Ideas For Schooling A Very Heavy Cob!

[Emily]

Thanks for all your input everyone In Both of the pictures I put up i was riding in a single rein on the pelham as I was jumping, and really cannot cope with two reins when jumping, but i need a little more than a snaffle for him.

The thing that puts me off a pelham with two reins is that I don't feel confident in my own abilities to use it correctly. And I fear I would do more damage riding in one incorrectly then in a snaffle. I have been trying to find an instructor around me that will teach me as well as him, but there doesn't seem to be anyone close enough.

Ros - blubber is a perfect word for it! he has now lost a hell of a lot of weight but there are just pockets of fat all over him that I think will take months to disappear!!

A quick question about clicker training - he has previously been very treat trained. The minute he did something well he got a treat, but it got to the stage where he was biting for a treat. My worry about clicker training is that this will happen again, and we are only jsut starting to stop him doing it! So, does anyone have any experience of mouthy horses with clicker training?

[Heather]

Hi Emily,

Riding in a pelham with two reins isnt nearly as difficult as you think and a combination of mullen mouthpiece and elastic curb is actually milder in action than a snaffle, yet far more effective, requiring much less hand. Have you read my book, as it has an in depth explanation as to how to use the pelham. Practise handling it off the  horse- get a friend to hold the bit, and practise operating the reins, but tightening or releasing the finger under which the rein lies- bit like chopsticks really!!

Heather

[Emily]

Yes I have read your book, and it makes it sound so simple!! But I really struggle with co-ordinating doing different things with different fingers - in fact I lack co-ordination with most things  :lol:

ETA: Can't eat with chopsticks so that analagy doesn't fill me with confidence :lol:

I guess I need to practice, but don't think its fair to practice on Williams mouth! So will try practicing with a friend  

[Susie xx]

Hi again Emily,
have a look at the clicker training websites. Reward does not follow biting.
It is usually best to begin with the horse in the stable and you outside the door. First you are going to reward for a target touch, they have cones, I usually have an empty mineral water bottle.
Heather is right when she says light hands were what we aspired to, although often it was not demonstated by some Pony Club instructors. I grew up at the time when Pony Clubs were affiliated to the local Hunt. Most of the riders thumped hard on the horses back, got left behind over jumps and the rider was always right, discipline was a whipping. But amongst the poor standards were some real horsemen and women with experience and understanding.

Snaffles were deemed soft options, so riders thought they could not hurt the horse, so misguided, watch horses expressions.
We are always responsible for carrying ourselves, so many riders have hands that must weigh tons, they are unable to carry the weight of their own hands and everything droops from the elbow.

Watch novice riders who have not had a good instructor in a clear round jumping class, you will see how hands fail to follow the horses movements and result in elbows being thrust forward, chicken wing immitations whilst jumping.

Most of all enjoy what you are doing. Horses like us, they like to go out and play with us and they remember everything but do not bear grudges for mistakes, only for cruelty. I do not believe many horses try to get a rider off either. If you slide on their back they immediately get under you, catch you and save you from falling. They are so generous, see what works for you and William, experiment and listen to what he is telling you.
Maybe try a Pelham with double reins in schooling situations and a bitless for hacking?
 You may find a driving club or riding club with someone prepared to watch and give corrections or suggestions in return for calling their dressage test?

If you can practice everything on the ground in hand, get Williams confidence, then try ridden.
 In fact, forget bridles and saddles altogether, ride him bareback, and look out for Lorenzo.
Love Susie xx
 

[rach]

Hi Emily,

Your boy is a sweetie isn't he?

I would be very leery of using any bit with leverage action on a horse who ducks behind the contact, especially if you are not an expert. Really, excessively leery. He needs to be taught to stretch to the bit which is quite a difficult task on a horse who has learnt to sit behind the contact. This is not a good or productive or safe place for the horse to be. Bits with leverage action can also if not used properly with the relevant experience result only in a "pretty" head set and very little going on over the back and it sounds as though he's been there and got that stable rug already.

It sounds as though this chunky boy has some significant gaps in his basic schooling. If I were you I would seek exercises to promote straightness to help him learn to balance himself. No wonder he panics - he has a lot of weight to balance and hasn't as yet been taught how, as evidenced by the motorbiking in canter. IIWY I would look to the schooling in a simple single jointed eggbutt snaffle and go on from there. I think you are right not to concern yourself with his head carriage - it will come when he becomes straight and balanced and through. Incidentally I think lack of balance may be behind his panic in LY too. I'd concentrate on work on two tracks first before revisiting his laterals. There is an excellent book called 101 Schooling Exercises which is a large notepad format and has a range of exercises aimed at particular schooling principles.

Incidentally it sounds as though his clicker training was badly done too. Rule one is we don't give in to horses mugging for treats and I have never had a problem teaching my horses (including stallions) that this behaviour yields no rewards. If you are interested in pursuing this he will need to be re-trained not to mug. Would suggest you get Alex Kurland's "Clicker Training for your Horse" if you seriously want to get involved with CT. Take the author's advice and read the whole thing through before plunging in - it is a very powerful technique which of course means it is very easy to do wrong.

Good luck to you whichever route you choose.

Rach

[Mossy]

Yes I have read your book, and it makes it sound so simple!! But I really struggle with co-ordinating doing different things with different fingers - in fact I lack co-ordination with most things  :lol:

ETA: Can't eat with chopsticks so that analagy doesn't fill me with confidence :lol:

I guess I need to practice, but don't think its fair to practice on Williams mouth! So will try practicing with a friend

I took my bridle home and hung it ove the door, then practiced while watching TV. The trick is the thumb grip as the reins come through the top of the hand. Use thinner reins as well. I use a continental for the snaffle rein and a Libby's for the curb. I cannot use chopsticks either      

[Mossy]

,[/b] and look out for Lorenzo.
Love Susie xx
 

Who is Lorenzo? The only Lorenzo I know is very local to me, very off the wall and a very nice guy.

[Susie xx]

This is Lorenzo

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqvvn_lorenzo

Enjoy
love Susie xx

 

[Emily]

Just thought I would update you all!

Discovered on Friday that the beast does in fact have a 5th gear - he had his 4th ever jumping session and seems to have suddenly realised just how exciting it all is  :lol: (not helped by the fact i decided he was being well behaved enough when jumping to do it in his snaffle <_<  )

My problem now is.....in 5th gear.....my steering goes completely out the window!! So much so that at one point i found myself careering towards the 4ft arena fencing and unable to turn either way  :ouch: Luckily beast turned himself just in time (he has been known to go straight through it if the fancy takes him)

So lots of turning and circles and things are now the order of the day! Trying to keep those shoulders somewhere with his body  :blink: Easier said than done.  

[Mossy]

This is Lorenzo

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqvvn_lorenzo

Enjoy
love Susie xx

Sat there jaw on the floor! "my" Lorenzo would die for that sort of relationship with  his horse. WOW!! Thankyou very much I am honoured an dhumbled