| Title: | Equine Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151 |
| Moderator: | MTADMS::COBURN IO |
| Created: | Tue Feb 11 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2080 |
| Total number of notes: | 22383 |
Does anyone have any experience with converting or re-training
an Ex-Park Horse for Western Pleasure?
I have a 15.3 hand Arabian gelding (9 yrs. old) who has been trained
and shown in Park Horse classes. I don't think he was very successful
at it because he didn't have enough action. Anyways, I would like
to use him for Western Pleasure. I have owned and shown Quarter
Horses, Appaloosa's, POA's, mostly all stock type horses and have
never had an Arabian. I know zippo about Arabians. He really tries
to please and I am really trying to be patient with him.
He almost has the hang of neck reining, I have been working with
the direct rein, indirect rein and circling. Oh yes, I forgot
to mention the amount of energy this guy has, I usually trot him
for a good twenty minutes in the paddock or trot him a couple of
miles on the track before we get down to any business or it may
or may not be a pleasant ride.
I try not to use the whole paddock while I work him unless he going
exceptionally well. If he is really obnoxious I make the circles
smaller. Right now I have him on a medium weight eggbutt snaffle
but I would like to put him on a curb with a medium port.
Does anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions?
KJ
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 851.1 | CSC32::M_HOEPNER | Thu Jan 26 1989 13:52 | 41 | ||
I had two park horses that I modified to "western". It takes a
lot of patience and a lot of thorough work.
I would stay with a snaffle until your horse is working wonderfully.
A curb bit should only be used AFTER your training is complete.
First off, chances are this Arabian has a different demeanor altogether
than other horses you have worked--first by the nature of him being
an Arabian and second because he has been used for Park.
My old park horses had an ABUNDANCE of energy (helped them be good park
horses). If I were you, I would plan to lunge or free lunge this guy
for 20 to 30 minutes (or 40) at a trot and canter before you try
serious work.
Then I would procede with quiet work on circles, leg yields, etc. at a
walk and trot (not necessarily a jog at this point--but a medium trot
that you are both comfortable with). Canter only if it doesn't excite
him. This will help him develop flexibility and confidence in your
hands and legs. Many park horses have no clue what legs are or what
flexibility is. And many have been taught to back off the bits. You
want him comfortable with his bit.
Be aware that working down the straight away can cause him to be
excited because many park horses think in terms of "Making a PASS"
for the judge down the long side of the ring. You might have to
circle in the ends and gradually go farther down the long side before
turning.
Patience, patience, patience.
By the way, I was successful in moving one horse from Park to Western
Pleasure. The other I was not successful, however, he made one
dickens of a reining horse.
After you work for a long time on him, you might find him happier
being an English Pleasure or Country Pleasure horse (depending on
his action). My old Stormy never did see any reason to job around
with his head down when he could get out and TROT.
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