Riding alone

[iluvcreek4vr]

hey so i ride at a barn that isnt usually that busy and sometimes i end up being the only one there(i like it sometimes but hate it sometimes too) but Creek kinda has been having an issue of acting up whenever he is ridden alone(head throwing, trotting to fast, cutting corners, head held high, etc). I know that he needs to get his confidence up and learn how to behave when being ridden by himself but i am not sure how to do that. Anyone got any tips?

Could he also be this because he can see the other horses out in the field eating and playing? Thanks alot!

[alliekk]

That's tough because you have a limited schedule with him. My suggestion would be to always ride under the supervision of someone with a cell phone, wear a helmet, and don't try teaching him something new or schooling him in something he's not comfortable with. Just keep him at a walk and only jog when he is calm enough to handle easily without him running off with you. Work on half-halts, and only jogging for a couple steps and then calmly going back to a collected walk.

[iluvcreek4vr]

Sorry but i think i worded that wrong. I am wondering how to get Creek more comfortable with being ridden alone because the barn i ride at isnt always that busy and i like to ride by myself sometimes to help with bonding.

[ForeverEquine]

Hmm, if you have a strong ground relationship then he should adjust easier to you riding alone. Just be a strong leader and don't let him get away with anything. If he does something that you don't want him to do, correct him, firm but within reason. Then ask again and keep repeating until he does his job correctly. Reward him after with lots of praise/treats.:) And remember if he's acting too unpredictable or you're not comfortable, it will be better to just do ground work or simple routines that he's used to. No need in getting hurt.:)

[jstrobbe]

Agree whole heartedly. Bonding can be done even with ground work, I was hurt extensively from riding a horse and luckily my husband was home and could call an ambulance for me, usually I did this with no one home, had done it many times before on the same horse. Please be careful. New rule around here, no riding without someone around or I have a cell phone on me but if you aren't conscious then the cell phone really doesn't help. I went out cold afterward which is when he called the ambulance. Trust me you don't want this to happen.

[iluvcreek4vr]

Thanks for your tips! One of the barn owners is always there and i always have my cell phone with me. Also Creek and i trust eachother and have a pretty good bond so nothing has happened with me riding alone except for him being a butthead. I have almost been bucked off at a lesson once or twice (but he was a butthead than) and thats about it.

[alliekk]

If you're worried about his head-tossing, then I would suggest draw-reins or a martingale under EXPERIENCED supervision. If you want to game (I've seen a couple of your posts suggesting so) then I would definitely bite that head tossing habit in the butt early before it gets out of control. Ask a trainer to help you with some warm up tips and show you the proper way to lunge with his head tied down(this wont hurt him as long as it's done properly and under experienced supervision) so he knows that is what he is doing today, working with his head down.

[iluvcreek4vr]

thanks alot for the help everyone! I dont really want to use side reins or a martingale or a tie down or anything since he wasnt trained to use those and he might be confused by them and get more upset. but the thing is that he only tosses his head when i am riding him without any other horses around. I check him but than he just does it again. I am thinking about trying a new bit but not sure which one to try. Now now he just has a snaffle. I actually switched from a straight bit with d-rings to the snaffle so i dont know if i should switch back or just keep working with the snaffle. help please.

[DixieGirl]

I ride alone all the time! it's really boring so i listen to my MP3 player!! :p

[iluvcreek4vr]

Its not really a problem of me being alone(i like it just fine eventhough it can be boring at times) but the problem is him being a butthead about being ridden alone. I should ask for a Ipod for my birthday so i can listen to music too! :)

[DixieGirl]

ny horse was like that. I went out and bought a crop and she was PERFECT for me!

[Manda]

If you want him to stop with the head tossing, I suggest the martingale or tie down. It's not going to confuse him. It'll show him that he's not to put his head up, there isn't anything confusing about it. After a while, he'll probably realize that his head is to stay down, and you won't even have to use it anymore.

[iluvcreek4vr]

ok i will try a tie down next time i go out...i just have to find one probably in the tack room. Is a tie down safer to use than a martingale? jw cuz someone at the barn rides with one and it works well with her horse but i dont think it would work with Creek.

[alliekk]

It may or may not work with him. I would suggest you use it for the first time when there are people there and a trainer who can assist you in the proper setting and length. I personally think that both are unsafe in the wrong hands, but my preference is a martingale because it has relief when pulled on whereas a tie-down restricts how high up the nose goes. My horse, Beau, cant be ridden in a tie-down, no matter how loose it is. If it restricts his movement in the least he panics and flips himself backwards. At least you can slacken the reins on a martingale if he starts to panic.

Another suggestion, rubber reins. Get some rubber reins to hook to the ring of his SNAFFLE ONLY and then hook them to the D-ring of your cinch, it allows him to pull safely, but uncomfortably so it may deter his will to toss. (just remember to get 2 bungees the EXACT same length so he doesn't get confused with that)... you can also use a bungee on his tie-down, but make sure you have a breast collar for any type of tie-down you use. good luck, hope these help

[iluvcreek4vr]

Actually today he did really well. He trotted slow with his head down(he only put it up when the peacocks ran across the arena) and didnt try any attitude with me at all. So i think i am going to try and see what happens next before i try a martingale or tie down. I really wouldnt like to put something on him that restricts his head movement so i am just going to see how this turns out in the next couple weeks. Thanks for all your help guys!!! :D Anyother tips that you guys have about working with him over the winter(minnesota winter) while reinforcing keeping his head down would be great.

[alliekk]

Flexing and leg cues and such. Do things that don't require speed, but do require thought. Have him stand still and pull his head to your boot, once he relaxes and gives to the rein release and praise him, then go to the other side. Work on his backing up, side passing, and pivots as well.

These will soften his mouth and help him learn to respect pressure so that when he does toss his head you can make contact with his mouth and he will understand that that means listen. I'm not saying this is a long time thing because eventually he will have to listen at all times and you wont have to do anything to remind him of this, but it is a lesson that rarely fails.

Did you do anything differently in your routine of grooming, feeding, and tacking up when you last rode and he was good? Think back and see if maybe it was warmer, you did something in a different order, or maybe you went at an earlier/later time of day or whatever. Maybe he liked whatever you did differently.

[iluvcreek4vr]

K i will try the techniques that you told me to do! Thanks alot!!! Actually the last time i rode him i was in a hurry cuz it was getting dark and i picked out his feet than brushed him pretty fast so i could start working with him(i dont usually move that fast but it gets dark around here about 5). He eats hay out in the paddock and than gets fed grain at night so he was fed at about 5:45(which is normal) and the tack was the stuff he always used. It was cold here like 45 degrees or something and he has his full winter coat and all that so i dont know what would be different about the last time i rode compared to anytime before it.