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Mollychop
10 Feb 2010 17:18
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So much fantastic content on the site, I keep coming back to it for more. Have you covered anything about making schooling sessions fun for horse and rider? I loved Richard Maxwell's lunging the lazy horse video and I would love to see what he would do riding the bored and switched off. I bought my mare from a riding stables and she has no respect for voice,seat,legs or crop when doing circles and in general schooling. She is, however, a joy to hack out and mannerly on the ground. I just keep thinking that someone at horse hero will have some ingenious strategy that could turn our sessions around.
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Horse Hero Guru
10 Feb 2010 22:42
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Hi Mollychop
Having been in a riding school your horse has spent much of her life going in circles being ridden by people of all abilities. She has learnt that circles are boring and that the easiest way to get through an hour’s lesson is to switch off and ignore the aids of the person on top. All she has to do is to follow the horse in front.
She enjoys going out for hacks because that is different, stimulating and enjoyable.
What you have to do is to make your schooling interesting so that she realises that there is something in it for her to enjoy. Don’t spend ages going around a school in circles - use ground poles, use music, try doing mounted games, play polo – use a ball and a long stick and try to dribble the ball around a couple of markers – use your imagination to make things fun. Do most of your schooling whilst out hacking where life is more interesting. Let’s face it – if you had to spend all your life going in circles around the same small area, you would get bored mindless too!
If you find that she is ignoring your aids then teach her that she has to listen. To do this don’t keep nagging with your heels. When you ask for an increase in pace, make sure she is ready by giving a quick half halt then give the aid gently. If she ignores you, ask again more clearly. If there is still no response then demand using a strong kick backed up with voice and stick as much as is necessary to make her jump forwards. Make sure you don’t pull her in the mouth when she goes. Let her keep going forward for four or five strides before bringing her back to the original pace and repeating the process. She will learn quickly that it is a lot easier to respond to the first nice rather than being driven in to over reacting.
Good luck – just make sure that life is fun and interesting for both you and your mare
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