Tips on restarting a 3yo

[SaturdayNightLive]

Really, If thats what you want to call it go ahead. I just call it knowing my limits and I know I can 'train' him.

You DO NOT know your limits. If you did you would quickly realize that someone who has had a total of 4 lessons and who can barely walk-trot-canter has absolutly no business whatsoever training a young horse. I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm gonna say it again - what you are doing to (yes TO, not with) your horses is considered abuse in many circles of equine savvy society. (No NH connotations meant by the use of the word 'savvy'). Grow up - get a life- and a trainer. Honestly, if I told my trainer that I intended to start a horse he would fall off his chair laughing - and I'm competently jumping 3'9"+. Reading books does not make you a trainer. If you read books about ice skating would that qualify you to be a coach? No.

[Lambie Boat]

does anyone else think Dressage Junkie is just a troll stirring the pot?
Come on ladies. Don't buy into this stuff. It smells fake to me.

[Karosel]

There are some pics of her on her ASB......


Anyone else think this emoticon was designed just for this poster?

[Karosel]

Helpful links

http://atheism.about.com/od/logicalf.../unskilled.htm

http://changingminds.org/explanation...ce_barrier.htm


this one especially

http://www.londonlife.com/

[hitchinmygetalong]

You know, I don't think any of us have asked DJ an important question, so I'll jump in here:

DressageJunkie, what exactly do you want to accomplish with Tex? Do you just want to make him a better "using" horse, or are you thinking of showing someday? If you want to show, what discipline are you thinking of?

[bumknees]

mmm I have to wonder if Dj's parents would send her/him onto the freeway to play in traffic while weilding a running chain saw and ginsu knife?

Im sorry but gee lessons a yr ago for a while then now for what 7/8 weeks is nowhere near long enough time in the saddle to even have a clue how to 'train' a horse. Perhaps I should put middle level karate son in hte sparring ring with a master( creator of their own style) black belt at his next tournament.. Think he would have better luck results and not get as hurt...

[JolieRoger]

Please do not attempt to do this unless you are at least under the supervision of a trainer.

If you are a green rider, you most likely ... lack ... the ability to anticipate a spook, buck, or other potentially dangerous situation because quite simply you lack the experience to do so.

This, imvho, is the worst. Once your horse learns that he can buck you off and get out of work, there may be no fixing him, even with lots of time and $$$ thrown at finding a cure. I've seen this happen many times, and was perhaps the cause of it once when I was a complete greenie.

[edit: I'm in a somewhat similar situation; I'll be getting a mature OTTB soon (that is very mellow for the type) that needs to be retrained for a career as a sport horse; after 15 years of riding, I will be working with a professional for every ride for many months.]

[Coup De Des]

I took lessons for a year when I was 6, then started back up again just a month ago. So what if I haven't taken alot of lessons, I read horse books like crazy to get the information!

Hey i've like got the BEST IDEA!! NH'ers can eat their hearts out.. with a spoon.

Let's get as many 6 year olds as we can.. give them a year of weekly lessons... then read them black beauty.. and give them a 3 year old each.. to train. Surely they will know enough after this to train a horse!! We just need a company name.. and slogan... and a bunch of 6 year olds.. Maybe we can give them Mini Vanners to train. I'm gonna be so rich! Tears of joy. Who's with me?

[BarbaraJ11]

I think not, but...

does anyone else think Dressage Junkie is just a troll stirring the pot?
Come on ladies. Don't buy into this stuff. It smells fake to me.

I wondered about a troll after a bit. My personal impression is that this person is out there doing this.
She wants to have a show jumper/dressage horse, if I follow her posts correctly. She cannot just have one, for some reason, so is going to "make' one. That is the reason for using the crop -which now has led the mare to be mental about the crop - to get her over jumps.
The seems to be a mix up with styles, or a bunch of tall tales. Using spurs, sitting the trot while holding the saddle (horn?) photos were English tack and jumping weren't they? So maybe owns western, learning English.

I think it is very possible this started as a way to ask questions but is now entertainment for the poster. I hope so, cause otherwise she is gone with the fairies or riding that little bus.
Barbara -watching the fairies her own self

[AnotherRound]

or riding that little bus.

Ha, ha, Barb:

You mean, like, "Bus, bus, magic bus..."

or

"Newspaper taxis appear at the door, waiting to take you away; look for the girl with the sun in her eyes and she's gone..."

[Jeepers]

Ha, ha, Barb:

You mean, like, "Bus, bus, magic bus..."

or

"Newspaper taxis appear at the door, waiting to take you away; look for the girl with the sun in her eyes and she's gone..."

I think she means 'the short bus'

[caffeinated]

Well DJ, all I can give you is my experience.

I have an almost-4 yr old gelding. I started him myself, after around 20 years of experience as a rather mediocre hunter and equitation rider, with loads of lessons and clinics and shows under my belt, and every applicable book I could get my hands on. Everything started off great. By late in the fall, we could walk, trot, and canter under saddle very calmly. He was relaxed, easy, uncomplicated, and I was giving myself huge pats on the back.

The thing is (and listen carefully here) it's not the starting that's the hard part. When you first start, they don't understand balance. They feel a little off with you up there. So they're careful.

THEN they get a little more comfortable. A little more balanced. They start to test their limits. Not in a bad way of course, but they realize that they can go a little faster, that they can pull off that sideways spooky flying leap without falling over, and that they can handle bit pressure after all, so the signal you used to give for "halt" is suddenly meaningless to them.

All of a sudden you're faced with a beast that has confidence, not a lot of education, and wants to see where the boundaries are. Not to mention he's large.

So even though your horse was "started" and was "quiet" then, doesn't mean jack when it comes to how trained he is. Just because you think he's "broke" doesn't mean squat. As he gets bigger, and a bit more confident, those things you thought he knew well? yeah, not so much. He was just going along with things because he didn't know any better.

And this is where a really good life insurance policy comes in.

How the heck are you, with your month of lessons and your pony rides as a kid, going to know what the hell to do when he starts pushing and feeling for the boundaries? What do you do when he decides to just start cantering when you want a trot? What do you do when you want him to go left and he decides to go right? What do you do when he's bouncing up and down in a nervous trot with his head in your lap? What do you do when he decides to rear instead of back up?

Not all of them will test their boundaries. Some are great. Heck, mine only needs to be told what the boundaries are, clearly. Others, not so much. And from the information I'm getting from professionals who know what they're doing, a lot of the "testing" comes well AFTER the initial training.

So your statements that he's "broke" just seem incredibly dumb to me. And I think it would be incredibly dumb of you and your family to not work with someone who knows what they're doing on this.

Yeah, I thought I knew it all when I was a teenager too. I didn't. And I was lucky to live through some of the mistakes I made. Hope you're as lucky, since you seem so determined to do dumb things.

[goeslikestink]

ok -- i let my duaghter do osiris as he was hers - she was 12 he was 3-- now why would i do that one-- a-- she has been ridng horses since she came out of plaster at 18mths-- shes done the lot at 12 she been with the pony club and she was taught by me-- and an ex inernational 3 day eventer of whome also trians for bsja-- brish showjumping asscociation -- hes laso a fbhs the highest certifcate you can get in british pony clubs allso an accredited trianer for britsh eventing--and debs has been taught by him since 5yrs old and he knows she talented -- as at 12yrs old she had been having lesson twice weekly with him privately and once a monce thorugh p ony club plus me altho 12 yrsold she was and still is a conpenten rider-- so to osiris ossy is laid back and sensiable and was well handled by me from 4mths old -- he lunges had tack on went out with me round woods leading from another horse othing faze him-- only had to break him debs asked me if she could break him and knowing him and knowing her capabilites i said yes-- but big but she didnt do him on her own BECAUSE I WAS WITH HER I HAVE 30YRS EXPREINCES OF BREAKING HORSES
so with me as a guide she did-- and i let her break my bonnie to -- from then on she broke a few here and there at 15 she worked for a dealer in fact three breaking horses in cause she wanted to teach and knew she must be able to get on anything - so she spent time at different dealers -- top show jumping yard dressage yards and point - point and john best racing yard-- she always in demand for riding otherpeoples horses becuase she get on and does a good job she often gets a called to break and school a horse for which she is well paid or to ride one at a show but she earnt that right now at 23 to do just that-- but she a little careful now as she her baby--


but i stress again she did it at 12yr but was a good rider allready she had me and john smart as her trainers and she still does --

[eclipse]

So, what are you going to do when he finally realizes that you are lacking the proper balance & skills & decides to go straight up on his back legs instead of forwards? Not that all horses do this but they ALL test & if you are hanging on his face, sticking spurs in his sides he WILL one day go up & probably over with you on his back! Walk, trot lessons when you were 6 does NOT a rider make.....wake up & get a professional to train this horse or we will be reading yours & his obiturary!!!

[Smigget]

I think DJ got scared off.

[~DressageJunkie~]

Smiget- I had a nice break from everything, I took a day off and spent it at a friends 500 acres and went trail riding. It's so nice to be back

You wonder why I get upset when I see post like these!

Jeepers- Yes, I enjoy riding the short bus!

Barbara- You think I am a troll? Yes, I just love causing havac around all BB's! I ride English and Western. My mare is English and my gelding is Western...you know, they are very simaliar. I guess I can agree that it is entertaining for me watching you come up with soem of your weird ideas...

hitchinmygetalong- Tex is my having fun hang out on the trail horse, but I want to show in low low level western pleasure and some barrels.

Karosel- Thanks so much for the links, they have helped me out a ton, I feel like a new person...

feisomeday- If I was a troll why would I post pictures of MY horse, with ME on them. I just get a kick out of making people mad you know!

Adagio2016- What a wonderful post... I really don't mind you calling my ignorant. I think you should come see how I ride and take care of my horses before you judge me. I am sure don't give western riders a bad name, but people like you give COTH and horse trainers a bad name. Wishing I get hurt? Would you feel bad if I was riding along and the neigbors dog ran up, spooked my mare, and I got bucked off? Surely thats not my fault, and I would not learn anything from it. I really don't care if I make you sick, talk to anyone that knows me and you can see how much I love my horses. Heck talk to my trainer, she is not one to let my wear spurs if my legs arn't steady.

Coup De Des- I ride English and Western in my lessons. Do you want me to take a picture of my spurs? Less then an inch long, and rounded. It's not like I am jabbing her every step. If I was doing that, I wouldn't be wearing them.

pacificsolo- It's not just you but your attitude against me. I am am on another board you are on (not mentioning any names) and I can see what you post about me.

Quin- My mare is English, my gelding is western, and I love Dressage, but it is not somthing I ride or am trying to ride. I trailer my mare to lessons every Sunday starting this Sunday. I also take "backyard" horses as a put down. There are tons of people on this board that have horses in there backyard, but they are not "backyard" horses, either are mine.

[SweetLatte]

It can be done, I bought Latte as a 3 year old and though it took two years to get all of her problems fixed I did the majority of restarting her on my own and then my cousin took her for a year to work on the finishing aspect. It's a long road and you can do it on your own, but it takes time and patience and atleast someone there to help you every once in a while. If you're looking for a step by step guide I'd look at Going for Broke by Clint Anderson.

[goeslikestink]

no -- if your trainer teaches you like that then shes not a professional one i think its the matey that helps you out i rember your photos and iam english thank you -- iam new to this board to - but theres one thing that bugs me most of all -- and i will explain in laymens terms for you --

when i was your age my mother taught me --the art of being a young lady
is to ask politely in all that you do wether man beast or employment--


manners what are they and what do they do in our way of life---

respect what is that in our way of life --

trust what is that in our way of life

understand whats that

listening-- is that a skill how so

and finally speach -- is that not a skill

i am lacking in speach i know that --and so do others

but those others that know give me all off the above
and also give it in everything they do in work -- horses -- and there human
friends

i cannot see how your mother and father have brought you up without
these essential ingredients to make you a young lady of which young men
will like -- believe me with your attitude it will be you own downfall--

[~DressageJunkie~]

So your saying my attitude won't get me guys? Not somthing I am really looking at right now...

[greysandbays]

It can be done, I bought Latte as a 3 year old and though it took two years to get all of her problems fixed I did the majority of restarting her on my own and then my cousin took her for a year to work on the finishing aspect. It's a long road and you can do it on your own, but it takes time and patience and atleast someone there to help you every once in a while. If you're looking for a step by step guide I'd look at Going for Broke by Clint Anderson.

See, this here is what I think a lot of us are trying to get at. Had you been more experienced and knowledgeable, NOT only would it NOT have taken TWO YEARS to "get all her problems fixed", but 90% of those problems would never have arisen in the first place. And you wouldn't be posting here and everywhere about your recent horse accident.

There is a huge element of unfairness to the horse to create problems via ignorance that have to be "fixed" later. Once you scribble on a piece of paper, even in pencil, you can never erase it to the point where you have a fresh, pure, new sheet of paper ever again. Same thing with screwing up a horse then "fixing" it. It will never be what it could have been. That origninal scar upon their soul will remain forever.

I took this fool's road of starting my own horses when I was a pre-teen. I can say that I now know about fifty billion things YOU SHOULD NEVER DO (and one of them is messing around with things you don't know enough about!). That knowledge came at a price -- that price being several horses who had very mediocre lives and even more mediocre "training" thanks to my efforts. Unless one intends to be a full-time student of the art of horsemanship and will have ample opportunites to atone for the sacrificial horses along your way by making the lives of dozens of horses better for having screwed up several in your youth, the price to be paid in horses' souls may not be worth it.

Those who see their horse as a toy or as a sop to their ego, however, will think this opinion silly.....