Horse Training Questions

Today’s horse training question comes from CD: “I have a horse that only lets kids ride him, about 50 lbs. He won’t let me ride him, but I can do anything else with him: groom, bathe, lead, halter, clean feet, saddle, back with little presure, etc. The only thing he doesn’t like is the bit, but he will take it with some fuss. He lowers his head for his halter, and comes when called in the pastue. A trainer told me to gradually put bigger kids on him, but I can’t do this. I wan’t to know how I can ride him without being thrown. I can’t ride out his bucking. He use to let an adult ride him, but he threw her a lot and then he switched hands and wasn’t messed with for a few years. I was told she had a real attitude with him. He was real skittish when we got him, and he didn’t like men. He has calmed down a hole lot. I have tried round pen work, and as I said, I can do anything with him but ride. How can I ride him without getting thrown, and without being rough with him. I mess with him every day, and as soon as he sees me he nickers/neighs and comes to me. I do not want to break his trust. I want to fix this problem, but I do not want to hurt him or me. Hiring a trainer is out for now. Anyway the trainer I talked to said I could do it. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks”

My guess is that your horse has some physical problem, maybe a chiropractic problem with his back or something else that is causing him pain when someone heavier than a child tries to ride him.  Reading your question, it sounds like your horse loves you and trusts you.  And since he doesn’t ever buck with kids on him, that makes me think he is dealing with some physical discomfort when a heavier rider gets on.  I would start with an exam by a veterinarian you trust to determine if the problem is physical.  Then, if the vet finds no problems, I would check the fit of your saddle (I assume you’re using a different saddle than the kids are) to see if it is pinching him and causing the bucking.  Let us know the results of these exams, and if there are no physical problems causing this we’ll address it from a training perspective.

Today’s horse training question comes from Chris.  He writes: “my two year old horse I just purchased has been started with basics I tried riding him but he won’t move.  He just stands trys to cow kick my boot.  Do you have any tips for me?”

Hi Chris, this is actually a very similar problem to the one Shiloh wrote in about a few days ago.

To correct this problem teach your horse to disengage the hindquarters.  This is what I teach each time I have a horse who won’t move forward off my leg, and I teach it on the ground before I get on a colt for the first time so they will have a way to understand what my leg pressure means the first time I get on them.

Begin teaching this exercise from the ground with either a halter and lead rope or your bridle. Stand to one side of him, and ask him to move his hips over by walking towards him, swinging your rope, etc. You are looking for his inside hind foot to step across in front of his outside hind foot. It is very important that the inside hind foot actually crosses in front of the outside hind. His front feet should stop all forward motion when he crosses over with his hind end. By asking your horse to step under himself in this way, you are taking away his ability to brace against you. Once your horse will disingage the hindquarters on both sides on the ground, teach it from the saddle. Once you are on his back, take your rein on one side, walk him forward, and pick up on the rein, bending his head to the side and asking him to step under with the inside hind foot. If he bends his neck but keeps walking a straight line, bump him with your inside leg until he steps over with his hindquarters.

Thank you for your horse training question!

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Today’s horse training question comes from Billie: “It’s been awhile but, I was recently given a very sweet 4 year old gelding. The previous owner recomended using a martingale or tie down because he has been known to rear up some. I have been riding him and have not had this problem but since we are still getting to know each other I have not pushed him. I do know you are supposed to circle them in case they do. What do you think would be best?”

Hi Billie, You are right, it is effective to turn your horse in a tight circle if he tries to rear up.  In addition, I would teach your horse a cue to put his head down when you touch the rein, so that if you feel he is going to rear up you can ask him to lower his head, which should avoid the problem altogether.  To teach a head down cue from the rein, you can start either on the ground or in the saddle.  If your horse does tend to rear up you might be safer to start on the ground.  Put pressure on one rein (not both) and just hold it gently.  You are waiting for your horse to lower his head, even a fraction of an inch.  As soon as he does, release the rein and pet him.  Repeat this process (it will take many, many repetitions!), asking your horse to put his head down a little further each time.  I like to teach my horses this until I can get them to drop their nose all the way to the ground.  If you start teaching it on the ground, just use a hand position that will be similar to where you’ll be holding the reins when you are in the saddle, so you can transfer the exercise easily when you start to use it riding.  Thank you for your horse training question!

Today’s horse training question comes from Barbara.  She writes: “My horse doesn’t like to stand still for rainmaker application. Any suggestions?”

Hi Barbara, I’m assuming you are referring to the Rainmaker hoof dressing.  Start by just brushing your horse’s feet with a dry brush.  Ask him to stand still, brush his foot once, and then pet him and walk him off.  Gradually increase the amount of brushing time between rewards (petting and walking off) until he will stand for you to brush all four feet.  Now, use the actual brush with the hoof conditioner on it.  Repeat the process if he seems to get fidgity again now that there is something being applied to his feet.  Or, he may not notice the difference.  Basically you are teaching him that all you want is for him to stand still.  You are reinforcing this by rewarding him very frequently at first.  I like to use a dry brush because it means you are not wasting any of your product while you train, and if your horse is fidgeting because the dressing feels funny or smells funny a dry brush gives you an easier start as you get him used to the feeling of having something moving across his feet.  Thank you for your horse training question!

Today’s horse training question comes from Shiloh:  “I just bought a 3 year old gelding.  He will not move forward in any direction away from the other horse. When I kick harder or tap his hind end he starts to buck and frightens me.  How do I correct this behavior?”

Shiloh, to correct this problem teach your horse to disengage the hindquarters.  This is what I teach each time I have a horse who won’t move forward off my leg, and I teach it on the ground before I get on a colt for the first time so they will have a way to understand what my leg pressure means the first time I get on them.