This is one of the reasons, I like to start our horses on trails, without other horses.
Really early into their training, I join this separation. A safty measure, if you want, that the horse relays rather on the rider than other horses.
This was her first "parting" and like always, she did a great job. Due to her young age of 4, I ride her max 2 times per week and join the 3 main gaits, walk, trot, gallop. She is way too young and way too early in her training to introduce collection.
Let her get forward and steady, before she is collection-ready ☺️
Anyway, I am a very proud nanny right now
This is kind of surreal.
Normally I start older horses around 8 years old, because no one dared or for whatever reason they are not ridden by that age yet.
Very often the first attempts failed and made a new start complicated. Either the first "trainer" was too harsh and scared the horse or wasn't consistent or... 100 reasons.
Anyway, mostly I start horses that need a special care.
Quiana grew up with us. She had all her important FIRSTS with me - halter training, grooming, hoof care, lunging, long-reining, trailer loading, you name it. I spent so much time with her.
She was so tiny when she moved in at the age of 6 months and now she is so matter of fact being sat on by me.
This is the second little ride I had on her today. Yesterday I went about 15 minutes "around the block".
I can only empathise that long-reining is such a wonderful tool in getting them used to the person being behind, the voice commands, the bit, going forward in the front, I could continue and go on and on about it...
I still can't believe how easy she has been so far. Even getting her tacked up all by herself in my yard.
I love it so much!
It's a long video but I cut as much as I felt good cutting and left as much as I thought might be interesting (SOUND ON) Look for yourself and tell me, what you think?
Karma came to me super nervous and insecure. First thing she did, was kicking every horse in her vincety so that I needed to separate her after a few minutes. In the beginning she would not let me get close to her, when I held the rope and we had to "dance" a while for her to let me take her out. The last two days though, she came to me and rubbed her forehead on me, even with the rope in plain sight.
This ride from yesterday is showing her potential and willingness to embrace her new life. She is being very brave and forward. Her first 1 hour ride included about 30 minutes of FREEZE. This 3rd ride now had her freezing just a few minutes.
In the past, I sometimes got scared horses into water the first time by turning them around and getting there backwards. Inconventional? Yes! Does it work, preferably low-stress? Yes!
And as you can see here, except the first incedent shortly after leaving the paddocks, Karma gets out of her freeze and moves on.
Believe me, I tried other actions, but without any success.
Pay attention to her ears. She is getting really comfortable and my inicial impression of her being numb on the leg was seemingly also part of her freezing. She was actually much more responsive today.
Looking forward to her future.
#horsetraining
#horsebusiness
#greyhorses
I brought all her tack to the paddocks, because no way is she standing still long enough to even groom her.
We had a little 10 minutes "conversation" until she felt safe enough for me to take her on the rope. Of course we had some quiet soothing moments before we went to the area I chose to groom her in. She followed me willingly, all tacked up and ready. She also walked quite nicely onto the street, close to the paddock across the road. There it started: she backed up, refusing to go forward, away from the others. With some time and traffic (we are training in an urban area) she moved forward. Stopped, went. Stopped, went. One time she flat out refused to move forward so after 20 minutes, I dismounted and pulled her. This is not my usual way to do it, but I try to adjust to the horse and it just felt like she was getting worse with time. My job as a trainer is to get stress out of a situation and not build it up. We went over her mental barrier, I could mount her easily, but she was still stuck mentally. I decided to turn her around and "approach" that obstacle backwards. It worked like a charm.
After that she just went with it. Whatever direction, whatever obstacles. But we went home so she got agitated quickly and wanted to rush. I turned her a lot, I stopped, which stressed her. But we got home.
I took her to the grooming area and untacked her. We went back to the paddocks and had some downing time.
Later today I could give her some caresses and she was happy to have me.
I hope she will trust herself more and more over the next weeks.
She feels lost. She is so beautiful 😍
#adventureriding #beachride #ilovemyjob #trusthorses #horsemanship #horses #horsesofinstagram #trusthorses #ilovemyhorses #ilovemyjob #atlantikportugal #urlaubinportugal #pferdeliebe #horsemanship #horsetraining #horsesinbalance #cavalo #pferd #pferdetraining #greyhorses #freehorses #rescuehorse #equestrianlife #pferdeMädchen #littlelife #aljezurlife #reiterhof #pferdebusiness #horsebusine
Very insecure and nervous mare. I need to show her, that she can count on me. That I am her partner even without other horses.
Opening a new chapter 😍
#adventureriding #horses #horsesofinstagram #trusthorses #ilovemyhorses #ilovemyjob #countryride #atlantikportugal #urlaubinportugal #pferdeliebe #horsemanship #horsetraining #horsesinbalance #cavalo #pferd #pferdetraining #scootboots #chestnuthorse #greyhorses #freehorses #rescuehorse #equestrianlife #pferdeMädchen #littlelife #aljezurlife #reiterhof #pferdebusiness #horsebusiness
He is relaxed being groomed without other horses in the yard for longer periods now. Also is not to bothered to rush home anymore.
Next step: getting the saddle on 😊
Second Chance, our soon to be 5 year old colt, is being more and more comfortable on his outings. I have been walking him about every other day and gave him so much attention on the paddock. It was always his best buddy soaking in all the cuddles and he was a happy bystander. Now the focus is on him and he's is getting used to it, not enjoying it just yet.
Very introvert, very pacific, very clingy to other horses. Submissive but not quite giving the room to his new herd. He is getting close enough to be seen but doesn't engage in big confrontation. A born diplomat.
You wouldn't believe how many people with young, unridden horses ask for specific exercises or for the correct bit!
What can be better than spending time and bonding on a walk?
With a solid foundation, you only need a halter.
Often I find that the basics are missing. Basics like leading, hoof picking...
I like to keep my hand on him so he can get used to a constant touch on top of him. And that is all the exercise needed.
Second Chance lived happily on fields for 5 years. After we got him as a gift, he needed to get used to humans. At 10 months old, he didn't know people. I walked him for weeks and he was a sweet, shy colt. Later he moved to the country side and sporadically needed to show his training when the trimmer came for his hooves or we needed to change fiels. I actually walked him maybe 5 times in the last 3,5 years and this week he just moved back to the village.
I want to get a routine by walking him every day. He doesn't understand what happened to him. His whole world shattered. His best friend is gone, his home, too. The new horses hate him. I want him to look forward to our time together.
Let's see how it goes 🙏
Sometimes trainers are being slandered for not having lasting results. The truth is that the training never ends and a horse is always a mirror of its environment.
I like to compare it to a car! Wait...
If one gets a nice running gasoline car and starts filling it up with diesel (maybe because it is cheaper), it will stop running fine in a short time. So the car needs to go to a mechanic who will clean it out, refills it with gasoline and it starts running nicely again.
If the owner gets it back and hasn't learnt to fill it correctly, but refills it again with diesel... You know the answer to that.
Do you remember the wild colt from some weeks ago?
His mom learned to communicate with him in a way he understands easily. Look at how far both have come.
This is only the second walk out of the safety of their paddocks.
She should be proud of herself for listening and following tips.
A well educated horse assumes a well educated human. No screaming, no hysterical movement, no pain, no constant pressure.
A loose lead rope, so the horse can move it's head freely. Constant adjustment, easy flow. Impulse commands - just reminders for speed or direction.
I am in love with this pair.
Foals are like small dogs, too sweet to be mad at.
But imagine a 400kg Chihuahua...
Easy rules prevent behaviour like in the beginning of the video. But what if the boundaries are already gone? It is never too late. Physical distance, simple movement, good timing are the first step to a relaxed walk.
This colt learned that he is much stronger than the human and can easily get away.
Jumping, screaming, pulling is not the way to go, because this young horse sees it as a challenge to play-fight.
I was called with the first part of the video and took the second part at my second visit.
His mommy is very open and starts to understand the boundaries she has to uphold.
Very well done her 😍
