Ridecamp: Re: [RC] re: speed control

In a message dated 08/09/2002 8:10:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
maligatr2@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> I would like to hear from others who talk about stopping with legs instead 
>  of on the mouth...

The horse I am riding now would run through the bit when I got him. He is in 
a snaffle and dropped noseband (puts tongue over the bit). He was used as a 
trekking horse in Iceland, which basically meant he was used to going out in 
large groups with many different riders over days at a time....FAST. He had 
learned to ignore the rider and follow the pack since the pack was more 
consistent than the rider.

The first time I rode him in an arena when I asked for whoa he flipped his 
head straight up and kept on going. He had learned to pull the reins out of 
the rider's hands by getting behind the bit and then flinging upward. So...I 
had to stay out of his mouth. He still needed some contact but too much would 
send him head flinging.

I learned to stop him by locking my hands at the withers, driving him into 
the bit with my knees, seat elevated from saddle, horse goes into the bit and 
momentarily gives...then release reins...over and over again. I've used this 
on three bolters and so far it has worked but you have to use seat and leg 
BEFORE they get away from you or it's useless (trust me on this <bg>). I 
learned this from a trainer who would ride anything!

I worked a month in the arena with him BEFORE taking him out on the trail. 
First transition from walk/stop, then trot/tolt/stop and finally gallop/stop. 
If you don't have a good stop 100% of the time in the arena no way are you 
going to get it on the trail. I worked on this in the arena with OTHER horses 
walking, cantering, etc. all around him. I taught him to stand still and 
listen to ME. 

To stand: EVERY time he moved a foot he had to do circles. I did so many 
circles at a walk I got seasick. At first he couldn't stand for more than a 
few seconds. I rewarded with a lap around the arena then back to standing 
again. I never got to the point to where if moved he foot I said oh screw it 
let him go... though I was tempted. He only got to move when I said so.

This horse learned fast and kept a good attitude once he knew what was 
expected. Some horses get pissy and buck but if you keep the circles going 
they can't. Reward the tiniest try..like if they stand for 2 seconds when 
they couldn't before.


Melanie Snowhite
Poway, CA.
Check out my Icelandic Horses and Congo African Greys:
 <A HREF="http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos.asp?mi=1&smi=1&a=74630";>
WebPhotos.com - The Photo Sharing and Printing Network</A> 

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