Horse agility: anyone done it?

Im hoping to get to some with mine at some stage - not sure when though,but sometime !!! Im sure I can do it with mine even though we dont do any NH type of stuff - and if not, then we will have a ball trying to !!! :)
 
i'd love to try it as well but don't know where an actual 'competition' would take place in my area, i know of training days but that costs alot of money.
 
Yep! I did it and indoor trec as my boys first ever competition.

We did:
Bending poles
S bend (avoid touching poles)
Jump (v small!)
Bridge
Gate (horse waits whilst you open and walk through it, then call him through, then wait for you to close it)
Narrow corridor (as with gate, horse must wait for you to go through first)
Fast trot, slow walk, 10 sec immobility, fast walk
Rein back between poles (without touching them)
Immobility in circle as you walk away and then back to him
Curtain (like the kind you get in butchers, with the dangly tassley bits, must go through calmly without flattening you!)
Feet pick up, front and back, without moving around

All must be done with the same leading position, without the horse moving ahead or behind, pulling or pushing.

I thought it was a nice test of in-hand work and manners and gives a young horse like mine plenty of challenges in a very relaxed, friendly environment. My old girly would have enjoyed it too, wish i had known about it then.
 
Did it the other day, and found it incredibly boring! But this is my opionion and it is proberly good for some people - just not me and my boy!
 
I did a starter amd open class alongside a trec competition in October.
I enjoyed it and it gave my girly something to think about.
Asks similar questions to trec so useful if you are doing that too.
Made me smile seeing my girly go through a windblown curtain and jump through a large plastic pipe without batting an eyelid! shame that blade of grass was so scary!!!
it's a good excuse for doing some fun in hand training with your horse and getting to know them better and like all competitions you can be as competitive as you like!
 
I went to a Trec training day and really enjoyed it so think this would fun too. It's so rare to find things like this local enough to go to, they are always up north or down south!
 
Agility is always in hand, I guess that's more like Trec. What an amazing video though, I have seen him before doing that at competitions, truly inspirational.
 
Honey08 said:
I watched that and thought it looked a bit degrading to the horse - a bit like watching a circus. I couldn't help thinking "Get a dog!".

Sorry.
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I certainly think it challenges the way we view what we 'should' be doing with our horses, but I'm certain the horse doesn't have any of our preconceptions. After all, they're wild animals we domesticated. We chose to ride them, luckily most don't put up too much of a fight. I think if anything could be argued degrading to the horse, it would be riding them, getting on their backs and expecting them to obey us. But few question that, as it's considered the norm.

Horse agility is just another form of work for horses - not something they choose, but something many will willingly do nonetheless
 
Sorry yes, I mean unridden, rather than necessarily being led. I have seen the guy do that trail class without his bridle, amazing. I don't see anything degrading in it, it makes in-hand work a little bit more interesting for me and my horse. Just as dressage tests are a way of testing your training with your horse under saddle, agility tests it from the ground. But then I have my horse for fun and enjoy working him at liberty and without tack, it's fun for me (and I hope for him). Jumping 4 foot fences wouldn't be as fun since I am a coward!
 
I went to look at a training day in Cambs, looks great fun, especially if you have a youngster and is excellent preparation for hacking in a non spooky fashion i'd say! I have my old 12.1 pony and she was always great at Handy pony, has no rider now and I think she would enjoy outings like this.

It takes a lot of patience and I think would be a great start for many horses and ponies.
 
Will look out for you as i am entered there too.
I did one at Newhall Equestrian Centre in October alongside the TREC there, and used an ordinary headcollar and they leant me a long rope. They had a couple available.
I don't know the regulations regarding a pressure halti. the rope is supposed to stay long and loopy throughout (mmm...ok when horse listening!) so in theory, you are not putting pressure on headcollar anyway.
I suggest you go to Horse agility website and email Vanessa. She is very helpful and i am sure will answer any questions you have.


Perce
 
I would of come to bicton but now remembered i have work!

I remember someone saying that any headcollar is fine!
 
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Honey08 said:
I watched that and thought it looked a bit degrading to the horse - a bit like watching a circus. I couldn't help thinking "Get a dog!".

Sorry.
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I feel a bit like that as well, I can see how it might appeal to someone with a horse who can't be ridden or similar, but I feel some how it degrades them to the status of a dog or something.
 
Mm, well I looked and thought that my horse wouldn't do particularly well because leading correctly isn't a strong point.

I can't see why it is demeaning though. Really, it would be excellent training for ANY horse. I would be going if there were some places a bit closer.
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
Mm, well I looked and thought that my horse wouldn't do particularly well because leading correctly isn't a strong point.

I can't see why it is demeaning though. Really, it would be excellent training for ANY horse. I would be going if there were some places a bit closer.
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Sorry but I really don't see how it would be excellent training for my horse to learn to bend in and out of poles and do jumps in hand ?
 
Jaffa - not sure my dog would be very pleased to hear his status is considered to be below the horses!!! He definately doesn't think so! They of course do!

I don't see it as demeaning , any more than asking a horse to say, trot on the spot might be seen to be by some.

I think it's about building a relationship with your horse as much as anything. For me it is partly a 'test' of whether i am able to train my horse to do these things and will she willingly do them because i ask or instruct her to.

if she is willing to trust me enough to walk through a flapping colourful curtain then hoepfully this will stand us in good stead when we tackle that spooky jump in the hunter trial.
And hopefully we will have some fun in the process.

I have also found doing some in hand TREC stuff with my girlie a very useful way of getting her attention on me when she is too lively and on her toes for me to wish to get on board straight away!
 
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