Training Friesian Mare

S

shuz7

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Hello,

I brought my freisian at the end of August last year.

She will be 4 in April.

When I brought her she had the basic training.

I have been lunging her as and when I can (weather permitting) on 1 and 2 lines, she was perfect. I'm now getting no where.

A friend of mine comes over once a week to lend a hand.

We have gone back to the start of basic training. We have been doing this for 3 weeks now and she still won't lunge, but she is now listening and will walk and stand on voice command.

In your opions: do you think I should continue lunging or try and ride her again?

We tried riding her a few months ago and she just stood there and didn't move.

Please help me as I'm now getting frustrated.

Suzanne
 
Hiya

Our Friesian turned 4 this March.... Jem my daughter had been lunging him when weather permitted.... we have managed to hack him out a couple of times (again weather permitting) and last weekend we took him to our dressage clinic ran by Leanne Wall.... up until this point he had never cantered whilst being ridden.... will ask my daughter to email you the links or if you go to our forum - go to the photos section and its under jems first canter on Mazza....

Might be worth me getting her to answer your question as she is the one backing him..... but I do know he was quite lazy off the leg..... are you backing up your legs with any other aid?
 
are you backing up your legs with any other aid?

When we first tried riding her I just used legs. Thought about using a crop next time but the lady who helps me out once a week says that Marchje (horse) needs to gain respect on the floor before attempting to ride her again. I personally think that she is fed up of lunging and just needs to be ridden.

Any further advise would be very appreciated.

Thanks for your help
 
I do know that Jem rides with a schooling whip and to get him to canter did use the whip to back up the legs .... but now he comes off the leg very quickly... will get jem to send you the link for the video (I am not very technically minded sorry)

I did hear that Friesians can be slovenly (sp?) but to be honest he has been very quick to learn and you have to be consistent.... they do get bored quickly.... have you tried doing lots of transition work with her...... walk to trot to walk, half halt etc etc?
 
Transition work - this does work very well once she gets going. Even when I use a lead rein / lunge line and stand next to her giving her the transition commands.
 
try by leading in a straight line maybe hack her out up and down road with another convident horse or try by carry two whips one in each hand to encorage her to walk forward
they quite easy to train as i have a 5yr friesian mare just be patient
 
Thanks very much.

Once all this rain stops, I'll try lunging her again.

Its a shame no one on this forum isn't local to me with a freisian, as I would invite them over for the weekend to help me out.

My patients is running thin at the moment so I will take a few deep breaths.

Thanks
 
I would like to say thanks very much for the advise.

I tried lunging again this morning (Friday), but with no luck.

I decided to get on her and try riding her again. I asked her to walk on and gave her a kick, off she went.

Excellent....
 
Can I be honest? Sounds like she is sick to death of lunging. She is young - she needs variety to keep her interested in her work and educate her. Lunging is tough on young horses - get her out hacking and thinking forwards. I used to school two friesans and they were lovely natured and willing horses, I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with her.
 
Thanks very much.

As I said I rode her yesterday for about 10 minutes and she seemed ok. I'm hopefully going to ride her again today and keep on riding her as and when I can (weather permitting).

Each time I ride I will increase the time length.

I haven't riden for a couple of years so i'm getting my confidence back. We both need confidence and what a better way to help each other.

Thanks
 
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