Trying to train my welsh mountain pony to give lessons to younger girls. He's never really had anyone ride him before and when I try to get on he starts bucking. Help me!
Nov 27, 2014 Rating
noble my boy by: Anonymous
my horse noble hangs his head over his stall door. this is damaging his throat and he will slowly kill himself if he keeps this up. he even does it when in the paddock! have any advice on how I can stop it? he's the kind of horse that needs A LOT of attention and when I give it to him he's fine until I leave! I go out there almost every day!!!!!!! so please give me advice! thx!
Sep 24, 2014 Rating
lol sorry for all my troubles by: chaanya
hi its me again XD i posted a comment on Quebec my adorable 5 month old colt the funny thing is that now he never stops running!!! plus my problem is that i CAN'T lead him he kicks out with his ears flat back SUPER ANGRY and he rears up a lot but he mostly kicks and charges at you!!! i hate to whip him or even OWN a whip but when he see's a stick or something he get EVEN MAD! i'm really sad and worried about this.. but in the stable or when there is no lead rope he is SOO good! i checked for all the things that can spook him.. i'm worried ..
p.s PLZ help me its urgent again!!
Aug 20, 2014 Rating
plz help me by: chaanya
i got a 5 month old colt named Quebec as an orphan from a slaughter house... he is a very nice little chap with very good manners but my problem is that when ever i put him into a pasture paddock or anywhere to graze he won't play trot or canter D: i can't get him to even trot when i'm training D: i'm really worried i checked if he has any wounds on him or something spooking him.. is this normal for foals ?
p.s: i really need help!
chaanya
Aug 04, 2011 Rating
Hi Ranchgirl by: Unicorn
I know I'm three months late, but I'd just like to say that helping out is a truly massive pleasure... I'm 14 years old and started riding when I was 4, have been owning horses for seven years and backed (broke in) my first horse (a stallion) when I was twelve. I've crammed as much knowledge as I can into my head over the years and I feel it's my duty to share it! I still have soooo much to learn, my 6 horses teach me new things every single day.
As for the writing side of things, a group of extremely generous pros have taught me a few tricks of the trade (I don't know anything really and have never published anything) and since they helped me I felt it was the least I could do to pass on the knowledge. So I'm not a pro, just an apprentice really, but I like helping :) And you all teach me so much each time I come on this site, it's just awesome. Thanks everyone! And especially thanks Sydney for starting this website. It's really cool :)
May 02, 2011 Rating
Hey Unicorn by: ranchgirl
You are awesome! You help a lot of people like me on our stories. You must be a pro or something. Also you are awesome at problems like these. I'm glad you can answer these.
Hey this is ranchgirl and I'm requesting you to visit my page it's called ranchgirl's page. It's under Training Stories. You can answer horse questions with me and chat with me and answer polls we all post up. Speaking of polls I just posted one and I'd be happy if you go vote. It's about your favorite breed. When everyone's finished voting I'll post results. So, go to ranchgirl's page because it's gonna be so fun. See you there. I'll be happy if I do visit!!!!!!!!!!1
May 02, 2011 Rating
Hi Ranchgirl by: Unicorn
My pleasure!
Apr 28, 2011 Rating
Thanx Unicorn by: ranchgirl
I'm happy you commented. I don't do that much riding. Thanks again!
Apr 26, 2011 Rating
P. S. by: Unicorn
You sound ambitious - already a piaffe, sidepass and Spanish walk. That's great, but remember that you have to begin at the beginning - start with simple turns like turn on the forehand or turn on the haunches. (Turn on the forehand comes first, it's easier to teach). Piaffe is more or less just a collected trot, but an EXTREMELY collected trot to the point where the horse trots on the spot. It takes months to teach a horse to do this. Be patient, work hard, be safe. And have tons of fun! Unicorn
Apr 26, 2011 Rating
Hi Amy by: Unicorn
I've never done the more complex dressage movements - sidestep and so on - but I can help you with collected and extended trot. As Ranchgirl said, extended trot is basically a super fast trot with enormous strides. A horse with good movement in extended trot looks fabulous beyond words. Ask him to go faster, but don't sit down to ask him to canter - keep posting and pushing him. If he canters, bring him back to a trot and try again. They get the hang of this one pretty quickly.
Collected trot isn't too hard if you can do a collected walk. You just need to learn to control your horse's speed. Walk, trot, canter and gallop isn't enough - you should be able to dictate the speed at which the horse moves, not just the gait. Bringing the head in and using the hindquarters is a tricky thing to teach, I start by "playing" (opening and closing alternate ring fingers) with the reins very lightly on a young horse's mouth until he brings his head in, at the same time keeping the horse in a proper walk. Some horses get the hang of this pretty quickly but others need martingales or side reins. Don't change the bit. Collection is perfectly achievable in a snaffle. If you need to use a martingale or side reins, then so be it, but don't change the bit. You can wean the horse off side reins and martingales, but not so easily off a harsher bit.
Hope it helps! I'd still advocate getting a professional trainer... they know best.
Happy riding!
Apr 09, 2011 Rating
Solution by: ranchgirl (author)
Okay, I can't do all of those. Every horse does it differently so I hope this helps.
Extended trot- get your horse to trot and give a little kick so it knows it has to go faster. Not too hard or it will go directly to canter.
Piaffe- lift up the reins one by one so it knows it has to pick up it's feet. So, lift up one rein, put it down and lift up the other rein and do it as fast as the horse is picking up it's feet.
If anyone else can comment so, you know all of those because my mom and me haven't done a lot o riding recently.
p.s. you're lucky you have your own horse.
Apr 04, 2011 Rating
Western Horse by: Amy
My Quarter Horse, Tango, rides western. How would we train him for English, and then how do we teach him to do the following dressage moves?-
-Sidepass -piaffe -spanish walk -collected trot -extended trot
I hope you have an answer! It would be an amazing help!
Jan 26, 2011 Rating
Hi by: ranchgirl (author)
You know what I don't have a better way of solving it. I AM NOT A GENIUS
Jan 25, 2011 Rating
OK by: ranchgirl (author)
I thought that would work but, it didn't. Maybe someone else on this page can solve that problem. I AM SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY.
Jan 25, 2011 Rating
Trailers and saddles by: Unicorn
Hi Ranchgirl and Daisy and everyone!
First of all, Ranchgirl, I love your trailer training tips. When I start loading up my young horses I'll be sure to remember them. I taught my mare to load using a carrot and a lunge rope. The carrot was wiggled in front of her nose and I got a helped to stand at either end of the lunge rope and, if she balked and didn't want to move, they just came nearer with the rope until it was touching her haunches and she jumped straight up. After that the carrot was more than enough incentive. :)
If I may make a suggestion to Daisy: Sounds like you have a young horse? I can't really give advice, just share a story. When I backed my filly, she was nervous of the saddle, especially when I pulled the girth/cinch tight. She'd put her ears back and wander about and sometimes even swing her head around. Every now and then, she stuck out her forelegs and stretched like a dog LOL. So every time before I put the saddle on, I let her sniff it and then as I walked towards her back I was always touching her with the saddle or my hand so that she knew where I was. Then without lifting the saddle too high I slowly slipped it onto her back and very gently let the girth down, pulling it up not all at once but by degrees. She's very happy to have it put on now and doesn't wander about when the girth is pulled up anymore.
I'm sure Ranchgirl has a better suggestion, though. I was just running on instinct. :)
Jan 23, 2011 Rating
Hey akoika by: ranchgirl (author)
I checked it out yesterday. I posted a comment. It is a lot like mine.
Jan 20, 2011 Rating
Both by: Daisy
I ride both and all them fit good my mom checked them and my coach checked them mom thinks she might be cinch shy!?!?
Jan 19, 2011 Rating
great minds think alike by: akoiya
hey ranchgirl,
this is akoiya and i just wanted tell you that i really like your idea & i have the same one!!!! we both have comment pages!!! mine is "reply page" so you should look at it!!! i really like yours.
Jan 13, 2011 Rating
Saddle by: ranchgirl (author)
Do you ride English or western? Maybe her saddle doesn't fit. Check if it fits her. If it doesn't fit you can ask if you can trade in a saddle for one her size.
Jan 12, 2011 Rating
One more thing by: Daisy
one more thing... my horse, when I saddle her she bites and pulls back sometimes... any advice ?!?
Jan 12, 2011 Rating
Your're Welcome by: ranchgirl (author)
I did think it would work
Jan 10, 2011 Rating
Thank you by: Daisy
Thanks so much! It worked! Glad I have this website for help. Me and mom couldn't get her in the trailer, lol, but the bucket of food worked great! I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thanks again!
P.S.
She walks right in now and loves it! As soon as she realizes we are going to the trailer she gets happy. Thanks for all the help! I'll keep you in mind if I run into another problem, lol! Thanks again!
Jan 09, 2011 Rating
Trailer Training by: ranchgirl (author)
Looks like your horse needs some trailer training. Start with getting the horse used to small spaces. Then try taking a whip with you. Maybe you have to put a bucket of food in the trailer before you try getting the horse in there.
Please comment again if it doesn't work.
Jan 08, 2011 Rating
I have a question ?? by: Daisy
My horse has a bit of trouble being trailered. She doesn't like to get in the trailer. Have any advice?