reinersblog.com

It rained my first three days back from vacation, so I didn’t get out to the stables until yesterday. I hurried to saddle him up before it got too dark to see. It was 33 degrees and the ground was just as wet as it could be. His hooves sounded like toilet plungers as we walked into the muddy arena (why do I know that sound so well? Don’t even get me started on my landlord…).

It was just a dreary and dark out as it could be. Leo was none to happy to be put to work after his vacation either. After 15 minutes he started in with his old habits that I haven’t seen in about three months: tossing his head, bunching up, and dancing around like he was revving up for a good bucking session. I probably shouldn’t have gotten off his back, but I did. I got on the ground for the ground check I didn’t do before I go on. Had him yield in a circle to the left, then right, then I backed him up several times. When I hopped back on, he was fine. No more head tossing or dancing around.

He was very chargy though. Continue Reading »

In Al Dunning’s book, “Reining,” he recommends arc drills for improving control of the horse’s body. He says you should have the horse walk around in small circles so it has a small arc in its neck. THEN, and here’s the tricky part, you’re supposed to back the horse in the tracks of that same circle. He says that when you can do this, “you have very good control of you own body as well as that of your horse.” Now I don’t know about you, but I think Al is something of an authority on the subject, so I’ve been working at it for about a month. This is what I’ve learned – I have no control of my body.

Getting this horse to bend while backing up is like trying to bend a plank. There I am, applying pressure with my legs, torquing my body around, and pullin’ on reins up high like some kind of crazy puppeteer. After a few seconds I end up with a very irritated horse who expresses this by tossing his head up and down. I’m fairly certain that he would like to know just exactly why I spent all that time teaching him to back straight only do what seeeeeems like, ask him to back crooked. It’s become an obsession of mine though. I feel like Daniel in the Karate Kid trying to catch a fly with chopsticks. The girls at the barn started giving me funny looks, and I was beginning to think it was impossible.

But recently, I saw the impossible! Out at that the ranch that we go to for Team Roping (Leo’s owner is a roper and lets us tag along) in the center of the arena was a cowboy backing his horse in a circle, a perfect circle. It was beautiful. I of course immediately introduced myself, and he gave me the name of a training video. It was the very video that taught him how to train his horse. He said it was the best purchase he’d ever made. I didn’t have a pen on me, so promptly forgot. Great. It was something Von…Van…Voughn…ugh. The quest continues….

This photo is of Leo, a.k.a., “The Leonator.” Leo spent 3 months with a trainer a few years ago. One day, after spending the day in the field working cattle, Leo refused to respond to a cue. So the trainer reportedly, “put the spurs to him.” They were on a hill. Leo, being the powerfully athletic horse that he is, put everything he had into bucking that trainer off. Not only did he toss the trainer into some bushes, he bucked himself right off balance and tumbled head-over-hoof all the way down the hill.

A few years later, his owner took him out into an arena filled with riders warming up their horses for team roping. Leo was cued into a canter, but would not slow down when asked to. His owner gave him an impatient jerk on the bit. Leo, being the powerfully athletic horse that he is, put everything he had into bucking off his papa. I hear it was a pretty spectacular display, complete with horse butt going nearly vertical on a few occasions. He not only launched his papa high over the heads of other riders, he continued his bucking spree for a full lap and a half around the arena (just in case anyone hadn’t noticed he was irritated).

Leo was intended to be a roping horse, and he will be. Why do I think he’ll be a great reining horse as well? You should seeeeee him! I’ve never ridden a horse with a softer mouth or more sensitive sides. He’s a speedy little guy and has delivered some impressive stops. Did I mention his agility in turns? Ok, so I don’t know a lot about what makes a great reining horse, but I’ve seen the videos! I think he can do it.

Training: We began training together a few months ago, and have had all kinds of challenges. I am learning about reining through books, training dvd’s, and other riders. I’m hoping to create a community here where reiners can share their experiences and build a knowledge base for the discipline. I will be logging the challenges that I’m having with Leo, who will definitely provide plenty of material.

First obstacles? How to start him on turn arounds properly and how to keep from getting launched. So far so good. I don’t use spurs and the most he’d ever get out of me in terms of punishment for bad behavior is backing him, a series of small circles, or some extra work in the round pen. Does anyone have any advice on curing a horse that bucks? He seems to be getting a lot more gentle with just consistent riding, but there are times when I can tell that he wants to get rid of me. I usually change the subject when that happens.