Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi Catfish --  I've started a couple of horses in this sport that have 
extreme exuberance, especially at the start.  Here are some things you may 
want to try doing:

Wait for everybody to leave.  Let them get out of sight.  Try to pick a 
ride where if you are doing the 50, the 25's don't start a 1/2 hour behind 
on the same trail.

Leave camp leading the horse out, for the first 1/2 an hour (or more, if 
need be).  If you've got 12 hours, then using up a half an hour to get 
going calmly is time well spent.

If he starts getting excited when you leave while riding him, get 
off....and walk on foot (I've done this for up to 2 hours, with a horse 
spinning circles around me).  By doing this they learn that they must 
simply calm down, if they want to make forward progress.  It does get thru 
to them.

Have patience.  Lots.  Don't give in!

A horse can be physically ready to do what you ask, but if they aren't 
there mentally it still doesn't work.  I'm working on that now with Chief, 
with him it is a mental thing.  He's normally very calm and quiet, but does 
get himself wound up.  I have just had to learn how to keep that from 
happening, it has taken a lot of patience and a lot of slow miles.  I never 
let him just go and get it out, that would teach him next time to boink a 
little higher, pull a little harder, zig and zag a little more 
often....till he gets his way.  The last six ride starts have been wonderful.

It sounds like your horse has potential, the rest is up to you. :+)

Karen
in NV

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Riding alone is when you teach a horse all the "tools" and "cues" he needs
to handle the trail, to hold a speed, deal with hills, etc. It's also where
you develop the "bond" that causes him to "defer" to you before losing his
cool.
~ Jim Holland

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

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