We normally think about desensitising horses, but what about SENSITISING them - how?

Natch

Natch

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Just got back on horses after a break (literal - my leg!) and I rode a friend's lovely safe cob girlie. It was fab being back in the saddle :D And she was very good to me, however I didn't get a decent tune out of her. In the past 10 years I have always been on horses with more go than woah, and I found her very backwards thinking, and reluctant to listen to a go command, and reluctant to soften in the hand (or go straight for that matter). She can and does go nicely, as I watched her owner ride her really nicely before I got on :o

Her owner rides her in spurs, but I'd rather not, because a) the broken leg is weaker and I'm not 100% convinced I'd be in full control of spurs at present, and b) my philosophy on horsemanship is that I'd rather ride with minimum gadgets anyway, so I'd rather not go down that route without trying good old fashioned good schooling techniques first.

The question is, how? How do you school a horse to be more sensitive to your aids in the saddle? I'm very much into pressure and quick release, and have a variety of horses working from light commands on the ground, but because I've not been faced with a horse like this in the saddle for a long time, I feel a bit lost as to what - and how - to try this.

Any ideas?
 
Give a light leg aid (the one you are aiming for the horse to respond to). If it's ignored, give a stronger leg aid. If that is ignored, then give a flick/slap with the whip coupled with a leg aid.

They aren't stupid, once they work out that if they respond to the first light aid, that you don't give the strong one or use the whip, they become much more responsive. :)
 
Thanks for the reply faracat. What I forgot to mention in the OP is that this was what I did, but didn't get anywhere with! Literally, went nowhere but the same ploddy walk! :o To get her into trot I had to get as far as as strong aids as I could give, i.e. a whole lot of pony club kicking and smack, smack, SMACK!

I know that in theory as long as I give light aids consistently first and work up she'll start going off lighter ones... its just that after that one trot I was flipping knackered and I'd have felt like a horse abuser to use the whip any harder! I just feel frustrated that even the biggest phase I could go up to wasn't really shocking enough to her to make a difference, if you see what I mean?

I was wondering if there are any exercises to do, like lots of quick transitions (but even easier to achieve than this preferably!)

Darn it I used to know this stuff! I think it bothers me so much because it reminds me of when I used to have lessons on a dressage yard which had lots of lovely forward going horses, and one horse like this in the extreme, and even resorting to taking the schooling whip and using it like a short one had no real effect. Yet they used to tell me he was one of their best horses, and could go really nicely. Sadly they never actually taught me how to ride him effectively, and I ended up feeling like a worse rider than when I started. I obviously still have this hang up about riding lazy horses... :o
 
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Ok. try the 'two whip trick'. ;)

Ride with two long schooling whips. One in each hand and when the horse doesn't move off your light aid, flap the whips, like you are flapping wings! You can do this without jabbing their mouth as you rotate your wrists/hands to create the flapping. You can also give a tap on both shoulders too on the downwards flaps, if needed.

It works very well with seriously nappy horses (that rear if you apply strong leg aids) so hopefully It will help send this cob forwards too! :D
 
Oooh that's a good tip, thanks I will try that! :) Are you aiming to touch the horse with the flaps or just make a lot of noise?
 
It isn't really noisy, just makes alot of movement behind their head, that will send most horses forwards. I would try without touching to start with and then move onto touching the shoulders if it's needed.
 
I ride mules including a 20/30yr old(depending whether you believe the passport or the dentist ;) )
My first faze is upping my energy then lifting the reins,then squeezing with my legs,and finally using my reins to flap each side of my body till finally a light flap on my mule.We don't usually get to the touching part because Malaga usually moves off when I flap my arms.
Picasso,the old one needed more insentive when I first got him because the only"go" command he had been taught was a wallop with a stick.With him it was just patience and reward...the quicker he got to the point I thought of the longer he got to graze before moving on.Now he moves on as soon as I lift my reins.
 
ditto the 2 sticks, also means if you only use one they don't know which side it is coming from (or on spooky welsh one being daft I always had one on the 'right' side)

I *think* after 6 years I actually have him off my leg :rolleyes:. Certainly more difficult if you are recovering from a broken leg (hope it is doing ok).

I spend a lot of time doing transitions and last summer I started the you only get one chance (not 2 or 3). I hadn't realised how many times I was asking him to do something, so instead he got asked once, told (with stick) the second time. Would only need to do this once in a session and he is fab for the rest of it :).

His walk is still pretty dire though, seems better for his joint supp and his fitness, hoping I can keep him how he is now they are out all the time!
 
oh I have been known to flip flop the end of his reins over his withers too, and have an array of odd noises I make .. basically anything that is slightly different that might make him go 'ooh' and move forwards, not my leg
 
I have to say this is exactly the situation where spurs are the kinder option. I wear spurs on my mare, my son doesn't. He has a less secure lower leg so I don't let him, but I am lazy and refuse to kick and smack her to make her go. I think a nudge with the spurs is much kinder to the horse.

If I have to ride a lazy horse without spurs, I am really forceful initially and will not tolerate them ignoring the leg.
 
I have to say this is exactly the situation where spurs are the kinder option.
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I cannot wear spurs with my mare. :( She is far too fine skinned.

Most horses quickly learn to move off the light leg aid because it is nicer for them.
 
I went down the "tool up" route with my big lad.... great till the day you forget to take your two schooling whips, spurs etc.... in the end i gave up and went for the super nice approach with a sharp leg, whip aid ie asked very very softly for forward- no reaction, one sharp flick with schooling whip and then loads of praise when he moved forward, took about 10 mins to click into his warmblood brain. Since then i pretty much use a good boy stroke and a kind word when he does what i ask, and some days i dont ride with my whip at all. Ok some of my instructors say "he bloody knows what a canter aid is... he dosnt need a well done for that" - pity said instructor did not see the switched off dead eyed pony i first brought whom would not even step by a schooling whip - he now picks it up and hits me with it lol he was definatly dead to the leg so to speak but in my own opinion he was dead to the leg because he was too sensative and it was his coping mechanism - he looks like hes a big heafty roughie toughie horse - but he is probably more sensative than my tb.

good luck

x
 
great till the day you forget to take your two schooling whips, spurs etc....
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Can't comment re spurs but...

with the two whip thing, you don't need to always use two whips. Even with the seriously nappy horse, I only needed it for three hacks and then I was able to go back to one whip. The trick is to get the horse to realise for itself that it is better to respond to the light aid. Once that penny drops, occasional reminders should be enough to keep on top of things. :)
 
Some fab ideas and debate here, thank you!

Spurs are out of the question initially, because apart from not being in total control of that leg and ankle I'm pretty sure the ankle is still too fat and rigid to actually get a spur on! :D It would make things easier, especially because I don't have great strength in that leg at the mo, but it really is a non-starter.
 
I think one of the most important things is to really allow the horse to move foward.
Maybe try loosening the reins so the horse can move forward, and then use a lot of energy, flapping, noises, whip, whatever works, to really get the horse to go forward. See how fast you can get the horse to go, really quickly. Hold the mane or neck strap if needed so you dont pull on his mouth. If you jab the mouth, he will be more reluctant to move forward. So even if you just want trot, aim for a gallop and really let him go. Once he realises its fun to go fast, he should liven up.
I actually teach this on the lunge too. I will allow my horse to walk, then as soon as i lift my energy, i can get them into canter straight away.

you probably also need to sensitise him to your leg aids more too. You can start this on the ground. See if you can ask him to do a turn on the forehand, just by pressing with your hand where your foot would be. If he ignores you, put a bit more pressure on, even if you have to tap quite firmly, jump up and down, or anything to get him to move his feet. Once he moves, release the pressure and reward him. The release is important so that he understands that he did the right thing.

once you can get him to move sideways from a light touch, you should be able to do it on board him just by using your heel lightly on his side. If he doesnt move over, tap him with a whip just behind your leg until he moves. By doing this, he should learn to go off your leg a lot quicker. Remember to stop asking and reward the instant he does it right. Release is a reward for them.

Both of my rising 4 year olds can sidepass, just because they can move away from my leg, and it can work for any age and ability of horse. Even my mums highland!
 
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