Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I have to agree here.  My youngest wasn't started under saddle until he was 4 1/2 and really didn't work on the canter until the last two months.  He just turned 5 two weeks ago.  Why...you ask?  Well, his trot was pretty good, but he was definitley not balanced himself let alone with a rider on him.  He was so violent at the canter that no matter where you sat or tried to help him balance, you truly felt like you were going to get tossed.  He needed to build up the muscles to balance himself...without me helping him all the way.  Tons of walking and bending then trotting and bending...but not too small circles.  Now, he can hold his own at the canter and it's smooth.  Time....lots of time....I'm still not trotting much or cantering at all on trail yet.  Only in a large arena.  Now, we go through the whole process again in the setting he needs to know the most...trail.  I know this is time alot of people don't want to put into their horse, but I figure at this rate he'll be not only balanced and confident in himself in everything, but also healthy as he ages.  I feel positive that he had time enough to grow up, bones, muscles, mind, etc. and he'll turn out to be an awesome horse.

 

Stacy

Chris Paus <paus@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Let him grow up. What''s the rush? He's just a baby. Do more ground work, teaching a smooth rhythmical trot on the lunge or long reins. Just ride at the walk until he's really well balanced with a rider.

 

I started my mare at almost 3 and rode her lightly for 10 to 15 minutes a couple times a week. She was under saddle for several months before I asked her to trot.

 

the other thing is to make very sure that the saddle fits absolutely well. The saddle's movement on the horse's back at the walk is very different from the movement at the trot. My mare kept flipping her head up and hollowing her back at the trot until I found a saddle that was wide enough for her. i was amazed at how her trot smoothed out with the correct saddle fit.

 

chris

Lori Greene <lorickg@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Does anyone here have any ideas for a very ROUGH trotting quarter horse?  He's 2, and we're just starting, doing a lot of bending, circling to try to round him out.  But he's so rough you can hardly get yourself thru the excercise, any ideas????

 

Thanks much,

Lori

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