Comments for Horse Training Questions

Comment on Owning a mare vs. a gelding by Pilar Perrien

Pilar Perrien — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:21:31 +0000

Hi, I just wanted to write a quick note here to tell you that I really finding your blog, I was searching theinternet I think your site has a very neat layout.We are starting a horse farm, also getting our website up and going, so I really do not get the time to around on the internet much anymore, I am glad I ran across this site.. I wish you all the best and keep up the great info!! Thanks again!!

Comment on Posting on the correct diagonal by Horsey lover

Horsey lover — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:35:11 +0000

Hi, i see your having a problem with diagnols. Diagnols I didn’t quite get at first either so don’t worry. To be on the right diagnol you always want to be rising out of the saddle when the outside leg (which is closest to the rail) is forward you just have to look at the shoulder and see if its moving forward. To change diagnols sit twice then return posting.

Comment on Dealing with Aggression at Feeding Time by admin

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:34:32 +0000

It’s such a common problem… and the fact that it is dangerous was driven home to me last night when I was putting Spice’s blanket on and she spun around and bit me in the face. Thankfully it was a glancing blow and I only got a small cut over my eye and a goose egg on my forehead… but it really made me realize that I have to get after any aggression at feeding time NOW! She’s always pinned her ears, and I’ve been working her through it, but not nearly as sternly as I should have been. From now on, she won’t get near me with anything but ears pricked in a very friendly manner! I really didn’t think she would take it so far as to bite. I mess with her every night while she’s eating. But in her mind, me allowing her to be near me with a crabby face seems to translate that she’s allowed to test my authority as “lead mare” in the herd… and now that I think about it, it makes sense.

Comment on Dealing with Aggression at Feeding Time by Rita

Rita — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:49:16 +0000

This was really helpful! My horse pins his ears at feed time–never has actually struck out or bared his teeth, but he tries to be intimidating. Now I am going to work with him on his manners intensively…I like your suggestion of making them wait til their ears are forward.

Comment on Which Bit To Use? by Patricia Reszetylo

Patricia Reszetylo — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:54:29 +0000

I would also check to see, after getting an Equine DENTIST in, how high his palate is. Is it shallow, like an Arab or Friesian, whith their dished faces? Is it high, like a roman-nosed draft?

A snaffle isn’t an especially mild bit. It can be very hard on a low-palated horse. I switched many years ago to riding in a French Link - make sure it’s a French link, and NOT a Dr. Bristol.

I’ve found the French link to relieve the pressure on the palate. Fitted correctly - and that fit varies from English to Western - your horse will find he can work in it.

The other reason a French link (western people call it a dog bone) works better than the traditional snaffle, is that it actually exerts even pressue on the sides of the mouth, whereas the traditional snaffle can’t.

It sounds as though your horse may have not been trained to ride in a snaffle though. Personally, I’d go with as short a shank as you can find - longer the shank, the higher the leverage, and you always want to ride with the least amount of bit possible.

The port size may have to be determined by trial and error. You want it high enough that it is off his tongue, not so high it’s a hazard.

Or, depending on your needs, you could go with a bitless bridle of some sort - there are a wide variety of hackamores and bitless bridles available these days.

Comment on Train your horse in different situations by Rita

Rita — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:48:13 +0000

Its so true! And also, you can ride a horse in one place, and they are perfect, and then you move him to a new place, and the behavior can really change. Its requires a good relationship with the horse for them to respond the same in different situations–something that is hard when its a new horse! Glad things went better for you.

Comment on Problems Bridling Mare by admin

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:25:23 +0000

I think you’re absolutely right, someone must have hit her teeth with the bit when they were taking the bridle off. Start to take the bridle off, then if she throws her head up hold the bridle on her… don’t let it slide off. Reassure her, let her know nothing is going to hurt her, get her head back down, and start to take the bridle off again. Repeat this until she’ll let you take the bridle off with her head down. Try practicing this with bitless bridle just to see if she is better about you taking that on and off. If that goes well, you can go back to a bridle with a bit. Sometimes when your horse is throwing their head all over the place it’s hard to get the bridle off without the bit hitting their teeth no matter how hard you try. If that’s the case, I have had good luck using a plastic bit to practice. They are light weight and they won’t hurt your horse’s teeth like a metal bit will. Please let me know how this works, and if you have any other questions.

Comment on Problems Bridling Mare by Dee Ripple

Dee Ripple — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:19:15 +0000

I have a similar problem. My mare will take the bit easily. She is not head shy…you can touch her ears, head, around the eyes, put your hand in her mouth, etc. Someone that owned her previously must have hit her teeth with the bit. Getting the bit is easy….getting it out of her mouth is hard. She throws her head up…and I have taught her to put her head down. She is just afraid of the bit coming out of her mouth. Any suggestions to that one?

Comment on Using every day moments to train your horse by Rita

Rita — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:01:13 +0000

I totally agree! I have had to remember that idea with this new horse I have. He is a really mellow guy, and I keep letting myself think that riding him is going to be so much easier than my other horse, but its not true! There is no such thing as just an easy, training-free ride. Last night I went to ride him for a a little bit, and he was a total pill—kept wanting to eat grass, and then pawing, and hunching up his back when I asked him to move forward. I realized that he was grouchy because he hadn’t eaten yet. I got off and did groundwork with him–trying to get him to pay attention to me, and follow me, instead of doing whatever he felt like. Lesson learned though: he likes his food.

Comment on My Mare Bucks by admin

admin — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:30:03 +0000

First, teach him to disengage the hindquarters as outlined in the post above. That way you will have your “emergency brake” in place. Then, if he bucks, disengage the hindquarters to get him stopped, then IMMEDIATELY put him to work, HARD. Trot or lope fast circles (whichever you are more comfortable with), asking him to flex his neck or some other exercise he knows, for 15 minutes or more. Then allow him to rest for a few minutes, and ask him again to do whatever caused him to buck in the first place. If he does it without bucking, pet him and reward him. If he bucks again, put him back to work. You’re teaching him that it is much more work for him to buck than to simply do what you ask politely and quietly. That will lead to him making the choice not to buck, because that is the easier road for him to take.