Sitting on a wild untamed youngster for the first time- Help!

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sugarlump121

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Well, not quite lol!

My boy is 3yrs 8months and over the past 5 months has learnt to gently lunge and long rein.
First 2 months was once or twice a week, 6 weeks off then 4 times a week for 2 weeks and last 4 weeks 2-3 times a week. Long time Im aware but my horse is for life and Im in no rush and by taking everything so slowly (so far!) theres been no problems.

He picks everything up very quickly so alot of his 'work' sessions have been literally 5-10 minutes as he's not put a foot wrong and I don't want to over do it or make him bored. Some of this has also been in hand work.

Im planning on getting on over the next few weeks which Im hoping wont be too much of an issue for him as he's been leant on and sat on bareback by me afew times.
My querey is; how have you got your horse going, as in have you been lead, on lunge or what? Everything I have done so far I've had to do alone (I am qualified, have done before with other horses etc) and even tho I'll have a horsey friend with me (and before I suggest my idea) was wondering what others have done?

I only have use of the indoor school because of this bloomin weather!


Everyones opinions and experiences please :)


Thanks all!
 
I followed the same ideas with you. My boy is 5 in March and we have definitely been VERY slow in our approach to work, but it's definitely been worth it.

I spent from March (I got him in March, we thought he was three, but discovered that he was older than anticipated), but despite his age I didn't want to hurry him or push him whatsoever!


I am a clicker trainer, but just incorporate it into the work we do. I made the mistake of going a little too quickly for him to start with, and he flipped out. So, we spend months of just working on the ground, teaching things in-hand such as leg yielding, backing up, moving forward, ground tying ( we're masters at that now!), touching objects, leading past things, holding umbrellas- the lot. On the last day of August of this year, I took him for our first proper ride out ( I'd sat on him previously for short periods of time, with someone live me). We walked up to the woods, he trotted, leg yielded, even took the lead of the ride and was going forward when all the other horses were spooking. Myself and someone who came with me, decided we didn't want to push it and went back after 30 minutes or so, and he separated from the other horses like a dream and took the lead home, crossed the roads and was really responsive. I was immensely proud of him!


Lots of groundwork, I found really paid off- considering I'd not taught him any of this in the saddle at home! I wasn't going to do as much as I did, but I suppose it felt right and I felt he was pretty happy and enjoying it!

When I first sat on him, I had a friend with me, and started by touching his back, and rewarding him for it. Then I began leaning a little more- rewarding him again for it ( I had no saddle at the time), and continued doing so, I swung my leg round, rewarded him again for standing nicely, and got back off- and increased this until I was on him totally. I sat on him for a few minutes, telling him he was a good boy and then got back off and we went back the next way and increased the periods of time on his back. Then I left him for a while ( not always advisable, but I had a lot on at the time- school work, family stuff etc and so didn't have much time).


It's definitely worth it. Take each day as it comes, enjoy and embrace it. It's definitely always, always worth it.


Enjoy your journey and I would love to see some photos.

Amy
xx
 
Thank you both- miss bird yes I agree, I certainly won't be banging my legs against his sides hoping he'll eventually understand he has to move lol, he is aware of voice commands when I've lunged and long reined him and when I do in hand work- even leading to and from the field.

Lassiesuca, alot of what you've done sounds so similar to what I've done! I have sat on my boy bareback the same way you describe and have done alot of work in hand which actually began when I had him at 6 months of age. Was hoping to ride out in January as I believe horses need this but with the weather I doubt I will be able to so will just be in the indoor school. As for your horse having time off I really believe this helps as after my boy had the time off I was worried he'd forget what he'd done but he seemed to be better! Sounds like you've worked well with your horse :)
 
We usually for for on the lead to start with so you can get them to move fowards without using the bit- clearly they are all trained to go off the voice, but it doesn't always work like this once you're sat on ;) Then onto the lunge and then free. Does depend on them though, some who take to it in a very fowards way can go free almost immediately, others it takes them a good while to get the fowards message and whilst they're not going off the riders legs/voice then best to have a backup lunger/leader to get that sorted. Less worried about stopping!
 
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