Re: Help

[Wendy Milner <wmilner@verinet.com>]

>I seem to have this trouble, lack of
> concenctration on my horse's part.  He seems not to want to work, only
> to play!  Or RUN!  :o) His attention mostly seems to be drawn to going
> back to the barn, or pasture, from whence he came.  Is this rider error?
> For, forgive me, but it is making me feel like a lesser rider!  Or
> perhaps is it only due to my lack of frequently working him?  Any
> suggestions at how I can get my horse to realise that when I'm in the
> saddle, he needs to  listen to me and get to work?

Spring is in the air. The horses feel it too.

You can start your ride with a short but intense training session.
When you catch your horse, you start the training. He must immediately
do what ever you tell him to do. That means, if you say take a step, he
does so. If you say, move over, he does so. And start asking him to do
stuff immediately. Don't just catch him, wander over to the hitching 
post and forget that he is there.  Instead, walk, stop, walk, turn,
back, really change the routine.

When you get in the saddle, make sure he stands quietly. And don't
aggravate anything by plopping down in the saddle (guess who did that;-(
Again immediately start asking him to do stuff. Start with stuff he 
knows, walk, stop, turn, back, whatever. Ask him to do something different
every couple of steps. Once you've got his attention, teach him something
new. Then give him a minute to relax. Then repeat the new trick.
After that, you can go for a ride.

Even during the ride, think about what you can ask for. 
Can you side pass on the trail? Can you stop exactly at that bush?
Can you make the horse very round? Can you two track down the trail?
Change gaits frequently, change speeds, do different things.
Ride on a loose rein, the ask for collection. 
Anything to break it up and make that little pea brain work hard.

-- 
Wendy
Dragon Crest Ranch
Some where near Masonville, Colorado

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