Youngsters Attitude

dianchi

dianchi

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Had a bit of an interesting Eve last night,
Decided to do some ride and lead with mother daughter team (21 and my rising 4yo)
Now we have done this in the past without issue but tonight madam decided to nap to the gate in the field we were walking round (not that there was any fencing as its being re-done today)
Walked her round on a circle to get her moving again and then when realised what i was doing she threw a strop and threw herself on the floor.
Id let go of the reins, told her to get up which she did and picked up the lead again did another circuit and she did it again :(

However then picked herself up again, come back to me and then worked very sweetly and we walk trotted and cantered as a pair round the field.

Now im not looking for suggestions as how to stop it, im pretty sure she learned her lesson as i quite happily let her fall on her arse (better this way than with me on her!)
However im on a livery yard and as ever i got the-" oh i wouldnt have continued if mine did that"

Im quite happy and secure with my youngster (this is the most "interesting" thing shes ever done) and how im training her is working well, instructor is happy with how ive started her and we are planning a walk trot outing soon for her,
But do people really give in when youngster resist something new?
Or am I entirely wrong?

(BTW she is entirely fine, was most shocked look when I let her throw herself down and didnt stop her, her mother is a mild drama too)
 
No I think I'd have done as you did, you were in safe area (ie not on the road) and know the horse best plus know her mothers temperament too.

Of a vaguley similar nature, my youngster objected to her foot being picked up last night in that she went to snatch to put it down as she was distracted by something (she's just moved yards so everything is distracting lol). I immediately moved her feet, picked the offending leg back up and held until she stood with no resistance (a couple of seconds), so a similar in that she tried resisiting but I carried on until she did as she was told.

Consistancy is always best, if your youngster had learnt this time that if she napped she got away with it, that could be the start of a slippery slope as far as I'm concerned.

Ignore the interferers, or do as I do and just nod politely and carry on as you were ;)

x x
 
Absolutely if she had thrown her self on the road or on concrete I would have probably got off and checked her thoroughly before continuing, but was in a grass field.

Also the fact I didnt let it bother me seemed to confuse people- what exactly is achieved by panicing and shouting at them?
 
Haha glad to see there are other's out there like me!
To be fair most on my yard are fab and are very nononsense, but we've had the odd one who's a panic'er.

Calm and confident is my thinking for my youngster, she's my first one of my own so I'm very aware that I might be doing everything wrong but she's survived her first 5 months with me intact :D.
 
Many years ago I was asked to assist a friend whose newly (professionally) backed pony was collapsing when mounted! They didn't want to get on to demonstrate so being young and stupid I got on myself. The ponies legs did indeed buckle, I automatically gave it a sharp tap with a whip and its legs instantly regained composure and it waited politely for further instruction. The poor animal was just completely confused as to why it's riders were getting on and off so quickly. I rode her a few times, she never did it again.
 
AlexHyde said:
Haha glad to see there are other's out there like me!
To be fair most on my yard are fab and are very nononsense, but we've had the odd one who's a panic'er.

Calm and confident is my thinking for my youngster, she's my first one of my own so I'm very aware that I might be doing everything wrong but she's survived her first 5 months with me intact :D.
Click to expand...

I keep thinking that ive kept it alive for 4 years (5 i guess if you count pregnancy) so i cant be that bad :)
 
I don't bat an eye for stuff like that - I have a 'get on with it' attitude.

I would have completely ignored her misbehaving and walked her around and past the gate until she was bored of it. Way too many people give up at the first sign of trouble with horses, then wonder why they are rude and never do as they're told. You did the right thing!
 
I completely fail to see, how on Earth you could have ridden/handled that any better. Proven, by the fact you had her toeing the line within minutes! Why do people feel the need to comment??

I think it's a general rule of thumb, that whatever unsolicited advice you receive on a livery yard, it's highly useful, as an indicator you should be doing the total opposite.

I think your youngster and mare are very fortunate to have you! Close ears and kick on!!! :)
 
dianchi said:
But do people really give in when youngster resist something new?
Click to expand...

I hope not (and for the record, I don't)! It's probably one of the fastest ways to get unwanted behaviour and an unmanageable horse... If the horse doesn't understand, that's my fault and I step back and try something else, but 'drama' (as you've described) is gently and persistently worked through :)
 
To be honest if a horse decides to go down on the floor what can you do apart from wait until it gets up, no amount of shouting and panicking is going to help the situation, I would have just carried on with what I was doing once she was up hopefully she will realise that sitting on the floor is not a very good place to be and just get on with what is asked of her, I think you did the right thing:)
 
Yes - ignore useless comments (I know it's annoying!).. You seem to be doing a decent job enough, quietly and consistently working through the inevitable tantrums. Well done!
 
SkewbyTwo said:
whatever unsolicited advice you receive on a livery yard, it's highly useful, as an indicator you should be doing the total opposite. :)
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Oh my god, I nearly wet myself laughing!! SkewbyTwo you have it spot on.
Dianchi - you are so doing the right thing. I am constantly amazed at the problem horses that are created by people not showing a bit of 'horse-sense' these days. I took a youngster out hacking with someone a while ago on an old horse and she constantly pointed out every bike/dog/person/bunny/oncoming car etc. and tensed up everytime. I had previously been out with the same horse and a different rider and it hadn't batted an eyelid at anything, but with this person it napped, shied, and began to look out for every bike/dog/person/bunny etc. etc.
Bring back calm and sensible is what I say. Horses will always be horses but humans don't need to be panic-monkeys.
 
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