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 Jr. Detective
 
Location: Beggs, OK | Fantastic!
Lianna-
I would love to know what some of your favorite maneuvers and tune-up exercises are for a horse that is super turny and has a tendency to crash on his front end.
Greg has been helping me so much, but everyone has their go to daily exercises for horses with these kinds of issues. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 369
Location: Go Sooners!! | I have a colt that is prominately right leaded, very hard to get him in his left.. any suggestions?? thanks:) | |
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Location: South Dakota | Hi Lianna..I am sure if you would put out your own dvd it would be a great success..
How often do you work a young horse on the pattern on a weekly basis?
Thankyou..
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Expert
Posts: 2318
Location: Ashland Kansas | Hi Lianna, We have a horse that is super nervous when it is time to run. This horse rides quiet and has been ridden a lot outside. It is just when it is time to enter the arena. This horse is not the least bit baulky and was this anxious the 2nd time he was run. Has never been run twice in a row. Just wild to start. Thanks | |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Where the blacktop ends | What kind of exercises would you recommend for a mare that is super ratey on all the barrels?
Thanks!
Happymom | |
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| hi Lianna, I would love to know what your feed/supplement program is for the horses you are competing on. I have a 9yr old mare who is turned out in a pasture with some grass all day and put in a stall at night. she is ridden nearly every day and run at least once most weekends. ive pulled her off all supplements and only giving her hay/grain because I havent found a supplement I thought was worth the money. thank you!!  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2071
Location: Indiana | Hey Lianna!
Have you ever had a young horse that seemed to go nuts over anything repetitive? I mean like you do three circles one way and they start going side ways and start rearing, bucking, etc.? What do I do for this? He will do everything perfectly as long as you only make him do it ONCE. I guess its hard to understand unless you see it.
(FYI; All pain issues are ruled out by vet, equine dentist, and chiro.) | |
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Regular
Posts: 90
Location: OK | First a big THANK YOU 
The tools you put in place have helped me and Ginger tremendously!!! A ton more confidence.
My question
What exercises do you like while riding outside? especially for young horses.
Thanks again
Darlene | |
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Veteran
Posts: 106
| Hi, Do you have any exercises for horse that loses his rearend on the backside of the 2nd barrel as you are coming out of the turn? He goes into it great..but kinda stutters/hesitates and doesnt come back to you when you pick up on him.... | |
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Red Hot Cardinal Fan
Posts: 4122
| Thanks for joining us, Lianna.
What basics do you like having on a young horse before starting them on the pattern?
How do you gauge when a younger horse is ready to be pushed harder on the pattern?
Do you have a certain way you introduce them to more speed on the pattern?
Thanks again! | |
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| Hi Liana,
With winter around the corner....how do you keep your young ones going thru the winter? Especially the ones that need to be consistanly rode / ones that really need miles put on. Kinda hard to do much on one...between the weather, mud, and frozen ground....especially if you have one that you would like to lunge a little bit before getting on. Any tips or exercises when you don't have access to an indoor for the winter? | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | Hi everyone !! Thanks for having me back !! I'll be posting answers to the current questions and some emailed questions, then I'll be happy to take follow ups or more questions.
I look forward to hearing from you !
Liana DeWeese | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | rachellyn80 - 2011-09-02 10:52 AM
Fantastic!Â
Lianna-
I would love to know what some of your favorite maneuvers and tune-up exercises are for a horse that is super turny and has a tendency to crash on his front end.
Greg has been helping me so much, but everyone has their go to daily exercises for horses with these kinds of issues.
This is where the counter arc comes in very handy. I will describe the mechanics of the Counter Arc, even though you probably already know them. We will use a counter arc to the left as an example: Walk in a circle to the left, tip your horses nose to the right, bend his ribs inward creating his body arc to the right, but remember , you are walking to the left.
A lot of people think a counter arc is moving in a circle with your horse's nose tipped to the outside, but that's not correct. A horse should move laterally, away from your leg and rein, while maintaining forward motion in the circle. The more advanced you and your horse are, the smaller the diameter of the counter arc.
If your horse is totally new to this he will need to know how to travel down the fence with his nose tipped to the inside without drifting/pulling inward. To keep him from drifting, put your leg against the inside cinch area to block him from coming in. ***The horse knowing how to side pass well will make this exercise easier. Try for a few correct steps and build on that until he does it easily. When he side pass and do the fence exercise, you're ready to try a counter arc.
When starting to counter arc a horse that hasn't done it, do only a few correct steps where you feel him arced to the outside of the circle and moving off of your leg and build on that. Don't try to do a complete circle the first time. Trotting is usually a good speed to start at, that way you have good forward motion. Eventually, your horse should be able to do a small counter arc correctly at a lope or even a fast lope.
Anyway, back to the tune up.
When you get to the point at the barrel where your horse drops, pick his inside shoulder up and counter arc him around in a full circle, ending up at the point you started, then continue the turn. So if your horse tries to drop in right at the rate point going into the turn, that's where you'd pick him up and do the counter arc. You can try it at a slow lope or trot. When you get more confident and you've got an older horse more set in his ways, you can do it at a faster pace, even a run. Done correctly, it will get him a lot more responsive to your rein. Currently, he is pushing against your rein and leg. The exercise gets him to "honor" your rein and leg so that when you lift up he moves over instead of pushing.
This exercise is also good for a horse that wants to not be round on the back side of the barrel. Just pick him up and counter arc him at the point he is stiffening and dropping.
The exercise for Happymom is also a good one for the problem your addressing.
**Please tell Gregg congrats on the Puncher Class win at the OKC Ranch Horse Competition !! I was supposed to judge it, but had to be at Fulton's sale....RATS !!! | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | ridejg - 2011-09-03 11:27 AM
 Hi Lianna..I am sure if you would put out your own dvd it would be a great success..
How often do you work a young horse on the pattern on a weekly basis?
Thankyou..
It really depends on the individual and what it takes to keep him sharp. In my program, it's not so much how much time is spent on the pattern, but how correct the horse is when he is on the pattern. This is a good saying in the industry that I truly believe: "When you are on/around your horse, you are either "training" or "un-training" . Those are the only two choices. Many people will say, "I'm not a trainer"....I say everyone is a trainer.
I usually work a horse on the pattern 3/4 days per wk. On that note, I very rarely spend over a few minutes on the pattern. As soon as that horse shows me that he's trying to work, being correct and making a tiny bit of progress, I quit and go out into the pasture to work on suppleness. There also needs to be a time where I don't ask him for anything at all, just to ride thru some trees, around some rocks, thru the cattle or something. It's like you walking out of your office to get some fresh air. I am looking for the horse to stay correct, on his own. When I say "correct", I mean proper body position and proper placement around the barrel. I will allow him to make a mistake, but I will correct him immediately. This applies to any speed the horse is working.
Many people want to micro-mange a horse. This is very frustrating to the horse and it's a lot of work for the rider. If you will let him work on his own, at whatever stage he's at, but be there if he needs correction, both parties will be better off.
I would also rather concentrate on components of the pattern like circles, stops, collection, lateral flexion away from the pattern. I might work around a bush or tree or thru trees to get my horse guiding better. This is all done at varying speeds and most of it can be done anywhere you've got safe ground. Basically, you are separating the different parts of the pattern, then recombining them when you make a run. To me the barrel pattern itself, is just that, a pattern. My horse is going to be able to do anything with the proper foundation, it just so happens the barrel pattern is what I work on the most. | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | Richard Degnan - 2011-09-05 3:24 AM
Hi Lianna, We have a horse that is super nervous when it is time to run. This horse rides quiet and has been ridden a lot outside. It is just when it is time to enter the arena. This horse is not the least bit baulky and was this anxious the 2nd time he was run. Has never been run twice in a row. Just wild to start. Thanks
First of all, make sure you are not getting anxious yourself. If he's a super sensitive horse he may be picking up on your body language.
I'm sure you realize some horses are going to be more excited to go in the arena than others. As long as they are manageable and I can handle them, that's fine with me. Not every horse needs to walk into the arena totally flat footed with his head down. Your word was "anxious", so, if I understand you correctly, this horse is past nervous and you are wanting him to be quieter ??
By the way you describe him, maybe it's just the loud speaker and the activity that is bothering him. If this is the case, I would make sure I hauled him to more jackpots and just loped circles in back and worked him near the activity until he quieted down. Just let him get used to everything before you even ask him to go thru the pattern.
I would find a jackpot that had plenty of room near the alleyway. I would be sure to keep his feet moving forward, backward, left and right until I felt him start to relax. To explain more, I would ask him to do small circles (like 10 ft wide or smaller), reverse directions frequently, roll him back over his hocks, flex him laterally, side pass him, just keep him busy. If he is wanting to be speedy about things, keep the circles smaller until he settles down. **Be sure to keep him soft while doing all this, don't let him push on the bit, concentrate on softness and bending. Be sure to mix it up, don't stick on one thing for more than a minute or so. When you feel him start to relax a little walk him up the alleyway and let him sit and relax. You may have to find the right time during exhibitions or during a drag to do this. Stick with it for as long as it takes to feel him relax. You may have to repeat this process several times, but the time it takes to settle him down should diminish each time. I wouldn't worry about making a run or even going thru the pattern until he starts to settle down.
If you work on this with absolutely no results you may be dealing with a pain issue. | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | Happymom - 2011-09-05 10:00 AM
What kind of exercises would you recommend for a mare that is super ratey on all the barrels?Â
Thanks!
Happymom
The counter arc exercise I described to Rachellyn80 is very helpful and the following:
Big circles and small circles:
You can do this at a trot first, then when you get the hang of it, go to a lope. You can even do this at a fast lope.
Go to the first barrel and do a normal to slightly oversize turn. Instead of proceeding to the 2nd barrel, go right back into an extra big circle around the first barrel (about 20 - 30 wide). Your horse will probably want to cheat and step in. Be firm and don't let him cheat, keeping him in the big circle all the way around the barrel. If you feel him trying to step in put your inside rein and leg against him to correct him and put him back to the right spot.
Continue in the big circle. When you get back to where you would normally go to the second barrel, go back into the normal size turn.
Repeat the process until you feel him staying in the big circle easily and honoring your rein. **Be sure it is a symmetrical circle. Don't let him step in at the rate point making it an egg shape, make sure that he does what you're asking. If you're not good at judging equal distance in the big circle, put some kind of marker at 3 or 4 spots as guides (cones, tires, etc.).
When you have the process down at the first barrel, repeat the same process at the 2nd and 3rd barrel.
Be sure to go on to the next barrel as soon as your horse is correct. Don't keep repeating the exercise when he's already done it correctly. | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | teeally - 2011-09-03 12:17 AM
I have a colt that is prominately right leaded, very hard to get him in his left.. any suggestions?? thanks:)Â
Hey girl ! thanks for the question !
the lead originates from the hind end, so I would get him moving down the fence with his hind end to the inside of the arena. For a left lead, you're going to go to the left down the fence with his left hip to the inside of the arena. Your horse should be able to side pass each way easily before you start this exercise. Trot down the fence, as you get near the end of the arena bump him on his right side and ask him to lope as you make the turn at the end of the arena. Don't worry about having his nose tipped to the inside of the circle until he takes the lead easily. Once he's in the correct lead let him stay in it for awhile without asking for anything else. His reward for him being correct is for you to not ask him for anything else.
Another option is the "Make the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy" method:
If the above process doesn't work, you can "counter canter" him for awhile and make it uncomfortable for him. Counter cantering is basically loping on the wrong lead in a circle. So if you were loping to your left, you would be in the right lead. Let him lope on the wrong lead in a fairly small circle for a while then slow to a trot and give him the opportunity to pick up the correct lead. Repeat the process until he makes the decision to pick up the correct lead.
If you still have problems after using the two above methods you may be dealing with a soreness issue. | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | rodeolife - 2011-09-06 8:58 AM
hi Lianna, I would love to know what your feed/supplement program is for the horses you are competing on. I have a 9yr old mare who is turned out in a pasture with some grass all day and put in a stall at night. she is ridden nearly every day and run at least once most weekends. ive pulled her off all supplements and only giving her hay/grain because I havent found a supplement I thought was worth the money. thank you!! Â
I feed high quality Bermuda hay along with a custom made feed that I buy in bulk. I try to keep hay in front of my horses as much as possible. I will feed a small amount of alfalfa hay to horses that are transitioning. The feed I have made is oats, corn and alfalfa pellets, no molasses, along with a soy blend oil and a fat/vitamin supplement pellet. They also have access to loose salt. Horses are not designed to lick a hard salt block and get what they need, so I use the loose stock salt.
I don't feed a lot of supplements. I have tried several oral joint supplements and never see one that I thought made a difference. I do use Dynamite Plus pellets if I think a horse needs a little something extra, or maybe a horse that was not in great health when he got here. I have used Dynamite Plus (it has probiotic in it and is a milder version of regular Dynamite) for many years and haven't found anything better.
I am currently testing a vit/min/digestive supplement that has more digestive aids in it than Dyn. but I'm still in the testing phase.
I have had horses sent here with several supplements ...to the point that they were being fed a toxic level of some vit./min.
In summary, I think over all good health is most important. Good hay, grain in moderation, green grass and turn out, if possible. Assuring good health also means, float teeth, if needed, ck for ulcers, treat with UlcerGard if needed, worm if needed, make sure the horse is not sore anywhere and has proper shoeing. If the horse is not in good physical condition, start a conditioning program to leg him up.
There is no mistaking a healthy horse, he shows it not only in his coat and condition, but in his eyes. | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | haydawgg - 2011-09-06 5:48 PM
Hey Lianna!
Have you ever had a young horse that seemed to go nuts over anything repetitive? I mean like you do three circles one way and they start going side ways and start rearing, bucking, etc.? What do I do for this? He will do everything perfectly as long as you only make him do it ONCE. I guess its hard to understand unless you see it.
(FYI; All pain issues are ruled out by vet, equine dentist, and chiro.)
There has got to be a reason for his bad behavior. Horses do not expend that amount of energy (bucking, rearing, etc) without a good reason for it.
You said everything repetitive...like backing ? sidepassing ?
Is it loping any size circle, like 60 ft wide..80 ft wide ?
Is it circles both directions or one direction in particular?
Is it happening by the barn ? Is he barn sour or buddying up to another horse?
How old is he and what's his history ?
If you'll give me more information, I'll try to help you out.
If you will send me a video I will be happy to look at it and give an opinion. | |
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