Hmm, I appear to be taking over the thread again.
Isn't anyone else going to contribute??
whitney said:
hobbyhorse:
condense please...........................
What would your actual commands consist of.
My instructors, (I was riding an experienced western pleasure mare and converting her to a dressage horse) direction was this.....................
1. Ask nicely (close leg) wait a few seconds if nothing
2. Ask FIRMLY (close leg and heel) wait a few seconds if nothing
3. ATTACK (use everything at your disposal)
Do it this way EVERYTIME, attack was only necessary twice with my mare.
I kinda think this is like parents you hear in the mall: Johnny come here, Johnny come here, oh Johnny...... kid is 1/2 way down the mall and not listening at all. However my instructor would be Johnny come here, Johnny come here NOW, Parent grabs Johnny and tethers Johnny to them.
Heh, good example with Johnny. Mine would be (pleasant voice): "Johnny, come here please." (Sterner voice): "Johnny, I asked you to come here; come here now or you're going to lose Privilege A." (Wrath of God Voice): "Johnny, that's it, you've lost Privilege A. Now come here before I do {name something realistic but drastic}!"
Okay, so short sequence if I ask a horse for the trot and they do it but lose impulsion and start dwaddling shortly afterwards:
-Collect reins, say horse's name, ask horse to trot.
-Praise horse for trotting off promptly.
-Maintain contact on the reins.
-Horse starts to die off. Half halt, say "Trot on" and flick lightly with whip. (Horse has already been asked, this is second reminder.)
-If horse springs forward or otherwise resumes pace, praise. If he doesn't listen, get Voice of Iron, repeat name and say "TROT ON!" After half moment to respond, get after horse briskly with whip using the lash, not stock.
I've never had that not work for at least a moment (allowing you to praise and deescalate) but if somehow it didn't, I'd probably halt the horse and back him up a bit then immediately put him back to a trot. THIS DOES NOT APPLY IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THE HORSE IS SORE OR CONFUSED!! The horse must know what his job is and be physically able to do it. The absolute right thing to do in that case is get out of the cart and take the horse back to basics on the longe and long lines.
Back to the sequence:
-Once horse has responded to second correction and trotted out for a few more strides without stopping I will ask him for a walk and praise.
-Stop there and go on to something else if it's clear he's frustrated or you're in any danger of losing your temper.
-If horse is only green and seems to be getting the idea, ask him for another trot in a few minutes and praise liberally if he starts right out and goes strongly past the point he first slowed. Don't ask him/her to keep going but instead ask them to walk before it goes south. Praise and move on to something else for awhile.
This procedure eventually becomes how you ask for a lengthened trot instead of a working trot and the same aids and sequence apply to asking for a more forward walk as well. Ask-Tell-Consequence.
Leia