Concentration?? Tips and advice please.

[horsesforever]

My horse is just five, and in general is coming along nicely. He's lovely to hack but in the school we really lack concentration although he's come on in leaps and bounds since I got him. I know this is to be expected as he's only a baby and naturally very inquisitive.

But he just potters round the school staring to the outside looking at this, that and the other. I do my best to stay calm, and keep my aids clear and consistent but alot of the time it feels like Im talking to a brick wall! He really tunes himself out and really doesn't take notice of me. Which leads to our schooling sessions being not all that productive, which I get really frustrated at because I have lots of exercises planned to do with him based on our lessons.

Any suggestions please, on getting him more focused and settled in the arena. One thing we did do on the suggestion of another livery was just follow behind her as she schooled her mare. This really did seem to help him settle as he just concentrated on her, but obviously this isn't an ideal situation as they won't be there everytime I want to school!

[tabithakat64]

Mine is the same, I've justed started him on a calmer as he's also spooky to school as well as lacking in concentration. I'm also paying a RI to school him for me. Try keeping sessions short (15 mins) with lots of transitions and changes of direction and not getting too frusrated (which I tend to do)

[Clare-22]

I have the same issue with my 5yr old, as you say totally understandable they are but babes :)

My RI is always telling me that it is about keeping their attention and not trying to regain it. We work on getting the magic ear to twitch back to me, loads of praise when it does and as soon as you lose it ask again.

I have a wonderful vocabulory (sp?) if noises to try and keep him tuned into me, light touches with the leg, backed up with a light tap with the whip if the leg is ignored can also get them focused back on you.

If he is having a major spook, try and slow him right down with your seat to bring his adrenalin under control before asking him to focus on your :)

Transitions are also a good way of keeping them listening to you :)

I like to keep Loki's schooling session short, it helps both our concertration :o

Loki is better but goodness it is hard work, I have come to the conclusion my concerntration needs a fair bit of work too!

[joey_olop]

I have the same thing we my boy-although his lack of concentration is not cos he is a baby-he is nearly 10!!

Im looking at getting some help with my boy cos I feel Im not experienced enough to deal with his problems.

I echo the above-keep sessions short & always end on a good note :)

[carthorse]

I'd agree with the above - keep sessions short (& if it goes right don't be afraid to finish early, that's a big reward for most horses, lots of transitions, lots of turns, lots of praise if he gets it right. At five I would expect him to be able to concentrate for a reasonable period, he isn't a real baby anymore, so it may be worth asking yourself if he's tuning you out because it's the easy option & you're letting him do it - I'm not saying that is the case but it may be something to think about.

Make sure that when you school you have a target in mind, obviously it mustn't be cast in stone because unexpected things happen but if you wander round aimlessly how can you expect any better of him? And be enthusiastic - horses pick up on our energy levels & enjoyment!

To be honest my 9yo will still look out of he school given the slightest chance & if he does he fairly quickly blanks the rider then starts spooking -after that things go badly downhill. The trick is to jump on him as soon as he glances to the outside - first of all I give him something to concentrate on but if that doesn't work he'll get a telling off (grumble, nudge with the heel & a demand for a much more definate inside bend). In his case it's an evasion & needs treating as such because it can (& in the past has) quickly escalate into quite dangerous behaviour.