C. Anderson Problem Solving DVD. Review/Report Card

[Frankie]

I enjoyed the series very much and plan to purchase a few more. I think his groundwork is exceptional and easy to understand. My trainer taught me almost in the same fashion and I wish to follow Mr. Anderson step by step on groundwork and the lunge. Disengaging the hindquarters and the “2 eyes not 2 heels� is something I wish to master. I was very impressed with Mr. Anderson as a person and as a trainer. I don’t care for all the smacking with a stick about the face but I understand it.

I was disappointed with the rearing coverage. It was extremely basic advice and no more then 2-3 minutes of talk. Of course you want to keep their feet moving when you feel a rear but sometimes, as in my case, you do not get the opportunity to feel it coming. You just wake up in a hospital room. The causes of a rear are not as black and white as stated in this DVD. Fear and disrespect but I do agree that it all stems back to ground working the horse.

After watching the entire DVD I actually felt proud about my horse. I do not have to deal with many of the issues in this series. Here’s a small report card if you will.

Groundwork: I can take of his halter and lead and he follows me wherever I go. We do need to get back to work on not cantering off in annoyed fashion when on the lunge or not shying up to me and not wishing to go.

Fences: I have never had to worry about my horse bolting or shoving. He stands behind me at all times and allows me to get though the gate first and he follows.

Catching: He comes to me.

Tarps in the ring: Is that food Dad? He could care less.

Biting: Bite me one time 9 months and has never bite me again. All I did was slap his neck within a split second and yelled, “bad!�

Kicking: Kicked at me one time 6 months ago but his pal was behind him and I got in the way. All I did was smack his hind with the lead and yell, “Bad!� Has not kicked me since.

Pinned Ears: Has yet to pin his ears at me.

Lifting Feet: When I first purchased my horse, he was a touch on the side of stubborn about lifting. 12 months later, he lifts his feet and adjusts his balance per foot for me. All I do is say, “Up�.

Trailering: I have only had to load him 2 times in 12 months. Each time he just walked right in. I’m sure the big pile of hay in there helped.

CrossTies: At the old barn, the crossties where set above the horses head and you had to pull down to clip. He has always been fine with crossties. At the new barn, the crossties are at waist height and you have to lift up to clip. He has snapped 2 halters. I no longer crosstie him – I take his lead rope and looped it though the stall bar and he stands still.

Tied: He does need a touch more work on this (patience) but we have nowhere to tie him at the boarding facility. The will not allow horses to be ties to stalls or fences for fear of property damage. Anytime I ride or do ring work, when I am done, I will take his lead or reins and toss them over a fence rail and 7 out of 10 times he will stand there and relax. The other 3 he will paw or pull himself free.

Saddling/Tacking: The second I place the saddle pad on his back, he does not move. I do get the tail whip here and there when I tighten his girth but have learn to not tighten until after I have walked him some because he blows up his belly anyway.

Bucking: He has yet to buck me.

Rearing: No comment.

[cameo05]

C A has some great dvd's and alot of them make sense. As far as tying, my husbands gelding will snap a set of reins in a heartbeat if tied by the bridle. Well not just the bridle has snapped a few halters too. But that is the only, I mean only bad habit he has. My mare she is head stong and ties so so. We go trail riding at parks and big trail rides, so they tie to a picket line. All are great on picket. But my main reason for saying this is I tie mine up to a tree for several hours every so often to remind them of patience when being tied. Do you have a tree or anything like that? If so tie him for a while on it. It sounds crazy but all the trail horses that I know and mine, are taught this way and they do great. I am glad your feeling better.

[TxHorseMom]

We got the CA tying thingy. Have yet to put it up, but will soon. I loved how he named them the "tree or post of knowledge".

[Orchid]

Originally Posted by cameo05

As far as tying, my husbands gelding will snap a set of reins in a heartbeat if tied by the bridle. Well not just the bridle has snapped a few halters too.

I just wanted to note that you should never, ever tie a horse by the reins as they can severely injure their mouths with the bit if they pull.

[MLovely]

Originally Posted by Orchid

I just wanted to note that you should never, ever tie a horse by the reins as they can severely injure their mouths with the bit if they pull.

You took the thought right out of my head.

[cowgirlmommy]

I know Frankie has heard my story about when I got Jazzy(my dreamhorse) so I wanted to add to cameos posted respnse and I know alot of you know the story about jazzys mouth injury and her mouth being so terribly injured when I got her and from what? From being tied with her bridle and bit by her reins by her previous owners and she pulled and did SEVERE damage...her mouth was so ripped up it was awful and it took us almost two months after I got her too get over the fear that came from that injury. And yes now after well over a year she is amazing and it is all because she trusts me now and I have NEVER hurt her. I just wanted to agree %100 with orchid....and I am glad you are liking the CA dvds Frankie!

[cameo05]

The bridle had a Hack. And yes he figured that out. Everyone makes mistakes every once in a while, even seasoned riders. The Saying goes you learn from your mistakes This was a long time ago when he first started riding on trail rides. These are tied to tree's out in trails. Now he uses a bit with his horse and leaves a rope halter on him for these rides.

[Orchid]

I was not trying to be critical, cameo05. Just wanted to point that out to anyone reading this thread who may not realize that is not the thing to do!

[cowgirlmommy]

You are so right,cameo! We learn from our mistakes and no matter how old we are or how long we have been riding, we still are learning and that never stops!!!

[cameo05]

I didn't take it that way, and yes you are right about the tying with the reins. I wished someone would have told us that when we first started. I just wanted to let you know that he corrected it and how he did. We are all on here to learn and take advise and give it. That is what makes HT a great place. Sorry if I sounded offended.

[Frankie]

Hey. I just want to point out that I said I "tossed" his reins over a fence rail.
I did not tie him. Though I have but it is always a slip not. One sight pull and it comes undone.

See pic. Not tied.



PS. I was hoping some would comment on Romeo's report card. I need all the positive reinforcement I can get as I heal

[cameo05]

Romeo's report card is better than most. Pretty awesome I would have to say. That probably has to make you feel alot better about Romeo. I have my soul mate in my Belle. No matter what, I can't or should I say won't give up on her either.

[Orchid]

I think Romeo's report card looks very good - all in all he is an excellent horse.

About the tying, would your barn owner consider installing a dedicated tie post? A railroad tie or a good stout bottom of a telephone pole would make an excellent tie post, without fear of breaking, where you could work on his tying issues.

[Frankie]

Thank you guys so much. Yes, I do feel good about him. That’s why it is so hard to talk to some about what happened. They (no one really here at HT) are so quick to say he is a bad or mean horse and to sell him. No he is not. He shows more talent and respect then most young boys. He and I, with some help from Jeff, will get past this.

Now, if I was to ask Romeo to talk about me… here is what he would say.

Understand that I am still young.
Understand that I was taught to go go go!
Understand that it’s your job to teach me differently.
Understand that I do get spooked at things now and again.
Understand that I see shadows in my left eye.
Understand that I have mouth pain sometimes.

Oh and hurry up when you groom me cause the girls are calling and I wanna get back outside! LOL

-

A post. Great idea and thought about that myself but I doubt very much that they will but I will ask.

[cowgirlmommy]

I think all around Romeo is a good horse. People have to remember that he is 5 and he is your first horse and yes you have both come so far in that year and I am so proud of the way you never give up and are always learning and I know that each year will prove better and better! I also believe that for how well he did on his "report card"(!!) that is a very good indication of what to expect when he is a seasoned pleasure/trail horse(what you had said you were wanting!) and not a 5 year old who is still learning! But the beauty of he being young and being your first horse is that(and I know some will disagree!) you are both growing together and learning along the same pace and level! It is a good thing! And I know some folks think that a young horse is bad for a first horse but if you have as well behaved horse as Romeo is on the ground and for most everything else you do with him, then it shows a kinship or connection with you and he and that will play a big part in all the training! I think thatif you take the best parts of each trainer(dvds!) you use, and take out what you are not comfy with, then you will have the technique that you need and want! Good for you and Romeo on his report card! And too bad I am so far away, I could get you that railroad tie(my hubby is the track foreman!) and do as orchid suggested if you so choosed!LOL!! All the best! And you know how I feel about Romeo! I do not need a report card to know he is an amazing horse!

[Frankie]

I don't disagree with you at all. I should add that Romeo would say...

"Dad, you're not a cowboy. You just play one on TV."

This means, as I have said, he is not the only one who needs to learn more and change a few things.

[cameo05]

The post idea is pretty awesome. It would not only benefit you and Romeo but all the other boarders as well. It could benefit the BO too. Sell it to them that way that it is not just for one person and horse but for all in the Barn. Believe me, I don't think there is a horse or person that couln't learn from it. Patience

[ilovepaints1]

I just wanted to say I know with rears and bucking I hate when the trainers say keep his feet moving. One of my horses is a bad rearer and my husband is a very good rider but when his horse makes up his mind to rear he is going to rear no matter what. He has reared since we bought him and sometimes he will and sometimes he is fine but we have tried everything I dont know what happened in his training to make him like that but he wont stop no matter what. The last straw was an accident similiar to yours Frankie. My husband had just mounted up and was walking next to the hay trailer and all of the sudden up he goes once than down then up again straight in the air. My husband had gotten his feet out of the stirrups as he started to rear the first time and the second time up he fell off(He claims he jumped off ) and Sammy fell inches away from him. I told him thats it I dont want anyone on that horse again and he has been retired as a pasture ornament. So I have given up on him as a riding horse but he will have a home with me until he dies as my buddy. I wish there were another answer to solving the problem then keep his feet moving because thats pretty hard to do when a horse all the sudden rears up straight in the air! It think romeo was just testing you to see what would happen and you got the bad end of the deal. If he does it again even slightly I have heard another good thing to do is to immediately slide of and lunge him around agressively until he is sweaty until he makes the connection that rearing means work.

[Frankie]

I have spoken to 3 people that each have over 20 years with horses. Now, I know there are no guarantees but, logic dictates, that when a horse rears and gets hurt and hurts their partner - they learn from that and may never do it again.

I was told that making the horse go up and over is an advanced training technique as well. I have to believe, as far as memory, he will always remember it. He remembers all his training so why would he not remember this?

Again, I am not using this as a false positive or thinking that I am in the clear now. Now way in hell. I just wanted to point out that IMO, a real world disaster must teach a horse better then cracking an egg over there head.

My answer to this problem is to go back to ground work for a solid month and teach my horse and myself to be patient and calm.

Let me never forget that he did in fact take care of me when he realised I was under him. Not many horses would stay calm and not get up. Not to mention panic and trample.

I will always believe that he knew he had done wrong and was very sorry for it. Now, if he does it again, then I will lose all trust and respect for him and take it from there.

[ilovepaints1]

When we got Cowboy our paint he was doing some little rears he is five too. Dont ask me why I get stuck with all these horses that rear! But anyway my husband again was riding him(My poor husband ) like less than a week after we got him and he didnt want to turn or something and reared up just a little but when he did is leg slipped and he fell like completely over and again my husband "jumped" off and ever since then this horse has not acted up in any way not even an ear pinning or tail swishing so I do believe in that theory too. I think like any young horse he was testing you and figured hey that was stupid of me now im sore too and this guy that loves me so much is hurt. Sammy the other horse is like eighteen and all these years he has gotten away with it so at that age I dont see the point in retraining him because he is going blind in the one eye so I feel like that makes him even more scared to be ridden on the trail. I have heard to crack an egg over their head too some old timer told me that once but I personally dont want egg all over my hand and saddle. Knowing my horse hed probaly gobble it down and think it was a treat . I know you are worried that he is going to do it again but I think he learned his lesson. He was probaly just as surprised and scared when he fell as you were. I think there are alot of training tactics to get a young horse to stop rearing just not as many when they have been allowed to do it all their life.