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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Whip Work

2/8/2012

 
When I first bought Speedy G as a three-year old, he had some of the typical fears that you'll see in a baby.  He was also pushy and disobedient.  I can't have horses with poor ground manners.  I am just not big enough to withstand 1,000 or more pounds crashing into me.  And even if I was 6'3" and weighed 200 pounds, I wouldn't stand for it.  So Speedy G got some lessons in ground work.  Lots of them.

I really like many of the Natural Horsemanship ideas.  Not all of them, but much of that work is very helpful.  I particularly like Clinton Anderson's stuff.  His explanations make sense and seem to have a purpose.  One of the things he says is, Give your horse a heart attack.  They're free.  What he means is, don't pussy-foot around doing everything gingerly.  Do what you need to do and eventually your horse horse will come around.  If we always worry about scaring our horses, they'll always be scared.  That makes sense to me.

Speedy G was nervous about a lot of things: plastic bags, flinging stuff, quick movements, tacking up, noise from behind, etc.  And his solution to all of these scary things was to jump in my lap.  Well that wasn't going to work.  My solution was to teach him that none of that stuff was going to get him and even if he was scared, he wasn't allowed to jump onto me ... ever!  We started to play with the whip.  I didn't want to use a lunge line because I wanted him to see me as part of his solution.  I wanted him to learn to focus on where I was at all times.  So we free lunged.  The video below is some of what he learned by playing around with the whip.

As you watch, keep in mind that we haven't played these games seriously in more than a year.  We're a little rusty, but it's still fun to play sometimes, and Speedy G really enjoys it when I bring out the whip and play with him in the arena.  You might think he looks cranky in the video, but I know he is trying to beat me which in his mind is get the answer right really fast!  The look on his face is one of concentration.
Val
2/8/2012 04:58:36 am

I like the fishing game. That was really cute!

If a horse steps on my foot, I scream and holler bloody murder. That really gets the horse's attention and the foot gets picked up right away. The same horse usually doesn't step on me twice. I think that is along the same lines of your post. ;)

Karen
2/8/2012 10:41:04 am

I think you're right! :0)

Sarah E. Schulman link
2/9/2012 01:08:09 am

This video is so inspiring! Such a healthy way to teach them, since they think its a fun game.

Karen
2/9/2012 01:08:37 pm

Thank you, Sarah. Speedy had so much "tweaks" that I had to do something to desensitize him to every little thing. By being free to run if he wanted to, he quickly learned to enjoy the games. Now if I go out into the arena with him, he comes running and stays pretty pinned to my side. He's great at playing tag, chase, and other games. But the best part is that I was able to help him see that noises above and behind were just that ... noises, not monsters!

Karen


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home