Youngsters First Schooling Lesson Didn't Go Well

devilwoman

devilwoman

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I took my rising 4 year old to instructors yard, unfortunatley as we got her tacked up and off the box it started bucketing down (however, she drives in the rain so thought we would continue), started off with lunging for about 15 mins, she was very good, then instructor got on (its the first time she's been on her although my son has been on her several times just walking round on lead rein) first of all I led her round menage, filly was good as gold, behaved very well so we let it out to her on lunge, instructor was pleased with how she was listening and doing as she was asked, literally just standing and walking on, changing reins, etc, THEN things went pigs up, she decided she'd had enough so stopped dead and refused to budge, instructor was trying to coax her on, was not carrying a whip so nothing nasty was used, just talking to her, gentle squeezing, etc, then instructor said for me to walk in from middle and help her by leading her again which I did, at this point she walked about 2 steps then dropped to her front knees and proceeded to roll fully tacked up, thank god my instructor lept out the side door as she hit the ground. She didn't get right over but did get onto her side so my lovely new saddle is now caked in wet sand :D

We checked her over when we got her up, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with her but have booked back lady just incase, she had her teeth done a month ago and all was well there, besides the usual teething for her age.

Does anyone have any suggestions what could be wrong, or was she just being an outright naughty teenager !
 
No, she isn't being a teenager.................she's a baby! I am sure as she progresses things will become less and less "random", but I firmly believe little, little lessons are the way forward with babies. I think she had actually done quite a fair bit, combined with the weather, new people, the journey etc. The trick is, to stop while they are still enjoying it, not tired, and not fed up. Lots of praise, then do a tiny bit more next tiime. I had a four year old who, when he had decided enough was enough, would simply lay down, whereever/whatever he was doing. We quickly learned to judge better, and stop on a good note with lots and lots of praise. Frequently, when they are really young, it takes longer to tack up than you spend on board, but that's just the way it is. Think of it as "nappy stage" - seems to last forever at the time, but when they are all grown up, you can barely remember it!
 
With the weather and the work she was most likely feeling wet and itchy, she doesn't know that she really should scratch that itch under the saddle while you are on her. All a huge learning curve for a baby.
 
Oh bless her, that is funny, glad your saddle/instructor is ok.

I would really laugh that one off. Sounds like she thought the sand school could be far more fun for rolling in than for working in.
 
My youngster had tried to roll with me TWICE in a sand school. First time he actually got down and I lept off, and got him back up before he could do anything else. But tbf I couldn't really blame him, he had been in over night (was at a riding club camp) and probably just saw it as a good opportunity ;). He has since tried it again in another sand school, however I felt him start to stop and knew he wanted to go down so just gave him alittle tap with the whip and kicked him on :p. I just think it's something they have to learn not to do. Just warning you though, if they do it in a sand school, they may do it in water ;).

Atm I would just keep the schooling session short and sweet :), don't push too much. She is only a baby :).

P.s with a baby you have to think why they are doing what they do :p. Like with Max I could understand why he probably wanted a role. And like Sammii819 said, it could be because she was itchy and didn't see why it would be a problem to role as that's what she would do in a field ;).
 
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Sounds like baby behaviour to me too.

I used to know an old mare that was a lesson horse and she was fine in every medical sense, but used to just sit down when she'd had enough. Was very funny.

Not funny for you, but hey at least she didn't buck or bronk! :)
 
does she actually know what legs etc mean and does she understand the forward button when at home?

sounds like a lot for her to take in in one day- new enviroment, new rider, new aids and rubbish weather to boot!

can your instructor ride her at yours for a bit so she is at least confident in her surroundings?
 
my horse did this the first time i rode her, got on her in the stable all fine, long reined and lunged prior so ver good with voice commands. took outside into field waked twice round lunge pit and fine so came out into arena to wlak round and she got right down and rolled. got her up and took her out for walk with friend at her head. she hasnt bothered again. think it is a baby thing trying something new to see if it stops you asking her to do things. be firm but kind and she will progress.
 
One of my youngsters needed a roll if there was even a drop of wet om him - rain, sweat, anything! He'd chuck himself to the floor and roll! The good news is that at 5.5 years he's outgrown this need and learned to control himself. He now manages to wait until the saddle is off and then he's right down! Sometimes he even has a drink first :)
 
Made me laugh!!!:D
She's still very much a baby at this age so has the attention span of a herring, 15mins on the lunge is an awful lot really for a baby physically, it's the equivalent of an hour hack!! Just do little and often and don't over load their tiny minds! - even it takes 3 x 10mins sessions in one day to achieve what you want, and always stop once they've done exactly what you asked so you always finish on a good note!!:D - aren't horses fun!!!!:D:p
 
Don't forget that travelling in a trailer is like work for horses, with all that shifting weight etc to try to stay upright. Especially so for a baby who has not yet really learnt the art of balance! :D
 
Thanks for all the great replies, glad she's not the only baby to have a roll with rider !!

Thinking back on it now, she had been stabled overnight and was straight out onto trailer, whereas she normally gets turned out and first thing she does is roll - so I am to blame for that I will arrange her lesson for p.m. next week I think.

To answer a few questions ;=

Can't ride at home too much at moment as we only have a very small grass paddock and it is very slippery at moment so don't want her to slip and hurt herself.

Trailer journey is only 5 mins away but too far to walk and would be crossing a very busy dual carriageway, so luckily she doesn't have to travel for yonks.

She knows more voice aids than leg aids as she is broken to drive, instructor was trying to use mainly voice but putting some squeeze in at the same time as giving her the voice aid.

The time she was on the lunge was only walking in each direction, but as you have all said her attention span is not much than a nano-second so next week i'll make sure everything is kept to short and sweet.

We were just about to finish when she decided to do the roll, it was one more walk round then to end on a good note, unfortunatley she'd had enough ! bless her.

Thanks again.
 
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