As Western is not something I know much about I wonder if the horse gets dizzy spinning a lot. I know I would but I am not sure about how this works for horses. Anybody know.

I feel the same way, Ruth. My Nicky was Western trained and she can spin but it is not for me! We do a lot of sharp turning when cattle drafting in Oz but there seems little point to spinning.

Hi Ruth,
I'm not sure if the horse gets dizzy or not but I don't.
I love it and I find it is very beneficial for the horse.
Besides it's fun!!!!
They are really loose after you are done and as Monty says always put your horse through it's regualar warm up first. They really get flexable and it is part of western riding.
There is no feeling like it. I just keep my eyes focused on the horse's head and I don't get dizzy.
Something I learned in ballet class as a child while turning, focuss on a point and you don't get dizzy when you spin.
I think what Monty was saying about the feet placement is the horse will choose it's pivoting foot. As long as it is stable and grounded the horse will feel safe and spin perfectly. It takes practise but it is worth it.
Maybe it's like us, some are left handed and some of us are right handed ????? Just a thought.
It was great watching Monty, very exciting for me.
Ronda

I couldn't find this lesson could some one point the way there please.

Check out the Western Training Lessons - the spinning is in the firs and the last.

I have been working Princess on going, stopping, and turning, and tight turns, and yesterday she surprised me by spinning when I wanted a tight circle. It was great! I hadnt even got to that part yet, didnt think she was ready and wasnt sure how to go about it anyway, but she just did it. I wonder if its a cutting horse thing, since she comes from a long line of cutting horses? I thought the first time was an accident, but she did it several times, pivoting on her hind legs in one spot. To be sure, it wasnt fast, but it WAS a spin. I had just asked for a tight circle! She is such a dream to work with. Its like all I am doing is reminding her of something she already knows, which is impossible since I was the first person to ever get on her, and she wont be 3 years old until May 12. I have watched the western training lessons, but just hadnt tried the spinning yet, since she is still learning he basics.And doing very well, I might add. Obviously, she is ready.

Oh Phantom,
I am so proud of you. Way to go!!!!!
It is great, isn't it. Oh,oh are you going to be addicted now???? I was..
I envy you. I think my spinning days are over because of my balance problems but it is so nice to hear someone else is doing it, yeah....
How was Princess afterward? Only 3...that is great, what a girl.
Great job girl,
Ronda

She was fine, in fact, ready to go and do it again. Shes a wonderful little horse. And dont be proud of me, she did it. All the credit goes to her. I just went along for the ride and made a suggestion, thats all. And was it ever fun!

Thanks Maggie I will try again.

Hi Phantommustang - Wow! Well done! I think it must be something to do with the breeding. My quarter horse (Uggs) knew just what to do for drafting cattle too and he didn't have any training - it just seems to be inherent in some horses. Uggs was only two and a half years old when I first bought him. I initially kept him with my Dad's pet herd of cattle but when they had calves he started drafting the calves off the cows and putting them into the blackberry bushes. I arrived on the property one evening to find all the calves in the blackbery bushes. When I asked my old demented Dad why they were there he just said "I don't know - they just seem to like to run there". Next day I discovered why. Naughty Uggs would draft a calf off its mother then chase it into a blackberry bush. He did this to each calf until there were no calves left in the herd. Quite amazing to watch but it meant the end of his happy time with the herd of cows as he had to be removed and put in a separate paddock. He was very lonely until I was offered a little broken down colt as a companion for him. He was fantastic to ride when mustering Dad's wilder cattle from the back paddocks he knew just what to do. Totally wasted in Melbourne.

That must have been funny to watch, but aggraqvating, too, poor calves. Must Be a quarterhorse thing. When I got Princess, she was only 2 and a half too. I never had one before so didnt know what to expect. Still dont, she surprises me every day.

They are just beautiful horses - so smart and they really join up with you too. Sadly Uggs has been lame since Christmas Day when we had a huge hail storm so I am no longer able to ride him. The vet could find nothing wrong with his X-rays so concluded that his hooves have a slight fault in their shape. He has such very solid great looking hooves but apparently the slope of the back of his hoof is not parallel to the front and that is giving him concussion and inflammation given he is not shod. We are trying some natural balance shoes on his front hooves next week to see if they reduce his soreness. I was given bute to give him but he is too smart to eat that in any form - my warm blood just gobbles it up in her bread but not Uggs! All the best with Princess she sounds great and lots of fun - enjoy!

Lol, Maggie, that is a priceless story! Love it :)

I have a question, re: spinning. What is the spin for in relation to everyday cow horse work? Watching the videos, I can see its training benefits, but i'm wondering how it is used in everyday stock work?
I have only ridden English style, so I dont know heaps about Western riding, (I grew up in the city, can you tell! ;)

Really enjoying the Spinning Series. Interesting the way to get them to turn in a circle. It is amazing that you release the pressure on the reins after they start spinning. The most interesting part about this lesson is how teaching this to your horse benefits other areas of your training. It all makes sense now and I look forward to teaching this to my horse when the time comes. Having a QH with the breeding to work cows makes it easier to understand all these western lessons. Watching the lessons, trains my eye to see what my horse is doing when he is practicing these things in the field.

MaggieF that is Cool that your horse does that. My QH separates the goats into more compatible groups. Like you, it took me a while to figure out what he was doing. It wasn't until I had to separate the goats at night myself that I saw I picked the same groups my horse did ;o) Wow It is amazing what you can Breed into a horse.