Results from Last Week

Last week I talked about how to reenforce some of the training that was done early on with a young horse.  My client and I worked the horse one hour like we would have if he was just starting.  Then the following lesson we went back to our normal schedule.  What happened was the colt remembered the earlier things and the importance of them.  He was a changed horse over the last few lessons. 

What changes did we see.  The colt was refusing to move off smoothly.  He would toss his head and tail or he would very slowly move through the motions.  He would also kick his hind legs when asked to change gaits or speed up in a gait.  This was his response to having to move forward.  We had started asking for more collection when riding which meant more pressure was put on his mouth.  We were also using an elastic neck stretcher that would mimic a rider asking for collection and being able to release pressure when the response was given.  We then went back to just asking the colt to move forward and when he did let him be.  This reinforced the action of moving forward when aked.

Some people when working with a colt that is kicking its hind legs will stop the colt and try to start again.  Others will keep asking the colt to move forward.  What needs to be determined is why the colt is giving this reponse.  If the colt is kicking because it is spooking from something then determine what is spooking the colt.  Then work the colt around the area that is spooking the colt.  Sometimes noises or shapes can spook a colt which in turn will cause the colt to kick out its hind legs.  The other reason why a colt will do this is because the colt is refusing to move forward.  This is when the rider needs to increase its aids to encourage the colt to move forward.  This particular colt responds correctly when a riding crop is used.  The rider starts by asking for the motion forward and keeps increasing its aids until the colt is moving forward at the correct gait.

There are many different cues to use determine the desired ones you want to use with your colt.  Then work with the colt.  Have fun and spend time with your horse.