Horse Discipline As A Challenge

#7's little moment came last eve as I managed to get on without incident.  Just stood there at the mounting stand, dismount, several "good boys", and will get some movement hopefully next time.

 #148's effort turned  into a training session to stand still at the mounting stand.  The fellow fidgets constantly to the point he's unable to stand still at the feed tub, and now the poor horse is being asked to stand motionless so his less than nimble rider can mount up.

I did finally have to thump him to get compliance.  Unknown what other TB trainers do.  This stuff is just to dangerous to allow refusal, goofing off, or other stupid behavior that puts rider and groom at risk.  When I get the horse on the race track it needs to understand what's expected if it's necessary, as it is on occasion solely for rider safety, to thump him with the whip.

Janet Castillo refers to this in her book Backyard Race Horse. She wrote that she never punishes fright.  I'd add that u never punish in anger, hurt the horse or do anything inappropriate.  The well timed thump is the last resort.

And, let's take note that this is exactly how horses discipline each other.  They understand being thumped very well.  And so, if a horse misbehaves, which for youngsters is frequently like the human 2 yr. old--deliberate refusal--the trainer as I see it has two choices.  One is the "thump" and the other is the Monte Roberts style of driving them till they finally give in and join up.  I have tried both, and really, I think the Monte Roberts way is actually more detrimental and inhumane to the horse.  Why?

What Monte Roberts does is drive the horse until the horse's will is broken.  Other than what u want to do with a race horse imo, and also to me akin to what happens in the gulag.  Take note also that the Roberts method takes a lot of time.  Sometimes an hour or more while u're there breaking the proud horse's will.

Imo it's much more humane to the horse to use appropriate physical discipline in the moment.  Horses understand this very well since it is after all exactly the way they discipline each other. Physical discipline, when necessary is usually quickly effect, u get on with ur business and profusely reward the horse when it corrects its behavior.

There's a third way of discipline I am supposing, which, when u meet a problem or a refusal, u work and work and work with the horse until the horse finally get's over it.  I have also done this on occasion for more intractable problems where physical discipline tends to fail usually because the horse has something on its mind that worries it.  This to me is also a last resort type thing because I lack the time for this method.  I will, however, work with the horse day after day, provided it's part of the normal routine.

Finally, and this is also from long experience. If one has discipline trouble today it frequently works to quit the lesson fairly early after some stern corrections and come back the next day. Often, after the horses have 24 hrs. to consider things, they come back as perfect ladies and gentlemen.

Training:
Fri: 1/18:  bellyingg
Sat. 1/19 bellying + double lung line about 10 min.
Sun 1/20:  Horses were driven riderless in field.  Still unable to get them to really take off though had several short spurts much faster than on the lunge line.  #148 much more the flighty take off sort of fellow than his buddy #7 who basically just gallops along.  Both horses have very decent strides.