It has been a few weeks since Linda and I have been able to ride, so being at the arena today was nice, just what the doctor ordered!
I have been teaching Rusty to side step up to an obstacle while I am standing on it and I lift my hand up over his neck. He is so tall, I can't get onto his back without standing on something.
He is really good at standing next to anything I ask him to so I can climb up on him, but I wanted to teach him to move to the obstacle on demand while I'm actually standing on it, rather than having to maneuver him to the obstacle while I'm on the ground.
The first few times I tried it he started to panic and would only push against the pressure, but I tried it again today and he is beginning to understand what I am asking him to do.
He moves up to the bridge really well on the one side now. I lift my hand while holding the carrot stick over his neck and he moves his body right up to it.
Eventually I want to be able to only lift my hand up and he side steps to me, but one step at a time. Right now I need the carrot stick to reenforce with pressure in case he doesn't do it. I use it as an extension of my arm to tap his hip on the opposite side of his body.
I will continue to work on helping him to understand how to do it on the other side, then I will try it on a smaller obstacle. The bridge is big and it is easy for him to understand what needs to be done, but if I was standing on a rock or stump, (things I usually use to get on him), he may not understand when to stop because there would not be a big barrier to block his way.
It is exciting when a horse finally understands what you are asking him to do and begins to respond consistently to that request!
I have been teaching Rusty to side step up to an obstacle while I am standing on it and I lift my hand up over his neck. He is so tall, I can't get onto his back without standing on something.
He is really good at standing next to anything I ask him to so I can climb up on him, but I wanted to teach him to move to the obstacle on demand while I'm actually standing on it, rather than having to maneuver him to the obstacle while I'm on the ground.
The first few times I tried it he started to panic and would only push against the pressure, but I tried it again today and he is beginning to understand what I am asking him to do.
He moves up to the bridge really well on the one side now. I lift my hand while holding the carrot stick over his neck and he moves his body right up to it.
Eventually I want to be able to only lift my hand up and he side steps to me, but one step at a time. Right now I need the carrot stick to reenforce with pressure in case he doesn't do it. I use it as an extension of my arm to tap his hip on the opposite side of his body.
I will continue to work on helping him to understand how to do it on the other side, then I will try it on a smaller obstacle. The bridge is big and it is easy for him to understand what needs to be done, but if I was standing on a rock or stump, (things I usually use to get on him), he may not understand when to stop because there would not be a big barrier to block his way.
It is exciting when a horse finally understands what you are asking him to do and begins to respond consistently to that request!