Breaking a horse???

Question

ok, so i have a two year old horse who i need to start breaking. She will be three soon. i have been putting the bridle and saddle on. i lunge her and i sometimes put side reins on her. i started leaning on her or putting your body across the saddle and she is fine. but a few days ago she was like a rodeo horse and threw me. i don't want to sit in the saddle because she keeps bucking and rearing. I'm i doing something wrong?? and what is the next step so i can start to ride her lightly. i want to break her gently. please help.

Answer 1

I'd give her another year to mature - she's too young just now.  Turn her away for a year and let her grow up, and next year leave out lunging and side reins.  When I'm starting a youngster I get them going off the voice to start with, and have a helper so that when the time comes to get on I can be led - the horse doesn't have a clue what any aids mean, and leading is the only way to get started.

But for the time being - let her grow up a bit.

Answer 2

I don't rush my horses.  I teach them "voice commands" in the round pen.  They stop, turn and back up without any lounge line when I am done.  It is fun and very satisfying.  John Lyons has a good tape out.  I think it is called "round pen reasoning"

Answer 3

It sounds as if she is slightly sour. Turn her away for a few weeks (in the field over the summer), just to give her a break. Dont forget that this is a lot for her to take on. You dont say how old or what breed she is, which can have a huge affect on the horse. TB's take longer to break in,because of their behaviour, and bigger horses take longer to grow into themselves and there fore should be left longer, or broken in and turnd away for a year. I would try turning her away for a few weeks, and bring her back in after about a month, and then start her off steady. Have you longreined her??? longreining is a big must have as it teaches the horse to go forwards etc and also help to develop a good mouth, for steering and stopping etc. good luck

Answer 4

Do you have a parent, friend, or relative to help you with the training of the horse? Starting colts can be a very dangerous thing to do by yourself if you don't know what to do or how to do it. Even if you have rode broke horses before, you can get hurt. Can you read the body language of a horse? Do you know how to safely mount for the first time? I don't have a problem with training videos, but I do have a problem with "clinicians" that market them by making people think they can turn them into instant horsemen, no matter what age they are. Please, get some supervision from a person who has experience working with colts. Be safe and good luck.

Answer 5

OK I'm just going to say what I think and you will probably already know it. You may have 'fried her brain' or overloaded her. Give her a break and don't give her too much training at one time because she is still a baby.

Make sure you never keep working when you are frustrated or angry. If you are, just walk away and come back when you're calm.

Liz

Answer 6

Take the side reins off of her, too much discipline of that kind too soon.  Add driving lines (if you don't have them, make them from 30' nylon lines with a snap attached to end of each one...go ahead and leave the bridle/bit on her, but remove the reins...and use the saddle.  hook the snap end of the driving lines on each side of her bit (I hope that you are using a very mild snaffle...O ring or D ring, thick )...now take your lines and run them through the stirrups and bring the off line around behind her...now, stand in the center and slow down, teach walk on and whoa...both directions...period.   Don't go any farther until she has that down...once she gets it, reward her by bringing her into the middle and stopping and petting her both physically and verbally.  Turn her loose in the round pen or enclosed area that you are working her in and let her play.  Always begin your next training session by going over what you have already taught her, if she does it right the first time, go on to the next step...continue this process until you can verbally have her walking, trotting and cantering (she is old enough for that) both ways and can whoa at any gait on a verbal command...carry a lunging whip with you...doesn't mean that you have to use it...just having it reinforces your commands.  All of these thing that you have now taught her, will be her security when you decide to mount her (which will be after she carries a sack of sand on her saddle while going through what you have taught her from the ground.  Mostly, consistency is the key...give her something that makes sense and that she can depend on...build trust along the way (both ways).  When you get ready to mount her, don't play around with it...have someone that you trust hold her while you quickly get on, get in your stirrups and you should already have your reins in hand prior to mounting.  Have your helper keep the lunge line on her (snapped on a halter that you may decide to keep on under the bridle.  Try to just use your helper only in an emergency...so that the horse feels only your hands on her mouth...and keep your hands consistent with the verbal cues that you have been using...don't rush her, just reinforce all that you have taught her, only now, from the saddle.  Be sure and work her both ways (left and right) equally...now, you should be able to go on, without and helper and when you feel safe and confident, go to a larger enclosed area and repeat the process,...after that, you will know when you and she are safe enough to go out on a trail...Good luck.