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Cross Country HelpExpand / Collapse
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Posted 9/28/2008 5:01:21 PM


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Shiloh gets antsy and excited and fast when out doing cross country. Does anyone have any ideas to help settle him down???

-Shiloh, I will never forget you. I loved you more than any other horse and you taught me more than any other horse. I hope you are good for your new owner in Spring. <3 -

Post #860612
Posted 9/28/2008 5:50:47 PM


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Bump, please.

-Shiloh, I will never forget you. I loved you more than any other horse and you taught me more than any other horse. I hope you are good for your new owner in Spring. <3 -

Post #860797
Posted 9/28/2008 9:54:39 PM


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My horse does the same thing. Really, you need to ride him more in the field but really get him to lsiten to you by seating deep in the saddle and half halting when he gets excited and goes fast. Also riding him out there more should help to calm him down.

Good luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                               ~Morgan

                 Like A Trick 

    Owned & Loved by ME

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

Post #861421
Posted 9/29/2008 8:22:02 AM


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~EventSTA~ (9/28/2008)
My horse does the same thing. Really, you need to ride him more in the field but really get him to lsiten to you by seating deep in the saddle and half halting when he gets excited and goes fast. Also riding him out there more should help to calm him down.

Good luck.

Yup.

Cinnamon gets really excited and hyper when doing cross country. Just ride them out in feilds more often, and anytime you feel them speeding up faster then you want give a couple half halts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tracie~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE: My subscription ran out and I didn't renew it so if I suddenly disappear that would be why.

Post #861510
Posted 9/29/2008 9:02:26 AM


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Spend a little more time then you usually do and get him settled down. Sit down in your seat asnd he will feel it and start to relax. Dallas gets extremely excited at shows too.

Proud owner of a registered, chestnut Quarter Horse 

Post #861540
Posted 9/29/2008 9:08:15 AM


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I left out schooling. I meant spend a little extra time schooling.

Proud owner of a registered, chestnut Quarter Horse 

Post #861545
Posted 9/29/2008 11:56:25 AM


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Thanks guys! Those are really good ideas. I will be sure to try them with any horse during cross country!

-Shiloh, I will never forget you. I loved you more than any other horse and you taught me more than any other horse. I hope you are good for your new owner in Spring. <3 -

Post #861700
Posted 9/30/2008 6:46:45 PM


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First and foremost you need to get your horse accustomed to the open environment alone...because you don't run XC with your buddies!! That is one of the biggest challenges XC presents to horses.
I recommend riding in a field everyday for a month or two and then a least a few times a week. Flatwork in the open is great for the mind and lateral work on hills has become a big trend. Also, you can do hill work, sets, and general conditioning and hacking. And of course jumping, even if it just stadium fences, it important!

When you're first working your horse in a new environment, I would recommend letting him scope out the situation on a longer rein (still have contact, but let him look at stuff). Do large ring figures, especially in spooky areas or around spooky objects. Move up to the trot and canter, and incorporate lots of big ring figures and lots of transitions. Once your horse is more comfortable with the transitions between the gaits try some transitions within the gaits, as in move up the canter and balance it back. Do lateral work or anything to keep his mind on the job. The main idea is to keep it simple at first and then gradually build up the difficulty, just like you would do in your average warmup!
As far as aids to calm nervousness, a lot of people talk or sing to their horses to keep them relaxed and there is nothing wrong with a stroke on the neck here and there to reassure them. Remember you need to ride positively because if you're nervous, you can easily make your horse even more nervous!
I recommend putting a little more foot in your stirrup while out in the open/going xc like the old-school foxhunters did (it's called putting your foot "home"). This gives you a more secure leg. You should practice riding in a bridge (I prefer a double bridge) so you have his neck to support you, but you still need to have the majority of your weight in your heels. Throw in some half halts here and there, but make them deliberate and far apart so your horse doesn't come dead to them. So if in the canter or hand gallop you want to open up your hip angle, sit down (but not back) into the saddle, stretch your spine upwards and close your hand while squeezing through your thigh. If you horse is stronger and doesn't respond to the half halt, you can try the pulley or even the see-saw rein.

Good luck! :)

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing."

Post #863526
Posted 9/30/2008 7:11:22 PM