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Horse Behavior and Training

Two Problems

By:
LennyLlama
Date:
Hello!

I am getting a lovely chestnut tb named garfield. I have 2 problems:

- this has nothing to do with training but when i went to view him the second time, i fell off. It was completely my fault. I lost my stirrup, then because i was trying to find it again at a canter, he turned toward the float and i found myself clinging to the side, and which of course he thought it meant go, so he took off as i had my leg on him because i was tryin to hang on, and eventually i fell off. Does anyone have any advice that when your learbing ro canter, howto keep your feet in the stirrups firmly and any solutions to him turning towards the float all the time?

-Hes a bit girthy. Hes not majorly bad but its a bit annoying when its time to do up the girth. he will stand still but throw his head up and down and walk forward and backward. how can i stop this?

thanks :)

Tiggy, Tears
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Hi,re loosing your stirrups you need to put all your weight down to your feet, or as I do, I have an awful habit of in sitting trot drawing my legs up so I just shorten my leathers by a hole or 2. Teaching a horse to canter try using poles & a small jump to encourage him to canter, lots of horses will canter after a fence.For the girth problem just hold it against him until he stops fidgeting, then release until he realises it doesn't cause pain, school with the dually to help with this,then after a day or 2 do the girth up slowly. Hope this helps & remember Keep Smiling.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

I obviously don't know the whole story so before I offer anything else can I ask, are you sure you want to buy this horse? He is tricky to steer (heads for the trailer) and is girthy (many reasons for this. There are many horses around to buy so unless there is something really special about this one maybe think about finding a different one?

GregG
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Your story is dear to my heart. Fortunately I never fallen off a horse. I to have a floating problem when going into the canter too. Particularly if its a new horse and people are around. The cause, as I think in your case, is due to the distraction of others watching you. Again, this was not your horse. Your mind was on the owners and not the horse or your riding skills.

Your transition to the canter left you probably in the off-seated, posting position (just a guess). So your center of gravity (CG) was high and over the center of the seat. When the horse moved into the canter you were not down in the seat leaning slightly forward. Hence you floated right up out of the strips even though your whole body weight was probably right on the stirrups. Or from a physics point of view, the horse actually left you behind.

For me a canter its the same as just walking off from the rest position. Firm seat, slight squeeze of the leg/s and CG slightly forward. As the horses momentum moves forward you weight shifts right down into the stirrups. Many horsemen prefer to canter right from the rest position or a slow trot, when they are firm in the seat and their weight moves into the stirrups as they lean slightly forward. In short its all about balance. Walking, slow trot, fast trot, posting, looping, cantering, galloping and dead runs are all take just a slight bit different in balance and technique. Riding instructors just call this seat position.

I'm sure the horse is just fine as well as your riding skills. It was just a matter of concentration and your decision to make a deliberate change in gate. The horse may have anticipated your command and took off. Again, (in my never to be humble opinion) you were in unfamiliar surroundings, with not a lot of time, being distracted by others.

LennyLlama
Hello!

Yes I'm sure I'd love to buy him, turning to the float is a lazy problem, he just needs a bit of motivations as he is a bit lazy. He's a beautiful horse. The girth ing problem is just a minor problem, probably because he was raced, but over all he is an absolute sweetheart and better than any other horse I've ridden, he's very sweet and tries his hardest to please, I am assuming as Greg said, it was mainly my fault. He is very very quiet and wouldn't hurt a soul. He could even be used as a riding school horse as he's much like the horses I've ridden at riding schools. His name is Garfield which suits his personality, except a whole lot sweeter. I agree Greg totally, when something happens my brain switches off and I go into self defense mode, I don't even think and I leaned back and pulled my hands up, it was all a big mess but in the end each time I come off it teaches me to ride even better :) I think we have already created a bond as he slid to a stop when I came off and nudged me when I was trying to catch my breath :) he only turns for the float as he was out and just was being lazy and testing me as a rider, as I said I think he needs motivation :) if I get him I am going to try and make things interesting, do something different each time I ride or see him :) I'll give it a go at putting my stirrups up a hole, or try to dig my heels in a big more :)

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 HelpILove Horses,
reading this thread I was feeling some mixed message. You write he's lazy, although he was raced, and then you mention him taking off in towards the float. Sometimes we want one thing and send a message that means the opposite. Does he understand you when you ask for forward motion? Is your reaction to forward motion holding your breath and pulling on the reins? Just try to see the "video" before your mind's eye.
Shortening your stirrups seems a good idea, you could consider using a "Giddy-up-rope" to stimulate forward motion, remember not to pick up the reins when he does go forward!
Do this in a safe environment.
Stay safe!
Miriam

Tiggy, Tears
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Mentioning the Giddy Up rope, here in the UK we have Ann Summers (sexy underwear etc) & by chance they do something very similar! Bit shorter but will do the same job...

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Good grief Tiggy, now thats what I call adapted use!!! lol

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

Hey,
this brings a huge smile to my face, it might help HelpILoveHorses to relax and see the fun side of her two problems!
Still stay safe,
Miriam

Tiggy, Tears
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Yeah, Jen & I went in Ann Summers when we out with Jens mother, so we go in to embarrass her (we're always teasing her she's 85) spotted it then, the one from the uni is a good price but it's the postage!! The one in Ann Summers is identical with the handle & soft end but probably about 6" shorter, I'm always one for adapting stuff. I would make one but I wouldn't know where to start with the braiding! Glad it gave everyone a giggle, keep smiling...

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

:-) sorry HelpILoveHorses lots of good advice, but I couldn't help smiling imagining you hanging onto the side of the horse... Good camera moment.
x

GregG
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

HILH, I noticed you had mentioned several times, "it was my fault." I just wanted to say, don't want you to be so hard on yourself. My Alex gave me a good run yesterday. As always my balance is terrible. I need a lot more work when moving out of the fast trot into the canter. Mel would have likes to have a camera ready for my ride. Just keep at it and you'll be great.

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 Tiggy,
I did braid a Giddy-up rope myself. I bought soft knitting cotton, wound it around the posts of a twinbed, cut it, and started braiding, hanging it from one of the bedposts. This leaves a loop for your hand to go through. It needed a few stiches to fix, when the braiding was done, but I think it all costed $1.
Good luck!
Miriam

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Greg - always have some form of camera with me ;)
Miriam - excellent idea, I've got some spare wool so can do that.
X

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

Great idea Miriam!

GregG
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Two thumbs up for Ms. Miriam's Giddy-up rope!!!. I have seen them used by the horseman at the boarding ranch where Alex is at. They are short and hard as rocks. So when I read this post a few days ago I was perplex. I now they can hurt. Well I just finished WALTER WON'T GO FORWARD. Now I know and understand the correct use of a Giddy-up rope if I ever need one. Thank you Ms. Miriam. Well... Mr. Roberts and the University too.

Denea
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Hi Help,

I've noticed you frequently mention in a new post about buying or looking to buy a new horse and am just wondering how many you currently have and with a couple of them having issues are you going to have the time to put into them that they will all need (I'm not sure how many you have currently or taken on from the posts you have on here). I only have the one and have found he consumes most of my spare time even though he is not yet started (He's supposed to be going to the trainer in a couple of weeks providing he can stop injuring himself).

No judgements am just concerned you might be getting in over your head.:D

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