Hi fellow members,
I just wanted to open a topic for me to write about my progresses with horses and ask for help when needed.
So at the moment I am leasing Derek who has just turned 4 I think. He has a really sweet nature, not an evil hair on him, he always wants to be with you, which is great but he does not have great ground manners, like he'll just walk into you.
I am very grateful to my parents for getting me a subscription to this uni, where I have found solutions for situations where I would otherwise be left miffed, however I do not have Monty equipment such as the dually.
I have tried to come up with things that may have a similar effect as it. For example, when trying to teach Derek to walk and stop by my shoulder, I will hold a stick/whip across my body so that Derek bumps into it if he walks over me. I also tickle him in the chest with the stick to ask him to back up, and he's slowly learning all that. On the uni I learnt single lunging was not good so thank god I haven't done too much of that as I could free-lunge him! I loved seeing him synchronise with my body and seeing him improve his jumping! However I have little experience in that so I am sure I am nowhere near perfect haha!
I have not done join up with him, however he does follow up quite well so I don't think there is an issue there.
My boyfriend comes several times so I teach him all that, and honestly him and Derek are doing so great together! Even though Derek is already a quiet horse, I want to go over the basics again, like standing still at the mounting block and moving off pressure, so I love to see my boyfriend doing some of that ^^
I have had trouble backing him up when riding, so last time I tried Monty's idea 'out of a corner'. I didn't have a fabulous corner but I think it worked anyway! So happy about that.
When riding he is the very lazy type so you have to ask a lot for going to a trot for example. He is not yet collected nor has a nice head/neck position but we'll work on that. I find that when I ask for a canter he gives a kick, so I wonder if there is something bothering him there - it might be the way I'm sitting when asking for it, I don't know. Definitely not using a whip though!
So that's where we're up to now, and everytime I feel like it's only been 30mins when it's been 1.5hrs and I have to rush off x) . However I noticed that when I take him back to his paddock or stall he yawns a lot haha. The only issue is that I don't really know if the other riders/carers handle him the same way I do which could affect my progress in groundwork.
Otherwise, at the end of April I will be staying in a horse riding centre and helping out looking after the horses and at lessons, in exchange for lessons! And the best is... the instructor is Monty Roberts qualified!! :D
Hi Alizee,
Congratulations on your leasehorse and the progress you're making with him ( and getting your boyfriend on board!).
Just some thoughts after reading your topic: Derek is a young horse, he seems to be a very nice fellow, no issues apart from a little lack of respect for your personal space.
This is something I'd advise you to work on, not only you, but all other handlers will profit from it, but most of all Derek himself! He'll learn clear bounderies, that'll make his life easier and less prone to conflicts and potential dangers. Young horses (any other horse..) are looking for a leader, if you don't take that role, he'll be bound to take it himself. So please be the leader your horse is looking for, he's a herd animal and needs to know if he's safe with you. Here I would suggest you try to get hold of a Dually halter, it'll give you more than only this tool to work on bounderies, it'll be there when you decide to try longlining, you'll have a bitless-bridle etc. It has a DVD that comes with the halter, where all advantages are shown and explaned. Maybe for your next birhtday.....
Now on cantering: a young horse might need some time to find his balance in canter.
He may do very well when free lunged, but keeping his balance with a rider on his back is a step up. Could you wait with the canter until you're at the new riding center with the MR Instructor? He/She will be able to help you build up the balance, so Derek doesn't learn to resent the canter.
Don't make your sessions too long, time flies I know, but here too you want to help the young horse to look forward to the next session! Yawning is a good sign, relaxation after work done, but don't overdo his workload.
Have fun, but most of all: let the horse have fun!
Keep us posted,
Miriam
Hi Alizee
One of the principles of the dually is that it makes the head collar uncomfortably, although not to the same degree you can achieve the same desired effect ir you lead on the head collar from the side ring and not the chin ring. Then when you school to create the boundaries the head collar twists becoming uncomfortable.
Do try and get hold of a dually though..
As it's not your horse you will find he will treat you differently than he does others, even if he plays up with others because how they are with him he will remeber you are different. It's that difference that helos the horse bond with you and resoect your leadrship.
Mel
X
Hi Mel & Miriam, thank you for your advice and I agree with you on using the dually which I don't have but yes maybe my next birthday!!
I don't want to disappoint anyone, but however in 2 weeks when I go to the centre with the Roberts instructor I will probably stop leasing Derek, I can't take him to the centre anyway as I do not own him and as I mentioned somebody else is also leasing him. It is sad but I am sure I will learn a lot over there!! Also Derek is the type of horse that definitely can't be fed by hand - he gets completely careless about you if you give him food!
Hi Alizee,
Is it a disappointment for yourself that you won't be able to take Derek, or is there a chance that you lease another horse at the new centre? In that case wait until you buy a Dually halter, they come in different sizes, from mini- to draught-horse....
Just one more question about Derek, what do you mean he gets careless about you if you give him food? Does this mean he respects your space even less? If so, this proofs the statement, that the leadmare would never let another horse come into her space and eat her food... Be that leader!
Will you keep in contact with us?
Miriam
Monty does not recommend feeding by hand at all as this associates hand and food together which can create biting.
Training a horse to eat by hand requires leadership skills so the horse is clear on the boundaries.
For my horses I treat by hand as a herd, like this...... I call out 'treat' in a high pitch voice and they all charge over to me, then in hierarchy order I give each one a treat, each one has to wait till I offer it to them. At the end I hold my hands up and say 'all gone' and they go back to grazing.
Another way I sometimes give a treat is when I'm eating something myself and they take interest. They're not allowed to take from me and get sent away if they try, however if they stand waiting I'll offer them some of my food, vegetables. I've seen in the wild horses and my own herd share food with each other so follow this principle I take a bite and offer it to the horse asking and they take a bite, then I take a bite again to finish the vegetable, being hierarchy I take the most.
To do this though leadership has to be displayed.
The same comes with their feeds as we feed out in the field an order has to be there else there would be a mess. Each one has to wait their turn to get their food in hierarchy order, if one of the lower ones come first I stand and wait for the leaders to come and send them away then put the food down. I had someone look after my horses a while back and they through they were just well trained, so I showed her what it would be like if I didn't do it in Equus and hey ho there was pushing, fighting and a mess lol. Equus amazing language and leadership recognition works every time.
Enjoy your training time Alizee
Mel
x
This is such a wonderful opportunity for you; take all there is to learn, soak it up and enjoy :-) The right horse will find you when you are ready. Your teacher has appeared (Monty Roberts Instructor), the right horse will too.
:
You will be the envy of many having such a work experience; let us know how you get on
Hi Alizee: What a wonderful thread. The information is so-oo meaningful and yet there is a softness and caring to all of the comments. This thread takes me back to when I started up with horses, and I thank you all for that flash-back of very fond memories. It`s a wonderful journey and a great time in one`s life. I only wish that you all would have been present to help me through the years` of trial and error education. I am very thankful to have found Monty Roberts when I did.
.
Alizee, I would suggest that you stay very close to the folks on this forum, because they represent the true backbone of what horsemanship is all about. THEY CARE!!!!.
.
.
That is so-oo cool that your boy friend is coming along for the journey, also.
.
Best wishes, Bud USA
Yes Bud you are entirely right, thank you everyone for your kind and helpful comments, not only on my thread but everywhere there is so much to learn, and you have the experience!