Teaching a horse to trot up...

[_jetset_]

Grace is doing really well in the school, in fact so well we are starting to think of our first unaffiliated prelim test in the New Year hopefully!

However, she does not know how to trot up and refuses point blank to do it. If you try to egg her on with anything she runs away (like she has been taught to move away through natural horsemanship) so that does not solve the problem of getting her to trot in a straight line in hand.

Any suggestions??

Rebecca x

 

[_jetset_]

Forgot to say, she just wanders behind if you try running with her as if to say, "Why don't we just walk, it's easier!"

 

[tigers_eye]

It's difficult to teach them to do it if it's just you. Get someone else to help, have them stand behind you with something she will respect, but not be too frightened of, and take it from there!

 

[_jetset_]

Perhaps a lunge whip but just to encourage her to trot on do you mean?

 

[tigers_eye]

Yep, or plastic bag, whatever works for her/is to hand! But it's nigh on impossible to make them trot straight if they're not so inclined without someone else to help...

 

[_jetset_]

Hmmm... don't I know it

Right, that can be tomorrow's task I think... find a helper!

 

[S_N]

You need another person to help you and they need to have one or a combination of the following: Lunge whip (NOT to hit her with, but to crack), plastic bag tied to a broom, shavings fork (this is waved around behind her), a squirty bottle or water pistol, full of water (Squirt her backside and hocks and she should move off pretty smartish).

 

[bellgave]

All of the above. All my horses have to learn to trot up in hand because they need to do it second nature in the show ring. I get some one to just shoo them along and use a tea towel as it flaps around but isnt going to make a scary noise!!!
I also teach all mine to trot out of a turn, so I walk away from the judge and as I turn around the horse I start to run and they trot, much easier for some reason than them trotting from walk in a straight line!!