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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
   
Location: Missouri | ...and you all have great ideas, so can you help me out?
He's been tough. Like super tough. But, he's coming around. He will hump up a little if I really tick him off, but I think (*hope*) his bucking is done. It has been for a few months anyway.
I have hauled him and he stands at the trailer okay. I haven't ridden him at a race with the commotion...I guess I need to get to that.
He has all the buttons, but he's lazy. I just started to pattern him and he wants to turn, but he's diving/shouldering at a trot, so we work on that.
Basically, I'm bored. He's bored. I have zero motivation. I had to retire my only open horse that I've ever had after only two seasons with him. Hauling one to just sit and watch seems like such a waste.
Plus, I know other 4 year olds are running by now.
Anyone else feel like this? Any suggestions? How do you stay motivated? When do you see results?
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
 
Location: Alberta | If you have access to go trail riding do that! Just spend time on his back not focusing on barrel stuff.....and ride him at the races!!! If you have control of him no reason not too!!!
My 4 year old will throw royal hissy fits at the trailer when left alone...so he gets hobbled.....I could go on and on about the "joys" my 4 year has brought me since his birth, but I don't want to steal your thread LOL
I do a lot of trail riding on my guy with a couple days a week of basics & barrel work AND I plan to rope off him all winter...I enjoy just riding out on the trails and I know he does too.....I take each day as they come with him cause never know which side of him will decide to come that day!
Edited by dream_chaser 2014-08-05 5:50 PM
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| Well yours sounds like mine was when she was 5, a year ago. She would buck if you kicked her too hard, panic at races without her buddies, get scared of things in the arena. I got to the point where i was so frustrated with her and she demanded too much time that I didn't have, so I sent her to a trainer for about 45 days. She came back a dream, totally new horse. Now I love riding her, and while she still doesn't know everything and is definitely not seasoned fully yet, it's much better than it was. Sadly, have to sell her in a few months, which breaks my heart since shes my dream horse and I taught her most everything she knows :( | |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I'm admittedly a little...okay a LOT...nervous about getting on him at a race. I need to haul him to a couple of arenas without other stuff going on. Problem is, there's nowhere closer than 1 1/2 hours away and I talk myself out of it...
I've sent him off already--once as a two year old, twice as a three year old. He still came back each time cold-backed and I felt like I had to start over every day. Now, I feel like I only step backwards one or two steps each new ride. At least it's better than starting at zero? Progress? Not sure.
Anyway, sorry for griping. Just needed fresh ideas. Thanks tons for making me feel like I'm not alone. Please go ahead and share those stories! I need to hear them! 
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| just4fun - 2014-08-05 5:32 PM
...and you all have great ideas, so can you help me out?
He's been tough. Like super tough. But, he's coming around. He will hump up a little if I really tick him off, but I think (*hope*) his bucking is done. It has been for a few months anyway.
I have hauled him and he stands at the trailer okay. I haven't ridden him at a race with the commotion...I guess I need to get to that.
He has all the buttons, but he's lazy. I just started to pattern him and he wants to turn, but he's diving/shouldering at a trot, so we work on that.
Basically, I'm bored. He's bored. I have zero motivation. I had to retire my only open horse that I've ever had after only two seasons with him. Hauling one to just sit and watch seems like such a waste.
Plus, I know other 4 year olds are running by now.
Anyone else feel like this? Any suggestions? How do you stay motivated? When do you see results?
The diving and shouldering, this tells me the horse isn't broke.
A broke horse should listen to all commands and do as told, a horse shouldn't be shouldering in at a trot, you should be teaching him to do it correctly, since he is shouldering there is a step missing.
My horses generally don't do barrel work till they can turn around a pylon at all gaits while I control all parts of their body.
I generally put my pylons in a big circle go around all the pylons then pick one practice rate bend and shoulder control in a small circle around an individual pylon.
I also place pylons in a funnel pattern and practice turning first and second with proper rate bend shoulder control and driving with the hind end.
I will also put three pylons in a row and practice turning one way three perfect times with the focus on rate bend shoulder control etc.
Right now the round bales are still on the hay field so when exercising I will turn the bale. I try keep their minds fresh.
I agree with trail riding.
Also to mention I do not compare my horses to other people's as horses all learn at different paces, some just will not make a futurity horse, and then there are some that won't make a barrel horse.
There is also personality conflicts, I have had two horses that I couldn't teach barrels in the past 10 years, both I sent out to barrel trainers and have had success this way.
I had one horse who I absolutely hated, sweet horse, nice to be around, just not for me. With him, I sought out someone who I thought would click with him so he would succeed. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I think its totally normal to feel this way. If it were me, I would do some slow work, shoulder work.. bending excercises... etc out on the trails. Work on freeing him up.
Dont compare your 4 year old to others because they all learn at a different pace.
If it makes you feel better when I got my very very green broke 6 year old - basically he held a rider but didnt know anything else. I couldnt get him to lope a circle for the life of me and he was so lazy I had to carry a crop and be lunged for the first few weeks. But once he got it, he got it. And from ther he learned super quick. Sometimes there are certain stages of training horses will strive in and other areas that take them longer.
Take the pressure off and once you start making progress all that frustration, sweat and tears will be so worth it.
Stay positive! | |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Cheryl Makofka ~ That's sort of the point of this thread, and my frustrations. I know he's not "broke" like he needs to be. He does move all body parts, shoulder yields, half passes, etc. BUT, he's not as soft and willing as I'd like him to be. And, he sure doesn't offer more than what is required.
I decided to start to pattern him just so he'd have something else to do.
Anyway, I'm sure I'm doing it all wrong. I just don't even have enough motivation to want to ride anymore. I think maybe a little direction, and mostly, cooperation from him, would help.
Thanks for the suggestions.
eta: what's a pylon?  Sorry if that's a dumb question!
And, just thought I'd add, I could hold his shoulder up...but I'd rather he learned to carry himself. And carrying his ginormous, awkward frame has proven to be a big issue. We do a ton of collecting, and letting out, and collecting, and letting out... and still he prefers to be front-heavy and plod along...
Edited by just4fun 2014-08-05 6:57 PM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| just4fun - 2014-08-05 6:52 PM
Cheryl Makofka ~ That's sort of the point of this thread, and my frustrations. I know he's not "broke" like he needs to be. He does move all body parts, shoulder yields, half passes, etc. BUT, he's not as soft and willing as I'd like him to be. And, he sure doesn't offer more than what is required. I decided to start to pattern him just so he'd have something else to do. Anyway, I'm sure I'm doing it all wrong. I just don't even have enough motivation to want to ride anymore. I think maybe a little direction, and mostly, cooperation from him, would help. Thanks for the suggestions. eta: what's a pylon? Sorry if that's a dumb question! And, just thought I'd add, I could hold his shoulder up...but I'd rather he learned to carry himself. And carrying his ginormous, awkward frame has proven to be a big issue. We do a ton of collecting, and letting out, and collecting, and letting out... and still he prefers to be front-heavy and plod along...
A pylon is an orange marker. You see infront and behind pulled over big trucks, around road construction sites. I got mine at the dollar store or an automotive store.
If you don't teach a horse the proper way to hold their shoulder up, you are reinforcing the bad diving and your turns will suffer, and it will take way more time on correcting later then teaching correctly. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1611
Location: bring on the heat, NV | Maybe a trail course and do you have cattle? Id just take and "check cattle" on him a few times a week to relax that ll give him something to think about then come back do some obstacles and then just flex and put up. Find some variety forget about the arena for a bit. Go watch some of the big trail courses at AQHA shows and put something together just focus on fun it may perk him up. | |
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Location: South Dakota | He is probably the type that is slower to mentally mature and they are a little like a kid that's in school, that doesn't want to be there....he's in the desk, looking at the blackboard, but not really getting a lot out of it..
As others have suggested, lots of trail riding, a little bit of dry work, working on suppling rib cage and forward motion..work around trees and bushes, instead of barrels...get him moving forward around that type of thing first.
If you could, it probably would help if you could send him to someone that would do some team roping on him...it would wake him up and help him mature...he'd learn to quicken his feet coming out of the box....and most horses enjoy chasing cattle...a team roper with good horsemanship skills would make a big difference for him....don't give up, he'll bloom for you, if you put the time and effort in. | |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Round these parts, a pylon is a cone. I got a kick out of that. It sounds to me like you would enjoy a more finished horse. Could you trade this one for one that is further along. Lots of people don't like training and young 'uns. No harm done. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 302
| CanCan - 2014-08-05 7:53 PM
Round these parts, a pylon is a cone. I got a kick out of that. It sounds to me like you would enjoy a more finished horse. Could you trade this one for one that is further along. Lots of people don't like training and young 'uns. No harm done.
I agree with this, for what it's worth I have broke and sold colts the last eight years, just one per year, from no human contact to collected circles etc. about one and a half years ago, I took a reining lesson on a broke broke broke four year old and happened to be there when he sold for very cheap, it's so nice riding a fairly finished horse these past months, he has all the buttons he had his days but honestly it's a big confidence boost for me getting on a solid horse again after riding so many colts I forgot what it's like to go trail ride and daydream, ride bareback with a halter through the fields, double my three year old on my horse while leading a colt and a pony...
Sometimes finished is more fun!! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | He might surprise you and do just fine riding at a show? My 3yo has been 'off the farm' (trailered and gotten out at a new place) a grand total of 4 times and trailered maybe 10. He was born here, hauled to the trainer for 60 days when a 2yo, at a rodeo late last fall, and now he's been hauled to a show twice this year. He got all last fall/winter/spring off (I was pregnant) and then has been ridden twice a week (sometimes once, I try for twice - woohoo!  ) this summer. (yes, I feel like I'm totally failing him the majority of the time!) Last time we went to a play day we parked near the arena. I decided that since I only had 2 of my kids there, it was time to put on my big girl panties and get on him. I lunged him a little first, he did just fine. Got on him near the trailer and w/t/c circles - did great. Ponied him off my mare to show him the arena and around, and then decided that I would enter in exhibitions. I may get flamed for 'putting him on the pattern', but he doesn't know any of the patterns so it was fun to try him out and see what he knew when it came to listening to me and my cues.
Oh, and I swear he was watching the other horses run and was ready to go in the arena...it was odd behavior for him, the only thing I can link it back to is seeing the other horses go through their patterns! Might help yours fire up?
Also, he has never given me an issue with bucking, but I do wear a helmet. I have found that it gives me more confidence to do things that I'm hesitant about on him. Guess that's one of the things about aging, I'm not as naive as I was with the last colt I trained!
Also, since I don't really have a pattern setup at home, I want to teach him some other stuff - chase some of our calves lightly, rope some, maybe pull a log or a sled for the fun of it. Trail stuff - ride over logs, etc. and just have fun! | |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | my lazy one only saw the pattern at shows or lessons. I would go to a great trainer that had a lot of riders at the same time for group lessons and it really helped him to come around. he really tries hard now and loves his job.
I enjoy lessons because of all the company. it is fun and I love going and so does my lazy one! maybe that could help with motivation
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Well, I could write a book on the hand my 4 yo has dealt me lately, but I won't steal your thread either. That being said, I would be willing to bet your colt would be ok to ride at a show because his attention would be redirected as to all the goings on instead of trying to be a jerk. It may be a huge confidence builder for you and for him to just get on and tool around on him. Maybe get there early or ride him after the show when there aren't so many people around and so much going on? Maybe give him a half cc of ace in the muscle just to knock the edge off of a little bit. Might make you feel a little more at ease if he's not quite so reactive. I would suggest you put him on an ulcer preventative as you start hauling him. These colts all react differently to stressors, but I really feel like mine went from doing great to hell in a handbasket in less than two weeks due to stressors. | |
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 Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| I'm getting old and my tolerance for keeping horses that I don't enjoy getting to ride keeps getting lower and lower.
I wonder if he would like to be someone's heading horse. | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | bennie1 - 2014-08-06 9:08 AM I'm getting old and my tolerance for keeping horses that I don't enjoy getting to ride keeps getting lower and lower.
I wonder if he would like to be someone's heading horse.
I have already promised mine that if he pulls any of these antics with me once more, he's going to get that opportunity! My tolerance is much lower than it used to be as well, and even as attached as I am to this one, I won't put myself at risk anymore. With age comes wisdom, I suppose. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I sent my nicely bred cow pony filly to a gal up here in KS that has 4,000 acres and 800 cow calf pairs. She grew the hell up real dang fast checking pastures, opening/closing gates, and thinking every day every time someone stepped on her.
The point is this - I was frustrated with her. So I gave her a new/different job she could enjoy. She's a totally different horse now :) Maybe try a new different thing that doesn't involve an arena. It helps build their own confidence which can be a huge road block to maturity.
Good Luck - Chin up! You can do it! | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | lindseylou2290 - 2014-08-06 9:23 AM I sent my nicely bred cow pony filly to a gal up here in KS that has 4,000 acres and 800 cow calf pairs. She grew the hell up real dang fast checking pastures, opening/closing gates, and thinking every day every time someone stepped on her. The point is this - I was frustrated with her. So I gave her a new/different job she could enjoy. She's a totally different horse now :) Maybe try a new different thing that doesn't involve an arena. It helps build their own confidence which can be a huge road block to maturity. Good Luck - Chin up! You can do it!
I would LOVE to send my colt to her as well and I think he would really enjoy that. | |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | I dont know if this has been suggested yet, so sorry if it has. But why not look into sending him out for 30 days and having that person haul him out and ride him in arenas at races?
I have a 4yr old that is our first born and raised. Learning experience, and I regret now spoiling him when he was a baby because he can be a bit of a prick now. He knows my buttons and I know his, not a great combo. He too is on the lazy side, but when he works he shows great potential so thats what's keeping me fighting. I sent him out the beginning of this year after sitting the winter out and had the trainer haul him along to ropings. He tied him to the arena, his trailer, and I think rode him around the arena with the other horses. Helped take a little of the edge off for me hauling him out and getting on him the first time at a race knowing he's done it with someone else without any issues. I can not lie to you and say our first outing experience was perfect, he did test me and show off for a few people, once I let him know I wasnt having it he rode off great.
May be in both your bests benefits to send him out to someone to maybe put him on some cattle while getting him more broke and getting some of the hauling out for you out of the way.
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