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  Discussion on Training in pasture
Author Message
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 3:26 pm:

My daughter and I would like to practice gaming--nothing serious, just for fun. We have no corral, but the pasture at the bottom of our hill is fairly flat and would do for our needs. The mules only have access to it during the night, and we would do our thing during the day. However, someone once told me never to ride or train a horse in their own pasture. They resent it and may act up. Does anyone have any insight on this issue?
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 5:33 pm:

If your horses are trained to keep their attention on you when you are handling and riding them, and are taught to respond to your cues, then it doesn't matter if you are in the pasture, stall, arena, trail, parade, show ring, or living room . . . The horses will understand that it's not the place that determines their response, but the relationship and communication. It's similar to the myth: "A horses shouldn't eat with a bit in his mouth." A horse can eat with a bit in his mouth if you are ALLOWING him to do so . . . and when you want him to stop, you lift the rein gently, and he will stop . . . No big deal. If you haven't worked your horses in the pasture before, though, I would start slowly . . . walking around, doing figure eights, trotting circles, etc., to make sure they are listening. You are training them to listen to you and obey you in a new circumstance. If they listen at the slow gaits and patterns, then you can increase speed . . . if they stop listening, go back to the slow exercises and work up the speed as you feel the horses are responding correctly . . . just as you would with introducing anything that is new.
Have fun.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 7:52 pm:

Just be careful of the footing; lots of times pastures are pretty uneven. I work in the pastures all the time even though we have a small arena. Pastures are great for ponying in.
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 3:33 am:

Heidi, I agree with both of these comments. I have 9 acres of pasture and no arena, but I ride, rehab, give kid lessons and train my 4 horses on in my most level field, about an acre or so, 5-7 days a week. I have to water carefully--never slippery but not so dry it has no "give", and yes, I do wish it was perfectly level with no dips or undulations, but with a decent cover of grass (my bermuda provides excellent traction, cushion and durability, even when overly wet, but ryegrass can get slippery quite easily) and the right moisture, it's fine. In my experience, when you first begin, some horses might be a bit pissy or lazy, but if they respect you, they soon fall into the routine. I remember hearing that myself years ago, but have found that like many of those old ways of thinking, with respect for the horse and sound training you can throw most of those "rules" out the window... and ride them in the living room if you so desire!
Member:
Canter

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 8:06 am:

I'll throw my two cents worth in as well: At the barn where I board, the youngest daughter of the owner has taken up barrel racing and pole bending. The arenas aren't big enough for these sports so her Dad plowed up an area of the largest pasture and set up the barrels and poles. This teenager's horse is worked routinely in his pasture and shows no signs of resentment or lack of respect because of it. In fact, both kid and horse seem to thrive on it and they are both doing exceptionally well at shows, particularly considering that they changed from Western pleasure a little less than a year ago.
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 10:26 am:

This is all good to hear. Our only other option is our saddle club arena eight miles away, and I believe the trailering would get old after a while. We'll go with the pasture. Thanks for all your feedback.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2005 - 6:24 am:

It is true that horses may act up if worked in their pasture, Heidi.
They have their habits there, their routine, like this stretch to gallop and this stretch to walk and they may not be very willing to change that for you.
This is one good reason, I believe, to work them there. The horse needs to learn that he has to turn where you say and not where he feels like it and so on.
There's no better place to do that than at home. He has a very strong opinion there. Quitting it to follow your suggestions is an important training step.
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2005 - 7:56 am:

That makes a lot of sense, Christos. Thank you.
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2005 - 8:43 am:

Ditto to Christos .. I work on training all my horses in the pasture, or in the field adjacent to the pasture just for that reason. It is more difficult to get their attention and cooperation in this area, but I have always felt that if I can train them there, they will work anywhere. The fun part is when I am training a barrel horse, and half way through the first barrel, they decided to head to the gate ... a 90 degree from where I think I am headed. Just need to be a little more attentive to the horse when working in this area, but I agree it is a great training procedure.
DT
Member:
Zoe

Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2005 - 12:47 pm:

Ditto Christos and Dennis!
Training a horse in there pasture is a good way to make sure you and the horse have trust and by training your horse in a pasture your horse will get used to being in a old place but doing new things if you understand what im saying!

TTFN
Z
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