ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] training replies - 2nd question

[endurance] training replies - 2nd question

Gwen Dluehosh (dluehosh@vt.edu)
Wed, 22 Nov 1995 12:05:24 -0500 (EST)

HI, I had some problems like this with my stallion and with the horse I
worked on for Teddy. Casey, her gelding, wanted to keep up all the time, and
would jig and dance and just act like a kook. Well, we spent a lot of time
doing little teeny circles really fast and then WHOAING. NO stop, then more
circles. I mean no jigging or anyhting. If this failed (and it did the first
few times) we would actually turn around and go back up the hill till he
decided to relax and chill out. IF he started up when I came back down
toward home, we would turn again and start back up. It only took a few times
of this for him to figure out he was going to work harder and longer if he
didn't relax and trust me. (HI Teddy, did you know Casey was that much
fun???) It helps if you can have someone with a calm horse go just far
enough away to get your horse started (egg him on) so you can discipline.
After a good long ride, the horse ought to get the idea. DO it on a day when
you have a lot of time (and helper horse does too). Expect to take up to
half an hour of arguing to win.

Also, if you must get off, make sure your horse knows that it's much more of
a pain for him to act up so badly that you have to get off-- ie, make it
rough on him the minute you climb off. THis may sound funny, but rearing is
dangerous and it's very easy to discipline some of it on the ground. (
I realize you said your horse bucks mostly). I have a gelding who tried to
rear on me when I was green breaking him, so he didn't have to go trail
riding. WEll, being the fearless idiot I was then, I promptly hopped off his
back and made him dance backwards thirty feet with my crop and hollered at
him. THen I told him WHoa, and praised him for doing so. CLimbed back on,
tried again. Well, it only took three of these episodes, then we were on our
way, and haven't had a problem since. I don't know if I would do it that way
again, but I feel more confident handling most horses from the ground.

ANother thing I learned to do at the track was to "double cross" my horse--
set him in my hands where he can pull as much as he wants but can only go
so fast that way. He thinks he's working and you don't wear your arms out or
get annoyed holding him back. Just cross your reins hold them with your
fists laying on his neck, fingers down (so you are looking at the back of
your hands). If you "set" your hands there, he ought to arch his neck to set
against you (you are NOT pulling on him, he is pulling on you) and by
shortening or lengthening your rein contact, you can change speeds. This
works very well on strong horses that are hard to hold. I guess the horse is
kind of pulling against his own neck.
It sounds like you have the right idea
anyway... Hope this helps.
Gwen
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