my new two year old!!!

[april2982]

this horse i bought in Feb. and she is such a great horse but this is my first time training a horse could any one give me pointers? she is really smart trailers, fine for shots and the ferrier, she has great ground manners she just doesn't quit get why i want to get on her back and starts bucking and bolting...? when i tryed the first time she took off and got loose then the second time i got on her and stayed on her but she was very tense under the saddle after she bucked a few times!!!

 

[circlet]

there's so much left open-ended to your question it's about impossible to give you a good answer without giving you 100 answers.

all i will say is that the majority of horse trainers and colt breakers have left the "get on and hold on" ways and have instead shifted to a great emphasis on ground training and preparing the horse that way.

if you are an inexperienced horse trainer, don't be embarressed or proud, simply find someone who can give you some pointers. for all of us, most everything we know we learned from someone else, so there's no shame in it.

you can find excellent sources of advice lots of places, and terrible advice EVERYWHERE. if you go to liverystable.net, kevin wescott is a professional trainer who gives advice on that site, he is a friend of mine, i would 100% trust his opinion and advice on anything to do with horses.

 

[april2982]

Thank you very much i will definatly check him out!!!! like i said her ground manners are absolutly awesome the vet and ferrier both said that she had a great disposision!!!

 

[flaboy?]

At 2 YO I would start doing ground work rather than climbing on her right away. Lay a good foundation and you will have a far better horse and be much safer on her back.

Teach respect from the ground and you will get it in the seat. Teach her flex from the ground so she knows how when you get in the saddle. Once in the saddle flex her before you try to move her. Teach her to stop on one rein at the same time. Pull the left rein far enough to have her spin when you get on, let her spin until she stops. As soon as she does stop release.

Before getting in the saddle, drive her with driving reins even if homemade. She will soon learn to yield to the pressure which makes control in the saddle much easier.

Wow, I could go on but these are the VERY basics. Hope it helps.

 

[circlet]

flaboy? i have never used driving reins and never been around anyone while they were using them, but a friend of mine swears by them.

do you think they really are a good way to start? do you feed them thru the stirrups back to you? how do you cue the horse forward when you do it?

 

[april2982]

awesome question!!!! it's through the styrups right????

 

[flaboy?]

You can go through the stirrups but I would hang a D-ring or similar device on the girth strap buckle of the saddle. You can get those type that clip on like a big key ring. Just make sure they are big enough to let the rope slide easily. Make sure your driving reins are long enough to keep you behind the horse a good 5-6 feet. I prefer 7-8 ft.

You put direct pressure on the rein you want her to give to and use the other rein around behind her buttocks down a little. You just swing it a little to tap her with it.

I had never used it until some folks on here (I think it was ALACOWMAN) suggested it for a problem horse I have. I have used it and recently went to a training seminar and saw a professional using it also. It reinforced to me how well it works. It gives the horse training on steering without you having to be in the saddle to do it. You can also work one-rein stops this way. Use one rein and ask her stop, if she does not, tell her to stop, if she does not, make her stop. By this I mean, say "whoa", if no stop, say "whoa" and give a little snatch on the stop rein, if no stop, say "whoa" and pull her head around until she stops. You may have to circle her a time or two depending on the horse.

 

[DrumRunner728]

flaboy, I have a two year old I'll be dropping off at your place tomorrow morning. :D

 

[flaboy?]

flaboy, I have a two year old I'll be dropping off at your place tomorrow morning. :D

Yeah sure and I will have coffee and doughnuts waiting for you at the front gate. :lol:

Actually this horse stuff is getting in the way of my cow stuff. I am actually thinking about taking my 2 YO to a trainer near me just because that is all he does. I have already worked mine through the bad stuff and I just need someone to ride him everyday and work him into a cow horse for me.

Heck I already did most of the work I should get a discount. I have rode him maybe 15 times. The last two out in the pasture with the cows. He is needs work at going into different gaits from a walk.

 

[DrumRunner728]

Yeah sure and I will have coffee and doughnuts waiting for you at the front gate. :lol:

That will be super! Just cream, no sugar. See you about 8:00? ;-)

 

[flaboy?]

Yeah sure and I will have coffee and doughnuts waiting for you at the front gate. :lol:

That will be super! Just cream, no sugar. See you about 8:00? ;-)

2% or whole milk? 8 works for me. :P

 

[DrumRunner728]

I prefer fat-free Half & Half. ;-)

 

[flaboy?]

I prefer fat-free Half & Half. ;-)

Ok DrumRunner here is the picture. I loaded the generator in the front end loader so I could keep the coffee hot for you. I drove 30 miles one way at 5AM this morning to the doughnut shop. Waited at the front gate through about 5 cups of coffee and the deafening noise of the generator :tiphat: . I gained 5 pounds eating all those doughnuts by myself. I had my best-est cowboy hat and boots on so I would look professional for ya and you didn't even show up.

So, here I am stood up again by yet another of the female persuasion. :tiphat:

 

[DrumRunner728]

Obviously, I just missed you. I had to stop and buy diesel - you shoulda given me another 10 minutes. ;-)

 

[flaboy?]

Obviously, I just missed you. I had to stop and buy diesel - you shoulda given me another 10 minutes. ;-)

Well, at least is wasn't that old excuse "I had a run in my pantyhose". :lol:

 

[DrumRunner728]

Sweetie, I can't even begin to tell you that last time I wore a pair of pantyhose. :P I'm a boots and jeans kinda girl. :cboy:

 

[flaboy?]

Sweetie, I can't even begin to tell you that last time I wore a pair of pantyhose. :P I'm a boots and jeans kinda girl. :cboy:

Yeah but, do ya wear blue jeans with your pearls? :lol:

 

[DrumRunner728]

Hmmmmmmmm, not that I can recall.