Groundwork with Pebbles

[pebblesgirl]

Hi Everyone,

I have been working with Pebbles recently with a lot of groundwork before i get back on and start riding-one to start her fittening up (her work has been sporadic as i had a baby etc) and two to remind her that she needs to have manners. I have been using a dually halter which is fab,so far i have managed to get her to ground tie and stand for about three minutes without shiftin,and to come in off of the end of a lunge line when i say and not before. Her leadign has always been really good,she doesnt barge or anything but when i stop she generally carries on lol so i sorted that out too. Takes a few reminders then after a couple of 'backing ups' she gets it.
Anyway.....today i tacked her up on the pretence that while walking out in hand if i decided to pop on for five minutes i could (have a list of baby steps to help get my confidence up!!). Well, i started walking her out in bridle and saddle, and she was like a different pony. Although she started walking really nicely after about two minutes she was just walking past me (normally she slows when i do,stops when i do and speeds up when i do),totally ignoring me,would only back up with quite a lot of pressure on the bit (i dont yank) which is something i dont want to do.I circled her and did the usual things like backing up etc but she was like a different horse. She has had tack on etc recently so it cant be that,she was last ridden on xmas eve for a very short plod up the road and back.

So basically after all this waffling,i guess what i am asking is-why is it that her manners are fab in a dually but i put her bridle and bit on and she ignores me? She doesnt fuss with her bit at all (myler comfort snaffle),in fact very quiet with her mouth. Am i missing something obvious,has just had back done by chiro and teeth were done in November. I guess it feels worse for me because i am starting to think that if she wont listen to me on the ground,what chance have i got on her back (big loss of confidence which there was a whole thread about!!). I know i could ride her in a dually,which i am fine with,but i would eventually like ot actually get her working in self carriage and do some basic dressage!
Answers on a postcard please!!

Ta

Ang
xx

[Louise C]

Hi Ang:-)

Could you try putting Dually and bridle on - I did that when I was transferring Flynn from bitted to bitless? That way you can have the security of both and changing your way of thinking might be all it takes:-) Then you both know the Dually (which she behaves in) is on - but you can also experiment with getting the signals lighter with the bit.

Here's to a confident new year:-)

[pebblesgirl]

Sounds like a good plan Louise,will give it a go!!

Happy new year everyone!!

[Anne_Oxfordshire]

When you were leading her round in the dually and she was being good, were you in the field or out on the roads? And what about when you were leading her in the bridle? Could be that if you normally lead her round the field and this time you led her out she was just a bit more excited? Or maybe she just associates her tack with being ridden and so was a bit more excited for that reason? Maybe try it a few more times and see if she quietens down with the tack on and starts to listen to you again.

Good luck and happy new year!

[pebblesgirl]

HI Anne,

I use the dually in the field and out on the lanes etc,i took her exactly the same route the day before with just the dually on. You are right though,she was probably just excited about having her tack on,will try walking her out in hand a few more times with tack on before i attempt to jump on!! Thanks

[calamity]

Anne is probably right. You are just having a communication blip. Have you tried using the bridle instead of the dually for simple groundwork exercises? Do you ever saddle her for groundwork exercises? She needs to decide that the rules are the same whether she is in a doually or not. She will work it out in about three tries if you are consistent. That's what I have found. I can now expect the same respect in a rope halter or bridle, I get with the dually. I do go back to the dually for a session at intervals to reinforce the fine tuning or when we have had a holiday.

My mare can get uppity or slightly lose the plot when we are out and about going for walks. ( She is growing barefoot toes.) Getting her with me again is, I think, about using the familiar tone of voice I would use at home and the feel she gets through the lead rein. She is not young and has had other experiences so it took a while for her to listen but we have spent a serious amount of time working on this in a little paddock and it has paid off. I sometimes saddle and bridle her for groundwork and sometimes don't and sometimes I ride her after a short groundwork session. She is the same now, whatever my plan. Hope you can take the time it takes to be sure you are both safe. It makes a difference having a baby doesn't it? Congratulations by the way.

[Susan]

Hi Pebbles girl!
I also think the same lines of use the dually with the bridle so she associates the tack in the same mind-frame as the dually. Those baby steps for her the same as for you.

Its like when one goes out and you only puts on travel boots then and the horse thinks excitement I have my boots on, it means we are going somewhere..but if you put them on when you arnt going out even to stand outside the stable or walk around the yard., then take them off the association changes.

Horses like dogs like children and us, we all read behavior association. You get the lead out, to the dog it means going for a walk.
Dually on means training and what is expected, Bridle and saddle means something else..Oh we might be going for a ride.. I'm excited..I bet your little girl will be similar..coat on means going out.

Isn't it amazing just what horses teach us though, in how to teach them.
Let us all know how this works out..
by the way HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[pebblesgirl]

Thanks Calamity and Susan....i think you all have very valid points so thanks very much. I should tack her up for groundwork too,then she wont see it as different1 Its so hard when you lose your confidence,every little thing becomes a big issue.
Ah well,onwards and upwards,heres to a more confident 2007 for me!!
And Susan,i left an xmas card for you with June,hope you got it??

[Susan]

Thanks Pebbles girl I didnt get over to Junes but will see it. I dont do cards myself so dont think I am meany I choose to put money to our local hospice and hubby and I decided to do that a few years ago.
Lovely to be thought of though, thanks.

Yes confidence is not as easy to get over sometimes but if we aim at small baby steps as you mentioned it can grow..you wait you will look back and see soon how far you have grown ..

[june]

It is hard to use a bridle like you do a Dually as you can't put as much pressure on a bridle if you need to for fear of hurting the horse's mouth. I'd go for putting the Dually on as well as the bridle and using that if you haven't got control with the bridle. And make sure your body language stays the same when using both. You really want her to respond to your body language rather than the pressure of the Dually so be as consistent as you can with that and be really big if she goes to barge past you so it isn't just the Dually you are relying on.