I'm not the previous owner. And, in my experience, donkeys are fine with the front feet. The hind feet are a whole different kettle of fish. I'd like to see if she has any helpful tips.

This video is from a longer video you can watch here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hZmSm7Bpyq6RZWg.html You can see Coco from 4:08 In relation to the hind legs we have recently posted a KZfaq video on how to train your horse to pick up their hind feet here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/grmVn5iisdnQqWg.html

Hi, this short is a segment from our larger KZfaq video 4 Ways to Train Touching Your Horse’s Legs POSITIVELY kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hZmSm7Bpyq6RZWg.html from 4:08 you can see the full section on Coco. If you are interested in How to train your horse to pick up hind feet calmly and positively we have actually recently posted a new KZfaq video on this which also features Coco kzfaq.info/get/bejne/grmVn5iisdnQqWg.html

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much for the positive feedback! I hope it has been going well with your gelding :)

Hi, sorry to hear this, that’s scary for both of you. When you’re overcoming fear like this, the key is to take it slowly as you re-build his confidence with the saddle and being mounted. You’re looking for real relaxation about it. It can be easy to push on when they’re just about tolerating something but then it takes the smallest thing to push them over threshold into a panic reaction. So, I’d recommend re-introducing the saddle and mounting step by step with a focus on relaxation until he’s totally chilled about it. During this process, you can also desensitise him to the sensation of the saddle slipping so that you don’t need to worry about it happening again (this is something I do with all my horses). And, the best thing about this is that he’ll actually come to love having his saddle on! You’ll find some ideas in this playlist : kzfaq.info/sun/PLgRnmaoPmqUA8gPQS3rbK4iz_9B70OKPO&si=qSVPzXiBCjXd6eeC Rowan (the little coloured cob) who is featured in a few of these videos had SERIOUS fear about anything touching her back or hind legs so I retrained her with the saddle before riding her (the whole process is shown in detail in the CT Club but you can see some of that training in these videos). You’ll also find a video in there where I taught my warm blood mare to stop if the saddle slipped as she can be quite reactive and I didn’t want her to panic about it either. And you’ll find some mounting videos there too which should help you with your foot-in-the-stirrup question. Hope that helps and good luck!! And of course, if you want more support, you can find us in the CT Club 😊 Also, these shorts have a few saddling tips too: kzfaq.info1nQX04L5FkU?si=HdCxqRcWFgG4CMrB instagram.com/reel/C3inXtDoFaM/?igsh=MWVoOXlzcDFsaGF6

You're so welcome! That's so great to hear! Let us know how it goes :)

Hi thanks for your interest! It’s one of the home study courses in the CT Club, so it contains lots of videos about training riding positively. My approach is a mix of trainjng from the ground and then transferring it to the saddle, a working on your own seat and teaching ridden cues systematically. It’s all done with rewards (which I guess you know since you’re on my YT channel!), so the aim is to create a fun learning environment for you and your horse and to always prioritise your horse’s emotions - so, creating a calm, connected, motivated ridden horse. My goal is also to create horses who are sound and confident to do a bit of everything - so I include dressage exercises (more classical), polework, obstacle training, hacking and more in my groundwork and riding training. There are currently 2 finished riding courses in the CT Club - the Starting Your Horse Under Saddle course which takes young, green, or ‘problem’ horses through rebacking until they’re happy to line up at the block, connected with their rider and will walk, halt and turn. There’s an existing riding course which contains quite a few exercises like building engagement and balance and teaching lateral exercises and I’m currently working on building a brand new riding course which is entirely step by step through my training program. This is live and I’m adding to it constantly as I create new material. You get instant access to all of them (and everything else) when you join the CT Club and you can skip through to parts you need for your horse. And, if you have questions, you can join us at live Q&As, or ask in the forum and I’m currently doing regular live chats on riding with Angelica Hesselius (Reward based riding ) where we discuss specific topics (last night was all about the rider’s seat) and open up to questions. If you have more Q’s, email us at [email protected] or you can find out more and sign up here connectiontraining.com/learn-ct-online-2/ Hope that helps and hope to see you there!

I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing difficulties with your mare, however I am glad you are feeling a bit more hopeful. Thank you so much for the positive feedback. Let us know how your training goes!

Thank you very much!

This is a flexi tree so it’s got a structure, it’s just flexible. It doesn’t bounce at all on Freckles and is lovely to ride in. I recommend you contact Edix directly for more info as they’ll be able to answer any Q’s you have 😊

You’re welcome 😊

Amazing!

She has included links in the video description. It is an Edix 😊

@@ShelbyHume thank you 😊

Now we do lots of in hand work, walks, hills, poles etc 🙂

Hey, bareback pads can be great for some horses and riders. The pros are that they're entirely flexible and soft so you don't have problems with pressure points or them fitting badly. Cons can be that it's harder for the rider to be in the right position without the twist and support (that can be a con for the rider and also the horse if it means the rider can't be as balanced and aligned), and also that you can also create pressure points under the rider's seatbones if riding in them for a while. Thicker pads are better for that. Also, some have stirrups without any way to distribute that pressure which can also lead to pressure points. So, overall, I love bareback pads for starting or restarting horses under saddle and for light work both in the arena and out hacking, but I prefer to change to a saddle for more demanding exercises. When rebuilding muscle like you are, they can be a good option. And, as always, your horse will tell you if he's happy with it or not by how he responds when you tack up mount, and ride and his opinion is always the most important :-) Thanks for your Q and happy horse training!

You're so welcome! Thanks for sharing x

We actually have a KZfaq video discussing which treats to use when and why :) - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ja-je7F5rqi2laM.html

I train my horses 3-4 times per week. If you’re doing more than that, I would split it up so you separate more intense sessions with maybe just a walk out in hand or something easier. Some sessions can also be really short - you can do a surprising amount in 10-15 mins a day and that’s usually fine to do every day because it’s little and often. But, as always, listen to your horse - if they’re keen for more, do more, they’re obviously feeling good. If they seem a bit hesitant, make it an easy day as they could be feeling it in their bodies - day off, gentle walk, massage etc. Hope that helps and hope to see you in the CT Club - you’re very welcome to join us 😊

In that situation, I’d usually advise retraining the ridden cues from scratch so that she’s relaxed and willing with all of them. You can see more on how to do that in the Starting Your Horse Under Saddle Playlist kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rZ6geNSolq-mpZs.html to give you some more ideas. You could also retrain with a bitless bridle as well which could be easier for her. She’s lucky to have you to make being ridden a better experience for her ❤️

@@ConnectionTraining thank you!

Hey Linds, lovely to hear from you!! Hope you're well 👋❤️

Great! Happy Horse training

today some of the other horses on either side of us as we walked down a grassy lane (I had a halter/lead on the horse but was still using your tips)...anyway, they were cutting up. I was able to keep the horse I had calm and centered using many breaks and many rewards. Whew! What a testament to how well your tips worked. Thx.@@ConnectionTraining

Hi, good question as we don't actually have a video on teaching this yet but we will aim to do one in the future!

Thank you for the feedback!

Hi, I have a few cues; Presenting the target (I hold it by my side when I don’t want them to touch it) A voice cue - the word « touch » And I point at things I want them to touch as well. You can see more on targeting here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdF8ltKLsMipf2g.html

I dont have a verbal cue for this, so the cue is me standing on something (the mounting block) and then that is the cue for them to line up and stand at mounting block too.