Poet

[Danielle]

Decided to start one of these

February 28th.
First time riding him since he got here and he was a gentleman! He was very excited and curious but didn't spook at all and listened nicely. Only rode for 15 minutes or so, didn't want to push him at all yet. His barn manners seem to need a little work too, but we'll work on that Over all very good today.

[Danielle]

March 1st.

The weather was pretty nasty today, so we worked in hand today. He figured out very quickly that when I stopped, he had to stop too, which was good. When I asked him to back up most of the time, he turned but he's starting to get it. He's a beast trotting in hand, haha. He kicked out once and that wasn't good. So we just worked at stopping and walking. He's getting a lot more respect for me and is settling in nicely. Very good day.

[ridersup]

Good for you, for doing the groundwork first. He can be a tad bratty, but it just lack of training from what I saw.
Remember the old saying...."the horse you lead is the same horse you ride"

[Danielle]

He's pretty psuhy in hand, just seeing how much he can get away with. He hasn't had a lot of work on his barn manners I don't think, he wanders in crossties, paws and kicks things sometimes when he gets nervous or excited. But he's learning I'm not letting him get away with very much and will make him move and stop, regardless of what he wants to do.

[ariana]

Great job and good luck with him !

[hjcayus]

Sounds like you are working hard towards having a very well mannered horse. Keep it up. A horse that handles well is a pleasure.

[Danielle]

Thanks! I'm figuring on working at least twice a week in hand until he's better behaved.
For you of you that don't know Poet, he's a basic description of him.

Name: Poet
Age: 7
Birth date: February 14th, 2003
Breed: Rocky Mountain horse
Height: 14.3-15hh

Poet used to be a stud, and still think he is! He's quite spunky and thinks he's boss. He was gelded in November of 2008. He's quite a brat at times and only walks racks and the occasional trot and canter. I purchased him this past Saturday and plan on training him to English and jumping and hopefully a little Western a few years down the road.

[Kayla D]

Poet is sticked at 14.2, and it's on his papers, but he does seem taller because he is all leg!

[hjcayus]

God that horse is awesome. How are you enjoying his intermediate gait, Danielle? Kinda fun, eh?

[Danielle]

March 3rd.

First bad day with Poet :/ He was acting like his usual spunky slef but I was more strict with him today. When I took off his halter to bridle him, he tryed to run off! It took one person holding his head down and then me bridling him but it still wasn't easy. He was moving around and kicking walls and just not being very nice. I got him out to the areana and tightened his girth without much trouble. When I went to mount him, another gelding, Twister, bit him on the bum twice and in response, Poet kicked out at him. I moved out the mounting block and got on him without a problem. Riding today was pretty terrible. He kicked out at someone and when I used the crop the tell him no, he kicked out again. Then he was stopping, and turning and backing up and sidestepping and in general not listening. After a while of fighting I made him walk each direction once (which was harder then you think!), and then got off and left him alone. Getting off his bridle required the same thing but he was a little better. I put him and left him alone.

It's actually pretty comfortable! Took a little while to get used to though.
Kayla, did he ever pace when you guys had him? When I push him to trot, he paces and it's pretty weird. Does anyone know what to do about a horse that racks and paces? How do you get them to trot and canter?
And the bridling issue, anyone have advice for that? I'm not really used to horses that are this bad for it.

[Amyy]

As for helping with the troting. I heard poles do wonders!

Sounds like you are doing great with him though.

And give Twist and Lacey a hug for me!

[Danielle]

I'll definatly try them after he calms down a little more
Thanks and I will

[ridersup]

Re the poles, be careful to get the distances right. Once he is good on the straight, fan them on the turns & circles. It encourages the trot.
Re bridling, leave the halter on underneath until he is better. It is better to be safe. I said before he is bratty, and you did know this about him, so just be consistent and continue to correct him. Kicking out under saddle is VERY bad. It can lead to all sorts of issues. Do you have anyone to longe you on him ? It will help if he's balky, or having a tantrum.

[Danielle]

He's not very good for lunging either, he kicks out sometimes. But it might be a good idea to start training him to it and then riding him on a lunge until he calms down.

[htrimm08]

whenever he kicks out make sure you give him a hard time about it and not let it slide or just wait until he stops. its never good and should be corrected asap before you move on to anything else.