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 Expert
Posts: 1440
  
Location: Texas | I have two big boys and both were a bit slow to learn how to use their bodies correctly. The leggier one had more issues than the stockier one. One is a solid 1d/2d horse and the other has not been entered and is coming long nicely | |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I had an appendix colt we raised that was a big, gangly 3 YO and 4 YO. Once he was broke, you still couldn't lope a circle on him in a 5 acre field. I was riding him in an o ring with a german martingale and just could not get any collection out of him. He was clumsy, would trip, there was no way I could attempt to start him on the pattern at that point where he was. He had a big, pretty stop, had all the lateral movement and was really broke in the face but I could not get any body control beyond his head and neck. I decided to take a different route, bit him like a cutter (solid ported mouthpiece with some shank) and work him like a cutter on a flag. Everything I did was stop, roll back, push out, stop, roll back, push out....at all gaits. Literally in a weeks time he made a horse. He just had to learn where the rest of his body was and get it underneath him. With these bigger horses, sometimes it takes a different approach...the tools are there we just have to figure out how to help them find them. I continued to run him in alot heavier headgear just to keep his body collected, and it worked. He made a nice horse!
I learned alot from that horse....he was a challenge to get riding like I wanted him to....UNTIL I thought outside the box and quit being a "barrel horse" trainer and started being a horseman. | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Thanks for all of the input. Definitely gives me a lot to think about!
To answer a few questions: offer was from an old ad, so no commision for trainer.
This is actually our third trainer. I've posted about this colt before, but as an overview; trainer #1 started him as a 2y/o, really liked him, wanted me to turn him out and bring him back at 3. He ended up not being able to take him. Sent him to trainer #2, which was a train wreck. She hated him, said he was a bronc, etc. She lounged him for an hour before each ride and said he wasn't safe otherwise. He never went outside, became super pushy, and spookier than ever. I wanted an HONEST and more reliable opinion from someone who would give him a chance before I decided to give up on him, so off he went to this trainer (#3). I would be happy to ride a stick horse after this trainer, and I'm so thankful that he's there. He has given me his opinion (in first post). I spoke to him since starting this thread and he suggested (as several of you did) that I take him home and ride him, then decide where to go (as in, send back for more rides, go on myself, or sell).
The stories that have been shared are all super encouraging and give me an idea of what to expect. THANK YOU!!! | |
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Member
Posts: 35
| Wow. Herbie's post spoke directly to me! I have a horse exactly as described in that answer. And I am going to try and work on it with the same methods. Thanks for post! | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | rwarr - 2013-12-04 1:54 PM Wow. Herbie's post spoke directly to me! I have a horse exactly as described in that answer. And I am going to try and work on it with the same methods. Thanks for post!
Cool, glad I could help! I tried everything on that colt. It was like he'd be loping and you'd as him to turn and his head and neck woudl turn but his body would keep going.....we used to have a catahoula dog that was like that, just big, gangly and goofy. Silly thing took 50 feet for him to go a different direction and get his body following his head. This colt was like that. But once I got him bitted up in a way that defeated anythign i've tried to put on a barrel horse (bend and flex) and just rode him like a cutter with NO bend and NO flex he made a horse quickly and would ride and slide. Good luck with your horse and keep us posted on how it turns out.  | |
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