Horse Training Video Journal:
Phunnygirl's second training day
PhunnyGirl second
day under saddle, bitted up with reins under her
chest, loosely.
At this phase, horse training isn't yet
"pretty." The idea is NOT to get her to
carry her head low...we did see something like this misused
during the "peanut roller" fad. Thank goodness that's past
us!
After each filly had been reined to either
side as seen as seen on Joy's video, I gave them each a
"vertical" session. This is where the reins are run under
the horse's chest and then fastened loosely behind the
saddle horn. The objective is for them to teach themselves
how to lower their heads in response to pressure and to
break at the poll (carry the face nearly vertical).
We're not trying to get the horse to carry
her head low, like in the bad ol' "peanut roller" days. We
just want her to understand lowering her head in response to
rein pressure, mainly.
That is important because if you can get the
horse to lower her head on cue, you have a way to help keep
her calm if she is in a situation where something might
spook her.
Getting her to break at the poll will help
her to develop the ability to round her topline and step
more deeply under herself with her hocks. However, that is a
LONG process. It doesn't happen in just 30 days! It takes
time for the horse to develop her strength.
Some horses, as a way of trying to avoid
work, may root their noses away from the rider. This
exercise helps the young horse begin to develop the habit of
being compliant and to keep her face soft. It mustn't be
overused, however, or it will have unintended effects.
Horse Training Video Journal
