[SweetIron]

My trainer and his son have been riding Em in a bosal, which she has responded to great. I watched her ridden last Tuesday under saddle, and he was working wonders with her. She stopped in an instant; she even knows how to back-up now. She did an awesomely smooth trot that even I could sit. I can't wait to get up on her for the first time!! Cameras will be everywhere!
Yesterday he used a snaffle and he said that she was really a little bratty in it (of course, she has only been ridden a few times, and never with a bit, heh.) But eventually she cooled off and he had her going good at the walk and trot, and even began on the canter a little.
I am just amazed, watching the transformation of this mare; she was unwanted, and nearly dog-meat, just last year when we bought her. Now, she is learning to respect us and to be productive and rideable.
Anyone else breaking your horse now, or having them done by a trainer?

How about that two-week "period" when they learn that they can test you?? How do you get thru that?

[Super_Trooper]

I think all horses will test you, to see what that can/cant get away with. You need to work through it, when they do something wrong, you make that harder for them, and make whats "right" easier for them, then they learn to think what they are doing right is their choice too, and you work together as a team.

Anyhorse is going to take some time getting use to a bit so dont hold that against her.

[lucky_pine]

I'm in the same saddle right now. We took my two year old to the trainer, and the trainer said they had a heck of a time riding him. He'd try to run them into the cattle chutes, lay down and roll, buck, spin, everything he could think of. After about 3 weeks he was buck free. He just learned that no matter how nasty he got that someone would always be on him. He's been a good horse for me.

My five year old took to bucking at a lope lately. He's a little fresh, as our ranch work died down which meant so did his work. He's so energetic though, loves to work like cutting cattle and things. So when we're loping, and he starts bucking, I really put my heel into him and make him gallop as fast as he can. In the long run he learns that if he wants to buck, he has to gallop extra hard for it.

[lucky_pine]

As for getting through my two year old, I just got up the nerve to ride him every so often. At first I was scared, really scared, because of the stories the trainer told me about his behavior. When I say he's been a good horse, I'm not saying he hasn't tried to buck me off, he hasn't tried to be nasty every now and then. I just deal with it, and deal with him, and just work through it. If he wants to buck, well, he's going to have to work pretty hard to do it. If he want's to pin his ears back and kick at me when I take his food away, he's going to be chased away from his food.

[SweetIron]

I won't hold the bit-thing against her. I can feel for her, being a 7 year old mare, never having tasted a bit before.
She did test me last night when I was grooming; kept tryin to eat her lead line (I had her tied loosely in the stall; probably wasn't necessary, but I wanted to reinforce her being tied, since she has been in a boxstall for the last couple weeks and I don't want her to forget about being tied.) I would pull her head away from it, and then when she stood by without chewing, I petted her and talked nicey.
She is responding so well to pressure on the poll; I had her standing with her head at a nice level position so I could detangle her mane. And I walked behind her a bunch of times; no kicking out.
I love this horse!

[SweetIron]

Wow Pine; that sounds kind of like Em's reaction to the bit. My trainer was on her, and she started takin' off around the roundpen 2-3 times. Finally, she reached a point where she noticed.. he was still on her. So she quieted down then and he did get a meaningful day of working.
He even got her into a controlled canter after that stuff. I swear, this guy (and you people who break/train for a living) are miracle workers! I would love to reach this point someday. But it's all about that fine, almost godly ability to understand that horse and its reactios to you, I guess

[Bruce Wiley]

It not just 2 weeks, when they are greenies and even during and after their training that, they will test us and give us pop up stuff, many times on the same thing or different things, this process will go on.
You and us need to be aware of how to deal with these pop up quiz's and give them the correct and clear answer, to prevent them from becoming confuse.
Work with your trainer, get involve, ask for instructions on how to maintain her training.
I hope this helps.

[SweetIron]

Thanks. Our traier is a really awesome guy; he is mostly a farrier but trains also. So heh, Em's feet are definately being looked-after while she is there!
He is rightly adament about us riding her over there, before we bring her home. See, me and my man are fairly experienced riders, but not exactly trainers. We are learning the basics though, and implementing them when we work with her, even if it's somethng simple like crosstying and grooming.

[lucky_pine]

Oh, that wasn't mines reaction to the bit. That was mines reaction to having someone on him. Lol. It was a downhill story from there, but when I got him home he got tons better. Now he just doesn't want us messing with him when he's eating. Oh, he is getting a lesson on THAT. Lol. Good luck with your mare!