Nova Needs Work

Managing 3 horses and a pony is quite a burden. The pony is currently going online for lease sometime this week. I even got her her own pony saddle. It's the most beautiful saddle I own, and actually fits me quite well on the saddle rack, despite being a 12inch- I have very little booty. Burden number 1 lifted.

My plan for getting the girls more work is ponying. Lots of ponying up the mountain. Nova needs to see trails, Roxy loves trails, I love both of them, why not combine all these needs and loves into one action. So Nova will be traveling via Roxy up the mountainside for some time.

In the arena we continue lunging over ground poles. Under saddle Nova is working on flexing. She moves like a robot horse right now, and I'd like her to separate movements in her head, shoulder, barrel, and hip. She's taken to playing lately, and since being laid up for a cold, she's yet to get into the rhythm of work. Some trails should knock that eagerness to learn right back into her.

In other news- I have chickens! My parents brought home 3 4 week old hens! Super cute babies! We have 2 rhodesian reds, and 1 buff orpington. They don't have names yet. The Buff is the palomino (ha!). Ok that wasn't even a little funny... She's the yellow one.

 

Nova's feed bucket was the only tub laying around for them to inhabit. They did not like being confined and popped up onto the rim fairly quickly. Their coop was built, and they spent the afternoon outside. Where my dog eagerly, and confusedly, watched them. 

Buff girl sleeping in my lap. 

Boot Camp

So Nova started boot camp on Saturday. She's on her 23rd ride, and boot camp started on her 20th. Each session includes a different pattern/ obstacle. Each session is completed by a photograph after the work out, before being hosed down. This is so that we can judge the sweat on my little filly, and see how tough the work out was. Of course some workouts are more mentally challenging than physically challenging, thus less sweat will appear. Here are the photos, and sessions thus far.

Taken Saturday 11/3/2012
This work out was a lot of trotting and loping, and a little hand galloping under saddle for the first time.
We also started working on the barrel pattern, just walking it. She is very obviously exhausted. Also that dirt spot on her hip never goes away. I hose it off of her every day, and it almost always reappears the next day. Even worse, she doesn't have any water spots in her stall, she does have a pee spot from the horse next door... Yes, that's not just dirt, it's a pee pee stain.

Taken Sunday 11/4/2012
What a tough ride for us both. There were lots of people in the arena, which is so challenging for her. Nova just wants to check everyone out and not listen. We also started trotting the barrels! She did great. My super smart little filly.

Taken 11/6/2012
This was the first scary ride I've had on her. I rode her with running reins, trying to get her to collect a little, as she paddles out when she trots sometimes. So frightening. She would get super sketchy, balking, throwing her head up, and acting like she would rear. It was terrifying. What's confusing to me, is that I lunged her a ton with her head tied down, and she was fine. Suddenly she's started this "I'm going to rear" thing. I am not loving it. It happens when she throws her head up, and feels the pressure on the reins, she freaks out, and tries to out muscle the bit by throwing her head up. I don't think she's doing it to be bad, but I think it's a fearful response. I got a quick work out done, and then bailed, the majority of this session was lunging.

Taken today, 11/7/2012

Today the focus of out work out was ground poles. Lots and lots of ground poles. I think I lined up about 7, at trotting distance. We walked them a lot first, and then we tried trotting over she was a mess the first couple of times. She finally smoothed out though. I could really feel her lifting herself, and I loved it. She was working her body, and I could feel it. That's the type of riding that I love.

Also on the list of more sessions:

~Trotting and loping circles
~Introduction to side passing
~Roll Backs
~Backing up (gotta build up that booty!)

Once her toosh is nice and strong she'll be learning slide stops. They should come pretty naturally to her as she has a great stop already.

Today an adult friend at the ranch asked how old she was. When I told her 3 she almost didn't believe me! She thought that Nova was 5 or 6 because of how mellow and well mannered she is. I am so in love with my filly!

Leads, and a Week of Rest

Yesterday was a work day at the ranch. Our barn manager has been out of town on vacation, so we have had to keep it up ourselves. As a feeder, stall cleaner, and slave *cough* I mean assistant, I take a lot of pride in the property, and want it to look nice. We hauled lots of big heavy rocks that had been left near the barns when the shipment of dirt came in. We loaded them into a wheel barrow, and pushed them across the ranch by the wash rack. It's about 50 feet away. They were heavy. I really wanted my golf cart, but it was a good work out. I racked up some loose hay to clean the ally ways of the barns and mare motels. The horses really enjoyed their after breakfast snack.

After that I got onto Nova to work her. I've given her a week off. I rode her really hard a few days in a row,  We worked, unsuccessfully  on leads Wednesday and Friday, and left her sweating from head to toe. Then went on an hour trail ride on Sunday. And on the next Monday she wouldn't follow me in the round pen. It broke my heart a little. So I put her up for a week. She turned out with Roxy a little, they are starting to get along better. Roxy pins her ears, but doesn't lift the hind leg or whinny anymore.

I've been very frustrated about Nova's leads, as I mentioned before. I was giving her flex tests, picking her legs up super high, listening for pops in her pastern, stifle, and hocks. Her left hind pastern does pop occasionally when I flex it a lot. Although I know that she is very sound on all of her legs, I was starting to have doubts. Maybe this lead issue was a lack of power in her hind end.

Well, yesterday when I rode her I asked a friend to take some pictures (I'll put them up here once the friend gets them to me). I mentioned how I was having trouble with the right lead, and she asked if I had tried pulling her head into the rail when I ask for it. Here, I have been so concentrated on keeping her arched properly I haven't pulled her into the rail at all, so I had forgotten this is a great training technique for teaching leads. I asked her once with her head turned into the rail, she didn't pick it up. The second time I asked her picked it up perfectly!

So yesterday was very successful in my book. Now back to some sweaty saddle pads, and getting the baby on her proper diet and work load again. I am feeling good about riding, I'll be out there tomorrow to get back on her back.

Green Broke

Today I decided that Nova is green broke. She has 15 rides on her, she has an amazing whoa. She actually slid stop yesterday a few inches! She has almost 100% steering. She stands still to mount, and saddle. She takes the bit ok. I need to bring a little honey out to flavor it with. We went out on a trail ride today.

All of my girls got to go actually! My mom took Dolly, a friend of mine took Roxy, and while I could have taken some other more broke horses, I wanted to take Nova. She did great! Nova has been on trail 3 days in a row, and she gets better every time. We usually just go around our block. Which constitutes a very quite back road, with some horse property on one side, and a very busy road with lots of large vehicles on the other side. It's perfect, you want a quiet ride go down and back the quiet road. Want to see some obstacles  go down the road side. But today we went far. We went all the way down under the highway, about 2 miles down the busy road. Nova was great. She spooked at a couch yesterday, didn't even flinch today when she saw it. She spooked at a car coming up behind her really fast once, and that was it. She amazes me. Roxy and Dolly were both great as well.

My girls before the ride.

Roxy has gotten out the last 3 days in a row, and I actually think that it's a little too much for her. Her leg seemed to bother her on Saturday. Which made her a really nice ride for my friend. Sometimes she can be a little spookish on trail if she hasn't been out recently enough. The mild discomfort kept her really calm. She was completely sound, just a little stiff. And the ride was by no means too much. It was a lot of walking, and less work then riding in the arena would have been for sure.

Overall I am super, super happy with Nova. She is amazing. However, she won't pick up her right lead. Does anyone have any suggestions for training techniques? My trainer's daughter says to ride more aggressively, but I really don't want to. Nova is so sweet, and so gentle, I really don't think riding her harder and reprimanding her is the right approach. She's not being naughty, I think she honestly doesn't know how to do it. Does anyone else have a gentle approach to encouraging picking up leads?

Ms. Piggy

I am having SUCH a blast with Nova! She is just amazing. Today we had a fantastic ride in the arena. We walked, trotted, and loped! A-ma-zing! This little mare is just fantastic, I am in love. After our ride I untacked her, and hung out with her in the arena under a shady tree.

I was rubbing on her, touching her all over. Nova got a little mouthy on me too, grooming me as I was her. She just lipped my shorts for a moment, and I think it's absolutely adorable when they return the favor, so I let her. I have come to realize that I own a toddler horse. Just like a young child, she's exploring everything with her mouth, and I want her to explore the world. So I do let her lip anything she wants, but once teeth get involved I draw the line. There are two things that Nova is not allowed to do, use her teeth on anything but food, and rub. I have a strict 'no rubbing until you are 10' rule. Nova has quite some time left before she can rub on me.

I have also started to document Nova's weight loss. She is still really fat, and I honestly see no weight loss in pounds, but I see her toning up. What do you think?

The day that I got her

Sometime last week. 

Last Friday (oct 5th)

Lets see just the first two

I know the 'before' picture it kind of far away, and not a great conformation shot, but it's the best I have. 

I really still picture her as this though:

So I suppose the founder neck is well on it's way to disappearing. I love appy necks, but I hate founder necks. What do you guys think? See any dramatic changes in her weight/overall condition? 

Being the First

It is only natural to want to be the first at something. With Nova there are so many firsts for us to experience together- its so exciting! Yesterday I was the first person to trot Nova. She has a really nice little trot, I really like her gaits.

My mom held the longe line and i joked "You ready to hold my crazy girl?" Nova feels like a dead broke horse. She is just a natural. She turns, shes very forward without charging through me. And she has a dead stop. I just say "ho" and she stops real quick (better then some actually broke horses). I am just thrilled.

My mom asked me what i can do with her, seeing how good she is. I didnt know, so weasked my trainner. She said that when she breaks she does the same thing for 7 days, maybe Nova is a 3 instead. Wouldnt it be nice if everything i ever teach her only takes 3 rides? Here's to wishful thinking and being the first to experience Novas gaits.

Nova's First Ride

I have been getting asked all week "When are you riding her?" To me it's not really something planned. You don't set a date on a calendar. This is true with all horse related things. You work up to a goal, and when you reach it, you reach it. You always keep some sort of time in your head, but maybe it happens sooner then you had imagined. Or perhaps it's taken your horse a longer time to understand. Or maybe your goal changed all together, exactly what happens to me all the time.

So when I was so eagerly asked "When are you riding her?" I responded with "I'm not really sure." Because I wasn't sure. Nova would let me know when she was ready. I was also repeatedly told "Wow, she'll be easy to start." And I 100% agreed to that, Nova is so easy going. It is so obvious to me that some horses were built to be ridden. Nova is that horse. Everything just comes so natural to my beautiful little filly.

So today I went out with my boyfriend, who was meeting Nova for the first time. I had a little bit of an idea that I may sit on her today, but I wasn't planning on it. With my boyfriend/photographer in tow I lunged my baby and got some LOVELY shots of this mare.

I am in love with her beautiful lope. It looks so smooth.

The huge stride this mare has at the trot is beautiful. 

I love how she bolts into her lope, it just screams 'gymkhana horse'. 

A beautiful heal, toe landing. 

I also had a friend do some ground work with her. Nova needs a lot of work on the ground. She's pushy and very rude, not purposefully she just doesn't know. I tacked her up, and lunged her again with the saddle flapping all around, she didn't care a bit. So I decided to bounce around in the stirrups. 

 And then I just couldn't resist being on top of her. Her ears are back, but I think she was just curious. Because she chewed the whole time, and didn't try to walk off but once. Nova didn't balk or tremble, she's just doing what she was bred to do.

It is just impossible to be up there and not test it out. So I went around a couple of laps in the bull pen.

Nova walks, turns, she whoas, she was amazing! I have owned this mare for a total of 8 days. That is when I first rode her.

 Ignoring my awkward half step stance, I like this as a 'before' shot of Nova. It shows how fat she is, and her muscle condition (or lack there of). I can only imagine how fast, and powerful this mare will be when she's in top shape.

Poor Roxy!

A friend of mine came out to ride yesterday. I had also promised Roxy that I would ride her. I also was planning on ponying Nova for the first time. It was a very successful day! Roxy was good, she pinned her ears at Nova a little, but with a a little kick she'd stop. Roxy's a good mount for ponying- she knows that when it's time to work, it is not time to play.

We went around in the arena a few times, then about 200 ft down the road and back. That little baby is amazing! She has never seen the world. She lived way up in the mountains off the beaten path. On the trail we saw tractors, dogs, cats, cars, other horses, and in my opinion what's often scariest- dumpsters. Nova did not spook not once! She also let me pet her ears, her forehead, her neck, her back. She's not worried about me being on top of her at all. Successful day yesterday!

I feed Saturdays, so this morning I got up bright and early. And I felt awful, super sick. But I took some day quil, texted canceling my lessons, and I trekked out to the ranch at 7:00AM. I got there, fed the horses, and then I went to do Nova's stall (where Roxy is currently living). Roxy had barely her breakfast... And I even gave her alfalfa. She looks sunken in, and was standing camped out. I listened to her gut and heard good rolls, she wasn't dehydrated. Then I remember that yesterday when her and Dolly were out they played a lot. Roxy did a lot of bucking, and rearing.

I usually pull her out when she does that. But I've been getting pressure from my mother and trainer that 'Roxy's fine'. I can see the pain on her face, but I figured that they knew best. So my poor little girl was so uncomfortable that she didn't even finish her breakfast. Now I know that my instincts are best, and that I know my mare.

But today Nova did great! I was told that she doesn't tie, but was thrilled to see that she does. We used a lunge line and wrapped it around the arena panels. She stood calmly, and chewed my very line. She chews up everything, Nova is very mouthy. She is also very saddle broke. I was thrilled to find that out. This little mare really just needs help leading. I'm planning on going out Monday and getting a bit in her mouth, and lunging her with a saddle in the round pen so it can really flap around on her. Today was also the first time that my trainer saw her being worked. My trained told me before leaving that she was proud of me for banging out my stalls even though I was sick! Woohoo for me. Despite Roxy's discomfort and my sickness, it was a pretty good day.

Session 1 with Nova

Before we do any Nova talk I just want to let everyone know that I have some tack for sale on Ebay it is all super cheap and nice!
http://myworld.ebay.com/rainneyrodeo/?_trksid=p4340.l2559


Now onto Nova. Today I went to school with the mindset that as soon as I was done, I would be heading out to work with Nova. And surprisingly enough my day went as planned. Nova arrived Sunday, and although she seems pretty low stress, I didn't want to overwhelm her by working too early. So I decided that today would be her first session. She did really good! I went a little crazy and did a very little bit of everything today.

Nova lunges pretty well. She doesn't understand giving to pressure yet, so she just lays her head on the line. I think I'll be tying her head to the side (in the halter) and have her do circles until she gives. But Nova changes direction well, and in mindful. She listens to vocal commands, she knows what walk, trot, and ho mean. We didn't do any loping. Oh and she really responds to an aggressive 'Haa!' such a gymkhana horse already.

Nova is the type of horse where you watch her loose and she just screams 'I'm built for fast running and tight turns'. She does great rollbacks, and bolts into a lope from a stand still. The power that this filly gives off is amazing. She's also very sweet, and smart. When I was working with her she really tried to figure out what I wanted. She wants to please- which I am very thankful for. Back to our work!

Next I took the lead rope around her and asked her to turn into it. She did great. She totally knows everything so far. So I asked her to lead by her front foot. She obviously hasn't been asked to do this, it was new to the filly. But she picked it up pretty quick! I was very impressed. At first she gave me this look like "What are you doing?" but with a couple of kisses she started to willingly walk forward.

One thing that she had no clue about and didn't really pick up on was moving her hind end away from me. I'd stand beside her and flick the lead rope at her hind end, and she just acted insulted moving her whole body away from me. After some unsuccessful tries, I took it way way down. I pressed against her flanks with my finger tips, and just accepted one step with either hind leg. She understood this. We ended on a really good note I got her to move her whole hind end. So I stopped the hard stuff then satisfied with my little girl. She's really not a whip horse at all. She's so gentle and willing, I lunged her without one, and did this exercise without a crop too.

I finished up by giving her a bath, and seeing how well she ties. Her previous owner told me that she doesn't know how. But she did pretty good. I looped the lead rope over the round pen corral panel and held the end. She walked the length of the panel, but didn't pull, or sit back at all. I think she'll pick up tying pretty quick. She did ok for her bath. She didn't like when the water started and stopped, Nova flinched each time. But that's ok, she let me give her a full bath, and even let me spray under her tail.

Then we went on a little walk to check out the property. She was so brave! She wasn't scared of anything! We have a big squeaky garden swing. I was pretty aggressively shaking and she didn't care. A notebook that had blown out of the trash. She didn't like it, but she allowed me to touch her with it, and let the pages blow around with it's loud crinkly noise. What a brave little girl from someone who's never seen the world!

I am super impressed with my filly. Tomorrow is her day of rest, I won't be going out. But Friday I plan on sacking her out, and seeing if she's saddle broke. I also want to pony her from Dolly and see how she likes me being above her.

We have a goal in mind too! I love goals. There is a camping trip planned for the end of September. My goal is to have this mare broke enough to go camping. I think it's totally doable too. I have a set 4-5day schedule until she's broke. I will be out there Tuesday Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and one other random day.

Once I put some ground manners on her, I think she'll be ready to ride. Assuming that she's actually saddle broke like the owner says.

If anyone is interested, here's her Dam Sea Freckles


And Daddy- RSA Justa Cowboy


I think Nova really takes after her sire.

Well now it just seems silly to post that tiny picture. I'll be taking a good confirmation photo of her this week so we have a starting point. I love my little girl!

Riding Roxy

Today Roxy was sound enough to be ridden! Hurray! I was so afraid that she would need the stifle injections. I decided to do something really easy. I thought I would do some flag work. Roxy used to carry a flag just fine, but she hasn't in years.

What a hot mess. It was awful! Roxy got big eyes and was snorting on the ground, but she calmed down ok. So I mounted up with the flag. And Roxy shot across the arena side passing as fast as hors-ishly possible. Not happening. I did not want that kind of movement with her injured stifle. So I instantly dropped the plan to do a whole flag, and my trainer suggested just holding a pvc pole. So I did that. Roxy couldn't have cared less. I rubbed it against her barrel, her neck, her rump, both sides, held it up into the trees above us so that it would make lots of noise.

Naturally I will be putting some 'decorative' flags up around her stalls. They are bright white, and will flap in the wind, they are loud, and they will be around her 24/7. Roxy is getting re broke to a flag.

Roxy horse gets to graze when she is injured. Being hurt isn't too bad. 

The First Sit

For the sake of time, this will be a quick little post. Yesterday I had the first sit on Gideon McBadhorse (did I mention Roxy is still lame?). I turned him out for about 15minutes, I cleaned his stall, I laid out new shavings (it is FINALLY starting to dry out!), I tacked him up, and lunged him in both directions. Then I lowered a stirrup quite a bit. I put my foot in it and paused. Gideon's feet froze, not out of fear, but out of obedience- because that is what he knew he was supposed to do. I lowered my foot back to the ground. I wiggled the saddle (pretty aggressively), and then I placed my foot back in the stirrup. I popped up, then back down. Up, then back down. I lowered my foot to the ground once again. After a few more aggressive shakes, and some high jumps beside him, he continued to stand frozen. So I put my foot in the stirrup one last time, and this time I swung my leg over him.

Wow. There is nothing comparable to the feeling of sitting on a horse that has been labeled 'crazy'. He didn't move a single inch.
"Good boy!" I told him, along with severely strokes against his neck. Then before it could turn sour I landed back onto the ground. This was where Gideon was rewarded with more pets, and more 'good boys'. I also joked with him that if he seriously injured Roxy he would need to step in as my new riding horse, so he better get the hang of this quick. Maybe he isn't Gideon McBadhorse after all...

Who me? I am an angel! 

Roxy Rant #4

My girl has been making me do icky gross head on the ground pleasure stuff lately. I hate this, but I am (barely) a good Roxy horse so I listen. Today was gymkhana day! Roxy horses love gymkhana days even more then carrots, and almost more then grain. So first things first, I had to pee. Then I did super good all day and was a very happy Roxy horse. We trotted barrels, and then we loped them, then we went fast! My girl even let me gallop home once! Roxy horses get very excited about galloping so we don't get to do that much.

My girl's mom took this video of Roxy Barrels, but I had been doing other stuff right before and was a confused Roxy. 

After all that barrel stuff my girl ponied a bunch of little girls around on Dolly. Dolly knows that Roxy horses are in charge and did not challenge my dominance.

After the little girls all rode we did some reining. We did small slow, large fast- possibly my favorite exercise right now. I did a really tinny tiny small circle sooo slow, then we did a big fast circle. I was very nice and collected. I've been learning not to run everywhere I go.

After I had to pony wild horse around. He thinks he's in charge, bad horse has no respect for Roxy Dominance. Roxy is in charge.

Wild horse is getting fatter. 

My girl's mom says wild horse and I look cute together. Well duh Roxy horse makes every thing cuter. 

Ok wild horse, you are cute.

I was already sweaty from gymkhana day, but took wild horse onto the track. This was where he tried to seduce me. My girl reminded me to be a lady, and I put wild horse back in his place.

After 6 trotting laps around the big giant track my girl put wild horse away. She then un tacked me, hosed me off, and let me stand. I stood nicely for an hour, it's a nice time to catch up on some beauty sleeps. I caught a glimpse of her on a pretty wild horse that I had never seen before. Maybe my girl will tell you guys about that later.

Roxy horse is tucking in for the night, even though I get lots of beauty sleeps at the hitching post, I get most in my stall.

A Real Ride with Roxy

Usually when I ride Roxy, I just hop on, go through the paces, and do a gymkhana pattern. On Thursday however I had an extremely rough day at work. We had 8 babies instantly, 4 were teething, 2 were new (so they were fussy, confused, and wanted their parents). Believe it or not, I don't do well with crying. I know it seems crazy for an infant toddler teacher to not do crying, but I just don't. And usually our class has minimal crying. However, Thursday was madness. So what was going to be a day off from the ranch turned into a necessary day on.

Instead of the usual workout I chose to really do some training. Roxy did some reining work, and she loved it. Roxy is SO forward, sometimes I just want to lope, not hand gallop, I just want a nice little lope. However, Roxy interprets 'lope' as 'run as fast as possible without falling down'. So after warming her up really well I did some reining exercises.

I started by loping a spiral. Starting with a 30ish meter circle, and winding down to a very very sharp circle, under 10 meters. We ended with a slide, and did it in the other direction. She did great! The idea behind this method is that she physically can't run in a small circle. So as we continue to lope she is forced to take smaller strides and to collect.

After that we did small slow and large fast circles. I think giving her the cue to speed up is helpful, because she understands that a hand gallop is something that has a cue. Here is the exercise:

I used a barrel to mark the 'bottom' of my circles. Both circles had the same 'bottom'. The first circle was just the width of my arena, which I am guessing around 50 feet probably more, the second circle was about 1/4 of the size. I had her start at the small slow circle, repeating it on a loose rein until she carries herself nice and collected. Then, at the barrel, I asked her to speed up staying in a lope, just an extended lope. I only let her do one or two of these circles before asking her to collect again.

Now let me back up for a moment, I started her at the trot. We jogged a small circle, then trotted a fast one. I didn't focus on trotting it for very long because Roxy knows the difference between a jog and trot quite well. If your horse has issues staying consistent at the trot you'd want to start this exercise at the trot.

Tomorrow I plan on doing some pleasure work with her. Lets see how she does with that!

What exercises do you love to do? What issues are you trying to work through with your horse?

Teacher of Many Species

I haven't decided if child care is a passion of mine yet, but children in general are indeed something I am passionate about. Something I clearly know is my greatest passion is riding.

Every horse person has some pretty clear preferences. Maybe we really love quarter horses, but we wouldn't pass up the opportunity to work with an Arabian too. Perhaps we absolutely love dressage, or maybe reining is our biggest riding pleasure. Personally, I love babies (by babies I mean 3-4year olds). Even more then babies, I love rescues. I've worked with a good amount of rescues.

Working with rescues is like finding buried treasure. You never know the real history of that horse. Were they trained for pleasure? Were they a show horse? Did they trail ride? Were they beaten? Do they respond to leg cues? Are they saddle broke? Do they respond to the bit?

The first time I rode Tahiti I was in the round pen, with a helper to lead her around. She was saddle broke, fantastic- that's my least favorite part of training young horses. Tahiti was dead broke. She neck reined, she responded to leg cues very well, and she is quite forward. I think she will make a great lesson horse in the near future.

I enjoy working with young horses because I am a teacher by nature. Under all of the hats that I wear, I am a teacher and a leader. This is the biggest similarity between teaching preschool, and teaching horses.

Another is routine. Horses like routine, some more then others. I worked with one mare, and Appaloosa named Star, that NEEDED routine. With a schedule she was amazing and consistent. Kids are the same way. They like to know what is happening next, and when it is happening. Something as simple as staying outside too long can throw off the entire day for kids. Hopefully your horses aren't so adamant about that one though.

Working through temper tantrums. I work with infants through 4 year olds. This means lots of terrible twos, lots of meltdowns. Working through these meltdown with kids is addressed through redirection, or talking to the child to find out exactly what is wrong. With horses we call these 'temper tantrums' shutting down. Horses are just a little more predictable then kids, when you feel your horse starting to shut down you have got to catch it before they do. After noticing the oncoming meltdown what do you do? You redirect your horse's energy. If you are working on side passing, you ask for one more step, then you let them cool off at the walk for a lap or so. Same exact technique, different species.

I am sure that there are a million other similarities, but those are the most notable to me. I find it interesting how similar these jobs really are. Training horses, and teaching children. Oh and of course the children get clucked at plenty out of habit. As does the dog, my mom, my boyfriend, the car; pretty much everything that moves gets clucked at.

Is your job similar to your horse hobby? What's your favorite discipline, breed, or color?

Successful day with the Colt

My mustang is doing great! He's starting to feel much better, and it's quite obvious. He now lets me pick all four feet, he'll be ready for the farrier to do his back feet very soon! Today I even offered him a bit, he took it fantastically, didn't care at all. He chewed it for about 10 seconds, and then let it gently sit in his mouth.

He leads with just a rope on his front foot. His ground manners overall aren't horrendous. He's pushy, and he gets frustrated when I make him whoa. If I don't use enough pressure right away to whoa and back him he just walks through me, but if I give him direction instantly he does well.

After working with him more, I now see, this little guy was started by someone who knew what they were doing. This little guy is so relaxed about everything. I swing a saddle pad on him, he doesn't care, tighten a rope around his heart girth, barrel, and just in front of his flanks, and he stands stone still. I can swing a rope around him, and he keeps his cool. He even leads by just a rope around his front foot. Judging by that move, I know that someone taught him that little trick. I've never met a horse that just leads perfectly like that naturally. Someone started him with the intention of eventually successfully riding him.

Moses isn't going to be his name, it was vetoed. So I broke into my Sunday School memory (and asked my mother) searching for some bible stories. I have really liked the story of David and the Lion Den. I have a thing for lions, and the story is great. For those who do not know, the story goes something like this. David worked for the king, and the king really liked David. The other workers didn't like David, so they talked the king into passing a law that made it illegal to worship anyone but him. David still worshiped God, thus the king was forced to punish David. The punishment was a night in the lions den. David was brave, and trusted that God would protect him- so he spent a night in the den. Sure enough, the next morning God had protected David and kept him alive. David was loyal, faithful, and incredibly brave. Those are all characteristics that I would love for my colt to obtain. Unfortunately, his name is David, and this horse is not a David.

So how about Samson? Samson was granted supernatural strength by God to fight his enemies- wow! He was so trustworthy, and faithful that God granted him such a tremendous gift! Samson was old, which I can chose to read as wise, and this horse is wise.

This little guy is just amazing to me. He is so level heading, intelligent, and so brave. He is not bitter, or food aggressive, all of the other horses love him. Roxy usually doesn't get along with anyone but Dolly. She doesn't act out under saddle, but that is because she is trained not to, when she's loose or in her stall she fights with everyone. However, I let her and the colt sniff through his mare motels. Instead of raising her head, grinning her teeth and snorting at him, she sniffed him for a while, and then decided to eat some of the loose hay. It was obvious that they liked each other, and it was just too sweet!

I'm excited for this colt and the adventure that he holds. I was pretty worked up and honestly rather nervous to ride him, but now I've settled my fears. By no means do I trust him yet, but I like his personality, and he's a beautiful mover. I think he is going to end up a beautiful functional animal, now if only we can find him a functional and beautiful name.

Mustang Manners (or lack there of)

I've only handled Moses 4 times; including the first time I met him at the property across the street. Every time he's seemed pretty docile, and easy to handle. He lives in the mare motels, and just two gates away is a large turn out that I've been working him in. He gets turned out for about 10min while I clean his stall, then gets worked. He never leaves his neighbor's side.
Well Tuesday (last time I was out there) his co-owner turned out her horse Kay, his neighbor. Kay went about 100ft away to the arena, which is pretty visually obstructed from his turn out. I was holding him, and he had been pretty attentive to me, but as soon as Kay left, his focus left me. He called out to her, and wouldn't tune in to me. Although Moses didn't move his feet, his focus completely shifted.
It makes me nervous. I know it's a mustang thing, he's just looking for his herd. I'm sure the trauma that these horses experience during a round up is severe. But will Moses ever look to me as his herd? Will I ever be seen as the lead? Will my presence be enough support for him?
Here is my current plan for Moses, and the techniques I plan on using. I am VERY open to suggestions, as I've never dealt with a mustang before. I have lots of experience with rescues, and young horses, but this mustang seems to be something else all together.

Picking Up His Hind Feet
   - Since he kicks out, I plan on lifting them with a rope. When he gives, I give. This is what I used with Roxy and she does great now.


Perfect Ground Manners
   - Moses leads, but I want him to be a super star on the ground. I want him to promptly whoa, back, and turn  at just visual pressure. I plan on using a crop as an extension of visual and verbal commands, eventually lessening the pressure to just visual. I'll get some video of me working with him on the ground to better display this method.

Desensitization 
   -I want him to be ready for a saddle, so I want to desensitize him to a rope, saddle pad, and bit. This is done through exposing him to these objects. Also I think a loud plastic trash bag would be a good thing for Moses to see too. I'd like to get him to give to the bit from the ground too. Also I've found that desensitizing a horse teaches them to respect you, and to enjoy your company. I'm not sure if he's even spookish yet, but just showing him these objects, is valuable time with my big guy.

I figure this list will keep us busy until he gets in good health and weight to be ridden and worked safely. Then I plan to re-saddle break him, pony him on Roxy to get him used to me above him, and eventually get up there for that first ride. I've never been nervous about a first ride before, but this mustang hype has me scared.

Do you have any suggestions, methods, advice, or important lessons that you think Moses should learn? Have you ever worked with a mustang?

A Bit of Knowledge

I am a huge fan of the right bit for the right horse. And I am a huge fan of understanding how bits work. Every client's first lesson includes information on bits. I don't care if you are learning english or western, you are going to learn all about all of the types of bits, how they work, what 'level' they are, and the idea of graduating a horse up to the next bit.

I am not the type of person who throws whatever I want into any horse's mouth and tells them to listen to it. I don't solve problems by going up a bit (if anything, you should go down). I thought that I would take a moment to walk you through the bits that I use daily, and why. I'll go in order of my most common, to least common.

Myler
This is my absolute favorite bit in the entire planet. I have no clue how I came to find it, because lord knows I never would have spent $80 on it without knowing how well it worked first. I have never even been able to find my exact myler online, but it looks like this one, only the port is a bit lower, and the roller is copper.

I love my myler because it's gentle, and most horses take to it really well. You get horses that are salivating, collecting, flexing at the pole, and overall docile. I like giving Roxy a roller because she gets excited and rolls the bit, which I highly encourage. It keeps her salivating, and it keeps the bit soft in her mouth.

Hackamore
Alright, this isn't a bit. But I love my mechanical hackamore. Dolly has a thin rawhide hackamore, and Roxy has a thicker woven rawhide hackamore.

That is like Roxy's it was really tough to find a round hackamore, not a flat mechanical one. Honestly, I like the round ones more because they are much prettier then the flat ones. My girls seem to like them too. As with most tack, the wider the nose band the more gentle. I like the hackamore because it uses pressure points along the horse's cheeks, poll, and chin. Dolly likes it because of the infection in her mouth (I swear I'll tell her story soon), a bit bothers her sensitive jaw.


Tom Thumb

I am not a huge fan of this bit, but it's what the lesson horses use so I use it often. The Tom thumb is actually a pretty controversial bit. I use to use it on my girls, and on most of the horses that I ride. Now the Myler has replaced the tom thumb, and I actually own none! I still use it on the lesson horses during lessons though. The reason that I don't like it, is because it pinches. It can be a really nasty, and painful bit.

O Ring Snaffle

The mouth part on mine is a little big thicker then this- which I LOVE. I only use a snaffle on the babies. It's just my preference to get an older horse into a shank bit. To me, it makes more sense when neck reining for the bit to have shanks. Notice how the sides of this snaffle don't end at the ring? That's to avoid pinching, perfect for babies with nice soft mouths.

What type of bit do you and your horse love? Thinking of shelling out for a Myler? Do you have any specific questions about any bits?

Success times 2

First things first, I have been trying to love on my horses more. Grooming is one. I suck at grooming. Sometimes I just dust my horse off with my hand before switching tack over. Sometimes I ride bareback instead of grooming. I think I've gone weeks without cleaning my own horse's feet. I am lucky that everywhere my horses ride is rock free, soft terrain. 

Today I took some time to love on my horses. I turned them outlet them graze. I free lunged them, successfully! Roxy is a bitch, and I will be the first to say it. I have never once even thought that she wanted to hurt me, or would charge into me, but when I try to lunge her with a lead rope, not a whip, she does this weird backing up thing. She turns her hind end away from me, and sometimes rears up. So today I got really serious with her. I made her back up aggressively, she reared at me and I shouted to her "NO!" she looked shocked. I swung the rope up and hit her in her upper neck, and she took off away from me. YES! I praised a silent victory. It was short lived, as Roxy turned herself away from me. Great. I went over, got really assertive, and told her to move. After some coaching she did! 

During this fight Dolly was lunging herself like the perfect little angle that she is. I recently lunged her alone (without Roxy) for the first time, the mare stayed on the rail in the arena, at a beautiful jog. What a fantastic mare. 

Back to Roxy, whom repeats this about 4 times. Then the clouds parted, and the lord must have whispered into my horse's ears "Roxy, you're an angel remember?"

"Oh yeah! Silly me, thanks God!"

And Roxy sent herself off into the most beautiful canter. I know horses should lunge easily, and willingly, and it's a super big deal. But Roxy lunges fine with a whip, and I usually don't have time to fight with her. I promise to make time to actually get her to lunge properly now. 

 I rode Dolly today! I tacked her up in all of my tack (even my fancy pad cover). I was comfortable, and it does fit her pretty well. Her and Roxy are built strikingly similarly. I didn't even have to raise the cinch on the short latigo. Dolly is a funny little girl, but she did good. She jogged so beautifully, I think she really enjoys being in lessons again.
Since I literally pulled my tack off of Roxy and straight onto Dolly I rode her in a very gentle myler bit. She hates bits. Dolly was chewing, and making a sour face even when I didn't use the reins. I think her mouth is really hurting her again, I need to start cleaning it out. I'll talk about Dolly's health problems in my next post.

While loving on Roxy I noticed something. I noticed it a while ago actually, but today I confirmed it. Roxy is getting extremely smokey. Her face is so black, her tiger stripes are very defined in summer (even in her thick winter coat you can see the stripes by her knees), and the mother load of all smokey-dunness Roxy has shouldering bar.

"I am a pretty dun!"

 But Roxy hasn't always had such a beautiful shoulder bar has she?

A fluffy shoulder bar in 08

A shiny shoulder bar in 07

A ribby shoulder bar in 07

How have I never noticed something so cool? Oh well, I sure have noticed it now!

My ride today was excelent. Roxy has a fantastic stop, but I want to start using 1 of the 4 cues, instead of all 4 all the time. I hope that every rider is well aware of the  4 whoa cues. They are vocally, with the reins, and that is where most people stop. But I teach my clients (both equine and human) 2 more tools, sitting deep, and bringing your legs forward. Today I tested Roxy, she responds quite well, to all but sitting deep. Interesting. She knows that it means easy if I squeeze my but and thighs, but she doesn't read this as whoa. I was surprised that she responded so well to just putting my legs out. It's crazy difficult to just put them out, or just sit deep, and not say whoa. It feels like I am doing her a disservice because I know how much milder it is on her to just talk. Regardless I plan on putting a super whoa on my horse, and when I use all 4 cues that work just as well separately, when I do all 4 at once I'll get that super whoa. 

I tacked my horse up today with the intention of really working her, mentally and physically. I want to build my pudgy mare back into great gymkhana shape. I know this means more lunging, and letting her sit in her gates for longer, oh and actually riding her for more then 10minutes. Today I did all 3! We worked on barrels, I let her run them, and really encouraged her to go fast. She's usually demonstrating the pattern, so we keep it slow so it's extra clean, especially since it wouldn't be appropriate to train her while trying to train someone else. I trained her hard on the pattern, and she did really well, and she enjoyed it! I love having a horse that truly enjoys being ridden. I think it's vital for horses to have a job, and to enjoy it.

Then I switched, and worked on some lead changes. I started with simple changes, and she minded her cues quite well; both the transition walk to canter and vise versa, and picking up leads. Twice I got BEAUTIFUL flying changes out of her. It resulted in an instant reward of a walking lap and some heavy petting. Overall I was proud of both girls, and I had so much fun actually putting tack on, not being in a hurry and riding!

All booted up and ready to ride!

Monthly Goals

It has recently come to my attention that Roxy does not know her leads. She has just always picked up the right ones. I have videos of her picking up the correct leads naturally, but she's never been cued for them, and so when I do cue her she does not mind them.

Video of Roxy picking up her leads fantastically, and 100% naturally.

This is a huge issue for me, as my almost 10 year old mare should really have learned her leads by now. I figure me and my trainer never noticed it earlier because (as you can see by the video) it's never appeared to be an issue. But it is to me. If I tell Roxy which lead to pick up, her should pick it up. That is going to be my mission for this month.

I have realized that today is March 1st, and a lot can happen in a month. So I am setting goals for the horses that I handle for this month.


Roxy- Lead changes, getting a solid slide stop back on her.
Dolly- Getting comfortable putting her back in lessons, ride her myself at least once a week. (Dolly has reached an age where she is done learning, and now her only job is to pass knowledge onto others)
Max- (Assuming his owners decide to start having me work him again). I'd like to fix his foundation. He was getting ruined by a young girl previously, and now Max needs to be restarted. By the end of the month I'd like to see him giving to my cues, and responding all the time.

With the amount of time that I spend out at the ranch, this should all be quite doable in the 31 days of March.

Max

Thank god that the biggest horses were bred to be the most gentle! Imagine if a draft horse 17hand high wanted to eat you. It would NOT be good. I have had my first experience with a big boy. His name is Max, he is half saddle bred (or national show horse, or standard bred, one of those very upright awkward looking horses), and half Friesian. Lots of people around the barn think he's awful looking, but I love Max.

He is about 5 years old, and I broke him. Well I started to break him. I was riding him in a bull pen, getting him used to the bit. He was never fearful of the saddle. I started him very slowly, he has the attention span of a knat. In 10min bursts I lunged him, tacked him up, and offer him the bit. He is the most willing horse, and has never once refused anything. He has a heart of gold, and I hope that his owner knows that. This heart of gold I know he has gotten from his mom, because I ride her as well. Her name is Wendy, and I absolutely love that ugly mare!

She is blind in one eye, has a long face, and is just overall awkward in my opinion. But Wendy is brave, loving, and smooth. My trainer had me starting her on barrels, but she was never finished. Wendy and Max's owner also owns the most hideous arab resuce. The poor guy is called 'Pony' his real name is Cowboy though. He is not only ugly, but mean too- I'll snap a picture of him sometime just to show how awful he is.

Back to Max! So I wanted to post a few photos of him, and see how you guys think I should finish him. I started him last summer, then an awful rider just beat him to death. She did not take the time to read him, and see Max trying. The only other horse she rode was a feisty arab that needed a firm hand, Max is too gentle for that. I got on him yesterday, and he responds ok to the bit. I was thinking of putting him into a hackamore and trying that. So here are some photos of this big boy! What do you think he'd be good at? I was thinking dressage, but I don't have much experience there and I wouldn't want to mess him up at all. Oh and please ignore the tennis shoes. My hips were killing me that day and I couldn't even think about putting on shoes with less support then those. I generally ride him in my boots with spurs.