[Smedleys_girl]

What are the basic things you teach your horses?

Kinda of a simple question, but I was just wandering what all you like to teach. Like when you are starting them.

thanks in advance!

[HUS_WP_lovr]

I teach whoa, walk, trot, canter, back up, pivot both directions, and back up as basic commands

ETA: Oh and direct reining

[doublebarr]

In the pen, driving before riding, go/whoa and responding to "rein pressure" to turn. Then it's on the back and out in the open riding pastures to "learn to learn" everything in a natural environment where learning makes sense.

[John]

Halter and respect first. On the first ride in the pen spend whatever time needed to get their feet under themselves and not braced like a tent. (collection? Shhhh!). doublebarrs method of teaching in a natural environment is the way to go.

[Bruce Wiley]

Its about establishing the leader's role.
Gaining control of the horse's minds, the movements in every directions.
Also, teaching them to respect my requests.
Them giving, submitting & yielding to all pressure.
By keeping the above things very simple- clear, consistent, fair but firm, the horse is able to become very familar, less resistance, opts in into my program and leadership skills.
This training phase is re enforce by coming back to the grass roots training often, only adding 1 new manuver when the above things are almost automatic in the horse's responds of correctness.
Its really about being an effective teacher, taking those baby steps in the process, knowing the student & how to properly reach & teach.
I hope this helps.

[Smedleys_girl]

What is direct reining?

Oh and how do you go about teaching the horse to neck rein?


Thanks! This has helped

[HUS_WP_lovr]

Originally Posted by Smedleys_girl

What is direct reining?


Oh and how do you go about teaching the horse to neck rein?


Thanks! This has helped

Direct reining is when you use your reins to have them follow their nose. You seperate them and kind of take the horse's head where you want and it should follow its nose (its hard for me to explain maybe someone else can do better)

To go about neck reining the horse needs to move off of your leg

[Circle C]

Originally Posted by Smedleys_girl

What are the basic things you teach your horses?

Kinda of a simple question, but I was just wandering what all you like to teach. Like when you are starting them.

thanks in advance!

My yearlings:
stand quietly to be saddled, will lunge a little (saddled or unsaddled), stand tied and cross tied, stand for farrier and vet, lead well, are respectful of my space, stand to be groomed, blanketed and bathed.

My 2yr olds:
Do all the above^....I start them the spring of their 2yr old year. All we do is light trail riding all summer/fall. I can saddle them p and ride them w/o messing aroud with a lkunge line w/ no bucking, they learn lateral flexion, basic direct reining along with leg pressure, they will walk, trot and canter & back. I will haul them to some shows and ride around the grounds so they are comfortable with the scene when I'm ready to haul them in competition. They are also comfortable on a trail ride and with all crossings (water, ditches, ect) by the end of that year.

My 3yr olds:
Do all the above^.... Their 3 yr old year I take them to the arena for flat work and more advanced training. There they learn more leg pressure, the correct leads, how to travel balanced ( a decent head set also comes with balance), more advanced lateral flexion along with vertical flexion, smooth gait transitions, side passing, counter arcing, roll backs, a slight reining horse whoa (drop their head and put their booty in the ground). After all the above is learned, I will start them on the barrels at a walk and trot. I also do a ton of other patterns to sharpen their skills. Depending on the horse, most will be loping a decent barrel pattern by winter of their 3yo yr. I also teach them flying lead changes.

My 4yr olds:
Do all the above^... The spring of their 4yr old yr they should be loping the pattern (again, depends on the horse). I will start taking them to shows and exhibitioning them. Constantly working on all the olther stuff as well. I do arena work 3-4 days a week, trails 2-3 days a week and barrel work 2-3 times a week (depending on the horse). Usually by summer of their 4yo year we are starting to add some speed to the pattern and also starting to ender some 4-D races. I start hauling them to races more often...slowly working them into full fledged competition.

5yr olds:
Do all the above and should be pretty close to being finished by the winter of their 5yr old yr.


Hope that helped

[Smedleys_girl]

Circle C.
Thanks that helped a bunch, but I am not sure how to do a bunch of the things on your 3yr old part.I am just not sure how to go about training them to do that.

For example,
side passing, counter arcing, roll backs, a slight reining horse whoa (drop their head and put their booty in the ground). more advanced lateral flexion along with vertical flexion, correct leads.


Is there any like site or anything you could direct me to for that or something?
Thanks


Hus:
That makes sense to me thanks



Thanks again everyone

[Circle C]

Clinton Anderson Material

Everything stems from the other..... one rein stops teach lateral flexion AND a whoa.... teach them to move off your leg pressure and getting them to side pass and counter arc is simple. A counter arc is: Bend their nose to the left but move their shoulders and body to the right.