Strides for Success

Tag: OTTB

  • Are You Training or Retraining? Why Figuring This Out Changes Everything

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    What is it about the idea of a fresh start that is so appealing? You know,  a clean slate, a blank canvas. A ‘do-over’! As riders, we often make the crucial mistake of approaching all of our work with our horse, or improving our riding this way. And this can be a mistake because we are not asking one important question: ‘Does this require training or retraining?’

    So often, you’re not starting from scratch. What if the very thing you’re working on, either for you or your horse, already has a story written about and associated with it? 

    This is the difference between training and retraining. And understanding which one you’re dealing with can shift everything. This is especially true if you’ve been hitting roadblocks with your progress.

    The Difference Between Training & Retraining

    When you have that blank canvas where you’re either learning or teaching something new, you’re training.  It’s something that hasn’t really been done or learned before and because of that, it’s neutral.  And this is important due to how you both will think and feel about it.

    When you or your horse are learning something for the first time, there are no expectations.  No emotional layers created by what you learned before. There’s simply curiosity and discovery.

    Retraining, on the other hand, is often a completely different experience.  You’re not starting from zero. Things have been ‘learned’ before. And usually things that no longer serve the purpose or situation you’re in right now. This goes for you and your horse.

    So often, when retraining, you’re working with existing patterns, past experiences (good, bad, or confusing), habits (both mental and physical), and emotional responses (which often get missed). 

    Retraining isn’t just about doing it again. It’s about learning to do it differently because things have changed. The expectations for the outcome are now different. And that requires more time, more compassion, and a very different mindset.

    How This Shows Up for Riders & Horses

    So, let’s be honest here. The potential for riders to become confused about whether they have a training or retraining moment on their hands are endless! However, there are a few patterns where I feel there’s a good chance riders might be approaching things from the wrong perspective.

    For riders, it’s often when they are coming back to riding after a break. You ‘know’ how to ride. But suddenly, things don’t feel the same. Movements that were second nature now make you freeze or doubt yourself. That’s not a lack of knowledge. That’s a moment where some retraining is needed.

    Or maybe you or your horse had a different job (or discipline) before. For horses, this is very common when they make the switch from being a racing or working horse to being a pleasure or ‘riding’ horse. Yes, there are definitely ‘new’ things to learn; training.

    But the problem is that so many of their default responses still come from their past life or career! They’re not being ‘naughty’ or ‘otherwise’. They’re just operating based on old patterns and expectations! 

    5 Ways to Know ‘Training or Retraining’?

    Here are a few ways you can determine if you have a training or retraining issue on your hands. Knowing which one you’re dealing with will change how you move forward. So, to identify the difference:

    1. The Repeating Struggle Test

     Ask Yourself: “Have I worked on this before and yet it keeps coming back or showing up again and again?!”

    If your answer is yes, it’s likely a retraining issue that you’re dealing with. You see, you’ve probably “fixed” the thing before. Maybe numerous times! But the pattern or habit wasn’t fully changed or rewritten. Which means that every time there’s pressure applied, such as when things don’t go to plan, the old response resurfaces!  This happens for both horse and rider in lot’s of different ways. Here’s an example of each:-

              • For riders: Leaning forward through transitions, despite being aware of it!
              • For horses: Rushing into canter, even after months of “working on it”.

    2. The “I Should Know This!” Feeling

    Ask Yourself: “Do I feel frustrated because I think I should be further along?”

    This is a mindset retraining ‘red flag’, especially for riders who are coming back after a break. Returning riders.  Remember, there’s so much that you already know, but some of those things are no longer relevant or apply. This is where outdated beliefs or habits can really put a spanner in your riding!  This is the emotional retraining that is essential to go hand in hand with the physical training.

              • Example: You used to ride confidently… But now even mounting makes your chest tighten!

    3. The Emotional Response Test

    Ask Yourself: “Is there tension, resistance, or anxiety around this for either me or my horse?”

    If yes, again, that’s usually retraining. And this is a bit like number 2 in that very often it’s due to an emotional habit or pattern that needs to be changed. Remember, true training will usually feel neutral. This is in contrast to retraining, which can often feel emotionally charged. These usually aren’t “just nerves.” They’re signals of a story that needs rewriting. Here’s an example of each:-

              • For horses: Tail swishing, head tossing, hollowness, or tightening through the body
              • For riders: Tension in your chest before jumping, or shutting down after a mistake

    4. Cue Confusion Test ( for your horse)

    Ask Yourself: “When I ask a question, does my horse feel unsure or hesitant before answering? Or does he offer the wrong answer, but with full confidence?!”

    Just like us, when are horses are learning something ‘new’, they can often feel unsure or uncertain. There is a little hesitation there before they commit to a ‘final answer’! This is usually training-related. It’s new, and they just need to do it more. However, if your horse gives you a different response or answer to the one you were expecting, but does so with confidence,  your job is probably going to be retraining-related! 

              • Example: You ask for shoulder-in, and your horse immediately offers leg-yield, proudly!  That’s not confusion. That’s patterning, and he’s simply doing what was expected of him before.
              • On the flip side, if your horse looks wobbly or hesitant, that’s training. He’s unsure and learning.

    5. The Plateau Effect

    If you feel stuck, even though you’re doing “everything right,” there’s likely a retraining issue hiding underneath. This often means there are gaps in the foundation.  Often, these can be gaps that you’re not responsible for missing or failing to fill. But now, you will need to go back and patch up!

              • For horses: Able to ‘do’ all of the things, but unable to maintain rhythm or relaxation
              • For riders: Jumping 90cm/3′ tracks but not understanding flexion and straightness

    Why Retraining Feels Harder

    Now, the elephant in the room (or in the post!). Retraining is often more challenging for riders. Which is why so many pay other people to do it for them! This is usually because retraining requires more time, consistency, and attention to detail and patterns.

    But I believe that retraining the horse without retraining the rider is doing a disservice to both! 

    Retraining requires you to have patience when old patterns, behaviors, or habits pop back up again. Because they will! It often requires you to have a strategy to unlearn before you can relearn. Or to help your horse do this. And it absolutely requires emotional awareness, for both you and your horse.

    Too many riders are trying to train their way through a retraining situation and end up stuck in the same cycle, over and over again.

    It’s like trying to follow a trail that you realise is going the wrong way. You’ve two choices: veer off into the dense bush in the hope that you eventually find the ‘right’ trail. Or backtrack a little until you find the real fork in the road, and then course correct from there. And look, I’m all for “bundu-bashing”!  But when working with horses, this is just making things so much more difficult for both of you!

    So, What Should You Do Next?

    I can bet that by now, you’ve likely got a gut feeling about whether your situation is training or retraining-related. So, now what?!  Here are 3 ways you can begin taking steps to get on the right path, so to speak:-

    1. Start Filming Your Rides

    Now, this is where I am going to 100% encourage you to invest in a Pivo! It is SUCH a fantastic tool you can use to make more out of each session with your horse. However, you can also simply use your phone on a fence post.  But remember, just videoing yourself isn’t enough. I want you to watch back over your rides as an observer, not a critic!

    Notice what comes up again and again.  Are you seeing frustration? Crookedness? Hesitation? Confusion? These are all clues as to the best way to begin approaching your unique situation. 

    You can get a 10% discount off your Pivo HERE (use coupon DailyStrides), and you can get my free resource to help you take videos that will actually be helpfulHERE

    2. Get Outside Feedback

    So often, riders get stuck because they are using their own mind (that is filled with limiting and downright ‘wrong’ thoughts and beliefs) to train them! If you’re stuck in your own head, nothing beats coaching.  Whether you have in-person lessons with a local instructor or trainer, or you go for virtual coaching…

    Working with a ‘professional’ is the quickest way to get back on the right path. Every quarter, I open limited spaces inside of Restart & Reschool, a 13-week private coaching program where you’ll get:

              • Private virtual lessons (using your Pivo or just your phone)
              • Weekly feedback on your riding and training
              • Video reviews between lessons so you can begin working more confidently alone
              • Personal support from me, Lorna, using a private chat that comes straight to my phone
              • A schedule and strategy that’s unique to you and fits your real life
              • Learn more at https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

    3. Adjust Your Expectations

    Let’s be honest. Very often, this is the piece that’s missing when it comes to retraining. And this is true for both riders and horses. And it is often the reason things get stuck. Figure out if you have a training or retraining issue. If it’s retraining, identify what the past expectation might have been, and then compare that with the current expectations. Then work towards making that happen.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Other Resources on This Topic:-

    Online Training to Help Your Riding

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Are You Ready for Training Your Horse?

    Are You Ready for Training Your Horse?

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    When it comes to being ready for training your horse, you probably fall into one of two categories.  The first one is filled with riders who genuinely believe they can do anything. And that they’ll probably be successful.  The second is the riders who really weigh up every pros and cons before making a decision.  And they often second guess themselves or lack confidence in their abilities.

    This is especially true when it comes to actually working with their horse. And the fear is that they will somehow ‘ruin’ or ‘untrain’ their horse. 

    You Are Already Training Your Horse!

    However, I think that it is important to remember that you are ALWAYS training your horse. Which really makes the question of it you’re ready for it, redundant! Each time you interact together, there is either the acceptance of the behaviour, or correction of the behaviour.  This is training. So, if we assume for a second that you are, right now, already training your horse, what can you begin doing today to help you get better results?

    This is the exact reason why, in riding schools or yards working with more inexperienced riders, the horses and ponies often need to be ‘re-tuned’.  Basically, more experienced and knowledgeable riders will regularly ride that horse and make sure that the basic fundamentals of the training are still in place and present.

    And this might be the very challenge, you’re experiencing now – you don’t have anyone to do the ‘re-tuning’ for you.  It’s just you and your horse – and you’re doing all of the training. 

    And that can seem very daunting.  But it is ‘doable’; if you are willing to follow a few simple guidelines that will help transform you from just a ‘rider’ (or a passenger), into your horse’s trainer. And I believe that your attitude to this is what really decides if you’re ready for training your horse – or not!

    Observation & Understanding

    Have you ever been working with your horse and thought something along the lines of “I wish he could just tell me what he doesn’t understand?” Believe it or not, your horse is really trying to.  It’s just up to you, as the person responsible for training your horse, to notice it. Developing a keen sense of observation and really understanding horse behavior (and more specifically, your horse’s behaviour, will help you get those answers.

    Observe your horse’s responses. Notice those tiny signs of change; in tension levels or relaxation, rhythm, or suppleness initially.  Then adapt your aids and approach.  It’s like learning a secret language between you and your horse. And, newsflash, you can begin working on improving this today :)

    Master Your Aids

    You have a secret power as a rider: your aids! Think of them as your superpowers—your legs, seat, hands, voice, weight, and even your thoughts.  Your aids can be blended in numerous different ways.  And it’s up to you to figure out what combination your horse responds to and understands.

    The great news is that you don’t have to be the world’s greatest rider to improve your aids.  You can start working on this today when on the ground beside your horse or on the lunge.

    Both will positively impact your aids in the saddle as well :) And help your horse to better understand your unique style and communication.  Being ready for training your horse requires you to find out more and go deeper. How can you develop your aids today?

    Timing & Feel

    Once you have developed a fair understanding and coordination of your aids, it’s time to work on both your timing and feel.  This will allow you to unlock a whole new level of communication with your horse.  However, it does require you to be pretty independent with your aids, your balance, position, and posture.

    It’s all about asking for responses at the perfect moment (without having to overanalyze the moment) and being able to tune into your horse’s movements and energy. 

    Problem-Solving Attitude

    Every rider needs problem-solving skills, and you’re no exception. And once you feel that you’re ready for training your horse, you will encounter behavioral puzzles or training roadblocks. Rather than getting flustered, understand that this is completely normal and just needs to be ‘figured out’.

    By paying attention to your horse and really getting to know both him and your abilities, you will soon be able to uncover the key issues holding you back. 

    And the more you understand basic training, the more you will develop the ability to apply some different, and maybe even creative solutions to keep your horse training moving forward.  This can also be a great opportunity to have a community of online or in-person equestrians, some of who will hopefully be more experienced than you, to turn to for help.

    Learn, Learn, Learn

    Keep growing your skills as a rider and a horse trainer.  Horse riding is never a ‘done’ thing.  In fact, as a rider and trainer, the learning never ends. Stay curious! Try out new training techniques, attend clinics or workshops, and be open to different approaches.

    The more tools you have in your riding toolbox, the more approaches you can take when working with your horse, and positively training your horse alone. 

    Ready for Training Your Horse

    So, after hearing all of this information, I’m pretty sure that you’ll agree that while training your horse alone might not be ‘easy’… It is definitely doable.  Especially if you are consistent, patient, and open to learning new things about yourself and your horse.

    And the great news is that once you get started, it actually becomes less daunting over time. And once you get a few successes under your belt, your confidence in your own training abilities will grow – and this will have a positive effect on everything else. Including your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More on This Topic

    Training For Riders:-

  • Improving Working Contact While Out Hacking

    Improving Working Contact While Out Hacking

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    I am all for intentional, relaxing hacks with your horse. And I also think that it’s worth remembering that not all hacks have to be for ‘doing nothing’. In fact, there are some things that may actually happen more easily when out of the arena. Working contact is, for some riders and horses, one of those things.

    We are always working towards soft, intuitive, and responsive contact when we ride. Contact that can shift and adapt depending on what the specific focus is.

    Developing that sort of contact takes time, diligence, consistency, and a foundational understanding of what true contact is and how it works… Today, I want to give you a few key points that you can put into action next time you’re riding on the trail.

    CLICK HERE to have a PDF of this article delivered straight to your inbox to print off or save and read later

    How Independent Are You Really?

    After speaking with thousands of riders for 20+ years now, there are a few key points that everyone wants to achieve. Contact (or ‘on the bit’) is one. Closely followed by ‘more feel’. Hacking or riding out on the trail is a great way to really begin assessing your abilities regarding both of these topics.

    Another way of describing ‘more feel’ is to say that you are truly independent in your aids. You intuitively ‘feel’ what is the best approach at that moment.

    I think that while your aids don’t have to be 100% independent to achieve a good working contact, you do need to at least be aware of what’s not! So this is where I suggest starting. Notice what happens when you move different parts of your body. So, let’s say you apply your left leg. Notice the effect it has over your right shoulder. Or your left hand…

    Often the obvious lack of independence will happen on the same side of your body (left leg & left hand). The more subtle dependence happens across your diagonals (left seat & right shoulder).

    Tip 1 – Focus on Testing Your Aids in All 3 Gaits

    Test your aids first in the walk, where things are slow enough to discover and truly experience each movement. From there, I have often seen how the canter is often an easier gait to diagnose dependency issues than the trot! I think the natural rhythm of the trot is the cause of this… However, try all three gaits and see what happens for you.

    Half Halt While out Hacking

    I am a firm believer that the half-halt should be used everywhere when it comes to working with horses. On the ground, on the lunge, in the arena, and on the trail! I also feel that, when you begin truly tapping into this fantastic aid, you can only begin to improve your overall communication with your horse.

    When you combine your independent aids with a well-timed, well-balanced half-halt; you can truly begin to tap into the energy available to you while out hacking with your horse.

    Timing is essential. You really want to ask when your horse is in a position to answer. So, ideally, when his hind leg is on the ground. It’s like saying ‘stall the ball a second’ or ‘wait here a second’. If you do this at the point of the stride when the front feet are ‘touching down’ you will cause your horse to become heavy in front! Not what we are aiming for!

    Your aids will only work as well as you can time them to your horse’s movements. Your weight will only ask your horse to wait if you ask at the right time…

    Tip 2 – Focus on the Timing of Your Aids for the Half Halt

    Therefore, step two of improving your working contact while out hacking is to work on first timing your half-halt. From there, refine your half-halt. I have a free audio training on the HALF HALT you can listen to next time you ride to work on improving this.

    Engaging Your Horses Back (Becoming Lighter)

    So, now that you have created a pretty good quality channel for the energy and you have worked on fine-tuning how you can influence this energy, we can begin truly harnessing it. Have you ever noticed how when you ‘engage your core’ you seem to grow an inch or two? Your horse does a similar thing – through his back. By engaging his core, he ‘lifts’ his back.

    Unfortunately for many horses, as they try to ‘lift’ their back, there is a rider’s bum in the way – blocking everything!

    If you want your horse to ‘lighten’, you too must lighten! And this has nothing to do with how much you weigh. This has everything to do with how you engage, use, and carry your own body. Let’s go back to the trot for a moment… So many riders rely on the natural rhythm of the trot (which, let’s face it, will happen regardless of what you do if you can continue to trot) to lift them ‘up and down’.

    Tip 3 – Focus on Your Independence in the  Rising Trot

    My third suggestion for you to work on next time you’re riding is to focus on just how independent you are in your rising trot. Are you posting yourself? Or are you relying on your horse to ‘bump’ you up and down? By spending time on this, while coupling the previous two points, you can truly begin to work with the energy – rather than against it.

    Gathering Energy into a ‘Working Contact’

    Once you are truly working with your horse (so not behind, in front of, against, or just slacking) working contact is within reach. Remember, true contact is an agreement. It is the point of the conversation between horse and rider where everyone agrees to take responsibility for their own roles going forward.

    This means that you are not ‘controlling everything’ and this can be a significant challenge for many riders to overcome (I was one of those!).

    It requires a certain amount of trust, partnership, and faith to really go into a ‘working’ relationship with anyone. And all of our most intimate relationships are just that – I am not talking about employment here, although the same generally applies.

    The same trust, partnership, and faith that you have in the people you hold most dear is what’s required of you to have in your horse in order to achieve ‘working contact’.

    Why Contact Won’t Work…

    Now, if your horse is not developed enough to truly engage in his responsibilities, contact is not going to work! So if he cannot yet work in rhythm, or in relative relaxation, or he’s not supple enough… Contact is not going to work! You might experience glimpses of it. However, even this is a little false as confidence and emotional development won’t be present.

    There is a reason contact appears where it appears on the training scale; trying to achieve it without first having developed the lower principles will usually result in horse and rider hitting a really long, unending plateau!

    Your horse must be developed physically, mentally, and emotionally in order to achieve true contact with you when riding. He needs to be able to ‘lighten the front end a little’.

    Couple this with mentally understanding contact as being a little like ‘holding someone’s hand’. No one is pulling, no one is slacking; it is both parties agreeing to move together while holding hands.

    And, finally, the equally important emotional development. Your horse has to first believe that he can actually do this. He has to have confidence in himself. And he also has to have confidence in you, the rider. I see it a little like “Okay, I’m giving you my mouth… I trust you to respect it”.

    If you are having challenges with contact, please go and have a look at the posts linked below this one. I’m pretty sure something will resonate or help. Alternatively, ask in one of the groups (linked below), or send me an email lorna [at] strides for success [dot] com – obviously with no spaces in between😉

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    More on This Topic

    More Training & Support

  • 4 Things You MUST Re-Train with Your Retired Racehorse OTTB

    4 Things You MUST Re-Train with Your Retired Racehorse OTTB

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    Ex-racehorse, a retired racehorse, OTTB; so many different names for a thoroughbred that has now begun their second (or third) career.  They are one of the most versatile breeds and, sadly, often one of the most misunderstood.

    I believe that there are 4 basic principles that you must work with your retired racehorse on, in order to set a foundation for everything else that follows.

    Being intentional about covering these 4 topics with your horse, regardless of how long they have left the track, will allow you to set your horse up for a wonderful 2nd or 3rd career.

    Expectations Have Changed

    It is easy to forget that, before coming to you, your OTTB has had many different expectations placed on him or her.  A lot of their current behavior is a result of this early and consistent conditioning they received while in training on the track.

    One of the greatest responsibilities we have when working with a retired racehorse is to help them understand that what’s now expected of them has changed. 

    It is also worth remembering that these changes are across the board.  Not just the whole ‘we no longer expect you to get from A to B as quickly as possible and before anyone else’ :)  You must find a way to explain what is acceptable behavior on the ground, in the stable, being led, and, of course, being ridden. And all of the other bits and pieces in between.

    Finding ways to explain the new ‘rules’ to your retired racehorse can be a challenge, especially when he does not understand your aids or ways of doing things. It requires time, consistency, and patience 

     1. Boundaries

    Boundaries are important in all successful and long-term relationships.  So it makes sense that they will also play a large part in your partnership with your retired racehorse. What is allowed, what is desired. And what is most certainly not!

    Before you begin explaining boundaries to your OTTB, I strongly suggest becoming clear with what you want (and, therefore, what you don’t want) first. 

    Is it acceptable for you if your horse walks around in circles while you are grooming and tacking up?  And what about mounting up? For many ex-racehorses, this would have been very common behavior while in training.  We pleasure riders, however, often don’t enjoy circling round and round!

    How about mounting up? Is it okay if your horse continues to walk while you mount up? Again, this is usually acceptable at the track – but not if you use a mounting block. 

     2. Aids

    The second big ‘re-training’ conversation you will definitely want to have with your retired racehorse is about aids.  His understanding of aids while at the racetrack will most likely be quite different to being a ‘riding horse’.

    I find it is key to pay particular attention to legs, seat, and weight aids when you are re-training your OTTB. The half-halt won’t work until he understands what you are saying and what you want him to do.

    So many riders complain that their retired racehorse ‘won’t listen’, or ‘runs away’ from their aids.  Is it possible that he simply does not understand what is being said?

    I find lunging to be invaluable when it comes to re-defining aids and understanding with OTTBs.  Couple this with very intentional use of the voice aids initially, and soon your horse will being to understand what it is that you want.

     3. Contact

    While contact is related to the above topic of your aids, it is important to realize that contact is also a principal in training. And to understand that your OTTB will probably have had a very different understand of contact when compared with yours.

    If the concept of contact has not been retrained or re-schooled with a retired racehorse, there tends to be a tendency towards heaviness and pulling.  Usually every time the rider picks up the contact. 

    Obviously, this is not what we want.  Who wants to be hauled on each time you try to start the conversation with your horse?! And yet, so many riders fail to devote the necessary focus and time on this with their OTTB.

    If you want to develop your retired racehorse correctly, the topic of contact will have to be redefined.  This is where correct retraining is essential.

    4. Leaving the Herd

    This is the one that many riders forget about when working with their thoroughbred in their new career.  And it is the one that can have pretty startling consequences if not visited early in his retraining! So many riders have a negative perception of retired racehorses due to this not being dealt with correctly.

    For most of his life, up to this point, your thoroughbred will have had ‘stay with the herd’ reinforced, both intentionally and not. Both at the stables and on the track… Stay with the herd.

    So it makes sense that if he finds himself either being ‘left behind’ while on the trail with his new pleasure rider, he will do all in his power to catch up!  The same applies if he is asked to leave the herd to go into a different arena (maybe for a round of jumping, or a dressage test!).

    In order to retrain your horse to leave the herd, he must become happy to be with you.  This is where trust becomes so important. Are you safe to stay with?

    When Pressure is Applied

    The final thing I want to mention is that all of the above 4 topics can ‘seem’ to have been dealt with.  It can look like your horse has been retrained when the circumstances are ideal.  However, this may not be the case.

    True retraining has occurred if your horse can maintain the ‘new’ way of doing things when the situation is not going to plan.  When either one of you, or both of you, feels under pressure.

    If your horse can maintain the ‘new’ ways of doing things, then, yes, you have successfully retrained him.  However, if you are grooming your horse in the stable, only for him to see the other horses leave the stables already – and then proceed to walk anxious circles around you.  Well, there’s still work to do :)

    Re-training your retired racehorse takes time, consistency, patience, compassion, and focus.

    And, it is one of the most rewarding relationships you can be gifted with as a rider.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Extra Help for Riders

  • Retraining Your Horse Versus Training Your Horse

    Retraining Your Horse Versus Training Your Horse

    You have a unique language as a rider. A unique way that you do things when you are with your horse, both on the ground and in the saddle. In fact, every single other rider in the world also has their own unique language. Which is great; special snowflakes and all that.

    The trouble starts when your horse learns someone’s unique language; someone other than you…

    Once a horse has learned to do something or to associate a specific action with a specific response, it requires consistent diligent attention from the rider to retrain the horse. Retrain the horse to their way of doing things. And this is important. Failing to retrain your horse will result in mixed results, frustration, and eventual resentment for both horse and rider.

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    Retraining versus training your horse

    You have your own unique way of doing things. It is not your horse’s fault when he does not understand your unique way. It is your responsibility to teach him how to understand your unique way.

    Different Languages

    Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who does not speak your language? No comprehension at all of what you are saying. If you have, you will know that you can, on some level, get the basics across. Gestures, grunts, wild charade movements, and the odd shared word or two. It’s not perfect, but if it is something basic, you can find ways to get your point across.

    One of the easiest ways to imagine this is to think about your horse speaking a different language to you. You have the language that you are fluent in. And he has his, which is very different from yours.

    And the challenge with different languages that neither person understands the other one comes down to one simple fact. With enormous effort, you might just be able to get the basics understood, but that is as far as you can go. It is simply impossible to get more detailed aspects or nuanced points communicated in any sort of fluid or timely way.

    Failing to retrain your horse to your language and ways will result in you both remaining stuck on the basics for a very long time; sometimes forever.

    1 . Identify Your Rules for Retraining

    I know, it sounds so strict! However, whether you realize it or not, you have rules when it comes to working with and begin with your horse. I can bet him not standing on your toes is one of them! However, unfortunately, many riders don’t clearly define their rules. In fact, they only really begin to think about rules when someone (or some horse) pushes up against them or breaks them!

    Every single frustration you have with your horse is because your horse is breaking a rule you have created in your head. EVERY SINGLE FRUSTRATION.

    When you become clear on what you want and what’s allowed, you can begin thinking about how you can clearly communicate this to your horse. Remember, your horse has a different set of rules that, up to this point, he has been trained to adhere to. That list (if you can imagine them as a list) will NOT be the same as your list!

    Knowing what you want is key to then begin retraining your horse to respond to your cues in order to make it happen.

    2 . Use What Your Horse Already Knows

    A horse is a horse, is a horse, is a horse… Meaning that most disciplines, training, and methods will have some similar touchpoints which you can use to really begin communicating with your horse. As soon as your horse has been trained by someone to do something, basic aids have been used. You can use this to your advantage when retraining your horse.

    Use what he already knows to reframe how he responds to your unique aids

    Most horses are accustomed to pressure (and, maybe even release). Meaning when you apply pressure, he must respond. I would suggest supporting pressure with your voice aid. This is something you can begin working on from Day 1. On the ground or in the saddle.

    Use your basic aids, including your voice, to reward or correct everything you ask of your horse

    3 . Begin Training Your Horse

    Once you have the basics established with regards to your unique language, you can begin turning your attention to training. This is introducing new questions that your horse has never been asked before. This is where you want to take the conversation with your horse.

    Training is refining the basics of your unique language so that both you and your horse can begin developing together

    In order for you to move from re-training to training, your horse must become fluent in your basics. If not, you will soon see that while you might be able to duct tape a few things together initially, as soon as pressure is applied things soon begin falling apart.

    Which is why investing time correctly retraining your horse to your ways is essential if you want a long term, happy and fun partnership

    And remember, as you work on training your horse, there will be times when something shows up and needs retraining, either for the first time, again or further. It is a process that is ongoing with all horses because your skills should be improving and upgrading over time as well.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources on This Topic:-

  • Where is the Beginning with Your OTTB / Ex-Racehorse?

    Where is the Beginning with Your OTTB / Ex-Racehorse?

    Where is the Beginning with Your OTTB or Ex-Racehorse

    Where should I start? Have you ever found yourself wondering about this with your horse? The beginning is the obvious answer. However, sometimes the beginning is not as simple to pin-point. This is especially true with it comes to your ex-racehorse or OTTB.

    Your retired racehorses beginning when he gets to you is not the same as the beginning with other horses. They have already ‘begun’. However, now we are asking them to perform a ‘re-do’. To re-start. At a new beginning…

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1112-Where-is-the-Beginning-with-Your-OTTB-ex-racehorse.mp3″ title=”Finding the Beginning with Your OTTB or Ex-Racehorse” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Where is the ‘beginning’ when it comes to working with an OTTB or ex-racehorse? Here’s my thoughts on it…” hashtag=”equestrian #horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Thoroughbreds can come to us at so many different points in their careers and lives. They may just be fresh off the track. He might be off a year or two, but was left to his own devices in a field. Possibly he has been worked and ridden by someone else since leaving the track.

    Or, your beginning might just be today. You have been working with your ex-racehorse for a while now, and running up against ‘road-blocks’. You want to find a new beginning…

    Groundwork & Your Ex-Racehorse

    I honestly believe that we can start any conversation with our horses, from scratch, on the ground. It is a place where we can be a little more observant as to what is happening and how we are being understood.

    There are so many things you can work on from the perspective of being on the ground, that will then compliment your efforts in the saddle.

    Groundwork and lunging will support what is going on in the saddle. This is regardless of whether or not your horse is backed and riding. In order for it to be effective, it must be consistent. Consistent with regards to your expectations, your aids and actually ‘doing the work’.

    Your Voice as a ‘Crossover’ Aid

    While working on the ground with your horse, you can begin to strengthen your voice aids with your horse. Your voice has the ability to help your horse understand things. It is also a great aid to help settle and instil confidence in your horse as well.

    When it comes to your voice, it is not what you say, but how you say it that makes the impact.

    Be mindful of your tone and the ‘feeling’ you are putting behind your words. By using your voice to back up your driving aids on the lunge, you can then help your ex-racehorse to better understand those same aids in the saddle.

    The same applies with slowing down, steadying and relaxing. Your voice is a powerful aid that you can use to really help your horse to better understand your other aids from the saddle.

    Re-Shaping the ‘Contact Conversation’

    Lunging is also an excellent way to begin re-training the concept of contact with your OTTB or retired racehorse. So many riders or ex-racehorses really struggle with this. Complaints of arms feeling like they are a couple of inches longer after each ride are common!

    It is important to remember that in his previous career, contact was a signal to ‘push harder’.

    Your OTTB has learned to ‘take a pull’ where the contact is concerned – and your job is to change this approach for him. However, pulling against the pull is counter productive! It only reinforces what he has already learned.

    Allowing Contact to be Neutral

    I think that lunging your horse with a bit in his mouth can help to shift how he thinks and feels about the bit. Lunging using a basic bridle, minus the reins and even the noseband, can help this to happen. I also feel that the lunge rope must not initially be attached to the bit. The bit must just ‘be’ there; rather than have any job or meaning.

    All horses are different, however you will find that your horse will soon begin to stop ‘fighting’ the bit. Once your horse has accepted the bit as ‘neutral’, you can begin to add contact.

    Contact on the lunge can begin as side reins. Good quality side reins have a little ‘stretch’ in them – they soften. Yet, they are also very consistent, which is what you want, especially with an ex-racehorse.

    As a rider, we want to create energy and then gather it in the contact. You can do this same thing from the ground, on the lunge.

    Using Lunging with Your Riding

    All horses are different; therefore different approaches are often needed. However, generally I don’t believe that you only have to lunge your horse when retraining or re-schooling. The lunging is there to compliment and support your riding.

    The simple truth is that for most riders, the possibility that their aids are less than crystal clear in the saddle is very high.

    Investing a little time lunging each week will help you to continue training your ex-racehorse, even if your aids could do with a little ‘fine-tuning’! Lunging also allows your horse the space to figure things out on his own.

    Balance is a key word when working with horses, and working on the lunge allows him to learn this himself. Without the hinderance of a rider being on board…!

    So, Where is the Beginning?

    It is where ever you want it to be. It is today. Wherever you are right now on your journey with your retired racehorse, groundwork and lunging can only help and benefit you both.

    Of course, the work itself has to be correct and right. Personally I don’t believe that ‘loose lunging’ has much benefit for horse or rider. When I say lunging, I mean really learning how to lunge your horse correctly.

    Take the time, learn how to work with your horse on the ground and it will really begin to move the conversation forwards for you both.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Other resources, episodes and trainings to help you:-