Lease started - I sure don't know much!

[laura jeanne]

I went to the barn last night just to groom my lease horse and take him for a walk.

I brushed him all over twice and he would pick up his back feet but not the front (did one front foot once but wouldn't do it again). I was going to give him a bath but he kept pulling away so I skipped that. He wasn't dirty or hot, I was just trying to do things with him.

Leading- horrible. They get turned out in sand paddocks so all they want to do is lunge for the side of the path and eat grass. When he did follow me, he was behind me.

I did stop every so often and "let" him eat some grass.

Okay, have I done ANYTHING right so far?? I think not.

I am getting my Perfect Manners book back from a friend I hope this week to read. I sort of looked at it before but never had a chance to actually work with a horse before.

In case you missed it, he is 14 years old but has never been trained at all.

[KateWooten]

:) :) give it time ! It is sooo much easier to learn from books and tapes and whatever - when you have a horse right there to try things out on ! I must have read a dozen books on massage, or trimming, or jumping ... or whatever I wasn't doing at the time and it goes right over my head too ... Don't worry, as keen as you are to learn and figure things out, I'm sure you'll do great with him.

Keeping him behind as you lead isn't a bad thing - it's not a BHS thing - but it's certainly a very normal practice over here in cowboy country. Take some time to get to know him, to see things from his point of view .. there's no rush - you can start to establish 'your expectations' .. but keep listening to him - some things might be harder for him than others, depending on what he's used to.

[laura jeanne]

I'll probably go back to see him on Thursday night. He will be living out 24/7 so I will see if he will be caught. RI says she worked with him and he will be okay. She won't be there so we shall see!

[SupaTania]

nope staying behind you is not horrible, actually some people advocate keeping your horse ether right next to you, or behind you, but never in front. You are its leader, and he follows you... similar to a herd, with the leader up front.

Anyway I too just started my lease yesterday and its been interesting. I've ridden the horse plenty of times before the lease, but never on my own, free to do as I please. Get him to trust you. Sit in his field and read a book, If he's in a stall, go in and just pet and praise him. Get him to LIKE you, even if that means the occasional bribe! (yes I'm guilty of buying my horse's love!)

You've chosen a great road.

[Guest]

No matter how much you thought you knew...it will never be enough!!

Don't worry thought you learn it pretty quickly.

Good luck and don't worry, just use your common sense

[Galooop]

Just give it some time!!

I remember when I started leasing my horse for the first time I was very timid and I think for a while my confindence actually went down. I don't know if this is what you are thinking...but I always remember thinking that if the horse did something wrong, it was MY fault. I must have simply asked wrong or something. And this was a VERY dominate mare, so in time she majorly began talking advantage of me. It took me a while, but I finally got P.I.S.S.E.D. OFF! I didn't care if I wasn't as experianced, or asking her wrong - that does not give her any excuse to push me around. I think you are currently in the middle of a dominating match with this horse. If he KNOWS how to have his hooves picked THEN MAKE HIM DO IT! If he pushes you around when your leading him, put a chain on his noise or use a crop. You are currently making a first empression on this horse. You want to come across as gentle and loving, but ALSO as a "I don't take any c.rap from you." kind of person! This is especially important is this horse hasn't been handled a lot. Set down the ground rules and be black and white. GOOD OR BAD. No inbetween. Now I know this is WAY easy said then down, but out of all my riding experiance this was the most important lesson I learned, and it really applys to all aspects of riding! So go out there and take charge of that horse!
Good Luck!:)

[laura jeanne]

Thanks Galoop- my RI is going to work with me to teach him everything. We are going to teach him to have a bath on Saturday and to lead the next time. He's a sweet horse, just not used to things. I rode him in my bareback lesson tonight and got him to stop just using my seat and no reins!! Same with turning 180 degrees- no reins- at least I was just holding them but not using them.

[BeachRiding]

Just wanted to wish you luck!