BabyDoll on a trail ride

Sharing about BD's first trailer to trail ride. Every 4-5 days I have been taking BD on a block ride, then when we come back we spend a few minutes in the arena refining basic maneuvers. Decided she was ready for her first trailer ride to a new area trail ride. Invited a friend over and she rode Tessa, BD's dam. We saddled up and trailered to a spot just down the road. BD was calm and easy going about the trip. Because of the ground, I walked her for just a bit. When we got to the nice sandy ground, hoped on and started riding. We basically walked with a little bit of jogging here and there to stay up with Tessa. She did very well on her first creek crossing. I was very happy with her calm attitude about being in a completely new place. And even better (yep it gets better) She showed a bit of understanding that I desired her to walk in a straight manor with light rein contact to change her direction.

She was a little tired toward the end of the ride and the creek crossing coming back I had to get on her case a little to get her to cross, which upset her. Then the puppy unexpectedly rustled some brush behind her and she tossed in a crowhop :-(, so I got on her case lightly again. Now you can think negative or think positive. I would rather think positive, took a deep breath and let it go. Encouraged and allowed her to go back to a positive state so when we arrived back at the trailer she was in a happy to have gone trail riding mood.

The think to take from this is that a bad moment can be let go. Allow yourself to come back to a positive mood will allow your horse to find their good feeling again also.

Working Young Horses

Use common sense :-)

If your youngster is out on lots of acreage running around getting exercise, what does your youngster need? Well the basics, leading, feet, brushing, etc. You can do very light training sessions concentrating on the basics.

How about a stall with a paddock or stall with small turn out with another horse. Exercise and the basics. Its all about looking at your options. There are some NO's that are available. No don't lunge for 2 hours. No don't lead them from another horse for 2 hours. No don't do much of the same thing for 2 hours. Young horses are mentally not ready for a 2 hour exercise or training session. But young horses in stalls and paddocks do need exercise.

You go well what are they ready for? Well some non forced turn out time in a large arena? sure. How about a 10-30 minute light lunging session? sure. Leading around the block, sure? all in the same day, probably not.

Its about mixing and matching. Mix and match your training and exercise program to create an opportunity for learning and exercise for development of bone and muscle. First few times leading around the block a youngster may only have the stamina for a half mile or mile. As the youngster grows and gets used to more exercise you may be taking them for 3 or more mile walks. When working on training your youngsters attention span may only be a few minutes, thats okay, as they grow and as you introduce them to training, there attention span will increase.

You may lunge your youngster one day and their attitude might suck, do you stop because (well), you always do 5 times around each way and stop? nope, you are going to keep going (stomping your feet, making faces, show you are not happy with the attitude) and the minute the attitude changes you take the opportunity to stop on a good note.

Okay so things are going BAD, you are at 30 of trying to teach your youngster something and its going no where. Options? First, take a long deep breath and let it out. Second try something the youngster is good at, if they respond nice take the created opportunity and stop for the day. After a good nights rest you can reapproach what you where trying to teach with baby steps.

Michelle