Wilber’s previous trainer said that he was raring up and was too dangerous to ride. I quickly diagnosed the cause of his raring problem and progressed his training so that he became a very fun and productive horse to ride.

Training Progression of Wilbur: Phase 1

Introduction

Wilbur is a horse that recently came in for training. He is broke to ride but the previous trainer sent him home becase he was raring and deemed unsafe to ride. His owner doesn’t have any specific plans for him but would like him to be solidly broke with ne issues then we will assess his qualities and choose an appropriate career path for him.

Initial Observations

Saddle Fit

Wilbur has had some issues with saddle fit in the past. Upon initial examination, I noticed that he has prominent shoulder blades with a slight dip behind them. He also seems to be a bit weak in his back. These observations are crucial as they influence the saddle fit. After trying a few, I found a saddle that seems to be a decent fit for him, although not perfect. As his training progresses and he builds muscle his body will change and so will the saddle fit.

Muscle Development

Wilbur’s muscle development indicates that he might be heavy on his front end and weak in the back end. This imbalance could affect his ability to steer well, which aligns with the owner’s observation that he needs a “better handle.” Also horses that carry a lot of weight on their front end and ar weak in the back end tend to feel like they are “raring up” in their transitions  in order to get their body moving. What I am seeing in his body shape and developement fits with what the owner told me that he has been doing under saddle.

Training Exercises To Start On The Right Track

Leg Yield and Shoulder Lift

I started off the first few rides with riding him in a plain smooth ring snaffle. I chose this bit because it is a simple bit that is great for working on bending and flexing. The first exercise involved making contact with one rein and walking in a circle. This position is ideal for tipping his nose and lifting his shoulder to foften his fase and shift his weight from his front end to his back end to lift his shoulder. I tipped his nose with my left hand and applied contact with my left leg to lift his left shoulder and yeild it to the right. I repeated this on his right side and with repetition his face and body bacame softer and lighter. 

Bit I used during this phase.

Zigzag Backups

To build up his back muscles and hips, I introduced zigzag backups. This exercise also helps in lifting his shoulders, which is crucial for better steering. The zigzag backups involve asking Wilbur to back up and then move his shoulders over, alternating between left and right.

Bend Counter Bend Circles

Another exercise introduced was the Bend Counter Bend Circles. This exercise helps in steering, lifting the back, and is foundational training for a spin. It involves walking in a circle with the horse’s nose tipped to the inside and then asking him to counter-bend with his head to the outside. Tis exercise further stregthens his back and hips.

Challenges and Solutions

Weight Distribution

Wilbur’s weight distribution is primarily on his front end, making it difficult for him to steer and causing him to pull on the bit. The training exercises I described above teach him to shift his weight to his back end making steering the front end easier for him to do.

Rearing Issue

The owner mentioned that Wilbur has occasionally lifted off the ground in the front end. This is likely due to his weight being on the front end, making it difficult for him to move laterally or back up without hopping.

This is the video of introducing these exercises.

The Journey of Training: Phase 2 with Wilber

The Initial Challenges

Heavy Front End

There are no quick fixes in good horse training. As Wilber bradually built up muscle and became stronger His problems decreased and his steering became better. As he became stronger his upward and downward transitions became better and his “popping up”, gradually became less frequent. This “popping up” is common in horses that don’t know how to shift their weight to the back end when doing transitions. I also see it a lot in timed event horse that buck when departing a barrel. In this situation the horse is trying to transition up in the back end but it has so much weight on the front end that it can not transition. The easy remedy is to buck.

Saddle and Padding Adjustments

As the horse’s body changes with training, so did his saddle and padding needs. Wilber was building muscle so his body was constantly changing shape. Due to this I had to watch for these changes with each ride and change pad or saddle as his body changed. 

Training Exercises

Walking Circles and Fence Turns

Continueing to advance Wilbers training I introduced an new exercise. This exercise involved walking towards the fence at a 45-degree angle and then turning into the fence without stopping. This forced him to shift his weight to his back end, engaging and stregthening his muscles. This exercise advanced to a trot then a lope.

Bridle Adjustments

The bridle used in this phase was a low port leverage bit. It is designed to help him lift his shoulders, break at the poll, and engage his hips. He was not thrilled about this bit but it’s essential for his development. As Wilber coninued to become better using his body he disliked the bit less.

Bit I used during this phase.

Counter Bending Work

Counter bending exercises were introduced to help him lift his shoulders and engage his back better. This involved asking him to tip his head to one side while moving his shoulders, even if he was a bit resistant at first.

Observations and Adjustments

Listening to the Horse

Every time he pushed against the bit, it was a signal that he was relying too much on his front end. I could feel this resistance in my hands. Each time he pushed on one of my hands I would lift the corresponding shoulder. This was the beginning of teaching Wilber to be lighter on my hands.

Speed and Control

The exercises were performed at a controlled pace. The focus was not on speed but on engaging the correct muscles. Working too fast would have compromised the quality of the training.

Behavioral Signs

This phase was very hard for Wilber. This is the phase where he started implementing all of the rounding and strength building that we were working on. There was a huge inprovement in how Wilber used his body in this stage but his progress was far from done. Were is a video of working Wilber in this phase. 

Wilbur’s Training Progress: Phase 3 Update

Cow Training

To continue advancing Wilber’s training he needed more engagement from his back end, he needed more push. To accomplish this I introduced cows which gave Wilber a reason to move. Giving his a reason to move forward works much better that more suprring or kicking. The cows were effective in pulling forward motion out of him, allowing me to work on the muscles to a higher lever than what i previously was able to accomplish. 

Another Bit Change

For this part of his training I switch back to a snafflr bit. This change allows me to have better control without being too harsh on his mouth, especially when working around the cows. 

Shoulder and Leg Commands

Wilbur has been responding well to leg and rein cues for shoulder movement. Working cow his the previous shoulder movement a reason. With a reason for what I ask him to do he is more willing to the movements I ask. I used these movement to correctly position on the cow. 

Trotting and Confidence Building

We’ve also been working on a slow trot towards the cows to build his confidence. Wilbur is still a bit unsure around the cows, but he’s showing signs of wanting to engage, which is a positive development.

Challenges and Next Steps

While Wilbur has made progress, he still has a tendency to pull back when asked to move forward without the cows. However, now that we’ve managed to pull some ‘go’ out of him, I can start working on his ‘stop’. You can watch this phase of his training in the video, Hustle to the cow to develop hind end engagement.

Wilbur’s Journey: Phase 4 of Training Unveiled

The Transformation

From “No Go” to “Let’s Go!”

Initially, Wilbur was a horse that needed constant spurring to even move. Now, the moment I step on him, he’s ready to go. This is a significant milestone as it indicates not just physical fitness but also a mental willingness to engage in the tasks at hand.

Building the Right Muscles

One of the key focuses has been building Wilbur’s muscles correctly. Tracking cows has been an effective way to achieve this. The activity allows me to position his body optimally to build the muscles he needs. It’s important to note that the only way to build the correct muscles is by riding him, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.

Bit Changes for Better Control

I’ve also made another bit change for Wilbur. While it’s still a snaffle bit, this one weighs around four to five pounds, encouraging him to pick it up and hold it better. This has improved his responsiveness significantly.

Cow Tracking: More Than Just an Exercise

Positioning and Control

Using cows in training serves multiple purposes. It gives Wilbur a reason to move forward and allows me to position him correctly in relation to the cow. This is crucial for building the right muscles and for future cow-related activities, should he be trained for that.

A Tool for Training

Right now, the cows are more of a tool than a training goal. They serve as an aid to achieve other training objectives. For example, opening and closing gates while tracking cows gives Wilbur a reason for the various movements, making him less likely to resent the training.

The Remarkable Transformation of Wilbur: A Training Journey

Summary and Conclusion

From Lethargy to Liveliness

When Wilbur first arrived, he was lethargic, lacked steering, and was front-end heavy. He needed significant work on impulsion from the back end and lifting his shoulders. Over time, I’ve been able to transform him into a horse that not only moves well but also enjoys the process.

Body Positioning and Steering

One of the main issues Wilbur had was his body positioning. His front-end heaviness was affecting his movement and even causing him to rear up occasionally. This wasn’t a behavioral issue but rather a physical one. We’ve spent considerable time working on his bend, counter-bend, and moving his shoulders over. The result? Wilbur now has excellent steering, thanks to the use of leg cues to lift his shoulders and guide him.

Building Muscles and Forward Momentum

I’ve focused on building the right muscles to make it easier for Wilbur to move. He now has a nice trot and transitions smoothly. His forward momentum, powered from the back end, has improved dramatically. Gone are the days when he would toss his head up and down to gain momentum.

Working with Cows

Working cows was an invaluable part of Wilbur’s training. They’ve helped pull the forward momentum out of him, giving him a purpose and direction.

You can watch all of Wilbers training videos on his YouTube play list titled, Wilber.

Final Thoughts

Wilbur’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From a horse that was front-end heavy and lacked enthusiasm, he’s transformed into a willing and able companion. His improved body positioning and muscle development have made it easier for him to move, and he’s now a joy to ride. I have several other training transformations on my blog catagory, Horse Training Journeys. 

All of the valuable information I have learned through 25+ years of horse training and showing, I share with you to help you to improve your equestrian knowledge. Thank You.