Horses!

[Farmgirl283420]

What has everyone been working on with their horses?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

What has everyone been working on with their horses?

Mainly just learning how to balance while I am picking up their feet, getting them comfortable with a hoof stand along with basic cues while leading. When they first arrived I started with 5 minute sessions and we have worked our way up over the past 6 months to 20-25 minute sessions. My training sessions with them for the past few weeks have been:

1. First I lead them around the round pen 2-3 times practicing cues for whoa, walk, trot (only a 50’ round pen so this takes maybe 5 minutes.). Just to get them focused and warmed up.

2. We stop and I run my hands down their back, legs, belly, back end, ears and face.

3. I take my lead and gently toss it around their legs, over their back, drag it over their hind quarters etc. sometimes I switch it up with a training flag or a light blanket. I just want to get them comfortable with random movements, noise and things touching them.

4. I place a cotton rope around their fetlock, tap their shoulder while saying hoof up. When they pick up their hoof I have them practice balancing for a few seconds then releasing (2-3 times per hoof). Then we switch to the next hoof. I have always trained all of my horses to pick up their hoof when I tap on their lower shoulder hence the tap on the shoulder when I ask them to pick up their hoof.

5. At this point they are usually pretty relaxed and comfortable so I toss the rope to the side. I pick out each hoof, tap on their hooves with my hand, tap a couple of times with the butt of my hoof pick and set their hoof on the hoof stand for a few seconds. Each week I try to increase the time that they are holding their hoof up by 5 or so seconds so they can stand comfortably and be relaxed for trims. A big thing with drafts is teaching them to be able to balance without leaning on you.

6. Lastly I wind them down before turning them back out. I first do a calm walking lap or two around the round pen. Then I turn them so that they are facing away from the pasture with the other horses behind them. I wait for them to relax to take off their halter. If they tense up when I go to take it off or jerk their head up I wait until they relax again before trying to take it off. Sometimes it’s on the first try sometimes we take 5 minutes, but I don’t take off their halter until they are relaxed with their head lowered. I make them wait in the round pen for a couple of minutes after I have taken their halter off and then open the gate to turn them back out. I wait until they are relaxed and again before opening the gate to reinforce a couple of things. The first being they know that they are free to go when I say so. The second being I don’t want horses that bolt or knock people over to get back to the herd. I don’t want them associating that the instant their halter is removed that they get to take off. I also make sure each session ends with them calm and relaxed so they look forward to me working with them. I find how you end each training session is often the most crucial part because that is how the horse will associate you working with them the next time.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Mainly just learning how to balance while I am picking up their feet, getting them comfortable with a hoof stand along with basic cues while leading. When they first arrived I started with 5 minute sessions and we have worked our way up over the past 6 months to 20-25 minute sessions. My training sessions with them for the past few weeks have been:

1. First I lead them around the round pen 2-3 times practicing cues for whoa, walk, trot (only a 50’ round pen so this takes maybe 5 minutes.). Just to get them focused and warmed up.

2. We stop and I run my hands down their back, legs, belly, back end, ears and face.

3. I take my lead and gently toss it around their legs, over their back, drag it over their hind quarters etc. sometimes I switch it up with a training flag or a light blanket. I just want to get them comfortable with random movements, noise and things touching them.

4. I place a cotton rope around their fetlock, tap their shoulder while saying hoof up. When they pick up their hoof I have them practice balancing for a few seconds then releasing (2-3 times per hoof). Then we switch to the next hoof. I have always trained all of my horses to pick up their hoof when I tap on their lower shoulder hence the tap on the shoulder when I ask them to pick up their hoof.

5. At this point they are usually pretty relaxed and comfortable so I toss the rope to the side. I pick out each hoof, tap on their hooves with my hand, tap a couple of times with the butt of my hoof pick and set their hoof on the hoof stand for a few seconds. Each week I try to increase the time that they are holding their hoof up by 5 or so seconds so they can stand comfortably and be relaxed for trims. A big thing with drafts is teaching them to be able to balance without leaning on you.

6. Lastly I wind them down before turning them back out. I first do a calm walking lap or two around the round pen. Then I turn them so that they are facing away from the pasture with the other horses behind them. I wait for them to relax to take off their halter. If they tense up when I go to take it off or jerk their head up I wait until they relax again before trying to take it off. Sometimes it’s on the first try sometimes we take 5 minutes, but I don’t take off their halter until they are relaxed with their head lowered. I make them wait in the round pen for a couple of minutes after I have taken their halter off and then open the gate to turn them back out. I wait until they are relaxed and again before opening the gate to reinforce a couple of things. The first being they know that they are free to go when I say so. The second being I don’t want horses that bolt or knock people over to get back to the herd. I don’t want them associating that the instant their halter is removed that they get to take off. I also make sure each session ends with them calm and relaxed so they look forward to me working with them. I find how you end each training session is often the most crucial part because that is how the horse will associate you working with them the next time.

That’s great!

 

[calicocows]

Have you found any horses you like?

y e s

 

[Farmgirl283420]

y e s

Do you prefer small horses or big draft horses?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How is everyone doing today? Any do anything fun?

 

[ShrekDawg]

How is everyone doing today? Any do anything fun?

Good thanks

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I’m doing good! I have switched barns for the winter. It was a really tough decision because I’ve been riding at my old barn for years. Long story short I could barely get a lesson once a week now that my lease horse went back, and when I did it was dark, cold and rushed. However I really loved my coach so it wasn’t easy. My old barn was also about 45 min away so getting up there more than once a week wasn’t always easy. So I switched to a bath close to where I live and am now working with a green pony! The little pony is a mare and her name is Fancy. She will be eight in November and I believe her owners started having her ridden about a two years ago? Her owner is trying to sell her but for now I get to work with her and ride her! Currently I am having two lessons a week with her and doing a lease ride. I can also go up and groom her or lease ride her more if I want.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I’m doing good! I have switched barns for the winter. It was a really tough decision because I’ve been riding at my old barn for years. Long story short I could barely get a lesson once a week now that my lease horse went back, and when I did it was dark, cold and rushed. However I really loved my coach so it wasn’t easy. My old barn was also about 45 min away so getting up there more than once a week wasn’t always easy. So I switched to a bath close to where I live and am now working with a green pony! The little pony is a mare and her name is Fancy. She will be eight in November and I believe her owners started having her ridden about a two years ago? Her owner is trying to sell her but for now I get to work with her and ride her! Currently I am having two lessons a week with her and doing a lease ride. I can also go up and groom her or lease ride her more if I want.

Awesome!!!!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

What bedding do you guys use in your horse’s stalls? Or what bedding does your barn use? My old barn used sawdust and I think my new barn uses shavings. In your opinion what bedding is the best and why?