How to teach an older horse to work in the school

[Mary Poppins]

I may have the opportunity to help teach an older horse to ride in the school and am hoping that you all may be able to give me some tips on how to start.

He is in his late teens and for years was used as a treking horse in Wales. He is therefore very used to just following the horse in front. Although I haven't actually seen him in the school yet, apparently he just doesn't move, but is happy to follow another horse in front. His owner would like him to be used in the riding school, although he is not suitable for this at the moment as he will simply stop when he gets to the front of the ride.

Has anyone got any ideas on where I would start with this horse, or do you think that he is too old and should just stick to hacking out?

[can't_decide]

don't have a lot of helpful advice to offer, i'm afraid, but i would say give it a go, don't give up on the horse . . . there was a mare at my old yard who was soooo slow, hardly anyone could get her out of walk even with a lunge rein cracking behind her and the whole place yelling, but she was given to me to work on and i managed to get her to enjoy the work . . . turns out she really wanted to work and though she's a v heavy 14.2 cob she has a brilliant jump, she's just a stressy mare and you have to ask her right and you have to like her - she always knows!! anyway, sorry that's off topic but i'm just saying that i think it's always worth trying to help a horse.

it might be worth riding the horse on it's own, if possible. or else working it seperately when others are in the school. whatever, keep it interesting. don't work on the individual activity if the horse isn't enjoying it's work with the others . . . all have a canter round together, they seem to like that :) sorry, i'm not sure how helpful this is but i hope it is in some way . . .

[aliw]

Definately give it a try. What does he do when at the front of the ride? Does he just stand there, buck, rear, what?

[Samsky]

Try bit by bit.We had an older horse come to the school a few years ago who had no idea of being ridden in an arena.He'd only ever been ridden in a field.So keep encouraging him by using lots of leg and lots of voice.Keep talking to him in a positive encouraging voice and maybe get someone to lead him with you on for a bit.

[Mary Poppins]

Originally posted by aliw
Definately give it a try. What does he do when at the front of the ride? Does he just stand there, buck, rear, what?


I don't actually know what he does when he gets to the front as I haven't seen him yet, however I am pretty sure that he just comes to a standstill and won't move. He is a very nicely natured horse and I can't see him bucking etc.

I will hopefully have the chance to ride him both on my own and with other horses and aim at making his schooling as interesting as possible for him by doing lots of different things. My main worry is exactly what to do if he were to refuse to move as I don't want to start smacking or kicking him. I thought about putting him on the lunge but apparently he doesn't know what to do and keeps turning in and stopping. I want to try and start in the most positive way possible and make it enjoyable for him. The last thing I want is for it to turn into a battle to make him move. Has anyone tried clicker training or similar methods in a similar situation?

[nutkin]

My old boy was like that on the lunge. He would just turn in and if you tried to make him do it he would try to kick you. I taught him to long rein instead and he loved it. As your horse has not even worked in a school in years I would be inclined to try loose schooling if he is safe for that just so as he can have some fun too.

[Yann]

A lot of people would probably just get on him and try and 'make' him, good for you for looking at the bigger picture, I'm sure he'll thank you for it:)

If he's never had to go in front in his life, even less work in a school, then his stopping will be because of confusion or insecurity resulting from the new situation, not 'naughtiness'.
If you can I'd start by riding alone with him in the school, with a walker to follow if needs be if that's too much for him. You could get him happy following the walker and then gradually increase the distance, by going ahead or walking on an inside track until he'll go in front by himself. You could also do something similar with another horse once that's established. You just need him to realise that it's OK to be moving forward in the school without a bottom to follow in front of him:)

If he doesn't lunge you could try long lining him, you use 2 lunge lines threaded through the stirrups to the bit, with the stirrups tied together so they don't flap about. Most NH books have a section on it, and I think there's an Allen Photo Guide booklet on the subject too. It's supposed to be good for building confidence, and you can always use a walker at his head to help initally as well.

Any groundwork is good, and I do a bit of clicker with Rio which she really enjoys and it's definitely effective in treaching new things. Using it in the saddle can be fiddly, it's easier to make an oral 'click' if you can, but there's no reason it shouldn't help. You could always have a second person clicking and treating on the ground which would be just as effective.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if he's spent his whole life going in straight lines he's going to be stiff as a board and school work will be tiring for him, especially at first.

Good luck:)

[alstonpickle]

we used do this with the horses we'd just broke in. at first they were ridden together then gradually seperated them.

start by riding round with another horse side by side then every now and then get the other person to stop while you carry on even if its just for a few steps keep your leg on but dont push too hard if he stops, reward him for every step he goes, then swap so you're the one who stops. this teaches him to listen to you and not just do what the other horse does.when he feels comfortable start riding across the school together then turn different ways at the end he should be ok as long as he can still see the other horse.

hopefully this should work but remember to reward everything he does right he's not being naughty he just needs confidence to go alone.