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Re: [RC] training to cross water - rdcarrieFirst, I wouldn't start with the wide river. Try to start with smaller water crossings, and work up to The Big One. With Bear, I sometimes ride alone, sometimes with others. With others, he would just follow other horses across. At first, it was rather panicked, clumsy jumping. As he learned to balance the weight of a rider, his jumps were more graceful. The first time we rode alone and had to cross water (it was a rather scary, muddy stream, about 3 feet across, and he had to step down into it, and it was boggy on the other side), it took us 24 minutes to cross. <G> But I kept him calm, and let him take his time. My only rules were that he could not back up, and he could not turn away. He could stand there and look at it all he wanted. Animals cannot maintain a heightened state of fear indefininitely. Each time I felt him relax a bit, I asked for a step forward. We finally got to the edge. I let him sniff the bank.&nb
sp; Every time he tried to turn away (or rear, etc.) I calmly turned him back. I stayed totally relaxed, and talked to him. I'd ask for a step, he'd smell the bank, etc. Finally, he started to paw the ground in frustration...that's when I knew I had him...he knew he was going to have to do it. He finally put a foot in and immediately took it out. Then put it in and waited...then put the other one in...then scurried through and out the other side. This, of course, earned him lots of praise. :) As he gained confidence, I began requiring that he not jump water when with others. This was more easily accomplished if we crossed first, so that he didn't feel he had to rush to catch up to the others. I'd get him to the edge, and if I felt he was about to jump, I'd turn him a bit sideways just as he was about to go. If one foot went into the water, that seemed to "break the ice," so to speak, and he'd walk through. He's pretty good now. The key is to keep the
m calm. When they're upset, they are not thinking. Let them think and look at it, and just be supportive and quietly urge them. You can feel when they relax. Sometimes you'll hear a big sigh. Or feel a relaxing of tension. That's when you ask for that next step forward.
For your big river crossing, if you can arrange for a friend to ride a calm, experienced horse, and let your youngster follow across, that would likely help a lot with his confidence.
Good luck!
Dawn -----Original Message----- From: Kathy Ramspott <kramspott@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: rdcarrie@xxxxxxx Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Mon, 08 Aug 2005 16:09:37 -0400 Subject: training to cross water > I'd bought him in February, and for several months had dealt with all > the "young green horse issues." You all know them - the "I can't walk > through that creek, I have to make a big awkward jump over it," and > the "no, I'm going to throw a temper tantrum and rear." I eventually > convinced him he *could* step in water without dying, and when he > reared, I was careful to let up on the reins and leg him forward so > that I didn't pull him over backward. He soon learned that rearing > wasn't productive and quit. Dawn, did you just point him at the water and patiently encourage? I've read if they seem to get upset you should back off but it sounds like you were able to get him through it even though he (sounds like since he was rearing) was a bit un nerved. For everyone and anyone who has had to train their green (only 1/2 dozen trail rides by himself), young (4) arab to cross water by themselves a ny suggestions? My guy is fairly level headed and hasn't done anything obnoxious but I *know* trying to cross water will be an issue and am fairly dreading it. Where we ride now has a flowing wide river that I will eventually need to cross if I ever want to get to the more fun and beautiful trails. Again, I don't have other horses to follow across the water. What has been most successful, driving, riding, leading or some combination? This is the week I planned on introducing him to it. Thanks, Kathy R - SE
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