New Mare was sold as "bombproof" How do I...

[SableBaron]

I want to work my newest mare. She was sold as bombproof and I want to ride her before the end of the summer, however she was owned for years by someone else that used commands I don't know. I want to teach my mare how to respond to me.

What techniques/signs/words is everyone using for their horses?

Essentially, what are you using for groundwork with your horses?

She comes in from the field when we whistle/call her, leads well, listens to "Whoa" and "Backup", but trail riding requires more than that.

I like Jay O Jay's training, but it seems a bit quick. Anyone else have opinions?

 

[eponagirl]

Have you heard of Chris Irwin (www.chrisirwin.com) He has wonderful, useful and good-for-the-horse techniques. Lots of info on the site.
Basically the more time you spend with your mare, she will get to know the signals, movements etc that YOU offer her in your own way. We can't possibly know what our horse has experienced in the past, so everything relies on this day forward (or rather the day you got her going forward).Patience is key as horses need time to get to know you (and you them). New habits will need to be formed and that takes time.

Hope that helps in some way!

 

[Bronco Hollow]

What exactly are the commands or cues that you don't know - or what are the commands you do know that the horse does not?

Basic training and cues for the horse should be the same even if taught by different methods.

 

[Farrier!]

Did you not ride her?
What was the owner doing differently?

 

[nightshade]

I totally agree that you can never know what an animal went though before it made it to you. We have rescued horses, we have bought from auctions where animals are known to go to butcher as well as ones that could either no longer be kept by their owners of were fokes that frankly just should not have animals. I have gone out back many times at sales and gotten sick then come back in and purchased horses that just need a chance. A lot of these animals are more then a handful when the come home and need to be completely retaught, so that they know what I expect of them. Which frankly isn't really that much, lol. I have horses for the love of horses and not for any type of competition sport ect. I just ride to ride lol.

Spending as much time as you can with your new horse I found is crustal. That way she will learn what your different voice tones and pitches mean as well as learn what you will be expecting of her. When you are riding if you want her to listen to voice commands you should be able to teach them to her easily just by saying what you are doing as you are doing it just like you would train a dog to sit by pushing their butt down and telling them to sit at the same time.

Edited to add- my personal horse is trained for all kinds of voice commands most of which I know no one else would ever use. Like "dead horse" which what I use for the slowest possible walk they can do without stopping. It is great from when you are watching wildlife around you though and your horse hates to stand still. When I am ready to run I give the command "lets go" no kicking, clicking or hitting required we go from a walk or trot to a full bore run in no time. All of our horses are also trained to come by name when in the pasture, but hesitate in doing so if the person calling it is not someone they know.

 

[SableBaron]

We weren't able to ride her as she was due to foal within the week. We brought her home on a tuesday and friday morning she foaled.

We were told she had been ridden about a month prior to foaling.

We don't really care about how she WAS trained, just wanted input as to what everyone is using to train and command their horses.

She is "bombproof" when it comes to spooking. We have tried a tarp over her back, made her walk across it on the ground, shook it violently beside her, had our dogs run up to and around her barking the whole time, had our goats around her, chickens, and we live beside a majorhighway (the transcanada) so she is exposed to heavy traffic of all sorts (safely from a double fence and ravine between the pastures and the edge of the property/highway).

 

[Farrier!]

 

[SableBaron]

That is helpful HOW?!?!?!?!? Why would you even post if you can't offer advice or contribute positively to the thread?

 

[Farrier!]

Ok...here is as helpful as I can get.
Please, I pray you place a helmet on your child's head every time they are on any horse.

As far as what to tell a total novice who buys a horse without riding it and expects it to be safe when they do not have a clue how to ride........
The help they need is help in the form of lessons, not what they can get online or they would not be asking the questions they are asking!

I have seen way too many people get their children hurt or killed or themselves hurt with no knowledge.

 

[SableBaron]

Ferrier! and to clarify for anyone else,

I have been riding horses for many years, I am not novice nor am I an expert however my other horses use verbal commands and hand signals on the ground as well as verbal commands along with leg or rein pressure in the saddle.

My other horses responded to the following verbal commands.(we breed dogs and goats as well so we use the same commands for all our animals)

Hike!: Get moving "Mush" and "All Right" are sometimes also used.
Clucking sound: Speed up, faster.
Gee!: Turn to the right.
Haw!: Turn to the left.
Easy!: Slow down.
Whoa!: Stop.
On By!: Pass another team or other distraction.
Get In!: Get into the trailer, stall, etc.
Come!: Come to us.
Down!: Lay down (this comes in handy with all the animals for vaccines, supplements, and grooming instead of standing on a stool).

Hand signals for the same are waving my hand/arm above my head - "come",
a hand/open fingered wave towards my body - "forward",
flicking my hand towards them - "backup",
a quick clockwise circle with fingers extended - "get in",
flat open hand (when in front or beside them) - "whoa",
"gee" and "haw" is pointing with an extended arm and open hand in the direction I want them to go with the other arm and hand flicking in the same direction.
"down" is a flat hand pushed towards the ground.

In the saddle, they respond to outside pressure (pressure the right side to go left, left side for right) on the neck or with legs on the body.

As I have not had to train a foal from birth before and now have a new mare to retrain to respond to new owners after being in a field as mostly just a broodmare for the past two years, I wanted to know what the most "update to date" training techinques being used are.

As for helmets, no one under 20 years old rides on anything (be it horse, atv, bicycle, snowmachine, etc) without one.