The Power of the Walk/Stop Exercise and 10 Hours of Riding

I have a new horse, a Paso Fino, and can you say hot, and crazy as a bedbug !  Oh my goodness, spin, and way, way too fast.  The action "walk" just was not in her vocabulary.  Not since my beloved Jose have I had a horse as scared and wacko as this little girl.

So after 5 days just riding her in the playground (my work area) and forever and ever and ever teaching her how to do walk/stop she finally learned to listen.  We did not get to her to being able to walk 4 steps, she could only do 3 steps before she sped way up again, but she finally did catch on to  the "stop" and the "release".

Once Cassie caught on to walk 3 steps, stop, 3 steps, stop and wait for me I then took her out onto the trail.  Needless to say, the first ride scared the bejesus out of me.  BUT, she would actually stop when I asked her too - every single 3 steps before we would start up again.  Did that for 2 hours on the trail, then next day 3 hours, then next day 2 hours, and I have to admit the first 2 days were pretty awful, but my goodness, the third, fourth and fifth days - what a HUGE improvement.

Her head finally dropped and we ACTUALLY COULD WALK quite a distance, and yesterday I started taking her down hills which I would have never, ever dreamed possible.

So, we are now in a partnership - she trusts me and I trust her - more work needs to be done, she is not perfect but I am no longer afraid of her nor is she afraid of me.

I had forgotten how well this works - ALWAYS - I have done it with many outlaw horses through the years but it has been a spell since I have had a new horse. 

Try it and you will be impressed with the outcome.

Remember, it takes the time it takes and it will take less time.


The best to you.

Cassie, Paso Fino

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@g  Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)                                                          
                                               www.RideNYS.com

# 41 The Enemy

#41   The Enemy

When it comes to the darlings, consistency is your greatest ally and inconsistency is your worst enemy.

Horses don't understand "sometimes"; they understand in terms of black and white, right or wrong.  The more consistent you are, the more your horse is able to understand you, and you him, whether it be while training or doing everyday tasks with him.

What you do not want to do is allow a certain behavior some of the time, and then reprimanding that same behavior at other times.

He becomes confused, dull, and frustrated simply because you are inconsistent.

So, make it easy on your horse and on you - aim for consistency in how you do things as much as you possibly can: whether it be feeding him, getting him from the pasture, leading him, mounting, speed control cues, etc.

Both your lives will be more pleasant, fun, and safer because each of you knows his place.

And if you mess up (and you probably will), forgive yourself and simply move on - you can't be perfect all the time !!!

Mary Dixon     Adventure Horse Riding in NYS      www. RideNYS.com

Smilla13@gmail.com          BLOG:  ridenys.com/marydixon