Proud parents - Dolly going solo

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DollyDolls

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Just wanted to share - we're really pleased as after all the work we've been putting in, Dolly has finally ridden without the lead rein! A few pictures below.

Anyone got any tips for the next stage of training? We're thinking about riding around obstacles, some basic leg yielding and then maybe moving up to trot? Any ideas welcome.

Who else has got their 3 year old to or past this stage?

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[image] http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k428/owaindavies11/Dolly%20Ridden/100_0247.jpg[/image]

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My 3yo walks/trots/canters off lead and has started hacking alone and in company. I find it much easier to teach voice commands on lunge before riding then once on board but being lunged by helper you can start transferring voice commands from lunger to rider so for instance once horse trots to voice command on lunge you can mount up, apply leg aid and use verbal 'T-rrrot' to teach horse to trot from leg aid. Same for halt, canter and jump etc.
 
Obstacles sound good, teach her to leg yield without even noticing! Using the voice is also a great help as theres no way you can haul something round that big. Our 3 year old (baby percheron) has just had his first ride out of the yard (we have no arena but yard is about 20x30m), we started with me holding a looped lead rope with rich doing the stearing abord then my body language helped his turning. now teaching him to go from the leg out and about on tracks, they seem to "get it" a bit better with something visual in front of them like positioning on a track, middle, side etc but obstacles should work just as well.

She is lovely, looks very much like my beloved magnus who i can't tell you how much of a saint he is but i will spare you the gushy post.
 
Look forward to hearing the replies. We are roughly where you are. Our 3 year old has been sat on 3 times now. Only doing it twice aweek and about 10 mins each time. First two times she was led round by me. But on Sunday she went "solo". But walked a bit and then stood. Took ages to get moving again and needed the lead like a proper donkey. Then I let go when she was going. No bucking or messing just stopped. Going to do a bit more long reining with her and more voice commands to hopefully help. I was thinking for later obstacles and bending - only in walk - to help her with balance with a rider on. Think we are along way off trot yet!!!!
 
Thanks for the tips, hopefully we're going the right way with her. We worked her again today, and she was a little bit stroppy, but still got her learning new things with obstacles in the school!

Ellies-mum - She is Shire x Trakehner, which means she hasn't quite got the dinner plate feet, but she is a bit bigger than we thought she'd make when we bought her as a yearling!
 
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