a horse that can't handle LEG?

[cynthia]

hey, everyone.

i have a rather strange question. the other night, i was given the tremendously-cool opportunity to ride one of the privately-owned horses at my barn, a gorgeous 16hh Palomino named Lad. Lad isn't really a lesson horse, per se, and i found out afterwards that his owner only lets a select few "good riders" on him at all (woo!), so i was very happy to get to try him. i guess he's been shown a *lot* in pretty much all disciplines, and has done quite well for many years. and of course, like any other horse, he has his idiosyncrasies.

here's the weird thing, though. both Ann (my instructor)*and* his owner stressed that Lad can't handle *any* (lower) leg at all, because he's just incredibly responsive to aids of all kinds. i asked if i could use squeezes, and was told that that would be fine, as long as i didn't kick in any way. sounds perfectly reasonable; i'd like to think i can accomplish what i need to with just squeezes in the right place anyway.

when i started riding, it became clar that they weren't kidding! Lad's a big freak, and it took all my efforts to slow his trot down to something remotely reasonable, and likewise, if not more so, with the canter. *yikes*, he just wanted to go! forget about even squeezing the least littlest bit with my outside leg to ask for a canter; he just wanted to do it all by himself, and could pretty much read my mind 100% of the time. i tried to use seat aids (or did the best that i could with the little i know about them), and did a lot of squeeze/release and left-and-right with the reins, which worked a couple times to soften his mouth up and let him know that he should be listening to me.

the yucky part, though, came in the workouts at the end of the lesson. i know lots of horses get a bit crazy during workouts, what with it being the end of the night, and having all their friends lined up on the other side of the ring, but Lad pretty much wanted to do evvverything himself. i couldn't get a controlled canter or a smooth downward transition to save my life! and circles? no inside leg on this boy, and he was already itching to get back with everyone anyway! i did the best i could to stick myself DOWN in the saddle, squeeze my thighs, and use a low tone of voice to try and calm him down, but he's also just about the w-i-d-e-s-t horse i've ever been on! and my legs are NOT that long! :)

i think what i'll have to do is ride him by myself for a few times (or in a private), but... does anyone have any other suggestions, barring some time alone to get him used to me? he's smart as anything, obviously, but just gorgeous and floaty. it's a bit like riding Pegasus, i think! ;) what do you guys think?

thanks!

-cyn

[This message has been edited by cynthia (edited 29 October 1999).]

[Farm_Girl5]

I had the same problem with you a while back but mine wouldn't stop at rushing he's rather start to pigroot. Not the best way to start a lesson! LOL. This is what help[ed me. At the start of the lesson I just walked around shortening his stride then lengthening. Getting him to bend and all that stuff for like the first hour! Ok so I found it fun ok!? After that we did a slow trot for a few strides then back. One time we decided to go a bit FASTER but I patted his neck and told him everything was ok and he kept walking forward. We didn't get to canter well an asked for canter but he learnt what was asked of him and that's the best reward for me!
Hope this helps!
Kristy

[Heather]

Sounds to me as if this horse is a pretty sharp character who has not been taught that the leg means 'step under'not 'go faster'. Horses with a really good desire to go forward are by far the easiest to train as you have much more natural impulsion, but that impulsion needs to be channelled and guided. This does need a much more sensitive and skillful rider than the more phlegmatic horses who need motivating. Less experienced riders will find this an easier task, but give me the sharp ones any day!


HEather

[Myrmex]

Both my horses are sharp and forward-going like this and it's really fab to be able to just 'think' transitions and have the horse respond. I've found the single most important thing to do is to relax - they pick up on the slightest tension and respond by going forwards faster (or in Mish's case, going upwards and sideways as well!).

[cynthia]

hey, thanks for the replies.

you're probably right about the "slightest bit of tension" thing, myrmex. being that it was the first time i had ridden him, coupled with the fact that i was pretty much anticipating that things would be a little challenging, i don't doubt that i was a bit more tense than usual.

Lad is just about the most forward-going thing i've ever seen... it should be quite a challenge to learn more about how to work with that. his owner actually mentioned that she'd be willing to do a half-lease with me privately (wow!), and i'm seriously considering it.

what do you guys think? i've been getting a few responses from the ad i posted on EquiSearch, and some of the folks (and their horses) are a lot closer than the where i currently take lessons. i was actually hoping to begin dressage training by half-leasing a reasonably well-trained horse, but perhaps i could learn quite a bit from riding Lad, and then move on to dressage later...

hmmmm.

thanks again, folks. as always, any comments/ideas appreciated! :)

-cyn

[This message has been edited by cynthia (edited 02 November 1999).]