my new mare kicks when i ask her to canter on the lunge. but when i rode her around the canter track and cantered she was perfect and didnt kick .. as she is new and i wanted to build a bond quicker i was going to try the join up thing iv heard about but is it possible to do this in a trot? my horse normaly kicks when first asked but then canters fine after the kick .. "no comments is she in pain and blah bla" shes fine as her previous owner said she done this! so what im asking is can u do the join up in a trot? cuz i wouldnt really like to be kicked in a small round pen thanks!:)
She kicks out cause she's spunky, disrespectful and excited (and maybe off balance). As long as you're standing in the appropriate spot for lunging or free schooling, you're not going to get kicked. I would either show your disapproval verbally with a NO! or QUIT IT! , or AH! AH! AH! or, just ignore it and praise when she's got a good canter going. It will go away on its own, with regular work to gain respect, burn that energy and balance her body for proper use.
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It's pretty hard to pick up and maintain a good canter on a small circle (like in a round pen or on a lunge) so it's almost expected for a young, very old, big, or out of shape horse to have a little trouble getting going at first. If she is off balance and is kicking out to get her legs going the correct way or to try and right her body, it will go away with regular work on a lunge and proper transitions under saddle.
Some horses will buck on the lunge because they think it is fun. Let her have a little bit of fun on the lunge, as long as she doesn't do it under saddle, I don't see a problem with it!
if you personally haven't had the horse's back checked, get it done immediately. this behaviour sounds odd and it would be extremely stupid to rule anything out if you are not certain.
I'm so excited for you! Join ups are one of the most beautiful things about training horses.
As for you question: yes your horse needs to be at least at a quick canter. She is kicking because the joinup is a test to see who is the leader. If you stop pressuring her as soon as she kicks, she has won. As she is kicking, flick her with your rope/whip/lead line/whatever your using until she is cantering around.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com -Keep your whole body facing her rear end because this tells her that you are "chasing her"
-Keep her going for a while, until she is beginning to tire.
-You should stop when you notice that her inside ear is pointed toward you (means she is listening to you) and her mouth is open and making chewing motions as if she's "chewing air"
-To stop her turn your body so that it is facing her shoulder, that is her signal to stop.
-Drop your rope and turn away from her. She will walk up to you, and if you try to walk around your round pen she should follow you (:
WEAR A HELMET!!!! If you say your horse kicks, definitely wear a helmet just to be safe (:
She kicks because she doesn't see you as the leader, she's testing you and being disrespectful, in join up , when you first start canter alot and change directions alot, make her work, when she kicks out put lots of pressure on her hip and don't let her get away with it. Keep eye contact, that says I'mad and you ad I want you to go away. Once she calms down you can let her trot, but don't let her make decisions o her own, if she tries to change direction without you asking put her right back the other way. Signs of join up are the inside ear (which you'll probly get rightaway), lickig and chewing, lowering her head (nose almost toucking the ground) an she will make smaller circles closer to you. Wen she's ready turn in the direction your horse is going ( inviting her in) and ten turn your back (this I where you don't make eye contact, you telling it's ok, se can come back in now. Let her trot sone of the way and give her a chance to join up with you .
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Hope this helps!
