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Lori
Member
Username: maggienm
Post Number: 783
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2008 - 11:53 am: |   |
I saw tryig to teach a horse to walk faster on a lead rope.
While watching I knew that what they were doing was something I didn't want to do but...I don't know what could be done that would be effective.
The problem was the horse (a mature horse not green) would lead but not faster than a slow walk. When the lead was tighted to ask for a faster pace the horse would slow even more and raise its head.
As I am writing this I am thinking I have very successfully used a butt rope to encourage the horse to come forward more enthusiastically.
Often this is how I teach a horse to trot on the lead line.
I would probably also want to do some back to basics round penning to reestablish the pecking order, but does someone have a different idea that could be offered in a similar situation? (not my horse and not everyone round pens)
thanks |
Fran C
Member
Username: canter
Post Number: 1700
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2008 - 12:59 pm: | |
Lori, an effective technique is to put the lead line in the left hand, instead of the right, and carry a long dressage whip in the right. When the horse drags its feet, without looking back at the horse, tickle it with the whip around the girth area (where you're leg would be) until the horse picks up the pace. As soon as you get a more energetic walk, give the horse a release by ensuring you are no longer touching it with the whip.
It takes a bit of coordination to touch the horse in the right spot without looking back - practice first against an inanimate object - and you'll want to ensure the horse is used to a whip before trying (since you said the horse was not green, I'm assuming this is not an issue.) |
Linda Lashley
Member
Username: lhenning
Post Number: 470
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2008 - 1:56 pm: | |
I've used a similar method as Fran, but used a lunging whip. I carry the whip in my left hand balancing it on my hip and lead with right. When horse lags, I pop him on the flank without looking at the whip, which gets him moving forward, when he does I praise. It usually takes only three or four pops to get the idea across. |
