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Barnmice Community -> Barnmice Forums -> Horse Training -> Diffucult Horse
Post Info TOPIC: Diffucult Horse
Emiry


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Posts: 130
Date: Dec 23, 2010
Diffucult Horse
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So, my favorite horse at the barn, is the "youngster".  He is full of personality, and he actully knows his stuff. He's been at the barn since he was 3(alomost 7 now), and his actual owner had the higher level students help train him, so he has a good foundation in english and western. The only problem with him is that he is really diffucult in the saddle. He tries everything he can to get out of work. I talked my instructor to letting me get on him last week(he had dismounted his rider last lesson) and I handled him pretty good I think. He didn't ONCE throw a buck on me, mostly because I didn't give him the chance. In his "bad areas" I literly used my reins and my leg to hold him in position(Once I felt him tense to act up) so he couldn't jump, scoot, change direction(he did manage this once, first strike to lunge line schooling, and a quick punishment from me, I made him turn the way I WANTED him to go, and didn't let him do it again).

If he did ANYTHING good and how we wanted with no fuss he was petted, and told he was a good boy. I didn't "punish" him that much, more or less didn't give him the chance to get away with what ever came to mind, since he doesn't connect punishment and action(tried that last week, by riding time he was good at backing up, just not so good at not walking forward on cross-ties) Using this method, we didn't get much foreward motion, but he was responsize, relaxed and behaved enough that I cold learn to neck rein him with no fear of loosing control at the end of the lesson(yes I learned neck reining in an a/p english saddle, I just wanted to get the feel of riding with one hand)

So now that you know a little about him, what are some suggestions you might have as possible things that I might be able to use when riding him(in a once a week lesson). Like what are some techniques to try that might work with his personality?

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Willy_Wonka


Yearling

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Posts: 5
Date: Dec 24, 2010
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Keep his brain busy.

My horse used to do this- constant circles, then spiral circles, change direction through circle, go to three loop serpentine one way, four loop the other way (you can make transitions through the serpentine within the gait or between gaits)
Figure eights,

Try to do some more advanced movements even if he isnt familiar get him to take a step of turn on haunches and again if he gets it always end on a good note though. Try tune on forehand, some leg yields, the beginnings of shoulder in that kind of stuff .

Even simple things like lengthen and shortening his gaits will keep him busy.

Just don't overdo it with anything as this creates anticipation and boredom.

In our indoor arena there is a small hole where snow is getting in now. the first time snow fell through he lost his marbles :P he typically does when anything is new but we have reduced the amount of marbles lost -its more of a quick lunge forwad type thing then a full bolt buck to the other end. by just getting his brain busy with work from the get go.

Last night the snow happened again and he did nothing as it landed right on his butt because he was too busy listening :P

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Barbara F


Grand Prix

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Posts: 831
Date: Dec 27, 2010
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So this is a lesson horse? It sounds like he is a bit sour and definitely quite clever. Do you only ride him in lessons?
Perhaps an instructor should be on him for a couple of months to help set him back on the right path.

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Marlene


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Posts: 235
Date: Jan 1, 2011
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Does he get to do different things, go out for a hack, or see somewhere different? I know many horses just do the arena exercises and seem content with that, but a more intelligent horse might get bored with that.  My guy likes to get out on the trails, we often do the same area, but I vary which trails we take  or do the "loop" in the other direction. There's something new everyday and we both find the natural environment kind of tranquilising. Maybe having all different riders is getting on your guy's nerves. Some horses might not mind it, but it must be easier if they have a consistent handler and have more of a chance to build a relationship with them.

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