Question: Horse is green broke, he will walk forward on the trail with
other horses but gets bored and will not go forward in the training
ring. I'm not sure if we are queing him properly or if it is
just my
inexperience. He is very stubborn also. How should we ask
him to go
forward?
From Panelist Nancy
If your horse has had some training, he should have been taught how to walk
forward. 3 months training is not much time, but he should know that. I
doubt that your horse is stubborn. He probably doesn't know what you are
asking of him. Perhaps it might be advisable for you to take some lessons,
but I will try to describe what you should do to make your green horse
understand what you want him to do.
Have him facing straight ahead with even contact on both reins.
Make sure
the rein contact is light enough for him to move forward. Give
up all
contact if necessary, but be sure he is facing straight so that
walking
forward will be easy for him. Squeeze with both legs. If
he doesn't walk
forward (as he probably won't understand unless he has been trained
this
way), touch him lightly on the shoulder with a riding crop or whip
at the
same time you are using your legs. You might want to give the
verbal cue
"walk" also. He will start to learn what that means. When
he starts to
walk, just ask for a few steps and then stop him and pet him and tell
him
"good boy". Keep repeating this procedure but as he learns what
your legs
are telling him, leave off the touch with the whip, and also ask for
more
walking steps. When he answers promptly each time to your leg,
by that time
you will have him answering to the cue for him to walk and to stop.
While
teaching him to start foreward, you have at the same time taught him
to whoa.
Always remember to pat him and leg him know that he has done
what you have
asked.
Nancy
