thought it was time we did some ground work .. so thought i'd try two rein lunging and see how we got on. last time, we got on badly as I couldn't get the reins set up to go either way due to her refusal to let me go to her right side....
tonight i conned her to start and managed to set it up and get her going to the right, yay. managed to get the offside rein caught under the pad i put under the roller, but never mind, better than flapping round her ankles.
also tried turning her, and succeeded in long lining all the way round the arena twice, on right rein. also at one point had the beginnings of a half pass - whichwas all very well, but i didn't know i'd asked for it and it was too close to a corner anyway.
but when it came to set it up to go left .... which of course means reorganising the reins .... i couldn't get her to let me round her right side at all.
duh.
so i gave up. yes ok i shouldn't, but there's limits to how long i am prepared to stand there since it only results in my losing my temper
i did wonder if next time i should just set it up and long line directly out of the stable. i think if i do that i'd better have someone there, as it would be not good if that went pear shaped. but it might be the way forward. a
anywhere except the arena, i can go to her right side.
friend of mine has richard maxwell coming out ... on thursday, though, and there's no way i can take the day off work, just having gone back after new year. good to know he's well enought to be back working though. i would LOVE to have Molly have a session with him, woudl do her and me the power of good.
friend is going to video the session though, so it'll be interesting to watch that...
Keeping My Fingers Crossed
8 years ago
5 comments:
Molly does not have to round her right side to reverse to the left.
Instead, while she is on the right rein, bring her in slightly off the rail, then pick up the left rein the turn her to the outside to reverse. If you work her on the right rein first and are successful, you can then work her on the left rein without ever having to challenge her right side.
You need to run the long lines through the top rings of the surcingle or rig up something on your saddle to keep the reins on top to be really successful. I always have trouble catching the lines on the cantle if I line with a saddle on. Flipping them over from one side to the other can be tricky. (Then, if they do hang up, you have to go to her right side and you'll be in trouble.)
A good schooling surcingle can be had for a good price on eBay if you don't already have one.
Wish I were there to help a bit. I have done tons of longlining with my horses over the years. I basically do it like double lunging where I stand in the center as my knees are not good enough to trot with my horse if need be. I always reverse to the outside.
Let me know if this helps. If not, let me know what the issue still is and I will try to think of another idea.
As for Molly feeling trapped as you mount. How about just taking her out there to the corner, standing her there and giving her a treat. Back her out, walk her back in, give her a treat, etc. (Kind of like clicker training with a treat instead of a click.) Just train her to stand in the corner, and back out quietly in hand. Then, you can, over a few days try using that to help the mounting.
The new saddle may well help, as you say. In the meantime, the training won't hurt.
Phooey...I meant to say..."bring her in slightly off the rail, then pick up the left rein and turn her to the outside to reverse."
Reverse towards the wall instead of towards you.
reverse? i wonder if we're at cross purposes here?
anyway, I am going to try putting the long lines through the top ring on the roller (I have a proper roller, don't lunge/long line with the saddle on ... or at least, never have, as usually if i'm doing that i'm not going to ride as well...) and see how that goes. It certainly shoudl be easier to get organised.
and i will try the in hand training for standing in and backing out of a corner. Mind, she's not at all responsive to the usual jab with finger in centre of chest.
Wish I could have had that session with richard maxwell.... ah well. for another day .... especailly another day when i haven't just bought a new saddle!!!!
By reverse, I mean change hands.
You are circling to the right and want to change over to circling on the left. You turn the horse to the outside, to the left to change the rein.
If you have her on the left rein--making a circle to the left and you want to change to a circle on the right, you take the outside rein--the right rein, and have her change direction by turning towards the wall or fence.
Does that make more sense?
jean - divided by a single language once again! makes perfect sense....thanks.
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