What I did in your position with the lack of jumps and help is to set simple things like a cross rail bounce or one stride. Or small verticals, if you don’t have a ton of poles. Use ample ground lines. It’s enough to work on focus as well as coordination and assessing distances and build strength. I had a 5 yo many years ago who could jump a really big fence, he was a big guy, but he would land so short and slow, I was afraid I’d never make it down a line. He was well balanced and had an easy mind, so we could go up in height quicker than with my current horse, but we still did a LOT of bounces. Up to 3’6. Current baby was more in the cross rail bounce and short 1 stride stage because I’m trying to get him to relax and slow down and not jump so big.
Well…
We had a growth spurt this week. I had to count to ten a lot!
I literally don’t even know if I could ride a broke horse right now! Ha ha
Trying to figure out how to canter more then once around the arena was an issue today.
Tried trotting some jumps, he walks over them. Oh Lord!!
Finally at the end there was a brilliant jump. Not before I almost died of exhaustion though.
I keep telling myself it will get better. 
This has been a great read…I am pretty sure my 7 year old is going on 4!
Ok, question for everyone.
I had him at a friends for a couple weeks and he kept telling me he needed a stronger bit to bridle up.
I didn’t really agree and we kind of just dropped it.
So my question is, I always do the softest bit available with babies because I don’t want them scared of their mouth.
He never goes to fast, in fact the opposite, but he can take a lot of leg to bridle and will sometimes evade. Which to me is totally normal for a baby. And my legs are like pool noodles.
Is this the right way of thinking or should I put him in a little stronger of a bit?
He is to be a hunter and right now he is in a D ring rubber mouth. I have also used a 3 piece plain snaffle which works about the same.
I tend to keep it simple (simple = french link snaffle or level 1 Myler) until I get told otherwise. Up until recently I’ve taken all of my babies through the early years with regular clinics with Greg Best. At a certain point he would suggest different set-ups (e.g. standing martingale, running martingale, different bits, etc.). My normal routine was to disagree inside but give it a go for the clinic “knowing” that it wouldn’t help, and then being surprised by how much it helped :lol: Which tells me that I need the eyes on the ground to make those suggestions for me.
Along those lines, maybe try different mouthpieces? I’d stay with a simple snaffle for a young horse, but maybe metal vs rubber vs french link vs regular jointed vs happy mouth. You may find enough variation in the mouthpieces despite the fact that there wasn’t much difference between 3-pc and rubber. Another go-to of mine is a Myler level one snaffle.
I think it’s tough to make a baby scared of their mouth and what’s in it and either takes rough hands or inconsistent bit use (as in using it to jerk them around). Not to say that some aren’t sensitive - I have had some horses that were so soft in the mouth that I kept them in a french link snaffle for the first several years to help facilitate their willingness to lean on the bit at least a little. But for a horse that’s already willing to lay on the bit, I don’t think you need to be particularly “careful” (beyond consistency, of course).
On a more controversial note, I will occasionally go to draw reins on young horses. NOT to leverage their heads down and keep them down. I like to connect the draw reins to the bottom ring on the girth and let them pull against themselves a bit when they try to evade up. I keep the draw reins looped every second that they’re not trying to evade by lifting. If not draw reins I’ll sometimes use a chambon. Again, the point is not to try to force them into a frame. My goal is to get them to soften through their topline and engage their backs more. I could care less where the head is and I allow them to carry their head anywhere that doesn’t disrupt their ability to engage their back. I feel like it’s important to stress that, because the controversial part of gadgets like that is the easy path to abusing the gadget to force a horse into an artificial frame and unhealthy usage of body parts.
So with that being said, as with any “gadget,” I wouldn’t use it unless you’re certain that the rider is strong, consistent, and knows how to use that piece of tack.
I do think that one of the struggles in young horse training is the tendency to cut them slack because they’re babies. I tend to do this, and one of the consistent lessons I take away from riding with Greg is the “quit making excuses and raise your standards!” When I treat my young horses like they’re expected to rise to the occasion (rather than dumbing it down to protect them) they go much better!
If the mouth is soft but he is evading the contact, try different snaffle mouthpieces. But overall, sounds pretty normal for a baby.
My almost 6yo has decided cantering is just too much work. Ugh. Lots of counting to 10 for me today too. Once he finally got going, the canter was just lovely…first time since rehab started that I could just float the reins at him, step out for a lead change without having to hold up the shoulders, get in my half seat, etc. but O. M. G. WHERE DID MY GO BUTTON GO?
Real quick…had a little “victory” today, baby stood at the mounting block and did.not.move. until I told him to walk on! Baby steps…
He will go in a frame if I use a lot of leg. And I mean a lot of leg!
What I have been trying to get him to do is stretch out and look more relaxed in his head and neck. He tends to keep his neck arched and not stretch out. Which is why I didn’t want to go to a stronger bit. I am hoping he will learn to lean a little on the rubber snaffle.
He isn’t a nervous type and never gets quick so I feel like the frame is honestly just him figuring out his body. Which at the moment changes every week.
I thought about a chambone. I have used that with his mother back in her showing days.
But I attempted a martingale once, and well, he had no idea what it was and was walking like a paso fino for 5 minutes before I took it off and had a hysterical fit of laughter. :lol:
The custom saddle no longer fits. Why did I buy a coming 5 year old a custom saddle? Because nothing came close to fitting, and even an independent fitter could only give some brand recommendations for a tree that might work but said the panels would have to be custom.
And so over the course of about a week, saddle doesn’t fit in several places anymore. It is going to get adjusted for free but I worry it won’t make it much longer.
The good news is that the canter is no longer like riding the hot mess express. we did a complicated ground poles exercise on Saturday which was perfect–on both leads! Almost like a broke horse. Today, we jumped our first little 1’ Cavaletti since pre-layup (over 9 months ago) and he was perfect (and so, so happy to jump something!).
And then he flung his front legs in the air and had to squeal and leap a couple of times just because.
My darling three year old has decided, as of today, that picking up the correct lead is for dummies. On the longe or the long lines, correct lead every time. With me on his back, picks up R lead going left and L lead going right. At least the transitions are prompt? He’s apparently strong enough to hold the lead for me to get around whatever turn and across the diagonal. Then he can hold it for a circle or so. Because he can, I assume. His canter is balanced enough to do any size figure on any lead…I’m trying to look on the bright side and thinking this innate ability will help us once we hit 2nd level. I also assume this will go away soon enough like all the other baby things. Again, deep breaths.
Oh yes. The cantering.
My guy is pretty good but his right lead does go rogue sometimes.
I am still trying to get the right bit. My idea backfired. I hate the rubber bit because now he has learned he can evade it. And jumping him the other day was like riding a slow freight train.
So back to the drawing board with a bit. Hopefully I can figure one out before his show!!
It is so hard to be motivated when the low is 85 and the high is 110!!! And I work nights right now so I have to get up at 5, ride then come back in and take a nap and then work all night!!
Hate AZ Summers!!! Love the rest of the year so it is a trade off.
Experiment with thicknesses and single vs double joint vs french link, and I’m sure you’ll find something he will accept. For now.
Agree with above, or could you try a Waterford, at least then he can’t lean on it/freight train you around!
I took my 5 YO to a show by himself so he rode on the left side of the trailer. He started chewing on the chest bar at the show (having already destroyed the one on the right side). I had cribex in my tack trunk so I rubbed it all over it, and he gave up on it.
Then on the way to a horse trial this weekend he was riding on the right side, and when I got to the show he had destroyed as much of the left chest bar that he could reach. I couldn’t help but laugh at him. I didn’t think to reapply the cribex or shorten his trailer tie, and by the time I got back from dressage with my other horse he had finished the job!
I am hoping this is like a puppy stage and he will outgrow having to chew on everything! He is lucky he is cute!
Still working on balance and him not leaning and building to the jumps. Meh hasn’t learned to rock back yet when he gets a little tight. Mount there are moments of brilliance.
So excited for this one!! So fun to ride and so athletic!!! Feels like he can jump the moon!
That was nice and uneventful !
[QUOTE=Equitational;8739691]
My 4 year old first “jump”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHn2eiIhztE/?taken-by=kendracourt&hl=en[/QUOTE]
He’s pretty snappy with those knees!
My only Tipps and experiences are
- buy and read the principles of riding.
- find and work with a dressage person. Dressage is the basic of everything. Find someone who knows how to bring up a Young Horses.
- stay als simple as possible. Snaffle bit, get your horse in Front of your leg, make it Listen to your aids.
- stay on your plan but don’t be fixed. Good luck!
[QUOTE=PNWjumper;8719482]
I do think that one of the struggles in young horse training is the tendency to cut them slack because they’re babies. I tend to do this, and one of the consistent lessons I take away from riding with Greg is the “quit making excuses and raise your standards!” When I treat my young horses like they’re expected to rise to the occasion (rather than dumbing it down to protect them) they go much better![/QUOTE]
I do this too! I have a 3 yr old gelding that I am starting myself. He’s been very good, pretty much broke himself so far! But I realized I needed to “actually ride” as opposed to sitting there like a sack of flour! lol! Once I expected more of him, he gave it to me! Like magic! lol!
This is the first that has been a blank slate for me. It’s been a lot of fun! We started in late March, usually 2 or 3 days a week, sometimes a week off here or there for weather, so he’s got the equivalent to 30 days u/s now. We did our second canter ever last night, and got halfway around the ring in each direction! I am so pleased with him! He’s still only 3 though so now he will just “piddle” around here and there now that he knows what w/t/c means, and pick up actual training in the spring. (tear) Here is my boy! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1232346663444309&set=pb.100000069618910.-2207520000.1468260194.&type=3&theater
