Sound bites that work for me
“Yes, ma’am!”
Shoulder in for the front, cavaletti for the rear.
Think forward.
Destination riding.
Start fast on a loose rein.
Voice commands with body language because it’s clearer to both.
Adapt training to the horse’s personality.
Have a sense of humor when riding, whether in tall boots or a swimsuit.
Cut yourself some slack, they’re lucky to have you care so much.
Sing.
[QUOTE=matryoshka;3662974]
Kyzteke, do you actually prefer sensitive horses? I know I do. They give instant feedback and are very good for improving riding/handling skills. You always know where you stand with a sensitive horse. I used to hate them before I had a really tough one who taught me how to ride differently. Once I understood their needs, I developed a taste for the kind of sensitivity that leads a horse to mirror you every move–including the mistakes.[/QUOTE]
Oh, it’s not the sensitive I mind so much – like you I enjoy that. Instead, it’s the lightening speed she has when she does melt down.
My Hanoverian mare is (believe it or not) also very sensitive to touch. You don’t have to crank her around or push alot, either in the saddle OR on the ground (I simply hate a horse that is heavy in the hand…).
But she is 16.2hh and heavier than my 14.2hh Arab by 300-400 lbs. None of my WB friends want to ride the Arab – they say she’s too quick for them (!).
And my farrier said he rather p**s off a WB than an Arab any day…he said WBs are so slow he can sit down and have a cup of coffee and STILL have time to move before the kick comes.
Arabs have whacked you in the head and are at the other end of the pasture before you know you what’s coming. Too quick!
Luckily 95% of the time she just spooks in place.
Yeah, I’m bringng along a little Arab mare now. She’s reactive. I’m used to reactive, sensitive, and excitable. It’s her agility that might get me. I rehomed my bucking OTTB because I was concerned he was eventually going to hurt me, but the little Arab mare is probably more likely to throw me in the dirt. At least we won’t be going upwards of 20 mph when it happens, though. 
I’m going to have to relearn keeping my butt in the saddle.
[QUOTE=matryoshka;3664842]
Yeah, I’m bringng along a little Arab mare now. She’s reactive. I’m used to reactive, sensitive, and excitable. It’s her agility that might get me. I rehomed my bucking OTTB because I was concerned he was eventually going to hurt me, but the little Arab mare is probably more likely to throw me in the dirt. At least we won’t be going upwards of 20 mph when it happens, though. I’m going to have to relearn keeping my butt in the saddle.[/QUOTE]
I haven’t ridden too many cutting/reining-bred QHs, but I’ve ridden WBs, TBs, Akhal-Tekes and Arabs, and usually the Arab is the quickest.
My WB was started by a pro, and when I “test rode” her I was really thrown off by her motion after my little Arab. The trainer said it would the difference between driving my Ford 350 Extended Cab PU and my Geo Metro!
Except I think the LFA (Little Fat Arab) would be offended to be called a Geo – I think she’s more like a little MG or Fiat. They can be fun, but make sure your butt is squarely in the saddle.
I had been riding a 17hh Friesian for one of my trimming clients. When I got on the Arab (14.3hh) for the first time it felt like sitting on a saddle rack! :lol:
We did our first real trail ride today where I mounted her near the trailers instead of hand-walking her along the trail for 10 minutes or so. She started out nervous but quickly settled down. We only had one “spook” when she was sniffing the ground as we went between trees and mashed my knee. I realized it was going to happen too late to do anything. Stupid of me. She leaped forward when she heard my knee hit the tree. But that was it. She settled down almost immediately. I think she’s going to be a fine trail horse.
This was the fourth time I rode her. She came to me as a “green broke” training problem. Maybe she was just too young before–I turned her out and gave her 8 months to mature before trying to ride her. I don’t see the point of starting horses under saddle when they reach a certain age unless they have some physical maturity. The mental stuff should be there too.
My riding companion hasn’t ridden in a while. It occurred to me to tell her about taking a deep breath and see if her horse did the same. I took my own deep breath, and Roxy sighed. Then I told my riding buddy, and I could hear her horse do it too. We were talking about how they mirror us. The WB is not a particularly sensitive horse, but relaxation techniques do work for him, too. If he relaxes too much, he’s going to fall asleep on the trail. :lol:
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