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Re: [RC] I'll take your rearing horse; now thougts on young horse problems - Karen Sullivan----- Original Message ----- From: "Bette Lamore" <woa@xxxxxxxxxxxx> So, where I would not use cruel methods to break a bad habit, I doubt that a little "egg on the face" (which I have had egg on MY face many times ;-) ) or a baggy of water, or spurring on forward or whatever within reason. would ruin a horse forever. What would ruin a horse forever is if he went over backward and killed his rider and or himself. Amen to that! And no argument about using different methods on a young horse in training compared to one you might be that has been allowed to get his own way or been terrible spoiled by people. It amazes me that some folks think a whap with a crop is cruel.....just compare that to the force horses use against EACH OTHER, when they kick and bite for dominance. But have been thinking on this young horse in training issue....and by golly, my 4 year old is the last young or really green horse I ever want to deal with. And she has been a piece of cake! She was handled constantly, never any problems hauling, tying, leading, doing feet, worming etc. She was compliant and responsive and never any need for harshness.....so it came time to "train" her to carry a rider. I hemmed and hawed about doing it myself or sending her off to a trainer. Unfortunately, the trainer I really liked and trusted moved pretty far away. But the thing about a green horse.....is that everything you do you are doing for the first time. Some folks really like that, but I have seen that you never really know at first how they are going to react when, faced with something they just don't want to do! Are they going to explode, buck or rear? And I guarantee it, no matter how solidly trained, and how well they are going along, at some point you are going to have to push them through that thing they don't like. For example....two years ground work with mine, teaching to give to pressure, head, sides, etc. Another year of that, plus short lessons on her back to get it down. This year she turned four, continue that, add short rides on the trail, on and off her back. So far, no problems! She goes along very nicely. There has been nothing SO FAR that has been a problem or hole in her training!!! Then comes the day we are riding along, get about 3 miles out a dirt road where we sometimes turn around, and she clearly expressed she was ready to turn around. I keep her moving on with firm leg cues, and not 10 feet past that spot, she does a good spook at a stump she has seen maybe 100 times in her life. It is not a "panic spook" in a young horse being unsure...it is a pissed off spook because she didn't get her way. There was no excuse for it. It was purely testing me. I used reins, legs and a little crop to get her back around and going right by it and on forward. At that instant, there was no TELLING what she might do when I got after her a bit. But, it was absolutely necessary. We might have been there a hour to get her by it, but at this point in her training, she is past the point of learning the cues....now she is going to argue with me on some stuff sometimes....and if I don't have the balance, timing and more importantly, confidence to get her through these things...that is how habits like rearing and bucking get started. I do know that if the day comes I am faced with a problem I don't have the skills to ride out....it will be off to a close trainer I know who has all the confidence in the world. I have to admit, at age 47, I do not relish getting bucked off by a young horse. But, part of the steps, as I see it, are taking little, progressive baby steps, and not putting young horses in situation where they cannot mentally or physically handle what you are asking, or group rides, etc. Best to go out with a buddy horse to babysit you. My boarder I ride with has been very patient in going out with me, and we have little schooling rides where we trot by each other, do circles, stop, etc. In a place without lots of distractions.....If I get 50 rides where the horse is doing well, listening to me, and no awful wrecks, then I feel the training has become a habit...and I am less likely to get dumped, UNTIL the times comes, when we find those things they don;t want to do. I am MUCH more confident riding spoiled horses, that once had some good basic training, and dealing with and solving their little quirks. At least I feel they have been out in the world, seen more, and at one time been in the routine of riding.... Couple other thoughts. It amazes me how many young horses are started in an arena or round pen, then RIDDEN the first time they ever see a trail! First of all, you could not pay me to get on a young horse, that is in the process of learning how to listen to a rider, plus add the distractions of the trail! That is an accident waiting to happen! Gosh, how many people DON'T take young horses out on the trail!? Best thing in theworld both for physical growth is to be ponied or run loose behind steady older horses! I would also never just arena train a young horse. They get bored, and start thinking of evasions. My shoer, who is a trainer, once said the best time to teach a young horse, was when it was a little tired. By that he meant, don't go catch up a horse bursing with energy...and expect them to be calm and attentive. All of my first trail rides on my 4 year old, were at the end of a ride where she was ponied. I would hand the horse I was riding off to my daugther to pony, and hop on the 4 year old, for the 15 minutes back to the trailer, or even get on her back at the trailer and do a little schooling. At that point, she is calm and cooperative. Or, pony her on a trail ride, trainer home, and school in the round pen 15 minutes. Or, going out with a friend....hand walk her the couple of miles on pavement before I get on. Gives me time to assess her attitude that day; if she isn't paying attention to me on the ground, no way am I going to get on her back, plus I need the walk anyway! But I feel safer anyway, riding a young horse on the trail, than in an arena. If it is a brisk day, or they are especially frisky, I will haul to the bottom of a long hill! The first half mile climb will take the starch right out of them! I really like what Sheila Varian told me once. She said the young horses that are not selected for show prospects, and are slated to be sold at family horses, get sent off to some friends for several months DAILY riding on a working cattle ranch.....come back steady and solid. Karen =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://www.endurance.net/ads/seabiscuit.html Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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