Schooling advice

[xXxTraversxXx]

Thanks everyone who replied to my earlier post, have decided to continue with Horse B for a bit and reasses (sp?) from there

Now for the Q - horse is VERY sensitive to the leg and will rush off, but also has no respect for the hand making stopping a bit of a battle (I like to have breaks!) even at walk. Obviously Im going to start with walk halt transitions but dont like the idea of pulling its mouth out in an attempt to get a reaction. What would be the best way to use my aids? Persevere with a bit of leg on (horse is going to get used to it anyway) or seat aids only?
Advice would be great

Thankyou!!

 

[pottamus]

You could teach the horse to respond to voice commands in hand first and then apply it to ridden work. That would leave you with minimal leg and hand work to have to do. I did this with my lad and he will walk, trot and (most of the time) halt from voice without any other intervention....marvellous!

 

[alicedove]

I guess (and I am no great knowledge) that you have a lovely opportunity to ride a very sensitive horse and persevere with seat aids for a good while.

If you perhaps cut the feed and work the horse daily maybe it'll get a bit less sensitive over time and riding? Especially if you're only going to get a hollw, tense, way of going because it's over reacting and you have to take a hold as a result.

If you train it to make the transitions properly and correctly on demand, totally lightly, then maybe the leg can come in a bit more gradually in time as a secondary thing, to "accompany" the transition and end up being an aid later on with association!

 

[dianchi]

My mare shot of the leg, purely because she didnt accept it. to the eye you would say she was sensitive but its just a way to get away from accepting the leg and working correctly. Has taken a year of perserving and now she is working correctly.

What bit have you got maybe a change there would help with more acceptance?

 

[elaineh]

first, get them to backup lightly from rein on ground

then get them to backup lightly from rein when you're halted

then get them to backup lightly from rein when you're walking

then trot, canter, etc.

I wrote up this in more detail here a while back:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1191926143

ALSO - have you had teeth checked recently?? If you put light pressure on sore mouths, horses can try to 'rush' ahead to 'run away from pain'. Might be worth a quick dentist check to rule it out.

 

[jembo]

Can you get someone to lunge you? I would try that, as then you are sure the horse will not go anywhere. On the lunge you can use your seat more effectively without touching the mouth. Then take up a contact once he has accepted your seat and leg a bit better.

How old is the horse? (not read your other thread)
Lunging and longreining is also good for voice commands?

A friend had a horse that was very sharp off the leg and she was worried about the mouth, so used a bitless bridle. This was used until the horse understood the leg and now goes really well.