When most people hear Thoroughbred off-the-track they typically think "Oh, crazy and fast!"
Which can be true, in part. I like to think of them more as "sensitive and responsive," and LIKE my personal riding horses that way.
But, Gabe, oh, he is a conundrum. He is neither crazy, nor is he fast. Which you would think automatically leads to "lazy and dull." Which is he is not. Usually.
There is a reason he is no longer on the track running his big Thoroughbred heart out. And it's because he was an absolute failure. He won his first two races then decided, "eh, this isn't for me, I don't wanna." So he didn't. Once he decides he's really not interested in doing something he just doesn't. Pretty simple.
There are rides when he's on it. Moving forward, responding wonderfully and quickly and just there, almost anticipating my requests.
Other times he's like riding a plow horse with freight train controls. There is no go, there is no turn and stop or lollygag about are about the only gaits he excels at. Think Eeyore general attitude on these days. It can be SOOOO frustrating to be up there, giving the cue, giving the cue, giving the cue and your horse just ignores you. You KNOW he knows what you want but decides that compliance isn't at the top of his list today.
I've tried the whisper, tell, yell method and given him three chances to give me the right answer and usually fail. So, to the 'net I go, looking for suggestions, knowing the answers I will most likely find.
“The biggest thing causing a non-responsive horse, is the rider giving too many aids,” states dressage rider and coach Gary Vander Ploeg emphatically. “We are taught as green riders to give lots of aids, that is, look busy on the horse, and we are not taught how to be passive. The worst thing we can do is to ‘drive stronger’ and ‘grip with your legs’ with these horses, because we are actually training them to be dull.” From a Horse-Canada.com article.
Yup. Exactly what I knew I'd find. It's never the horse, it's always the rider. So, how do I fix this problem?
Again, I knew the answer but it always helps me to see it and read it before I put it into practice.
Gabe no longer gets three chances. He gets ONE. Because he knows what the answer is, he just doesn't feel like answering at that moment.
I will no longer be that nagging rider, begging my horse to comply with my request, being along for the ride. I will be the leader in this relationship and he doesn't get to decide he doesn't feel like responding.
One light cue and when I get no response, he gets a whack with the stick. I don't think it will take him long to figure out it's just easier to "follow the leader." He's a smart horse. Smart enough that he's managed to get me exactly where he wants me...complying with HIS decisions on the days he really just doesn't wanna.
We are working on the same issue, and it's the most important one to resolve I think.
ReplyDeleteI ask once lightly with my legs - wiggle, wiggle. Nothing? Then we get tap, tap TAP with the whip. This usually elicits an audible gasp, "Oh no she d'dnt!" and most of the time we're good to go after that.
I agree with you 100%...if you don't have a good go, nothing else really matters until you do. He's a master "dribbler," there are days when he gets a good forward going for a few strides then just "dribbles" down to plow horse plod. All while ignoring my repeated insistence that he keep up the pace. Obviously, I've inadvertently made him "dull" by being such a nag! I've never had a horse like him, one that isn't eager and willing go forward with determination, so it's been a bit of a learning curve for me.
DeleteI'm pretty sure I've heard that audible gasp from Gabe a time or two. Gabe and Val, they are too much alike!
You could always try a brain transplant, but I haven't heard of any of those being successful yet.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Trust me, I've threatened a brain transplant more than once...I've even begged him to dig deep and FIND a brain! So far, no luck on that front. :P
DeleteWe are working on this too! Though since I ride a b*tch..errr...I mean a mare, my rides are ask once lightly, follow up with whip, grab mane while she bucks and I tap again harder, say a few choice words as she bucks harder and then forward. Phew! The hardest thing for me is to not nag once we're going and just leave my leg relaxed. My pony mare has trained me well to do all the work at maintaining our speed. :)
ReplyDeleteAh ha! Maybe that's what has me in a conundrum with Gabe. He is the first gelding I've ever owned. Up to this point I've had all mares, and as you know, with a mare you ask nicely and with a TON of sensitivity or deal with serious b*tchy mare attitude!
DeleteMaybe geldings are more like men, you just kinda have to tell them like it is, no asking, no negotiating, just tell.
I've become such a nag it's not even funny, but he definitely makes you ride every. single. stride. to keep rhythm and pace. And I hate that. It's too much work!
Funny this article reminded me about these people who went nuts because I made a comment about an elephant race video and how it looked fun and the elephants were treated well. In the elephant race, the elephant rider smacked the elephant a couple times with a stick.. oh boy I got myself a new hole ripped out for daring to say the elephant race was "fun". They brought up race horses and animal abuse and all kinds of crap. I tried explaining but folks that are rabid like that don't want to listen.
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thanks for stopping by!
DeletePeople who don't understand horses (or elephants in the elephant race) will never understand the line between correction and abuse, no matter how much you try to talk to them. I've run into a few of those myself and it's never been a fun conversation. I've watched my horses play with each other in the pasture and I guarantee there is no way I could ever (nor want to!) smack or kick any of my horses harder than they kick and bite each other just playing! But I also know that those buggers can feel a gnat land on their skin, so I know when I'm squeezing with a calf they can feel it but choose to ignore.
I knew there was a reason I don't ride geldings.... lol!
ReplyDeleteDoc can be like that at times. I swear half the time it's because he's just not listening and the other half of the time it's because he just doesn't wanna do whatever it is.
ReplyDelete