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| Discussion on Fun Filled Energy | |
| Author | Message |
| New Member: blkpnt |
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| Member: terrido |
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| Member: scooter |
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 - 4:11 pm: Amen Terrie, that was very hard thing for me to do with Hank. I JUST KNEW he would kill me if I let him use the energy....I'm still here! It was scary at first...until my trainer told me what to do and he described much like you. He said even if you weave in and out of weeds, focus the energy and USE it. I had been fighting it, which got me a prancey knuckle head. Then he thought rearing would be fun...that's when I sought help!If you contain energy it has to come out somewhere. It might be prancing, or bucking, or rearing. This again to me was easier said then done  as is most things with Hank, not only did I have to focus HIS energy, I had to relax. I was prancing with my horse in body form and adding fuel to the fire. I don't prance anymore and neither does He! took a year to work it out though.
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| Member: terrido |
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 - 4:56 pm: Took me a while too Diane. It began actually in the arena and during normal lessons. My young mare would get excited about something that frightened her and she would be quite a handful for me. My trainer just began talking me through my own anxiety. My horse actually never did anything bad at all, she just got tall and pranced a bit. Yes at a trot she'd go like a standardbred! haha But she needed to, he instructed and I acted. What happened was in an arena then I knew what to do. Allow her to GO, ride it, stay with it, and guide it slowly back to what I more desired, but by all means allow her to move.Our first time out on a trail ride was with about 50 other women on horses. haha Yeah I know probably not the smartest way to break the ice. Anyway when Bella started to get UP and prancy/jiggy I instantly tried to "whoa" her, she just got more UP. A kind woman rode up to us, which helped just having a calmer horse next to us of course, but still Bella was jigging. She calmly began to talk me into riding her energy, directing it, using it. Within a few minutes I knew what she was doing, I knew HOW to do that, I just hadn't even considered it. How silly/stupid was that?? Heck I can do that! So we did some fabulous should in for quite a while, lots of gorgeous 8m, 10m and 6m circles!! haha I had a beautifully performing dressage horse out there on that first trail ride. And of course when all else fails, disengage the back end, take away the power, kill the engine. (at walk only please!) It didn't take me long to realize I had all the right tools I just wasn't aware I should use them everywhere. duh!! It makes sense though. You just need to focus on DOING, for me the fear of what may happen goes away completely because I am too focused on what she is doing as I ask for things. I am listening intently for her to ask me to please let her just slow and walk. She very quickly asks for this now. I ended that weekend, yup it was four days o trail riding!! we ended up doing the last two rides "on the buckle" the entire way. To say she was amazing would be an understatement. I realize not everyone has the same horse, or thought patterning. Still if you can think through and start to ask your horse to do something, it should help the situation. Part of it is the relationship you have also, it always plays into what the horse will do under "normal" circumstances. (imho) With my young mare I had to be reminded that in unknown territory (being out on a trail ride) she needed me to guide her to lead her, to show her that I can handle what ever happens out there. Give her a safe place to be. You can lead or be lead, you can ride or be a passenger, just be prepared either way. And of course, ride safe. Yours truly, the world's greatest chicken! me. |
| Member: kshayden |
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 - 6:49 pm: Well, I just learned another valuable tool on this list - I had heard about letting the first time ride horse go with speed, but not the advanced and it does all make since explained in this way.Since some of you are also dog owners, when you have a dog that pulls hard on the leash when walking - if you DrOp the leash - they quit pulling - some even stop and look at you funny. The leash give courage - in training - the more force on the leash, the more drive it produces - bet it is the same for the lions and tigers and elephants . Perhaps that is why they are not leashed on stage? Great reading and has my mind thinking. Kathy |
| Member: blkpnt |
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| Member: terrido |
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 10:22 am: "blkpnt" somehow I get the feeling all your various posts/threads are all tied to one and the same horse?Might think about separating these questions into differing threads too. But for now, let's see where we end up, ok? "He always wants to run should I let him or hold him at a lope?" Depends. ;) Seriously it depends on you and him and the circumstances. If he wants to run and you can let him, I would allow that for a bit. Let him use the energy, but let him do so in a way that you are comfortable with. If you want to let him just explode into a gallop for a while, then do that. "He likes to lock up his neck when he runs should I stretch him more?" I think this goes with the other thread you posted?? Short answer is yes encourage him to stretch out more and relax through his neck. "He favors the left side moreover and over exaggerates his right shoulder bend by turning at the slightest Q... " Hmmm sorry I don't quite understand exactly which way he is turning here, it sounds like to the left is the 'super-bend', and maybe not so much when asking him to bend to the right? This is the more common way for a horse. So become his physical therapist and ask for end to the other direction - slowly - in increments until he can flex in either direction easily. He is just not "flexible" yet is all. If I recall this same horse is fairly green, correct? This would explain all of his "issues" which really aren't issues, they are simply lack of knowledge on his part. You just need to teach him to relax and move. He doesn't yet understand that he can, and he doesn't yet have the muscles and strength to do so well and carry you. I know it's easy for me to sit here and write to you "just keep training him" it's a whole 'nother ball game when you are trying to do his training. I understand that! If this is the same horse that is the subject of all your various posts recently, he is a green horse and just doesn't yet know how to carry himself with you on top of him. He doesn't yet understand all of what you are asking him to do. I highly suggest you find a local trainer to work with you for a while to help you get started. Patience, consistency and listening to him will take you both far. The listening is the most important but you also have to be willing to ask yourself if what you are doing is helping him do as you ask, or is it hindering him/blocking him when you ask? Are your aids clear and consistent? Is he in a physical position to do as you ask him? Is there something more you can do to help him be ready for what you are asking? Is there something you can do with your position to help him perform it better? etc. Nothing beats a good set of eyes on the ground to help you through training! Even top trainers have someone work with them to fine tune and refresh occasionally if not on a regular basis. |
| Member: ajudson1 |
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| Member: blkpnt |
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| Member: terrido |
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| Member: cgby1 |
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