Rearing ADVICE

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PC Steele

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Right I have a new police horse who has been out to duty for just over a week it's a cracking horse is excellent with traffic, hustle and bustle and as I am located in Central London just off Covent Garden this is good:D BUT the last two rides I have had he has not been keen to stand still especially at junctions on the way back to the stables:( Has anyone got any tips? obviously I am slightly limited as I am normally on a busy road surrounded by members of public. I was at Parliament Square the other day when he had a little moment I turned him to face the static traffic and he stood still but obviously this isnt ideal:eek:I am not scared etc. just need some advice:)
 
I think I would try practising every chance I got in quieter spots, I realise that may be a bit difficult because your not exactly going to be low profile :). Start with a minute or so and then make it a bit longer and gradually he will get better as he gets more confident with it, you could do this over a matter of a couple of days. I would imagine that if he is just out of training he will be having new experiences whilst out and about and it may have just thrown him a little getting out on the roads. I am soooo envious, I was going to be the first mounted policewoman in West Yorkshire and wrote to the then Chief Constable about it as a child - he even came to the house to talk to me about my letter. Oh how times have changed, that wouldn't happen now!! I just think they look so impressivve when out and about and I love to see them. Good luck!
 
Thankyou for your help!!!! He was really good the first week and now he has started im just worried about over facing him so I think slowly is the key!! He has to go to the training centre in Surrey for two weeks from tomorrow as we are very busy with Royal Wedding practice :D so hopefully he will have time to chill out and reflect on what he has taken in :)
 
shysmum said:
can't you ask the instructor at base :confused: Are you really for real :confused:
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Cant really be bothered with people like you but I fully intend to ask the person who trained the horse but I am off for three days and the trainer has been off for a week just thought people might have some ideas. You know what they say if you have nothing nice to say don't ******ing bother. Never a true word said:mad:
 
PC Steele said:
Thankyou for your help!!!! He was really good the first week and now he has started im just worried about over facing him so I think slowly is the key!! He has to go to the training centre in Surrey for two weeks from tomorrow as we are very busy with Royal Wedding practice :D so hopefully he will have time to chill out and reflect on what he has taken in :)
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I wonder if he is also testing you a little if you are relatively new to each other, again it is a totally different situation to being in an arena. I don't really know much about how you train, whether you do road work or not, so that may not make sense if you do. I am sure that if you take your time with him he will soon settle back down. Bless him!
 
Out of curiosity, I don't suppose you're based at Imber court are you? PM me if you'ld prefer, and obviously ild understand if you'ld rather not say.
My granddad took me there for a tour, it's a wonderful place! Horses are truly magnificent! Sorry, no advice about the rearing, im just being nosey! :P
 
hch4971 said:
I wonder if he is also testing you a little if you are relatively new to each other, again it is a totally different situation to being in an arena. I don't really know much about how you train, whether you do road work or not, so that may not make sense if you do. I am sure that if you take your time with him he will soon settle back down. Bless him!
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Oh yes I think he is doing just that!!! got to be so careful that I discipline him at the correctly otherwise he might lose confidence we do roadwork when we train but the centre is in Surrey its a bit different in Central London :D When I actually look at what they have to put up with he is being pretty amazing!!! Its just the worry if I do mistake lack of confidence for naughtyness which can happen with all the other stuff going on around you it could be disasterous:(
 
Although Shysmum was rude, we have had many many "trolls" on here recently who like winding everyone up so I expect that's what he/she though. In fairness, that's what I thought until I read your name as I had missed the fact that you are a police officer :D

This will take time. It's a very common problem but not always an easy one to solve. Try to avoid situations where you will have to stand for a long time as this will just wind him up, but equally find plenty of excuses to stand for short periods of time and praise him lots when he does. When he will stand for short periods of time, make sure you slacken the reins a bit so he associates halt with having a bit of a breather and a rest. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you go out in pairs? If so, how is the other horse at standing? It will help hugely if you have a nanny horse to show your boy how it's done.

Good luck and I hope the Royal Wedding goes well for you :)
 
Apercrumbie said:
Although Shysmum was rude, we have had many many "trolls" on here recently who like winding everyone up so I expect that's what he/she though. In fairness, that's what I thought until I read your name as I had missed the fact that you are a police officer :D

This will take time. It's a very common problem but not always an easy one to solve. Try to avoid situations where you will have to stand for a long time as this will just wind him up, but equally find plenty of excuses to stand for short periods of time and praise him lots when he does. When he will stand for short periods of time, make sure you slacken the reins a bit so he associates halt with having a bit of a breather and a rest. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you go out in pairs? If so, how is the other horse at standing? It will help hugely if you have a nanny horse to show your boy how it's done.

Good luck and I hope the Royal Wedding goes well for you :)
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Thanks for that very helpful :) Yes we go out in pairs, he doesn't seem to be bothered about the other horse which is good in a way because sometimes the escort horse will react to something and he will just keep going but downside is he doesn't seem to get any calming vibes from the horse that is standing still I just haven't found his off button yet still its only been two weeks:)
 
When you're somewhere safe (I don't know if this would be an arena/ yard whatever) teach him to take a polo from the hand whilst you are mounted. then introduce: stop-pause-polo-move off and gradually increase the amount of time he has to be still to get his polo. He may anticipate polo and turn head but as long as he is still and didn't initiate stopping and demand it then I wouldn't worry too much.

You then can use this when out and about if needs be- but gradually there will be fewer and fewer polos anyway as he will just come to learn that standing still is a pleasant experience.

Good luck!
 
I am going to defend Shysmum here, i was dubious about this being a genuine post! I wouldnt expect a policeman to ask for advice on training a police horse on a forum, i would expect that you have adequate back up at base to not need to ask! I would also expect that being a policeman you would be slightly more forgiving for someone asking whether you are for real or not and not result to "angry faces" and swearing. You are afterall someone that the public should look up to and respect and really should be able to let things like this go over your head.

As for advice on a horse not wanting to stand still, practice, practice, practice, keep a nice relaxed rein and give him fuss when he stands well.

:)
 
Allover said:
I am going to defend Shysmum here, i was dubious about this being a genuine post! I wouldnt expect a policeman to ask for advice on training a police horse on a forum, i would expect that you have adequate back up at base to not need to ask! I would also expect that being a policeman you would be slightly more forgiving for someone asking whether you are for real or not and not result to "angry faces" and swearing. You are afterall someone that the public should look up to and respect and really should be able to let things like this go over your head.

As for advice on a horse not wanting to stand still, practice, practice, practice, keep a nice relaxed rein and give him fuss when he stands well.

:)
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But in fairness to OP they have been a member for months and have posted multiple times. I would think anyone, including mounted police officers, should be allowed to ask for advice. I'm sure 99% of us who post here have an instructor but we still post. What on earth is the difference? I'm pretty sure the police force is only made up of humans, not saintly beings.

Anywho, what do you look like. OH works in covent garden. I can send him down to say hello :)
 
jesstickle said:
But in fairness to OP they have been a member for months and have posted multiple times. I would think anyone, including mounted police officers, should be allowed to ask for advice. I'm sure 99% of us who post here have an instructor but we still post. What on earth is the difference? I'm pretty sure the police force is only made up of humans, not saintly beings.
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Have to disagree, general advice yes to some extent, specifics on how to train a police horse, no! They are not "normal" horse owners, they are police officers.

And i hold firm that he should, as a police officer, be able to answer in a civil manner. Seeing as he as posted as police officer on an issue he is having with a police horse.
:)
 
a horse is a horse. I don't see how a police is more different from your bog standard cob than a racehorse is or a high level event horse is. Ultimately the same things are likely to make them all tick even though they do vastly different jobs. The question was a very general one on how to teach a horse to stand still. Nothing police specific about that surely.

Anyway, I like shysmum and I know there has been a lot of trolling recently so understand where it came from. I'm just not sure why OP is getting a hard time for asking for advice. I'm sure they don't need me to stick up for them so I'm going to shut up now!
 
Never an excuse for rudeness. Yes there are trolls on here, and we should welcome them with open arms because they are SO much fun!!! where are the "sit down, have a drink and watch brigade?"

And this question - why can't they ask? this is supposed to offer a wide range of views and experiences and when I thought about it, I can't see how you can train for this behaviour in a school or quiet place. Personally I thought it was a compliment to this board that OP felt they would actually get some helpful suggestions back! I do when I post..
 
Maybe this horse takes a little longer to acquire some trust, he is good enough or you would not have him. You need to be his leader, spend time playing and working on the ground withn him, when he trusts that with you he is safe he will stand, working in the non-stressfull environments will help this a lot ballanced with his required work.
 
Oh and to add whilst police horses are still horses, police officers are people too and are entitled to post comments like the rest of us.
 
To return to the orginal posters' question... my lastest horse would not stand at junctions, spinning into traffic in a most alarming way. I trained him to accept and look for a small titbit, bending his head back to my knee with a gentle rein pull to take it. This disengaged his hindquarters (you can also gently put your leg on on the side you are bending his head) and he will not, at least, go forward. Round in circles is an improvement!

I now have a horse who will stand at junctions for as long as I want - and I have discontinued the sweeties. Planting your bum in the saddle, smiling and thinking "calm" helps as the horse knows what you are feeling.
 
jesstickle said:
a horse is a horse. I don't see how a police is more different from your bog standard cob than a racehorse is or a high level event horse is. Ultimately the same things are likely to make them all tick even though they do vastly different jobs. The question was a very general one on how to teach a horse to stand still. Nothing police specific about that surely.

Anyway, I like shysmum and I know there has been a lot of trolling recently so understand where it came from. I'm just not sure why OP is getting a hard time for asking for advice. I'm sure they don't need me to stick up for them so I'm going to shut up now!
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I am not saying there is anything different in the horse i am saying that i am surprised a policeman is coming onto a public forum asking for help on how to train a police horse.
 
Luci07 said:
Never an excuse for rudeness. Yes there are trolls on here, and we should welcome them with open arms because they are SO much fun!!! where are the "sit down, have a drink and watch brigade?"

And this question - why can't they ask? this is supposed to offer a wide range of views and experiences and when I thought about it, I can't see how you can train for this behaviour in a school or quiet place. Personally I thought it was a compliment to this board that OP felt they would actually get some helpful suggestions back! I do when I post..
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They are the police, they train their horses to jump through fire and control crowds, does it not seem slightly odd that a policeman is asking advice on how to get a horse to stand still, it is a bit of basic training IMO and leaves me wondering whether the training that the police go through is sufficient enough if this is the kind of challenge they can not work out for themselves. :)
 
Jimbol said:
Oh and to add whilst police horses are still horses, police officers are people too and are entitled to post comments like the rest of us.
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IMO not when it involves training of a police horse, if it was the OPs private horse then i have no problem, when it is a police horse i dont think Joe public should get involved. :)
 
it is a bit of basic training IMO and leaves me wondering whether the training that the police go through
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Even police horses can go through a 'difficult' period during their initial training and introduction to the job - on 'the job', Allover. And it's not unusual to have a slightly unsettled one out there learning it's role. Some never settle to it ultimately. And you only find out how they're going to cope when they're out there.....

I can't really give you any advice OP other than your trainer is obviously the person to speak to as they're going to have a wealth of knowledge in this area.
 
I sincerely apologise for being so rude, I'm not normally like that at all. I think I automatically went into "troll" mode when I shouldn't have, and I'm truly sorry. :o
 
amymay said:
Even police horses can go through a 'difficult' period during their initial training and introduction to the job - on 'the job', Allover. And it's not unusual to have a slightly unsettled one out there learning it's role. Some never settle to it ultimately. And you only find out how they're going to cope when they're out there.....

I can't really give you any advice OP other than your trainer is obviously the person to speak to as they're going to have a wealth of knowledge in this area.
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Of that i have no doubt Amymay, i meant that the rider should know how to deal with the situation after the training they have gone through. As far as i am aware i have not said that the horse is not up to scratch.
 
Allover said:
Of that i have no doubt Amymay, i meant that the rider should know how to deal with the situation after the training they have gone through. As far as i am aware i have not said that the horse is not up to scratch.
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Actually the rider wouldn't necessarily know how to deal with it - if they are a new rider (not all mounted police come from an equine background by any means).

And no, you have not disparaged the horse in any way.
 
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