Walking

[Brigitte]

I've been trying to get Serano to calm down. Before I bought he was being leased by some guy who would saddle him up go outside...turn him in a few circles and GALLOP stop, turn around and GALOP back. His idea of riding. Of course this takes a long time to fix back. He's doing alot better now, at times has some problems learning what walking means. I've been saddling him up and just walking him all over the ranch and a little outside. When he gets too excited I stop him flex him and he calms down again. Outside he gets a bit nervous, wanting to go go go. I go outside with me on him but sometimes he gets too nervous or can become dangerous because of cars who pass by too fast. So my question is, will it help if I walk with him outside, just with a leadline?

[ErinC]

how old?
how long was he riden like this?

I would have to say it can not hurt, but no I do not think it will help!
He needs the feeling of the foot hitting the stirrup, that is his GO button...

How is he on the ground does he walk?

I had a paso once that it would take more then 20 min. to get a flat walk, he thought he HAD to go go go, and would just burst at the seams if I held him in.

nothing really changed it, even being used every day, it was in his head the minute he felt a foot go over,and a BUM hit the saddle it ment GO!

[Brigitte]

He's about 11 years old. He was ridden like this for about 6 months, I think it had a greater impact on him because he never got used alot till I started riding him.
He leads great, stops when I do, doesn't get to close to me etc.

[ErinC]

well then , I think it is riding HOURS,,,,
what I think helps is having another horse with you that walks! and is good at everthing it does, ride with a horse like that on the ST, and where ever, and In time he might get the hint.

But that is going to take TIME

[Terry Wallace]

You mentioned you are flexing him, and when you do, he calms down. (Good plan)...

If you would remind him, as you feel him start to get excited, you can probably get him to where you won't have to go all the way to stopping and flexing. As he begins to get excited, in an attempt to remind him that you do not want him to speed up.... try just working your hands back & forth gently, in a see-saw action, on your reins... pull back slightly left & then right several times...I would also talk to him and ask him to "ho-down" ( I don't use the word whoa...sounds too much like walk)..try doing that before you get to the point where you have to stop and flex.

That should work toward getting him to calm, before it gets to that need to stop/flex. If you can anticipate this excitement... you should be able to get the response you need.

[Brigitte]

Time I'm sure it's going to take. Some days he does pretty good, other days not so..oh well..Will have to see who has some extra time to have a nice walk with me

[Trail Rider]

I think you and Terry are on the right track. One other thing you can do is if he starts getting faster than you want is to stop him immediately. Make him back a few steps and let him go forward at the pace you want again. If you are consistant he will get the idea that it is easier to go at the pace you want than to have to stop and back up. If you are consistant he will connect the faster pace with working harder.

You will need a specific cue to speed him up so that he will know when it is okay to go at the faster pace.

[juanmono]

i certainly agree wih what every one has said. And also I think it would help is that if he is hard to control when cars go fast on the street, you can start also try the following(I have done it a few times and it worked):
Inside the farm walk him around a car which is not moving(see how the horse reacts) you can also use a horse who is not afraid of cars do it before him.
Afterwards let someone ride it but also another person from the ground holding him.(do it until he is completely doing it properly).
Then put the car in motion slowly and ride (walking all the time and in the farm) serano near him but not to close, you may also need another horse.
It would be wonderfull if you did this at daytime and nighttime, using flashlights.
It may take a while, also talk to serano, and give him a price every time he does a good job (like sugar or a carrot whatever).
After everything is okey in the farm then start doing it outside. You have to be very patient. Patience is the key to obtain the goals.

[Brigitte]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Had a walk with him outside today again, went pretty ok. When we're going away from the ranch he'll be slow and when we turn to come back he does this fast spin and goes slow again..Crazy horse :roll: .He only fought to go faster 3 times and reared up twice only, which is good improvement considering he used to rear up alot and also buck. I also walked pass the entrance a few times just to get in his head that not every time we are heading to the ranch we're actually entering. After a few times he calmed down and started swishing his tail, meaning mostly he gets my point and is fed up .
Hopefully he'll get to the point that only once in a while he acts up 8-)