Thank you. Given the fact we had one amazing day at the block a few weeks ago, I think she knows how to do it, but we just aren’t speaking the exact same language yet about expectations. Excited to see her tonight but we will just groom and snuggle.
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No truer words. They are people pleasers, sensitive and crazy intelligent. No need to be harsh with them or use force.
It’s hard for non-ASB people to get used to the drama and sensitivity this breed brings to the table. They are far from a stock breed.
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Mentioned before and will again…be careful who you…ohhhh…trust… for want of a more descriptive term, to work with your horse or turn to for advice.
You can be friends with people and listen to their suggestions but don’t assume they know what they are talking about when it comes to working with your typical ASB.
Some of your barn mates likely come from stock horse type backgrounds, those are very smart horses but most pretty workman like, get the job done without fanfare and not prone to ambitious displays or strutting.
Other barnmates, especially out of HJ or Dressage experience, may be used to the…ahhhh….DBs, that can be slow to catch on or retain lessons and certainly don’t light up and sparkle like an ASB.
These people may mean well but lack experience with ASB physical and mental make up. Yes its a horse, needs the same manners, skills and much is the same but whats different is really different.
Be careful with the whole contact thing that most expect, low neck, tucked nose and level movement. Shes not built to do that, you modify it to work with her conformation, she has to accept contact but it wont necessarily look the same. Somebody tries to cram her into it will discourage her and erase some of your progress.
Somebody upthread mentioned the feeling of an ASB dropping down behind. You betcha, they drop down to help that front end elevate and generate more power to drive it, they are not trying to rear. Might want to look at some videos of 3 and 5 gaited and Fine Harness to see what they are bred and built for.
Honey is more of an ASB Pleasure build, not as extreme, but still not the build and angles of a stock horse, TB or WB. You need a rider who appreciates that, works with the way she is built and is not intimidated by that ASB stance and sparkle. Be careful with that and who rides her when you can’t.
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Thank you. Great points.
I’m not trying to force any contact at all yet, in the times I have ridden her. But I did realize quick that she won’t have that typical frame ive been taught in dressage or hunter/jumpers.
The girl doing the training rides has no ASB experience. Nor do I— but I’m committed to learning fast to benefit Honey and I.
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This actually caused rearing in mine. You CANNOT block forward on these horses without them going up unless they are the rare lesson-horse type who are just dead in the mouth and saintly or an ex-Amish horse that may have become more used to that type of treatment.
The drama made me giggle (sorry OP, I’m stealing your thread a bit here). We have SO much drama in the barn. We have one that literally bucks and rears in the stall and makes little weird dolphin noises if his water bucket is anywhere near empty. Shoeing gets snorts and bug-eyes even on the 10 year old who has been shod most of his life. Even a new brush gets a big dragon snort. It means absolutely nothing other than “I want to talk about all of this”.
If they’ve been in an ASB barn at all, they are encouraged to be expressive. Bucking and carrying on on the longe or in the lines is tolerated - read the Smith Lily Saddle Seat Horsemanship book if you want to understand some of the psychology behind why certain things that would read “danger will Robinson” in another breed are tolerated (if not encouraged) in ASBs — even if you never intend to ride Saddleseat it’s important to understand them (and I think one of the better books).
On the flip side, mine will act like a total lunatic with his tail in the air, doing the deer snort thing, but literally never pull on me, run me over, or hurt me in any way. I cannot say the same thing about my QHs or TBs. If my saddlebred is being silly, they are just being silly. If my QH is being silly, you really are in some danger. Even when mine spooks HARD (he’s done a spook, drop and spin about 3 times in his life, once on the longe, twice under saddle) he is trying not to lose me or hurt me. I cannot say the same about other breeds, and it’s one of the things that impressed me so much I needed more of them.
This - 100%. How you approach it is quite different. Think about the difference between training a doberman and training a black lab or golden retriever. Still dogs, but because of the breeding behind them they require different training methodologies. A black lab is very food motivated, generally can take some more time, and a lot of them are (sorry lab lovers) dumber than a box of rocks. A Doberman is a sharp, sensitive dog, and mishandling can really screw them up quickly. Generally speaking they are not food motivated, but praise or prey motivated. Both kinds of dogs need to listen, but how you get there is totally different.
Praise works particularly well with saddlebreds too. They TRULY love hearing that they are good and special. You’ll see them puff up if you say things like “Yeah!!!” or “Look at you!” or “Go Buddy” even if they’ve never seen the inside of a show ring. Mine grows about 3" if other horses come in the ring and those ears go forward and he is ON. Really scary at first when I didn’t know what was happening - I thought we were about to have an explosion. Instead it’s just him being proud.
They are also very sensitive to people disliking them or mistrusting them. They know it almost immediately. I’ve had farriers who can’t work on mine because they don’t “like” saddlebreds. The horses know it, and won’t stand for them.
Anyway - I’ve belabored this but it’s so important. Learn from the mistakes I’ve made and choose carefully 
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This is so incredibly helpful, thank you! And I’ll check out that book for sure!
Just popped by tonight after landing back home to say hi/give soup and a bath but my friend had just finished bathing her. We are in a heat advisory here and it’s so so gross.
It’s not the best pic, but today I believe makes 1 month together. So here’s a shot!
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You might have better luck with the eggbutt. My ASB worked much better in that than a single-jointed snaffle.
Saddlebreds are just the best horses, you made a good choice.
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@Alterration fabulous post. When I win the lottery I’ll have horses with Smith Lilly and Melissa Moore.
You and @findeight have given much wonderful advice.
@AdultEmmy she’s looking good and I’m glad to see you taking all this good advice to heart
Thanks for keeping us updated.
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Thank you!
I’m for sure taking in everything everyone is saying here. Here’s the pic from today. What a sweaty Betty!
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One of the lesson horses I rode years ago had about the same back\croup coupling, swooping up to the top of the pelvis.
Since I did not see any way he could scratch this area when he was rolling I started using my HandsOn grooming gloves in that area before and after each ride. He loved, Loved and LOVED me doing this, and he looked so satisfied after each time I did this.
IF she can stand the HandsOn Grooming gloves I bet Honey would like this too. Unfortunately not all horses like these grooming gloves, and those horses do not get this treatment.
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I’ve been thinking about getting one of these!
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Do any of you have links to great groundwork videos? There’s so much out there !
Bonus if it helps with helping her line up to me at the mounting block.
Just looking for some new ideas/tips etc to watch. I’ll be hopefully working with a friend who is a groundwork mastermind tomorrow, but I’d love to learn more 
Today we groomed for a nice long time. I love how much she enjoys being loved on.
Someone at the barn witnessed the training ride from Friday and told me Honey was rearing… I’m not shocked but I want this figured out. I’m hoping the saddle fit is the answer.
We worked on walk, halt and introduced back cues on the ground. Then I’d walk up the mounting block and praise her with scratches if she’d approach it. We did that a few times with her coming in head first for scratches, then giving me her shoulder. Then I called it a day.
Here’s better pics now that it’s been a month together!
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Tighten that halter, punch holes if you need to! That thing is begging to get snagged on something. The rings on the sides closest to the nose need to go up at least 2-3". The throat snap should be as close to her throat as you can get it. Is this horse sized? Have you tried cob size on her?
She’s looking great. I don’t think I’d ride yet based on her condition, and I think you need to be present for any ride going forward and be willing to say “that’s enough, let’s try something else” to de escalate if needed. Even better if you can find a trainer/rider that’s got more of a mind and feel for this type of horse.
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Hi!
I’ll punch holes. Cob didn’t fit her. Thanks!
Edit: actually, it’s a breakaway and I think I have replacement straps that are cob sized. Maybe I’ll try that!
Fortunately they don’t go out or anything with halters on.
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You know horses - if it can happen, it will. I’ve seen a horse get stuck on a halter hook hung on the opposite side of an arena fence due to a loose halter, and that stuck in my mind. Additionally, the pressure is too low on the nasal bone and can do damage.
The color looks great on her, and extra holes in the strap or a shorter strap is a piece of cake.
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Thank you! I’ll give that a try tomorrow. She’s been weird to fit with halters bc the cob was way too small but this appears to swallow her. So glad you said something and it made me remember those cob straps!
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Thought you would all enjoy Honey having fun in the sun 
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IMG_1906
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Honey had an awesome groundwork session tonight, so I’m excited!
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