Lead changes and stuff

It sure is easier for me to change one with my hands than my legs- oh, I can change one with my legs but usually I have to poke him too hard and he gets scared. or he misses. I'm going to try using my hands more in conjunction with my feet and see how that works.

Dell Hendricks said something that sticks in my mind- If I have to ask 100 times and he doesnt change I'm just gonna let the fence stop me and try again. Gotta remember that.

When Sally Montana was 3 she used to flop out of lead behind and I got so frustrated trying to keep her from doing that that when she did I'd just take a holt of her and kick with my spur until she took the correct lead again and yeah, at first she thriew her head up in the air a lot especially at first and I never got her to where she wouldnt flop out of lead on a circle to the left if I asked for any speed. But in the end I will have to say that she got really good at changing leads to the left- because when she flopped out I'd bang on her till she flopped back in.

So that kind of goes against the golden rules of flying lead change training

1) Don't Panic
2) dont scare them
3) Or hurt them

they are all of equal importance

another thing I'm figuring out is that you cant be amiguous an any of your training especially so as your horses get futher along in training. You have to take a holt of them and show them exactly what you want- sometimes you really do have to help them a lot so they know what you want- giving them enough rope to hang themselves with doesnt always work- you have to make it clear to them sometimes by not letting them screw up- or they will- so if his head gets out of position in the turn around you may have to put their head where you want it and hold it there for a second or two so he knows exactly what you want before you release it or soften your hands a little- be part of the equation is what Mike Helson told me- it makes sense, or if he raises his head and stiffens his jaw and neck in a roll back- help him stay soft in the roll back and show him what you want- dont let him screw up and then punish him-

Yes in the turn around if he gets out of whack you can put him in a circle and show him the proper position to be in before returning to the turn around and yes you do have to leave them alone so you can see what happens and what they do on a loose rein- but dont let them develop bad habits- release them for a second or two and see what you got or show them what you want then release to see if their picking it up- youve got to go back and forth untill the correct position becomes habit.

John Irish Illistration

I was giving a lessen to a friend who was struggling to get her horse to 'give" into the bridle- get soft and straight with the shoulders in the middle and lifted up. When they do give they drop their head when you release. But my friend couldnt get this to work for her so I showed her how John Irish does it. He bumps, convincingly with his spurs- in the belly, only he rides with a short stirrip. so he bumps more in the sides, the ribs. And he will pull the reins in one hand towards his belly button untill the horse gives, bumping the chin is the exclemation mark! So I demonstrated this method on the mare I was riding. I was very CLEAR to the mare. Bumped hard with the spurs, bumped hard with the hands. Sorry. Thats just the way it was. So my student would understand that you can be firm without being mad. I made myself clear to both the student and the mare I was riding. The mare understood - the light went on- and she loped correctly and stopped hard. So I made my point. To all three of us.

Sit on my Pockets

I'm trying to ride with a shorter stirrup. Its hard for me to keep my but from bouncing up and down. So when I wrap my legs around the horse I tried pulling myself down into the saddle so my butt wouldnt pop on the saddle. So I wouldnt have to rely on to much of a rediculous pelvic thrusting to keep my pockets down. So when I wrap my legs around the horse I pull my butt into the saddle. With my but I push with the horse. With my legs I kick and pull up. Not really a kick but a wave- calves in contact and sometimes spurs, pulling up and back wich brings my butt down and when it comes down I push it forward so I'm not flopping, my legs arnt clinging but wrapping and waving and with all of this I'm driving the horse forward in a rythmic motion. Supposedly anyway. So I did this on my rundowns and it felt like I was driving the horse forward and his head was staying down and I wasnt flopping around up there. I think it helped. I think it was correct. I hope its better horsemanship and helps the horse and helps me be a better rider, trainer, driver and horseman.