ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: imput needed on new horse
Re: imput needed on new horse
Lucia Humphrey (laneyh@ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 9 Jun 1995 07:27:45 -0700
You wrote:
>
>After I somewhat frustrating ride on the new mare I am throwing out
>questions to all you experienced endurance riders in the hopes I can
>figure out if I am on the right track. I feel like I am losing my
>perspective on this horse, and also have some really general
>questions on riding young horses for endurance.
>
>The background on this mare: she is 8, and was ridden extensively
>for 2-3 years as a State park patrol horse, both in groups and
>alone. Then she was sold and re-trained arena English for about 6
>months. I talked to the first owner who gave her a glowing
>reccomendation, said she was steady, surefooted, not spooky, etc.The
>last place she was at had various people dealing with her, and when
>I got her she was really mouthy and would walk all over you.
>
>I did a lot of ground work with her and insisted she respect me; all
>that sort of stuff. I have ridden her about 10 times, and usually
>take her out on hills, which I feel gives me the advantage since she
>is out of condition. I have tried to be very assertive and
>consistent-this a a very strong willed horse.
>
>In riding out with a friend, I have found she is very tentative and
>somewhat spooky out in front-I cannot get her to stay at a
>consistent gait-she is always speeding up/slowing down/ spooking at
>something. If you get within a certian distance away from the other
>horse she really slows down. My solution: keep her going at the
>same gait, using leg and crop until we are out of sight and insist
>she go on. this sort of works, but is not getting any better.
>
>If she is behind the other horse she wants to ignore me, chose the
>gait she wants, speed up, get excited, etc. So my solution: insist
>she stay at the gait I chose, stop her and back her at random, get
>the other horse get out of sight and make her walk, etc.
>
>Usually every ride there is a bad spook. So we go back and
>investigate, either walk back and forth many times or circle the
>scary object until it is really boring.
>
>This mare has a trailer magnet-knows when we are headed back. I
>have found three times heading in the direction back towards the
>trailer (we still may be pretty far away) at the canter, if I slow
>her down she will buck in defiance. Today when she did this I
>immediately made her stop and circle and slapped her with the crop.
>The bucking just seems to be willfull.
>
>What I can't tell ( meaning losing my perspective) is if this mare
>is greener than I thought, or has my number! She does not seem like
>she has ever been worked consistently at any speed. Today she was
>very spooky and jumpy; I had ridden her yesterday and about 4 times
>in the last week and really expected her to be a little more
>relaxed.
>
>So I am asking for help on this, and especially how folks start
>green horses on the trail.
>
>Should I keep working at all gaits, or not even let her canter until
>we are steady and forward at the trot? I am a big believer that
>many trail/pleasure horses are idiots at the canter because they
>rarely do it and it is a novelty. My other mare "knows" that we
>will move out and canter and it just isn't a big deal. What do you
>folks think?
>
>How do you folks deal with young horses that want to go?! I see
>folks riding endurance horses with halters and my mind just boggles!
>What do you do if they want to go (horses passing) or get all
>excited?
>
>This may not be presented well-I am tired and probably sound like a
>really green rider. I have been riding about 30 years-like I said,
>just can't get a fix on this horse.
>
>As comparison, my friend with the 5 year old Arab/Appy, has had her
>out on the trail 4 months, conpleted her first 25 (congrats Leslie
>and Cherokee) and that little mare just goes along, doesn't spook,
>doesn't get excited or want to take off.
>
>As I said, I have an advantage in that this mare was out of shape.
>Right now I can ride her until she is tired (but I am not) I feel I
>really need to get rules established and control before she REALLY
>gets in shape and I can't tire her out to make a point.
>
>It may sound like I have a lot of espectations for this horse-I do,
>based on talking to the original owner. I know she should be able
>to deal with scary stuff/people/bikes/vehicles out on the trail.
>But she acts like a really green horse.
>
>Any imput appreciated!
>
>Karen
>
>To: ENDURANCE@MOSCOW.COM
>
Dear Karen -
Just a few thought on your problems with your green mare -
--Don't always believe what previous owners say!
--The 6 months of ring training may have really messed up her mind
--Remember, she is still "green" with you. Give her time to adjust to
your ways, especially if she had an unhappy experience in the ring.
--Out of condition horses, especially ones who have not yet developed a
good trot need to canter to catch their breath. Let her change gaits
through a few wet blankets.
--Once you know the two of you are a team and she trusts you, start
asking a little more, like longer trots, consistency, etc.
--a horse is a herd animal. She doesn't trust you as "lead mare" yet
so she is hesitant to be out in front since she doesn't trust herself
yet either. As she gets more conditioning and trust in you, she will
move out in front more readily unless she turns out to be a
non-competitive horse.
--her eagerness to return to the trailer probably has more to do with
her earlier unhappy experiences and maybe being tired. Get off and
walk with her if that is what it takes to make her go slow - it also
gives her tired back a rest.
--make sure your saddle really fits and isn't causing soreness that
would make her buck. The shape of her back will change dramatically as
she gets in condition so check your saddle fit frequently!
--if she was really a bomb-proof, happy trail horse before, she can be
again. Just give her time to learn that you are a trustworthy guide
and partner and time to build up her strength so she can easily do what
you are asking.
--relax and have fun!
I've spent the last 9 months bringing along an older "greenie" and
the above hints are based on my struggles. Once I relaxed and she
learned to trust me everything has been going great. Good luck!
Happy trails,
Laney