Keeping it fun for a 4yo other than hacking...Inspiration needed

Dusty85

Dusty85

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Hi all, Im hoping you might be able to give me some inspiration for keeping things fun for my 4yo other than hacking.

He is only hacking in company currently, and as Im at work 8.30-17.30 in the week (except the odd half day) I find that Im too late for other people to be around. Weekends is fine and we're hacking then.

So, I really want to vary what Im doing with him in the week. He is getting 1 or 2 days off a week, usually 1 but it depends how late i finish/how tired I am if its been an especially busy day. So I need to think of school-based activities for 3-4 times in the week.

I figure that I can do one loose jump/lunge jump session which he does really seem to enjoy. He is clever and I don't want him getting bored. I really want exercises that are fun for him to teach him to keep going forwards, he tends to back off/stop if there is something he is looking at, and he also seems to hate it (and I do too) if i keep nagging at him with the leg to keep in a nice forwards rhythm.

I did some pole work this evening which seemed to light him up a little. Ive yet to raised poles but will soon.

Ive also ordered the 101 schooling exercises book so hopefully will find some gems in there.

Thanks in advance!
 
Mine is hacking once a week, short schooling sessions 2 sometimes 3 times a week, one of which is a lesson (walk, trot, canter, circles, figure 8s, serpentines, little bit of shallow leg yield, little bit of shoulder fore and shoulder in, poles), lungeing, occasional loose schooling, also been jumping under saddle a couple of months now. He's working 5 times a week. Seems to be working okay for him. My first youngster so I am being guided by v. experienced & supportive YOs who produce youngsters for a living, so hopefully not doing anything too drastically terrible...
 
I use poles a lot, you can do so much with them from having the more basic line set out to having them on a circle and numerous other settings, if he finds them interesting then keep changing where they are to keep him thinking, they are good for the rider as well as the horse as you can be more focused on riding the poles correctly rather than just thinking about the horse and it turn it usually benefits the way they go.
I don't know your set up but while the fields are good going, which they are here at the moment, then riding in a field or round the perimeters can be useful to get them out alone without the need for company, just 20 mins walking and trotting outside can be a step towards hacking alone and more interesting than being in a school every day, I think you plan on eventing him so some steady cantering outside would be useful for him to learn how to balance on grass while it is still dry enough to do no harm to the land.
 
Mine is ridden most days and is out in the trailer probably twice a week - she goes for a lesson and maybe a trip to the forest or beach, that sort of thing.

I tend to school in the field, which keeps them fresh and interested.

Regularly do trotting and canter poles, starting to learn counter canter and leg yield.

I wouldn't over think it, have some small goals to aim for, and try not to compare him to other peoples four year olds! :)
 
Would second/third/fourth the pole work :) There is so much you can do with them, whether going over them or around them! I'd really recommend 101 jumping exercises for horse and rider - there's an entire section dedicated to polework, and also I use the 'jumping' exercises as poles on the ground too :)
 
nato said:
Would second/third/fourth the pole work :) I'd really recommend 101 jumping exercises for horse and rider - there's an entire section dedicated to polework, and also I use the 'jumping' exercises as poles on the ground too :)
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This is great- I was thinking about this book and wasn't sure if it had a section on pole work so thanks I will order it.

LJR- Hahaha- yes I am guilty of that!- there are no other 4yos at my yard, but i know others with them and they seem further alone- but they're all different, and he's had quite a lot of change this year. Plus he's a giant so needs a bit more time.

Micropony- yours sounds further along than mine- but i hope to be doing those sorts of things with him over the next month. He's not jumping under saddle yet- he needs a bit more time.

Be Positive- What a good idea- there is a jump paddock down one end of the yard- Id feel a bit nervous about using it now as we still don't know each other well yet- he's only been home 2 weeks- and there is no one else around when I'm there in the evenings- he's already bucked me off (onto concrete- and it really hurt!) so ill do this once I know/trust him a bit more.

Thanks all!
 
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I'm not usually one to suggest something like this but how about despooking work, like tarpaulins, banners, umbrellas etc. not too much for his body but plenty for his brain.
 
Walrus said:
I'm not usually one to suggest something like this but how about despooking work, like tarpaulins, banners, umbrellas etc. not too much for his body but plenty for his brain.
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I have thought about this, and will probably give it a go at some point, although I feel like we need to bond a bit more first so that he trusts me- otherwise I feel it could just end up in disaster with him stressed and undoing all our good work so far
 
Dusty85 said:
I have thought about this, and will probably give it a go at some point, although I feel like we need to bond a bit more first so that he trusts me- otherwise I feel it could just end up in disaster with him stressed and undoing all our good work so far
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You will probably find the opposite happens.

How is your horse with in-hand work? I have found using a rope halter and using some exercises found on you tube has massively helped my horse, and has been something different to do
 
Mine is worked 5 or 6 days a week. I am the same and only have company to hack with at the weekends so she has just had to brave it and go alone. Usually hack 2-3 times per week. Schooling W T & C using lots of shapes and making sure I am accurate. Shallow loops, serpentines, figure of 8, also lots of transitions. Started basic lateral work LY, SI, HI and turn on the forehand. Some of this I taught her inhand first. I do quite a lot of pole work and there are poles out in the school all the time. I then school normally with the occasional pole in the way as she can be hot and so we are trying to make poles/jumping a little less exciting. Also she jumps once a week and is jumping a small course or grid of up to 4 fences. Having random objects in the school is good for despooking, a tunnel of fillers is quite good. Mine is currently terrified of 2 tiny trees in pots, but the banners and flowers are fine.
It is easy to get stuck as you are worrying about doing too much, but as long as you keep sessions short a 4yo can start to learn all the basic stuff. I rarely school for more than 1/2 hour, jumping can be up to 1 hour, but we have a lot of breaks when jumping.
I am not keen on lunging youngsters too much, but in hand work is good. Have you long reined him? Might get shot down for this, but all of my youngsters have been long reined out hacking. Practice in the school first obviously, but it is a good way to get them going out alone. I am lucky to have quiet roads and mostly very friendly drivers.
 
Yes I've been building up to long reining out hacking and have started leading him out in hand the odd evening. He can be quite sensitive and unsure (but then very brave other times!) so I am trying to take things steadily so that I can try to avoid the one step forward two back!

I'm also trying to keep the ridden sessions going, if he has a break he can be tense and sticky when you get back on for the first five mins.

It's getting there, just going slowly! he's having 6-8 weeks off come December so want to consolidate a few things whilst I can!
 
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