AboutChristine Dickinson Expertise can answer questions on training and showing, ring craft, english style riding, and dress for the sho ring
Experience been riding since I was 2 years old, qualified as an instructor more years ago than I care to remember and has owned ponies and horses all my life, shown and won extensively
Hello Christine,
I have recently "adopted" an unbroken, rescue case, draft-type horse, who lives in the paddock next to my own horse. Heīs around 13 yrs and has not been broken or worked as far as we know.
Iīve spent ages getting to know him over the past year and he has a lovely kind nature. Heīs now ok to have his feet trimmed, shower, tie up, be touched anywhere, is halter broken and going happily for walks. In the last 3 weeks heīs accepted the saddle, a rider getting on and off, a riderīs weight at walk while being led around the school. He seems to understand the commands whoa, walk and trot PROVIDING HE IS BEING LED by somebody.
My difficulty is trying to get him to move forward confidently without a person leading him. I canīt get him to lunge at all (tho heīs fine if being led or accompanied by another person) - he freezes or turns in to me- Iīve tapped him with the whip gently but donīt want to frighten him. I really think he doesnīt understand. Iīve also tried long reining as heīs fine with the reins round his legs and back, but again progress is very slow without someone leading him. He has managed a couple of steps on his own, but Iīm unsure of how to proceed. I canīt imagine him ever trotting forwards on his own! (though he does it well on a loose halter rope - doesnīt need to be dragged along).
Iīm in no hurry with this lad. He loves the attention and I think he would enjoy going out for a hack occasionally. Can you help us?
Thanks for your advice.
Julie
Answer Hi Julie
First of all thank you for taking on a rescue and giving what is after all a relatively young horse a new lease of life.............. I so wish more people were like yourself!
Right now, you are doing all the right things with this lad, really you are, patience is a virtue and you have it!
Ok he may be 13 in body but in his head he is as green as a baby and thats what you have got to think about......... which is what you have done, in the way you have handled him so far. One method is to try and hack out with another horse, maybe a friend or someone at the yard could help you with this, it has to be a sensible bomb proof horse as well, one that will not shy at little things and is fully traffic proofed if you have to go on roads. Sounds like this lad might be one of those who is happier to have a bottom to follow ................. I used to have one of those many years ago, could do anyting with him, but riding him had to have a leader.
If you can't get another rider to go with you, then try someone just walking alongside him, then gradually dropping back every time, not too hurried but gradual dropping back until he can;t see them, its a case of giving him the confidence and belief in himself that he can be brave enough to take the first step and go out on his own with his rider.
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