How not to school a youngster through water!!

You need a confident nanny horse to show her it's ok and then it's practise practise practise.
Bet you where freezing .
 
Ooops! Had to giggle though.

I'd take a lead from an experienced horse and maybe find water that is a little less steep on entrance.

Have you 'done' puddles? There have been plenty of opportunities around here over last few months :p
 
Oops! Always take spare clothes when taking a baby... Maybe approach slower? I know she is reluctant but take the pressure off slightly and walk in, let her look without the pressure to go straight in. Encourage her to stand in, not go through. Visualise her stepping in, not jumping (daft but works). Nanny horse would be great as well.
 
Have you done any work with smaller bodies of water such as puddles?

It's hard to see but looks like the bank down to the water may have been quite steep and the water looked quite deep. I'm personally not a fan for the whole flapping arms and legs method and it all seemed very rushed. I would spend time working through a puddle, let the horse go slow, sniff the puddle. Ask them to go into the puddle, any attempt to move forward into puddle no matter how small, stop all pressure and praise then just build from there so the horses confidence grows.
 
Neckstrap definitely required there!

And as others have said, reliable lead horse and plenty of practice.

And some spare clothes :p:D
 
I think if you toned down all the flapping, kicking and forcing the horse through it you would have had better results.
Babies need a patient, sympathetic rider to learn and understand what is being asked of them to ensure they don't get a fright which could in turn put them off the task in future.


Just my opinion.
 
Rebels said:
Oops! Always take spare clothes when taking a baby... Maybe approach slower? I know she is reluctant but take the pressure off slightly and walk in, let her look without the pressure to go straight in. Encourage her to stand in, not go through. Visualise her stepping in, not jumping (daft but works). Nanny horse would be great as well.
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^^^ This - it looks like you tried to rush her into the water - try to let her think about it a bit more so that she can realise for herself that it's not going to eat her.

I've had similar issues with my boy in the past - I did loads of work through puddles etc - any water I could find really. I'd almost bribe/reward him for going it - if he walked into the water he got a treat.

Works a charm although he does now sometimes make a point of aiming for puddles while out hacking so he can get a sweetie!
 
I think you made her panic and she needed time to stand and assess first! She got you back though :)

Hope you were only soaked and not hurt OP, that looked like a bloomin' good drenching! Did she ****** off or wait for you?
 
I have done all the walking through puddles and walking in and out of water at several different XC courses and she does go through water providing it heading towards the lorrypark! lol

This was a different approach that was suggested by my instructor that I try out, I know the flapping isn't good riding! lol

I'm due to take her to that XC in the vid that we are in, she will go straight through the water if its pointing towards lorrypark but if i am trying to take her away from the lorry park is when I have problems.

If she has been in once she will go in no problem.
 
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Can I be honest? What a lovely honest pony to go into that water at all. I'm really sorry OP but you did majorly muck up there. You rushed her into it not giving her a moment to work it out at all & then when she does pause you started flapping, harassing & shouting at her. No wonder she panicked & leapt in :(
My babies I always approach in walk, I often let them stop & assess it (but not turn away or back up), I let them sniff the water. Often if they are very nervous I will lead them through on foot a few times.
Can I suggest next time you go schooling take a good instructor & a confident nanny horse I suspect her confidence will be knocked by that.
 
glamourpuss said:
Can I be honest? What a lovely honest pony to go into that water at all. I'm really sorry OP but you did majorly muck up there. You rushed her into it not giving her a moment to work it out at all & then when she does pause you started flapping, harassing & shouting at her. No wonder she panicked & leapt in :(
My babies I always approach in walk, I often let them stop & assess it (but not turn away or back up), I let them sniff the water. Often if they are very nervous I will lead them through on foot a few times.
Can I suggest next time you go schooling take a good instructor & a confident nanny horse I suspect her confidence will be knocked by that.
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Hi the video shows her after her schooling, encouragment is given to her at all times although it may seem that shes being hassled, there is a fine line with my Mare between being scared and just plain awkward.
I brought her to event so we need to get passed this water issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9LmKzgiIys&list=HL1362349021
 
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It is hard, I have a 5 yr old who has point blank refused to have anything to do with water until recently. However have you tried sitting her out? Treat it like a nap until she walks in? My concern would be that with the extra mare brain cells she may start to throw it back at you until she naps more. She will go one of two ways. If she is fine one way and not the other then its less a water issue. Pushing her on will either make her confident and forwards or rush her so she fights to back off the problem and possibly go up/have a paddy etc. Whatever your choice that launch looked unconfident and impossible to sit so the aim is to get her looking at her feet and walking through quietly.
 
If not got a lead horse Ive found lungeline and you actually standing in the water to be a good one :) Used this before, worked for me in the past.

My little mare is leery of water, even puddles and some days we have a right song and dance about water even if others have went first, some just dont like it more than others :)

If you can get her to the beach with some friends :) cantering into and out of the water for the better part of a day is great for them. I know one person who took some jumps to the beach and was popping her horse into and out of the shallows and small tidal pools left above the waterline :)
 
Having watched the second video she was absolutely fine when u gave her a little bit more time to see the water and understand the question. She is young and you don't need to canter to water, just trot give her those all important seconds to work it out remember it is safe and she will go in. Once she is more confident trot into the water and cantering when u get in the water. Then you will just find yourself cantering up and popping in.
 
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bluebellfreddy said:
Having watched the second video she was absolutely fine when u gave her a little bit more time to see the water and understand the question. She is young and you don't need to canter to water, just trot give her those all important seconds to work it out remember it is safe and she will go in. Once she is more confident trot into the water and cantering when u get in the water. Then you will just find yourself cantering up and popping in.
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Hi, she actually looks quite relaxed in the water once she is in the water and will pop in and out as many times as you like. I took her around the cross country and tried her in the water about an hour later and she just wandered in and out bless her.
The problem I have is that we have been around XC schooling places all over the country to try and get her happy with water, she will go but it will never be on the first time which makes it a bit difficult when I bought her to event :-)

I guess I just need to keep taking her to the different venues then hopefully she will get used to it, fingers crossed! I have taken her to XC clinics so she can have a lead but she doesn't seem to respond any different.
Once shes in ears are pricked forward and shes fine, I guess itsjust patience and maybe one day she will have the confidence to think that its ok, it didn't help me falling off, i thought she would be terrified and never go near water after that but strangely she went in easily, horses are a mystery!

Got XC on Sunday so I'll see how it goes! I'll make an eventer out of her yet! be such a shame if I can't get her over this water issue as shes super talented.
 
If she's only young she is learning, you can't expect her to be perfect. Going to many different venues, doing a lot of waters, giving her a lead from another horse, doing pairs competitions with another reliable horse, etc are all part of the learning process. I appreciate you want to event her but you have to bring her on to event and that is part of the process. Patience, time and repetition are key in bringing on a young horse.
 
WelshD said:
A typical 'I didn't get the replies I wanted' reaction I suspect.
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No not a typical 'I didn't get the replies I wanted' reaction at all, if I didn't want replies I wouldn't have asked the question! the title states 'how NOT to school a youngster' which suggests that I messed it up which I did.

Strangely I want constructive advice so please think before you make comments like that.
if you copy and paste the link into your browser it should come up.

http://youtu.be/Of5wY_I_bcs
 
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