tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657955103086716631.post5459941678053993157..comments2023-10-09T04:52:59.121-06:00Comments on Trails to Lead Old Cowboys Home Again: Going BackCrickethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00834640625999522559noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657955103086716631.post-52664909101691519662013-03-06T13:02:17.879-07:002013-03-06T13:02:17.879-07:00I have tried to lock the reins and let him fight i...I have tried to lock the reins and let him fight it out. It doesn't work with this horse. I fought with him for 45 minutes yesterday and it made him less willing to try to lower his head than it had before. All he knows is that he's under pressure and is willing to fight til the pressure disappears than to give in to it.<br /><br />I am hopeful that just like he learned to back with the martingale on, he will learn to relax and collect with the martingale. And just like I stopped using the martingale for backing, he will recognize what I want him to do and do it without so much fighting, even without the martingale.<br /><br />I also need to recognize that asking him to lift his back, to leg yield, to rollback, to back up and to walk hills are all PT for him. It's going to hurt and he's not going to want to do it. I need to reward his try and give him lots of praise when he is able to accomplish the task. Sigh.Crickethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834640625999522559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657955103086716631.post-87009000790012961462013-03-06T10:34:41.343-07:002013-03-06T10:34:41.343-07:00In general I don't believe in martingales or t...In general I don't believe in martingales or tie downs either. But as physical therapy, you may need to force him into the frame for a while to get him to build the muscles. But I would say at the same time, spend a little time working with him without the martingale--or you will always need it. The martingale changes the angle of the pressure.<br />One thing you can do is to let him fight himself. Lock the reins in your hands braced on his withers and let him figure out where it is comfortable to carry his head--that is closer to the angle of pressure coming from your hands.<br />Getting him to collect and raise his back from hand and leg is a very advanced skill, so reward baby steps. When he gets it just for a moment, reward him by letting him relax. Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12509363746521791357noreply@blogger.com