Posted 2019-02-08 12:43 AM Subject: Hot & Buddy Sour
Member
Posts: 11
Any advice or tips for training and slow working hot and/or buddy sour horses? Any exercises to calm them down or get their minds off things so to speak? Perfect Circles for a few minutes normally does it but this particular one is so hot headed. Not to mention she's weird about heavy hands...the second you touch on the reins her nose shoots out. I've pulled the tie down off and we are working on give then collection, but I need to get her calm first. Thanks and god bless.
Posted 2019-02-08 9:50 PM Subject: RE: Hot & Buddy Sour
Ms. Marine
Posts: 4625 Location: Texas
If you're saying she's weird about heavy hands because you're heavy handed with her, that's why she's shooting her nose out. Focus on your seat and keeping your hands light and soft. Work on collection and pushing her up into the bridle. If she's hot, spend the majority of your time away from the area. Find a neighbor with cattle that you can work her on, that way she still feels like there's a purpose to her work and she won't be bored. If she's buddy sour, make her work hard by her buddy, and rest away from him. If she's a younger mare that will also have an affect on her.
Posted 2019-02-08 10:33 PM Subject: RE: Hot & Buddy Sour
Member
Posts: 11
She's not my horse; I'm working on her for someone else. I've only rode this horse two or three times. I def have to work extra to remind myself to be as light as possible. I prefer to trail ride and long trot down the highway; I don't have access to a round pen or arena all the time. She only acts out when she's headed back to the barn or she's separated from her "friend". When I ride alone or out in the pasture it's not a problem. I've tried to wear her out but she's racing bred and I don't think you can tire her out...
Posted 2019-02-09 4:54 PM Subject: RE: Hot & Buddy Sour
Veteran
Posts: 253 Location: SoCal
I do lots of direction changes in small circles and transitions with my hot and unfocused ones. My 2 main horses right now are an easily distracted OTTB and a hot, constant go-mode cutting bred mare. OTTB just turned 8 and the other will be 6 in April. It gets mine really soft and paying attention. It almost sounds like she's actually not soft if she's responding to pressure that way, in this circumstance I would probably spend time working on getting her used to bit pressure and giving accordingly.
Hot & Buddy Sour
