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Re: training question/tailing



While Angie writes a far more delightful story than I (I guess nothing funny
every happens to me), this is my take on teaching Willow to tail.  Being a
newbie, I had heard that you sometimes need to tail.  So, when I got my
"endurance horse", I proceeded with my logical step-by-step method.  Went
into the round pen with Willow, hooked up long-lines and while teaching her
to long-line, I taught her voice cues....walk, easy walk, whoa, left, right,
straight, and stand.  (understand, I am "slightly" obsessive-compulsive)
When she seemed to understand everything, I took her out in the stable yard
and gradually went on longer walks with her, reinforcing all the cues.
Then, I would pick mountain trails to get off and tail.  Grabbing her tail
was no problem with her - she was already used to my being behind her and
didn't mind my holding onto the tail.  These voice cues are also reinforced
because I use them when I ride - not consistently, but quite a bit.  So,
tailing hasn't been a problem for us.  I'm just waiting for the first "all
tailing endurance ride".
Jan Mutchler
Colorado
-----Original Message-----
From: Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>
To: horseypoop@hotmail.com <horseypoop@hotmail.com>
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 4:31 PM
Subject: RC: training question/tailing


>>Can anyone give me pointers on training a horse to tail? Or tell me
>>were to >find it?
>
>No problem, to find it, the next time you're sitting over your horse,
>turn slowly around and look over your shoulder...there it is!  Of course
>if you've cross trained in reining you can get a better view of it by
>spinning REALLY fast. >g<
>
>Oops, you meant "tail" as in "verb"...O.K.  First, it helps if your horse
>has one.  This disqualifies quite a few Appaloosa owners (I was one of
>them).
>
>Once I bought a horse that had a tail, I simply waited until we were on a
>real climb, that was a defined trail (so he'd know where to go), with
>horses in front of him.  I got off, and he let me tail.
>
>A few notes of precaution.  I don't recommend doing this in areas with
>yellow jackets (or killer bees).
>
> I recommend that  you mention to the people in front of you that you're
>going to do it.  If they have *any* claim to deafness, DEMAND
>conformation that they know you're getting off before you do.  It is VERY
>difficult to run fast enough to attempt to pass the horse you are tailing
>from should the idiot up front take off at a gallop when he hits the
>flat.
>
>NEVER attempt to haul a horse to a stop by his tail, unless you meant to
>plow a double furrow in that trail anyway.
>
>TRUST NO HORSE to wait for you.  Unhook the off side of the rein and run
>it through the stirrup on the near side to use as a driving line.
>Congratulation, you can now turn LEFT.  Word is that you can make a horse
>go to the right by pulling his tail to the left...this should prove to
>you just how cooperative they are. The accepted commands in this part of
>the country are GEE!  and HAW!...I believe these are descended from the
>exclamations..."JES__" and "WHOA!"
>
>I've only known of one person who attempted to train his horse to do this
>on the flat and he honestly got a pair of double hoofprints on his chest.
> Keep him on a hill so he can't lighten them up so easy.
>
>Angie McGhee
>Wildwood, GA.
>
>
>
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