I'm working with a horse right now that doesn't want anything to do with stoping or flexing or being supple. He locks his neck against preshure when i ask him to whoa and fights to stay straight when i ask him to turn. He needs to be able to wear a bit. I don't want to put anything harsh on him either. he wears a thin snaffle already. he isn't hard mouthed he just needs to flex and give to preshure. i've tried everything i can think of and need some advise. if you have any questions about his training or anything else you can IM me.
2006-11-20 13:29:42 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
like i said, you can IM me if you have questions about his health. I'm not going to answer all of them on this.
2006-11-20 13:47:51 · update #1
PLEASE don't try the extreme suggestions I'm seeign here. Tying a horse to his tail or saddle doesn't teach him anything and you risk an unjury or pulled muscle. Training is supposed to be about shaping the mind, not stretching the body into painful contortions.
Your horse needs to learn to give to the bit. Stick with the snaffle-- you don't need anything more harsh. I personally do my teaching with clicker training (positive reinforcement). Look up clicker training online to learn more.
So the horse is shown clicker training, and he understand the basic concept of "if i do somethign right, i get the reward".... then put the bridle on him. Stand on the ground next to him. Gently pull on the rein on that side a little towards you. The moment he gives the slightest give, you click+reward. Repeat and in a few tries he'll understand "tug on rein = turn head/neck". Then try working for a bit more of a turn. You're not yanking or holding, you're just asking for a little 'give' and the moment you get it, you release pressure and click+reward. (BTW "release of pressure" is the Natural Horsemanship approach and is popular with big names like Lyons for example). We're teaching faster because not only does he get that release, he gets the bridge signal (click = GOOD JOB!) and the reward (positive reinforcement.
Work both sides until he happily bends his neck either way. Then work up/down of head.
The neat thing about clicker training: once you get good at it, you can use it as a pain & struggle-free way to set poll height and head position. Dressage riders can use it to reinforce a good frame.
Once he gets the idea on the ground, hop back on him and ask again. Still keep click+rewarding from up in the saddle.
For more information:
- Join the clickryder group on Yahoo Groups
- pick up the "Clicker Train Your Horse" book by kurland to get started
- consider attending a Kurland clinic
And if you want, IM me at mousewhiskersMD. I'd like to help you so you don't have to resort to dominating and painful methods. You'll get better results overall with a happy horse instead of a horse who's forced into submission.
Good luck!
2006-11-21 07:01:44 · answer #1 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After checking to makes sure that his teeth are not bothering him (young horses need their teeth floated-rasped down or filed -and young males have "wolf teeth" that often need to be pulled), try using elastic side reins. The ones that are made with some stretch or give to them are best. You attach one end to the bit and the other end to something on your saddle (like the girth). At first keep them pretty loose and put him in the stall with all feed removed. Each day increase the tension until they are snug only if he doesn't yield to the bit, but they are loose once he tucks his nose and gives to the bit. The reason this works well, is because he will only be fighting with himself if he fights.He won't associate the fighting or displeasure he feels with you. Once you have him giving to the bit, you can lunge him with the side reins on. Start loosely at first, and it helps if you adjust the inside rein so it is a bit snuger than the outside one (helps him bend his body correctly when you are lunging). As he gets better increase the tension till they are snug as stated above (only becoming snug when he fights or puts his nose out).
Another good exercise to to start out at a jog/trot in a large circle and each time you circle around you make the circle smaller (like a spiral). Once you get to a small circle you go back out increasing the size of the circle. Then you switch and go the other way. Just make sure that you are using you legs and your whole body to help him bend and turn. Often people are only using their hands and the bit to turn the horse, but you need to use your legs as well to help him turn and bend correctly.
2006-11-21 09:59:24 · answer #2 · answered by ellenmwoods 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may be in pain. Have a vet come check him out and make sure your saddle and bridle fit properly. Make sure he's okay before you move on.
Is he young? How are his ground manners? He may consider himself dominant over you, and the best way to go is from the ground up. Ask a trainer about this if you're unsure.
2006-11-20 21:41:30 · answer #3 · answered by yayme616 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I will tie them to their tails and let them work it out on their own in the arena. will help to supple them and get them to give to the bit better. the other thing I will do is also lunge them with their bridle on and the rein tied back to the girth ring so that the nose is tipped to the inside of the direction you are going and this will help to get them supple and giving to the bit better also. as far as the stop goes, use the end of the arena to teach them whoa. since you are using a thin snaffle find a bit fat egg but or a loose ring and use this when tieing around and such. sounds like it's too much bit and he's fighting it. also how old is this horse? may want to also check his teeth, have they been floated need to be and does he still have is wolfe teeth? check the fit of the bit, is it pinching? he's trying to tell you something isn't right. does the saddle fit properly? have you checked to see if his back is sore?
good luck
2006-11-20 21:39:22 · answer #4 · answered by cattledog_vinnie 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Have you considered massage therapy?
When a horse does not flex it is usually a sign of muscle tension, same as when a horse has difficulty holding a leg up for the farrier, tosses his head, hates being groomed, etc.
Also consider having his teeth checked.
2006-11-20 21:45:09 · answer #5 · answered by Sharingan 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Try working him on a long rein for a while and see how he goes with that. Also try turning him in a bigger circle...I mean start to turn earlier than you usually would and then gradually shorten it.
2006-11-20 21:40:57 · answer #6 · answered by dragonrider707 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my horse did the exact same thing. he wouldnt turn when i wanted him to. i just worked with him every day and rewarded him when he did what i wanted him too. you can also push your foot into his side on the opposite side of which you want him to turn. this teaches him to move away from the pressure. but you have to remember...when he turns immediantly release the pressure that you are applying with your foot. hope i helped you out! :D
2006-11-21 13:55:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try some methods for stretching him out. Like lunging him and make sure he stretches out nicely.
He oviously doesn't like pressure of any kind, so maybe you can kind of 're train' him using monty roberts or pat parelli methods
2006-11-20 22:07:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would use a rope hackmore or a short shank hackmore.. but that is just me..that would help him whoa and turn..that is just what i would use.. i hope this helps.. if you add me on yahoo mess.i will tell you more..my msn is ajrotc_baby@hotmail.com. i have a my space to it www.myspace.com/marines_gal
2006-11-20 21:44:45 · answer #9 · answered by i love my son wyatt 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋