Belles last ride! Craig and Cheryl came today to pick her up. I hope they were pleased with her progress.
I worked her today starting in the round pen. I did more ground work than I have done in the past several days. This was to show Craig and Cheryl some of the things they should be doing before they ride her. She may be a four year old, but mentally she is still a baby. TAKE THE TIME IT TAKES NOW, SO THAT IT WILL TAKE LESS TIME IN THE FUTURE! I can't stress this enough!
We loped circles, trotted long straight lines and showed off her stop. By no means is she a reining horse, but she does have a pretty good foundation on her now. Craig and Cheryl can now do what it take to move her to the next level. That next level is more about what they want to do with her, it should be fun for them!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Belle....11/18/11
I am a little late posting this, but here it is...
The ride today went very well. Worked a little in the round pen, but moved out to the big pen pretty fast. Belle is doing very well and today I worked on straight lines. Lots and lots of long straight lines trotting. The more you do of this sort of thing, the better she will be about just traveling out without of of the movement in her shoulders (the back and forth, wanting to lead with her shoulders).
The ride today went very well. Worked a little in the round pen, but moved out to the big pen pretty fast. Belle is doing very well and today I worked on straight lines. Lots and lots of long straight lines trotting. The more you do of this sort of thing, the better she will be about just traveling out without of of the movement in her shoulders (the back and forth, wanting to lead with her shoulders).
Friday, November 18, 2011
Belle....11/17/11
I did something I normally don't do anymore, I rushed the ride. Between the dark and a 4H meeting, I knew I didn't have much time on Belle. So, I didn't do any groundwork today. It showed a little when I first got on, BUT Belle is progressing nicely and she got "right" pretty quickly.
We spent most of the ride in our big pen. Worked on trotting a lot of straight lines. As with most young horses, she wants to push her shoulders back and forth. But with just some minor corrections, she travels pretty straight. We also worked on stops. Stops are pretty important for everyone, you want your horse responsive and soft when asking for that release from the bit. So once she was a little winded (it's easier to ask for a stop when the horse wants to stop!), I put a little pressure on the bit. The reward is in the release, so as soon as she stopped and gave me a little release at the mouth....I released the pressure on her. I had stated awhile back that horse training is pretty boring to the untrained eye.....there are three keys....repetition, repetition, repetition! Doing the same things, the same way...consistently!
We spent most of the ride in our big pen. Worked on trotting a lot of straight lines. As with most young horses, she wants to push her shoulders back and forth. But with just some minor corrections, she travels pretty straight. We also worked on stops. Stops are pretty important for everyone, you want your horse responsive and soft when asking for that release from the bit. So once she was a little winded (it's easier to ask for a stop when the horse wants to stop!), I put a little pressure on the bit. The reward is in the release, so as soon as she stopped and gave me a little release at the mouth....I released the pressure on her. I had stated awhile back that horse training is pretty boring to the untrained eye.....there are three keys....repetition, repetition, repetition! Doing the same things, the same way...consistently!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Belle....11/16/11
We started with the groundwork. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you get her mind engaged, her body will soon follow. We quickly moved into the ride, I did a lot of turning her into and away from the fence. This kinda teaches her to move her front end over, while stepping over. We also worked on vertical and lateral flexion. I would like to see her much softer and am working to that end A continuation for Cheryl and Craig will be to follow this same program with her. She is doing really well and if I can find one, I will start working her with a slicker tomorrow.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Belle....11/13/11
We got back, Sunday afternoon, from the World Paint Show (watched my wife's cousins win a reserve open and a non-pro world championship in the Team sorting) and rode Belle pretty hard. She had a couple of days off, so of course the groundwork is required.
What I call groundwork has changed over the years and now means something totally different to me than it did back then. Back then, the ground work was a shortlived concept that basically did not take the horse into account. It was only there so I could get them tired and get in the saddle. NOW, it means getting the horse' mind activated. Is she paying attention to what I asked her to do on the ground? Will she yeild her hind end and step over in the front? How is she when you are just swinging your lead (or stick/string) around? All of this will translate to what you are doing on her back. Getting connected with her mind sure makes things go alot easier.
Spent most of the ride time in our big pen, working on trotting in straight lines. Most horses have a little trouble staying straight when you take them out of confinement. Belle had not troubles with staying straight as long as we were in the round pen. Once she got outside, the open space was something new to adjust too. So, we did long straight lines. Lotsa trotting and extending that trot. One of the things to keep in mind with increasing your speed is the hole / ditch / canyon concept. Belle is exactly where she needs to be right now. Weather willing, there should be a lot of good rides this week.
She is scheduled to go home on the 19th, and Cheryl had asked me to ride her with a slicker. Well, we will see by the end of the week where we are on that. Never should you push a horse farther that they are able to handle (wish I had paid attention to that when I was younger!)
What I call groundwork has changed over the years and now means something totally different to me than it did back then. Back then, the ground work was a shortlived concept that basically did not take the horse into account. It was only there so I could get them tired and get in the saddle. NOW, it means getting the horse' mind activated. Is she paying attention to what I asked her to do on the ground? Will she yeild her hind end and step over in the front? How is she when you are just swinging your lead (or stick/string) around? All of this will translate to what you are doing on her back. Getting connected with her mind sure makes things go alot easier.
Spent most of the ride time in our big pen, working on trotting in straight lines. Most horses have a little trouble staying straight when you take them out of confinement. Belle had not troubles with staying straight as long as we were in the round pen. Once she got outside, the open space was something new to adjust too. So, we did long straight lines. Lotsa trotting and extending that trot. One of the things to keep in mind with increasing your speed is the hole / ditch / canyon concept. Belle is exactly where she needs to be right now. Weather willing, there should be a lot of good rides this week.
She is scheduled to go home on the 19th, and Cheryl had asked me to ride her with a slicker. Well, we will see by the end of the week where we are on that. Never should you push a horse farther that they are able to handle (wish I had paid attention to that when I was younger!)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Belle....11/10/11
Since Belle has had 3 days off, I was prudent of me to make sure the ground work is good. Meaning "how's her mind?"
She is still a little twitchy about anything behind her and as I was twirling my stick and string around, just being friendly with her, I remembered a story I wrote awhile back about learning to handle your tools . I am much better with mine, but sometimes I still get wrapped around the axel...learn to use the tools you have and if you don't have very good ones, save your money to get you some!
Anyway, I worked her on the ground quite a bit and when she was better than we started...I got on. We started out in the round pen and worked on flexing laterally and vertically. She is pretty good laterally, and will get better the more you ride. Vertically she is a little more challenged, but then again...the more you ride, the easier it gets for her. Worked inside the pen until I couldn't see anymore and jsut spent a few minutes outside the pen walking around looking at boogers again. Pretty good day for coming off a 3 day rest!
She is still a little twitchy about anything behind her and as I was twirling my stick and string around, just being friendly with her, I remembered a story I wrote awhile back about learning to handle your tools . I am much better with mine, but sometimes I still get wrapped around the axel...learn to use the tools you have and if you don't have very good ones, save your money to get you some!
Anyway, I worked her on the ground quite a bit and when she was better than we started...I got on. We started out in the round pen and worked on flexing laterally and vertically. She is pretty good laterally, and will get better the more you ride. Vertically she is a little more challenged, but then again...the more you ride, the easier it gets for her. Worked inside the pen until I couldn't see anymore and jsut spent a few minutes outside the pen walking around looking at boogers again. Pretty good day for coming off a 3 day rest!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Belle....11/5/11
Started the day with ground work (you might get tired of hearing that, but that is what you are supposed to do with a young horse), she moved through them pretty well. So we moved on the the next item of the day. Yesterday I mentioned a hole with how she was traveling, the pushy shoulder thing. Today I addressed that by asking her to move away from the fence in the round pen. Meaning I asked her to travel in straight lines across the round pen. She got a lot better about staying straight.
When all seemed like it was going well, I asked her to lope. She picked up the lope slick a you please and acted like I asked all the time. We loped a little in both directions and she stopped excellent both ways. THIS was a good place to stop for the day!
When all seemed like it was going well, I asked her to lope. She picked up the lope slick a you please and acted like I asked all the time. We loped a little in both directions and she stopped excellent both ways. THIS was a good place to stop for the day!
Belle....11/4/11
Started with the ground work today, really an excellent day for her! Really stopping pretty well and turns are greatly improving. Spend probably an hour just tuning her a little in the round pen. Then the fun part...
The first time in the big pen. She traveled ok, but was really pushy with her shoulders. Which is perfectly normal, now there was not a fence to guide her. But it did open some holes in what she understood. And it is alwasy important to go back a step or two when you find a hole. I tried to make this first trip outside one that she would not be afraid of, so we finished with some easy straight lines down the fence line.
The first time in the big pen. She traveled ok, but was really pushy with her shoulders. Which is perfectly normal, now there was not a fence to guide her. But it did open some holes in what she understood. And it is alwasy important to go back a step or two when you find a hole. I tried to make this first trip outside one that she would not be afraid of, so we finished with some easy straight lines down the fence line.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Belle....11/2/11
Another good day for Belle! The ground work still needs to be done, she still just tolerates any work around her hind end. Once she figures out that I am not back there to beat on her, then everything will click for her.
The ride was excellent. Stopping and turning at the walk are pretty good and she is getting better at both from the trot. The thing that is working the best is her mindset. She doesn't get two excited about the work and is willing to try. You cannot ask for more than that. Things went so well, I pushed up the timetable and rode her outside the round pen. Nothing fancy, just let her piddle around the barn area. See what all of the boogers were about. All in all, a really good day!
The ride was excellent. Stopping and turning at the walk are pretty good and she is getting better at both from the trot. The thing that is working the best is her mindset. She doesn't get two excited about the work and is willing to try. You cannot ask for more than that. Things went so well, I pushed up the timetable and rode her outside the round pen. Nothing fancy, just let her piddle around the barn area. See what all of the boogers were about. All in all, a really good day!
Belle....11/1/11
Belle is making excellent progress. Stops and turns are going great, not as refined as we would like yet....but for the few rides she has, she is going great!
I work the groundwork everyday, she is still a little iffy about any movement around her hind end. But if I continue on the same course, she will get better about that. The ride was good! Stops and turns are getting smoother at a walk. Yesterday I trotted her quite a bit, just gettting her to travel out. Today I started asking her to turn and stop from the trot. Of course when you add a little speed, things get a little sloppy. The smoothness she developed at the walk, got rough at the trot. But she is willing, so it will get better with more work.
I work the groundwork everyday, she is still a little iffy about any movement around her hind end. But if I continue on the same course, she will get better about that. The ride was good! Stops and turns are getting smoother at a walk. Yesterday I trotted her quite a bit, just gettting her to travel out. Today I started asking her to turn and stop from the trot. Of course when you add a little speed, things get a little sloppy. The smoothness she developed at the walk, got rough at the trot. But she is willing, so it will get better with more work.
Belle....10/31/11
Another good day today! I have said that most of horse training is pretty boring to someone watching, unless you know something about what is going on. It appears boring because it is all about repitition. Doing the same thing, the same way until the horse understands what you want.
I said today was a good day because I saw some good progress from Belle. We worked on stopping and turning again. I have pretty much stayed with these two items because when I ride her out of the round pen, I want to do both and have it happen fairly easy. Her turns are going really good, she has her mind on the inside of the turn (meaning her front legs are crossing over, instead of under each other). She is stopping pretty well too, although there is not much finesse yet. In the future of her stops, I want her to give to the bit faster. That's part of the finesse, but not all of it....I will fill in the gaps here as we get to that point.
I said today was a good day because I saw some good progress from Belle. We worked on stopping and turning again. I have pretty much stayed with these two items because when I ride her out of the round pen, I want to do both and have it happen fairly easy. Her turns are going really good, she has her mind on the inside of the turn (meaning her front legs are crossing over, instead of under each other). She is stopping pretty well too, although there is not much finesse yet. In the future of her stops, I want her to give to the bit faster. That's part of the finesse, but not all of it....I will fill in the gaps here as we get to that point.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Belle....10/30/11
Exceptional day today! I'm sorry I did not have a camera available, but my daughters were otherwise occupied.
Spent a little more time on the ground work than I have in the past couple of days, which was very benificial to her. I rode today with a long stick tucked under my arm. I used it as an encouragement for forward movement, so I would have to keep kicking her in the sides. I want a horse to be sensitive when i put any kind of pressure on thier sides and yesterday I found myself having to kick a little more than I wanted to. I asked her to trot a lot more than before, but I would squeeze with my cheeks (not the ones on my face) and upper thighs. If she didn't move, I would tap her in the hind end with my stick. Did this quite a lot and she was really starting to respond to my seat before rides' end. Worked on turning at a trot and stopping from a trot, also.
Spent a little more time on the ground work than I have in the past couple of days, which was very benificial to her. I rode today with a long stick tucked under my arm. I used it as an encouragement for forward movement, so I would have to keep kicking her in the sides. I want a horse to be sensitive when i put any kind of pressure on thier sides and yesterday I found myself having to kick a little more than I wanted to. I asked her to trot a lot more than before, but I would squeeze with my cheeks (not the ones on my face) and upper thighs. If she didn't move, I would tap her in the hind end with my stick. Did this quite a lot and she was really starting to respond to my seat before rides' end. Worked on turning at a trot and stopping from a trot, also.
Belle....10/29/11
Craig and Cheryl Estes came out today to see the progress on Belle. I hope they were happy with her advancement. I personally am very happy, she is not too excitable and to this point seems will to try whatever I ask her to do.
Today I did the ground work (which I will do for probably the next 30 days, just to build upon the foundation) and really the only hole I see is when anything starts slinging around her hind end. This will change as she grows more confident. She handled well and is really attentive to any kind of pressure on her mouth.
A really good day for her...probably the only thing I can fault her on was when I was asking her to trot, she got really agitated. laying her ears back and biting at my legs. Which is a red flag that something was bothering her, so I stopped, pulled the saddle back, checked under the pad and checked the cinch. Once I had smoothed the hair over, I cinched her back up and she seemed to be ok. If a horse does something that is out of the ordinary for them, there is usually a reason. Belle was hurting a little and I was slow to adjust to the situation.
Today I did the ground work (which I will do for probably the next 30 days, just to build upon the foundation) and really the only hole I see is when anything starts slinging around her hind end. This will change as she grows more confident. She handled well and is really attentive to any kind of pressure on her mouth.
A really good day for her...probably the only thing I can fault her on was when I was asking her to trot, she got really agitated. laying her ears back and biting at my legs. Which is a red flag that something was bothering her, so I stopped, pulled the saddle back, checked under the pad and checked the cinch. Once I had smoothed the hair over, I cinched her back up and she seemed to be ok. If a horse does something that is out of the ordinary for them, there is usually a reason. Belle was hurting a little and I was slow to adjust to the situation.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Belle....10/27/11
We had rain today, praise the Lord! When I got home the rain had stopped, but it was still overcast and cloudy. I knew if I was going to get any riding in, I had to do it quick!
As always, I start with ground work. Right now I am working on desensitizing zone 5. Which is the area behind her. She doesn't just bolt and run, but she gets fidgity and wants to move away. The goal is to be able to swing a rope behind her and it not mean anything unless my body posture says it should mean something. She is a work in process at this right now.
I worked her in some circles and got a lesson on how slick the ground is after a 3/4" rain. She slipped and fell, scared her and me! But she got up (no harm done other than being dirty) and we slowed it down. When I started riding her, again working slow, we worked on turns and giving to the bit. If she is truly giving to the bit, then she will step over with her front feet. Today was a good day for riding, but I didn't get to go as long as I would have liked to. It started raining again (I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RAIN, we need it!).
As always, I start with ground work. Right now I am working on desensitizing zone 5. Which is the area behind her. She doesn't just bolt and run, but she gets fidgity and wants to move away. The goal is to be able to swing a rope behind her and it not mean anything unless my body posture says it should mean something. She is a work in process at this right now.
I worked her in some circles and got a lesson on how slick the ground is after a 3/4" rain. She slipped and fell, scared her and me! But she got up (no harm done other than being dirty) and we slowed it down. When I started riding her, again working slow, we worked on turns and giving to the bit. If she is truly giving to the bit, then she will step over with her front feet. Today was a good day for riding, but I didn't get to go as long as I would have liked to. It started raining again (I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RAIN, we need it!).
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Belle....10/25/11
Light day today. Shoer came and trimmed Belle, so I did some ground work with her instead of riding. Worked on some more desensitizing. She is still a little uncomfortable when you get the stick and string slinging around her hind end. This most likely comes from lunging. All she understands is that she should be moving, that is what happens when all you do is lunge a horse. Mind numbing circles generally lead to mind numbed horses! Instead work circles, but have a purpose. See when and where you can ask them to stop. How long did it take to get them to stop? Can you turn them into the fence where you want to and how about turning them away from the fence? Can you get them to put their nose on a certain spot on the round pen? There a so many different things you can do other than just stand in the middle and whip to make them go!
Belle is progressing nicely, even with some trust issues. These mainly pop up when you are doing groundwork, but she is riding well for 2-3 rides. The trust issues will get better as long as I continue to do groundwork before I ride.
Belle is progressing nicely, even with some trust issues. These mainly pop up when you are doing groundwork, but she is riding well for 2-3 rides. The trust issues will get better as long as I continue to do groundwork before I ride.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Belle...10/24/11
No pictures today, just more of the same as yesterday. Yesterday when I rode her for the first time, it was more about her carrying me around. Yes, I did has for some stops and turns...but I was not really concerned about where we were going.
Today, was a little different. Started her again with ground work, making sure her mind is right before we push on to the next thing. Saddling went really well and when I finally mounted up, she was ready for some direction. She still had it in her mind that she could travel anywhere she wanted to, but I started giving her direction. We made several trips around the round pen, with her continually looking to change directions, before I asked her to turn. I did this quite a bit and finally she was waiting for me to ask before she wanted to turn. Stopping is getting better, she is a quick learner! She needs her feet trimmed before I ask for more speed, which is happening on Tuesday. More speed does not mean that the training is speeding up, I am just going to ask her to long trot and lope at different points of the ride.
From here for a little while, things are going to get boring for the outsider. So much of training is repitition, consistantly doing the same thing over and over again until the horse understands what you are asking for. Posts might get a little shorter and there might not always be pictures. But I will try to note the milestones.
Today, was a little different. Started her again with ground work, making sure her mind is right before we push on to the next thing. Saddling went really well and when I finally mounted up, she was ready for some direction. She still had it in her mind that she could travel anywhere she wanted to, but I started giving her direction. We made several trips around the round pen, with her continually looking to change directions, before I asked her to turn. I did this quite a bit and finally she was waiting for me to ask before she wanted to turn. Stopping is getting better, she is a quick learner! She needs her feet trimmed before I ask for more speed, which is happening on Tuesday. More speed does not mean that the training is speeding up, I am just going to ask her to long trot and lope at different points of the ride.
From here for a little while, things are going to get boring for the outsider. So much of training is repitition, consistantly doing the same thing over and over again until the horse understands what you are asking for. Posts might get a little shorter and there might not always be pictures. But I will try to note the milestones.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Belle...10/23/11
Today is the big day! I think she is going well enough that I will be able to get on her back today. Again, I started with the basics. Ground work with and without the saddle and driving. All of this builds onto what a horse understands and does or does not fear. I started with just putting weight in the stirrup, laying across the saddle and rubbing her on the off side (this is where the stick and string come in handy, if I hadn't been playing the friendly game with her in the groundwork...how could I now put my body in that dangerous position?). I did this on both sides and she only boogered a little. Once the booger came up, though, I backed up and worked some ground work. There is no point in trying to push a horse past a fear spot. Back up and try to find out what the problem is, fix it and then move forward in the progression. When we got back to the point of me getting on, she was ready.
Once I had mounted her, I did what I heard Pat Parreli say..I got the heck off! I mounted her several more times from both sides before I even asked her to move. You are in the most vulnerable position you can be in, when you are trying to swing a leg over a horse. So it makes sense to spend quite a bit of time getting it right.
I finally asked her to move out and she stepped out with little fear or trepidation. We made several trips around the round pen at a walk. I asked her to turn into the fence (the driving basic), away from the fence and one or two stops. She really did well!
Once I had mounted her, I did what I heard Pat Parreli say..I got the heck off! I mounted her several more times from both sides before I even asked her to move. You are in the most vulnerable position you can be in, when you are trying to swing a leg over a horse. So it makes sense to spend quite a bit of time getting it right.
I finally asked her to move out and she stepped out with little fear or trepidation. We made several trips around the round pen at a walk. I asked her to turn into the fence (the driving basic), away from the fence and one or two stops. She really did well!
Belle...10/22/11
I did all of the basics that I have been doing everyday. The idea is to build on what she learns so that you are always giving her something new. Sometimes this is day to day, sometimes it is day to week, sometimes week to week. You have to develope a feel of where your horse is at the moment.
At the "moment", Belle is mentally moving along pretty fast. I have asked her to give me more and more everyday. Today, I continued on with the lessons in driving. This not only teaches her to give to the bit, but also a little about turning. Now the turns are a little ugly and on the front end, but as she starts handling better we can clean these up. I also, introduced stopping. Since she understands releasing on both side, I asked her today to give to both sides at once. The first time, it confused her...BUT the releasse is the key. Once she gave me a stop, I released the pressure. It was not pretty, but it was a stop.
****Sorry, no pictures today! My daughter Faith was not available to be the photographer****
At the "moment", Belle is mentally moving along pretty fast. I have asked her to give me more and more everyday. Today, I continued on with the lessons in driving. This not only teaches her to give to the bit, but also a little about turning. Now the turns are a little ugly and on the front end, but as she starts handling better we can clean these up. I also, introduced stopping. Since she understands releasing on both side, I asked her today to give to both sides at once. The first time, it confused her...BUT the releasse is the key. Once she gave me a stop, I released the pressure. It was not pretty, but it was a stop.
****Sorry, no pictures today! My daughter Faith was not available to be the photographer****
Belle...10/21/11
Started today just like all of the other days. Belle has handled everything I have thrown at her. We did groundwork, just like any other day. The foundation starts with groundwork. Once I thought her mind was right, we moved on to the saddling. She handled it really well and I put the snaffle in her mouth, just to let her carry it around for a while. She chewed and slobbered, but generally took to it well. After working on the ground, with the saddle this time, I asked her to start giving to the bit. I would run the lead rope on the off side of her and put gentle pressure on the bit, just asking her to give and turn away from me. She was going so well with that, I decided to go ahead a drive her a little. She took to the drving like a duck to water!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Belle...10/18/11
Wind was blowing like crazy and it was cooler than we have had all year. This usually means horses are:
1. Feeling really good because of the coolness
2. Nervous because of the wind blowing
A prey animal, which a horse is, relies on its sight to see the danger. They look for movement, but when the wind it blowing...everything moves! So no matter how calm your horse is, when the wind blows...the horse will be on edge.
I started Belle out with ground work again, this was especially important today because of the wind. I want her focused on me and not so much on everything moving with the gusts. Once we had moved on to the desensitizing (sacking out is what I used to call it), the wind presented a challenge because it blew my blanket away from the horse on the downwind side. So there was a lot of moving around trying to stay on the upwind side so that the blanket would touch her. I then started approaching her with the saddle. This bothered her not one bit, so after pulling the saddle on and off several times...I went ahead and cinched her up. Now for the first time I generally don't pull the cinch too tight, just snug it up so that the saddle doesn't slide under her belly (there's a wreck you don't want to see). After asking her to move out and a couple of laps in the round pen, I tighten it up. This usually lets them let go of some nervousness and air.
She seems to be good minded today and none of this bothered her, so I asked her to lope some circles in the round pen. I also moved my plastic barrels so that she would have to jump them (the only difference between a buck and a jump is the planning!), she jumped over them and moved right out. No hesitation, no bobbles. All seems well and the "plan" is still in place.
1. Feeling really good because of the coolness
2. Nervous because of the wind blowing
A prey animal, which a horse is, relies on its sight to see the danger. They look for movement, but when the wind it blowing...everything moves! So no matter how calm your horse is, when the wind blows...the horse will be on edge.
I started Belle out with ground work again, this was especially important today because of the wind. I want her focused on me and not so much on everything moving with the gusts. Once we had moved on to the desensitizing (sacking out is what I used to call it), the wind presented a challenge because it blew my blanket away from the horse on the downwind side. So there was a lot of moving around trying to stay on the upwind side so that the blanket would touch her. I then started approaching her with the saddle. This bothered her not one bit, so after pulling the saddle on and off several times...I went ahead and cinched her up. Now for the first time I generally don't pull the cinch too tight, just snug it up so that the saddle doesn't slide under her belly (there's a wreck you don't want to see). After asking her to move out and a couple of laps in the round pen, I tighten it up. This usually lets them let go of some nervousness and air.
She seems to be good minded today and none of this bothered her, so I asked her to lope some circles in the round pen. I also moved my plastic barrels so that she would have to jump them (the only difference between a buck and a jump is the planning!), she jumped over them and moved right out. No hesitation, no bobbles. All seems well and the "plan" is still in place.
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| A good day...done |
Belle...10/17/11
We spent most of the day at MDA, but I did get home in time to work Belle today. Started out with the basic groundwork, we want her to have a good foundation for her future. She is a calm and pretty steady mare and has adapted well to the groundwork. Once I felt like her mind was ready I took a saddle blanket and started rubbing her all over with it. This eventually led to waving it around and slapping it lightly against her. At one point I was twirling it above my head walking away from her and she chose to follow me around, even though I gave her the option to leave any time she wanted. She is steady as a rock and looked at me as if to say, "is this all you got?" She is still going according to plan and should be ready to saddle tomorrow, but she is a horse. They are living breathing animals, with a mind, so you never assume that everything will go according to "plan".
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Belle...10/16/11
Picked up Belle from Kickin' K and brought her to the house. Once at the house I worked her on the ground for the first time. She is a fast learner and picked things up pretty quickly. Worked on yeilding her hind end and she almost immediately figured out how to make the pressure go away. I also did some desensitizing, using myself to sack her out. Meaning I hopped all around her and generally looked like a fool. I hopped up and laid across her back several times. She accepted all of this like a pro! I generally do a weeks worth of ground work before I get on, but I think I will be on her back late this week if all goes well.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Hoss - 8/20/11
Did not get a lot of opportunity to work with Hoss this week, so today I chose to ride him. He was really "high". He strikes me as a horse that really like to move out and work. So that's what we did. I started out in his ground eating walk, asking him to tuck his nose. Once he was consistently giving to that ask, I sped him up a little. His head went out and his nose went up! So of course, we were back (at a trot, back hollowed out) out of control again. I kept him in a trot and again started asking him to tuck his nose as we went. It didn't take him long to get more collected. I did not lope him much, just too hot to get him that over heated.
I did work on some turns as he felt like a carousel horse. Meaning he wanted to turn on his middle and felt like he had a pole guiding his steps whenever we turned. Now some ground work will clean this up, but since I was riding...I did some turns into the fence. He was more willing to turn on his hind end, but he needed to go slow to learn where to put his feet. There are still lots of opportunities for him to get better.
FYI....Hoss went home today. Good luck Robin and Lynn!
I did work on some turns as he felt like a carousel horse. Meaning he wanted to turn on his middle and felt like he had a pole guiding his steps whenever we turned. Now some ground work will clean this up, but since I was riding...I did some turns into the fence. He was more willing to turn on his hind end, but he needed to go slow to learn where to put his feet. There are still lots of opportunities for him to get better.
FYI....Hoss went home today. Good luck Robin and Lynn!
Hoss - 8/16/11
Worked more on ground work and disengaging his hind end. He really has a tendency to want to work all on his front end. To get him more on his hind end, I asked him to just move his front feet left and right. He got better by the end, but will require more opportunities to get better.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Hoss - 8/15/11
Before Felicia and I went down to MDA, we worked at the barn for a little while. Robin and Lynn brought a new horse, although she thinks she may switch Magic for more riding since it appears that Hoss (I wanted to call him Stripes, but Felicia would let me. BTW, he's an appaloosa) might be more ride ready. But until then, I plan on working him to see where he is at mentally. I worked on getting him to disengage his hindquarters, it didn't mean much to him. But after some work circling and disengaging he was better. I plan on working him again Tuesday and probably riding him on Thursday.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Magic - 8/1/11
Came home today to help Robin load Magic to take her home. Robin brought some shipping boots, so we put the on and let her get used to them before we started loading. We did some practice loading and all seemed well. But it always seems that, with horses, just when you think that all is going to be perfect....you are reminded that they are horses and God made them that way. She was hesitant about getting into the trailer (that was brought to take her to her new home). Her first step into the trailer, the rubber mat slid and after that she wanted nothing to do with loading into a trailer. I used a stick w/a string to lengthen my arm, but we still spent about a hour rebuilding her confidence that the floor of the trailer was not going to move. Eventually she loaded, but when you have a horse that is hard to load...once you get them loaded, you should unload and do it again. Preferably you should do it several more times. Take the drama out of it, you cannot get mad. The horse is not doing this on purpose, the horse is just fearful. You are loading them into a steel cave and things that eat them live in caves. Be patient, take the time it takes. Parelli says do more now so that you can do less later. That's good advice!
Magic - 7/30/11
Started the day with the direct and drive. Loaded her in and out of the stocks (tight spot, getting her used to something against her side). Also loaded her into and out of the stock trailer several times. She did real well. The ride was light today. Sometimes it's not about the length, but about the quality of the ride. She was stopping well and was relaxing her frame real well.
Magic - 7/28/11
Started the day again on the ground. Did some direct and drive to get her more comfortable in tight spaces. Robin is taking her home on Monday so I want her to load and unload with no issues. She did well when I rode, worked more on the right side and she is starting to give to the feel. BUT it should be a continuing education for her. Robin came out and rode again today. She did well and we talked about asking Magic to tip her nose as Robin rode her. We also talked about stopping. You should picture yourself deflating like a balloon and melting into the saddle when asking for the stop.
Magic - 7/26/11
another good day. She is getting better and better going to the right. I am really pleased with her progress. Still wants to travel with her nose pushed out, but once her right side gets "right" I think her nose will fall into place. Robin came out and rode today, I thought things went very well for Magic and Robin.
Magic - 7/25/11
Good day today. She was turning well and giving better. Still struggles with going to the right, but I believe all the right things are being done to get her where she needs to be.
Magic - 7/24/11
Evening ride today. Rode outside, and asked her for a lope. She feels more collected but I didn't push her real hard. Just let her get the feel of moving faster. She still struggles with giving to the right, but she is better than a few days ago.
Magic - 7/23/11
Rode two times today, morning and evening. Continued to work everything to the right. She is getting better but still lots of work to build that confidence.
Magic - 7/21/11
worked in the round pen today. Turning back into the fence and continuing to ask for the soft feel. She still is resistant on her right side. So I have been spending a lot of time getting her mind involved before I get on. I do groundwork before saddling and riding. Everything from disengaging her hip to direct and drive. She is better, but she still has that hole that needs work.
Magic - 7/20/11
Rode in the round pen, asked her for a lope. Of course she felt awkward and that she might stumble and fall down at any moment. She carried her nose way out in front and her back was hollowed out. So I backed off, I mentioned a couple of days ago about a hole, a ditch and a canyon. This was a ditch for her, so we backed up and started asking her to tip her nose in and get her back up.
Magic - 7/19/11
started again on the ground. Asking for the hip to move over and started asking her to step over her front end. This starts to help her understand a rollback. As I rode I asked her to turn into the fence. You should always ask a young horse to turn into the fence when you give the room to turn. if you are too close to the fence, it confuses them... they have no where to go. Give them room to turn.
Magic - 7/18/11
Rode outside today, she did real well. Asked her for all the same things that I asked for in the round pen, just in a different environment. I typically don’t ask for a lot of speed, I want forward motion…I just don’t want uncontrollable forward motion. When a horse has a hole at a walk, it turns into a ditch at a trot and a canyon at a lope. make sure you can do a one rein stop before you can ask for more speed. This is not a big deal if you have a thousand acres, you can ride as fast as they can run. BUT, most of us don't have that option. So before I asked her for more speed, I ask for more control.
Magic - 7/17/11
Again started the day on the ground working on her right side. Asking her to step over with the inside hind leg, so that it the inside hind leg steps over and in front of the outside hind leg. Its important to remember to work both sides in order to be consistent. Did more of the lateral flexing as I rode her. I want to see the eye (in the direction I'm asking) looking at me and not the whites of her eye. Again, better today than she was yesterday.
Magic - 7/16/11
One of the things you notice (or should notice) when you start young horses is that sometimes you rush them a little to much. One of the things I noticed in Magic yesterday was that she had a hole in her right side. Meaning that she was not as flexible or comfortable going to the right. So I went back to the ground today. She is very uncomfortable going to the right, so I directed her between myself and the fence (direct and drive) until she was comfortable with her claustrophobia. She still needs a lot of work with this, but she is better today than she was yesterday.
Magic - 7/15/11
Spent the day again doing some basics. Asking for the soft feel both directions. A soft feel means when I ask for a bend to one side or the other, she gives not just with her head to the side…but also with her chin giving also. Spent the whole time working her laterally.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Magic - 7/14/11
Trying to catch up on a few updates.
One of the things I noticed as a "hole" in Magic's progress was the lack of confidence she has on her right side. She reacts to every stimulation over and above to what she does on the right. I believe that we tend to make a horse right or left handed. So today I worked on her right side. Mostly ground work, if I can do something on the ground...I should be able to do it in the saddle. I mostly, I did direct and drive. Meaning I asked her to move by giving her direction and driving her hind in thru it. As the space got tighter, so did her nerves. So the key is to know when to back off and give her more room. By the end of the workout, she was better...but this is something that will require some effort and patience to overcome.
One of the things I noticed as a "hole" in Magic's progress was the lack of confidence she has on her right side. She reacts to every stimulation over and above to what she does on the right. I believe that we tend to make a horse right or left handed. So today I worked on her right side. Mostly ground work, if I can do something on the ground...I should be able to do it in the saddle. I mostly, I did direct and drive. Meaning I asked her to move by giving her direction and driving her hind in thru it. As the space got tighter, so did her nerves. So the key is to know when to back off and give her more room. By the end of the workout, she was better...but this is something that will require some effort and patience to overcome.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Magic - 7/7/11
Again, continued with the same excirsices. I want to make sure she is solid, she doesn’t have to be perfect, she just needs to understand the basic of what I am asking for. Today was the first ride, which is that fine line between being excited and scared for me! It is important to understand that just because she understood (somewhat) give and release on the ground, didn’t mean she was going to remember it once I was in the saddle. The saddle gives a different feel to the horse and then you add the weight of the rider. All of these are new feelings for her. So today for the first ride, I wasn’t so much interested in where we were going as I was just going. I used my stick, tapping her on the hind end while leaning back a little and squeezing with my cheeks (I don’t mean the ones on my face) to encourage forward movement (see previous post - Learn How to Handle Your Tools). I also used the stick to encourage turns into and away from the rail. When I asked her to release one direction or the other, I waived (or tapped, as needed) the stick on the opposite side until she released to the ask at the bit. The one rein stop was alright (although it still needs some work, if I had been asking for more speed she might not have stopped at all). But any flexing at the poll or stopping with two reins was non-existent. Like I said, once the saddle and rider are added to the mix what they remember changes just a little. Overall she is exactly where I thought she would be at this point.
Magic - 7/5/11
Every day you should add on to what you did before, sometimes it is not a huge thing you are adding. Sometimes it is just speeding up the pace of what you did the day before and that is what we did today. I asked her to offer me more speed and quicker releases than the day before. Of course if you are asking for more speed, then the releases will be uglier! But you should try to be consistent with your cues even at a faster pace. It is also important to build as your go. I would not have taken everything I did on the 3rd and just walked into the round pen and told her we are going to take what you learned and push you to a 15 ride horse level. She would have blown up! I started out at the same pace, built upon it, asking her to go faster (never faster than a trot) during the driving exercises. Then I backed everything down to a slower pace before I quit for the day. Sometimes it is not so much about the quantity of work as it is about the quality of work!
Magic - 7/3/11
I continued with the exercises started on 7/2. This time once she was saddled, I set her up to start following a feel. Meaning I asked her to bend her head around and start with the lateral flexion. I want to be able to bend her into a one rein stop if I have to when I start riding. I started out just running the lead rope around the opposite side of her hind end (rope around the left hip and me on the right) and just building a fence with my hands (meaning I applied a steady pull, never increasing and releasing as soon as she gave into it) Basically I was asking her to turn in a small circle each time, both directions with her feet moving. Once she was doing the small circle fairly well, I started asking her to just give into the side just like I would ask if I was sitting in the saddle. This is important because she does have to understand that a cue to release to the pressure, doesn’t always mean she has to move. If all of the cues are not there, then she should only give me what I’m asking for. Once I felt she understood the process, I hooked her up to drive.
This can be a little tricky if the horse does not know what the ropes feel like. If it is a threat to them, then you end up running around the round pen trying to catch up and get them out of a bind. Here is where the ground work comes into play, using your stick and string (or the end of your lead rope) you should all ready be flicking the rope all over them. This prepares them for the contact of the driving reins. I hooked the reins to the snaffle rings and put one rein on either side and asked her to move forward. Once she was moving then I started asking her to turn into and away from the fence. This should continue until she gives both ways easily. Once she does, build a fence with both hands (Mike Kevel calls it being as steady as a fence post, once they quit pulling on the pressure..it goes away) and hold it until you get a release. It is not always going to be a big release, reward the smallest try!
Magic - 7/2/11
Started out with ground work again, she has picked up the hind end disengagements and has no problem moving her front end back and forth. One of the keys for moving the front end is if she is moving to the left, the right foot needs to cross over the top of the left and vice versa for the other direction. Most of my preparation has been at a slower pace, things tend to change once you speed up the pace. If hind end disengagements are a small hesitation at a walk, then at a trot it is a larger issue and near impossible at a lope. Make sure everything is solid at a walk before moving on to a faster pace.
After some basic ground work, I saddled her. She didn’t get overly excited about the saddle. Acted like she had been saddled before (which of course, she had..Again, thanks Joe!). I also slipped a bit in her mouth and let her just carry it around in the round pen.
As she was carrying the saddle and bit around I continued doing the ground work exercises. This was important because it continues the pace and consistency of the work. Things went well and she is advancing at a good pace.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Magic - 7/1/11
Did ground work. Disengaging her hind end and learning to move her front end when asked. Spent about an hour and a half working on this. She is was a little resistant at first, but eventually decided that she could get along with me.
Everything you do on the ground will translate to something you do in the saddle. As I get older, my Dad gets smarter! Groundwork is the basic foundation in starting a horse. If you can't do it on the ground, you surely will not be able to do it in the saddle.
Everything you do on the ground will translate to something you do in the saddle. As I get older, my Dad gets smarter! Groundwork is the basic foundation in starting a horse. If you can't do it on the ground, you surely will not be able to do it in the saddle.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Magic - 6/30/11
Had a customer bring a new mare today. She is 3 and this is her start up in the world of riding and I look forward to the progress she will make.
Started, last night, with some basic groundwork. Making sure she will yeild her hind end and asking her to step over with her front end. She was really calm, probably due to her halter showing back ground (thanks Joe Kelley!). The only thing she was twitchy about was her back right leg, which I think was do to the way she got out of the trailer (she might have been a little sore). Stay tuned for her growth!
Started, last night, with some basic groundwork. Making sure she will yeild her hind end and asking her to step over with her front end. She was really calm, probably due to her halter showing back ground (thanks Joe Kelley!). The only thing she was twitchy about was her back right leg, which I think was do to the way she got out of the trailer (she might have been a little sore). Stay tuned for her growth!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Annie..the Never Started and Trail Riding Prep
At some point, I wil get Annie started well enough for someone to finish her. She is a solid mare and deserves more time than I can give her! We have decided to sell her...
That being said, it sorta appears that the long (about 20-25 days so far) south Texas winter is over. Next week I look forward to some riding and more work for Annie. Of course all of this will be squeezed in between the visits to MD Anderson with Felicia (The Life and Times of a Cowboy Who Married Up)...so again stay tuned and you will eventually see this saga end for Annie with us!
If you are trail riding into Houston, be sure to do some check ups on your horse. Can you stop them with one rein? Will they stand calmly when you get on? How scared do they get when a car or wagon goes by? These are all things you should know before you get on the road. If you cannot accomplish at least these in the arena or at home...do you really think you can be safe out there on the road? Take it from me, most people in cars don't know enough to slow down when a horse is on or beside the road. How many people get hurt during this time of year because they don't know thier horse or think cars will stop?
Ride safe, ride prepared!
That being said, it sorta appears that the long (about 20-25 days so far) south Texas winter is over. Next week I look forward to some riding and more work for Annie. Of course all of this will be squeezed in between the visits to MD Anderson with Felicia (The Life and Times of a Cowboy Who Married Up)...so again stay tuned and you will eventually see this saga end for Annie with us!
If you are trail riding into Houston, be sure to do some check ups on your horse. Can you stop them with one rein? Will they stand calmly when you get on? How scared do they get when a car or wagon goes by? These are all things you should know before you get on the road. If you cannot accomplish at least these in the arena or at home...do you really think you can be safe out there on the road? Take it from me, most people in cars don't know enough to slow down when a horse is on or beside the road. How many people get hurt during this time of year because they don't know thier horse or think cars will stop?
Ride safe, ride prepared!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Annie....1/1/11
On this first day of 2011, we had and excellent day!
Again we worked in the round pen, spent time with the turns in to the fence. Really looking for the turn and wants to carry herself through it. One of the the things I mentioned yesterday was the softness and suppleness homework. I kinda put the cart before the horse, so to speak, in explaining what this is to me. I always work this before I start asking for any turns. If you can't bend that head around, then you can't stop them if they get away from you.
I started out by asking her to bend side to side. Most horses will do this, but if you look at that eye...they are not looking at you, this is called a false release. I kept asking her for the release until her eye connected with me. Meaning, I could see more than the whites of her eye when she bent her head around. She's a pretty sharp mare, so this went pretty fast. Once both side were going well, I then started asking for her to break at the poll. This is nothing more than asking for both sides at the same time. The key to any release, is the soft ask. Most anybody can muscle one, but softness, ask softly. My Dad calls it butterfly fingers. Annie is still pretty resistant to this, but I understand where she is coming from. Her past wreck has made her hypersensitive around her nose. Time and patience will win out in the end.
Again we worked in the round pen, spent time with the turns in to the fence. Really looking for the turn and wants to carry herself through it. One of the the things I mentioned yesterday was the softness and suppleness homework. I kinda put the cart before the horse, so to speak, in explaining what this is to me. I always work this before I start asking for any turns. If you can't bend that head around, then you can't stop them if they get away from you.
I started out by asking her to bend side to side. Most horses will do this, but if you look at that eye...they are not looking at you, this is called a false release. I kept asking her for the release until her eye connected with me. Meaning, I could see more than the whites of her eye when she bent her head around. She's a pretty sharp mare, so this went pretty fast. Once both side were going well, I then started asking for her to break at the poll. This is nothing more than asking for both sides at the same time. The key to any release, is the soft ask. Most anybody can muscle one, but softness, ask softly. My Dad calls it butterfly fingers. Annie is still pretty resistant to this, but I understand where she is coming from. Her past wreck has made her hypersensitive around her nose. Time and patience will win out in the end.
Annie....12/31/10
Rode today for about 1 1/2 hours. Wasn't suppose to rain, but it did and after the first 10 minutes, I wasn't going to get any wetter.
Worked today on forward momentum. You would think with most horses being forwardholics, this wouldn't be an issue. When you get on them, at first, they sometimes forget how to move their feet. Once the forward part was going pretty well, we worked on turns into the fence. I like to turn into the fence because it really forces them, if you do it right, to walk their front end around. I give myself plenty of space between her and the fence, not to much, usually 2-4 feet. Softly ask for the turn, made sure that I have already done the home work with softness and suppleness. As she started around, I gave the cue (soft pressure with opposite leg - picture pushing her through the turn with your leg) and has she completed walking through, I released the pressure. After 4 or 5 like this, she started looking for the turn in that direction. I repeated all of this on the other side. You cannot use the fence forever, eventually she needs to learn how to move her front end around with nothing more than my cue and no physical aid. All in all...a good day!
Worked today on forward momentum. You would think with most horses being forwardholics, this wouldn't be an issue. When you get on them, at first, they sometimes forget how to move their feet. Once the forward part was going pretty well, we worked on turns into the fence. I like to turn into the fence because it really forces them, if you do it right, to walk their front end around. I give myself plenty of space between her and the fence, not to much, usually 2-4 feet. Softly ask for the turn, made sure that I have already done the home work with softness and suppleness. As she started around, I gave the cue (soft pressure with opposite leg - picture pushing her through the turn with your leg) and has she completed walking through, I released the pressure. After 4 or 5 like this, she started looking for the turn in that direction. I repeated all of this on the other side. You cannot use the fence forever, eventually she needs to learn how to move her front end around with nothing more than my cue and no physical aid. All in all...a good day!
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