I am an experienced rider and have done a good bit of Monty style ground training with a filly years ago. Recently, I purchased (low cost, basically rescued) two beautiful horses. The first one is a 4 y/o TWH, blue roan. She gaits naturally even out at pasture. She has nice ground manners and probably does exactly what she has been conditioned to do which is lead shoulder to shoulder. She is fine under saddle but has not been taught anything but reining such as with tight collected reins. She did not understand any leg aides. THe other is a 5 year old Painted Rocky MOuntain horse. SHe was trained western and responds to leg aides alright, she is still very dependent on the mouth. She has issues with stopping and standing. Both are fine to handle for grooming, trailering , feet, and mounting. This mare is impossible to catch while out at pasture and has been enticed with food so much that she is snoopy and invasive when you do catch her.
My plan of action when I get them home next week is to begin with ground zero: join up, follow up, dually halter for lead training, standing still from the ground. This should take about a week or so.
Then, we will do work from the seat? Or should I repeat more ground training with them with the long lines ect.? They rein well and are responsive, I just want them to be more responsive to leg aides as well. I don't like to ride with a tight rein and there is no need to get into the mouth of the TWH because she will gait regardless, no collection is needed there.
I would appreciate any guidance and feedback to my preliminary plan. Thank you.
Sounds like beautiful horses! If your comfortable with long lining I say it wouldn't hurt to do it once or twice. You could just free lunge them too. Also, I really suggest doing join-up more then once. It really helps the relationship with a horse. Monty's good "From my Hands to Yours" would help you! Hope it goes well and enjoy your new horses.
Thanks for rescuing those two! I always like to acknowledge folks like you that step up and take on the ones that need homes the most.
I have a couple of suggestions for you: on the mare that won't be caught, Monty just did a great set of vids that are posted on the uni here on just that subject. My other suggestion, which will work in conjunction with Monty's, is that you catch the horse you can catch at dinner and bring it in to eat. Leave the other one out by herself until she is standing by the gate, waiting for you. If she moves off when you try to halter her, move her off smartly at a canter, and leave her to wait out there for a while longer. Several rounds of this over a few days, and hunger, should start helping your cause in fairly short order. Make sure you enforce your personal space when you do get her haltered so she doesn't walk on you.
I would do long lining to make sure your basic rein cues are solid. As for the leg cues, you can teach those from the ground first. Move the hips away by asking the nose to tip to you a little and then push lightly with the stirrup on the ribs until the horse figures it out and moves the hips away. Remember to release the pressure at the smallest TRY. You may not get it exactly right at first. Reward the try with a release of pressure, and a rub. Move the shoulders by standing at the shoulder, tipping the nose slightly away with your hand and pushing with the stirrrup until the horse steps over with the front end. When this seems grooved in, then you can mount up. The cues should translate easily to riding if you've done your homework well. Good luck!
Good instruction for ground work re side cues. I will try that with my youngster ! Thank you !