My horse, a trotteur Francais, refuses to go over a ditch, he apparantly put a foot in it one day and since then nothing can make him, not even food!! However, he goes over small not-so-deep ditches along the road but not when the ditch was made on purpose for an outdoor trekking for example.
Hope I'm clear in my explanations, as i'm French...
Thanks a lot
Not sure I understand? I don't mind a little fear of ditches because big ones are dangerous, so I try to avoid them myself!
Is he completely scared like avoiding even getting near them or...?
Start out small and let him learn incrementally. If you have a dually and long lead, lead him over small ditches... ones that are easy for him to cross and then increase the level of difficulty. Be careful not to get in his way if he jumps, hence the long lead. You'll have him crossing in no time.
Thanks a lot for your advice, I'll try that quickly because I Will soon have to go over some large ditches as part of an outdoor competition! So I can ´t avoid them!!
Moreover, to answer thehomemadehorse, he CAN come close to a ditch, even sniff it but he won ´t pass...
If you are in a hurry Virginia it will take longer, it's the paradox of horsemanship ;-) don't think about the competition, go at it as if you have all the time in the world. And if he is not ready for the competition then don't enter, there's always next time. Good luck.
It shouldn't take that long if you have a dually and long lead and follow Kliene' s suggestion. Gloves could be a good idea too. Don' hurry though and stay calm but insistant. Perhaps you have graded ditches at you local riding school which would really help. Once you succeed in getting him over the smallest ditch then keep him going over it until he is totally relaxed and it is all old hat then mount him and ride him over it a few times. Dismount and do it all again on the next stage ditch.. Good luck. - stay calm and patient and lots of encouragement when he moves in the right diection. NOT a Monty recommendation but if he is soft muzzled and not inclined to bite. I would give him a little bit of carrot when he makes it - this will help to calm him down ready for the next try.
Yes indeed, i Will take my time and be patient.
I have tried a join-up and it worked, my horse now follows me but he does it only in the round pen not in the pasture or outside when i lead him to the barn for example. Does it mean that maybe the join-up wasn ´t entirely successful?
If you have achieved join up then follow up only a couple of times I doubt if you could expect your horse to follow you after the session has ended. The folow up is specific to the aftermath of join up. When you are leading him to the barn you need to use the dually to teach him to lead nicely at the sweet spot not behind you as in follow up.
Hi Virginaia: Join Up is a process that begins one of trust and communication - it is the beginning of this process. In the field there is grass - hard to compete with ;-) As Maggie says, just keep working with your Dually and you will develop the relationship. Join Up is not a method to get your horse following you everywhere, don't worry, if he trusts you, he will come with you in time.
Virginia - once again you do need to buy a dually for all of this advice to work for you !
Virginia - once again you do need to buy a dually for all of this advice to work for you !
Thanks a lot
I'll get a dually as soon as I can
I know you will find it all so much easier when you have one!