Trotting in hand

tbzeekie · 02-15-2006, 05:50 PM

I am out of ideas. My stallion just won't trot in hand with me

. He will walk with me fast or slow. I have tried carrying a whip. It doesn't help no matter what I do with it

. I am currently working him in a rope halter so he can feel pressure and release better. He we back when I wiggle the rope, and come to me when I lift the rope. Over all he is a sensitive horse. But for some reason he just won't trot in hand with me. I am gearing him up for the show season for halter classes. So I would like to have him trotting in hand with me. I will go nuts if I am not able to show him! Please HELP!

DixieHorseChick18 · 02-15-2006, 06:27 PM

Apollo use to never do it but I found out how to get him use to troting at hand. First I took him away from the place he loves most, then turn around to head back and keep edging on the trot, take off running and try your best to get him to go faster, it takes a couple trys. Soon if you practice it enough, he understands that when you run, he should try to keep up with you. Also do a lot of work with him keeping right with you at a walk and a fast walk. Work alot with on doing anything right there with you. If you look on an older thread, we have Games you play with your horse, and it has games that keep your horse in tuned with you and helps them know exactly what you are asking them, after he gets following you, with you at his shoulder down pat, then start working on going fast. Its hard, I know, some horses will do it right off the bat, horses like mine and yours just dont. Bad thing is, my horse is extremely fast at the trot, even his slow trot, and I am a pretty short person with alot shorter legs than him and it is just killer for me to keep up with him ( good exercise). Once you are starting to get it, always maintain his attention and control or you are not going to get him to understand that it is you telling him to go, not just troting back to the house. Once he gets it, it wil stick pretty well though.

WYJumper · 02-15-2006, 06:30 PM

Hmm, does he trot well on a lunge line or in a round pen? You might try teaching him the voice command first on a lunge line or in a round pen, then go back to your in-hand.

tbzeekie · 02-15-2006, 06:47 PM

He trots on voice command in the round pen and the lunge line. Thats why I just don't get why he is not. I have tried trotting him back to his buddy but that still didn't work. I am about ready to try holding a carrot on a stick in front of him. I am that desprate for ideas. Thanks every please keep the suggestions coming!

Renae · 02-15-2006, 08:21 PM

Make sure with the rope halter you aren't sending mixed signals...make sure to completely let go of his face when you ask for the trot or he may just be so sensitive that he's think you WANT him NOT to trot and to just walk fast. Try this...give him plenty of lead and carry and lung whip or driving whip...something long. Put the whip in your left hand so that it extendes out behind you. Walk off with him just like you will in halter. SInce you KNOW he KNOWS the cue to trot ask him just as if you would while lunging...and give him three steps to respond...if he doesn't flick the whip and hit him on the butt and at the same time the whip touches him ask for the trot and start jgging next to him so he can see your body bounce. When he finally realizes that you WANT him to trot next to you and if he doesn't he'll get flicked with the whip he'll pck it up fast and eventually all you'll have to do is add a little bounce to your walk step just before you start to jog off and he'll strike the trot at the exact same time you do! GOOD LUCK

**beth55051** · 02-15-2006, 10:00 PM

Besides what Renae said use a wall or fence line on his right side so he can't swing his butt away from you and walk side ways. My mare will do anything to try to get out of it even run sideways. Keeping her next to a wall taught her it was just easier to go forward. Start slow and praise him for just a step or two, but at first don't get after him too much if he trots past you just ask him to circle around and try again. After he gets the idea you can start working on his speed next to you.

NChase · 02-16-2006, 06:49 AM

The easiest way I know of to teach a horse to trot in hand is to have two people working on it. One person leads the horse and gives all the normal "trot" commands.

The other person walks along behind the horse and gives encouragement in the form of (depending on how difficult it is to get the horse to trot) tongue clicks or clapping of hands or rattling a dressage whip that has a couple of plastic grocery bags tied to the end. Watch out---this last one often gets the horse to take off really fast!

But when he does finally move, just try to move along with him as best you can, and encourage him that he's done the right thing, even if it might have been a little too fast.

Usually with just a little practice, the horse will finally understand what you want, and will trot off at a MODERATE pace.

--Nancy

irishmusic · 02-16-2006, 09:04 AM

I agree with Nancy, when working with a balky horse this is a two person proposition. Be sure to give the command firmly, and praise when he does it correctly. You might want to use a clicker as a "bridge" for positive reinforcement in this instance since you want the horse to know he has done the correct behavior, but you don't want him to stop.

Renae · 02-16-2006, 07:34 PM

The onlyproblem with the two person approach is if the horse is generally very stubborn he can associate the second person with having to trot instead of the cue...try the one person with the whip first and YES...do start against a wall that way his only option is FORWARD. Only implement the two person if he's resisting the first method and ten go back to the one person after a few trots.

allison · 02-16-2006, 07:44 PM

I've never had a horse that I couldn't get to trot along with me. I have had several that didn't know how when I first worked with them. For showmanship and halter, the key is for the horse to move with your body cues, and a vocal cue for reinforcement when needed. When I slightly lean forward, the horse responds with me. I work on that and it just naturaly advances into the trot. Sometimes I've had a person stand a distence behind the horse, clapping and using voice commands as well. Once I get the horse into a trot I do a few laps around the arena, instead of just a few short strides. I repeat over and over again until they're almost doing it off of my body. Another thing I do to teach moving off my body cues is I'll hold the leadrope in my left hand, so it's across, infront of me. When you lean forward, if the horse doesn't go, the lead pulls on them, but as soon as they're moving with me, there's no pressure. It's a little hard to explain, but it works like a charm for me.

tbzeekie · 02-16-2006, 08:22 PM

I workd with Flash this afternoon

. I think it was Renae that suggested to give some slack in the rope when asking to go. I wasn't giving him enough slack. I did get him to trot half way up the drive way. Praised him well petting a TREATS. He still is unsure about the whole thing. But thankyou every one for your suggestions. I am out of the black hole

Again thanks every one

Renae · 02-16-2006, 10:12 PM

WONDERFUL

... I'm glad it was something simple...just keep working on it and soon he'll be bouncing happily along side you like a well trained Golden Retriever

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02-15-2006, 05:50 PM
tbzeekie Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 29	Trotting in hand I am out of ideas. My stallion just won't trot in hand with me . He will walk with me fast or slow. I have tried carrying a whip. It doesn't help no matter what I do with it . I am currently working him in a rope halter so he can feel pressure and release better. He we back when I wiggle the rope, and come to me when I lift the rope. Over all he is a sensitive horse. But for some reason he just won't trot in hand with me. I am gearing him up for the show season for halter classes. So I would like to have him trotting in hand with me. I will go nuts if I am not able to show him! Please HELP!

02-15-2006, 06:27 PM
DixieHorseChick18 Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,206	Apollo use to never do it but I found out how to get him use to troting at hand. First I took him away from the place he loves most, then turn around to head back and keep edging on the trot, take off running and try your best to get him to go faster, it takes a couple trys. Soon if you practice it enough, he understands that when you run, he should try to keep up with you. Also do a lot of work with him keeping right with you at a walk and a fast walk. Work alot with on doing anything right there with you. If you look on an older thread, we have Games you play with your horse, and it has games that keep your horse in tuned with you and helps them know exactly what you are asking them, after he gets following you, with you at his shoulder down pat, then start working on going fast. Its hard, I know, some horses will do it right off the bat, horses like mine and yours just dont. Bad thing is, my horse is extremely fast at the trot, even his slow trot, and I am a pretty short person with alot shorter legs than him and it is just killer for me to keep up with him ( good exercise). Once you are starting to get it, always maintain his attention and control or you are not going to get him to understand that it is you telling him to go, not just troting back to the house. Once he gets it, it wil stick pretty well though. __________________ I love horses that are not broke under saddle, it gives me a reason to jump on BAREBACK!!!YeeHaaww Lifes to short to pretend like you know what smart people are talking about.

02-15-2006, 06:30 PM
WYJumper Product Reviews & Conf. Clinic Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Least Populated State Posts: 1,342	Hmm, does he trot well on a lunge line or in a round pen? You might try teaching him the voice command first on a lunge line or in a round pen, then go back to your in-hand. __________________ Steph

02-15-2006, 06:47 PM
tbzeekie Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 29	He trots on voice command in the round pen and the lunge line. Thats why I just don't get why he is not. I have tried trotting him back to his buddy but that still didn't work. I am about ready to try holding a carrot on a stick in front of him. I am that desprate for ideas. Thanks every please keep the suggestions coming!

02-15-2006, 08:21 PM
Renae Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Posts: 216	Make sure with the rope halter you aren't sending mixed signals...make sure to completely let go of his face when you ask for the trot or he may just be so sensitive that he's think you WANT him NOT to trot and to just walk fast. Try this...give him plenty of lead and carry and lung whip or driving whip...something long. Put the whip in your left hand so that it extendes out behind you. Walk off with him just like you will in halter. SInce you KNOW he KNOWS the cue to trot ask him just as if you would while lunging...and give him three steps to respond...if he doesn't flick the whip and hit him on the butt and at the same time the whip touches him ask for the trot and start jgging next to him so he can see your body bounce. When he finally realizes that you WANT him to trot next to you and if he doesn't he'll get flicked with the whip he'll pck it up fast and eventually all you'll have to do is add a little bounce to your walk step just before you start to jog off and he'll strike the trot at the exact same time you do! GOOD LUCK __________________ Renae Just do it!

02-15-2006, 10:00 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	Besides what Renae said use a wall or fence line on his right side so he can't swing his butt away from you and walk side ways. My mare will do anything to try to get out of it even run sideways. Keeping her next to a wall taught her it was just easier to go forward. Start slow and praise him for just a step or two, but at first don't get after him too much if he trots past you just ask him to circle around and try again. After he gets the idea you can start working on his speed next to you. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

02-16-2006, 06:49 AM
NChase Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,114	The easiest way I know of to teach a horse to trot in hand is to have two people working on it. One person leads the horse and gives all the normal "trot" commands. The other person walks along behind the horse and gives encouragement in the form of (depending on how difficult it is to get the horse to trot) tongue clicks or clapping of hands or rattling a dressage whip that has a couple of plastic grocery bags tied to the end. Watch out---this last one often gets the horse to take off really fast! But when he does finally move, just try to move along with him as best you can, and encourage him that he's done the right thing, even if it might have been a little too fast. Usually with just a little practice, the horse will finally understand what you want, and will trot off at a MODERATE pace. --Nancy

02-16-2006, 09:04 AM
irishmusic Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 581	I agree with Nancy, when working with a balky horse this is a two person proposition. Be sure to give the command firmly, and praise when he does it correctly. You might want to use a clicker as a "bridge" for positive reinforcement in this instance since you want the horse to know he has done the correct behavior, but you don't want him to stop. __________________ It seems that some creatures have the capacity to fill spaces you never knew were empty. Captain Jean Luc Picard

02-16-2006, 07:34 PM
Renae Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Posts: 216	The onlyproblem with the two person approach is if the horse is generally very stubborn he can associate the second person with having to trot instead of the cue...try the one person with the whip first and YES...do start against a wall that way his only option is FORWARD. Only implement the two person if he's resisting the first method and ten go back to the one person after a few trots. __________________ Renae Just do it!

02-16-2006, 07:44 PM
allison Started Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kenosha, WI. Posts: 2,133	I've never had a horse that I couldn't get to trot along with me. I have had several that didn't know how when I first worked with them. For showmanship and halter, the key is for the horse to move with your body cues, and a vocal cue for reinforcement when needed. When I slightly lean forward, the horse responds with me. I work on that and it just naturaly advances into the trot. Sometimes I've had a person stand a distence behind the horse, clapping and using voice commands as well. Once I get the horse into a trot I do a few laps around the arena, instead of just a few short strides. I repeat over and over again until they're almost doing it off of my body. Another thing I do to teach moving off my body cues is I'll hold the leadrope in my left hand, so it's across, infront of me. When you lean forward, if the horse doesn't go, the lead pulls on them, but as soon as they're moving with me, there's no pressure. It's a little hard to explain, but it works like a charm for me. __________________ Horses & Horsepower www.freewebs.com/mustangali_/ "...just like computers refuse to understand how I'm feeling today"

02-16-2006, 08:22 PM
tbzeekie Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 29	I workd with Flash this afternoon . I think it was Renae that suggested to give some slack in the rope when asking to go. I wasn't giving him enough slack. I did get him to trot half way up the drive way. Praised him well petting a TREATS. He still is unsure about the whole thing. But thankyou every one for your suggestions. I am out of the black hole Again thanks every one

02-16-2006, 10:12 PM
Renae Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: United States Posts: 216	WONDERFUL ... I'm glad it was something simple...just keep working on it and soon he'll be bouncing happily along side you like a well trained Golden Retriever __________________ Renae Just do it!