First
Trip to Town
By Todd Martin
While
trying to come up with a subject for this months article I was struck
with inspiration from some of my horses. I have just started hauling
a couple of the young horses that I have in training. They are just
getting out for their first couple of trips to town. So I felt like
it would be a helpful subject to discuss for this issue.
It
is very important to make the trip for first timers very enjoyable
and not stressful. You are introducing a lot of new things, and the
only thing constant at this time is you the handler. If their first
time out is to a show, I like to make sure that I get there at least
a day early to help them get acquainted with the new surroundings
and new neighbors. Another thing to keep in mind, is that you keep
as many things normal as possible for their first trip. Don’t
let someone talk you into trying some new tack, or get caught up in
pushing your horse to do his best today. You have to remember that
the first couple of times out are not necessarily for you, but for
the betterment of your horse. Your job is to take care of him or her
and make this new place a home away from home.
When
I first get them into the warm up pen, I expect them to look around
and check out the new sites. I first want to take them on a tour of
the new facility on a loose rein. I will take them and make a lap
around the arena once or twice in both directions so that they can
see everything from both sides. Once we have taken a look at everything
and I feel like they are starting to relax a bit, I will start with
the same routine as I always do at home. I will begin with flexing
each direction, and make sure that they are moving off of my legs
at the shoulder and the hip. If I feel like they have forgotten, or
are to in tune with the other distractions, I will go to some exercises
that they already know and get back the control that I am looking
for. At this point I make sure not to try to over bridle or require
them to give me undivided attention. Instead I want for them to be
able to take everything in and also do what it is that I am asking.
From
this point I will ask them to move into a trot and wait for them to
fully relax. My way of knowing that they have relaxed is that I look
for them to give me a deep exhale. At that time I have a good feeling
that my horse has come back to me. When I move into a lope I will
continue to let them move out freely continuing to let them look.
But, I make sure when I do pick up my hand and ask for direction,
they give to the bit and pin back their ears to check in with me to
make sure that I am not asking for more.
Next,
I will start to ask for the an occasional stop, spin, or lead change,
making sure that I am not rushing anything. You can expect for the
horse to only perform at a fraction of what you have at home. It is
important that you spend time building his confidence and not get
caught up in trying to push him to perform as good or better than
he does at home. If you break his confidence and get him worried at
the show pen, you will have to fix it at the show pen. I also like
for their first time out to be a two day show cause it allows them
to time to settle in and not leave just as you are getting started.
Remember,
when it is their first time to town, you are the only constant thing
that they have. If you fall apart, or get upset and discouraged, they
can loose confidence and learn quick ways out of what they perceive
as trouble. I will not expect to push one in the show pen until they
have shown me that they are ready. I will try out pieces while I run
a pattern and after three or four shows they will tell me how much
and when.
The
most important thing to keep in mind is that you are setting the stage
for what is coming in the future for this horse in the show pen. You
have spent the time to build confidence and knowledge in your horse
to compete in the show pen for years to come. More often than not,
I have spent around a year or so just to get to this point, and the
objective is not to go and win my first time out. Rather it is to
finish my work so that this horse goes on to be productive for years
in the show pen. It is my job to make going to town fun, kind of like
a trip to the movies and pizza. It has to be a place they want to
go.
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