Doc and his training drama
I don't think I've introduced you all to Doc yet. He's not mine, he belongs to a client. But I'm training him. We're working on dressage and jumping and we hope to get trail riding in there too, but right now he can only be trusted for short times outside of the arena. I think by spring I'll start trail riding him with other people.
Anyway, he's a 6 yr. old 16hh Saddlebred gelding. A very pretty red Chestnut with a white blaze. He's got a dominate personality but very much loves attention and scratches. He and I had some real battles in the beginning, but now the horse is in my pockets all the time. I'm pretty sure he'd like to come home with me! Truthfully, I'd like to take him as I think he has great jumping potential, but I really can't take on a third horse at this time. If he doesn't sell by the time I'm ready to buy my farm, I might make an offer on him.
Anyway, I've been working with Doc since the end of June. At six, he had been trail ridden for three years, but wasn't really trained to do anything. His previous owner was nice and took great care of Doc, but pretty much just taught him to stand still for mounting and that was it. No ground manners, nothing about balance, nothing about canter leads. Just get on and hang on. So, on the one hand I had a fairly blank slate to work with. On the other hand, I had a very smart horse who saw no reason to do what I asked. We've had arguments. He's drug me around the arena. I spent one 45 min. ride simply asking him to move sideways off my leg (lots of rearing ensued). But, in the end he has turned into an awesome horse with great potential. He's very light and responsive (now) and balanced. He is still rather stubborn, but we have an agreement.
Our big problem at the moment is picking up the right canter lead. He just doesn't see the point. He's very balanced cantering around on the wrong lead and sees no reason to change what he's doing. So, I've been working on it. And the last two session have been lunging session. Last night--SUCCESS! He picked up the right canter lead about 90% of the time! Up from a whopping 10%! He does this funny shuffle step getting into it, but he now understands what I'm asking and that he should be on that right lead and so thinks about it and gets there. A few more lunging sessions and I think we'll have it.
Anyway, he's a 6 yr. old 16hh Saddlebred gelding. A very pretty red Chestnut with a white blaze. He's got a dominate personality but very much loves attention and scratches. He and I had some real battles in the beginning, but now the horse is in my pockets all the time. I'm pretty sure he'd like to come home with me! Truthfully, I'd like to take him as I think he has great jumping potential, but I really can't take on a third horse at this time. If he doesn't sell by the time I'm ready to buy my farm, I might make an offer on him.
Anyway, I've been working with Doc since the end of June. At six, he had been trail ridden for three years, but wasn't really trained to do anything. His previous owner was nice and took great care of Doc, but pretty much just taught him to stand still for mounting and that was it. No ground manners, nothing about balance, nothing about canter leads. Just get on and hang on. So, on the one hand I had a fairly blank slate to work with. On the other hand, I had a very smart horse who saw no reason to do what I asked. We've had arguments. He's drug me around the arena. I spent one 45 min. ride simply asking him to move sideways off my leg (lots of rearing ensued). But, in the end he has turned into an awesome horse with great potential. He's very light and responsive (now) and balanced. He is still rather stubborn, but we have an agreement.
Our big problem at the moment is picking up the right canter lead. He just doesn't see the point. He's very balanced cantering around on the wrong lead and sees no reason to change what he's doing. So, I've been working on it. And the last two session have been lunging session. Last night--SUCCESS! He picked up the right canter lead about 90% of the time! Up from a whopping 10%! He does this funny shuffle step getting into it, but he now understands what I'm asking and that he should be on that right lead and so thinks about it and gets there. A few more lunging sessions and I think we'll have it.