Buckaroo Texan Blog

 Do you every get bogged down with your horsemanship and feel like you are just sitting in the saddle?   Maybe you want your horsemanship to move forward but you seem stuck.  You are not able to get your horse to “do” anything.

 It may be as simple as a mental block on your part.   It is very seldom a horse problem, but rather a rider problem.   Take the hard part out of horsemanship and just ride.  That,  sounds simple and it is.  A lot of the time we are thinking to hard, asking the horse too hard, demanding too hard of ourselves and our horse.   Just take a slow breath, look ahead and just ride.   Enjoy your ride!

A process to help get your horsemanship moving is to think out a plan.  

 1.  Think about what you would like to happen, for example- a nice round circle.

2.  Picture you and your horse moving in a circle.

3.  Make a decision that you want this and just flow with the idea. Start at the walk, get it good before moving to the trot and lope. Look for those horse trys.  This may take a few days to several weeks, depending onyour skill and how often you ride.

4.  If you are having trouble with circles, go slow and envision the circle and let your seat and legs follow the horse in a circle.   Your intention will set your seat and legs for a circle and let your horse follow your form.  It your horse does not follow your form, guide the horse using the reins, to enforce your seat and legs then release by moving your hands slightly forward when you feel your horse form the thought of getting in the right position.  

Do some research on setting a horse up for circles or whatever maneuver you want, then think it through in your mind, then add your horse.   Get coaching if you need too.  That can shorten the time to teach your horse if you are not real sure or real consistent.

 Add a little at a time with your horse, let the horse soak, or get the idea, then just ride on.   Doing small bits of maneuvers at a time and changing up what you are asking and then leaving the horse alone will advance your communication with your horse by leaps and bounds.  This may mean doing half of a circle and then riding on, repeating to build  to a full circle.  It may seem very little today, but the horse has a tremendous capability to learn.    You will be surprised in the advancement in a week or two.   That is a short time to develop something that will last a lifetime between you and your horse and be solid between you.

Remember, to train for tomorrow, do a little bit today.  Just ride!