I did not. Neither did the owner actually (she did carry a crop and use a flash). This is what the trainer was telling the owner to do, and how he would insist on riding the horse. He wasn’t with us daily, came to us for lessons a couple days a week. I’ve said it before-I am not a trainer. I’m a barn manager. Trust me, we did not feel comfortable with this approach and once we realized that was his common training techniques for greenies, we quickly employed a new trainer because we had a few greenies in the barn. Before that, it was just Adult riders, and he was fine for basic instruction on broke horses. I agree 100% draw reins on a horse that does not have a go button is a recipe for disaster and I now have proof in memory to go by.
I, too, babied a tempermental soul. He’s never fully reared, I think his self-preservation instinct is too high - thank god, but I feel he would quickly begin rearing if someone insisted at the wrong time.
I’ve said this so many times-IMO, not flipping over is a sign of self-preservation. Rearing is just a big F-U, whether it’s a full blown High Ho Silver, small pop, hesitating steps or just something you have in the back of your head he is capable of doing. It’s one thing to be lazy and need a constant reminder to go forward, but to have the threatening mindset “I will rear if you push me”… :no:
Trainer insisted he move laterally off her leg one night (turn on the forehand or haunches…can’t remember which one). Argument ensued and an hour later, horse won.
This, IMO, is the hardest thing about working with horses, greenie or not greenie. You have to know what battles to pick and when to move on to something else. Another boarder has this mare than can be so dead quiet, like beat her around the ring quiet, or flighty and spooky (love mares!). The other day I FINALLY got the point across when she is the latter, just simplify and let it go! She was struggling to do a leg yield from 1/4 line to rail, pick up canter in the corner, The mare kept leaping and getting very strong, then started to spook and scoot. I watched for a while and suggested she go back to what she is 100% comfortable with, like w-t transitions down the quarter line, just to give her a break, but still remind her to stay focus. Even throw some halt, relax, pet the horse in there. Then walk a leg yield, pat the horse, trot to end, stop and pat. Then t-c transitions down 1/4 line. She ended up getting ONE trot leg yield, canter transition and that was all for the day. Why pick fight over something she can learn tomorrow if it’s going to be SUCH an issue? And now she can do that exercise with no stress. When the rearing mare went to bootcamp, the trainer stressed the importance of no battle. When they fight, he simply gets off and ties the horse up for a while. Then rides later. Seriously helps, teaches patience and humbles them, and I think it does the same for the rider-a mental breather for all!
As I said before…I do think a crop would’ve helped in the OP’s situation…just a waggle by his eye to break his concentration. Because while he looked painfully slow…when he was focusing, he did go somewhere…just slowly.
Agreed. There is a difference between what that guy was doing in the video clip and where the mare I mentioned got to as her final straw. Taking a crop to her would’ve ensued a huge fight because she already won before that day happened. But had she learned leg/crop means go from the beginning, she may not have reached the point she did. She was an OTTB and the trainer felt she needed to learn to go slow and controlled. But in reality, she was backwards and trapped so her rearing made sense.
Greenies are my favorite!
