[gluey33]

Buck1173 I found what you had to say very interesting. Its always a good day when we can pick up anew idea

[ARMwins]

idk if this was said before, but this is what i have to say about the arena issue.

chico used to have a short choppy stride, as you know, and i have been trying to fix this ever since i got him, and now he has a decently extended stride at normal.


for pocket this is what i would do, keep in mind i havent ridden him lol, like everyone else.
do the opposite of what he was trained! most people, including me collect on circles and extend down the long side. sounds like someone confused extension with speed, so you can either re teach him extension vs. speed, or canter him on the short sides, and trot him on the long sides. do this until both canter and trot are nice gaits.
re teaching him extension/collection vs. speed is a whole nother matter, requiring a very educated hand and leg.

you could also try what i did for chico. i decided, maybe we'll try this long and low idea, and try to get him to extend at least a little bit. so what i would do with poket, knowing what i know, is ride on a longer rein everyday, after you have warmed up do some long rein work. now the first day the rein doesnt have to be that long. encourage her (him?) to stretch FOREWARD into that long rein contact (yest still have contact) and that will lengthen her stride. do this in just the circle for a while, then tackle the long sides. dont make the fact that she goes faster down the long sides a big deal, just softly use half haults to remind her of that pace she had in the circle. (trot first...lol)

you could also try making a circle in the middle of the arena incorporating the long sides, not just a circle at one end of the arena.
good luck with him, you'll get it im sure

[Horsez]

Yesterday, Pocket was very good. I've realized I have to be relaxed and have a soft contact for him to be slow and relaxed down the long-side.

[dlindsey2000]

Biting

It needs to stop. He's not the kind of horse who will take a chuck out of your arm though. He likes to nibble on my shoulder. I don't mind that, but then starts nipping harder and this will turn into biting. He is getting head-shy from other people hitting him when he does that. I don't know how I can tell him to stop it without making him flip out. Sometimes I will yank the lead rope and say a firm no, but he freaks out at that too.

your right, it needs to stop. everytime he puts his lips on you 'throw' your shoulder at him. its similar to pushing him off you. kinda roll your shoulder hard into his nose. he'll get the picture after just a few time but everyone needs to do it though. it says leave me alone. and dont look at him when you do it. hes asking for that attention. everytime he backs off praise him.

He also likes to chew on his reins. I sometimes try to pull them out of his mouth, but he wont open up so I then have to freak him out by slapping his shoulder (Never his face) or yanking the reins out.

yep, i would say try a cavesson

[Horsez]

What's a cavesson? I doubt I could use it anyway... The school barn wouldn't just allow me to add this onto his bridle...

[ponyz]

(not sounding mean ) I dont think he is green. I mean, if he is a skooly, hes not green. I just think he likes to do wha the wants, when he wants. And be a bully Just my thoughts

[ARMwins]

Originally Posted by ponyz

(not sounding mean ) I dont think he is green. I mean, if he is a skooly, hes not green. I just think he likes to do wha the wants, when he wants. And be a bully Just my thoughts

yea i second the not being green part.

if they let him be used in lessons he is not green, hence the use of "on trial" time


i however do not agree that he wants to be a bully and do what he wants. he is only doing what he was taught.

[Horsez]

Ask Stephanie. She says he is green, or well he at least acts green.

[ARMwins]

Originally Posted by Horsez

Ask Stephanie. She says he is green, or well he at least acts green.

i dont wanna fight, bc i dont know him, but she also said red was crazy and she thinks chico is a bucking machine

[dlindsey2000]

Originally Posted by Horsez

What's a cavesson? I doubt I could use it anyway... The school barn wouldn't just allow me to add this onto his bridle...

a cavesson is a noseband....there are just many different types of them.