[Grey Wolf]

MissCriss,

Have you heard of John Lyons', "Bringing up Baby?" It's a 20 lesson guide to take a new horse from zero to saddle ready. That was our primary guide. We also did PP's games with her, and did a LOT of desensitizing stuff. Drove tractors and cars around her and past her, plastic bags on sticks waved like mad over her head, and we praised her like crazy! She just thrived on it. She's our herd Omega, so she's always looking for attention. She's a smart horse, and responded well to a quiet, sure touch, a happy expression and vocal tones, and lots of stroking and scritching when she did something right. She meets me at the gate when I come out, and rests her chin on my shoulder while I blow in her nose and scratch her withers.

Love that mare...

Originally Posted by MissCriss

...By the way, what kinds of things were you doing for her groundwork?

[Amber.Molly]

I have that book but I've never actually read it! If it produces results like that I better get on it!

[Grey Wolf]

We used to have one of these kinds of guys as a BO, and I'm sorry to say we let him work with one of our horses briefly. We know better now. In fact, you know that expression about how no one is totally useless, that they can at least serve as an example of what NOT to do? Well, that was this guy. We now do just about everything different than he did.

Originally Posted by westerngrl

I think thats great you spend so much time with ground work before even thinking about getting on. So many horses would benefit better in your program then the "send him out to a cowboy to get broke" method.

[Grey Wolf]

Tempting...the Goon's a good lookin' boy!

Originally Posted by Goonhorse

*chokes*

Want to trade?

[Dusty1979]

Just want to add my BRAVO for waiting with your mare. Of course each horse is different and some are ready for more advanced training sooner than others - but, don't those people that make the remarks about the fact that you're not riding a horse more/sooner than you are really get under your skin?

In my "younger" days, I too believed that you should start a two year old under saddle and hit the ground running. Then I started to change my thinking to waiting until they are three to really start riding them. Now, I have a coming four year old that I got when he was a two year old stud colt. He had literally never been touched. (This includes feet, but I won't get into that.) He has really come around fast, but was in no way ready to be ridden as a two year old. I started him bareback at two, and continued to ride bareback training on him in the roundpen and started him to saddle last year as a three year old, only riding him around home. I did pony him a lot last summer and fall, so he has had quite a lot of exposure which included camping, river crossings, wildlife encounters, lots of other horses, four hour trailer hauls - just some good experience.

One of the things that he wasn't fond of was the "rear dismount" while being ridden bareback. He would fidget, hump up in back, grunt and groan! As soon as I would start sliding my way back, he'd go into this little tantrum. I finally was able to accomplish it last fall, but he still wasn't very keen on the idea. I'm getting to my point - two days ago I climbed on him in the pen, sat there awhile and decided to try sliding back. He acted like we'd been doing this for years - no problem. I did it four times to make sure it wasn't a fluke or something. I did it again today - same calm result. Just having a few months of age added in has made a big difference in his ability to accept this. When you try to get to training too hard when they are too young, seems like you just create problems for yourself. It's so much easier to let them mature a bit. And, in the long run you'll have a sound horse mentally and physically.

As someone once remarked to me when we were discussing how soon to start riding a colt, "Is he a keeper?" I guess it all comes down to that. Do you want the horse to have a long career or be broke down before his prime.

Enjoy your new riding companion!

[Grey Wolf]

They used to, Dusty. They used to. Our results are proving the point. Of course, every time we demonstrate a key milestone along the way, the critics change what the "problem" was in the first place - first we couldn't train. Then when we made it clear we could, the problem was we were "afraid" to ride (I'm afraid of Iranians with guns. Not much else). Then when we moved out here and we started riding regularly, it shifted again, to the point now where it's just jibberish from a couple of bitter, jealous wannabe's. We just can't take them seriously, any more...

Originally Posted by Dusty1979

...but, don't those people that make the remarks about the fact that you're not riding a horse more/sooner than you are really get under your skin?...

[Grey Wolf]

The boss was holding out on me. I wasn't home for her 2nd lesson...

Yawn...

This is one of my favorite "where's your head today?" lessons. Walk around the horse while she stands still. Gently bend her until she disengages and steps around to face you. It's counter-intuitive, and if they can do it without emotion, it's a good sign!

[jumpthemoon]

Seriously? You really ought to fire the guy for sleeping on the job.

[farmchickisr]

What a sweet mare, hope she stays this way even after she realizes all this riding behavior is for keeps. Had an arabian mix who was sweet until he realized all this was for keeps and then put up a fight, but he was half her age and also I lacked experience then.

Another thougt. My bolty mare is perfect with me inside, nothing wiggles her out of line, but outside, any change in scenery will blow her off.

[PeggySue]

Grey I have a three year old that is barely backed LOL we have been on him 4 maybe 5 time adn I honestly get sick of the question "When are you gonna ride him?" I just smile and tell them when he and I are both ready