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"Q: How do I get her down the lane and onto the little short trail? Answer:..."
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Dear Keith...
Saturday, September 1, 2007
I saw you this past summer at Mystic Marsh in Delton, Michigan... Loved it all, too.
I bought a Quarter Horse at the end of March of this year, she is very well trained and has been shown in the past, but now is retired and just my "Plain old riding horse". I am not a strong rider... Started riding just a year ago at the age of 59 and after a huge weight loss.
That is not the problem, in most all cases, Izzy is wonderful and will do everything I ask of her, no matter how I ask (part western and part English). But she will not go down a short lane to the trail. The lane is open and wide enough for 4-6 horses to travel side-by-side. I've coaxed her, fought with her, and just given up and let her go back to the farm area to continue out riding for the day.
My question is this: How do I get her down the lane and onto the little short trail? This business of just continually going around inside and around the outside perimeter of the arena or just around the farm is getting boring for both of us.
Thank you for your help and I really look forward to seeing you next year (Maybe I should JOIN the class, huh!!)
Susan H |
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Reply
As you’ve seen, I could talk for (literally) days about any single aspect of horse training – and you’re describing one that I could never do justice to in an email. I’ll ramble. First, don’t start with your goal. If you want to get from a to b TODAY, then get off and lead the horse. Then, when you have the time to work on that find a safe place and drill your horse at an increased speed – because if you want to excise the demons in a safe way, obviously we have to do it in a controlled environment. When we add speed, we add tension. So, find an exercise your horse does very well at a walk, then do it at a trot or lope in an area that’s safe. That’ll help you build control. Another route is to practice an exercise that you both do well at a safe distance from the area you’d like to traverse. Then break it into a hundred spaces and inch your way closer, only going into the next “space” when your horse is answering you correctly 90-100 percent of the time. Again, don’t start with your goal – forcing this is how you get hurt.
I’m out of John’s On the Trail videos (they’re old classics), his "On the Trail" book or his DVD collection "The Trail Riding Series." Those books and videos are cheap up against the cost of a broken pelvis or shoulder? No contest. Spend the money.
And then ride with me next year.
Keith
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Reply
Hi Keith,
Just want to let you know that since we've communicated, Izzy is doing beautifully. She has gone down the lane and "Little trail" many times, and last week she even went through the longer trail deep into the woods, complete with mucky areas, scary trees and their roots, and best of all the deer blinds ! All of this with out a moment of hesitation. She did everything I asked of her and did it in a timely manner. Now we just have to work on speeding up a little bit in strange and new areas to both of us.
Thanks again for all of your help !
Susan
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Go Forward
Starting Horses: She just stands there and won't go anywhere |
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Trail Riding
Horse Trail Training: When we come to a steep bank or a hill he wants to run or buck up it |
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Goals
Horse Training School: I need a “kick in the pants” to move me ahead onto my next stage |
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