A Few Horse Questions

Question
I have READ THE NOTIFICATION

Hi Rick,

I've been watching your videos for a while.

I wish I had seen your videos sooner though, I had a trainer for a year who taught me how to ride. I should've realised that if she can't control her own horses that she isn't a good person to learn from. Her 'abused' rescue horse would not go near people, would bolt if you went near it and when she rode it she threatened to put spurs on him. Her other horse, took at the most a minute to stop and tried to bite if you tightened the girth. The other gelding was very forward and spooked at a lot, occasionally bucking. She told me I can't go bitless until my horse can go well in a bit, she also used riding crops alot and thought that her horse 'missed her' - she moved it to her small backyard so he didn't freak out when she was not there. Safe to say we've ditched her and won't ever be contacting her again!

To my questions:

Encouraging a horse to come on pasture:
My horse is stalled 24/7 so he never comes to me. Just kidding!
He is out in pasture all the time on great grass. He is with about 10 other horses and loves it! However I am having trouble on a lot of acreage to get the herd to come when called. You do have a video on a similar subject but it didn't specifically address teaching them to come. I've stopped trying to teach my horse who is middle in the herd, but teaching the lead horse to come. It actually works (for now) as they are in a small pasture (5 acres) while the big one (40 acres) gets all the weeds sprayed. How can I encourage them to come everytime? I bring food everytime. If I continue to do this every time will they start to come? Can I train them with a call to come? What do you find works best? I can walk out to them but I am super unfit and walking up the steep hills kill me, hahaha.

Rain Rot: I've read the page on your site but the symptoms for mud fever seem different to my horses rain rot. I've got two rugs for him but I have used it once and never again. I don't like them and they trap the heat in and cause him to sweat which could make the rain rot worse. He gets it on one side of his croup. Not too bad just lots of little scabs. I know you don't like rugs, and neither do I but I am considering getting one. Its a special lightweight rug that covers mainly the top part of the horse prone to rain rot. My horse is an older horse too, and it being winter here in Australia it is getting extremely cold. He doesn't have a fully developed winter coat due to previously being in a slightly warmer area. What do you think? I get out as much as I can but it always rains when I'm not there. I rub it and get as many scabs off as possible, I also vent the hair to release any excess water. Would washing him with a shampoo loosen the scabs? I was thinking that maybe putting some sort of oiled cream might help deter the rain?

Correcting a green horse:
I recently picked a horse out of the pasture who hasn't been ridden for two years. Extremely good boy for the amount of time hes been left! When I ask him to trot and occasionally canter he throws his head in a little shaking fit. I ride him in a rope halter. When he does this I quickly pull him into a one rein stop and wait for him to give his head. It seemed to be working but is it right? Is it okay if I do this also in-case he pigroots (my fault for cantering him when he was excited)?

Also, you should get a Go Pro camera! They strap onto your head or can be held manually etc. They pick up sound really well and have good quality video. They are pricey but older ones a much cheaper. I've also been taking my horse for trail rides with another horse, without any ropes! He just follows along and loves being free. If you could answer this question in a video it might be easier, but I understand if you don't want to as it's very long. Sorry to waste your time with my stupid questions, I just need some help and google isn't helping me! I've also found a good trainer who will help me teach my horse (I'm having some problems and don't know how to train him), not her teach him. She is completely against bits and teaches horses very similarly to you, the funny thing is - she knows and dislikes my old trainer!

Thanks Rick, keep up the good work! I will try and see if I can find a cheap go pro and send it to you! :)

*ONE MORE THING*
Do you find Western Saddles to be more comfortable to the horse or English Saddles? I would think that the Westerns distribute weight better but I would like to know your opinion.

Answer
Well most all your questions are answered in my videos, you have not watched them all and have not read my site or you would not be sending this.

Forget the trainer and bad lessons, work on understanding horses in general not just YOUR horse.

Rain Rot is a fungus, Listerine and curry comb should help.

Catching a horse is about knowing and understanding drive-line and pressure and release. All the other stuff is just feel good talk. If you know how to give pressure, release pressure with timing and create a draw, and using the drive-line to control the feet, then you can get a horse to come and follow you. If you don't know those things then you make excuses about big areas, other horses, food, past training, bad breeding, my horse is spooky and 1000 other things.

If you can't catch a horse in pasture, you should not be riding a green horse. You are asking many complex questions expecting that there is some specific answer which only further shows you lack of understanding.

You can do what you want but the risks go up with inexperience and trying and failing and trying and asking questions from others expecting them to keep you safe. A lesson you should have learned from your last trainer.

Slow down, read and study horses so you don't need others to give you answers.