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**Note: Q&A section is closed.
Please do not send your training questions via email.**
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| Pivot
foot: I will be seeing
you this April in SC, but wanted to ask your opinion of the pivot foot in
a spin. I've observed that the pivot foot can sometimes be the
inside or outside hind. It seems to me that when a horse is using
his outside hind to pivot over, the whole picture looks good. When
I've seen the inside hind used, the horse's body appears to be
"running away" from that leg. You are always
"for" the horse so if they had their choice, which foot do you
think they would choose?
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Ray's
Reply: The outside foot.
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15
YO QH: In September of
1998 I purchased a 15 year old registered QH gelding from a 77 year old
cowboy who took him all over in the Cascade Mountains, to Montana in the
summer and Arizona in the winter.
I have a different plan for this horse than what he's been used to for the
past 9 years, I'd like to use him for calf penning and calf roping.
My goal is to have him respond to leg cues and be collected and relaxed.
That's where I'm having the problem now. Since I purchased him,
whenever I work him in the uncovered arena he's so uptight and tense, it's
not a very pleasant ride. I'm thinking that he's not comfortable in
the arena because he's only been ridden in open spaces, with loose reins
to help his balance climbing up and down hills. He doesn't
understand how to collect himself, nor does he understand leg pressure.
I've been working on getting him to flex his neck, doing a lot of ground
work, teaching him to respond CALMLY to leg pressure (he jumps and would
just as soon run off the moment I move my leg a fraction of an inch!),but
the moment I get on, he starts hopping around and throwing his head.
On the trail, he's much more relaxed, ears forward, interested in his
surroundings but not spooky, and his head is quite a bit lower, in what
appears to be a more natural position.
I was hoping I wouldn't have to use draw reins or a tie-down but I'm
feeling unsafe sitting on him when he's so hyper, he's very light on his
front-end. The moment I get off, he takes a big, deep breath and
lets out his tension. So my question is: how do I get him to
relax with me on and have an open mind to learn new things???
Thank you for any help you can provide!
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Ray's
Reply: The horse has learned what he has lived, and you
aren't going to change him. He
understands leg pressure alright (he moves away from it).
He just doesn't understand how to get close to you and move with
you, and you obviously aren't presenting yourself to him in a way that he
can understand. It is like
teaching an old dog new tricks. Putting
a tie-down isn't going to help. Try
to look at the situation from his point of view.
The deep breath and relaxation when you get off at the end of the
ride says a lot.
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| Bucking:
I have a 9 yr. old gelding who, not always but sometimes will buck when
trail riding and we all lope off. He warns me by dropping and
slinging his head. He seems to be doing it in a playful way that
starts with a crow hop and can grow into a good buck if not disciplined
right away. This horse has been roped on and he's out of Sonny's Dee
Bar. He has a callous across his nose and I can't decide if it's
from a tied down or if it's a hackamore. I ride him in a full cheek
snaffle. I don't ride but maybe once a month but we go on trails in
mountains and around lakes, across logs and wooden bridges and he does all
that I ask. He's perfect in every other way. I don't want to sale
him because I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I ride in our arena
and he seldom bucks or does anything wrong. Any time he is about to
buck I have tried several things. I've tried a one rein stop (which
is hard for me if we're loping fast). I've tried sawing the bit to
get his head up. I've tried stopping to regroup and get him going
again. Sometimes these things work and he may not buck again that
day. I don't pretend to be a great rider but I have been riding for
a lot of years and I have been to all your clinics in our town. I
never rode with my feet in the stirrups until your clinics and now I don't
seem to have as much confidence. I want to be a good horseman and do
things right and what's best for my horse. I will see you again on
Saturday at the clinic at Southern Rose but I will be to embarrassed to
ask you in front of other people. Thank you for any help you can
give me.
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Ray's
Reply: You are on the right track, but riding once a
month is not going to have much of an impression on him, as far as
learning new behavior. I hope
I haven't been the cause of your lack of confidence.
You have the right idea and riding on a more regular basis should
help both of you.
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| Deaf
Filly: I have a yearling filly
that was confirmed deaf by UC Davis. My question is; have you had any
dealings with this and could you give me some insight on the training of a
deaf horse. She seems very responsive to all of my body actions. I just
don't want to do the wrong things with this filly. This has proved to a
real challenge but, I'm up to it! |
Ray's
Reply: You will do fine with her
Cindy. Remember to try never
to surprise her, especially on the ground.
Your filly should operate through a feel from you to her and back
to you. You'll do okay.
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| Catching:
What is the proper technique for catching a horse for the first
time? I have 3 two year old colts who have not been handled or
halter broke at this time. I would like to know your procedure for
getting my hands on them for the first time.
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Ray's
Reply:
Spend some time feeding your young horses.
Offer them grain out of a bucket, don't try to touch them, let them
approach you and resist the urge to reach out to them.
As they become comfortable and confident around the human, it will
be natural to rub and scratch them and them the haltering will naturally
follow. Becoming part of
their daily routine is the route to acceptance.
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Sudden
Anger Dear Mr. Hunt:
I have been a 'fan' of yours for several years. I find it extremely
kind and selfless of you to offer your assistance to those of us that have
a true need (and a true want) for your advice.
I have a coming 4 year old Quarter/Arab mare. She injured her right
hind leg really badly on a barb wire fence in August of 1998 and her
owners were going to destroy her because of it. I told them that I
would take her because the injury was probably fixable - with a lot of
time and energy - and I thought that she deserved a chance. So they
agreed and gave her to me. She had had no previous handling when I
got her (had worn a halter but had no idea how to lead, etc.) and, with
the help of good friends, we spent a lot of time not only tending to her
injury, but teaching her basic ground work (sometimes those two things
were one in the same). She is very independent, strong minded and has an
enormous temper but I firmly believe that she would not have survived her
injury without these three ingredients. I know a lot of horses that
would have just laid down and died.
Her recovery is now complete, she is sound (Hooray!!) and I have started
riding her. One day, after the 6th or 7th ride, I mounted her and,
as soon as my butt was in the saddle, she bucked and threw me. I was
in a state of shock because the last time I had ridden, we had stopped on
great terms - we had ventured out into the field (something new and
different) and she was walking full out on a loose rein, head a-bobbin',
happy as ever! So I got back on her and she bucked me off again!
And she was almost in a rage she was so mad! I calmed her down and
tried again - this time we got a few steps in before she started bucking.
This time I bailed off of her on the advice of a friend. Her actions, and
the shear force and energy put into them, really scared me - this horse
was livid! For the next 2-3 days, she would not even look at me
(which was definitely not normal - she is very friendly and nosy) - she
was that mad! I decided to go back a step in her training - thinking
that there was something that I missed - so I went back to driving her.
She decided that she didn't HAVE to do anything that I asked her to (turn,
stop, give at ALL to the bit, etc.). She was in a total state of
belligerence. What would cause her to go to such extremes?
From 'Happy horse' to 'Raging Bull'? I have put so much time and
effort into this mare that I am not only frustrated by her actions, but
VERY disheartened as well. I live in a very small isolated town without
any professional trainers to help (none that I would trust with my horse,
anyway). The nearest community is 6 hours away and I cannot afford
to transport her out there. Can you help us? |
Ray's
Reply:
I'd love to be able to help you, but
unfortunately you aren't able to give me any facts about what actually
took place. I've heard some
opinions, but I need to hear the mare's side of the story to be of any
real help. Suffice it to say
that "nothing ever happens suddenly for no reason at all."
Save your scheckels and get some professional help from someone you
trust. Good luck!
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| Stud
Chain:
I have a 2 year old gelding who I have had since he was 5 months old.
Shortly after I got him I started learning about NH. I love the ideas and
methods and am really trying to adopt them and use them and make them
work. Anyway, for his whole life, my horse lived outside 24/7, and I was
the only one to handle him..I liked it that way. That way I could know
that if he was doing something it was my fault or my success. Well, due to
unfortunate circumstances I had to move him to another boarding
barn....this is the only stable available to me right now. Well, I was not
happy about this, but he has to be led in and out from the barn to the
paddocks every day by other people, unless I can get there, which I
usually cannot. They use a chain over his nose, which I did not use prior
to it because I had worked with him for so long to get light on the halter
and respect me..and when I finally had it, it seemed, I moved him. The
chain is used on all horses for safety reasons and liability....not using
it is not a reasonable request. Neither is moving to another barn. So,
anyway, he was very good right before I moved him...respectful and
responsive...I felt excited about starting him this Spring or Summer...I
knew he would be ready. But now he has pretty bad ground manners....he
tries to bolt toward the barn, he spooks much more than he used to, he
nips and chews on everything, and he can't be led without the stud
chain..this saddens me a lot. Different people handle him every day, so
obviously he doesn't have consistent handling. I work with him as much as
I can (ranging from 1-3 times per week) but I guess it isn't enough. When
he tries to bolt, the people who lead him just yank on his chain..he
doesn't care anymore...he knows he will get his dinner even if he doesn't
behave. When he does that with me I usually back him up to make him
think...and that works. But then it is ruined all the next day when
someone allows it. How can I get him to respect me (and others) when he
doesn't have consistent handling? How can I get him to not yank me around
when the stud chain isn't on, and go back to being 'my' horse again?
Thanks for your reply.... |
Ray's
Reply:
You can't under these circumstances!
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| Feet:
Thanks for adding this section to your website. My 7 year old
Thoroughbred, partially trained in natural horsemanship, still is extremely
uncomfortable when people handle his feet. He's fine when his legs
are roped, but as soon as he is asked to pick up his feet, he bites or
kicks. He's kicked the Farrier on many occasions, and we've tried
being kind to him showing him there's nothing to be afraid of, and being
firmer, always reprimanding the kicking and biting. But he is still
anxious about his feet. Why is this, and what can I do to help him
relax and trust me more? Thank you. |
| Ray's
Reply:
Forget reprimanding or punishing him
for bad behavior. After the
kicking or biting occurs it is to late.
The horse knows he is going to be punished, and so he will become
leery of you, but he doesn't know how not to do what he has been doing
because you haven't been there to change or prevent it.
He is anxious about his
feet, because someone has made an issue of it when he wasn't properly
prepared and he had a bad experience.
Some horses automatically know how to balance on three feet, other
horses need help in this area. Picking
a horses foot up is pretty basic, but he needs to learn how to relax and
trust the person who is asking for it.
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| Separation:
hi Ray!!!!! I bought 2 quarter
horses 3 weeks ago the mother 9 years old and the the other one from the
mother 5 years old ,,,the thing his that they want to be together all the
time .as soon as I bring the mare out the 5 year old spin and do all
kinds of crazy thing ,,,he is broke but I'm afraid to ride him because of
the other one ,,,and I don't have a ring to ride it's in the open field
what can I do to correct the situation it's taking the fun away from
me ,,,thank you hope you can help me |
Ray's
Reply:
I'd suggest in your situation and with your
experience, and if they are both "broke" as you say.
Saddle up one and pony the other one so that they can be together
for the first ride or two until you get a feel for how they do ride.
I'd also suggest separating them at other times by tying them in
different locations for a couple hours at a time.
When they spend all their time together, everyday it is a natural
occurrence to become dependent on each other.
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Next
set of answers!
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"All
I do is operate the life in the body -
through the legs to the feet - through the mind.
Ray Hunt |
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