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I have a friend who has an ex barrel racer that has been through the mill. She was asked to do things and when she didn't do them, they told her with spurs or whips. She is in better, kinder hands now. Her issue is that she is fine to handle and fine on the lunge line. When she is ridden, she doesn'r want to move. There are no back issues or other ailments. Those were my first questions. My next thought is maybe the bit is to severe, she is in a ported western shank with a curb chain. Maybe too much brakes and she is afraid to get hurt by it. My other thought is maybe try an english saddle on her and see if it makes a difference. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks for your help! |
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Hey! I'm no expert, but i would recommend ground work, ground work, ground work, I'm not 100% sure switching saddles would do awhole lot but teaching the horse to move away from pressure on the ground would sure help, when riding ask the horse to step forward and each time competly release all preassure and let the horse know that's what you want if for her to go forward, also switching to a simple English snaffle could help since it's such a light bit good luck, let me know If you have any questions! |
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Comet Corner said:
Hey! I'm no expert, but i would recommend ground work, ground work, ground work, I'm not 100% sure switching saddles would do awhole lot but teaching the horse to move away from pressure on the ground would sure help, when riding ask the horse to step forward and each time competly release all preassure and let the horse know that's what you want if for her to go forward, also switching to a simple English snaffle could help since it's such a light bit good luck, let me know If you have any questions!
Thanks Comet. I was thlinking something along those lines. I don't know if she is afraid of being "hurt" by the western tack. I am wondering if it is more in her psyche than anything else. She is fine to work with on the ground... it is just when she is under saddle. Her current owner said she would get on her and try to get her to go and after alot of coaxing she would. She said t that she took her down the road and that she got all worked up and broke her curb strap and finally the owner said go and she galloped back (with the rider)... It sounds like it is mental to me.
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I spoke with a very experience friend of mine and she pretty much said the same thing you did Comet. She believes she is afraid and she called her locked. She said do ground work and as you said teach her to move away from pressure... put her in a simpler bit the pressure might be too much for her. i have always been a believer of work and reward... quit on a good note... not beat into submission. It is very sad that this horse is afraid to move because she doesn't want to feel pain. Thank you so much for your advice... I will give an update when there is progress.
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Western rider and here! A lot of barrel horses are taught to have 2 speeds; fast and stop. I personally would start in a round pen with deep sand, put a western saddle on (more to hang onto LOL and may be what she's used to) and a smooth, thick snaffle. Make sure the bit's adjusted correctly, otherwise it's working against you.
A snaffle is meant to be used with two hands, and really is a "side to side" bit. That's how I explain it. Basically, don't pull back with both hands as much as you ask her to turn with one rein, then the other. In some cases, pulling back with both hands will "lock" the bit against her teeth and make it very easy for the horse to pull on your hands.
Get on, and sit there for a minute. Ask her to stand still while you shift in the saddle, maybe flap your hands or make some noise. This approach of "stand still" may surprise her and get her thinking differently, if she's just been asked to "go" the last few rides.
When you want to move off, I suggest asking for a calm sideways step, as that's much easier to obtain than a forward march. :P
If you get it, great!!! Stop, release all pressure, and praise the horse like it's the best thing she's ever done.
Then do it again. And again. Remembering to release the pressure when she moves.
If she's decently intelligent, she'll figure out the step is associated with the praise fairly quickly, and will want to get the praise.
After about ten "one-steps" I would ask for two steps sideways. If you get them, I would get off and be done riding. Go do some groundwork, desensitize, whatever.
Come back the next day/training session and do the routine again.
The important thing when you're trying to work with a horse like this is that you should assume they know nothing. Go back to Step #1 and continue on. Lay a foundation and build on that. If you treat the horse like it knows nothing, you're less likely to get frustrated at the baby steps you have to take.
This is my opinion, based on the description of the horse's problem and my experience. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need clarification.
Have a nice day, and good luck!
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Dimrill Dale said:
Western rider and here! A lot of barrel horses are taught to have 2 speeds; fast and stop. I personally would start in a round pen with deep sand, put a western saddle on (more to hang onto LOL and may be what she's used to) and a smooth, thick snaffle. Make sure the bit's adjusted correctly, otherwise it's working against you.
A snaffle is meant to be used with two hands, and really is a "side to side" bit. That's how I explain it. Basically, don't pull back with both hands as much as you ask her to turn with one rein, then the other. In some cases, pulling back with both hands will "lock" the bit against her teeth and make it very easy for the horse to pull on your hands.
Get on, and sit there for a minute. Ask her to stand still while you shift in the saddle, maybe flap your hands or make some noise. This approach of "stand still" may surprise her and get her thinking differently, if she's just been asked to "go" the last few rides.
When you want to move off, I suggest asking for a calm sideways step, as that's much easier to obtain than a forward march. :P
If you get it, great!!! Stop, release all pressure, and praise the horse like it's the best thing she's ever done.
Then do it again. And again. Remembering to release the pressure when she moves.
If she's decently intelligent, she'll figure out the step is associated with the praise fairly quickly, and will want to get the praise.
After about ten "one-steps" I would ask for two steps sideways. If you get them, I would get off and be done riding. Go do some groundwork, desensitize, whatever.
Come back the next day/training session and do the routine again.
The important thing when you're trying to work with a horse like this is that you should assume they know nothing. Go back to Step #1 and continue on. Lay a foundation and build on that. If you treat the horse like it knows nothing, you're less likely to get frustrated at the baby steps you have to take.
This is my opinion, based on the description of the horse's problem and my experience. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need clarification.
Have a nice day, and good luck!
Thank you Dale! I appreciate the advice. I don't plan on getting too invested unless I am going to be compensated. Advice is free. What people choose to do with it is up to them. I will give the owners the tools to use.. it is up to her to use the advice or to employ me to. |
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I completely understand, being a trainer myself. Your time is worth compensation. ;)
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Dimrill Dale said:
Western rider and here! A lot of barrel horses are taught to have 2 speeds; fast and stop. I personally would start in a round pen with deep sand, put a western saddle on (more to hang onto LOL and may be what she's used to) and a smooth, thick snaffle. Make sure the bit's adjusted correctly, otherwise it's working against you.
A snaffle is meant to be used with two hands, and really is a "side to side" bit. That's how I explain it. Basically, don't pull back with both hands as much as you ask her to turn with one rein, then the other. In some cases, pulling back with both hands will "lock" the bit against her teeth and make it very easy for the horse to pull on your hands.
Get on, and sit there for a minute. Ask her to stand still while you shift in the saddle, maybe flap your hands or make some noise. This approach of "stand still" may surprise her and get her thinking differently, if she's just been asked to "go" the last few rides.
When you want to move off, I suggest asking for a calm sideways step, as that's much easier to obtain than a forward march. :P
If you get it, great!!! Stop, release all pressure, and praise the horse like it's the best thing she's ever done.
Then do it again. And again. Remembering to release the pressure when she moves.
If she's decently intelligent, she'll figure out the step is associated with the praise fairly quickly, and will want to get the praise.
After about ten "one-steps" I would ask for two steps sideways. If you get them, I would get off and be done riding. Go do some groundwork, desensitize, whatever.
Come back the next day/training session and do the routine again.
The important thing when you're trying to work with a horse like this is that you should assume they know nothing. Go back to Step #1 and continue on. Lay a foundation and build on that. If you treat the horse like it knows nothing, you're less likely to get frustrated at the baby steps you have to take.
This is my opinion, based on the description of the horse's problem and my experience. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or need clarification.
Have a nice day, and good luck!
I couldn't have given better advice myself. I also would like to add that if it is just when the person gets on that she locks up, try putting someone on here then proceed to lunge her and go about groundwork just like you would without the rider. Then she will have to perform with a rider on and won't get worked up/run off with a rider who is kicking to go and pulling to stop. Once she is okay with this she may be a bit better to follow into what Dale says. |
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Overcast and Calm
