What training would help my baby (5y.o.TB) be more clever with his feet? He’s either lazy or clumsy or just young!
Thank you, hoping to make him into a foxhunter because he is so mellow and easygoing.
Trail miles. Lots of them. Vary the terrain. Let him take his time and help him along. Before you go out make sure he knows how to rock back and use his haunches. When you get to downhills, ask him to rock back and use his butt. Stick to a walk at first then move to a trot and canter.
If you have to stick to the arena, I’d do dressage exercises with ground poles (get the book 101 Dressage Exercises). I’m sure the jumping version would have good exercises too. I just don’t have that one.
Keep in mind, 5 is still young and growing/filling out so his body is still changing in confusing ways to him.
My Arab was a flailing mess of legs until he hit 6. Only this year at 7, after two years of extensive trail riding/conditioning on the side of the road (he does endurance rides) is he all that solid on trails. Where I don’t feel like he’s going to fall on his face. He makes a fun little hunter this year and seems to have figured out the use of all limbs.
Thank you thank you thank you. This reaffirms what I knew in my gut, just needed the reassurance and re-affirmation. He is a very good guy so I will give him time and patience!
Thank you again!
The other thing I would add to trail riding is to go on trail rides with other horses to get him used to a crowd in a slower, more controlled situation then galloping in the hunt field.
Maybe it’s just…
They say you should condition your fieldhunter in conditions like those you’re going to hunt in. I think sometimes they are klutzy because they are simply unfit. Ditto for me. I ride them better when I am fitter so they go better. . Lots of miles on uneven footing, deep going or deep grass or hills helps. And don’t forget the influence of his shoeing in the klutzy area. Are his toes too long?
I had a fieldhunter that was a klutz until he was around 5 and stopped growing. Tripped a lot. My draft crosses are REALLY like that! :winkgrin:
Make sure he is okay. Sore feet contribute to stumbling as do things like lyme and EPM. A horse who is tight in his back also has trouble getting his feet out of the way.:yes:
