Suggestions please!

[zingomom]

I brought home my first Kiger, Banner, last April. Knowing about his past with an abusive trainer, I figured it would do us both good to spend the summer doing groundwork and building a trusting relationship before I started riding him. We now have a solid partnership, so I decided it's time to start riding him. The problem is, he just won't go. At all. He sort of braces himself whenever I climb onboard. Sometimes I can get him to move out, but other times he just freezes up with this "You and what army" sort of look. With his background, I don't want to try to force him and break the trust we've built this summer, but on the other hand, I'm looking forward to taking him out on the trails sometime before I grow old and die.

I've only had horses for about six years, and my other two came to me completely trained and bombproof. Banner is my first one to actually work with. I've learned enough to know that if I ask him right, everything will be okay. If I try to tell him what to do, I'll be in for a world of hurt. So I guess I'm wondering how to ask without using force and without breaking his trust. I know I can get a trainer to help me, but I had hoped to sort this thing out myself. Any thoughts? I really want to start him right. Thanks. --Carol

[stormyranch]

This is VERY common. Green horses don't feel like they can go with you on them. Once they learn that "hey, I can do this" they will start feeling more confident. I watched Craig Cameron the other day, and he suggested a flagger. Someone behind with a flag to make the horse move away. So if he doesn't want to move it isn't going to like the alternative. We also teach the word walk on the lounge line, so we say "walk", kick with our legs, and if still no movement we will use a soft rope on the butt. If you have a person flagging you, still use these cues everytime you start out at a walk.

[kigerfan]

That's how I got Firefly to go. I taught her the words walk, trot and gallop on the lunge line. She knew the word but but was still somewhat hesitant to move. Tapping her on the bottom with the rope made her move out. When I first started, she wanted to stand almost like a rocking horse. Like if she moved a leg she would loose her balance with me on her.

[lilnagy]

Carol, the times we rode Banner last winter, we always had at least one other horse going riding at the same time, and we all just started off and he was very willing to go, when the option was being left behind. Were you riding alone? can you get someone to ride with you? I think green horses sometimes "catch" alot of information from going along with other quiet, broke horses. Just a thought, Lil

[DianneC]

I've seen the same and wondered if they were thinking "this is just a new thing I'm being sacked out with". The right answer has been stand still quietly so many times that no wonder they try it again. I saw it when I put Cruiser's first sheet on him last winter. At first he ran and that didn't work, so he skidded to a stop and stood very quietly. He was just trying different answers to see which one worked. I'm with Lil in having a quiet horse come along with you or someone he trusts to lead him.

[zingomom]

First off, thanks for the tips. It's nice to hear this is a fairly common problem. Banner's a smart guy and will figure it out, but that rocking horse action had me pretty puzzled.

I worked with him a bunch in the round pen all summer, so he's very familiar with verbal cues--at least walk, trot and whoa. That's why I thought it would carry over when I was on his back. Love the flag idea. I think I'd only have to do that once or twice and Banner would get the idea really quick.

Lil, I totally agree with you about bringing another horse along for company, but we haven't even gotten that far. I've been just messing around with him in the property next to my barn. To get to the trails from my place, you have to take a few busy streets first, and I wasn't sure he was ready for that yet. (Especially since two bulldogs attacked him a couple of weeks ago, but that's another story!) My quarter horse Doolie is the most mellow babysitter in the world. Maybe I'll try having my son ride him this weekend and we'll see if that company theory helps. I'm sure it will.

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

[DianneC]

I think we were all thinking to have another horse ridden past in the round pen. Its nice to have them follow another horse out on the trail the first time too, but you're right, its too early for that yet.