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Riding a young horse outside
I have a problem with my mare, she is going to be 4 years old and
I have a hard time getting her to do what I want. Until now, I rode
her on trail a lot, along with another horse. When I try to lead,
she refuses to go forward, walks on the spot. To make her trot and
to especially to keep trotting, it takes all my energy (even the whip
does not get her to go!). Could you help me resolve this problem before it's too late? This is a common problem with a very young horse on trail. The horse has not been trained enough to obey, is not serene and does not pay attention to you when you work him at home (in an arena), and he will hold back or get too excited on trail, depending on the circumstances. The base work of the first year of training (dressage or any other discipline - three good gaits, calm, forward and straight to repeat a famous quote) has not been done, or was not done carefully enough. Your mare
was not ready… Your mare
refuses to go forward when leading, because she feels she has to leave
her trail companion, which makes her worry. It's a source of stress,
or even of fear. And vice versa, when she is following a horse that
is going too far ahead or at a faster pace, your mare is scared of finding
herself alone, too far from the other horse. My advice
is to go back to basics. Work your horse at home or in a indoor arena,
to establish a true partnership and total confidence between you and
your mare. The trail
ride is to be led in the calmest way, only at the walk for the first
few times, and always behind the "teacher" horse. Progressively
increase your demands. To ride a young horse on trail is an entire philosophy… it is an exciting art, and a great pleasure for a self assured, serene and relaxed rider… |
Posture-position / Walk / Trot / Canter / Shoulder-in / half-pass / Flying change of lead / Pirouette /