On The Ground Confidence - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-28T10:11:31Zhttp://www.barnmice.com/forum/topics/on-the-ground-confidence?commentId=1773158%3AComment%3A274323&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noJocelyn, When I first started…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-09-13:1773158:Comment:2743232010-09-13T15:21:27.852ZShirleyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Shirley
Jocelyn, When I first started doing any ground work I was taking lessons at a training barn and whenever I could I would help bring the horses in at the end of the day and help with the chores. That was helpful to me. I am probably more comfortable on the ground now. then in the saddle.
Jocelyn, When I first started doing any ground work I was taking lessons at a training barn and whenever I could I would help bring the horses in at the end of the day and help with the chores. That was helpful to me. I am probably more comfortable on the ground now. then in the saddle. it can literally be one step…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-12:1773158:Comment:2648232010-08-12T01:27:52.991ZShaiarabshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Liesl938
it can literally be one step at a time...<br />
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when I say that its.. say a horse is afraid of something...get them to plant their feet.. look at the object then, step up to or past it one step at a time... step, whoa, step whoa.. if the horse reacts then stand..look and repeat.. if you give them the time to look at an object and the directive to do it, instead of just pushing them past it, they are less likely to jump in your lap or run you over....
it can literally be one step at a time...<br />
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when I say that its.. say a horse is afraid of something...get them to plant their feet.. look at the object then, step up to or past it one step at a time... step, whoa, step whoa.. if the horse reacts then stand..look and repeat.. if you give them the time to look at an object and the directive to do it, instead of just pushing them past it, they are less likely to jump in your lap or run you over.... This is sure to help...
Takin…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-12:1773158:Comment:2648102010-08-12T00:53:33.788ZJocelynhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Jocelyn
This is sure to help...<br />
Taking my time, doing what I want to happen...Taking it nice and slow.<br />
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Thank-you!!! =)<br />
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P.S. I Love Giving Praise =P Haha
This is sure to help...<br />
Taking my time, doing what I want to happen...Taking it nice and slow.<br />
<br />
Thank-you!!! =)<br />
<br />
P.S. I Love Giving Praise =P Haha I think the number one thing…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-11:1773158:Comment:2647792010-08-11T23:37:00.196Z4XChestnuthttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/4XChestnut
I think the number one thing is focus on what you WANT. If you can express to yourself in a simple sentence what you want without using a negative that is the first step. "I want the horse to stop..." is a negative. You mention the horse motoring down the aisle with you in tow, I bet you'd say "I want him to stop dragging me to his stall" if I'd asked you. Instead say (and do say it to yourself, in words, in your head) "I want the horse to walk nicely beside me at my speed."<br />
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Sounds stupid…
I think the number one thing is focus on what you WANT. If you can express to yourself in a simple sentence what you want without using a negative that is the first step. "I want the horse to stop..." is a negative. You mention the horse motoring down the aisle with you in tow, I bet you'd say "I want him to stop dragging me to his stall" if I'd asked you. Instead say (and do say it to yourself, in words, in your head) "I want the horse to walk nicely beside me at my speed."<br />
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Sounds stupid doesn't it? But if you know what you WANT you will be quicker to pick up on it when the horse does something that you don't want, and instead of saying "Stop that!" to the horse you will be able to say "DO this". Horses you see don't understand "don't" or "stop" - they need us to tell them what to DO (and even standing still is DOing something). So you can say to the horse dragging you along "slow down and walk with me" and if they push ahead, you slow them down, or halt them, or even back them up to convey the idea that they must walk with you instead of pulling ahead. The quicker you can catch and correct the undesired behaviour the more respect the horse will have for you and you will find correction easier. I bet that horse dragging you down the aisle didn't just start getting ahead of you in the aisle, but probably was pulling ahead outside before you reached the barn.<br />
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Confidence on the ground is focus and practice. Pay attention to the horse's movements and define what you want at any given time. You will find that certain horses have patterns of behaviour and you can preempt the behaviour by preparing for it before it happens. For example many school horses will start to walk when the halter comes off just before the bridle goes on and the student struggles to deal with the situation often by trying to get the bridle on as the horse is moving, sometimes by trying to halt the horse. But if you know the horse does it, you can be prepared with one hand holding the bridle on the horse's nose and be ready to push back as soon as the horse leans forward (which he must do before moving a hoof) without trying to put the bridle on first.<br />
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As you find that you can catch horses heading away from what you want, and that you can move them quite easily your confidence will grow. Strive to correct and move the horse with the minimum effort and the horses will read your confidence and respond. Strive for the minimum effort, but make sure that you get a response by using as much as you need, then ask again with less effort. And don't forget the praise when you get the response. ;-)<br />
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Good luck! Once you have the focus it's mostly just practice. Thank-you everyone so much!…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-11:1773158:Comment:2647752010-08-11T23:01:09.680ZJocelynhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Jocelyn
Thank-you everyone so much!<br />
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Today, I arrived at the barn earlier, so I put some of the Horses out in their feilds, and I felt much better keeping in mind what all of you have said.<br />
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Thank-you so much again!
Thank-you everyone so much!<br />
<br />
Today, I arrived at the barn earlier, so I put some of the Horses out in their feilds, and I felt much better keeping in mind what all of you have said.<br />
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Thank-you so much again! great posts guys...
thats th…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-11:1773158:Comment:2643162010-08-11T02:44:06.340ZShaiarabshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Liesl938
great posts guys...<br />
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thats the way jocelyn...you can do it mate.. if you come across a particular situation that you would like more info on just pop it in here and we can help you problem solve it..it can only benefit only you but the horse, rider and barn as well..
great posts guys...<br />
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thats the way jocelyn...you can do it mate.. if you come across a particular situation that you would like more info on just pop it in here and we can help you problem solve it..it can only benefit only you but the horse, rider and barn as well.. Thank-you so much! Taking it…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-10:1773158:Comment:2642272010-08-10T21:18:20.334ZJocelynhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Jocelyn
Thank-you so much! Taking it slow will help...I think.<br />
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I`m starting to help out with the beginner lessons at the barn, which is just helping them tack-up, and then making sure the Horses stay on the track, and that you don`t get run over... (they aren`t too good at steering yet... =P)<br />
I hope slowly working my way up the Ground Confidence levels is gonna make a HUGE difference!<br />
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Thanks again!
Thank-you so much! Taking it slow will help...I think.<br />
<br />
I`m starting to help out with the beginner lessons at the barn, which is just helping them tack-up, and then making sure the Horses stay on the track, and that you don`t get run over... (they aren`t too good at steering yet... =P)<br />
I hope slowly working my way up the Ground Confidence levels is gonna make a HUGE difference!<br />
<br />
Thanks again! Hi Jocelyn..... welll then if…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-10:1773158:Comment:2641512010-08-10T17:04:12.320ZJennifer Lammhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/JenniferLamm
Hi Jocelyn..... welll then if it's harder for you because the barn is a lesson barn, then maybe you can try this..... before you even engage with your horse.... or any horse.... are you sure you are in a good mood, have you had something to eat, are you focused on what you want to happen from point A to point B and what can Jocelyn do to be the most confident wonderful leader for her horse? I sometimes literally take one step at a time...... if Oliver gets stuck we have to go back or if I get…
Hi Jocelyn..... welll then if it's harder for you because the barn is a lesson barn, then maybe you can try this..... before you even engage with your horse.... or any horse.... are you sure you are in a good mood, have you had something to eat, are you focused on what you want to happen from point A to point B and what can Jocelyn do to be the most confident wonderful leader for her horse? I sometimes literally take one step at a time...... if Oliver gets stuck we have to go back or if I get stuck, shoot most of the time I'm having a problem ... that way, we can take a short walk from the water bucket to the food bucket and have 100% success...... that way we both have confidence.... me in him and he in me...... short experiences are just as important as long ones... every time you see your horse now you can be the new and improved.... all of a sudden, it's fun now to do something new because you've given yourself permission to go slow.... what if you walk from one point to another but in the middle you turn your horse in a circle a full loop all the way around in both directions???? my horse wouldn't even be good by the way..... especially if other horses and people were around so if you can do that you are doing good..... when doing exercises don't worry about anything except... how am I feeling, am I breathing, looking where I want to go, am I confident in my body language.... and then how is he? is he relaxed, paying attention and giving me permission to lead him here???? leading is a skill.. :) try in hand work if you don't believe me... it's a sport in itself... :) Good Luck Justice and just smile if you can and let your horse know you believe in yourself and him.. and if you don't genuinely feel that way then ya gotta practice.... my horse and I don't ride yet.... but if I point at his shoulder he backs up.... that sister is like a zillion hours of practice.... and spending time with him.. blocking out everything else and just working on communicating with Oliver asking him to move his shoulder, his hip, back up, move forward, disengage, shoot we can practice in a teeny area. .... I hope you get to try it.... standing next to my horse without being scared, when he used to either knock me down with his head or his neck or his shoulder is a big deal for me..... probably sounds dumb that I've spent three years on the ground.... but my horse was orphaned, had dominance issues and was very pushy to me... now he's sweet, obedient and willing.... so sometimes it's about taking the time to change the attitude.... and that is a fun experiment with each new horse... being at a lesson barn must be full of lessons. :) I hope to hear of your adventures..... Jen I know just what you mean! I…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-10:1773158:Comment:2641102010-08-10T15:56:24.380ZDeborah Hopkinshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/DeborahHopkins15
I know just what you mean! I rode for years at a barn and didn't do anything on the ground except take the horse in and out of the stall, and tack him up! I missed so much!!<br />
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You could try volunteering at a horse rescue, and/or at a facility that provides riding for the disabled. I did both of those activities and it helped me so much. Plus it was really fun and rewarding :)<br />
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Then, eventually, when you feel more confident you might try co-boarding a horse and maybe take lessons as well. That…
I know just what you mean! I rode for years at a barn and didn't do anything on the ground except take the horse in and out of the stall, and tack him up! I missed so much!!<br />
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You could try volunteering at a horse rescue, and/or at a facility that provides riding for the disabled. I did both of those activities and it helped me so much. Plus it was really fun and rewarding :)<br />
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Then, eventually, when you feel more confident you might try co-boarding a horse and maybe take lessons as well. That would give you some alone time to do whatever you want, on the ground or in the tack.<br />
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Enjoy the journey! Hi, Jocelyn:
You're right, i…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-08-09:1773158:Comment:2639102010-08-09T23:51:37.229ZJan Jollymourhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/JanJollymour
Hi, Jocelyn:<br />
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You're right, it is harder, but it can still be done. Offer to help with barn chores at your lesson barn, and that will put you in proximity to the horses more often. Really, the best thing is being around them as much as possible.<br />
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The bottom line is that they're big, they can move quickly and without warning, and your discomfort is a rational and logical feeling. The more you work with them on the ground the more comfortable you will get (pretty much like anything else). Offer…
Hi, Jocelyn:<br />
<br />
You're right, it is harder, but it can still be done. Offer to help with barn chores at your lesson barn, and that will put you in proximity to the horses more often. Really, the best thing is being around them as much as possible.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that they're big, they can move quickly and without warning, and your discomfort is a rational and logical feeling. The more you work with them on the ground the more comfortable you will get (pretty much like anything else). Offer to hold well-broke, steady horses for the farrier, which mostly no one wants to stand there and do. Most barns would be happy to have you offer to groom horses for them, hold them for simple procedures, etc. That will give you more mileage more quickly, and the mileage will make the difference.<br />
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If you get the chance to read check out Buck Brannaman's books, or anything about Ray Hunt, at the library, and then try to use what you've read. Those guys are really horsemen, and nothing they have to say has anything to do with gimmicks or marketing - it's the real deal. If you can find anything by Linda Tellington-Jones, use that. Some of it's pretty hokey, but the basics are very good, and extremely useful, and Linda explains them well.<br />
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Most of all, please don't feel that there's something missing in you! Being careful around large animals should be a habit, and good on ya if you've already figured that out. You just need time!