Video series of training a 13 year old unbroke mare.
Featuring our pure polish Arabian mare SHR SYMPHONY (SS HYPNOTIC X DBM BALADORRA (*ALADDINN)
1rst video of Lexie and Symphony training. This is round pen work with the basics of Monty Roberts and the "joining up". Symphony had no training and we are working toward saddle work. This is a 11th grade project under my supervision along with our trainer in later videos. We will document each step starting with this one showing the third day of round pen work with a horse willing and tame already. Below Lexie will explain the dynamics of a horses way of thinking so it will be easier to understand what we are doing. I will be the one speaking on the video to explain the steps and giving directions.
In Lexie's own words per her essay:
1rst pages of a 6 page required essay
p>First video date: 11/3/20010
Lexie(my 16 year old) Training video's for her school project 2010.
NOTE: My daughter and I are NOT professionals and if any of you use my techniques do so at your own risk! But I don't suck either! haha! I have trained horses for a great number of years for pleasure riding and confidence building and you can also send a horse here for training with us. We also have an on site professional. You will NOT see any abuse on our farm. It is not tolerated. Enjoy our series!
Years and years ago, horses roamed freely. The only thing they knew was how how to fend for themselves. They didn't know about saddle or people riding them and handling them. They were wrangled and caught by helicopters and a bunch of ropes. They were terrified. All they wanted was to be able to see a sky above them.
Horses are herd animals. All horses crave a leader. Most of the time, the head of the herd is a mare (female) and not a stallion (breeding male), contrary to most people's beliefs. The leader wants the herd to follow the dynamics of the herd. It is my job as the trainer to be the "herd leader." Of the herd doesn't follow what the leader is doing, they get run off from the herd. The horses don't like being chased off so they learn to conform to what the leader is asking.
It's harder for wild horses to join up as opposed to tame horses. Wild horses run out of fear. Wild horses tend to run longer because they are fearful. They feel you're the predator and not the leader. After being continually sent off, a wild horse, or any horse for that matter, wants to "join up," thus the concept of round penning.
Joining up is the process in which a horse accepts you and wants you to be their leader. A horse can only run so much until they give in through pure exhaustion. Some horses absolutely will not join up. However if the trainer persists, eventually the horse has to give in. Thankfully, we've never had a horse that persistent.
In my training experience, Symphony went through the process of joining up and accepting me. She followed me over scary things such as tarps and plastic bags and trusted me enough to do so, as seen in her first video. The next step is introducing her to a saddle and bridle, showing her the saddle and bridle, showing her the saddle and bridle is just like de-spooking her. First, you let the horse sniff the saddle pad and rub it all over him or her until they are comfortable enough. After the horse is able to stand while having a saddle pad tossed on their back, you can show them the saddle.
When a horse is comfortable with both of these items on their back, cinch up the saddle so it is tight enough not to slide, and then you can run the horse off. Some horses won't care about it and will run around like they know what it is and some will buck and run around. Symphony was fine with the saddle until i ran her off, then she had a fit and bucked and reared a lot. This is normal for a horse to behave like this. Horses need to get used to the fact that something is around their belly and on their back.
After a horse is completely used to a saddle, they need to learn how to use a bit and wear a bridle. Horses need a bridle that fits them properly and a bit that is comfortable for their first time. The bit should be clean and the bridle should have a throat latch and a chin strap unless they are using a snaffle, (which is usually used the first time.) When putting on a horses bridle for the first time, both the horse and rider should be calm. If your right hand is placed above their poll to push their head down a bit, you have their head rested on your hand. This way the bit is by their teeth and it can slide into their mouths without them being forced and it banging their teeth and scaring them. They have to take it on their own. This takes a lot of patience and practice and is not learned by just reading about it.
There are many different types of sizes, shapes, and brands of a bit for training, showing, or just trail riding. Snaffle bits are the most familiar type of bit used. They basically have a ring on each side with a mouth piece that is flexible for the horse's mouth. Bits create leverage and direct pressure on the tongue, lips, and sometimes the jawbone. Like i said in the previous paragraph, no chin straps are needed when using a snaffle because there isn't any more leverage in a snaffle besides the mouth piece. In order to find a bit that is the horses correct size, the height of the bit, the width of the bit in the mouth, and the thick or thinness of the mouth piece are the most important factors.
Bits can be damaging to a horses mouth if they are very harsh,like thin, twisted wire bits. Although thick bits don't leave much room in a horse's mouth since their tongue takes so much room in their mouth, they are less damaging. Thinner mouth pieces are more severe than thick mouth pieces, especially since they are pressing on the horses tongue. A thin bit with great force on the tongue is more damaging. My mom always says,"Bits are only as harsh as the person pulling on the reins."
Long lining is great for teaching horses how to stop, bend, and give to pressure. Horses need to learn how to respond to pressure and what people are asking. It makes more sense to teach a horse how to long line before they are ridden so they are more familiar with the movements and pressure of the bit. A frustrated, confused horse isn't going to be relaxed the first time they are being ridden as opposed to horses that understand the concept of the bit and accept tt it. A horse's reaction to people pulling and putting pressure on the bit, especially a young one, is to pull back.
When long lining, (ground driving,) there should be a length of seven or eight feet behind the horse to avoid getting kicked or injured. Young horses that aren't familiar with long lining are most likely to startle when the long reigns are touching their sides. Getting used to the feeling of two lines on both sides can be a totally different thing in itself. Once your horse is no longer scared of them, they should be cued to walk with very light pressure on the mouth. Too much pressure can cause a horse to be confused and they might want to stop or turn around. Once a horse has mastered turning around in circles, walking, and stopping, they can move on to another step.
Surcingles are cotton or nylon girths that go around a horse's stomach. The surcingle has rings that create different levels to a horse's head level. An English show horse will have a completely different head set then a western pleasure horse. English horses have high head sets. A western pleasure horse has to have a collected head, but Symphony being an Arabian will have a naturally higher head set. Since she isn't going to be showed western, she will set her head the way she is comfortable with, and we will make it more naturally balanced by making her collect her head better.
Before even considering riding your horse, or sitting on them, they should know how to flex and one reign stop. All you have to do is take your reigns and make them flex, (bend their head and keep it there.) If the horse circles, continue applying pressure and wait for them to give in. Once they give to what you are asking, they won't have any pressure on their head and it will be easier for them. They will learn fast that once they give to the pressure, they will not have any pressure on their heads.
When mounting, bend your horse's head and make sure they are standing still. Next, slide your foot into the left stirrup. Once the rider is fully on the horse, they're head can be released. After a horse has been through enough ground work and isn't spooky, there should not be a problem with having them walked around. If a horse is running and bucking around, bring their head in and make them one reign stop.
Remember, horses look for a leader. They are herd animals and want to accept us. Our farm is all about natural horsemanship. Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with a horse by their instincts and herd mentality in a way that is kind and patient. It helps you to understand your horse better rather than "forcing" them to do something. Trust.
