I think we need to be mindful that in teaching
water crossings we are actually teaching the go forward cue. As in load
into the trailer, lead this way, step over this log, step on the
tarp, go forward into the creek-river-stream. I think a lot of times
we tighten up a bit and the horse feels that and thinks, why should I go forward
when my riders butt cheeks are tensed up? I had one young horse who was
very afraid to cross water. We bought him as a yearling and even on the
ranch when his pasture mate would cross the creek while grazing he would just
run back and forth on the creek bank until the pasture mate would cross back
over. Here is the funny thing...he LOVES WATER. Loves to play in his
water trough, loves the hose, loves his bath.
I just believe that his depth perception isn't as
good as the others. We see a creek and he sees a big crack in the earth's
surface.
Even when we started him he was still a
nervious nelly about the water. He became a pogo stick! But we just
kept at it, with out spanking or punishing him, no spur and jerk stuff.
Now he is 5 and he crosses just about anything. I think he now has
confidence in us and what we are asking him to do.
He does hesitate if the water is murky or really
muddy, but with a little encouragement he goes.
Keep at it.
And April: Glad the tarp thing works for you
but , although we have trained all our horses to go over tarps I have seen
more than one wreck with a horse and tarps, especially in small horse show trail
classes. Wherein the tarp gets hooked on the horses shoe and the next
thing you know the horse is flying around with the tarp chasing him...not a
pretty sight. In any of the horse shows that I manage I will not allow
tarps to be used in the trail class. But thats just me.
Nobody says you have to start with water to
begin with. We use blue tarps tacked down to the ground, then not tacked
down.
Start with leading your horse across, praising
each step. Most will bolt across after they finally take that first step.
Thats ok, when he will calmly go across the tarp with it tacked down so it
wont move,ride over it from all angles.
Then untack the tarp so it and let it
shift and move with him. Walk him across until he is ok with it. Then ride
him across. My daughters horse was crossing a tarp at a demo at an
expo and wrapped the tarp around his ankle for about 10 feet. He never
looked down or broke his trot. Yes he is an arab
Yeah, I know a blue tarp is not water. But it
is amazing how much easier horses who have put the time in crossing tarps do
when first crossing water. You also get to do the most scary work next
to the house where somebody can dial 911. hehe
If water is unavailable, the tarps are used to
pass the verification of water crossing to earn the level stamp for ATHA
trail certification. We do try to cross actual water when we can, even to
the point of digging and filling our own puddles.
April, Byhalia
MS
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
Louisa May Alcott
