what do you think?

mustang_dodger · 09-23-2008, 12:26 PM

well i have been working with my 4 year old gelding. have been on his back about 5 times now. he just stands there like a good boy. well i think it is time for a first ride. well i asked my boyfriend to lead me around. do you think that would be a good idea? i just don't want to just hop up on him and ask him to move. i want it to be a good ride. i would just have him lead me around a little bit, and then go from there. i did this with my first horse and it went well.

JBandRio · 09-23-2008, 12:33 PM

What sort of preparation does he have for being asked to move?

Bruce Wiley · 09-23-2008, 12:35 PM

Hi Mustang Dodger, do you feel you have done everything, leaving no stone unturn?
If there are any holes in the training, it could turn into a bad experience for you & your horse, causing you to start all over again with the training.
All I can say... you should be certain before climbing aboard, but good luck and I hope this helps.

sorrell · 09-23-2008, 12:35 PM

I think that is an excellent idea, as long as your boyfriend knows that the horse may blow up and stomp him... unlikely, and probably better he didn't know, but let him be aware and discuss what action he should take if something does go wrong.. which side you will bale out on, whether he should hold on or let go, etc., but otherwise, it sounds like a good plan and has worked well for me in the past.

mustang_dodger · 09-23-2008, 12:43 PM

well i have been on his back before. i cluck to him and give him a little nudge and he doesn't move. so i was thinking that being lead might give him the idea that it's ok to move forward and that nothing bad will happen. chris has been around him and has handled cody before. cody seems to like chris too, so i don't think we will have any problems with him being lead by chris.

Bruce Wiley · 09-23-2008, 01:18 PM

What you're saying is the horse's mind is stuck & so are his feet.
When some horses has displayed this kind of non action, it has turn into a real bucking rodeo with the rider & the horse.
You may want to do some more ground work with the focus of being able to start the horse with only a kiss, or clucking.
Overly nudging & being lead could be the starter of trouble.
I hope this helps.

JBandRio · 09-23-2008, 01:41 PM

My question was really aimed at - has he been lunged and/or ground driven? Have you done any "work" above his head? Has he been worked from the ground with a saddle on?

Yes, having someone lead the horse as you give the "go" aids can be very helpful. Don't let the handler get into a tug-of-war though, that's just setting an inappropriate expectation on the horse's part. If the horse doesn't get it from the leading hint, then get off and work on some leading where you can be as "aggressive" as you need to for him to lead off a light cue. Then get back on, assuming things are calm again, and try again.

it helps if the horse understands a cluck to mean "move forward", and/or the voice command "walk on" or something like that.

JBandRio · 09-23-2008, 01:41 PM

LOL Bruce, I was typing out my reply intermittently over the last 30 minutes while on a conference call

mustang_dodger · 09-23-2008, 01:45 PM

he has been worked on the ground for the last three years with the saddle on and off. he knows the commands for walk, trot, canter, and whoa. he does them all really good when being lunged.

John · 09-23-2008, 01:54 PM

Collect him up and let him move forward when he is.

09-23-2008, 12:26 PM	#1
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,307 Images: 469	what do you think? well i have been working with my 4 year old gelding. have been on his back about 5 times now. he just stands there like a good boy. well i think it is time for a first ride. well i asked my boyfriend to lead me around. do you think that would be a good idea? i just don't want to just hop up on him and ask him to move. i want it to be a good ride. i would just have him lead me around a little bit, and then go from there. i did this with my first horse and it went well. __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly. I HAVE BEEN SPLATTED TWICE!

09-23-2008, 12:33 PM	#2
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,722 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	What sort of preparation does he have for being asked to move? __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

09-23-2008, 12:35 PM	#3
Bruce Wiley Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,705	Hi Mustang Dodger, do you feel you have done everything, leaving no stone unturn? If there are any holes in the training, it could turn into a bad experience for you & your horse, causing you to start all over again with the training. All I can say... you should be certain before climbing aboard, but good luck and I hope this helps. __________________ http://bwnaturalhorsemanship.spaces.live.com/ Bruce.

09-23-2008, 12:35 PM	#4
sorrell Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,098 Images: 39 Blog Entries: 6	I think that is an excellent idea, as long as your boyfriend knows that the horse may blow up and stomp him... unlikely, and probably better he didn't know, but let him be aware and discuss what action he should take if something does go wrong.. which side you will bale out on, whether he should hold on or let go, etc., but otherwise, it sounds like a good plan and has worked well for me in the past. __________________ http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...lls_sm_nwm.gifI've been snowballed!!! *I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name*

09-23-2008, 12:43 PM	#5
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,307 Images: 469	well i have been on his back before. i cluck to him and give him a little nudge and he doesn't move. so i was thinking that being lead might give him the idea that it's ok to move forward and that nothing bad will happen. chris has been around him and has handled cody before. cody seems to like chris too, so i don't think we will have any problems with him being lead by chris. __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly. I HAVE BEEN SPLATTED TWICE!

09-23-2008, 01:18 PM	#6
Bruce Wiley Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,705	What you're saying is the horse's mind is stuck & so are his feet. When some horses has displayed this kind of non action, it has turn into a real bucking rodeo with the rider & the horse. You may want to do some more ground work with the focus of being able to start the horse with only a kiss, or clucking. Overly nudging & being lead could be the starter of trouble. I hope this helps. __________________ http://bwnaturalhorsemanship.spaces.live.com/ Bruce.

09-23-2008, 01:41 PM	#7
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,722 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	My question was really aimed at - has he been lunged and/or ground driven? Have you done any "work" above his head? Has he been worked from the ground with a saddle on? Yes, having someone lead the horse as you give the "go" aids can be very helpful. Don't let the handler get into a tug-of-war though, that's just setting an inappropriate expectation on the horse's part. If the horse doesn't get it from the leading hint, then get off and work on some leading where you can be as "aggressive" as you need to for him to lead off a light cue. Then get back on, assuming things are calm again, and try again. it helps if the horse understands a cluck to mean "move forward", and/or the voice command "walk on" or something like that. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

09-23-2008, 01:45 PM	#9
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,307 Images: 469	he has been worked on the ground for the last three years with the saddle on and off. he knows the commands for walk, trot, canter, and whoa. he does them all really good when being lunged. __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly. I HAVE BEEN SPLATTED TWICE!

09-23-2008, 01:54 PM	#10
John Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,399 Images: 39	Collect him up and let him move forward when he is.