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mindy franklin (Mindy)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 - 2:06 pm: |   |
I'm a fairly new rider. My horse has gotten it into her head that if I ask her to trot going towards the gate it is an invitation to run over there. She is difficult to stop or slow down. I don't think I am urging her on with my seat because her transitions are good going other directions. Should I pop her with the bit when I feel that first lunge into the canter. I know your suposed to be subtle with rein handling with a squeeze release but if I do that it just gets out of control before I get any response. Any ideas on exercises to get her over this? |
Christine C. Mills (Chrism)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 - 5:05 pm: | |
First, make sure the gate is closed before you mount. That may make it less enticing.
In the mean time, you will want to gain control and work on a few things to get and keep your horse's attention - frequent up/down transitions between gaits, frequent directional changes and figures - anything that causes her to pay attention to you and not be distracted.
Also, never dismount near the gait. Change where you halt and dismount every time you ride.
After awhile, she'll realize there is no benefit to going to the gait.
Ideally, when a horse tries to take over, you should be able to redirect them - either cause them to slow down and/or turn. So, by working on these things, you will be improving your influence.
Oh and as much as you'd like to jerk her in the mouth, I don't think it will help much. In fact, if it scares her, she may want to run faster to the gate.
Hope this gets you started. |
mindy franklin (Mindy)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 - 5:46 pm: | |
Thanks for your help. I guess thats pretty much what I'm doing. This is the first time she has tried this but it freaked me out. Normally all I have to do for downard transitions is sit deep and use voice commands. When I need to use the reins is it better to squeeze release with both reins or one rein to ask for a downward transition? I've heard the more out of control a horse is the more important it is to use one rein. |
sjno (Sjno)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2002 - 9:02 pm: | |
Hi Mindy:
My first suggestion would be ... don't ask her to trot going towards the gate. She is only allowed to walk as you approach the gate. Ask for any upward transitions going away from the gate, and as you approach it (well in advance) ask her to walk. If she ignores you, get her back to the walk, then ask again sooner next time. She is NOT ALLOWED TO TROT unless you have told her to.
Regarding the use of one rein vs. two - if she is really barrelling out of control, one rein will turn her, so she will have to slow down as she is forced to circle. However,as a general rule, you should ask for a downward transition with both hands, and make sure you release when she obeys. Sounds to me like you have some obedience and attention issues to work on (but you knew that). I agree with Christine ... popping her in the mouth is a very bad idea. Better to stop the bad behavior before it starts rather than punish it after the fact. |
Christine C. Mills (Chrism)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2002 - 11:52 am: | |
Well, think of the legs and seat as creating the forward energy (activiting the hind legs) and the reins/hands as the receivers, regulators of the energy.
So, I would do a down transition by making sure my body was correctly positioned, doing a prep half halt or two with my seat and then a close of my ring fingers, but keeping a leg on. When the horse stops, the ring fingers are passive. Sometimes, there may be a couple of close/release or pulse of the ring fingers. In an ideal world, the ring finger communication is private and not visible to others.
You keep a leg on during a down transition because you want "forward to the walk, or forward to the halt" instead of falling into it.
Sjno makes great points, too. And, if your horse rushes the gate, be aware on the trail that she may rush the barn, so only walk home until she is more obedient to your aids.
Cheers. |
mindy franklin (Mindy)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2002 - 12:16 pm: | |
Thanks for the help on a proper halt. That is something I have been confused about. I had a friend over when she rushed the gate and she thought I should practice going towards the gate at a controled trot and then work her once I got there to teach her that wasn't the funnest place to be. But I kindof felt as you said I should fine tune control going the other way first. She is very responsive but definately not perfect. I have lots of questions on proper riding techniques but I guess I should post them somewhere else. |
