Checking up?

[mygirlmaggie]

I was watching Craig Cameron yesterday on RFDTV and he was doing an exercise called Checking Up I think it was called...can't remember. It's where you hook from the snaffle to the cinch to get them to flex then make them move while hooked. Does this work? I cannot get my girl to flex for the life of me. I've tried everything! She is sooo stiff. She will back up to eternity and back before even thinking about giving. I try treats even and she can't reach all the way. So I was curious if this way would work well or not. Any ideas?? Anyone try it??

[mandisue]

Not sure if it would help you or not, although I've seen him do it. maybe someone else will have some answers for you.

[Remali]

Oh geez, I've seen people do that, it's terrible, all it teaches a horse is to lean on the bit. Collection comes from the hindquarters, and and when you apply pressure to the bit the instant the horse gives to the bit you have to RELEASE the pressure, so the poor horse gets no release from pressure doing this tactic.

Try going back to the basics, with giving and releasing. You have to release pressure when the horse gives. Start with small steps, if the horse even just gives a teeny tiny bit, you release.

[vicklynn]

What breed is she??? I know my draft cross has a harder time flexing. Check UP sounds like just another name of flexing to me. You can flex and push the horse off at the same time. I have City do circles while flexing, its disengaging his hind end at the same time. I dont hook my horses, dont need to, just stand and be patient. It'll come.

[Remali]

Not sure if you are looking for a trainer, there is a very good one in Spooner, I've seen a couple horses he has worked with and they are so light in the bridle (he rides his stallion bridleless), you can PM if you may want to know more. But, tying the horse's head to the saddle or cinch isn't going to teach the horse anything so I would avoid that method. I'd try by starting slowly with very small flexions, even if it just an inch, and then reward the horse by releasing pressure the instant the horse gives to the pressure.

[cloedoll]

Eh, I don't like the sounds of it just because it could be taught so easily the wrong way. I'm personally a fan of carrot stretches. :D It is normal for a stiff horse to not be able to reach all the way at first, just gradually do them and she will get more and more flexible. Flexing under saddle is great, too...a chiro could help as well...just shouting off random ideas. xD

[Ariesgrl131]

I watched a horse kill themself doing that. A cowboy jumped off his horse, and tied the rein to the horses cinch and the horse started spinning from fear and he fell over on his head and broke his neck.

[mygirlmaggie]

I am definately glad I checked in before trying the method. Definately doesn't sound like a good one. She's a quarter horse. I use a rope halter and ask for a little give and she braces her head straight out and backs around. She'll back forever. I get give but it takes about 10-15 minutes of backing to the middle of no where it seems. At least I know she has reverse! lol

[Debbie]

Checking is a very old school way of training. I've only seen one trainer use this method, and she would keep her horses in check for hours on end. If your horse is needs to soften, I would suggest you start from the ground, and be very, very patient. My mare was stiff as a board. With the use of the halter and lead rope, we started with small movements while I held the lead rope snug to her wither, pulling slightly, until she gave. She would move her hind quarters around in circles, which meant watching my feet and not giving up until she stopped. In about a week, she had it down, and now we can flex easily from the saddle. You can do it, promise! Just remember, checking doesn't teach the horse, it breaks it. I'm not a fan of "breaking" anything.

[shynbvs]

im not really sure of what your talking about. But if you are going to do anything like that, use a bungy style to encourage her, forcing her does nothing. Again im not entirely sure what your talking about, but thats what im taking from it.

[JackieB]

I don't mean to diminish the difficulty you are having with getting your horse to flex, but I'm virtually certain that your horse will flex its neck. It's just a matter of taking tiny steps at first and working from there. You also have to be able to tell when she "gives". At first, it can be almost unnoticeable. This exercise isn't all that easy for a horse that is stiff as you sound. Clinton Anderson demonstrates it beautifully on his DVD. Simply put, it requires steady pressure (not a bunch of tugging), patience, and then release the instant the horse gives even an inch. Then you work up from there.

[FoxFireEMT]

I know a lot of people do something like this procedure with the halter but never heard of doing it with the bit.

[mygirlmaggie]

Well I had an improvement! I went out tonight..put on the rope halter and worked with her. I lunged her first and got her into thinking mode as we had a little hiccup before that which needed immediate addressing. I threw the rope over her back and rested my hand on her withers and applied a litle pressure and held. She backed for a bit but then gave a little. I immediately let go and praised the heck out of her. Tried again..backed up a little..then gave. So I gave her a treat and praised again. She was flexing when I was done just by lifting up on the rope. I went to the other side and she did it immediately over there without even having to fight. I rewarded her each time with immediate release and a treat once in awhile. She was flexing great when I ended. I'll keep up and hopefully she'll be doing it with no problems. Now how would I transition that to undersaddle when she's ready? Would she do the same and spin?

[Remali]

That's great, good work!! :)

I would just sit in the saddle (when the time comes to do so), take up on the rein (one rein) and apply a little pressure, and the minute she gives then you release. I've never had a horse move or spin around on me, but if you keep your legs firmly, but softly, on her sides, that should keep her butt from swinging around on you.

[Debbie]

Well I had an improvement! I went out tonight..put on the rope halter and worked with her. I'll keep up and hopefully she'll be doing it with no problems. Now how would I transition that to undersaddle when she's ready? Would she do the same and spin?

:clap:I knew you could do it when you worked as a team! From the saddle, I barely hold one rein, while ever so gently pulling the other towards the toe of my boot. Again, as soon as she gives, I give, and reward with lots of love. It didn't take long before she was doing it on her own, and I had to remind her that she's only to do this task when I ask for it :) Please keep me posted. This is the type of training stories that make my day!

[IrisGreen]

I watched the episode with Craig Cameron about checking up. His horses already knows how to check up so this was not intended for a horse that has never done it before. He barely had there head turned when he tied the rein so it's not like the horse was bent around and tied in a horrible position.

I have seen other people (Not Craig) do that and tie the horse with it's head flexed way around to the side. I think that's awful and it does teach the horse to just lean on the rope because it's tied so short it's too hard for the horse to keep flexed the whole time with it's nose touching it's side.

There are wrong ways and right ways to "check up". If done correctly and a little at a time it's not hard on the horse and teaches them to give to pressure and not freak out when they find out the rein is tied to the saddle.

Once you have her giving and flexing then you can "check up" by tieing the lead to the cinch D on your saddle. Tie it so the horse has it's head barely turned to the side, not cranked around. Then ask them to move calmly and they should turn in a calm circle giving to that pressure. Once the horse stops moving it's feet and there is a little slack in the rope from the horse giving. Then release the rope and repeat on the other side. This is what Craig did with his horse. It teaches them to stay calm, stop moving, and just give to the pressure. The mistake people make is they tie the horse like this for hours and the horse just gets tierd and learns to rest on the rope, that's not what you want.

It sounds like you are doing a good job getting her to flex from the ground. Keep it up and she will get more flexible and be able to bend more and more. It takes time to get them stretched out and wanting to bend.

I'm lucky, Muffin has a rubber neck. He's half draft so I wouldn't figure he was so flexible but he is. It still took me some time to teach him what I wanted and how to flex for me on the ground with out moving his feet. It helps to tell them to stand if they know voice commands.

[ProvenPaint]

I'm a little late getting here but I'm glad to see you've found some improvement!

I was going to add that I know my boy Skip went through this in his "training" (not thrilled about it). He sure does flex well standing...but I've had to work at getting him to follow his nose when moving! He's getting better. Needless to say, not a fan of it...