Elizabeth Wood
photo by Phil West

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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth

I rode Classic Casey and he was a great tripod. Ride along and see our fun.

Tam Cunningham and Sing D Song show Dream Pusher and Nancy the way down to the creek .

Oh, Ohhhhh, Oh. Dream Pusher reassures his mom that everything is just fine.

Dream Pusher showed Nancy there was no reason to worry about creek crossings or water.

Nancy's grin tells the entire story.

Sing D Song and Tam Cunningham enjoy the water.

It helps to have a quiet confident horse lead a more timid horse/rider through the water. Barbo has been trail riding many times but it was Allison's first time out on a "real" trail and her first time crossing a creek.

Allison Moul and Barbo were soon cantering through the water.

Barbo and Allison Moul.

Allison, on Barbo, was grinning like the Cheshire Cat all the way back to the trailers.

Tammy Gullet and Knight Villain enjoyed the day of trail riding.

This ride home was uneventful and we crossed the bridge once more. I think I can honestly say, a good time was had by all - horses and riders alike.

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training notes from elizabeth

Our horses > training notes from elizabeth > August 19, 2007

Our training notes often show schooling at the farm but may also include cross country schoolings and trail rides away from the farm. Go back through our notes to see how we train our off-the-track Thoroughbreds and prepare them for new careers as sport horses.

Mamie and Queen's Rowdy Lad get by with a little help from their friends, Tammy and Knight Villain. August 19, 2007

Training Thoroughbreds to Go Through Water

We often get asked questions about how we train our Thoroughbreds to do things like fox hunting, crossing bridges and going through water. The secret of training any horse, Thoroughbreds are just more sensitive and easier to train, is to build their confidence in YOU as the leader. Never push them too fast and never, ever let them be scared. Have you heard the song lyrics, "I get by with a little help from my friends"?

Seven OTTBs from Bits & Bytes Farm went on a trail ride last Sunday. August 19, 2007

Horses are herd animals

Horses are herd animals and they look for a strong leader to guide the herd to safety. They trust their lives to the herd leader and if he/she shows weakness, the herd could die. The leader (the alpha horse) is always being challenged by the beta horse. The beta, or second in command, will move up to lead should the leader show weakness. The survival of the herd is at stake.

We promote the value of natural horsemanship. It teaches the horse that you are the leader and a leader that can be trusted. When you have established leadership on the ground the horse will trust you when mounted. Be sure to be a confident and strong leader or the beta horse (your horse) will take charge.

Mamie and Queen's Rowdy Lad cross a creek for the first time. It was Mamie's first trail ride ever! "Rowdy" has been through ponds while fox hunting. This was a good pairing - Green rider, seasoned horse.

When we are teaching a young horse new skills such as riding in a group and maintaining proper distance from the horse in front, crossing a bridge or going through a creek, we bring along a more seasoned horse to give the young or green horse more confidence. When we have a strong equine leader who is not afraid, the other horses will quietly follow IF their riders also show leadership. If you are afraid, this will be telegraphed to the horse and the horse will refuse to do what scares you because you are not showing leadership.

We took seven horses out on a trail ride. We had green riders and green horses but we also had seasoned riders and experienced horses for support. Some of the horses had trail riding experience and some of the riders did and some did not. All of the riders had been working with their horses on the ground and in the arena so they were paired well to tackle new goals.

The First Test - Thoroughbreds Crossing a Wooden Bridge

Before we had hardly gotten started we came upon our first challenge - a wooden bridge that spans a creek that was 30 feet below. It has only a low wooden fence to keep you from stepping off. You can see right through the fence, all the waaay down to the creek bottom.

The First Test - Thoroughbreds Crossing a Wooden Bridge
You go first, NO, YOU go first . . . Elizabeth explains how to cross the bridge.

We all gathered together before the bridge while I explained that many of these horses had been over that bridge without incident. I told the riders to just look to the other side of the bridge - and not down to the bottom of the creek. I said that the horses would follow the more experienced horses without question. I got a few good looks from the riders but they were willing to give it a go.

Nancy Woodruff and Dream Pusher took the lead across the wooden bridge!

Unfortunately, I was mounted on an inexperienced horse so I had to ask another rider to take the lead. Nancy Woodruff and Dream Pusher stepped up took the lead across the wooden bridge! Nancy has only been riding a few years and this was only her second trail ride on "Dream". She rode on a hunter pace in Alabama the week before and we did a small trail ride the next day. Dream Pusher was purchased by Nancy as a Prospect Horse For Sale in February.

"Dream" is just four and only a few months off-the-track with a less experienced rider - but one who knows her horse. "Dream" and Nancy have done many lessons together - both on the ground and mounted. He trusts Nancy and she trusts him and together they led our group quietly across the wooden bridge. Not one of the horses was concerned. The riders faces tell another story but we all survived and it was on to the creek!

Conny Moebes and Tuck's St. Aly cross the bridge in front of Tammy Gullet and Knight Villain.

Once across the bridge we continued on our quest to find water to play in on this hot summer day. As we were riding along, the second lesson was learned. Riding in a large group with horses of all levels of training is not as easy as this group makes it look. Some horses walk faster than others, some lag behind and they all want to be in front - they ARE ex-race horses after all.

We took turns letting each horse take the lead and or be in the rear. Riders kept a safe distance behind any horse they were following.

We took turns letting each horse take the lead or be in the rear. The riders learned to keep a safe distance behind any horse they were following. This is good training for any of our horses who will go on to become fox hunters. Riding in a group creates all new dynamics for both the horse and the rider. The riders and the horses learned to keep calm and adjust their pace to keep together as a group.

Thoroughbreds learning to cross water.

At last we reached our real goal and test - the water crossing!

Many of the horses had played in this creek before but for many of the riders and some of the horses it was a new experience. Nancy had yet to get Dream Pusher into the water, Tam Cunningham was worried that Sing D Song would not cross a creek and Mamie Kerr just wanted to have a great experience with her new horse Queen's Rowdy Lad.

Who has the bigger grin, Sing D Song or his rider Tam Cunningham?

Sing D Song showed Tam that trotting through the creek was great fun even if you got water up your nose while I am just trying to keep my camera dry while riding Classic Casey.

I had a great time introducing Classic Casey to the creek. "Casey" is a brave horse and will usually go anywhere. He acted as my "tripod" for our ride. Casey has already shown that he likes to get wet. Barry did give "Casey" a lead one time through the creek with his "ride" for the day - F350.

Barry did give "Casey" a lead one time through the creek.
Barry and his "ride" did give "Casey" a lead one time through the creek.

We have to thank Barry for most of these wonderful photos. He rode ahead of us and captured all the fun of the day. Barry and F350 also got to play in the creek as you can see from my camera as I rode Classic Casey through the creek again.

We have to thank Barry for most of these wonderful photos. He rode ahead of us and captured all the fun of the day. He was also our groom and driver.

Tammy and Knight Villain had gone through this creek before and had a blast. Conny Moebes is our "Friend" from Germany. She had never been on a trail ride before. Now Conny was riding with her favorite Bits & Bytes Farm horse, Tuck's St. Aly and they got to play in the water! What fun they had.

Our riders were timid at first but once again an experienced horse lead the way. Barbo, with Allison Moul, walked with confidence into the creek and the other horses followed.

Tammy Gullet and OTTB Knight Villain cross water without hesitation.

Barbo, with Allison Moul, walked with confidence into the creek and the other horses followed.
Barbo, with Allison Moul, walked with confidence into the creek and the other horses followed.

Conny and "Aly" had a blast playing and trotting in the creek.

Conny rode her favorite Bits & Bytes Farm horse for sale, Tuck's St. Aly and they got to play in the water!

Elizabeth often rides with her camera slung about her arm.

I was glad that Classic Casey and none of the other horses decided to get down and roll. I've lost one camera that way! It was on Queen Rowdy Lad's first fox hunt years ago. Snake Proof dumped me and my camera in the pond - in December!