Blog video 15, Buhdar's First Ride (Part 3)

Here is part three!

Blog video 14, Buhdar's First Ride (Part 2)

Here is part two of Caroline's answer to Chloe about Starting a Young Horse,

and introducing tack. In addition, Caroline narrates in this part of the hour-long

session where Budar is mounted and ridden for the first time.

Stay tuned each week for more!

Blog Video 13, Buhdar's First Ride (Part 1)

Hello friends,

Here is part 1, of a spoken and video answer that refers to the question and answer below.

Hi Caroline, I have this young 3 1/2 year old canadian gelding who will be turning 4 this spring. We have been working over the winter to get him ready to start under saddle. We have your "Starting Your Young Horse: Preparing For the First Ride" DVD and we can do everything on it now! So last thursday we saddled him for the first time, had already prepared him and got him used to a rope around his barrel. For the saddleing he stoud still, and after a few steps he had a little fit that lasted about 20secends. After his fit we partner walked and did a bit of lunging at the walk. In all he had the saddle on about 20min. So i couldnt go see him friday so we went saturday and since then he is terrified of it the saddle and the girth. We have tried to approach and release but it doesnt work, we have tried touching himwith it quickly and taking it off but nothing seems to work. When he sees me lift the girth he will start lounging around me or try to evade it. We dont really know what to do, i was thinking i could restart from taking the girth by itself off the saddle and getting him used to it, and then the saddle and then combine them. Also what would you recomend on the first ride so he doesnt buck?

thank you, chloe

Hi Chloe;

I'm sorry to hear how scared your horse is now. I think I understand how it happened. Sounds like there are 2 areas that weren't solid before you introduced the saddle. The exercises in the DVD were designed to guide you into a way of being and doing that supports deep levels of acceptance, trust, partnership and leadership. If you introduced the rope around the belly, you many have broken your horse's trust as this is not an accepted technique of ours and goes against our principle.

I have worked with so many traumatized horses and it has been proven over and over, through the ground exercises I provide in the DVD, that true acceptance of our leadership (guiding hand) and trust in partnering with us can be achieved, simply and naturally. Meaning, you don't need to add anything, just get deeper by asking for more from your horse and while you are, make sure you are listening to what your horse has to say so you don't push them too far - or not ask enough. Once you know what they are saying, you have something to work with. That is KEY to mastering horsemanship and what training and building a solid foundation is all about.

I mention many times in the DVD about the mind set of our horses and how we are looking for a calm, connected (eye and ear on you), willing and soft partner who is eager to join up with you both mentally and physically. Please go back and listen again :) We don't have to introduce anything else when we meet challenges with horses either, as these exercises can get as deep and particular as you feel necessary to help the horse make the emotional break through necessary for them to let their guard down and not only trust you enough to join you in partnership but allow you to guide their feet, movement through clear, loving and fair leadership.

I know you will be able to regain your horses trust, you may have to slow things down and pay more attention to when you are losing them so you can help them back. Helping them back is through clear, empathetic guiding leadership:)

Best to you and keep me posted.

Caroline

We will have a new video for you next week!

Hello friends,

We'll be back with you next week with a new blog video.

We had a wonderful time the last two weekends with the Group Apprenticeship, Level 1, Module 1, and the Getting Started Clinic!  It was so exciting to see people make breakthroughs with their horses, and to see such happy people and horses!  Yesterday, in day three of the Apprenticeship, everyone was successful with taking a horse through the obstacle course - at liberty in the large arena!  It is so exciting to see the great progress people made in three days, understanding more about relating to horses through Caroline's three core awarenesses of Intention, Position and Movement.

Check out our website for upcoming clinics, or host your own clinic with Caroline!

http://www.riderhorsemanship.com/horse-training-schedule.htm