Training Tip   Spring '09

With winter slowly fading away there are many training opportunities that   can either be avoided, or taken advantage of.  Some of these situations may seem like an issue, but with the right mind set they can be seen as an opportunity.  One issue that could be seen as an opportunity is water: puddles and water filled ditches.  In a few months some of these obstacles may not be available, so instead of going around them or avoiding them completely (by not going outside) - find a way to incorporate them into your groundwork and riding. 

Maneuver Training:

One way is to use the approach and retreat method at first to encourage your spooky or timid horse to do a roll back, back up, or sidepass away from the puddle which they may not want to cross, rather than just letting them spook randomly.  This puddle may actually lighten their feet up and make these maneuvers easier for a few days. 

Confidence Building:

After you feel some improvement in these maneuvers, you can then use the puddle for confidence building, by going across the puddle several times.  You can then go across the puddle forwards, backwards, left, and right.  Some directions may be harder than others, so this will challenge both you and your horse.  At times, a smaller puddle may present a bigger challenge than a large one.

Precision: 

You can then take your confident and maneuverable horse and try for more precision.  You could attempt trotting and loping across the puddle on a loose rein.  Starting from several yards away, and not touching the reins.  Or even trying things such as a flying lead change, half pass, or turn around over the puddle area.

Mix things up and have fun with the end of winter…Spring is on its way!

Comments: Dear Steve Rother,

My name is Brian Muhly. I'm a wrangler at Butte Creek Scout Ranch. The horse i ride is herd bound to much he will not let me pass other horses or turn and go the other direction. i was wondering if you cold help me by giving me some advise on this problem.

Thanks,

Brian Muhly

Hello Brian,

This can be quite frustrating at times, but fortunately it is fixable. All of those horses live together, rest together, and ride together. So being herd bound is a very common problem. Most of them have never had much of an opportunity to ride out of line or by themselves.

First off, I would take the time to complete the exercises on my Groundwork and Horsemanship Series One DVD's. These will allow you to get the basic control of your horse, and to get you to understand a few concepts to get started with.

After completing the series, which may take you a couple of weeks to do properly, I would then get my horse out on the trail. The first place that I would work on this is out in the pasture areas around the ranch, and not on the actual trails, as there is more room to work. I would then begin riding the horse up and down the line of horses, until I could get him to move at a consistent steady pace. You did say that you could not get the horse to pass, but maybe you could get him to go the direction of the barn to start with, then back to the horses, then back to the barn, etc...

Once you get the feet moving, things become easier. You simply work him up and down the line, and around the other wrangler's horses, then offer him rest away from them, then work him up and down the line, and offer him rest away from the other horses. You have to do this until the horse would rather be away from the horses, then next to them. I call this "making a change". Some horses take longer to make a change than others, but they all do eventually. That is why you need to have completed the DVD's first, so that you have some basic handling and concepts down before you start. This may take awhile, so don't get frustrated, just have fun with it.

The other thing that I would do from time to time is tie him away from the other horses when you can, instead of tying him in the normal saddling line. Let him learn to be on his own for awhile and let the post, (the tree of knowledge) work on him while you are doing your other chores.

If some of this doesn't quite make sense, ask Casey the next time you ride with him, and I am sure that he can talk you through it.

Best of luck and Happy Trails.

From Holly

Comments: I have a question to ask about one of my horses I have. He is arabian/thoroughbred and very spirited and excited all the time. when I ride him all he wants to do is gallop and I just want him to do a nice lope and I have tried somethings but they dont work its always a fight to get him to slow down and we never do get to do a nice lope what should I do?

Hello Holly,

Most horses are like people, in that they always want what they don't have. You say it is always a fight... I would ditch the fight, and just go with the horse. Let him have the thing that he desires, until he doesn't want it anymore. If you horse is spirited and excited I would give him something to do with it. Have you ever rode the horse for eight hours a day for five days in a row, up in the mountains? Carrying you, your saddle, and your gear? He might just need a job and something to do with the energy.

If you don't have the opportunity to ride out like that, you might just try more regular sessions with him at home, and be very creative. Don't just try to get him tired... try to get him thinking. Give him things to do like obstacles that he would rather not cross. Put ground poles in his way, have him get gates and drag poles.

I would also turn him loose and let him run before I rode him to get some of the extra energy out, I would not confuse this with longing. He should actually be loose with his saddle on.

The hardest thing to do, and probably the most important with most of these horses, is to just let him run for awhile without pulling on him. Most of these horses, as bad as they may seem, will usually slow down after a couple of laps if you just give them the chance. However, most people don't, they cheat, grab the reins and don't give the horse the chance to make a change.

Before I attempted any of this, I would definitely complete my Groundwork and Horsemanship Series 1 first. This will increase both you and your horse's skills before you start.

In addition, the physics of a slow lope would be head down and soft, nose tipped slightly into the circle, shoulder slightly out, and hip slightly in. So the horse's body would resemble an arc like a banana. If you are unable to do this at a walk and a trot, with softness in the face, then this must be completed as well.

P.S. Make sure to check your horse's diet for cracked corn, alfalfa, and any grain. Take them all away.