Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] re: teaching horse to be braver - Teresa Van Hove

hmmm Deanna,

That is a tough question -- a lot of boldness seems to be inherent
in the horses personality.  

But a few things: to get started -Only ask for speed in areas where
there is not going to be any unpleasant surprise around a corner (ie
a stubble field, two track trail up on a mesa ..... ) you want to
build trust that you are not going to ask for speed except where it
is safe.

At a ride - let go of holding her back from the group all the time. 
Horses ARE herd animals, let this mare follow the group if she can
handle their pace.  At 8yrs  you should be able to ride her with a
group for a while and then break away at your choosing w/o blowing
her mind.  

Are there any positive reinforcements for not spooking and negatives
for spooking?  If she gives you some requested speed on terrain
she's comfortable on, slow her down before you hit the scary section
and praise her for being so brave, maybe even give her a carrot
--when you're training and she spooks: give her a thump with your
leg; or double her back and forth past the bogey w/o letting her
slow down and make it mean extra work to have spooked.  --or with
some horses taking the head around to your knee is a pretty good
negative reinforcement.  Ya kind of have to judge what works best
for each horse, but it sounds like at this stage of her training she
needs some specific reminders that spooking is bad and means some
kind of penalty and going faster w/o spooking will garner rewards. 

Sending just to ridecamp cuz I'm on archives and cant see email
addy's anymore

Cheers,
Teresa and Grey (still spooks at 15, - not so much he beats me up
-I've not been consistent about making him 'pay' for spooking.  and
Shade -still a real greenie- currently snorty about sunflowers on
before familiar ditch road -all her fast work alone is in a stubble
field that she's comfortable in)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

http://www.endurance.net/ads/seabiscuit.html

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=