Franklin Levinson's
Horse Help Center
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Advice about gaps in horse training
Dear Sir,
I was so happy to hear your response to the woman with the APP/QH. I have a 4 yr old QH that was "broke" out west. I bought him at age 2 1/2 and he was wonderfully quiet but had some issues that I felt came from "breaking" him. I.e. fear of bridling, nervous especially around the left side of his face.... etc. anyway, with patience he's gotten over all those "small" issues. Well, I'm afraid, as you mentioned to Viki that he has some missed spots in his training. I moved back east shortly after purchasing him and he's been very sensitive but a wonderful horse until recently.
During a trail ride (where he'd been ridden many times before) I felt his back bunch up and before I knew it, I was on the ground, badly bruised, fluid on both knees, but thankfully no broken bones. Anyway, he caught me totally off guard, but now that I think back, he's probably been telling me he was reaching his limit before this happened. My question is: Do I also start all over from the beginning? I currently have a friend riding him 2-3 times a week that is a much better rider and after trying to dump her the first few rides he's been ok, except she won't take him anywhere but in the ring......I rode and had horses into my 20's, stopped riding for 15 years and of course did the worst thing possible and bought a youngster, yes I'm attached to him, but I fear injury much more now that I'm older.
Yes, I've had his teeth, back and legs checked, no one can find anything wrong.
I'm in the SE area of PA and would like to know if you have any contacts out this way, I'd like to be involved, I don't want to just sent him away to be trained as obviously I'm part of the problem and need to be part of the solution.
Thanks for "listening".......Fran
Hi Fran,
If this were my horse, I would take him back to the real basics of his training. There is just no substitute for this to resolve most issues either on the ground or in the saddle. I actually don't have any contacts in your area. However, I am free to travel and am doing so a lot. If you would care to try to host a clinic for a few folks, I would be happy to come. Just let me know some good possible dates for you. I also do telephone coaching for a few individuals. This is a convenient, easy and cost effective way to get good coaching with your horse through his process. You do it, give me how it goes and ask questions, I respond and guide you. It works so please consider the possibilities. Folks generally sign up for a month of coaching, one or two sessions a week.
I would be very cautious of rubber stamped "level one" two or three€š "certified" from a name brand, heavily marketed individual. These are frequently folks who have worked with their own backyard horses only and do not have years and years of experience with numerous horses with various issues. A rubber stamp certificate is a poor substitute for a lifetime of experience. However, there are other fine trainers out there. Usually the most humble, calmest and most at peace individuals are the ones who train horses with the agenda of having the horse feel those feelings of peace and trust. No bravado, boasting or big promises. Don€št be taken in by slick advertising and mass marketing. Tune in to your own feelings and intuition about a trainer. Ask for references from other people (horse owners) who they have worked with.
Anyway, thank you for your question. Let me know if I can really be of some real assistance to you in the future and keep me posted as to how it all goes.
Sincerely, Franklin