Training goals

Mule Fool · 09-27-2007, 10:30 AM

Lately I've been really mulling over exactly what I would like to accomplish with my mule. I've decided to become really specific with my goals rather than just a vague "I'd like to get her more broke". Since we basically just trail ride I don't have a certain competition I'm trying to train for.
1. I would like to be able to work all the typical trail obstacles you would find at a show. Gate, Bridge, back throughs, etc.
2. Walk, trot, lope in a soft collected frame.
3. Do a simple reining pattern. Concentrating on form rather than speed.

I guess I'd like to know I could go to a show and enter these classes without making a fool of myself. Wouldn't care if I won, but would like to do a correct job. The first two goals will make her a better trail mule. The third? It just sounds like fun!: She did a couple stops at the clinic last weekend that made me realize she could probably do a pretty good job.

So, what are YOUR goals?

**gbarmranch** · 09-27-2007, 10:33 AM

To stay in the saddle..

Remember, I am riding a green 2 year old..

With Peppy, my goals for the end of the year are pretty simple..

1. Low head set

2. soft in the face

3. smooth walk/trot and trot/walk transitions, as well as maintaining that in a figure eight pattern with leg and seat as direction only..

4. a BIG stop, again seat only, and three or four backward steps with a low headset and soft face..

We are halfway there..

Perrys_mama · 09-27-2007, 10:41 AM

Develop an even trot on the 20 meter circle for me and Spook

Get her to canter without being scared on the lunge line.

Canter with me in the saddle (I am very scared about this one. We are blocked as much by me as by her. She is SO big, and her canter is SO noisy)

Continue lunging over small obstacles and start trotting over cavaletti to help with the even trot and stride length.

Work some more on getting her to come to me in the pasture.

ETA: This may seem like a set of odd goals...why am I working on stride length if I don't even have a canter? Spooky spent her first 13 years as a work horse farming, so she has a huge high-stepping trot, a slow plodding trot, and a good, solid working walk. She doesn't understand that she's allowed to canter while she's "working". We are riding very nicely at the walk and trot...she may have to go back to a professional for the cantering part and some more finishing.

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09-27-2007, 10:30 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Training goals Lately I've been really mulling over exactly what I would like to accomplish with my mule. I've decided to become really specific with my goals rather than just a vague "I'd like to get her more broke". Since we basically just trail ride I don't have a certain competition I'm trying to train for. 1. I would like to be able to work all the typical trail obstacles you would find at a show. Gate, Bridge, back throughs, etc. 2. Walk, trot, lope in a soft collected frame. 3. Do a simple reining pattern. Concentrating on form rather than speed. I guess I'd like to know I could go to a show and enter these classes without making a fool of myself. Wouldn't care if I won, but would like to do a correct job. The first two goals will make her a better trail mule. The third? It just sounds like fun!: She did a couple stops at the clinic last weekend that made me realize she could probably do a pretty good job. So, what are YOUR goals?

09-27-2007, 10:33 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,572	To stay in the saddle.. Remember, I am riding a green 2 year old.. With Peppy, my goals for the end of the year are pretty simple.. 1. Low head set 2. soft in the face 3. smooth walk/trot and trot/walk transitions, as well as maintaining that in a figure eight pattern with leg and seat as direction only.. 4. a BIG stop, again seat only, and three or four backward steps with a low headset and soft face.. We are halfway there.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

09-27-2007, 10:41 AM
Perrys_mama Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 887	Develop an even trot on the 20 meter circle for me and Spook Get her to canter without being scared on the lunge line. Canter with me in the saddle (I am very scared about this one. We are blocked as much by me as by her. She is SO big, and her canter is SO noisy) Continue lunging over small obstacles and start trotting over cavaletti to help with the even trot and stride length. Work some more on getting her to come to me in the pasture. ETA: This may seem like a set of odd goals...why am I working on stride length if I don't even have a canter? Spooky spent her first 13 years as a work horse farming, so she has a huge high-stepping trot, a slow plodding trot, and a good, solid working walk. She doesn't understand that she's allowed to canter while she's "working". We are riding very nicely at the walk and trot...she may have to go back to a professional for the cantering part and some more finishing. Last edited by Perrys_mama : 09-27-2007 at 10:50 AM.