https://www.facebook.com/quartercircledoubled/videos/1206949189394268/
Do you have problems with your horse doing a slow walk when leaving home and then miraculously on the way home they have a great working walk?
First of all, this is a very common problem but one that the rider needs to be aware of. One way to work on this is to do a lot of stopping and starting with them. Getting control of their feet! This starts on the ground with leading them.
The horse needs to understand that YOU control the amount of life in their feet! It takes work and effort on our part to help them get good with this. By asking the horse for many transitions helps to have them accountable to us for the control of their feet. Commonly we have not gotten our horses good enough at following the feel of our lead rope, let alone understanding the meaning of the rein in our hand.
Everything we teach on the ground with our horse should have a direct meaning to them when we are astride. So if they sometimes lead well, but other times almost seem to plant their feet or want to change the direction of travel on their own, it will be no different when we are riding them. It is easier for the horse and rider if we get them proficient on the ground first.
There shouldn't be a hesitation or refusal when leading or lunging the horse. If there is, then continue working on this on the ground until the horse is consistent about going the speed and direction you are asking of them. Only once they understand this on the ground should you expect them to respond accordingly while being ridden!
Doing a lot of transitions with your horse while riding them helps to remind them that you are aware of their feet and since you taught them this on the ground first, they will understand very quickly that there is no difference between the two.
The key is for us riders to be fair and consistent, helping the horse to relate what we have already taught them on the ground and how it transfers to when we are riding them. It is important for us to be aware of this and proactive about it, rather than wait for a problem to arise and then try to figure out how to resolve it! Or get in war with our horse, blaming the horse, when we haven't done our own due diligence!
Happy Trails! - Dawn
First of all, this is a very common problem but one that the rider needs to be aware of. One way to work on this is to do a lot of stopping and starting with them. Getting control of their feet! This starts on the ground with leading them.
The horse needs to understand that YOU control the amount of life in their feet! It takes work and effort on our part to help them get good with this. By asking the horse for many transitions helps to have them accountable to us for the control of their feet. Commonly we have not gotten our horses good enough at following the feel of our lead rope, let alone understanding the meaning of the rein in our hand.
Everything we teach on the ground with our horse should have a direct meaning to them when we are astride. So if they sometimes lead well, but other times almost seem to plant their feet or want to change the direction of travel on their own, it will be no different when we are riding them. It is easier for the horse and rider if we get them proficient on the ground first.
There shouldn't be a hesitation or refusal when leading or lunging the horse. If there is, then continue working on this on the ground until the horse is consistent about going the speed and direction you are asking of them. Only once they understand this on the ground should you expect them to respond accordingly while being ridden!
Doing a lot of transitions with your horse while riding them helps to remind them that you are aware of their feet and since you taught them this on the ground first, they will understand very quickly that there is no difference between the two.
The key is for us riders to be fair and consistent, helping the horse to relate what we have already taught them on the ground and how it transfers to when we are riding them. It is important for us to be aware of this and proactive about it, rather than wait for a problem to arise and then try to figure out how to resolve it! Or get in war with our horse, blaming the horse, when we haven't done our own due diligence!
Happy Trails! - Dawn
