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Veteran
Posts: 227
 
Location: Heart of Texas | Sounds like your horse doesn't need training. It sounds like YA'LL need training. I would hire someone to help you while you ride him. A professional can tell if it's you, or him, or teach you how to ride HIM better. All horses are different and require different rididng styles. Your trainer may ride completely different than you. So either you change or you get a horse that fits you better. And find a trainer that does ride like you so you can ride the horses when they come back. | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
  
Location: Missouri | Can you get lessons with the first trainer? Sometimes they will offer a session or two included in the cost of training.
My personal opinion, a tiny twist snaffle is a tool, but not a good one to keep him in. Your intuition to put him into another snaffle seems like a logical choice. But, moving into the jr. cowhorse, etc. may have been the first time he was ridden with a curb/shanked bit, right? So, could that be some of your issue?
My advice, like others, would be stick him back in the snaffle (maybe a larger twist, but not tiny!) and work on both of you. You can work on getting yourself soft while teaching him to respond better and lighter. Do not stop him by pulling back, but by teaching him that stopping is a reward (move his feet, stop to rest, if he doesn't stop nice, move his feet again, etc...)
I love a correction bit, but imo, it sounds like a disaster on your horse. If he has no idea about poll and curb pressure, it's a pretty big jump to stick a correction port on him.
Edited by just4fun 2015-01-09 10:02 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| just4fun - 2015-01-09 9:55 AM
Can you get lessons with the first trainer? Sometimes they will offer a session or two included in the cost of training.
My personal opinion, a tiny twist snaffle is a tool, but not a good one to keep him in. Your intuition to put him into another snaffle seems like a logical choice. But, moving into the jr. cowhorse, etc. may have been the first time he was ridden with a curb/shanked bit, right? So, could that be some of your issue?
My advice, like others, would be stick him back in the snaffle (maybe a larger twist, but not tiny!) and work on both of you. You can work on getting yourself soft while teaching him to respond better and lighter. Do not stop him by pulling back, but by teaching him that stopping is a reward (move his feet, stop to rest, if he doesn't stop nice, move his feet again, etc...)
I love a correction bit, but imo, it sounds like a disaster on your horse. If he has no idea about poll and curb pressure, it's a pretty big jump to stick a correction port on him.
Â
Good advice! This^^^^ | |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | just4fun - 2015-01-09 9:55 AM
Can you get lessons with the first trainer? Sometimes they will offer a session or two included in the cost of training.
My personal opinion, a tiny twist snaffle is a tool, but not a good one to keep him in. Your intuition to put him into another snaffle seems like a logical choice. But, moving into the jr. cowhorse, etc. may have been the first time he was ridden with a curb/shanked bit, right? So, could that be some of your issue?
My advice, like others, would be stick him back in the snaffle (maybe a larger twist, but not tiny!) and work on both of you. You can work on getting yourself soft while teaching him to respond better and lighter. Do not stop him by pulling back, but by teaching him that stopping is a reward (move his feet, stop to rest, if he doesn't stop nice, move his feet again, etc...)
I love a correction bit, but imo, it sounds like a disaster on your horse. If he has no idea about poll and curb pressure, it's a pretty big jump to stick a correction port on him.
Â
Yes I can get lesions with both trainers. And I did go a couple times and ride with him on one of his horses before I rode mine but I would like to have done more. The one he's going to will let me come as much as I want but she's too far to go to weekly but maybe could got like every other week. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| TessBelle - 2015-01-09 2:16 AM
I've really started to become more conscious about my hands and to use my feet more but I'm 22 and been riding since I was big enough to be held in a saddle and until the last 2-3 years I never had any profession training. I grew up with cutting/penning horses but after about 8yrs old we had roping horses. About 13 or 14 I decided roping was defiantly not my thing so decided to try barrel racing. So it's hard for me to break habits that I've had for 15+ years but I'm trying.
I really don't like you using your age as an excuse "but I'm 22".
It doesn't matter what your riding background is, what matters is what you are going to do from this point forward.
You said you are becoming more aware of your hands, this is a start.
Find someone in your area you can take lessons from, ask around, see if there are any people competing in ranch horse competition, see if you can go work at a working cow horse barn, see if you can apprentice under a well respected horse trainer.
Right now I don't think it will be beneficial to continue to ride your horse without someone helping on a daily basis as it will take the trainer an entire month to undo what has been done. It is actually easier for trainers to start from scratch then it is a horse who has been mishandled. (Not saying abuse, just not ridden properly)
If you could take a horsemanship clinic this may also help you, look at a weekend course/clinic
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | Several things I want to say on this..
First you have gotten some very sound advice from other posters about learning how to ride your horse the way HE was trained, dont expect the horse to ride the way you do. He is a baby that has been started by someone else, learn that persons cues, style, ect.
I see more train wrecks because people send horses to us and say, " I want a HANDLE put on my horse" Ok, we start them right, soft and working off our seat and legs and the owner takes them home and the horses head is in the air running off when they ride them a month because they are way too heavy handed and do not know how to ride correctly. the horse is confused and scared because they have NEVER been ridden that way. So, that being said, go back and take lessons with your horse.
Second, at four, just because his teeth were done three months ago, does not mean he may not have an issue. They are shedding and growing teeth until they are five. also, all equine dentist are not equal!! Not even close. Get a second opinion. I cannot tell you how many horse owners come to me and say "I just had my horses teeth floated last month and he is still giving me fits" 99% of the time, it was not done correctly or completely. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Canchasr1 - 2015-01-09 1:59 PM Several things I want to say on this..
First you have gotten some very sound advice from other posters about learning how to ride your horse the way HE was trained, dont expect the horse to ride the way you do. He is a baby that has been started by someone else, learn that persons cues, style, ect.
I see more train wrecks because people send horses to us and say, " I want a HANDLE put on my horse" Ok, we start them right, soft and working off our seat and legs and the owner takes them home and the horses head is in the air running off when they ride them a month because they are way too heavy handed and do not know how to ride correctly. the horse is confused and scared because they have NEVER been ridden that way.  So, that being said, go back and take lessons with your horse.
Second, at four, just because his teeth were done three months ago, does not mean he may not have an issue. They are shedding and growing teeth until they are five. also, all equine dentist are not equal!! Not even close. Get a second opinion. I cannot tell you how many horse owners come to me and say "I just had my horses teeth floated last month and he is still giving me fits" 99% of the time, it was not done correctly or completely. Â
EXACTLY!!!Â
The most frustrating thing about selling a horse, letting someone try one, or sending one home once we've had it for awhile is that the poor horse is so confused by all the yanking and pulling.Â
When I first started with my mentor he had me hop on a filly that I thought was literally gonna run off with me.  The more I loosened up the more she loosened up eventually my hands got lighter and she got lighter.  I never knew I was so heavy handed until that day and I had rode my whole life (24yrs old).  This man has given troy, marne, cody, and many others lessons.  I wish I had enough pay to pay him to ride around with me like some others do!  Until you learn what it means to have light hands you can not clearly communicate crap to your horse. 90% of people can NOT ride a broke horse.
Â
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-01-09 1:40 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Canchasr1 - 2015-01-09 12:59 PM Several things I want to say on this..
First you have gotten some very sound advice from other posters about learning how to ride your horse the way HE was trained, dont expect the horse to ride the way you do. He is a baby that has been started by someone else, learn that persons cues, style, ect.
I see more train wrecks because people send horses to us and say, " I want a HANDLE put on my horse" Ok, we start them right, soft and working off our seat and legs and the owner takes them home and the horses head is in the air running off when they ride them a month because they are way too heavy handed and do not know how to ride correctly. the horse is confused and scared because they have NEVER been ridden that way. So, that being said, go back and take lessons with your horse.
Second, at four, just because his teeth were done three months ago, does not mean he may not have an issue. They are shedding and growing teeth until they are five. also, all equine dentist are not equal!! Not even close. Get a second opinion. I cannot tell you how many horse owners come to me and say "I just had my horses teeth floated last month and he is still giving me fits" 99% of the time, it was not done correctly or completely.
Out of everything that has been posted I agree with this the most.
Until they are about 5-6, they're teeth change rapidly. | |
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Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | astreakinchic - 2015-01-09 1:39 PM Canchasr1 - 2015-01-09 1:59 PM Several things I want to say on this..
First you have gotten some very sound advice from other posters about learning how to ride your horse the way HE was trained, dont expect the horse to ride the way you do. He is a baby that has been started by someone else, learn that persons cues, style, ect.
I see more train wrecks because people send horses to us and say, " I want a HANDLE put on my horse" Ok, we start them right, soft and working off our seat and legs and the owner takes them home and the horses head is in the air running off when they ride them a month because they are way too heavy handed and do not know how to ride correctly. the horse is confused and scared because they have NEVER been ridden that way. So, that being said, go back and take lessons with your horse.
Second, at four, just because his teeth were done three months ago, does not mean he may not have an issue. They are shedding and growing teeth until they are five. also, all equine dentist are not equal!! Not even close. Get a second opinion. I cannot tell you how many horse owners come to me and say "I just had my horses teeth floated last month and he is still giving me fits" 99% of the time, it was not done correctly or completely. EXACTLY!!!
The most frustrating thing about selling a horse, letting someone try one, or sending one home once we've had it for awhile is that the poor horse is so confused by all the yanking and pulling.
When I first started with my mentor he had me hop on a filly that I thought was literally gonna run off with me. The more I loosened up the more she loosened up eventually my hands got lighter and she got lighter. I never knew I was so heavy handed until that day and I had rode my whole life (24yrs old ). This man has given troy, marne, cody, and many others lessons. I wish I had enough pay to pay him to ride around with me like some others do! Until you learn what it means to have light hands you can not clearly communicate crap to your horse. 90% of people can NOT ride a broke horse.
This is very very true!!
Herbie and I just had this conversation recently.
Most people have no idea what it is like to ride one truelly broke
We have alot of trouble when we sell a horse because they have too many buttons for the average person. And I wont sell a horse to someone who cant ride the thing. It ends bad all the way around.
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | We did just have this conversation recently. Thankfully canchasr1 and I ride so similarly and ask for things so similarly that it makes her horses very easy for me to start with her foundation and for her to ride the pattern I put on them. Over the years with the horses I have sold, that is the first thing people say is, holy cow....when I wiggle my pinky they do something. Ummmm, yes, that's the objective! It's a speed event and I don't want to have to make big moves to get reactions, as that is time wasted in just my body movement alone.
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