Training older horse, advice please!!!?

i am currently training a 13.5hands, 23yr old mare. she is broken in now and ive gotten her a lovely trot, and she has a soft controlled canter. Ive gotten her jumping over 3ft jumps with a rider though she is a bad "stopper" (any tips to help with this?) Dont tell me shes too old to train! Misty is an ambitious pony and has heaps of energy. i would like any advice, tips e.t.c on what to teach her next and how. i realize she will take longer to train than a young pony but misty is quick to learn. she is fit and we work for hours at a time. she likes to barge! any help with that?? and has a tendany to trip ( HELP), i try to give her a long reign to teach her to take responsibility for her own feet but it doesnt seem to be working. ANY advice or help will be really usefull, thanks, Fliss

Training older horse, advice please!!!?
This is quite the loaded question.





First, I have absolutely no problem with you training an older horse. So no worries.





However the tripping, sounds to me as an issue with her gait and needs to really be evaluated.





Tripping happens for a number of reasons, sometimes on horses, they aren't paying attention to where their feet go and boom. It can also be from an old injury, or it can be from a new injury. With this tripping, I would most definately have her evaluated by a vet to make sure that its not something causing her pain or giving out on her.





With her barging, she needs ground manners. I typically use a rope halter, they barge past me, I dig my heels in and swing them around. It doesn't take too many more barges for them to realize that hurts. I also work on my mules stopping on a loose lead or to a verbal whoa command when they are in halter. If one of them ever gets to the point they feel they must expel the slightest energy, they are quickly reprimanded, by either swinging them around or backing them at a high rate of speed.





Do you get your evaluated by a vet for the tripping, the geriatric horses that I have had, that tripped, was aways caused by some sort of an issue.





Good luck.
Reply:By barging i mean, she drops her head suddenly pulling the rains through or out of your hands and then gallops off, wherever she feels like. Report It

Reply:First of all, you CAN train and old horse new tricks.


I have a 16 yr old arabian, and he was absolutely terrible when i began riding him. he was contested, so he never went slow, and as soon as he saw a cone, he flew by them. so, ignore when people say that, whoever does say that, obviously has never tried training an old horse. i know 16 isn't old, but he was a contester for 2-3 years, and my 2nd year with him, we placed reserve grand champion in our western pleasure AND western horsemanship. Now, i have judges complimenting me on how well we do, since i am only 15, and training an ex-contester is a bit of a challenge when your 11 years old, but i did it.





I'm not sure how to help with the stopping thing, but i have that same problem. the only thing is, after he jumps, he bobs his head and flings it everywhere while still trotting away. sorry i'm no help there :[.


what is barging, is that charging after something? My horse always charges for the jumps, so i have to trot him to them, then begin cantering a few feet before the jump.


%26amp;%26amp; as for the tripping, try working circles, going over ground poles, which will makeher pick up her feet.


i hope i helped even the slightest bit :]
Reply:There is no problem with teaching an older horse that has energy to do new things. I started my arab in dressage when he was 18 years old. That said there are some considerations to make:


A geriatric horse will most likely have some physical issues. Horses stopping at a fence are one. Jumping a 13.5 hh pony over 3 ft. fences is pushing the envelope. Put a rider on her, and you're really pushing it. I'm not sure what you mean by barging. Are you talking about getting pushy while leading or rushing after the fences or what? I would get a full physical check on this pony to rule out any issues such as arthritis or some other physical problems before working her for hours. The fact that she is a "bad stopper" with a rider says to me that it's too much for her! Horses don't routinely stop or rush fences unless they are pushed too hard. No matter what any trainer tells you! Horses are not disobedient because they like getting beaten up afterward. They either can do the job or they can't. If they can't, they try to get out of it. I've seen far too many horses that are "disciplined" for behaviors that are rider created. Making a 23 year old horse jump a 3 ft. fence with a rider may be more than that pony can do. Once you've made it an unpleasant experience, she will do it at all times. She can't be sure that it will be easier at 1 ft. or 2. She just knows that at that one height it was too much and she was punished for refusing. I've seen it in countless horses that I've rehabilitated.


The tripping may be another issue. Toes that are too long, heels that are too high, there's a load of reasons for it. Horses know where their feet are, but if the feet aren't how they are supposed to be, they will trip. Proper trimming should be helpful. I've also seen tripping in horses with back pain. I'd take it easy on this pony before you really push her to where she becomes sour.
Reply:I agree with Galliano 3 foot fences may be pushing your luck, and the stopping and barging are her way of unsuccessfully trying to communicate with you.


I am the last person to say she is too old as I have had many ancient horses and ponies fit and well working into their 30s.


My advice is get a vet check for the usual back legs feet and teeth, before you start being firm about anything, think how bad you will feel if you should insist and hurt her, if she has done well so far you will be breaking the trust she has shown you.
Reply:I agree with being worried about her tripping.





You should be supporting her with your hands, riding her into the bridle by creating energy with your legs. She needs to have the correct muscle to hold herself up and at her age it will take some building. You have to school her correctly to build this and expect it to take years, not months.





If it is just because you mare letting all her energy fall out the front end, then you can rectify this but I would insist on you getting a vet to check her over to make sure there is no problem with her feet.





My friend just had a pony die not far from his 50th year, so take heart and don't worry too much but just ensure the horse is fit too ride - this requires an expert :-)
Reply:You Can't Train an Old .......... Horse?......New Tricks
Reply:Barging....do you mean when she is being ridden, jumping or leading? I will address the being ridden and jumping, from reading your question, I feel that you are quite experienced enough to discourge the barging at halter. I have found that the best thing to do to discourage barging is to teach them that they go nowhere...don't be too quick to do it over a jump, as it will discourage a horse to give it it's all when jumping, but after landing, right when the barging begins, stop the horse immediately and back it and stop and let them settle. Don't let EVEN ONE TIME GO BY without giving this punishment, if you want to call it that, when your horse begins that behavior. Be consistant and so will she. Now, I have a real opinion on older horses...I frankly, think that if you have their attention, they are easier to train...really. Oh, when doing flat work and/or on the rail...treat it the same way...as soon as she begins, either stop and back and settle or stop, immediately turn into the fence, come off the fence going in the opposite direction and keep moving...only at your controlled speed...usually, if it is not just "not knowing" then it is your horse coming out of collection and beginning to lunge or get off her hind quarters...get her back on them and I think that you will see a big difference.