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Horse Behavior and Training

Green horse

By:
Mimi (Salto Uruguay)
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

I have started a young horse 11 days ago and now I'm riding him every day but he doesn't want to move forward. I tried to use the giddy-up rope but he spokes and gets very nervous.
When he after some time standing there, me trying to get him to walk he starts walking but to close to the fence so I make him make some small circles like Monty sais in one video on the uni, (the only thing is that I do it at a walk) but then he starts to walk small circles around the center of the round pen. If I try to get him back to the rail he gets to close to the fence again.
What should I do?

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I think there is a problem of communication. As a general rule you should go one or two steps back in the training when something does not work. My proposal: Go back to the round-pen. Teach the horse what pressure of the legs means. Work with two persons: light pressure of the legs that disappears immediatly when the first step forward occurs. The second handler can move the horse forward with the Dually until the horse has understood what you mean.
Be patient. You have got very far for only 11 days!
Rudi

Mimi (Salto Uruguay)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

He normally understands what leg pressure means, because, some days I can make him trot only useing leg pressure. It depends on the day some days he would stop only one or two times and some days he stop all the time.

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Mimi,
Could you ask someone on another horse to be your leadhorse and just follow that horse in the arena or roundpen. Give your green horse time to understand what is being asked of him. It'll be easier for him to follow that other horse and find quality in moving around with you in the saddle. Don't confuse him with the giddy-up- rope yet, he's just a baby...
Keep us posted on your progress, stay safe,
Miriam

Mimi (Salto Uruguay)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

i was thinking the same thing but hier we have only two other foals and no one i know has a horse hier around.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Hi Mimi I will just echo Rudi's comments - seems you have come along way in 11 days. Perhaps riding him everyday is a bit too often too as I think it is better for the young green horse to have at least one if not two rest days in between training and riding. I would go back to more ground work and concentrate on having him understand your commands of walk, trot and stop either on the long lines or a soft lunge rope on the dually discipline ring try to keep a loop in the lunge line so there is no pressure except when you ask for the transitions. Get him used to listening and obeying your voice commands and also more work on responding to pressure. By the way how old is he - I am assuming he is only young and if so remember Monty's saying "slow is fast" - be patient, keep the training sessions short and always try to finish on a positive note. Good luck!

Mimi (Salto Uruguay)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Today while riding he only stoped at the begining. But he was trying to squeeze my leg between him and the fence and him all the time.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

It will take time but you do need to make him more responsive to pressure so he responds to your leg aids.

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Mimi!
Wouldn't it be the right time to watch Florian Oberparleiter's lessons here on the UNI, to teach the horse to yield to pressure from the ground?
Check them out and let us know if this helps you and your green horse.
Miriam

helene
Hello!

Hi Mimi
I am also interested go know how old he is? I had a similar issue with my last horse I backed at 2 and a half years old. When we started riding him out he would often just stop and refuse to move forward, Even if the older horse who was leading the ride would conbtinue on up ahead he would just stand stock still. This I attributed to a confidence thing. He lacked the confidence as we got further away from the yard. I just dismounted and lead him for a bit and then re-mounted and we would ride on. This seemed to unstick him. If he stopped again i would just repeat. I also did a lot of long-lining, including out and away from the yard. This all helped and within a few months we were hacking out on our own and he was fine. Just be patient and try long-lining if you can get as far as doing it out and about it really helps to build their confidence. It is a pity you don't have an older horse to assist you as this is invaluable at this stage but since you don't, ground work would be the key i would say. Good luck and keep us posted.

Mimi (Salto Uruguay)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Now I had to stop training for some weeks because it's raining every day now and when it's not raining the round pen is wet. Hopfully the wether gets better.

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