the others,
like John Lyons says? Is it time to ride her out on trail? Should I do
years in the ring , like show horses?Or get her out on the trail? After the
bucks, and spins from Rascal, she couldn't surprise me any more than he did.
He is such a great confidence builder. She isn't trying to take charge like he
does, hers is a just, what do you want and don't hurt me.with a bit or
laziness thrown in. She is a half/arab, pinto BS(96% arab, from Khemosabi,
Crabbet mix).
Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
