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Post by Jolie on Oct 29, 2009 16:38:59 GMT
My yearling colt will not walk or trot in a straight line, he goes along like a crab sometimes, any advice on how to make him go straight as this a problem when running up for the judge.
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Post by cassie30 on Oct 29, 2009 16:43:37 GMT
Could you try getting someone up behind him at home norman? i have this picture of how one of ours used to trot, as if trying to get away, best i can explain it sorry!, but thats what we did with ours anyways x
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Post by Jolie on Oct 29, 2009 17:57:34 GMT
trouble is half the time is trying to bite me, and if you put a stick behaind you he skirts sideways, I have trotted him up th fence line which is ok until you go round without the fence there, have treid that cassie but he isnt keen on someone up his bum!
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Post by connieclaire on Nov 9, 2009 20:21:08 GMT
if you have tried practicing running up alongside a fence with the fence closest to the side he twists, you could try focussing on your body lanuage, make sure you stay at his shoulder not his head also make sure you give his head space to trot straight push him forward then avoid touching the mouth/making contact on the halter, try usuing you body language to control the speed, this all takes practice. also slow everything down as much as possible if that works then gradually speed up
I had this issue and found that it was the bit the pony was skewing from.
Finally if it has become a bad habit you could try side reins to try and balance out the problem but i would focus on your body language be really critcal of every movement as ponies adjust to all sorts
hope it helps
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kayjayem
Happy to help....a lot
Posts: 10,046
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Post by kayjayem on Nov 9, 2009 21:48:08 GMT
try putting a side rein(not too tight) on the right hand side to stop him turning to try and bite you. If you school him like this in hand and get him used to voice commands without having to be too near his mouth to antagonise him hopefully he will get used to going forwards. Don't use a stick to send him forwards as that will get his back end going away from you instead of forward impulsion. Work him between you and a fence until he gets the hang of it and hopefully the penny will drop and he will go forward rather than sideways. Also if possible take him out "hacking" ie with something to keep his mind busy rather than working in the school where he will be bored and more focused on you. And don't forget that long reining is invaluable as you have an even contact on both sides and will get him going forward straight and he wont end up 1 sided! Good luck boys can be quite hard work but well worth it!
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Post by Jolie on Nov 11, 2009 18:18:18 GMT
He trots lovely with the fence on that side, its when you are away from the fence i.e troting up for the judge. am hoping to be able to walk him up the tracks but need someone with to do that, not sure I could get a siderein small enough as he is only a welsh B yearling and tiny.
Thanks for advice, will keep practising.
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Post by sarah00000 on Nov 11, 2009 19:01:34 GMT
My section A used to try to turn and bite me too - when she was a youngster. I covered my gloves in "spray cribbox" and let her do it.......... She never did it again! LOL
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Post by Jessica on Nov 11, 2009 20:07:39 GMT
Try attaching the leadrope to the outside as opposed to the side you are running on so you can "pull" him away from you. Side reins also work quite well, quite loose, but tight enough to make sure they can't swing right round! also carry a showing cane in your outside hand and when they start to twist raise it to head height to ask them to move away from you (this also works for turning away!) Another thing is that sometimes you just need to run faster so they have to move forward and you aren't holding them back and causing them to twist! We have a friend who shows arab stallions and she draws a line on the floor and teaches them to trot allong this line. She also teaches them the word "No" so when they do something she doesn't like (such as stepping over the line) they know to stop. Apparently it teachs them not to move over into you space and straightens them out but i dont know huge amounts about it!! Good luck it took us quite a while to straighten out our boy!!
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Post by traffik on Nov 18, 2009 14:41:22 GMT
try doing all leading from the wrong side keeps them straight and not onesided
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Post by hollycane on Nov 18, 2009 21:43:50 GMT
Have you tried going back to basics and making sure that when you take a step forward the colt does too? Reward him immediately he steps with you. Always looking ahead. For trotting, same thing even if to start with he is following you slightly. The trigger should be your movement forwards. Bit by bit he will come with you instead of you dragging him. He just wants to watch you as he is a bit wary. Make it fun and rewarding.
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