2 yr old with pigeon toes

Question
I recently bought an almost 2 year old Filly with pigeon toes. before I got her the people that owned her did nothing with her. I have been working on her feet with a ferrier and they seem to be straightening out a little each trim. So far I have had no problems with her. She is really a good horse and I love her very much. I have been working with her on cues in the round pen but I am as new to everything as she is. I was wondering what kind of routine we should be using? Like how many times should I get her to walk around? How many times to trot and how many to canter.   I am also wondering if I should be using a different pen to train in because of her pigeon toes? Do you have any advice?

Thanks
Christy in Ojai

Answer
hi christina
you caught be right before i was about to sign off lol. ok lets see. well first off its good that your getting her feet straighten out. you can only do it when there this young. as far as the round pen goes there is a great method of natural horsemanship. its alittle bit of pat parrelli and some of john lyons. first you want to establish the voice commands. when round penning her keep a lounge line on her and say the commands clearly. start with whoa and walk. if she doesn't do it step alittle in front of her, jiggle the line and repeat the command. for whoa do the same thing but another way to help her learn it is when your leading her stop and jiggle on the lead rope and say whoa. when you start to trot and canter fallow the same steps and just make her switchher gaits continuously. have her go a few rounds at a trot then a few at a canter then one at a trot then one at a walk the trot then canter. just mix it up so she doesn't get bored. shes still a baby so you don't want to work her too long. after about 5 minutes her brain turns off and she looses interest. so once she does it right end it there. never end on a bad note. always have her leave the round pen calm(which is the best place to be actually) ok so now your horse knows her basic voice commands. the next step is to turn into you when you say whoa. she will be confused about this at first but its ok. put the line on her and when you say whoa pull her to face you and say how good she is. you can even give her a pet. once she does that on her own the next step is her stopping and coming to you. so when you tell her to whoa and turn, pull her and have her walk to you. at the same time use your hand to motion her in ( like your index finger is pulling her in) and at the same time say come her. this is a sign on dominance. the horse walking up to you tells you that she gives in to you. after she learns this on the line take it off and practice it when shes loose.nest you can teach her is side pressure. place your left hand on her neck and your right hand on her side. put alittle pressure in your hands and push her. when her front legs cross over praise her and tell her shes a good girl. as she figures this out you will have to use less and less pressure.make sure you do this one both sides! when shes at the point where all you have to do is place your hand on her side and she will move over then your ready to go to the saddle.

since shes still a baby you shouldn't ride her yet. but, you can teach her to carry a saddle and wear a bit. slowly introduce this. first start with a surcingle. don't tighten it up tight to fast. do it gradually. hole by hole and talk to her and praise her for standing still. ( also do this in the round pen or her stall but be safe she might buck) its ok if she bucks alittle bit at first especially when she goes into a canter. let her do it then after that she knows what it is and it cant be allowed. if she bucks keep the line on her and jiggle it when she bucks. after shes used to the surcingle go ahead and put on the saddle without the stirrups. let her smell it and keep talking to her. once shes fine with that gradually tighten the cinch more and more until is able to hold the saddle in place as if you were going to ride in it. for introducing the bit you can just put it on her in the stall. have some grain in your hand and place the bit under it so as shes eating the grain you can slide the bit in her mouth.make sure you don't yank her ear though when your putting it on. while shes wearing the bit just give her treats or some grain and leave it on for an hour or so. after shes comfortable with the bit and saddle tou can start t teach her to break at the poll or " get on the bit" depending on if shes an English or western horse will depend on how you set her head. but since your just introducing it it wont matter. go ahead and get draw reins and bring them from the belly up between the front legs and up to the sides.(it works best with a surcingle) make it to wear the horse can barely feel the reins pulling on her mouth. if she keeps her mouth open then you can use a nose band or a drop nose band as well. even id shes a western horse it will teach her to to keep it closed. also is is best to use a happy mouth bit while doing all this work while shes young. it will ensure a nice soft mouth. over time as she gets used to it tighten the reins and get her used to going forward on the bit. do not let her back up, its the first step to rearing. never do these sessions for long. no more then 5 minutes. for a horse it can be very uncomfortable and make their poll ache. so after each session stretch her neck. just lift up on her head and press down behind her ears on her poll. she will love it.
well i feel like iv written a book for you lol. if you have any steps or problems during the part of training just let me know or if you have any other kind of questions om here. have fun with your filly and keep me posted on how shes doing.
Amanda Groff