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 Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:31 pm
I know this may sound kind of silly, but i don't ride that much. I take lessons when i can but my lesson horse is SO stubborn! At my last lesson, she didn't listen to me once! My instructor kept dicsiplining her, but she still wouldn't do what I asked!(i don'tknow that that's the right word-signaled?) I can't get her to trot or canter or anything! Does anyone have any advice?
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:09 pm
Anyone? Please, I want to do better next time. I kiss at her and I kick, squeeze,use the reins-over, under and she won't respond.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:07 pm
Can you tell me what your riding level is - are you a beginner english or beginner western, and what type of signals are you giving that she/he is ignoring?
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:10 pm
Well I've been riding about one to two years, so I'm not really a beginner, but I'm not that advanced, either.
The signals I give her...I kiss at her and I squeeze with my legs. My instructor said if she ignores that to use the lapel(i think that's what it's called) so I try that and she perks up like she's going to do it, but then she just keeps on walking...
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:01 pm
Try this,
Before you do anything, such as change gaits, or begin to walk/trot/canter from a standstill, make sure your heels are down and you are sitting up (no slouching) and have a good seat then do one or two small half halts or jiggle the reins to get her attention. AS SOON as you are done with that, cue her to do what you want.
When you do so, use your voice as well as your legs.
Say "Walk" and squeeze hard with both legs, if she doesn't begin to do so immediately, repeat "Walk" and then go ahead and kick her and then squeeze. If she begins out slow & pokey, kick again.
If she's being a real cow and doesn't want to move after kicking her and saying walk twice, take a crop, reach back and give her a good hard smack on the flank, while squeezing with your legs and say a louder "WALK!"
Do not hesitate or take too long or she won't get the idea. This whole exchange should take less than a minute.
To keep her walking at the same speed, not only keep your legs on her, but squeeze on and off with your calves (as if you were flexing your calf muscles), if she slows any, squeeze her harder or give a small kick. Don't allow her to slow or stop until you allow her to do so.
To change gaits, say to the trot, is similar and just as fast paced.
Get her attention first by doing on or two half halts/jiggle the reins.
Squeeze and ask for the trot by your voice, if you don't get it, kick and ask for it, if you still don't get it, kick and use the crop with a stern "TROT!"
Seriously, this should be a 5 - 20 second thing.
If you feel her falter/slow at any moment during the trot, go ahead and give her a small kick or swat with the crop. This is inclusive with squeezing with your calves every so often. If she responds well, lessen the action with the crop and try using your voice, giving a stern "TROT ON!"
Half halt/jiggle the reins. Cue for the canter, either from the walk or the trot, squeeze and then a good kick with a "CANTER!" followed immediately with you putting your leg on the appropriate side. If she falters for even a second, reach around and give her a good smack with the crop on the flank, squeezing harder with your legs simultaneously and another "CANTER!"
If she perks up when you hit her with a crop or pony beaters etc. but doesn't do anything but continue to walk, keep hitting her, each hit increasing in force until she gets to the desired gait and keeps it.
She sounds like the common lazy child's school horse that gets away with everything. So every time you cue for something, you have to do it fast and with enough force that she gets going.
That way she'll begin to learn that you aren't going to put up with her BS and to get her butt moving. After awhile, you won't have to use much force or voice, you should be able to calmly say "walk/trot/canter" squeeze and she goes - but until then, keep on her.
Oh and don't be afraid of hurting her. Your legs can't squeeze hard enough to truly hurt her, nor kick her hard enough to do any serious damage (might bruise if you try, but don't.) and crops merely sting.
Question: Does she ride the same way with her owner or is it just you/other students?
Horses are too smart for our own good sometimes. For instance, the school horses at the stables I ride at will purposely not do anything but walk the wall if they know they can get away with it and the rider won't do anything about it. I mean, they're lazy enough that they'll only trot with their front end or just stop and grow roots.
Every once in awhile me or one of the other girls will get on them and make them work, but they go right back to being lazy with the next beginner rider. xp
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:28 am
I never thought of saying "canter" for example. I know the instructor uses those commands when lunging her though. She says I'm just tapping her, but I'm trying to be firm...
No, she's stubborn for all the riders-excepther owner *sigh*
Well thank you soo much! I'm going to try that at my next lesson.
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