I've watched Brian Neubert and Chris Cox work with out of control horses. Brian took a wild mustang and had it pretty well broke in about an hour. It's not about wearing the horse out, but getting it to pay attention and respond. Chris just uses a long lead line and swings it in the air it to move the horse back and forth until it's paying attention. If waving it in the air isn't working he will lightly hit the horse on the back end while he's facing the horse to get the horse to move it's hind quarter one way and then the other way. My grandpa grew up driving and breaking horses. He always said you treat a horse with gentleness and kindness, but sometimes you have to get their attention first.
> It's not about wearing the horse out, but getting it to pay attention and respond. Unless he is a dangerous barn-struck horse which can turn into a full out runaway which can KILL you.. In that case the wearing out can be a tool as described above to help the horse.
As said, "It's not about wearing the horse out, but getting it to pay attention and respond" and I will add; The most gentle and easiest way for the horse which will work out, which by the way, will also be more pleasant for the trainer also in most cases.
I do not lunge a colt until all the steps which proceed are first implemented in horse school (as I said in earlier post).
but there again different folks do things different ways which may lead to the same good results. Or a different sequence of introduced steps may differ form trainer to trainer as CLS described his method as working well for him and the horse by lunging first before teaching leg and foot work, and I can see where that might help the Colt of Philly to be more settled down and relaxed during that first leg and foot handling step. Even though I do it differently. After all their is more than one way to skin a cat lol.The way I go about it in my program which works well for me is tying, leading, brushing, introduction to the bit, introduced to saddle blankets, introduction to the saddle, introduction of the 'feel' of the saddle girth
(which if very unnatural for an untrained horse and can be frightening for such animal) , gentle leg and foot work etc. Lunging is far down the list in the horse school, perhaps the 8th grade would be a good description.
The lunging tool is multifunctional tool, used to help the colt to accept the unnatural 'odd feel' of the saddle, and stirrups 'bumping' his side while in motion and is where sometimes a buck can be witnessed if a colt is frightened enough. That is why I take is slow and easy, I do not want them to ever know what 'buck' is. lol.
Lunging is also an all important 'aid'
building up to the most important word of all,
'WHOA' which will be even further built upon and learned when driving school is in session. Lunging helps build confidence between the colt, equipment, (saddles and such) and trainer, for those later driving lessons which are to come later in the round pen, where the gentle feel of the slight pressure of the bit is used. When the Colt is asked to Whoa during driving sessions, it is so much easier for the colt when lunging school had the word whoa introduced in that class before hand.
When the time is right for Lunging school; Using 'body language' to help encourage the colt to continue movement is a good block builder. When a good session is complete, speak a firm WHOA in unisons while immediately ceasing body language is important, and is like unto the drill Sergeant saying to the private AT-EASE. The horse is allowed to stop with out being ask to further do 'anything', then rewarded with a gentle talking to, and gentle rubbing, while adding a 'good boy' or 'good girl' as well, at least that is how I do it. The word whoa taught in this manner from that point is associated by the colt with stopping and reward. Also; Longing will help settle a colt or previously untrained horse down if he is fresh and jumpy,. Just as a simple 15 minute recess of play time will help settle an energetic child, so he or she can come back to the class room with a refreshed and relaxed mind and body, thus more eager to learn and absorb what is being taught in class.
All while 'Keeping their attention' As your grandaddy explained.
> If waving it in the air isn't working he will lightly hit the horse on the back end while he's facing the horse to get the horse to move it's hind quarter one way and then the other way. My way as well..
> He always said you treat a horse with gentleness and kindness,Which he was right and is what I have emphasized repeatedly in prior post.
>but sometimes you have to get their attention first.It doesn't take much to get the average 'untrained' horses' attention when properly schooled, rarely should you need to do more than you described in the Chirs Cox situation above. Unless, you have one that comes at you with both back feet flying meaning to take your head off as I also gave an example above. This type horse Colt or Philly is rare, few, and far in between, (speaking of untrained horses) including wild horses. i.e. Even wild horses have a pecking order and will come around pretty quickly in training if properly handled while seeing you are the 'main horse', while realizing you mean no harm to them as they learn to accept " this person is a head higher on the totem pole than I am" A person has to have the gift of communicating with the horse which can not talk nor understand English
'until certain words are introduced and learned'. Proper schooling while building their trust by communication in a way they can understand 'horse language', is the gentle and best way. (In my opinion).
i..e.
(I was not speaking of a spoiled horse as Jim has described who has learned through action how to get her way, seeking a higher elevation in the pecking order and having built the the confidence of achieving that goal through action, a totally different ball game. I am speaking of 'untrained' horses whether wild or gentle).PS
Two of my Uncles, my Daddy, and a Cousin, who were all raised ON ranches making their living with both horses and cows as my Grandaddy before, decided to go to a Chris Cox 2 day event. My Son and I tagged along for a family, guys day out. This was back before Chris Cox was so much a TV horse Star. You might be interested to know he not only lunged his horse in this event, and (both days), but longed it around the bounds of entire inside of the Paul Battle arena located in Tunica Ms, 'several times' 'without cease' (and its a big arena). That is more than I have 'ever felt' that a colt or filly in training, had the need in one session in my experience. 'Except for the hope of saving a 'dangerous' barn struck, potential runaway, spoiled horse, from the glue man.' And I rather doubt that anyone can really stop a 'true runaway' as the one I posted about above, short of the glue factor ( that was for you gww),
a barn struck horse is another matter and has a fair chance of a good life if handled properly.
Again in my opinion.. and I am not knocking Chris Cox, it worked for Chris and as I said before, their's more than one way to skin a cat.😁 Chris did a good job that weekend.
Phillip
