Building confidence on cross country

VLOG 103 | Create by Elisa Wallace & Timothy Harfield
In this episode, I visit Full Gallop Farm to school three new off the track thoroughbreds owner by Michelle Chisholm. While there, I take the opportunity to work through some issues that are fairly common in young horses, including being gate sour and spooking at unfamiliar objects. The important thing to remember when working with young horses like this is that these kinds of response are completely natural and understandable, and to be patient as they start figuring it all out. I only have two rules at this stage of a horse’s development: (1) don’t try to buck me off, and (2) don’t run away with me.

[@lainam269]

I truly love your philosophy. You allow the horses to think, not to just mindlessly do what you ask. I like how you allow the horse to spook but don't allow them to be dangerous. I really love how you are just "chill" about situations, you don't panic. I really enjoy watching you work with these young horses.

[@rangerthompsonmusic472]

That log is scarier than any horror movie! I can practically hear it chewing up the last horse that tried to jump over it . . .

[@jessicastrong6706]

Have you ever had a horse that likes to roll in water try to when schooling xc? Haha I have 😂

[@JustHorseyMie]

But logs eat small, black horses... didn't you know? On a serious note, I really like these videos where you explain how you think and what you are doing because I learn so much. We don't have a creek, but I taught my pony to feel secure about water using a huge puddle that would form in the driveway, and the first time she went x-country training, she cantered into the water as if it was nothing.

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

Since they are related to Johnny I can't wait to see updates on their progress.

[@elfinmoreton7190]

honestly, my dream is to work for elisa omg

[@lindsaymillereventing3387]

Obviously not in all cases, but most that I’ve experienced, war horses tend to be a bit braver than the younger ones with only a few starts. My 2017 RRP horse was almost a war horse (48 starts) and she will jump anything you point her at... that a little bit of an issue sometimes because she’s tried to jump out of the dressage ring a couple of times... she hadn’t seen any water until the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover because the only place with water near me had their water closed. She jumped RIGHT in with little hesitation and ended up finishing 25th overall... she had a pretty hilarious ditch jump with her legs LITERALLY by her eyes. It’s hard to believe that was less than 2 months ago... it feels like it’s been a while. I loved this video and how you explain what you are doing and why. I learn so much by watching your videos with the greenies!

[@laurenmclain6378]

Thank you so much for sharing!! It's really neat to hear how you introduce young horses to cross country. I love your simple rules...They aren't allowed to take off with you or buck you off. Obviously, they're possibly going to have questions, find certain things to be frightening, be barn sour, etc..., but establishing that certain things just aren't ok, calmly letting them process things as they go along, and not making a big deal out of anything really gives them the chance to learn that they can do it and actually have fun doing it. Young horses won't be perfect and that's ok. It's important to be as safe as possible for your sake and for theirs, and building their confidence helps with that, and is crucial for getting them to a point where you can then work on refining the things that might need improvement.💙🐎

[@haffiepony266]

I love Full Gallop!! I also absolutely love the way you don’t force a horse into everything, you let them really look and think instead of pushing them to do something they aren’t ready for.

[@susanford6926]

It was great to see sharpie when he was new at this!🐎🍎🥕🐴⭐

[@diamondj2008]

I’m 14 with a 4 year old gelding and 10 year old mare and we ride western/ stock but they enjoy jumping and have shown interest so I’m going to start them with cross country as my mare has done it in pony club 4 years ago now and my gelding likes to jump fallen things on the farm, this is so great because we don’t have much confidence but I’m learning things at school and these tips have been fantastic and I’ll have to try them out! Xx your horses are beautiful btw!

[@oliviatownsend4183]

It’s so cool that some of the top riders are in Aiken, especially in winter, because it’s barely an hour away from me!

[@victoriamorgan7046]

I don’t know if you know this, but Slate is a domesticated pony - not a wild pony. He’s only suppose to jump man made things because logs eat domesticated ponies. Just kidding but either way, I loved this video!

[@dpetty3461]

Awesome video! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with the rest of us.

[@ameliahuebsch568]

It's just amazing how all these horses just pop right over the ditches! Usually those are a big struggle. Hats off to you!

[@amechelb]

It’s so crazy to see Sharpie on this then think back on his xc from this year 😁

[@emilycopley5253]

I love full gallop! my first event was there:)

[@jim95053]

Love these videos!

[@leonslionessnz4867]

Love watching all the baby thoroughbreds working everything out!

[@sarahvickery4031]

Just love this video, have watched it so many times when I'm feeling nervous about xc. I love the calmness and simplicity of the training. Thank you for this post x

[@cboies2710]

Love watching your videos, I learn a lot from them. Thanks for sharing them.

[@agfhorsemanship7054]

Aww they all did so good! I love young babies!

[@rengab137]

I love how calm you are! When the horse she was on was not so sure about going into the water and started to panic I would have freaked out a bit!

[@bucephalus8435]

As always you're amazing. The horses are lucky to be in your compassionate and more than capable hands.

[@emilydigiovanni6546]

YES ELISA love these videos! keep them coming you are such an inspiration

[@-myequineworld-739]

You and all of those horses look awesome!! I love videos where you talk as through everything! Slate is so cute and funny!

[@chelseajdequestrian6438]

Man i needed this video so bad in my life!!! Thank you! You've really helped me out with a lot :)

[@eventergirl7111]

You are such a good rider

[@thinkinoutloud.1]

Good work Ellisa

[@iveydeaton6538]

Full Gallop is one of my all time favorite places to go for schooling in Aiken. My barn frequently goes there, we all love the facility (but, of course, not the drive to get there.)

[@annacox8795]

Wow sniper has grown up so much since this!

[@bridgetkenney1785]

Lateral Flexion is also very helpful for me in calming a horse down

[@ethlux6629]

Very beautifol ❤️

[@strawberrybird]

The log is lava!

[@dianereiser6417]

The log and the small black horse. 😆

[@IdaOgKelly]

please do more of these! love it! i have a horse "young" at heart, she is only 8 but is way behind in education. i want an eventer out of her, but i dont know :) she is huge at over 180 cm but she misbehave sometimes, she rears and sometimes buck. what do you do if the horse buck? you say no taking of or bucking with you, so what do you do when you come to a horse that does that:) very curious! mine does it when she is way to happy or when she's protesting of something is hard.

[@stephaniem7263]

I love your videos! I’m just curious why you don’t seem to get to may mares to work with? Is Hwin the only mare at your barn? Is there something you don’t like about them or are geldings just your preference?

[@rebekaharper3382]

What would be a tool for horses that like to land and buck on XC or that just get a little fresh and want to buck? My ottb is pretty mellow and lazy but sometimes on XC hes gets bucky when he sees other horses gallop by or if we are in a group when its our time to wait and rest he gigs and flicks his head the whole time. Any advise on some fixes for those? Thanks:)

[@WallaceEventing]

Rebeka Harper generally if I have a horse that I know is not in any pain from the saddle or has had chiro. They are just being silly after i will keep their head up and make them gallop on After. So they have to think about their feet.

[@stephaniem7263]

Oh and when are you getting your next mustang? 😍

[@FancySassy80]

I lost so much confidence last year after my baby dumped me twice.. i feel like i'm getting nothing done this year!.. advice on how to get my confidence back, both on the trail and over fences?

[@redrumtruecrime]

Are you still having problems?

[@Emily-kp9fr]

In the situation that a horse took off with you what would you do?

[@lindsaymillereventing3387]

What I have been told is try to turn them in a circle because they won’t be able to take off if their head is bent. I have seen a video where a horse took off with a man but he was in an area too narrow to circle, so I have no clue what I would do then, other than sit back...

[@jeanfish7]

@@lindsaymillereventing3387 lean forward and ride it out... Worst thing to do is lean back with a bolting horse...experienced faller of bolting pony before I learned :) ( I was a child then. Pony 10.2 hand Welsh gelding horrible little guy!)

[@redrumtruecrime]

@@jeanfish7 those Welshies are crafty devils, a lot of them have started off doing lead rein and once off that handler control they totally take the p#ss! They shake their head up above contact, grab the bit and go, usually they'll throw in a buck and drop the shoulder knowing no kid can sit to that! They then run off snatching mouthfulls out the hedge and won't be caught! A real worry when a fully tacked up pony is loose and away from home! They know your thoughts of wanting to kill them (due to the worry they'll cause an accident), so they proceed to act out until the jig is up! A small adult rider is often the best solution as kids just aren't strong enough to win the battle. I rode a 12.2 welsh mare as a 9 -10 yr old and she would bolt everytime i took her out, even in residential areas. Needless to say I learned to bail out. Flat out galloping skidding on tarmac and hurtling around corners was not safe to "sit out", it was terrifying!

[@sharroon7574]

Is it right to assume the little black horse didn't see the great outdoors much before you took him on?

[@ano.theart3050]

What was the second bit you mentioned sorry ? The Mylar?

[@canalfechado1381]

You go to brazil?

[@MosaikHorse]

Can anyone recommend tall boots for a short wide calf?

[@gae946]

Drachen Einhorn I've always had thick, short calves so I use Ariat Heritage tall boots. They can be a bitch to break in but they are very comfortable!

[@hannahgunter3552]

What happened to Slate again? Where is he now?

[@WallaceEventing]

Hannah Gunter sold

[@lucylottie8222]

Why did you delete your how to work with a barn sour horse video you just uploaded??? Xx

[@WallaceEventing]

Lucie Wodskou it’s the same video there were errors with the title and such.

[@jeanfish7]

@@WallaceEventing are Sniper and Riot Gear related in any way? The name coincednces are interesting ie how man o War, Sea Biscuit and War Admiral were all related.

[@QhJumper12]

What about a young horse who rears when impatient?

[@WallaceEventing]

Brooklyn Jones circles are your friend. Getting them to redirect and change directions will give them something to think about. Then make sure to reward to even the smallest try.

[@canalfechado1381]

First!

[@eventergirl7111]

Did you just change the name

[@redrumtruecrime]

I love how you let horses be horses, ie letting them roll etc. So many competion horses are treated like ornaments, stabled with rugs covering head to tail even in summer to stop their coats being bleached by the sun, and keeping them clean. A lot of the time they get no turn out, they are lunged, schooled and put back in the stable. This creates frustrated, itchy and nasty stable mannered horses. Sadly I've witnessed this all too often here in the 🇬🇧. Owners say if they turned the horse out it would injure itself going ballistic in the field (due to it being stabled 23 hours a day). Its a pathetic excuse as I believe they all need time out in pasture and company of another field mate. The showing community are the main culprits, but it happens in all disciplines. They don't want dirty horses that need 45 mins of grooming before tacking up. I don't know if this is common across the pond? But hats off to you Elisa for allowing them to be horses. It gives them no excuse to be over fresh or nasty to handle when they are mentally relaxed and their herd desires are met. ❤

[@withinthesupernova_]

Please stop using bits.