Posted 2009-11-14 7:00 AM (#113157) Subject: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
Hi All... Just getting started on the Trail Riding scene. I have a 3 year old mare that has been shown in arenas. We get along great there. Here's my question... I took her for a small trail ride at Jester Park here in Iowa. The trails are wide and really easy. She really seemed to enjoy herself. So we go to Brushy Creek the following day. When the trail narrowed down to single file and she had to cross small creeks, (first time with water) she wanted to jump them and she got nervous about. We took our time and didn't rush her. Couldn't get her to stop wanting to jump. When the trail widened again and we rode side by side she calmed down and acted like it was no big deal. Then the trail narrowed and up went her nerves again. So, I figure she's thinking that something out is stalking her if she's by herself. I put her in the middle of our small group, 8 riders, and it didn't deem to matter. The only time she was on a loose rein was when we were out in the open feilds. How do I get her to stop jumping the small streams? By the way this was only her 2rd trail ride.
Posted 2009-11-14 1:08 PM (#113164 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
I went to Brushy for the first time last weekend, spent 5 days down there. LOVED IT!
Anywho...with your girl, she's still very young. I would work on building up her confidence with lots of ground work and ground driving.
She's still growing physically and mentally, please give her the time she needs, a solid foundation and before you know it, she'll be an awesome trail horse.
Posted 2009-11-14 2:42 PM (#113170 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Hopefully, one of the horses you ride with is well trained. If so, put her behind this horse and when you come to the nervous parts of the trial. Tail gait the horse in front of you. I mean really tail gait. Have her nose touching the horse in front of you. She'll pull the lead horse's confidence and then you can start getting just a little farther away from the horse in front.
Posted 2009-11-14 5:21 PM (#113171 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
We had several older, very experienced trail horses with us. They help alot I gotta tell ya. I know she's young and I don't want to push her. I'll have to dig myself a water hole here at home in the spring and work on those water crossings. I wonder if there are any easier trails at Brushy? At least easier than the one we went on for the first time. WE parked at the north side I believe. First time I was there too.
Posted 2009-11-14 6:17 PM (#113173 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
Ok, I'll keep that in mind. I don't need a challange right now. I've also been to Palo Duro Canyon.....Now let me tell you, there are places there thats "Ridin' the Rim". I rode a mule ( first time for that too). Had a great time. They took me places that I don't care to go back to. Don't get me wrong, I had fun. That's just not my idea of a trail ride. Now I know why they put britchin straps on those mules..LOL
Posted 2009-11-16 12:26 AM (#113213 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
teach your horse to lead forward one step at a time (it will later translate to riding forward one step at a time) You may roll out a blue tarp in a long strip and teach her to cross it.. You may also ride her into a wider stream and ride up (or down) stream a little let her sniff, snort and play (but not roll LOL!)
Posted 2009-11-16 4:15 AM (#113216 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
She has great ground manners. I never thought about a tarp, sounds like a great idea. thanks She's been rode in trail classes a horse show, but it's not the same as a real trail ride.
Posted 2009-11-16 7:50 AM (#113218 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
Matsels bridge in Iowa has nice easy trails. I am guessing you are from DM. Also Volga has some nice trails. Those are my kind of riding for gaited horses. I took my scared horse to a trainer in Wi that did TONS of ground work. Amazing results for my trail horse. They have a ditch that is wide and narrows up to close the horse a little, triple step, large earth mover tires, flags, you name it they expose the horse to it.All natural horsemanship. They just have so many obstacles that you couldn't build. 5 acres of them.
Posted 2009-11-16 2:17 PM (#113235 - in reply to #113157) Subject: RE: Brushy Creek in Iowa
Veteran
Posts: 214 Location: lyle,mn
Here is one thing to try to stop your horse from jumping the creek is to turn her a make her step down or up stream for a few steps before letting her cross. My hubby's mare will try to jump the small streams. This works for him and don't let the mare rush, one step at a time and point her up or down stream.
Brushy Creek in Iowa
