Western Pleasure Training with Jamie Novak (part 1)

Western Pleasure Training. Some basic concepts for getting a horse straight and in balance. Thoughts on the training process.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• western
• pleasure
• training
• horses
• freevideo
• aqha
• online
• trainer
• riding
• NovakEquineCenter
• Jamienovak
• horsetraining

[Sulynn707]

Jamie, Thanx so much for this! I knew I could bring my guys along into the bridle myself. This video series is exactly where I have been stalled with all four of my horses for so long. Sending them to trainers didn't get me anything except heartache as they don't keep them between their legs, they pull up and off balance they go. Mechanical, rather sad look if you will. Great insight about holding their breath and bracing up waiting to be jabbed with the spur Took 'em off and got great results

[NovakEquineCenter]

@Sulynn707

Im very glad to hear that you got some results!! :) That's really the only reason Im out here is to help those that are struggling with things I might have struggled with and understand now and to keep learning...I always say, there's plenty of people I can help, and then there's plenty of people that can help me....:)

[horsesarecoolio101]

how would i get my 15-17 yr old gelding to do western pleasure ...have a less choppy fast trot .. and get him to lope?

[NovakEquineCenter]

@horsesarecoolio101

As I will say in all cases, make sure your horse is physically feeling good...(hocks dont hurt, teeth are done, feet are balanced, and your gear fits right) minus those things, a typical cause for difficulty in getting a horse to lope, especially if you say he has a choppy and fast trot, is there is too much tension in the horse and likely in your body. Tension / lack of relaxation due to negative anticipation of a gear, such as the lope, can be common...usually it doesnt

[NovakEquineCenter]

@horsesarecoolio101

appear in total refusal to lope, rather just an "added gear" such as a fast trot before going into it.. the 2 things that need to be changed are the tension factor when you cue for the lope and what part of the body responds FIRST to your cue. The FIRST place a horse wants to respond is in the chest and shoulders, NOT the hindquarters. This is a reaction we train out of the horse by teaching it to respond in the hind end first...the better the horse gets at that, the

[NovakEquineCenter]

@horsesarecoolio101

more broke your horse is/becomes.. I would need a little more history and/or a video to see exactly where the communication errors are happening in which you are wanting one thing and getting something other than what you asked for...

[HowlerOfTheWolves]

@NovakEquineCenter really embarressed, and it took awhile to get him away from the gate. I was a little shaken up, but kept walking around. He was still acting strange, and twisting his head to the side while biting the bit. I'll work with him on saturday, but I'm getting a little frustrated... Thanks for the tips, though, I'll try them! ! ^^

[HowlerOfTheWolves]

@NovakEquineCenter I will definetly take your advice! ^^ Last night I took him out into the arena, and there were about five other people in there, and I tried sitting deep into the saddle, only I couldn't get him to stop without having to pull really hard against his mouth.. I do my best to be gentle, but he is pretty stubburn. Plus, he LOVES to slam people's legs against the fence. He dragged me over to the gate, and literally tried to open the gate while dragging my leg against it. I was

[NovakEquineCenter]

@HowlerOfTheWolves

pant pockets in your saddle so your weight doesnt throw him forward ...and so you can better feel his body stiffening and bracing or relaxing and saying "uncle" ....this is very important so you can get the timing down for your release....make sure you are breathing steady and slowly ....not holding your breath....theres so much I could keep saying but my fingers are cramping...good luck ...i hope you understand what I am tryng to explain..

[NovakEquineCenter]

@HowlerOfTheWolves

technically his shoulders/chest are double timing the speed of his back end and you need to get them in sync....now you have to "work" his face with massaging type motions that are small and feel for pressure....ask him with your hands to ease off your hands by not bracing against his mouth but rather working him with small "chiseling" motions to get him to say "uncle" in the body then release and when he rushes again, repeat....stay back with your upper body and keep your