From: china@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: Advice needed on training
Date: 24 Jul 92 18:31:25 +1000
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia

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?)
> 
> 		Thanks,
> 			Brett

I agree with the comments of others that you should let your horse mature
for another year or two. But having said that and supposing we are talking
about your horse in the same situation next year, I think you should have
started mouthing the horse before you got on its back on the lunge. I
wouldn't worry about the horse being bewildered when nobody is standing in
the centre of the ring. You should start teaching it directional obedience
with short reins (extend about 2 feet behind the horse). I wouldn't
try and drive the horse forward with this reins, just gently introduce the
notion of yielding its head to the rein and turning its bum in the opposite
direction to relieve the pressure of the bit. To do this I stand on 1 side
of the horse just behind the roller (through which the reins are passed), 
with then horse standing quietly, I gently apply pressure to the rein on
the opposite side of me (ie, if I'm on the LHS, I apply pressure to the RH
rein). The horse will yield its head to the the pressure (ie the right). When 
you continue to apply the pressure it will eventually try to turn its bum
away from the pressure (ie pivot to swing its bum to the left and keep its
forelegs almost stationary). As the horses bum moves, quietly flick the reins
over the back of the horse so that you are now holding the reins on the
opposite side of the horse (ie the RHS). Repeat this in the other direction.
At first the horse may fight this, so be very gently but insistant. However,
after doing this about 4-6 times the horse will anticipate your
action and not hesitate to swing around when it feels a slight pressure of the
bit. After you have done this for 2 or 3 sessions, I would introduce
the long reins. I use these for teaching the horse to move forward, stop and
turn without pivoting on its forelegs. When I break horses-in, I normally
introduce short reins on day 2 and continue them for 3 days; introduce
long reins on day 3 and continue them for about 5-6 days. I mount a 
previously unmounted horse on day 5 or 6 and are able to return a safe
and well mannered, mouthed and saddled (albeit green) horse to the owner
by day 14 (a tough horse may take up to day 2. 

I hope this has been of some help. It very difficult to explain such
things without visual aids. But again, I agree with the other post that
should give your horse more time to mature.

Ross

PS: I forget to mention that when using the short reins, you should
encourage the horse to turn 180 deg and face you. It should at least
turn greater than 90 deg. It may not do this the first couple of times,
so don't worry. But once it knows to turn in a certain direction, then
become more insistant that it continues to turn until you release
the pressure of the bit.