FW: training: horse wants to be first always.

Stephanie Teeter (step@fsr.com)
Thu, 30 Jan 1997 19:41:01 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: paulfitz@au1.ibm.com [SMTP:paulfitz@au1.ibm.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 1997 7:11 PM
To: ridecamp-request@endurance.net
Subject: Re: training: horse wants to be first always.

Classification:
Prologue: Paul Fitzgerald, IBM Healthcare Solutions
Tel: 07 3213 2099 Fax: 07 3213 2013
Email: paulfitz@au1.ibm.com
Mobile: 0412 792 375
Epilogue: Paul.

<<Question: Horse wants to always be first when riding with others.
Horse may have a fit and even start bucking if he doesn't get his or
her way. What are some of the training techniques used to break the
horse of this habit?>>

In my experience (about 32 years of riding, from pony club to eventing to
dressage, polo and now endurance)
a bucking horse is a symptom of not enough basic training - ie manners. Easier
said than done, I know.
I always give a younger horse heaps of time on the arena, weeks, then road work
with one other to get
them used to it, before going in a group.
They will often play up in a larger group, and I guess that's just the way they
are, however, if the
horse is well schooled on the flat, the rider will have more control.
A horse can't buck effectively if it is going forward (from an
impulsion/dressage point of view),
and if you keep their head up.
It may also be worthwhile letting them run in front for a while, until they
settle. If you keep fighting
the horse, you'll eventually lose - the horse is stronger, so its sometimes
better to let them go a bit,
and then get control later.

You can't beat experience