Distractions... getting concentration

Miz Khiz · 12-23-2005, 03:54 PM

When I ride Tango in the field and just want him to concentrate it's impossible.
He finds everything more interesting even if it's just a piece of grass. Today pushed me over the edge when he couldn't walk in a straight line because he was too busy staring at something invisible.
He just doesn't focus on me and what I'm asking him to do... I decided that maybe I should keep him occupied by making a little obstacle course.
Nope he stepped on the poles, wouldn't back up through the poles and ran into the gate.
How do you get a horse to focus?!

cd_horton · 12-23-2005, 05:02 PM

You must first have respect. Work on getting respect onthe ground first, by making the horse move his feet. A respectful horse on the ground will translate to better respect and attention in the saddle.

salemvot · 12-23-2005, 05:20 PM

Provided he respects you and does well on ground work, try using blinders when you ride.

Super_Trooper · 12-23-2005, 05:30 PM

I agree that he needs to respect you, BUT, when you ride your horse somewhere else, it's natural and "instict" for them to look and smell and check things out. What I normally do when I get somewhere new is take my horse for a walk, in hand or on him, loose rein and let him look and smell. Then, when I feel him more relaxed, I ask him to work, at that point, his entire concentration should be on me, I will do turns on the haunches and forhand to bring them back to me, keep reminding them "hey, this is my time now". Keep them busy, give them a job. They need to know YOU are protecting them and they need to put their trust in you!

Just_me · 12-23-2005, 08:25 PM

Do a lot of ground work outside.Make her respect you and pay attention to you

nd deb · 12-25-2005, 07:04 AM

ground work and then when riding and he is gawking around ect.. do circles, turn on the forehand, sidepass any thing to make him work and to refocus on what he is doing.

SkeeterGirl · 12-25-2005, 10:46 AM

Make sure he knows you mean business, and like everyone else said, ground work is excellent for this kind of thing. develop cues to get him to move forward, backward and sideways. Now assuming you can usually get him to do what you want him to, just not when there's distractions, you need to build up. Start with no distractions and make him listen to you. if he's perfect, add a distraction, like another horse in the ring with you. Give him a job and pay attention to him only. Don't pay attention to the other horse. Do this until he doesn't pay any attention to the horse anymore. Keep building up distractions, but never move on before he's completely comfortable with the last step. Eventually, you'll be able to go out in the field, let him look around a little, and then as soon as you ask him to circle, or put his head down, he should already know instinctively that he needs to listen to you now. Good luck!

Endorphins4u2 · 12-25-2005, 01:46 PM

TIME...

How many time has he been in that field ?

He won't stop looking around until that field gets boring for him and he know every inch of it..

Just keep riding him in there over and over and he should get better everytime..

A lot a horse's that respect you on the ground soon forget it when your in the saddle..

GOOD LUCK !!

(But that only my 2.5 cents)

12-23-2005, 03:54 PM	#1
Miz Khiz Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,311 Images: 39 Blog Entries: 135	Distractions... getting concentration When I ride Tango in the field and just want him to concentrate it's impossible. He finds everything more interesting even if it's just a piece of grass. Today pushed me over the edge when he couldn't walk in a straight line because he was too busy staring at something invisible. He just doesn't focus on me and what I'm asking him to do... I decided that maybe I should keep him occupied by making a little obstacle course. Nope he stepped on the poles, wouldn't back up through the poles and ran into the gate. How do you get a horse to focus?! __________________ ~Erica~ When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

12-23-2005, 05:02 PM	#2
cd_horton Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,017 Images: 60	You must first have respect. Work on getting respect onthe ground first, by making the horse move his feet. A respectful horse on the ground will translate to better respect and attention in the saddle. __________________ Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

12-23-2005, 05:30 PM	#4
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	I agree that he needs to respect you, BUT, when you ride your horse somewhere else, it's natural and "instict" for them to look and smell and check things out. What I normally do when I get somewhere new is take my horse for a walk, in hand or on him, loose rein and let him look and smell. Then, when I feel him more relaxed, I ask him to work, at that point, his entire concentration should be on me, I will do turns on the haunches and forhand to bring them back to me, keep reminding them "hey, this is my time now". Keep them busy, give them a job. They need to know YOU are protecting them and they need to put their trust in you! __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

12-25-2005, 10:46 AM	#7
SkeeterGirl Full Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: A Canadian living in NC Posts: 294 Images: 27 Blog Entries: 31	Make sure he knows you mean business, and like everyone else said, ground work is excellent for this kind of thing. develop cues to get him to move forward, backward and sideways. Now assuming you can usually get him to do what you want him to, just not when there's distractions, you need to build up. Start with no distractions and make him listen to you. if he's perfect, add a distraction, like another horse in the ring with you. Give him a job and pay attention to him only. Don't pay attention to the other horse. Do this until he doesn't pay any attention to the horse anymore. Keep building up distractions, but never move on before he's completely comfortable with the last step. Eventually, you'll be able to go out in the field, let him look around a little, and then as soon as you ask him to circle, or put his head down, he should already know instinctively that he needs to listen to you now. Good luck! __________________ SkeeterGirl If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong. ~Pat Parelli

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12-23-2005, 05:20 PM	#3
salemvot Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 428 Images: 28 Blog Entries: 1	Provided he respects you and does well on ground work, try using blinders when you ride.

12-23-2005, 08:25 PM	#5
Just_me Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: europe-the wide wild world:-) Posts: 2,519 Images: 6	Do a lot of ground work outside.Make her respect you and pay attention to you

12-25-2005, 07:04 AM	#6
nd deb Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ND Posts: 687 Images: 19	ground work and then when riding and he is gawking around ect.. do circles, turn on the forehand, sidepass any thing to make him work and to refocus on what he is doing.

12-25-2005, 01:46 PM	#8
Endorphins4u2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 713 Images: 170	TIME... How many time has he been in that field ? He won't stop looking around until that field gets boring for him and he know every inch of it.. Just keep riding him in there over and over and he should get better everytime.. A lot a horse's that respect you on the ground soon forget it when your in the saddle.. GOOD LUCK !! (But that only my 2.5 cents)