This message is from: "Werner, Kristine" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hello, Linda - Kai used to crowd in the beginning, too - and step on my feet and go too fast etc. etc.. He still crowds my husband when they go for a walk. I am not sure why - someone once told me that Fjords are "in your face"-type animals and like it real cozy. But I am not sure about that. I just know that pushing doesn`t fly with me. For that reason I always have him (Kai, not my husband) on a "chain" lead; the chain part is perhaps 10 inches long and I weave it in and out of the halter. This helps to keep him in line and if he forces me to jerk on it I will and this is uncomfortable for him. In the beginning he was so unruly that I had to walk him around with his bridle and bit on him. Nowadays it is a pleasure to go for walks - I enjoy it almost as much as riding. But I refuse to dispense with the chain lead. Apart from the chain lead I always carry a CROP. This is paramount - Kai has respect to the nth degree for the whip and I use this to my advantage, which is also his advantage, in the long run. When Kai is too quick, I tap him lightly on the breast, murmur "shhhh, slower" and he responds. He knows what it`s all about, but he just running a spot check, testing, to see whether or not I am paying attention. He wants to obey, but he has to make sure first that its worth it - funny, just exactly like children - they know when you are bluffing. Take a crop along with you, Linda, and point the way out to your gelding. When he gets too close, tap him on the side (if you push, he will simply "lean" into your shove) with the whip - then you can point out to the front and side to show him where you want him to walk. Speak to him as you do this - horses understand language after a time. You might also try leading him on both sides. You may notice that he reacts differently - is quicker, slower, does crowd etc... Kai leads better when I am right of him than left. I have read that it is a good idea to carry out every sort of procedure both from the left and from the right - including mounting, leading and so forth - to keep the horses from becoming stiff and too one-sided. It is also good for improving the horses awareness - the left-sided experience can differ greatly a repetition of the same on the right. Good luck on the lunge line ! Regards, Kristine > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Mittwoch, 7. Oktober 1998 13:58 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Fjord Training > > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Thank you, Nancy, for your helpful comments and suggestions regarding > training. Also appreciate the recommendation on the video - Linda > from > Minnesota > > I am interested in your comment about "teaching your Fjords to stay > out of > your space". Could you elaborate on what you actually do to reinforce > this? > When I lead my l0 yr. old gelding he will sometimes crowd me - if I > push on > him with my arm or elbow it seems to have little effect - I have been > turning > him around whenever he does this and it seems to help a little - maybe > you > have a better suggestion. > > Also, any suggestions for starting this l0 year old in round pen > training (he > has not been in one to my knowlegde and has never been on a > lunge-line) - is > not real crazy about going in circles - prefers straight ahead! > Again, > thanks!!!
