I have a couple training questions...?

Question

My horse is only 5, currently he can jump a small X rail course with simple changes.

1. Once I put up a verticle, he loses confidence and begins refusing... We've bee doing X rails for a while now. How can I help him get comfortable with verticles?

2. He loses balance while cantering a circle and sometimes begins pacing. How can I help him balance himself around a circle at the canter?

3. I know all horses are different, but generally, how long should it take for a horse to become fairly comfortable jumping a normal (Say 2 foot verticle course). Me and my gelding have been working for about 3 months on his jumping.

4. Any suggestions for flat work that will help encourage my horse to lower his head into a nice hunter frame? (He likes to stick his head out and up).

5. Oh, and just for fun, what kind of treats do your horses like? I wanna switch it up a bit for my gelding. He gets too many carrotts. ;)

Thats it. Sorry, its long. I'm new at the training thing.

Answer 1

well.

1. for the verticles, try setting up a crossrail on an outside line, and making the second jump an 18" verticle. then he may feel more confident about jumping the verticle.

2. if there's a round pen (that's what we call it at our barn) where you ride, try cantering in that. it'll be easier for you since he has no other way to go than in a circle. once you've gotten that down, try doing a hunter circle (give or take 20 meters) in the ring you normally ride in.

3. well you need to try 18" courses before you even think about 2 feet. i'm not trying to be mean or anything, but you need to get your horse used to 18." if you can, try getting a trainer to get on him.

4. try using a martingale. you probably won't have to use it every time you ride, just try it and see if it makes a difference in his head.

5. sugar cubes, apples, peppermints

hope this helps! :)

Answer 2

1.

for the verticles try making a half crossrail and then put the vertical over it, if that doesnt work keep the whole crossrail up but add a vertical pole over top. i would almost recommend a little oxer. try making a little vertical and a higher crossrail behind it.

2.

make sure you are on the correct lead when circling. maybe try maknig your circle bigger. working on bending at the trot will also help.

3.

some horses  take longer than others. my 6 year old pony is pretty comfortable over a 2ft vertical course and i have been working with her for a little over two years.

4.

dunno if i can help you here but sometimes using a different type of bit will encourage them into that nice hunter frame. once your horse learns that, he'll become more balanced. i was using a full cheek with my one pony and she would stick her head out, i switched to a kimberwick and after a little while she gave me that nice hunter frame. you have to becareful though, if not used properly they can be harsh on their mouths.

5.

apples or peppermints :)

Answer 3

1. How high are the verticals?  Lower them til you find his comfort level, then work up.

2. What size circles are you cantering?  If he's losing his balance, the circle is too small for him at this stage of his training (or you are messing up his balance with your seat)

3. How long it takes is variable, as you note.  How many days a week do you ride, and for how long, and what are you doing in that time?  3 months is not very long, at all.  And hopefully you're not jumping every day.

4. First, make sure he's not carrying his head up due to a soreness issue.  That done, you can begin longeing him in sidereins, in a large circle (60'+) slowly shortening the sidereins, over several days to weeks.  That way you eliminate the human factors of weight and hands which may not be inviting him to lower his head.  Don't longe for more than 20 minutes, and don't longe every day.  Under saddle, you'll need to start at the walk teaching him to lower his head, by taking and releasing at the first sign of his dropping his head, working in a lot of figure 8s and circles, interspersed with walks or trots forward, straight and  relaxed on long rein.  That's your goal. Canters added when the trotting is going really well.    You can ride him over ground rails, and cavaletti.  

If I were you, I'd back off the jumping until I worked through the high-head-hollow-back problem, as it will only worsen, and can in itself result in lameness issues, particularly sore back, stifles, hocks.  I'd also be sure to hack him out several days a week and not drill him to death in the arena (not that I'm implying that you are drilling him - you just didn't give much specific info in your question, so it's very difficult for anyone to determine where things are going awry.)   Relaxed hacks provide a good opportunity to encourage your horse to go long and low in the walk, and then the trot, assuming, of course, that he doesn't get frazzled when out on trails.  You need to find some way to take the pressure off and let him find that relaxing down into the bit is a pleasurable experience, and the means to this will differ slightly from horse to horse, so you may have to experiment with him.            

5. Favorite treats other than carrots:  frosted shredded mini-wheats.  They're pretty sugary, so I don't feed tons, but they don't go bad in my truck and I can carry them in my pockets.  And I can eat them too, when I feel like it!

Answer 4

i would try using a vertical that is smaller than a crossrail and reward him for just walking or trotting over it... then slowly raise it up...

like when he'll do a course of really tiny verticals..... then raise it up just like 3 inches... itll take awhile but it'll help

with the hunter frame work him in a standing martingale... track left and keep your right hand steady... then ask him to bend by wiggling your fingers of your left hand and put your left leg on a little bit... dont let him go faster that's what ur right hand steadiness is for...

also make sure your on the correct lead when doing canter circles... make sure they are not too small at first... like use half the ring and then slowly make them smaller like spiraling... then do the bending thing earlier disgussed but make sure you lean OUT ...

peppermints... werthers... sweet potatoes (no joke)... bananas... ginger snaps... nilla wafers... sugar cubes... studmuffins...

i dont know how long her training was but my friend has a mare who's 5 and she jumps 3' courses already... it just depends on your horse's learning ability....  like how fast they learn... just remember to take it slow if you need to... dont rush your horse... i know you probably are anxious to get jumping higher but it just takes time and patience... especially if he's backing off... just let him trot up to it... and keep your leg on... also make sure youre in the correct jumping position...

good luck! :)

Answer 5

i'm not a trainer, sorry, but i know a little from experience :]

1. put the vertical like on the second or third hole, so its not too high and scary. then, walk up to it and have him sniff/chew on it, or what ever the heck he wants to do [lol] so he will become familiar with it. then, try trotting over it. if he refuses, keep pushing him through it. [you may even want to try leading him over it] if he jumps, reward him then try again. keep lifting the holes until you are at a comfortable level.

2. sit tall in the corners. also, relax and keep your leg on him. make sure your circles arent to small either, your horse could easily lose balance. or you could be on the wrong lead

3. hmmm i dont think 3 months is TOO bad. if it takes several more months, it could be your horses learning ability or something could be wrong.

4. try leg yielding excercises and ground polls. also try trotting over cavalettis.

5. carrots, apples, peppermints, and manufactured horse treats. buuuuuuut.... when i feel like bringing my horse something special, i make one of the homemade treats from this site. killian loves them!!

http://www.sherlockfarms.com/horsetreats...

he loves the birthday cake and the apple horse cookies :]

im not an expert, but i hope this helps:]

ps

is you horse green/not fully broke?