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 Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:45 pm
He's my mom's horse, actually. Norman's a six year old American Cream and he's very klunky and clumsy (I'm told this is normal for young horses, especially big ones). Here's the deal...
He has a really nice walk/trot/canter on the lunge line, and I've started him on side reins just last fall. He responds to verbal aids and he "whoas" really well on the lunge. He backs up with only a verbal aid and yields his hindquarters easily on the ground with one touch on the flank. It's not like he doesn't know what I'm asking him.
But under saddle, he rides like a dump truck. I feel like I'm just muscling him around the entire time. I rarely ever try to canter him, we mostly just do a lot of walking and trotting. Nothing real hard. Even so, he's really heavy on the bit (I have him in a jointed copper snaffle) and he's almost impossible to halt, even at the walk. I KNOW he knows what I'm asking him, he's just plain ignoring me and plowing through my aids. Let's say we're walking, and I ask for the halt. I sit deep, squeeze the reins and say "whoa". He just keeps going, and I end up having to pull his nose almost back to his chest and lean way back to get him to stop. Then I usually back him a few steps to reinforce the halt. He usually backs up with a squeeze of the reins, but sometimes I have to pull pretty hard. On the lunge, he doesn't lean on the side reins at all, but it's like I'm holding him up the entire time when I'm on him. My arms feel like jelly after riding him. stare It seems like no matter how nice he is on the lunge and on the ground, he never gets better under saddle. I don't have any of those problems with my other horse. I'd really like to get Norman fixed up because he's my mom's horse and I want her to feel comfortable on him (she had a bad fall off a different horse and she's been timid ever since). Don't get me wrong, Norman's a great, quiet horse. His breaks and steering are just broken.
What am I doing wrong? How do I fix it? Should I try a different bit? Are there any specific exercises that will help? I figured it must be a balance issue but I don't know what to do. I've been wanting my friend/trainer to get on him, but I don't know if she will. We're moving to our own farmette soon, so I probably won't be getting lessons very often and I don't know if or when I'll be able to find a new trainer in the area.
Cookies if you got this far. ^^ And I appreciate any input!
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Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:57 am
This happens alot. Its because he is young and inexperienced. He doesnt know what to do when your on top and your unsure on how to explain/teach it to him.
I think it's a good idea to get your trainer to sit on him and help our. Especially as you will be leaving the yard soon.
I've just had my youngster backed and started by a professional so that I knew he had the best start in life. This is my second youngster and this time I wanted him to have the best start possible. I get to ride him for the first time next week and I can't wait smile
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:24 pm
Having you on his back instead of on the ground COMPLETELY changes his balance and the way he's going to carry himself. How long have you had him undersaddle? I would definitely leave the canter alone until he's learned how to balance both his AND your bodies together.
Have you done any long-lining or ground driving with him? I've heard with some horses this helps make the transitions to riding easier because the rein aids at least will be the same as they are when you're on their back.
I've also heard of some people that will have a person on the ground giving the familiar aids from there while the rider is on their back, so that they can get used to the feeling, and then slowly transition to the rider giving the aids. I've only done this for Therapy training, and our horses are always already broke when we get them for therapy horses.
Beyond that, all I can say is stick with it. Make a big deal out of it when he gets it right. Give the light aid first, the one that you want him to respond to, then follow it with something firmer if you need to.
If you can get your friend/trainer to get on him a time or two, it would probably be good. If nothing else, she could give you some advice on how to proceed, and if he feels like a normal young horse. Having a second opinion when you're frustrated with a training stage is never a bad thing.
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Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:49 pm
AriaStarSong Having you on his back instead of on the ground COMPLETELY changes his balance and the way he's going to carry himself. How long have you had him undersaddle? I would definitely leave the canter alone until he's learned how to balance both his AND your bodies together. Have you done any long-lining or ground driving with him? I've heard with some horses this helps make the transitions to riding easier because the rein aids at least will be the same as they are when you're on their back. I've also heard of some people that will have a person on the ground giving the familiar aids from there while the rider is on their back, so that they can get used to the feeling, and then slowly transition to the rider giving the aids. I've only done this for Therapy training, and our horses are always already broke when we get them for therapy horses. Beyond that, all I can say is stick with it. Make a big deal out of it when he gets it right. Give the light aid first, the one that you want him to respond to, then follow it with something firmer if you need to. If you can get your friend/trainer to get on him a time or two, it would probably be good. If nothing else, she could give you some advice on how to proceed, and if he feels like a normal young horse. Having a second opinion when you're frustrated with a training stage is never a bad thing. Darn you Aria, you always seem to beat me to the punch! xd We start all the youngsters by long-lining them. You can long line the same way you lunge, so that you can ask him for woah while applying pressure on the lines to his mouth. You can also teach steering with them and yielding laterally. If you you've never long-lined its a really good idea to get help with a trainer on this, because done incorrectly things can go dangerous really fast. Starting him on the lines you need someone walking with him at first. You're behind him and ask him to stop as though you were riding (woah and then pressure). If he doesn't stop, the leader stops him. And you just repeat over and over until he stops with the pressure/voice. Usually doesn't take too long. Also, when you're riding in general, try to be as soft as you can on his mouth if you are not asking him to stop or turn, so that it is very obvious when something is happening in his mouth.
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:58 am
Brat_and_a_half AriaStarSong Having you on his back instead of on the ground COMPLETELY changes his balance and the way he's going to carry himself. How long have you had him undersaddle? I would definitely leave the canter alone until he's learned how to balance both his AND your bodies together. Have you done any long-lining or ground driving with him? I've heard with some horses this helps make the transitions to riding easier because the rein aids at least will be the same as they are when you're on their back. I've also heard of some people that will have a person on the ground giving the familiar aids from there while the rider is on their back, so that they can get used to the feeling, and then slowly transition to the rider giving the aids. I've only done this for Therapy training, and our horses are always already broke when we get them for therapy horses. Beyond that, all I can say is stick with it. Make a big deal out of it when he gets it right. Give the light aid first, the one that you want him to respond to, then follow it with something firmer if you need to. If you can get your friend/trainer to get on him a time or two, it would probably be good. If nothing else, she could give you some advice on how to proceed, and if he feels like a normal young horse. Having a second opinion when you're frustrated with a training stage is never a bad thing. Darn you Aria, you always seem to beat me to the punch! xd We start all the youngsters by long-lining them. You can long line the same way you lunge, so that you can ask him for woah while applying pressure on the lines to his mouth. You can also teach steering with them and yielding laterally. If you you've never long-lined its a really good idea to get help with a trainer on this, because done incorrectly things can go dangerous really fast. Starting him on the lines you need someone walking with him at first. You're behind him and ask him to stop as though you were riding (woah and then pressure). If he doesn't stop, the leader stops him. And you just repeat over and over until he stops with the pressure/voice. Usually doesn't take too long. Also, when you're riding in general, try to be as soft as you can on his mouth if you are not asking him to stop or turn, so that it is very obvious when something is happening in his mouth. We've had him under saddle for about two years, but we haven't done much with him because I was afraid of doing too much too early. I've never tried long lining, but I'd really like to find a trainer who can teach me. I'm scouring the web for one as we speak, and I'll be asking around when we move. I'm still harassing my friend to get on him, too. xp
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:01 am
Brat_and_a_half Darn you Aria, you always seem to beat me to the punch! xd I's a ninja ninja Good luck with finding someone to help you with long-lining Ragdoll!
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 9:31 pm
Just do some softening exercises, teach him too submit to the bit, and submit too pressure.
If you know what i'm talking about?
I'm a Strictly western rider.
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