bending and such???

[bethfornow]

Hey yall,

I'm new to this site and just purchased(sp?) a beauitful buckskin paint gelding. he's powerful, talented and a great mover.

Here's the kicker: he's hard. I don't mean he's hard to get along with, etc. I mean he has a hard mouth and is extremely NOT sensative to anything so getting into his mind has proven very difficult.

Keeping him thinking seems to help loads but I was wondering if any one knew any tricks to help "soften" him up, especially to leg pressure and the bit. Would bending him help? I've tried it some but as soon as I let off him a little bit he goes right back to the way he was.

Thanks for any input!
Bethany

[horsesxox23]

theres a bending excercise that u can do from the ground and saddle that will teach him to give to slight pressure, and one that will get him to yield his hindquarters, the bending one-stand a little behind ur horses shoulder on the ground with a lead rope attached to his halter, bring the end of the lead rope in ur hand to his withers, bring enough pressure on the rope to bend his head toward u, dont yank on him, just enough for there to be some resistance, hold him there, it might be a while, so u can rest ur hand on his withers, as long as there is still tension on the rope, when u feel even the slightest give or slack in the rope, release the pressure, it means that there is going to be pressure in that spot unitl he gives, then immeditely reward him giving to pressure by releasing it. his head should have been bent toward u, sry, forgot to mention that but it seems self explanatory, and if he goes to move him hindquarters around in a circle, just keep the pressure on until he is standing still AND gives, every time u do this, the amount of time and pressure should be less, and u can eventually do it with the bit and from the saddle, to get him to move his hindquarters(good for ground skills, respect, and under saddle) take a branch, or crop that is long enough for u to reach his butt when standing by his shoulder, stand by his shoulder, take the stick and tap the air above his hips with the stick, if he doesnt move his but over tap him, keep tapping him harder every four taps, until he moves his but, when he moves his but, even one step(hind legs cross over, not run away), stop tapping and rub lightly on his hips with the stick until he stops, then praise, (during the excercise have his head toward u w/ halter and lead rope, that way if he trys to kick at u he cannot, his butt will go the other way because his head is toward u), once again, every time u do this he should become lighter, and eventually u should just be able to poke him with ur finger(u can also create a voice command like "over")and have him move his hindquarters immediately, this worked wonders on my morgan gelding, he used to be like a brick wall to turn, now he will give at the slightest touch

just remember to have patience. and that violence is never the answer, firmness when necessary, but always with reward after

good luck and tell me how it works out!!! :D

[bethfornow]

thanks soo much!!! I'll keep you posted.

[StarGirl]

Buckskin paint????

*drool*

Do you have any pics???

That's my all time favorite colored horse, but they are so rare I could never find one for a good price. :)

[DixieGirl]

you could do bending which is going around in a circle till the horse stops. :)

[StarGirl]

Just wanted to add that the worst thing you can do is move from harsh bit to harsh bit, gags, etc. My advice is to get a trainer with a good reputation, they can help.

[bethfornow]

Unfortunatly, it rained buckets today so I didn't get to try any of your advice so far.

I work/board/train at a barn of a very good trainer who helps me when she can but I've preety much taken up this "project" on my own.

When I bought him, he was being ridden in a shank with a LARGE sweet iron port (1 1/2") I immediatly took him out that but then only bit that he hasn't totally ignored is a small twisted-wire snaffle. Somone suggested I use a gag bit to "get his attention" then back down to a regular snaffle again. I think thats just a little mean but...Any comments on this????

Every time my lovely retard see's a camera, he turns his butt to it so I'll have to wait till he's under saddle or in the pasture to get some good ones but go to my profile to keep updated.

Thanks again for all the advice!!

[Concertedeffort21]

Here are a few excercises for you..

1: Lounge before you get on to warm up his muscles.

2: if you ride in a fence in area walk in both directions along the fence and stop by turning him to the fence pull the rein to your hip and kick his but under him

3: serpentines and quick turns to swing his but under him.. bring the inside rein back and add as much leg as you need... this will kep him listening and stuff his butt under him.

4: While walking or trotting around and he is really stiff and hanging on the reins or getting speedy you can do a one rein stop....
First shorten your inside rein ( to about 14-16inches away from the mouth) and DROP! your outside rein take ur inside rein gently to your hip and he is going to turn into a circle.. when he stops keep the rein and add the inside leg and when his back legs cross over take your leg off. When his mouth soffens at all then drop the rein.. You can do this to strech his also as soon as you get on but make sure between stops you let him staighten out.. It is a really good excercise.

Let me know how it works!!

[bethfornow]

Update:

Willie (my buckskin) got bit REALLY bad by a pasture buddy so I haven't been able to ride him in about a week but before that we were making serious progress. I always lunge him before I ride. Mostly to see what kind of mood he's in but also to help work off his grass belly!!! :D

Last sunday, I worked him in a small twisted snaffle (so I could stay in his mouth) to work on bending. Serpintines. Then I put him in a western pleasure shank to work on his speed.

I have never been so happy with his proformance. I guess changing things up on him really works.

Concertedeffort: the spinning stops helped alot

Thanks so much for all the advice, any other Ideas I'm all Ears!!!

Bethany

[saddleseatsweetie]

the best thing i can suggest is picking up on one reign to bend his neck in that direction and really push on him wiht the same leg(use spurs if he doesnt respond to as much pressure that is possible from ur legs) do this until you feel him give on that side of the reign then do the same with the other side
my hjorse was the same way now his mouth i like butter in your hands

[DressageDoll]

He wants you to really grab his mouth, because that is the way he has learned to avoid work is have you grab the bit, so here is what a would do.

AT THE WALK, Use a long crop like a dressage whip and ride on a 20 meter circle bending him very deep to the inside while pushing with your inside leg and try to make him go side ways around the circle, use the dressage whip to aid your inside leg. Don't give up til' you really feel him cross his back legs, once you get a few steps of side ways straighten him back out. Do this exercise a few more times to this direction and then switch directions and do it the same way this direction. You may have to spend 30 minutes at the walk, but you will find he will be more attenative to your leg this way.
If he is pulling on you half halt and give a kick and then place your hands forward and light, refuse to pull on his mouth because it's his way of evading.

Most of all remember if you can't bend him and you feel like you have 20 lbs in your hand you should feel like you have 40 pounds on your leg. Most horses with mouth problems don't have mouth problems at all, they are just dead to the leg. Your leg should lighten your horse and your hands should be moving minimally. It may be a pain in the butt and alot of work. But having a horse that is truly THROUGH is more then worth it.