Groundwork and Lunging the Gaited Horse - Q&A with Ivy Schexnayder

[@nancygillilan1309]

I so enjoy your videos! I started working with a horse (who is now my best friend) about 3 years ago. We had had him for 7 but I didn't do much with him other than groom on a rare occasion. The situation changed and I now was faced with working with him (Ace). And it was just as you described: go get him, saddle him up, ride in the arena or on the trail, untack, turn loose. He stopped running from me when I went to go get him when he found out I brought treats (bribes!). But he didn't look too enthused to see me. We just weren't connected! So I decided to start over and just sit in the field with him...without treats. He came immediately to me, but totally ignored me the next 3 times I went into the field because I came without treats. What an eye-opener! We DIDN'T have a relationship; he came to me only because of what he could get from me. Lesson in life! But now, after taking many months with no riding whatsoever, our relationship has changed so much. Some days when I think I am going to ride, we don't. It isn't a priority (I don't show). He lets me know if he wants to. Sounds odd, but if I go to get him from the stall and he quietly turns around and walks out, we don't ride. If I follow him, he stops in a short distance and will let me put the halter on and even ride, but I don't. If I open the stall door and he practically puts his head in the halter on his own, now that is a day to ride and it is usually awesome! You are so right. Take the time and don't make everything "work". You have such words of wisdom, Ivy, and so much of what you say is not the trend in horse training these days, unfortunately! Sorry everyone for being so windy. It was such an "ah-ha" moment for me and to hear Ivy's talk; I couldn't help but share. My buddy Ace has taught me so much! I am so blessed to have him and blessed to have come across you, Ivy. Thank you!

[@clairebarker296]

Great as usual Ivy! (and Cloud!)

[@hannahgrizzley6067]

My horse is in his older 20s and had a hard time lunging. He loves free lunging, but its not always an option. When we use a line, he will go to the right, but refuses to go to the left. I want to be able to lunge to help learn how he moves better and teach him on the ground so we can get it right in saddle. On another note, when we are doing ground work together, he will not trot with me. He will walk, turn, back up, but no trotting. Both on ground and in saddle, we are working on leg cues and learning the 1, 2, & 3 points for moving his feet. He is very stomach sensitive. I do alot of brushing and rubbing my hands along his stomachs and sides and praise for relaxation but he still struggles and tries to take off to the smallest touch. He's doing alot better with moving his shoulders over though.

[@pbrecht6451]

Wow so glad I found you. I have a gaited horse and I love your style!

[@sharonbailey116]

Thank you for all you share, i was taught to put the horses head up to gait and he would never want to stay gaiting

[@age5520]

Hello Ivy, I just stumbled onto another one of your interesting videos. So, I’m hearing, no to ground work and yes to bonding. I am eager to bond with him in a positive way are there any video’s on this? And on skittishness & calming techniques too. My Griffin has a very smooth rack ( head bob side to side ) and a very hard trot ( back jarring). But when it’s good it’s soo fun. *** I’m very new to the Gaited horse world. This summer, I may have done the best or the worst thing in my life... I bought a Gaited horse without ever riding one or being trained on one. ( so utube is my only friend right now). Anyhooo, my barn buddy who is so proud of her beautiful young quarter horse has given me her Clinton Anderson DVD’s bc she has trained hers so well. But she doesn’t ride yet, so she has just been trained all the ground work. Now, I’m hearing what you’re saying about hyping him up to run from me. As my friend demonstrated round pin work on him -Griffin. My friends commented he was pissed off. Which is sad too me; but worse, it sounds very unproductive now too as I’m eager to bond positive. Thank you in advance for all you do for the Gaited community. Gaye and Griffin

[@IvyS]

Ground work is totally fine, but only if it has a purpose and the horse shows you that they are making progress. I do a lot of liberty work to bond with horses or just spend time sitting with them. Gaited horses are wonderful, but the gait can be very hard work. Other than the gait, they are like other horses. They all need training and patience, etc. I do some limited round pen work, but not too much. I think work in hand or on the lunge line is better. And I don't want people to get stuck doing ground work when they can ride and continue training from the saddle. :)

[@BasicallyCaramel]

This so much ur videos are so helpfully and the only resources I have. My Tennessee previous owner stopped riding him she wad scared. Now he is chubby and needs to lean. I am at the beginning and starts with low neck only, back up, connect mostly. I need to bond first and I am not riding him yet. what do you recommend to help him get back in shape while just doing some very first step in training ( that does not make him sweat at all btw)

[@svea2740]

What kind of bit would you recommend , in training stages and later for Racking with speed?

[@cathymanning2103]

I just got a new horse she is gated she will follow me everywhere but when you put the saddle on her she is very high strung and she hollers the whole time you are riding her she doesn’t put her head down she holds it high and she seems to hate the bit it is a no shank broken bit she is 12 years old how do I get her to calm down and enjoy riding with me please help

[@ericp726]

I'd like to see some groundwork exercises to get the horse's head down. I've been putting pressure on the lead rope and when he drops his head I release and praise. Are there lunging exercises to get the horse's head down that you recommend?

[@IvyS]

This video is a good start. It doesn't focus on head down, but notice how this horses lowers her head just doing this simple exercise. I am hoping to do some videos showing head down soon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX_XqXScdplgea8

[@deborareid7431]

Hello i got given a gated horse that is in the mid teens and the lady that had him owened him for a year and she pulled him out of a kill pen he was abused and very slim . She helped him rehab and worked with him for a year . she stated that he doesnt like men and is very head shy well she brought him down to me and what a mess he is the first thing he doesnt like to be caught, he doesnt stand still when being brushed he does alot of flenching and always has at least one eye on you as if he doesnt trust you. I know he may be alittle untrusting of me for im new in his life but he did this with her after being around her for a year. Then when mounting he moves out from the mounting block ( doesnt want or trust ) to be mounted, and before you have a chance to get feet in sturupps he moves out and wont stand still for you to place feet. Then she tells me she never had a bit in his mouth he only rides with a bitless bridle witch is fine but she was never able to let him be on loose rain. She told me he gates natural and told me when he gateing that same side the feet move together thats gateing. There was no four beat. She told me the 4 beat was a pace. This is my first gated horse i know nothing about training or gated horses . Im in my 60s and have always wanted a gated horse but could not afford to buy one ( where i live they are very spendy) west coast ( Oregon) so it looks like she just got rid of a head ach so she could get something better for her self. I tried to ride him after she went home and got him saddled after lots of slow movements and went to mounting block and could not get him to stand still so i took him for a long walk about a half mile from the house i was able to get on but he started moving out before i could get second foot in stirup i finally got him stopped about a block down the rode and tried to get foot in stirup ,could not when he went forward again same thing he was moving so fast i had a hard time getting him to slow down and when i tried to hang on with wrapping my legs around him he wanted to go faster ..help i dont think he is dangerous but i cant afford to fall off. So i guess i am asking where do i start with him. I know ground work and i know i need to treat him as any other horse even if he has been abused however how do i get him to trust me at such a late stage in his life when he has such big trust issues. I want to make this work with him i dont want to take a chance that he would end up back in kill pen. I ride my other horses about 3 times a week or i try to what should i do to get him to trust me and how long do i keep on trying. He has so meny issues however i think trust is the biggest. Im really not sure how to handle him and nor has any of his past owners

[@IvyS]

I'll help as much as I can. Keep watching all these videos. This one might help. You basically need to treat him like an untrained horse. You need to train him to do everything. fb.watch/h72cmW4CmI/

[@advmotorrad]

Hello i have a question

[@TheJackeeeo]

If a young gated horse tends to have a pace instead of gating properly, do you suggest lunging still? Or rather working on straight lines? Thanks!

[@IvyS]

I wouldn't recommend ground work as the main way to get gait. I ride and train them to relax and drop their head. Please watch a lot of the videos on this playlist that I have. kzbin.info/aero/PL67DE5DE81ED66250

[@IvyS]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5iQgXygjKyHi6M&list=PL67DE5DE81ED66250&index=24

[@IvyS]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g57ce2OBoMRmgck&list=PL67DE5DE81ED66250&index=22

[@TheJackeeeo]

@@IvyS Thanks for the suggestions. My Rocky is only 2 years and 3 months so he is not being worked under saddle at this point. A better question from me would have been, do you recommend lunging a young gated horse? I've trained Arabians much of my life and working with/training a gated horse for the first time has presented some challenges. I don't want to encourage him to pace but I also love lunging as a way of getting accustomed to the saddle and other cues. Thanks!

[@advmotorrad]

How to teach horse to stop quickly i mean when horse jam there back legs.. like we pull handbrack of a car and car rear wheels jam.. thats the thing i wants to know can you make a video on that .. i mean like cowboys do there horse stop. Thansk

[@IvyS]

Like a sliding stop? That is a reining kind of thing. I actually don't know how to help train that as I have never taught any of mine to do it. Sorry I can't help you. :)

[@advmotorrad]

@@IvyS thank you so much for quick reply no problem at all im happy you replied as a professionals. Love from Pakistan.. Regards usman

[@rickmccarthney4544]

Do gaited horses make goog driving horses? If they drive will they lose their smooth gait?

[@rickmccarthney4544]

Do Missouri Fox Trotters like to gallop?

[@advmotorrad]

Now im going to follow you on facebook 👍🇵🇰❤👌🙌

[@chantallamb8652]

I have a registered Tennessee walking horse who's 15 years old.♥️

[@jimmoore3705]

Lunging does nothing but train a horse to go in circles and creates a dull, unconnected horse. What we want is a horse thar connects with you both mentally and physically. Lunging will do the opposite.