HP: February 2002 Paint Horse Issue

Dear Mr. Shrake:
I have a little problem that I hope you can help with. My 6-year old mare & I have wonderful trail rides together. She is cooperative with a big heart & will try to please my every wish. BUT! Every time we break into a lope she becomes free spirited & starts to buck- not in a mean way. When she runs out in the pasture with my husband’s horse she bucks the same way. I don’t feel comfortable riding with other groups & having her buck so we are always left behind doing a walk or trot. On the lunge line from the ground & going around the sand ring she is fine but get her out in more open spaces & she becomes a free spirit. I know she is not intentionally doing this. I could really use your expertise. Thank you.

Jan Walker

Nisku, Alberta Canada

Dear Jan:

Thank you for your letter. It sounds like when you ride your mare on slow, more controlled work she is ok, but when she is out in the open or has the extra pressure of other horses moving faster, then she bucks & acts up. The solution in solving your problem is spending more time in gaining mental control before you ride out into an open space or riding with friends & other horses. By that I mean that you need to prepare better by backing her up, moving her laterally off your leg to the left & right. This will bring her mind back to listening to you. If she does still buck, make sure you are riding with both hands. Brace your feet ahead of your hips & as soon as you feel her drop her head, pull one rein whether left or right. Make sure you also use an inside leg to pull her into a small circle. Be fairly strong on your pull. As soon as you feel her back & shoulders relax, try to lope off again. Remember, do not stop. Keep her moving forward. When she mentally starts listening to you, then stop & let her stand...then start over again. Once you have trained & ridden into the next level (loping in open spaces and riding with friends without the bucking), you will be very happy that you stepped up & rode through problems. It sounds like you really like your mare, & the fact that you trust her at slow speeds should give you a seed of confidence. Now just step up & take the challenge. I would recommend watching my Resistance Free(tm) Training the Problem Horse. It will help you learn to recognize the small spark in your mare before it breaks out into a big fire.

Hi,
I am 56 years old & have just bought a horse who is 20- he is a good horse. I know little to nothing about horses. I am still learning what I should feed him......and frankly I’m still not sure.
Anyway......I have some questions.
One: He is old- so he is set in his ways- right?
Two: He gets “spooked” easily. How do I deal with this?
Three: So far I have not ridden him nor do I work with him (I have owned him for four months)- I have been ill but by next spring should be ok to ride and lunge him but I want to do it right.
Four: I think I am afraid he is going to throw me when he is spooked. How can I get pass this?
Five: How often should a horse have a bath?
He has great barn habits. He never goes to the bathroom in there. He is very good about letting me clean his feet. But when he is “nervous” I don’t do that. He doesn’t like his ears to be touched inside, so I can’t clean them.
I feed him two flakes of hay in the morning & two at night. I also give him Equine Senior & some oats morning & night. Half a scoop. He always has fresh water. We live in California so there is no green grass.

Thank you, Arlene Bradshaw

Purnedale, CA

Dear Arlene:

Congratulations on buying your horse. You will not regret it. As far as you not knowing a lot about horses & that you are still learning, believe me, when owning horses...you never stop learning. Let’s see if I can help you with your questions. Horses are never too old to train & yes, you can change his way...it just may take a little longer. First check your horse’s eyes. If they are ok, then try slowing everything down...your movements & your voice. Also do an extra amount of groundwork before you ride. Always work with a good instructor or professional trainer when starting out. Make sure you check their credentials and referrals. I have a list of Resistance Free(tm) trainers/ instructors on my website: www.richardshrake.com. They will help you build a solid foundation in your riding & training program. To answer #4, by having a knowledgeable trainer there to help you build a solid foundation this will not happen. Bathe your horse whenever he gets dirty and hose him down in the hot summer weather & after a sweaty ride. Your feeding program sounds great. You can’t beat Equine Senior. I feed my horses Strategy & Equine Junior. All Purina products are the best on the market.

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