Years ago I had to pass a dog 2 times per day and this likkle s*it was barking as if there was no tomorrow. I got fed up and decided to stop until he stopped. Moved until he started and so on. It took me a week and a half but he stopped barking when he saw the horses.
Now I had the idea to try that with Karma.
Sound 🔊 on
I think it never took so long to get through to a horse. He is so shy and sensitive. He is always on edge when I want to interact with him. I always go the extra mile to get him comfortable and he tries to be brave but it still makes him so insecure to be the center of attention.
A few months ago I tried to long-rein him and it was a disaster.
Today I tried again and he actually was very responsive. I would not say relaxed, but he understood everything just fine.
I started on his side, with the right rein on his back, in my right hand and the left rein on his shoulder, in my left hand. Later I switched sides.
I used a whip like I would use my leg on his side, which made a huge difference preventing him from turning into the wrong direction.
Why do I long-rein unridden horses?
Well, I get the aids behind the horse. The horse doesn't try to watch me but rather orientates itself on my aids - voice, rein, whip (which are later the legs). Also, I feel the horse grows confident, walking in front. I can easily intervene, if it goes into freeze by a simple change of my position.
To prevent "fighting", we must prepare the horse to accept the head piece for stopping and turning.
I have a Hackamore in use here. He doesn't understand the bit. I can introduce that later.
I am very pleased with our little walk today. For the first time, I had the feeling, he was actually willing to do something, anything, with me.
Quiana PSL (4yo) had her first Beach Ride (will post it on Adventure Riding later). We went off of the beach over this wooden trail to grap a coffee (was closed so we left :( )
This was very exciting for her. If confronted with seemingly difficult tasks, I don't let my trainees back off but give them time to watch first and judge the situation, until they decide to walk past. That way they grow selfconfidence and trust that I don't force them to do things they "cannot" do.
Very proud of this young sweetheart. Her three month training comes to an end.
#horsetraining #pslforsale #trusthorses #aljezur #horseridingportugal #horsemanship
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 🙏
