Advice pls!!!!!!!

P

PC Steele

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Hi

Have just taken on this new horse at work who is 18hh just wanted advice in making him accept my leg aids!!! He was ridden by a strong man before who loved to spur him and make him leap around!! Problem is I need strong aids to keep him in canter etc. but too strong and he bucks and leaps around which is not very helpful any advice I would be grateful x x
 
Yes I can't believe the police wouldn't teach you how to ride him. They usually train really well - even people who can't ride don't they?
(Not being unsympathetic, just shocked to see a thread needing help like this..)
 
I'm not meaning to be harsh at all. Just suprised that an organisation that is very well known for schooling horses is asking advice from an internet site thats all... Am very interested to know what advice they've given OP at work already. I know there are cut backs in the police, but surely wer're not down to "here's a horse...work it out for yourself!" All I mean is I would think there would be lots of experience at a police stables to ask - more than asking on here (and I'm an instructor!).
 
Good grief people I am an AI have been riding horses all my life!!!! Just after other peoples opinions!!! Please dont slate the police the mounted branch is a fantastic organisation!!! with very brave horses and very brave people!!!!! Dollydolls and Honey 08 could do without unhelpful comments!!!! Thankyou Digger66!!!!! The horse is a fantastic police horse just been ridden by a very strong man before! Pls do not reply to my threads if you are going to slag off the police!!!
 
Without seeing the horse, it's difficult to suggest anything. You need to get him sharp off the leg, you shouldn't need strong aids to keep him in canter... Once he is in front of your leg, there won't be the need for strong aids thus no bucking.
I know, easier said than done.
As a general remark, you need to be consistent, always ask for perfection.
Ask nicely for whatever you want done, if he responds right - very good, if he doesn't - all hell should break loose. When you say forward, you mean forward that very second, not when his lordship feels like it.
Good luck.
 
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With my mare I asked her with a small leg aid, if she ignored it she was asked again with a stronger leg aid. If that was ignored she was asked again with the leg aid and a tap with my whip. She soon worked out that it was nicer for her if she responded to the light leg aid. :)
 
With the greatest respect PC Steele, you have taken my comments totally the wrong way. I even put a second post on to try and explain that I wasn't meaning to be insulting, but was just curious!! I lived with a police officer for 6 years and wouldn't slate the police. Thats why I was asking didn't they train people who couldn't ride - because I know non riders who went into the mounted section and were very well trained. I just meant had things changed for the worse, thats all. Wasn't meant to be an insult to you or the police. Perhaps I didn't word it plainly enough. Sorry for asking! Best of luck.
 
Didn't one very well know Dressage rider many years ago, use two schooling whips to go with his leg aids on a horse that he said had "dead sides" through to much use of spurs, also spoke to horse with the commands and it did come right and did very well in dressage classes. I've his book somewhere and have had it for 30 years, learnt a lot from it, not dressage but about the horse it self.:):):)
 
Echo Bravo said:
Didn't one very well know Dressage rider many years ago, use two schooling whips to go with his leg aids on a horse that he said had "dead sides" through to much use of spurs, also spoke to horse with the commands and it did come right and did very well in dressage classes. I've his book somewhere and have had it for 30 years, learnt a lot from it, not dressage but about the horse it self.:):):)
Click to expand...

Thanks :D
 
I agree that consistant schooling is the key, I always use a light leg aid and back it up with a flick from a schooling whip if the horse doesn't respond. I'd also check he is comfy in his mouth if he is hanging back off the bridle as you say. A shame he was spurred in the first place though :(
 
If you have only just taken him on then obviously your both getting to know each other so give yourself time.

Start from scratch, get him used to your voice aids (you can do this by simply doing everyday tasks like walking him out of his stall, get him thinking forwards and not too laid back when asking him to walk on, you could back this up having a schooling whip or lunge whip in your other hand, a quick flick behind the hock and WALK ON, eventually he'll get where your coming from.

Also lunging etc, again he will get used to your voice and commands.

Do the above before expecting results when your in the saddle.

Remember too only to apply the leg when your wanting a more forwards movement (for the moment) so you don't confuse the horse (no niggling or nagging of the leg) if the horse does not respond use a schooling whip in each hand and apply on both sides where you leg lays, a good sharp flick with your leg aid, remember to praise when he's going forwards by that I mean taking your leg off, gentle stroke of the neck, giving slightly with the rein and letting him move into a trot, so long as he's going forwards.

He'll soon learn once you build a partnership.
 
I would ride with a schooling whip and dont worry about what the front end is doing right now.

I would ask lightly with my legs and if you dont get a response back it up with the stick until you get an increase in pace - just a try is good enough for the first few times. Pat him and reward him for any effore he makes.

I would then ride lots and lots of upward and downward transitions to get the responses really sharp to the light use of your legs.

It sounds like he has really been hauled in at the front end and not allowed to move forward - bucking is probably the response to this inability to move!
 
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