I am going to address thoughts on conditioning your horse for what you have planned for the summer!
If your horse does not have an opportunity to be on pasture regularly, it is even more important to use the available together time bonding - by free lunging, trail riding or simply finding somewhere to graze him. A horse’s biggest comfort is to exist contentedly with the herd. If your horse spends long periods in a stall or paddock and is not allowed to be with other horses, this is your chance to bond with him because you are all the herd he has!
When you're ready to begin free lunging, don't be intimidated by what I call “the Ya-yahs”.
We all have seen the “Ya-yahs” - your horse struts out defiantly - looking extra tall and almost breathing fire, with eyes that are able to look everywhere at once! Use this to your advantage! Don’t strap him down with side reins, he needs some freedom! Make sure your stirrups are properly secured and tighten your girth. Put the reins over your horse’s head and twist them underneath his neck a couple times, then slide the throat latch strap through the center twist and re-attach to the bridle. (If you are not sure how to secure reins, ask a knowledgeable person to help you.) I've included a photo that also demonstrates how to attach a lunge line.
Make sure the horse is facing you and then turn him loose. Let the horse play and kick his heels up! Why not enjoy your horse’s power and natural beauty? Isn’t that what got us hooked on horses in the first place? Let them express themselves and complain a little about going to work. By allowing this freedom you save wear and tear on your body and it settles the horse in. I often shake a little plastic bottle with rocks in it to get them to play. By using the bottle it gets the horse over noise sensitivity and motivates the horse to exert itself without force.
Understand that playing with your horse is a bonus for you. You develop conditioning, agility, and coordination. (Also, if your horse bucks you don’t have to ride it!) Bucking is nature’s chiropractor and can actually save you money in the long run. There are many trainers out there who disagree, but after 40-plus years of training horses, I have found that by channeling the buck to an appropriate time and place, it doesn’t seem to appear under saddle unless the rider is battling with their horse. Horses need to express themselves. By allowing a time and place, you save time getting your horse to concentrate when they are under saddle.
The only warning I give is make sure the designated play area has solid fencing that is at least four and a half feet high, the footing isn’t slippery, and you don’t force them to run. Let the horse pick its gaits and watch for the nose staying to the ground for too long. They will challenge you to see if they can roll, so you have to be ready and send them forward. Usually it’s the horses way of saying “tag, you’re it!” (and by the way, do you love your saddle? If you are not confident you can get there on time just don’t tack your horse up till after you play with it.)
“Being successful” in the show ring is far more possible when there is a bond between the two of you. When you have a good connection mentally and physically with your horse you can address problems in the show ring with confidence; instead of guessing and wondering if you practiced enough. Often you will hear the top riders say after a competition “I wasn’t on my game, or my horse was some what “off”. We instructors have a saying - ”When the sun,stars, and moon are in alignment all is perfect”!
That is about all we can predict about our performance. So in the end, no amount of practice will replace two individuals who know how to read each other and perform as a team!
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