Mark4510
Silver Member
Aug 2, 2006, 2:42 PM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: [mffarmall] Change Bit Type
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Hi Jim, It sounds like the bit is working for you. Make sure that it is made out of 'sweet iron' and has copper in it. This helps the horse salivate more and the bit does not rub them as much.
It seems like you want to keep her head in check. Is she flipping her head up or flinging it around?
I think its great that you are working on her ground manners. Its always good to have a horse that knows and trusts the boundries. For me, things like ground manners boil down to respect and trust. Horses tend to get pushy or aggressive if they dont know the status of the herd (and that includes people) or they dont trust that the rules are always the same. If you can get a hold of some Clinton Anderson tapes on ground manners it might really help.
When you are working on ground manners remember that, as hard as it is, getting mad or upset makes it worse.....every time.
If I am walking a horse I want them to be on my right side and back a few steps. If their head is just behind and to the right of my right shoulder that is about correct. The only time I might stand at their shoulder is if they are really chargey or want to strike. If they are prone to strike with a front foot I would take them into a round pen and work on things there first.
I leave some slack in the lead line or rein when I walk. If you have a bit in thier mouth every little movement or increase in pressure they will feel and may get protective. Soft and slow hands are a good thing. I generally try to have about 2 feet of lead line with a sag in it in my right hand and the rest in my left.
You can also carry a small riding crop in your right hand so if she bumps into you she can get a quick tap with that rather than yanking on the reins or lead line. Start by walking forward and stopping. If she does not stop in a stride then gently tap her back with the crop. Continue to increase the pressue until she steps back. One step is all you need. Once you have mastered that then you can go to walking forward and making a 90 degree left or right hand turn. If she bumps into you then bump her back with the crop one step. I suspect that if you will find that, over time, she will learn the rules and respect them. You also need to be patient and VERY consistent. Horses like rules that dont change. They learn rules from the herd and they think of you as part of the herd. You need to be higher in the herd pecking order than she is and you wont get there by being too harsh......mostly be gently insistent and consistent.
Horses are prey animals and know the humans are not. As a result they tend to be a little leary of us anyways. Direct eye contact is something that generally makes a horse nervous so I dont use that very often. If I am walking a stud colt I keep my head down and move really slowly. If for some reason he is too pushy and is trying to be dominate I may use the crop one time, lift my head, look him in the eye, lean forward a bit and take quick little short steps. Once I get the desired response or step back I immediatly revert back to my slow, head down approach. All I wanted them to do is not run over me and take a step back when they get too close. The second I get that reaction I want to release the pressure.
Long reply....I hope it helps some. Sometimes its harder with an older horse but it will get there.
Regards,
Mark
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