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Posts: 12
Nov 19 12 6:01 AM
WiltedRose wrote:Theosmom wrote:By pulley rein do you mean like draw reins?NO. Absolutely not. The last thing you need on a bolter is draw reins. A pulley rein is when you off-set you reins by raising one hand slightly higher than the other and pull back. The only time I ever do this is when I absolutely can not get a bolter to stop by half-halting or circling. I don't like one rein stops with a bolting horse because (a. it is very rare that you will actually be able to physically get a bolter to turn its head and (b. they more often than not set a horse off balance and set them up to stumble and fall. I only do that as a last resort when all else fails in stopping them, because it is not a pleasant feeling for them and I hate doing it. However, when I'm on a 1200lb animal that won't stop, I will do it briefly to get them under control enough that I can circle them down.I have to agree with everyone else though. It really sounds like you need a trainer to coach you through this. There is absolutely no shame in it, and even if you have to stick to ringwork for a while until you can scrounge some money up for a few lessons that would probably be the safest bet. (I definitely understand about the money. I'm in college as well, working full time, and putting every scrap of change into my horses care, not into lessons. Sometime you have to just stick with what is safe until you are in a better position)
Theosmom wrote:By pulley rein do you mean like draw reins?
Posts: 2321
Nov 19 12 6:17 AM
Theosmom wrote:WiltedRose wrote:Theosmom wrote:By pulley rein do you mean like draw reins?NO. Absolutely not. The last thing you need on a bolter is draw reins. A pulley rein is when you off-set you reins by raising one hand slightly higher than the other and pull back. The only time I ever do this is when I absolutely can not get a bolter to stop by half-halting or circling. I don't like one rein stops with a bolting horse because (a. it is very rare that you will actually be able to physically get a bolter to turn its head and (b. they more often than not set a horse off balance and set them up to stumble and fall. I only do that as a last resort when all else fails in stopping them, because it is not a pleasant feeling for them and I hate doing it. However, when I'm on a 1200lb animal that won't stop, I will do it briefly to get them under control enough that I can circle them down.I have to agree with everyone else though. It really sounds like you need a trainer to coach you through this. There is absolutely no shame in it, and even if you have to stick to ringwork for a while until you can scrounge some money up for a few lessons that would probably be the safest bet. (I definitely understand about the money. I'm in college as well, working full time, and putting every scrap of change into my horses care, not into lessons. Sometime you have to just stick with what is safe until you are in a better position)I didn't think draw reins would be a good idea either thats why I was so confused! Also, he has never tried to hurt me, when he spooks its like his brain goes into overdrive and it takes some doing to get him to listen again...
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Nov 19 12 6:28 AM
I remember the first time I saw a rattler curled up in my path. This one didn't look like a rattler, but I was still thinkin' 'snake'.
Nov 19 12 7:05 AM
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Nov 20 12 6:44 AM
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Nov 20 12 8:55 AM
thesophies wrote:This horse has your number and no amount of walking him about in hand will change that. Either ride him out with another horse in front of him or have a trainer out to ride him through his shenanigans when he starts. And like someone else recommended, if you are forced to ride him back to the arena make that arena ride the hardest most boring arena lesson of his life. Then see if his perception of trail riding changes any.
Posts: 12928
Nov 20 12 2:04 PM
Trixina wrote:I'm going to treat this as a lack of confidence issue, rather than a lack of respect. Arabs (in particular) who aren't handled consistently from a young age trust their own instincts much more than they trust the people handling them. Out on the trail, this guy may be thinking, "This is scary, I'm outta here!" and not, "I'll get to go home sooner if I throw a fit with this wussy." Here's how I've conditioned my young Arabs to the trail: take them out with other horses. Another horse can reassure your guy that this trail stuff is OK, and actually quite fun. You say you can't pony your guy from your other horse- that's too bad, because ponying is an ideal starting point. Get someone else on a steady mount to ride out with, or, ideally, more than one. Put your guy in back, in the middle, in front for short periods that become longer as he gains confidence. LOTS of trotting, which gives horses something to think about other than the bogeyman behind every rock and bush. Lots of this, lots of this, lots of this. When you do go out solo, lots of trotting. If you feel him starting to get nervous, put him into a trot. Sing while you ride- it will relax both you and the horse. And I'd put him in a sidepull or something else bitless that would give me good control over his head. Make sure you accustom him to any new equipment thoroughly before taking him hacking with it. If this isn't possible, for me this would not be my trail horse. If I didn't want an arena horse, I'd sell him. Life is indeed too short to ride a dangerous horse.
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