so i need advice on riding.
I show this horse, Zeke in an equitation class,
and i ride saddleseat so i have to keep my hands up.
but when at the walk, if i bring my hands up (instead of on his neck),
he tenses up really bad and starts to do this nervous little trot/jog thing.
but when im showing, i cant do that.
i ride in a full bridle, so do you think it might be that im using too much curb?
and like i cant use any leg on him, except at the canter because he'll buck.
you dont have to know anything about saddleseat,
but if youve ever worked with a horse that doesnt like to walk or know something that might work,
can you give me suggestions on how to keep him calm?
i try saying whoa, walk over and over, which helps a little but not all the way.
oh and sorry if im not supposed to post these kinds of things....
its just im showing real soon, and i dont know what to do.
Just talk to him a lot, quietly and calmly. As you probably know, horses are extremely sensitive to the emotions of their rider. If you tense up and get nervous, so will he. Staying calm and relaxed even if he does begin to trot will help him to slow down. Half halts may help, as well. Best of luck.
Maybe he's anticipating something. Like if you raise your hands when you ask him to do something he may associate it with that. I'd try just riding round with your hands at the level they're supposed to be and wait till he starts to relax. Don't do anything else differently and he'll soon get the gist of it!
i don't have a clue what a hunter seat is ( i guess we use different terms over here) but will try to help you anyway!
what happens if when he starts to jog you put your leg on and play with the snaffle rein? i doubt you'd be using too much curb as this would encourage him to overbend. you need him to come forward into your hand which he isn't doing is his head is up and he's jogging.
are you sure there's no underlying physical issues? this could explain the jogging and the bucking, as not being able to put your leg on is a problem because you need to be able to do this to get him to really swing through from behind.
do you have an instructor who could watch you ride to see if they can pin point any problems?
good luck.
xx
& the language of love letters is the same as suicide notes
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I used to have a horse who acted similarly to the one you're describing. I found the best results were had by sitting really quietly in the saddle, and mad as this sounds keeping your leg on all the time, so when you have to apply pressure it doesn't cause him to start. The hands on neck issue, using to much curb does sound like a possibility, maybe his bit doesn't fit or is uncomfortable? I used to use an English hackamore - certainly not ideal but it was the best I found for my lil un. Oh and as ever just stay nice and calm and keep reassuring the horse. Do lots of work with him on his own, lots of lateral work - try to get him working steadily at home so when you take him out he's not completely freaked. Oh, one last thing, make sure you give as much as possible through your hands, soft hands might stop him throwing his head so much. Remember to keep your position and posture correct but comfortable and try to use your body weight as much as possible as an aid.
thanks everyone...
i know that he is healthy though.
he's a retired show horse, and i think its just his personality.
but hes been checked out by a vet and everything.
another thing i didnt think of before, is that he's real sweet so they let little kids ride him, even in a full bridle and they let him get away with things like that. =/
and i would keep my leg on him, but with the discipline that i ride, we have to keep our calves off of them at all times, unless youre trying to get them to change gaits.
and i do have an instructor, but i can only get 1 lesson a week... and with all this rain that we've been having, we arent able to ride because our riding ring is outdoor and its too wet. like our barn is on like a major flood zone. =/ but yah thats the reason i asked, is cause im leaving on the 14th and the show is the week after... so i might not be able to take a lesson before i ride... so im like greeaaaattttt. lol.
and i already thaught of the bit problem, but he has a special one, that moves so that he can play with it, to keep him distracted. lol.
thanks everyone. like seriously. it was stressing me out. haha.
haha i had no idea so many people on RYL ride. =)
Hey Kelly,
I too ride (not saddleseat, however--my horse and I are more into dressage), and I also have a fair amount of experience in horse-whispering (join-up, ttouch, the like). A lot of people have made good suggestions; I'd just like to add another possibility and to emphasize a few others that have been mentioned. Your emotional state is incredibly key to your interaction with Zeke; it may explain why he's sweet with kids but tense with you, or it may not, but it's important to consider calming yourself before the show if you're prone show-ring anxiety. Something that I find helpful (keep in mind, however, that I've encountered horses who don't seem affected by this in the least) is a type of homeopathic remedy manufactured by Bach Flower Essences; it's called "Rescue Remedy". If you have a Whole Foods store in your area, they sell it there. It's a little pricey at $12-$15 a bottle, but a little goes a long way, and I'm not sure how but it does work. My horse can find unfamiliar trails a little spooky so I give some to him and take a few drops myself if I think he might start at something. Another example of how it works is that my horse is a. terribly afraid of clippers, and b. very sensitive about his legs. He had dew poisoning recently and I decided to clip his legs so I could better treat the scabs; he wouldn't let me come near his legs with those clippers at first. I gave him 8 drops of Rescue Remedy and within 5 minutes, he was standing still as a statue without so much as flinching as I clipped his legs.
If possible, a lot of hands-on body work (rubs, the occasional unnecessarily-long grooming session, etc.) will help establish a greater bond between you two and will help not only in the show ring, but whenever you work with Zeke.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth & Quinn
Last edited by delusorydesigns : 05-07-2007 at 01:49 AM.
Reason: typo, additional sentence
