Training time

[prizmbluekigers]

I am starting Fit under saddle, although since yesterday afternoon, I think I need to go back a few steps and try again. Rick was stepping up and down in the stirrup as he is better suited to a 16 hand horse than I am at 5"6", and all was fine till he went to swing his leg over and boy can our mustang buck! I sure haven't rushed him and he is calm in general but that pushed his reactive button. He has his days when he is less willing to work with me, yesterday was one of those. He was distracted, not fully focused. It is not the first time anyone swung a leg over him.

In the first picture he is looking for his herd. He does not like it when they get out of sight, even though he has horses next door to hang with. In the second picture he is bored. We are practicing standing still, something he does not always want to do well. Guess it is time to look for a trainer who works well with stallions and does not feel that mustangs are feral varmits (heard that comment recently). That person should be forced to watch some EMM footage and then eat thier words.

[kigerfan]

Interesting way to hook your rope, is that so you can use it as reins too?

[DianneC]

Fit is gorgeous! Love his head. It could be that "spring" is distracting him and he doesn't want someone else making off with his mares. If you do decide to send him to someone maybe Kevin would want another project. Stallions seem to be his specialty. Hope Rick is OK!

[prizmbluekigers]

The "reins" is just for training time. It is my version of a mecate. It clips onto the halter for lunging , has a second clip to also hook on the halter and then the remainder becomes my third line. It looks funny in the picture (the clips are out of place). I am working him in a halter, no bit yet as we don't seem to have found one he likes. He accepts one, no problem, but fusses with it constantly. He may be one who needs a roller on the bit to occupy him.

Thanks for the compliment on his head Dianne. I was at a clinic last month and a lady remarked about what a nice Thoroughbred head he has. Ouch!!! She seemed suprised to find out he is a mustang. Rick is fine, he never hit the ground really, landed on his feet, but was he suprised. I don' think he thought Fit would ever buck.

Kevin, are you reading this? Need a project? Maybe we could work something out? Actually, Todd Titus may ride him at the mustang show here in July,and my mare is also going to be a demo horse for Kitty as far as we know.