|
|
 Veteran
Posts: 232
 
Location: Wisconsin | Hey all,
I have a mare who is just naturally very nervous. Shes one to always over exaggerate and she tends to be a spaz. (partly to the way she was trained, too) I cant do a whole lot of drill work and slow work with her because she knows her job and once i start to get too technica and get in her wayl she can turn into a know it all and throw a tantrum. SO with that being said, i can only stick to the basics of just quietly walking and trotting through and around the barrels. The second i want to move her hip over or counter arc around the barrels she gets worried. What do you all recommend for drills that are effective with my worrisome horse to allow her to relax and and to help our pattern as a whole?
Any tips and hints are great! I did actually take a bit OUT of her mouth.... i found that the more i tried to work her with my hands she just got more tense (full dental exam has been done, she has perfect teeth), so i put a hack on her. I started her in something easy and light, a little s and it was great. tried for some more flexion and jumped to a Clampitt and she also did really really well.
To show a little comparison, heres a run with a bit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwHhSaWTOI&list=UUyWYY5tHKwqPWrOb7O...
heres a run with a hack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bYAATXAecc&index=1&list=UUyWYY5tHKw...
|
|
| |
|
 Night Chatter
Posts: 1907
 
Location: Mississippi | I just want to say that I LOVE this horse. You guys look great. I thought you guys looked a little snappier in your turns in the first video :)Sorry, no drills or anything. Just admiration from me! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | If she doesn't need work on the pattern, why not try working her on other things that include some of the body movements you'll use in barrels? You could maybe work on some reining or trail type moves/exercises. Anything that takes her away from the pattern will make her have to think about what you're asking her to do where she doesn't know what you'll ask her to do next so she won't anticipate and act like a know it all. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2685
| I agree on maybe doing drills/ exercises that require her to use herself like she would on the pattern without using any barrels. Tires maybe? She obviously knows the pattern well so tires, cones, circle drills or whatever in the pasture? |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | I have one of these horses also. Riding in pasture or trails. loping lots of big circles. Trying to stay relaxed yourself so the horse feeds off of your energy. These high energy horses are higher maintenance but worth the time it takes to maintain them. Also go to connie combs website. She has lots of slow drills away from barrels to give you ideas. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Durango CO | I have one of those type or horses as well. She was blown up and her speed was taken advantage of so now she can be spaz. A drill I read about in barrelracingtips.Com said to let them get nervous or spazed out but give them a choice. If they act silly then MOVE THOSE FEET. Make them work hard (obviously use discretion to avoid pain or injury) and once you feel them relax, quiet down, or get tired, back off and go back to easy work. Do not nit pick on form, shape, or how they carry themselves. Just let them work it out. They will soon realize they can make a choice and the rewards or consequences will follow. The article really emphasized that you will completely defeat the purpose if you micromanage, so avoid that as much as possible. You can apply this to your horse by asking for a nice slow lope to the barrel and if she acts in a way that is not wanted then work a circle away from the barrel and if or when she quiets down just lope the barrel and move on. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 232
Location: Wisconsin | Im always out in our hay field trotting and loping laps to keep her nice and legged up. I will definitely try tires! never thought of that! Thanks all for the tips.... any others would be great.
Has anyone used smartpaks smartcalm? Thinking about trying it to calm her worrisome nerve. I think her main problem is that shes pretty herd bound. If i take her off the farm alone she is great... but if i bring a buddy and walk away from the trailer with out the buddy she tends to lose her noggin a little bit. At the farm its harder to keep her head screwed on because she knows that the other horses are still in hearing distance. |
|
| |
Folks on-line