Re: Misbehaving horse

[Maureen Mathisen <blueoak@snowcrest.net>]

Dear Leanne,

I have ridden endurance since BEFORE AERC was formed, and I have had
this problem also.  some  horses seem to be "natural trotters" in that
they prefer the trot as a gait, even in the field, others must be
taught.  The extended trot is not a natural gait, and you're right-just
letting them "run it out" doesn't usually work.

How I trained mine was to ride with a friend whose horse was a good
extended  trotter.  don't let the lead horse get ahead more than a neck
or so,(ASK  the friend to hold in their horse if necessary) and ride
yours almost as if you are driving him....in other words, push him into
the bit just to that "point" that you feel he wants to break into a
gallop, and then "hold him" there.  (It's a little hard to  explain, but
it is like you are controlling a driving horse, and use two hands to
steady him there.  NEVER let the other horse get too far ahead, or yours
won't learn to eextend--he will be too frustrated! It is a 'feeling" you
will get to know...) It won't happen overnight, but he will finally get
it.  You can do this alone, but it seemed easier and faster if done with
a companion horse  who is just  let go a tiny bit faster so yours has to
'reach' but doesn't have to gallop to stay up.

Hope this will work for you....Maureen

lspinal1 wrote:
> 
> Maureen,
> 
> I am a member of ridecamp and saw your response to the "trailer puller" horse
> issue.  I have a question that I hope you can help with as I'm at my wits end.
> I haven't been riding very long (about a year) and love to endurance ride. I
> purchased an 8 yr old arabian gelding (used to be a race horse/pony horse).
> We did two rides last year and he did well considering it was his first two
> rides. Moved him to another stable closer to my home in December and the vet
> adv me to put some weight on him. (our floods stressed him out here in Houston
> and he lost some weight) So he hasn't been in another endurance ride since
> last year, but I finally have the weight back on him.
> 
> My problem is that he won't remain at a trot. I ask for a trot and he goes up
> to a canter or gallop. He either loves to run or just plain ole doesn't want
> to do what I want. It is becomming increasingly frustrating to ride him as he
> will not stay at a trot. He'll trot for a few beats and jump right up to a
> canter/gallop. This obviously won't work as he'll run him self to death in an
> endurance ride and until this problem is solved I won't enter him for fear
> that he'll hurt himself.
> 
> What can I do? Should I have a professional trainer help me? Or is he just a
> cranky horse who wants his own way? I fear that I will have to sell him and
> purchase another endurance horse if I cannot resolve this problem.
> 
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Leanne Spinale
> lspinal1@pdq.net


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