From: ktracy@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Karin L Tracy)
Subject: Re: Advice needed on training
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 16:29:35 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.184613.3072@desire.wright.edu> sbishop@desire.wright.edu writes:
>In article <1992Jul23.161513.15707@intelhf.hf.intel.com>, brett@brett.intel.com (Brett Branch) writes:
>> Hi folks,
>> 
>> I've been around horses all my life, but find myself training a two-year-old
>> Arab for the first time. He works really well with a lunge line, even with
>> the reins and me on his back. Next we had my wife stand in the center of our
>> arena, as if she was lunging him, but I was on him with the reins controlling
>> him (no lunge line). I tried, as the next step, to ride him around the arena
>> without my wife in the center, but then the colt seemed to get lost. As soon
>> as my wife left, he no longer seemed to know what was expected.
>> I'm hoping the collective wisdom of the net can help me find an effective
>> method to take this handsome, well-mannered colt to the next level. (ground
>> reining? how do you do it?)
>> 
>
>ARRRGH!!!!
>
>First of all, since you asked for it.... turn this baby out to pasture for at
>least another year.  Arabs mature very slowly, their knees are still far from
>closed, they are just NOT, *NOT* ready to ride at age two.  I didn't have
>my mare trained until age five, a little late but she was even slower to
>mature than other Arabs I've seen.  
>
>Sue
>
>
>> 		Thanks,
>> 			Brett
>> 
>> 

I don't necessarily agree that the colt should be turned out for another year,
in fact local laws may prohibit that if he's still a stud!  However, I
strongly agree that it's too early to start him under saddle.   I would
suggest that you trach him to ground drive, and if possible, to actually
pull a light 2 wheel jog cart.  I wouldn't think of trying to start my
Morgans under saddle until they are trained to drive.  If you don't want
to go as far as actually driving, you can do ground driving with just
a side-check bridle, plain snaffle bit (half or full cheek), surcingle
and driving lines.  With a bit of imagination, you can 'jerry-rig' most
of the equipment using your saddle  (run clothesline reins through short
stirrup leathers, use baleing twine/clothesline/leather shoe laces or
whatever works to put a sidecheck on your bridle, etc.).  If your colt
knows 'walk' and 'trot' in a circle on a lunge line, he's ready to try
ground driving.  It takes a lot of patience at first, but they pick it
up rather quickly.  I started ground driving my 2 yr. old colt 2 weeks
ago, and he was frustrating...refused to budge!  Slowly got him to take
a few steps forward, then he'd stop, use the whip and voice, go a few
steps, etc., over and over.  Then suddenly it all 'clicked' and the
last 2 sessions he's been great.  We're going to try and hitch him
tomorrow...to the 'monster' that's been sitting in the middle of the
ring.  When I start him under saddle over the winter, he will already
know about guidance via reins, and even more important, to stop  when
he feels pressure on the bit.  He will probably be a bit unsure and
wobblely  because of weight on his back, but the bit and reins and
responses will be something he is familiar with, and that will make
things much easier!  Just remember to make the sessions short, and
give him lots of praise.
                               Karin Tracy