Franklin Levinson's
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Stallion Training
Franklin,
I am in the process of training a 3 year old P.O.A Stallion.
Everything has been going pretty well, I've been free lunging him in an indoor arena his listens pretty well to voice commands. I put a saddle on him and have ridden him. Just walking and trotting. My experience w/horses? I've been riding since I was about 5 years old, and within the last 2 years had started a 2 year old appendix mare and a 2 year old paint gelding. Then I had to sell them because I got married and was moving.
I can read horses well and have barrel raced, shown western pleasure, English, showmanship and trail riding.
I have been helping out a rancher down the road with his horses, it helps him out and gets me around horses (which is what I love) Anyway, the stallion I'm talking about has been riding pretty quiet, (they have bred with him) The only time I get fearful is when someone brings in another horse into the arena, he gets real boisterous and I feel scared so I get off.
In time, will he get used to other horses coming and going? Or, will it always be a problem. After the horse has been around him for a while he's o.k. and I get back on. We've only had geldings around him so far.
This is the first time I've ever worked with a stallion so I'm wondering if they are a whole new world or what? I would appreciate any info on this matter.
Thank you for your time. Tara
Hi Tara,
Yes, stallions are a "whole new world". You will need to get used to his sounding off as they tend to do it a lot generally. If you get off him when he does it you are rewarding the behavior. I don€št think you want to do that. What I suggest is that you put him to work when he sounds off. Have him do tight circles around your leg, back him up, have him immediately lope in circles, do something that puts him to work and gets his attention back on you. Devise something you can immediately have him do to get his attention off the other horses. If he is as willing as you say, he should go to work pretty easily for you. This way he is not being disciplined for a natural behavior, but rather made to understand if he does it, he goes to work pure and simple. This is a key to a lot of training principles; make what you don€št want hard (by putting the horse to work) and what you do want easy (being calm and nice). Let me know how it all goes, please.
Happy Holidays to you,
Sincerely, Franklin