Youngster training

[becca1998]

I have a rising 4 cob X long sorty short the vet thought she was in foal (he paulpatated) then 6 weeks later no foal so I got a different vet and she said no definitely not in foal. She wants me to start backing her but I'm a bit unsure as I wanted to leave her to mature a bit more. She's a very smart horse and likes to do things so I am trying to find interesting things for me to do with her without putting her under pressure and I don't want to rush things. Any ideas she will Lung but Im not the biggest fan of lunging as I don't belive in making them go in circles everyday. I need things that will get her moving to get rid of the fat.

 

[BethH]

Long reining - mine can do prelim tests on the long reins it's great fun if you learn to do it properly & creates a fantastic partnership.

Also, get the Kelly Marks books. The first one "Perfect Manners" has some great exercises for groundwork and in the 2nd there's a good explanation of long reining and more ideas, was a great help when my horse was a youngster.

The other thing I wish i'd done more of was handy pony type stuff to de-sensitise. Things like walking over tarpauline and meeting random umbrellas etc. You could use the opportunity to get her used to the world outside the field. Are there any Horse Agility classes being run anywhere near you?

Good luck, it's a lovely age - enjoy it.

 

[becca1998]

Long reining - mine can do prelim tests on the long reins it's great fun if you learn to do it properly & creates a fantastic partnership.

Also, get the Kelly Marks books. The first one "Perfect Manners" has some great exercises for groundwork and in the 2nd there's a good explanation of long reining and more ideas, was a great help when my horse was a youngster.

The other thing I wish i'd done more of was handy pony type stuff to de-sensitise. Things like walking over tarpauline and meeting random umbrellas etc. You could use the opportunity to get her used to the world outside the field. Are there any Horse Agility classes being run anywhere near you?

Good luck, it's a lovely age - enjoy it.

Thank you I will look in to getting some books and I don't think we have any agility shows here but I shall have a look. Yea it's exciting but at the same time don't want to rush things I have backed a few horses but she's a bit special haha, she's a bit of a fire cracker.

 

[tallyho!]

I have a rising 4 cob X long sorty short the vet thought she was in foal (he paulpatated) then 6 weeks later no foal so I got a different vet and she said no definitely not in foal. She wants me to start backing her but I'm a bit unsure as I wanted to leave her to mature a bit more. She's a very smart horse and likes to do things so I am trying to find interesting things for me to do with her without putting her under pressure and I don't want to rush things. Any ideas she will Lung but Im not the biggest fan of lunging as I don't belive in making them go in circles everyday. I need things that will get her moving to get rid of the fat.

Lunging doesn't mean going in circles... you can do allsorts - over poles, figures of 8s in walk/trot... combine with in-hand. It's a great tool for young horses - goodness knows why people think it's just mindless circles. It is if you stand there like a statue... you need to move too and make it interesting. You can get as creative as you like.

Ever thought of horse agility? Straightness training? Cavaletti? Loads you can do on the ground. Build an "assault course" like walking over tarps, make a bridge, walk in and out of tyres, little jumps over bales, logs, bushes... so much you can do.

Have fun!!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I used to take mine for walks in hand then progressed to long reining, we had some off road tracks that were ideal and in the summer I would just go round all the hay fields it's a good way to make them independent when you start riding and hacking on your own.

 

[Dry Rot]

The purpose of lunging is surely to get the horse responding to voice commands, with the lunge whip as a guide? Please correct me if I'm wrong! I am experienced (very) with other species but admit to being a beginner with horses. Surely, training should comprise a series of stages, each one merging seamlessly into the next.

Yes, walks in hand are good. Again, establish voice commands -- "Walk on", "Whoa". etc. One of my girls took on a 3yo and used to take him up to the road. Every time a car went past, she'd shove a piece of carrot in his mouth! Same thing when handling legs, etc.

We play with them with piece of plastic on the end of a long stick. Then graduate to heavier stuff like an old coat. So when they are backed, something looming above them is b o r i n g.

There is so much you can do with youngsters from the ground if you use your imagination, backing becomes a bit of an anticlimax!

 

[becca1998]

Going to try a few few different things, I also have the joys of a scatty horse to contend with she's a bit nuts I'm debateing wheather to get a calmer just to take the edge of she just freaks out over anything we could walk past a bucket and yea it's scary. Silly pone no matter how much I handel her and bring her in she's still the same

 

[tallyho!]

Going to try a few few different things, I also have the joys of a scatty horse to contend with she's a bit nuts I'm debateing wheather to get a calmer just to take the edge of she just freaks out over anything we could walk past a bucket and yea it's scary. Silly pone no matter how much I handel her and bring her in she's still the same

Then I strongly suggest you wait until she becomes a bit more mentally mature? Speaking from experience a bit as I have over faced a horse before.

 

[becca1998]

That's what i was going to do I was going to wait until next year but the vet wants me to get some of the weight off as she's 'obese' according to the vet. I tried to do a bit at the begging of the year and she got to the point I couldn't catch her and if I did she would rear buck and canter in circles whilst I tried to bring her in. I have backed quite a few horses successfully but she's her own breed haha, I'm definitely no expert but she's definitely a challenge

 

[VRIN]

Going to try a few few different things, I also have the joys of a scatty horse to contend with she's a bit nuts I'm debateing wheather to get a calmer just to take the edge of she just freaks out over anything we could walk past a bucket and yea it's scary. Silly pone no matter how much I handel her and bring her in she's still the same

Desensitising. Introducing her to lots of new things but in a quiet calm way. Putting new things in her stable...

 

[Cortez]

That's what i was going to do I was going to wait until next year but the vet wants me to get some of the weight off as she's 'obese' according to the vet. I tried to do a bit at the begging of the year and she got to the point I couldn't catch her and if I did she would rear buck and canter in circles whilst I tried to bring her in. I have backed quite a few horses successfully but she's her own breed haha, I'm definitely no expert but she's definitely a challenge

Is she not a four year old? Sounds like far from needing to "mature" she needs some basic manners installed ASAP, and some serious work to get the blubber off.

 

[becca1998]

Desensitising. Introducing her to lots of new things but in a quiet calm way. Putting new things in her stable...

She won't stay in the stable she tries to jump the door and freaks out when locked in

 

[becca1998]

Desensitising. Introducing her to lots of new things but in a quiet calm way. Putting new things in her stable...

Is she not a four year old? Sounds like far from needing to "mature" she needs some basic manners installed ASAP, and some serious work to get the blubber off.

She's got manners and yes she's rising 4 I got her from the sales and obviously someone has mucked about with her in the past as I had the Chiropractor out and she was certain that she had been driven at some point and when I got her she had nail holes from having shoes on that is why I wanted to leave her as she's not even 4 and has been driven had shoes on I thought she would benefit from being a horse for a year

 

[be positive]

She won't stay in the stable she tries to jump the door and freaks out when locked in

Well that might be one thing to get established, it is in her best interests to accept being stabled as you never know when she may have to be, training a young horse that has obviously had little in the way of good handling is going to take a long while, if she panics about every little thing then it needs to be done slowly and carefully, desensitising her to new and scary things rather than saying she freaks out at everything, horses don't freak out they react, we teach them to not react or to at least stop overreacting to new situations if they are going to be useful they have to want to work with us.
It might be worth looking at the thread in tackroom, "my next equine project horse" by Adorable Alice about her young horse who was very quirky but has now developed into a relatively sensible grown up horse getting out competing.

 

[becca1998]

Well that might be one thing to get established, it is in her best interests to accept being stabled as you never know when she may have to be, training a young horse that has obviously had little in the way of good handling is going to take a long while, if she panics about every little thing then it needs to be done slowly and carefully, desensitising her to new and scary things rather than saying she freaks out at everything, horses don't freak out they react, we teach them to not react or to at least stop overreacting to new situations if they are going to be useful they have to want to work with us.
It might be worth looking at the thread in tackroom, "my next equine project horse" by Adorable Alice about her young horse who was very quirky but has now developed into a relatively sensible grown up horse getting out competing.

She used to be stabled when I first got her but she's been so used to staying out over the summer i did try and she went through the door and broke the bolt

 

[Cluelessblonde]

She used to be stabled when I first got her but she's been so used to staying out over the summer i did try and she went through the door and broke the bolt

Was there other horses in stables? That's a Tad scary my lad is 4 and was a nightmare when I got him but now I've put a lot of groundwork with him and my non horsey hubbie can pull him in from the field and you would swear he was a 10 year old

 

[TGM]

To be honest, it doesn't sound like she has basic manners if she won't be caught, bucks and rears when you try to bring her in and bashes out of the stable! And freaks out at things like buckets. It might be worth getting someone professional in to give you a hand getting to grips with her behaviour before things get out of hand. It is all very well getting advice over the internet, but really you need someone there in the flesh to see how you handle the mare and how she reacts to get to the bottom of her problems.

 

[becca1998]

Was there other horses in stables? That's a Tad scary my lad is 4 and was a nightmare when I got him but now I've put a lot of groundwork with him and my non horsey hubbie can pull him in from the field and you would swear he was a 10 year old

Yea there was others in that's why I don't even bother Im not risking her hurting herself yea my bf can bring her in she isn't naughty just very sharp and she comes to call

 

[CrazyMare]

The thing with "sharp" horses is not pandering to the things that cause "freak outs" by removing them from the horses environment. Horses need to become desensitised to all these normal things.

 

[becca1998]

The thing with "sharp" horses is not pandering to the things that cause "freak outs" by removing them from the horses environment. Horses need to become desensitised to all these normal things.

I don't remove things I let her get on with it but when she's in a postion where she is going to hurt herself then yes I may remove the problem depending on the situation I'm not going to lick my horse in a stable for her to get stressed out and try and jump or go through the door. She is a lot better than she was but it's a working progress

 

[Cortez]

I don't remove things I let her get on with it but when she's in a postion where she is going to hurt herself then yes I may remove the problem depending on the situation I'm not going to lick my horse in a stable for her to get stressed out and try and jump or go through the door. She is a lot better than she was but it's a working progress

You need to address all of these problems ASAP. Not putting her in a stable because she freaks out is not going to solve the problem. Something as simple as bringing her in, feeding her in the stable and then putting her out every day, or better - twice a day, will soon solve that particular one. Gradually keep her in longer and longer and pretty soon she'll be barging to get in! It sounds as if you would benefit from some experienced help to get basic manners established.

 

[becca1998]

You need to address all of these problems ASAP. Not putting her in a stable because she freaks out is not going to solve the problem. Something as simple as bringing her in, feeding her in the stable and then putting her out every day, or better - twice a day, will soon solve that particular one. Gradually keep her in longer and longer and pretty soon she'll be barging to get in! It sounds as if you would benefit from some experienced help to get basic manners established.

I'm more than capable I have tried feeding in the stable and she won't eat it she just thrashes around her stable she doesn't need to come in she can live out 24/7 my issue isn't the stable I don't care if she doesn't stay in a stable

 

[ester]

The thing is that it is your responsibility to set this horse up for life at this crucial time point, in case you are no longer able to keep her at some point in the future, so being able to stand quietly in a stable is part of that!

 

[be positive]

I'm more than capable I have tried feeding in the stable and she won't eat it she just thrashes around her stable she doesn't need to come in she can live out 24/7 my issue isn't the stable I don't care if she doesn't stay in a stable

You may not care but one day she may have to stay in, for her own safety she needs to learn to cope it is just one symptom of her anxiety, you need to find a way to gain her trust if feed is not working then look at other options to gradually get her relaxed, a stable mirror works for many or a different stable if the one she is currently allocated does not allow her to see her friends.

Unless you know she will stay with you for life and make arrangements should anything happen to you then it is in her best interests that she is well mannered, can be stabled and is a useful animal that could find another good home should something change in your circumstances.

 

[becca1998]

Unless you know she will stay with you for life and make arrangements should anything happen to you then it is in her best interests that she is well mannered, can be stabled and is a useful animal that could find another good home should something change in your circumstances.[/QUOTE]
She won't be going anywhere I don't plan or selling her and she will stay in if shes hurt herself it's difficult because all of her friends live out 24/7 she came in last winter because she kept breaking out the field but as soon as it got warmer I could only leave her for a couple of mins and she would be drenched in sweat

 

[ester]

Many of us don't plan to have to sell/pass on our horses but it happens unfortunately, and it is much better for the horse if you can pass them on as a good citizen because then they don't end up being abused, or sent for meat.

How will she stay in if she is injured? Unless she is on 3 legs injured or strongly sedated?

So this horse breaks out of the stable, breaks out of the field and rears, bucks and canters in circles when you lead her in, and seems to have gotten worse in the time you have had her (when you say she did used to stable etc). It sounds like things have gone very awry OP and you need some help.

 

[becca1998]

Many of us don't plan to have to sell/pass on our horses but it happens unfortunately, and it is much better for the horse if you can pass them on as a good citizen because then they don't end up being abused, or sent for meat.

How will she stay in if she is injured? Unless she is on 3 legs injured or strongly sedated?

So this horse breaks out of the stable, breaks out of the field and rears, bucks and canters in circles when you lead her in, and seems to have gotten worse in the time you have had her (when you say she did used to stable etc). It sounds like things have gone very awry OP and you need some help.

I think I'm just going to stop this thread yes at one point she did get worse but she's a lot better now.

 

[becca1998]

Many of us don't plan to have to sell/pass on our horses but it happens unfortunately, and it is much better for the horse if you can pass them on as a good citizen because then they don't end up being abused, or sent for meat.

How will she stay in if she is injured? Unless she is on 3 legs injured or strongly sedated?

So this horse breaks out of the stable, breaks out of the field and rears, bucks and canters in circles when you lead her in, and seems to have gotten worse in the time you have had her (when you say she did used to stable etc). It sounds like things have gone very awry OP and you need some help.

I think I'm just going to stop this thread yes at one point she did get worse but she's a lot better now.

And she used to buck and rear but she doesn't now.

 

[Cortez]

I'm more than capable I have tried feeding in the stable and she won't eat it she just thrashes around her stable she doesn't need to come in she can live out 24/7 my issue isn't the stable I don't care if she doesn't stay in a stable

If you're more than capable then why is she still doing it? Won't stay in; won't stay out; rears in hand; canters off: what you apear to have is an unmannerly, neurotic nightmare that is in need of some drastic basic training. I would suggest getting some professional help before the horse is permanently ruined, or somebody gets hurt.

 

[Goldenstar]

To train a young horse that's had a poor start you need a plan .
You need to set your self objectives and work towards meeting them .
So if your horse was mine I would be leading it around and teaching it to halt and walk on from the voice .
I would teaching it stand while groomed and all that sort of thing .
The stabling thing must be dealt with .
Roultine is your friend in this sort of situation twice a day I would bring the horse into the stable and do a bit of handling .
You just have to be persistent and have a plan .
You also need advice on the ground from an experianced person who can see the horse and advise you the best training plan .
It sounds as if the horse may have been rough broke to drive when young that's a shame but it is what it is and you just have to work through it .
I would be walk lunging round the school and yard teaching the horse the voice commands and getting standing calmly and obediently .
I would not long rein before the horse is very calm unless you are very experianced and good at it , when you start long reining have a second person to help you .