Site Menu:
This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below: |
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Western Riding Skills » Western Riding Skill topics not covered by the above » |
Discussion on Moss Eating | |
Author | Message |
Member: Dtranch |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 1:05 pm: Does anybody know what to do about a "biting" horse ... just kiddin'Having trouble with a 7yo app mare getting into a straight line lope. She wants to lean in toward the pasture or barn lot area. Not so bad when out and away, but want to correct this situation when close to home. I know she just wants to get back home and haven't found anything that works as yet. Also, lope is a little faster than desired, but cant work on speed rating until I get her straightened out. Thanks ... DT |
Member: Kthorse |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 1:36 pm: Does he leg yeild? Yeilding to your legs can help straighten his body out. Just a thought. |
Member: Dtranch |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 2:33 pm: Katrina ... she responds to leg cues in western for turning, etc. Not trained in side pass as yet. Is this what you are referring to. I am not well versed in English riding or Dressage.DT |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 4:43 pm: Dennis,She sounds a bit barn sour. I do not think there is a trick that can fix this except pacience. Try to make her work as much fun as possible. If she has a friend in the barn, bringing him in view will help her feel less lonely. It is good to lope away from home and return at walk. She'll learn to be patient and not pick a tempo according to her emotions. Avoid punishing her at all costs, or she'll feel she was right to want to head for the barn. |
Member: Goolsby |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 4:55 pm: DennisI do just the opposite of what Christos said (Sorry). When mine pick up the pace nearing the barn on the way home I make them go past the gate down the road away from the barn (fast) then come back (slow). If they speed up again, we pass the gate again. I do this until they go at the pace i want them to (walk). Works for me. Colleen |
Member: Sunny66 |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 5:22 pm: I think you're both right. One of my boarder's arabians got into the rude habit of being obnoxious on the way home. So she brought carrots along on her rides, and just went for leisurely rides, and worked his bum off when he got home and left again....changed his mind in three rides (;)Another thought on Dennis' question...do you ride curb or snaffle? If snaffle, keep hold of the outside rein. While I know virtually nothing about riding (;0 My horse was having that problem as well...good hold on the outside rein, making sure I was sitting straight with my shoulders back...and wala...straight line (;) |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 5:26 pm: Coleen,I agree, this will work most of the times, but it is a bit risky. First, if you allow a barn sour horse to speed up on the way home, you may very easily lose control. Arriving at the gate, a grinding halt or a nasty turn may be the result. You'll have to reprimand the horse for this, which is something you want to avoid with a barn sour horse, or you justify his fears. Next time, he may run even faster, thinking that punishment may not catch up with him....if he just keeps running... |
Member: Kthorse |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 9:12 pm: Hi, I am not good at explaining this. But to keep a horse straight they must respond to leg aids. All horses western and english do basic dressage wether you know it or not. Leg yielding in a straight line is taught first. First go in a straight line, slightly put your outside leg behind the girth and put a little pressure. Keep your horse going straight he should move away from the pressure and move slightly sideways while going straight. Once he learns this then he should learn should fore. This is a straightening exersize that sounds more difficult than it is . It is a beggining dressage movement that all horses western and english should know. This movement teachs your horse to straighten . Its a great straightening exersize. There is an article on it under horse training lateral movements. Unfortunatly I am not great at explaining this.Rushing to get back home is a different problem. You could turn him back in the opposite direction every time he picks up speed. He will soon learn that speeding up gets him to go away from the barn. This usually works fast. Treats are ok while away from the barn if you want you horse to have something to look forward to while away, but that doesnt help with returning home. When my horse was green when in the arena everytime we face the barn he would twist his body. It was ugly. After learning leg yeilding and shoulder fore I can straighten him out in a second. If anyone can explain this better please jump in. I am not good with words. Katrina |
Member: Dtranch |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 8:25 am: Thanks all ... I have no problem with rushing to the barn, and I never stop at the gate. I always stop short, or ride by at a walk and then return. This mare responds to my leg cues, and can go through poles at a trot without even using the reins. The problem is just simply leaning in at the lope. I have had her checked and find so signs of physical or health problems which would cause this. So, I figure it must be me or the horse. I know it is hard to work and keep the horses attention close to the barn lot, but I have always felt that if I can get the results there, I can get them anywhere. I bought her when she was a 6yo and had no training. She has learned everything else so quickly, that I fear I may have passed up some basics which may be contributing to this problem, but I haven't figured out just what that may be. Christos is probably right, lots of patience and repetition. At any rate, I appreciate any input, and will certainly try all recommended methods. A lot of great info from this group. |
Member: Goolsby |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 9:18 am: ChristosI agree, but I think you misunderstood what i was trying to say. I sometimes dont state things well. In my situation, they arent what I would call barn sour. Just like to get to the barn or trailer faster sometimes. I dont let them run to the gate. Hold them back making them go slower, but they are fighting it. After we get to the gate I MAKE them go the speed they wanted to towards the barn away from the barn, then turn back to the gate. Usually they will happily walk back. If not we do it again. They learn speeding up wont get them to the barn faster, it will just cause more work. I have also found that if another horse is at the barn, it makes my horse want to get back that much more. Dennis I have never had the leaning problem. Is it just going to the barn? Just a thought and maybe a stupid one, but when my saddle horse goes out of her gait, I stop and start again, maybe when she starts to lean, stop and start again. Couldnt hurt to try. Colleen |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 1:34 pm: Dennis, Colleen,Speeding up a little bit on the way back, looking constantly or bending towards the barn while at work, whinning all the time to friends, are all signs of mild barn sourness. I do not think Dennis' problem is a dressage technical issue. It seems that the horse is simply concentrated on the barn rather than her work. Colleen, I believe that this way you are teaching your horses that once they arrive at the gate there'll be a little run, a walk back and it's over. All horses would be in a hurry to reach that gate! I think you should insist at walking the last stretch. Don't fight to bring them back to walk if they jump to trot or canter, simply turn them around immediately and let them trot/canter all they want. When they fall back in walk, turn around again and head back home. They'll get the idea very fast. |
Member: Dtranch |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 1:52 pm: Good point Christos ... I use this technique regularly, especially when rushing toward home. Never even thought of applying a modification of this in this situation.Thanks ... DT |
Member: Goolsby |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 2:24 pm: I know this is off the original subject, butChristos this is basically what im doing only on the far side of the gate. You say dont fight them to walk but insist they walk? What is the difference in insisting they go at a walk and fighting to keep them at a walk? I have found the opposite of what you are saying works. I have tried that and If I turn them when they try to speed up going home they do not want to trot/canter in that direction. They slow down because they are focusing on turning back around toward the barn to go home and I am fighting them to go foward. When allowed to turn around they want to go even faster. And I dont agree with letting them trot/canter/run all they want. That can be dangerous. That is why I hold them at a walk, pass the gate, then make them trot in the opposite direction. If you remember I said what I am doing WORKS for me. I am not having a problem with it. What I have taught them is that if they fight the gait I set, they will Not get to the barn/trailer. For me making them pass their chosen destination until giving easily to my will has worked better than your suggestion. This only happens occasionally now (since they have learned hurrying wont get them home)ususally when they havent been ridden for a long time. Goes to show different techniques work for different people. |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 3:02 pm: I'll tell you what I do, Colleen,On the last mile or so, I DrOp the reins. The horse knows that work is over and he can relax and cool down while walking back. Should a single stride in trot occur, we turn around and let the horse decide what it will be. I don't make it run in the wrong direction, I just let it choose for itself. Trot, canter, gallop, bucking, squealing, whatever, as far as it is headed away from the barn. Believe me, it is a very rare horse that will take off in the wrong direction. When they settle again in walk, normally within three steps, we turn around, DrOp the reins again and head home. I'd repeat as many times as necessary, but it never took a horse more than three times to get the picture. |
Member: Kthorse |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 8:37 pm: Christos, Thats exactly what I also tried to say what to do at the bottom of my post. I was thinking that the problem was more in keeping him straight than the rushing. My mistake.However with rushing home I also mentioned to do as you say , but you put it into words much better than I. It works every time. Katrina |