I was all excited to ride Harry after a stressful week at school, but when we got out there, as I was brushing him, I noticed he was bleeding on his back right hock. After cleaning it up, the swelling went down to just a large bump. After inspecting his stall, since he hasn't been outside, I could only find a couple of places where there were flat screws a little bit out, but they were dull...I could only guess that he got mad at his neighbor Dora (she's in heat) and kicked and scraped his leg during the kick. After we cleaned him up, I brought him in the arena to longe a little bit. He walked, although at one point on a reverse he started to speed up a little, but he started limping pretty badly, so he went back down to a walk. After a good amount of walking just to get the blood flowing, I figured "Heck, I might as well play some games with him" since I couldn't ride him. We played the Friendly Game, during which I was super happy because he finally let me swing the rope over his back. We played a little Yo-Yo game and the Porcupine game in one direction, because the other direction he looked like he was dragging his bad leg, so I stopped. He was really responsive in the direction he was good at though! Then I just walked backwards and he followed me across the soundboard at a walk, then I put him in to rest.
I rode Brie and my mom rode Nina. Brie was so snotty today! She tried to bite Sadie and Harry as they walked by her on the cross tie! But you couldn't tell that from her ride. She was a fantastic ride today. Very calm, very responsive. Most of the time I just let her go where she wanted though, since I wasn't in the mood for working very hard. We let Nina and Brie chase each other around the arena, then they followed each other in circles, all while we did nothing! It was quite cute.
Mom pointed out that Brie is not as collected as she used to be and I had noticed that. I think it's just because we've been focusing in Harry and Nina since they show and kind of letting Brie just do whatever. We're going to put the rear end collector on her next weekend, maybe the draw reins. I am not a fan of those reins!
Showing posts with label Parelli Natural HorseManShip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parelli Natural HorseManShip. Show all posts
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Day 251
During the past week, I signed back up for Parelli Connect after reading a bunch of articles from their blog archive. As I've said, recently I've been feeling a little lost with what to do with Harry and Brie. I didn't really have a goal or a purpose with either of them and that was not making any of us feel too great, so with Parelli Connect, I have a bunch of goals that I want to meet and they give you guidance through reading and videos on how to get there. Now my goal is to basically build trust and further our relationship in order to add performance on top of that in the next show season. This goal was really established after reading this article on enhancing performance naturally. It discusses how so often competitors get so caught up in the competition that the horse suffers through lack of guidance or becomes bored or strung out, which I think is what is happening with Harry. In a way, building up to your best performance is like baking a cake -- it can look really nice on the outside, but can taste terrible when it comes down to it. The only way to really perfect it is to make the best batter and only then is it worth it to decorate.
After thinking about all of that, I approached Harry in a very different way today. Instead of throwing on the jaquima as usual and having him longe, I put on the rope halter and lead line underneath his first bit, along with the saddle. Then we went into the outdoor arena because there was construction in the indoor. I figured between the two distractions, the construction might be scarier. Instead of longing him, I took a long time playing with him. I played the Friendly Game and rubbed him all over and then tried to swing the rope at him, which he was not having anywhere past his shoulder, so we need to work on that. We played the Yo-Yo Game, which he loves. Then we just did some follow the leader and I walked backwards and forwards around the arena in zigzags and through the poles and once he realized that I didn't want him to longe, he snorted and just went along with what I was doing. Once I felt like he was calm enough, I got on.
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| Source |
He was a little scared because it was very gusty out, but I made sure to do my best to keep a loose rein and not let myself tie up with him because that makes him very anxious. So with a loose rein, we tried to calmly go around the arena. He was going a little fast and tap dancing because of the wind, so every time he started to get anxious, instead of pulling back and making him stop, I let him go in a little circle and went into it very calmly and he followed. We didn't have the best performance across the board, but he was calming down, so that's all I really cared about.
Meanwhile, my mom and brother were riding Brie and Nina and my mom wanted to go outside to walk around, so we all went. Nina was voted trail leader and she stayed in the front while Brie was in the middle and Harry was in the back. I made sure to keep a manageable rein on him and he was totally fine! Then my mom wanted to venture out along the road, not very far, just down the neighboring field and then come back. We were all a little hesitant, since we never have really gone outside of the property with them, but we put on our brave faces and guess what...everyone WALKED! Even Brie! Harry didn't get scared of anything, even a sports car that zoomed by! We were so amazed and proud and it was just the best feeling. No one got crazy, even on the way back. It was such a beautiful ride and I think it really did something for their confidence as well.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Days 233 & 234
Saturday
It was an excruciating 105 today and all that was set was the farrier coming out. Alas, he didn't show up on time, so we rescheduled it for tomorrow. We did give everyone a quick hose off and I played a little with Harry and the tarp. I didn't try to make him go over it, but I held it folded up and walked around with it and had him follow me, that way he would get the idea that he is supposed to follow me no matter what scary thing I might be carrying. Eventually, we did get to halt and then I inched my way over to him to press the tarp against his nose. When he finally let me do this, I put the tarp down, still folded up, stood on it, and played the YoYo game to make him come towards me no matter what scary thing was around me. At first he didn't want to come back, but after he came close to me, we called it a day. I'd say that was progress!
Sunday
Harry was absolutely miserable today. He hasn't been quite this bratty in a while. He kept trying to buck me off! I got so sick of him that I got off and made him longe like a devil. After that, he calmed down a little, but was no where near where I wanted him to be. I don't know what happened between now and a month ago when he was being such an angel. It's beyond frustrating.
I got to poke around on Nina today, which was nice. We walked around outside for a little bit. She's so nice. I wish that every horse was like Nina. Or that I got to ride Nina more.
Finally the farrier showed up and everyone stopped riding. Nina is getting better around the farrier. We didn't have as much tranquilizer that we normally do for Nina, we had about half of what she usually gets, and I'm proud to say that she was pretty calm for her standards! She didn't even try to kick him.
It was an excruciating 105 today and all that was set was the farrier coming out. Alas, he didn't show up on time, so we rescheduled it for tomorrow. We did give everyone a quick hose off and I played a little with Harry and the tarp. I didn't try to make him go over it, but I held it folded up and walked around with it and had him follow me, that way he would get the idea that he is supposed to follow me no matter what scary thing I might be carrying. Eventually, we did get to halt and then I inched my way over to him to press the tarp against his nose. When he finally let me do this, I put the tarp down, still folded up, stood on it, and played the YoYo game to make him come towards me no matter what scary thing was around me. At first he didn't want to come back, but after he came close to me, we called it a day. I'd say that was progress!
Sunday
Harry was absolutely miserable today. He hasn't been quite this bratty in a while. He kept trying to buck me off! I got so sick of him that I got off and made him longe like a devil. After that, he calmed down a little, but was no where near where I wanted him to be. I don't know what happened between now and a month ago when he was being such an angel. It's beyond frustrating.
I got to poke around on Nina today, which was nice. We walked around outside for a little bit. She's so nice. I wish that every horse was like Nina. Or that I got to ride Nina more.
Finally the farrier showed up and everyone stopped riding. Nina is getting better around the farrier. We didn't have as much tranquilizer that we normally do for Nina, we had about half of what she usually gets, and I'm proud to say that she was pretty calm for her standards! She didn't even try to kick him.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Day 224
Every time I get disheartened with Harry, I have to remember how far I've come.
So you may remember that he is in a bit of a slump performance-wise lately. He's just not very enthusiastic about gaiting and not doing nearly as well as he was in April or so and I can't figure out why. He just got his shoes done last weekend, so I figured that this weekend there might be a little bit of a change. He's just not having it. He's very stretched out and not collected and despite the huge amount of circlework that we're doing, it just doesn't seem to be helping. He isn't tap-dancing anymore, so that's a plus, but his corto has definitely extended and his largo is more pace than gait. If we make it to the next show, that means I only have five more practice days with him, and I'm not so sure that I can accomplish this big of a goal in only five days, especially when I don't even know where to start tackling the problem.
But I do have to admit, I'm proud of how relaxed he's gotten, even if it seems to be making him a little bit lazy. His whole problem with the tap dancing was because of all this pent up energy and anxiety that he had and now that he's let that go, it's like he has no real steam to fuel his engine, the little train that he is (or was). But today before I rode, I did some more Parelli Games. He let me swish the rope all around him today without continuing to turn so that he was still facing me. He let me twirl the rope like a helicopter and he wasn't even phased by it. He even let me swing the rope over him in an arc from one side to the other without getting scared of seeing it or hearing the hum that it was making through the air! I played the Porcupine Game with him a bit today and he was really good at it. I didn't have to put pressure on either his shoulders or his hinds for very long before he got the idea to pivot away from it. So yeah, our performance might be suffering a little bit, but I would rather be gaining his trust and having him calm down so that he's a sociable animal than being a great performance and absolutely skittish of everything. Now I just need to find a way to combine the two.
After our somewhat depressing ride (only because he was pokey), we went outside with Samantha and Tobacco. I'm so proud of my little Harry! He has been scared of the pond in back for the longest time, and two weeks ago we went out and I lead him around it on foot and we got really close to the water's edge. Well today when we were riding outside, we were able to calmly walk next to it without the fear of being eaten up by the sea demons! In fact, the entire ride outside was wonderful. He's turning into being a great trail horse, but I do still have hope for finding a happy medium between super anxious but good performance and really calm but very pokey. Tomorrow, we're trying the fruit basket.
So you may remember that he is in a bit of a slump performance-wise lately. He's just not very enthusiastic about gaiting and not doing nearly as well as he was in April or so and I can't figure out why. He just got his shoes done last weekend, so I figured that this weekend there might be a little bit of a change. He's just not having it. He's very stretched out and not collected and despite the huge amount of circlework that we're doing, it just doesn't seem to be helping. He isn't tap-dancing anymore, so that's a plus, but his corto has definitely extended and his largo is more pace than gait. If we make it to the next show, that means I only have five more practice days with him, and I'm not so sure that I can accomplish this big of a goal in only five days, especially when I don't even know where to start tackling the problem.
But I do have to admit, I'm proud of how relaxed he's gotten, even if it seems to be making him a little bit lazy. His whole problem with the tap dancing was because of all this pent up energy and anxiety that he had and now that he's let that go, it's like he has no real steam to fuel his engine, the little train that he is (or was). But today before I rode, I did some more Parelli Games. He let me swish the rope all around him today without continuing to turn so that he was still facing me. He let me twirl the rope like a helicopter and he wasn't even phased by it. He even let me swing the rope over him in an arc from one side to the other without getting scared of seeing it or hearing the hum that it was making through the air! I played the Porcupine Game with him a bit today and he was really good at it. I didn't have to put pressure on either his shoulders or his hinds for very long before he got the idea to pivot away from it. So yeah, our performance might be suffering a little bit, but I would rather be gaining his trust and having him calm down so that he's a sociable animal than being a great performance and absolutely skittish of everything. Now I just need to find a way to combine the two.
After our somewhat depressing ride (only because he was pokey), we went outside with Samantha and Tobacco. I'm so proud of my little Harry! He has been scared of the pond in back for the longest time, and two weeks ago we went out and I lead him around it on foot and we got really close to the water's edge. Well today when we were riding outside, we were able to calmly walk next to it without the fear of being eaten up by the sea demons! In fact, the entire ride outside was wonderful. He's turning into being a great trail horse, but I do still have hope for finding a happy medium between super anxious but good performance and really calm but very pokey. Tomorrow, we're trying the fruit basket.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Day 218
I have everything, as promised! Here are some more pictures of Nina's cut.
After seeing it today, we've decided to call the vet tomorrow and have them take a look at it. From there, it'll be their decision to put stitches in it or not. My poor Nina. Maybe the stitches will be out before the show.
Once we made that decision, we played some more, since we didn't get to play for as long as we wanted to yesterday. I did some walking around and Harry followed me wherever I went. We got further with the Friendly Game and he'll now let me swing the string at the end of the carrot stick against him. Next goal: getting to swing the string over him and around him. Then my brother set up the tarp. I was pleased that I managed to keep Harry's attention and relative calmness while my brother unfolded and put the tarp out. He made Nina longe over it, which Nina thought was the most fun thing ever, and my mom made Brie go over it, which Brie thought was the biggest waste of time ever. I decided to take Harry over by the poles that my brother had set up and we tried to walk over them. He walked over them once, but then everyone else wanted to, so we started with the tarp.
There are literally 90 other pictures of him sniffing the tarp. He was snorting the whole time. Once in a while, but not often, we got shots like this.
The important thing is that I never forced him into anything. Although this picture shows me pulling him with the lead line to prevent him from rearing, I only pulled this hard in times like this. Otherwise I had a very gentle tug and immediately released when he moved his neck or foot closer.
Finally he stepped on it! I'm so proud of him. It certainly took a while, maybe close to an hour, but next time it will be even less and before you know it, he'll be able to longe over it like Nina!
I worked Harry first, since by the time he stepped on it, everyone else was already tacked up and riding. He was very good on the longe, no fishtailing, and was pretty calm. Maybe a little too calm. He paced a lot when I rode him today, unlike yesterday. Maybe he was tired too from mentally exerting himself over the tarp. But he wasn't bad. He just needed a couple corrections. After much riding, here is the final video!
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| Right after we took her out of the stall. Getting ready to clean it. |
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| Front view. It goes all the way into her nose. |
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| After cleaning it. |
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| This is the blue stuff I'm talking about!! |
After seeing it today, we've decided to call the vet tomorrow and have them take a look at it. From there, it'll be their decision to put stitches in it or not. My poor Nina. Maybe the stitches will be out before the show.
Once we made that decision, we played some more, since we didn't get to play for as long as we wanted to yesterday. I did some walking around and Harry followed me wherever I went. We got further with the Friendly Game and he'll now let me swing the string at the end of the carrot stick against him. Next goal: getting to swing the string over him and around him. Then my brother set up the tarp. I was pleased that I managed to keep Harry's attention and relative calmness while my brother unfolded and put the tarp out. He made Nina longe over it, which Nina thought was the most fun thing ever, and my mom made Brie go over it, which Brie thought was the biggest waste of time ever. I decided to take Harry over by the poles that my brother had set up and we tried to walk over them. He walked over them once, but then everyone else wanted to, so we started with the tarp.
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| Thinking about it |
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| Smelling it |
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| You want me to do what, now?! |
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| Circling around the tarp. |
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| The final sniff |
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| Stepping on the tarp!!! |
I worked Harry first, since by the time he stepped on it, everyone else was already tacked up and riding. He was very good on the longe, no fishtailing, and was pretty calm. Maybe a little too calm. He paced a lot when I rode him today, unlike yesterday. Maybe he was tired too from mentally exerting himself over the tarp. But he wasn't bad. He just needed a couple corrections. After much riding, here is the final video!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Day 217
My mom has to have surgery next week on her spine, so she's trying to take advantage of as much time with the horses as she can. Today she rode all three horses and tomorrow she plans on doing the same thing. I hope that everything goes well for her in the surgery and there aren't any complications.
After looking at some stuff on Parelli Connect this past week, we went in with the intention of playing as many of the Seven Games that we know. I was more focused on getting Harry to play the Friendly Game because he had such a hard time with it last week. My brother and mom were playing the YoYo Game when Samantha's mom pulled in and started talking to my mom. Harry was making wonderful progress, coming in closer to see the carrot stick and letting me pet him with it when my brother called my mom and I over in a panic.
As we came in, he showed us a gash on Nina's nose that we hadn't seen when we came in because of the dirt covering it. It looked pretty gross, but not very bad. He took her out of the arena we were playing in to go into the wash rack and wipe off the dirt. My mom followed. I played with Harry a little more and heard some banging and my mom came in to ask me for help.
Nina was having a fit in the wash rack when you tried to touch her nose. I put Harry on the cross ties and went over to look at it. They were just trying to press a compress onto it to make sure that it would stop bleeding. It looked a lot worse once it was cleaned. The cut is about three inches in length and about half of a fingernail deep, but it's not bleeding. After much calming and talking, I can get the washcloth on her nose for about a minute before she starts thrashing around again. My mom took the hose and just let it run over her nose (which Nina still didn't like) and then I poured some hydrogen peroxide in my hand and pushed it onto Nina's nose. I got it all in one try because the length of her cut started to bubble white like cuts do when you put peroxide on them, so now it's disinfected. We put this blue stuff we have on it (I really need to learn what it's called) and only after then did I remember that I should take a picture.
Not a very good picture of the cut, but still. Maybe I'll get another shot tomorrow.
After inspecting her stall, my brother found that she must have cut her nose on her feed bucket. It was kind of shoddy looking before and I have mentioned it to Paco when Harry was living in that stall, but he never changed it. Well Nina must have cracked it and then went in to eat and sliced her nose on it. I'm just thankful it's not on her eye or her entire face or something worse like that. I am worried though that it won't grow back together and that there will always be a separation. I don't know if she needs stitches or what. Someone suggested butterfly closures, but she'd need to be sedated anyways for us to do that, and if that's the case, stitches might be the better option. We'll see how it is tomorrow.
Once we found out the bucket was the cause, my dad took down all three of the horse's feed buckets (their waterers are steel automatic) and put in new ones. Much better.
We all rode after that. I rode Brie first and she was kind of limping. I guess it must be time for her to have another arthritis shot. I was trying to get her to walk because of the limp, but she didn't want to. So after a while of struggling with getting her to walk, but a little bit of calming down, I let her corto the rest of the ride and she seemed content. Then my mom switched with me and I got Harry.
This largo is the kind that we've been looking for. He is so ready for show in a couple of weeks, I can't wait! He was absolutely flying in his largo without breaking gait (only a couple of times in the counterclockwise) and had a very nice, high-stepping, collected largo. Hopefully I can get some pictures and a couple videos tomorrow!
In the end, I ended up riding Taco a bit for Jane, because it was muddy out and she didn't get to let him out in the round pen to longe, so he was being a bit naughty for her. It took a couple of laps to settle into his tweaks, but he worked nicely for me after that. He likes to break into a canter though. If I were training him, I'd definitely have to work on that, even though his canter is gloriously smooth, it's unacceptable in show. At the end of my ride, John asked if I would show Taco. I sure hope that he was serious! I would love to! And it would give me an excuse to get a different show jacket =]
I really hope that Nina is okay. Please keep both Nina and my mom in your thoughts!
After looking at some stuff on Parelli Connect this past week, we went in with the intention of playing as many of the Seven Games that we know. I was more focused on getting Harry to play the Friendly Game because he had such a hard time with it last week. My brother and mom were playing the YoYo Game when Samantha's mom pulled in and started talking to my mom. Harry was making wonderful progress, coming in closer to see the carrot stick and letting me pet him with it when my brother called my mom and I over in a panic.
As we came in, he showed us a gash on Nina's nose that we hadn't seen when we came in because of the dirt covering it. It looked pretty gross, but not very bad. He took her out of the arena we were playing in to go into the wash rack and wipe off the dirt. My mom followed. I played with Harry a little more and heard some banging and my mom came in to ask me for help.
Nina was having a fit in the wash rack when you tried to touch her nose. I put Harry on the cross ties and went over to look at it. They were just trying to press a compress onto it to make sure that it would stop bleeding. It looked a lot worse once it was cleaned. The cut is about three inches in length and about half of a fingernail deep, but it's not bleeding. After much calming and talking, I can get the washcloth on her nose for about a minute before she starts thrashing around again. My mom took the hose and just let it run over her nose (which Nina still didn't like) and then I poured some hydrogen peroxide in my hand and pushed it onto Nina's nose. I got it all in one try because the length of her cut started to bubble white like cuts do when you put peroxide on them, so now it's disinfected. We put this blue stuff we have on it (I really need to learn what it's called) and only after then did I remember that I should take a picture.
After inspecting her stall, my brother found that she must have cut her nose on her feed bucket. It was kind of shoddy looking before and I have mentioned it to Paco when Harry was living in that stall, but he never changed it. Well Nina must have cracked it and then went in to eat and sliced her nose on it. I'm just thankful it's not on her eye or her entire face or something worse like that. I am worried though that it won't grow back together and that there will always be a separation. I don't know if she needs stitches or what. Someone suggested butterfly closures, but she'd need to be sedated anyways for us to do that, and if that's the case, stitches might be the better option. We'll see how it is tomorrow.
Once we found out the bucket was the cause, my dad took down all three of the horse's feed buckets (their waterers are steel automatic) and put in new ones. Much better.
We all rode after that. I rode Brie first and she was kind of limping. I guess it must be time for her to have another arthritis shot. I was trying to get her to walk because of the limp, but she didn't want to. So after a while of struggling with getting her to walk, but a little bit of calming down, I let her corto the rest of the ride and she seemed content. Then my mom switched with me and I got Harry.
This largo is the kind that we've been looking for. He is so ready for show in a couple of weeks, I can't wait! He was absolutely flying in his largo without breaking gait (only a couple of times in the counterclockwise) and had a very nice, high-stepping, collected largo. Hopefully I can get some pictures and a couple videos tomorrow!
In the end, I ended up riding Taco a bit for Jane, because it was muddy out and she didn't get to let him out in the round pen to longe, so he was being a bit naughty for her. It took a couple of laps to settle into his tweaks, but he worked nicely for me after that. He likes to break into a canter though. If I were training him, I'd definitely have to work on that, even though his canter is gloriously smooth, it's unacceptable in show. At the end of my ride, John asked if I would show Taco. I sure hope that he was serious! I would love to! And it would give me an excuse to get a different show jacket =]
I really hope that Nina is okay. Please keep both Nina and my mom in your thoughts!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Day 216
Yesterday we went to the Midwest Horse Fair and it rekindled my interest in Parelli. So we bought two more halters and leadlines and their Hit the Trail DVD (especially interested after last weekend's fiasco with Brie) and set out today to play some of the games we knew.
We went in the outdoor arena because the indoor was pretty occupied. Brie is a pro at the 3/7 games I've taught her so far. I found out today that we never taught Nina the YoYo Game, so my brother spent the time teaching her that. Harry, while he knows the YoYo Game, sucks at the most basic of all -- the Friendly Game! He's just so scared and thinks that when I swing the rope over by him that I want him to longe so he takes off. We really need to work on that before moving on with anything else. It's really opened up my eyes to how much he doesn't know and just to the extent of how scared he is of everything. I didn't think he would be that scared of the end of his lead rope. Although he did think that the carrot stick was amusing, he kept trying to bite it when I would rub it on him or swish that rope around a little bit.
After everyone played the YoYo Game and we finished freezing in the wind outside, we tacked up to ride. My mom wanted to see how Brie would react to her baby Myler bit, but put it under her tongue and I didn't notice for about 15 minutes into my warm up. So I had to fix it. After I fixed it, she was just not listening at all, so I switched back to her bit that she's been using for a while. She never really wanted to calm down and give me a walk, so I had to keep circling her. Then she didn't want to back up straight, so we did that. My mom decided to switch after Harry bucked, but Brie still wasn't behaving.
Brie apparently got a little better while my mom was on her and Harry calmed down while I was on him. He really is doing nicely. We largo'd today and it was fantastic. Just to feel him go with such a difference in speed, the difference we've been working at, without breaking gait was a great feeling. I can't wait to show him next month! So starting next week we begin preparing for the Midwest Classic. I think that next weekend is our last full weekend of practice before the show, because the week after that the farrier comes out one day and the week after that the vet comes out and by then it's the show the following weekend! I can't wait. I hope we do well.
Also, when we bought the DVD and halters, we signed up for ParelliConnect! I'm using it under my mom's name and will definitely be exploring it duringboring parts of class my free time =]
We went in the outdoor arena because the indoor was pretty occupied. Brie is a pro at the 3/7 games I've taught her so far. I found out today that we never taught Nina the YoYo Game, so my brother spent the time teaching her that. Harry, while he knows the YoYo Game, sucks at the most basic of all -- the Friendly Game! He's just so scared and thinks that when I swing the rope over by him that I want him to longe so he takes off. We really need to work on that before moving on with anything else. It's really opened up my eyes to how much he doesn't know and just to the extent of how scared he is of everything. I didn't think he would be that scared of the end of his lead rope. Although he did think that the carrot stick was amusing, he kept trying to bite it when I would rub it on him or swish that rope around a little bit.
After everyone played the YoYo Game and we finished freezing in the wind outside, we tacked up to ride. My mom wanted to see how Brie would react to her baby Myler bit, but put it under her tongue and I didn't notice for about 15 minutes into my warm up. So I had to fix it. After I fixed it, she was just not listening at all, so I switched back to her bit that she's been using for a while. She never really wanted to calm down and give me a walk, so I had to keep circling her. Then she didn't want to back up straight, so we did that. My mom decided to switch after Harry bucked, but Brie still wasn't behaving.
Brie apparently got a little better while my mom was on her and Harry calmed down while I was on him. He really is doing nicely. We largo'd today and it was fantastic. Just to feel him go with such a difference in speed, the difference we've been working at, without breaking gait was a great feeling. I can't wait to show him next month! So starting next week we begin preparing for the Midwest Classic. I think that next weekend is our last full weekend of practice before the show, because the week after that the farrier comes out one day and the week after that the vet comes out and by then it's the show the following weekend! I can't wait. I hope we do well.
Also, when we bought the DVD and halters, we signed up for ParelliConnect! I'm using it under my mom's name and will definitely be exploring it during
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Day 193
I get Harry today and we do a little Parelli. And by a little, do I mean a little. We were playing the friendly game and he keeps running away from the rope when I go to swing it over his butt and wants to start longeing. I can't tell if he thinks that's what he's supposed to do or if he's scared of it, but we'll keep working on it. We played that for quite a while until he stopped flinching and started just to stand still while I rubbed him with his leadline. He's still really good at the YoYo game, so I'm happy with that. We ended on that good note before I actually started longeing him. He did so well today! I had a loose line and he was walking when I told him to walk and trotted a bit when I asked him to speed up instead of cortoing, which I guess means he was super relaxed. I did all this before I tacked him up, and when I longed him while tacked up, he was just as good!
But then I got on to ride him...all he did was tap dance! And what's worse is now I can't even tell if it's something I was doing or from Paco riding him the other day. Ugh! That just really gets me. I tried my best to work it out, but he was still tapping a little at the end. We ended with a very nice pass on the board though, so I was happy with at least that. I traded him off to my mom who said he was a little more cooperative and I just plopped around on Nina. Oh Nina. I love to ride her because she actually walks! I know that I complain a lot to my family about not being able to ride her because my brother hogs her all the time, but I really don't want to gait her. I enjoy just being on a horse who walks at a normal pace every once in a while!
But then I got on to ride him...all he did was tap dance! And what's worse is now I can't even tell if it's something I was doing or from Paco riding him the other day. Ugh! That just really gets me. I tried my best to work it out, but he was still tapping a little at the end. We ended with a very nice pass on the board though, so I was happy with at least that. I traded him off to my mom who said he was a little more cooperative and I just plopped around on Nina. Oh Nina. I love to ride her because she actually walks! I know that I complain a lot to my family about not being able to ride her because my brother hogs her all the time, but I really don't want to gait her. I enjoy just being on a horse who walks at a normal pace every once in a while!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Day 172
Today was significantly better than yesterday, thankfully. We were on a short time schedule because I had to move back to school =[
I decided to start off Harry with some Parelli games today to kind of get him thinking. We did the Friendly Game (in which he hid behind me when I emulated a snake on the ground), the Porcupine Game and the YoYo Game. He's so good at the YoYo Game, but the Porcupine game takes a little more thinking for him. I know he'll have it down pat if I keep up with it.
As for the ride, it was way better than yesterday. He was collected and seemed calmer and didn't seem like he wanted to take off as much. He was reacting weirdly to the bit, I thought, because since State Fair we've been riding him with double reins and he works much better with the rein on the jaquima and seems to get upset with the bit. Maybe we should look into changing it? I don't really know, because before State Fair for the longest we worked just with the bit. I'm wondering whether we should change it completely or if we should take him off of it for the rest of the year and then reintroduce it in January. Any thoughts on this?
Because we were short on time, I didn't get to ride Brie =[ But I got to give them all lots of snuggles and my mom fed them carrots straight out of the bag today! Those horses have got to be the most spoiled horses ever!
I decided to start off Harry with some Parelli games today to kind of get him thinking. We did the Friendly Game (in which he hid behind me when I emulated a snake on the ground), the Porcupine Game and the YoYo Game. He's so good at the YoYo Game, but the Porcupine game takes a little more thinking for him. I know he'll have it down pat if I keep up with it.
As for the ride, it was way better than yesterday. He was collected and seemed calmer and didn't seem like he wanted to take off as much. He was reacting weirdly to the bit, I thought, because since State Fair we've been riding him with double reins and he works much better with the rein on the jaquima and seems to get upset with the bit. Maybe we should look into changing it? I don't really know, because before State Fair for the longest we worked just with the bit. I'm wondering whether we should change it completely or if we should take him off of it for the rest of the year and then reintroduce it in January. Any thoughts on this?
Because we were short on time, I didn't get to ride Brie =[ But I got to give them all lots of snuggles and my mom fed them carrots straight out of the bag today! Those horses have got to be the most spoiled horses ever!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 151
Well, we haven't heard back from the vet yet on those X Rays, so hopefully no news is good news.
Today we found out that Brie is just a magnet for bad things lately! She had a small gash on her hock, looking fresh, and low and behold one of her boards in the stall was split and she must've rubbed on it and cut herself on the part that was pointing out. We told Paco and he'll have it fixed. We cleaned the wound with some warm water on a rag, then put some iodine on it and finally put this blue paste for cuts my mom found in some vet magazine. It works fantastically! I'll have to get the name of it for you all.
Harry...well, he wasn't exactly bad today, but he wasn't good either. He was having an off day in the most literal sense of the word. He couldn't find his rhythm in his gait, no matter what we tried. Circles, different hand positions, different seats, but nope, he just never really settled into a nice clean gait. Always pacing. I hope that this was just a one day thing, because tomorrow is our last practice before we go to the Michigan show next weekend, and I want to keep up placing highly with him!
I would like to be somewhat productive this summer, so I'm signing up for this Parelli Connect thing online. I'm not sure if I told you all, but last summer I could've had an internship with Parelli in Colorado! I kind of wish I would've taken it, even if it was unpaid. But then again, if I had, I wouldn't have made it so far with Harry! Remember the wild beast he used to be? I'm so glad he's turned out to be so sweet. I'd rather have him be a sweet, not so great show horse, than an uncontrollable blue-ribbon winner! And I like to think I did a good job of taming him, thank you very much.
Oh, so remember when I was on the Equestrian Team? I quit back in October basically because of the facilities not being up to my own personal standards. I just found out that they've decided to move locations to a WAY better stable (one that I suggested way back when) and I'm joining again when school starts. I'm so excited! I missed jumping, and now that I know for sure I have to stop with Brie, it'll be nice to get it somewhere. I plan on starting lessons by the end of the month again, if not sooner!
Today we found out that Brie is just a magnet for bad things lately! She had a small gash on her hock, looking fresh, and low and behold one of her boards in the stall was split and she must've rubbed on it and cut herself on the part that was pointing out. We told Paco and he'll have it fixed. We cleaned the wound with some warm water on a rag, then put some iodine on it and finally put this blue paste for cuts my mom found in some vet magazine. It works fantastically! I'll have to get the name of it for you all.
Harry...well, he wasn't exactly bad today, but he wasn't good either. He was having an off day in the most literal sense of the word. He couldn't find his rhythm in his gait, no matter what we tried. Circles, different hand positions, different seats, but nope, he just never really settled into a nice clean gait. Always pacing. I hope that this was just a one day thing, because tomorrow is our last practice before we go to the Michigan show next weekend, and I want to keep up placing highly with him!
I would like to be somewhat productive this summer, so I'm signing up for this Parelli Connect thing online. I'm not sure if I told you all, but last summer I could've had an internship with Parelli in Colorado! I kind of wish I would've taken it, even if it was unpaid. But then again, if I had, I wouldn't have made it so far with Harry! Remember the wild beast he used to be? I'm so glad he's turned out to be so sweet. I'd rather have him be a sweet, not so great show horse, than an uncontrollable blue-ribbon winner! And I like to think I did a good job of taming him, thank you very much.
Oh, so remember when I was on the Equestrian Team? I quit back in October basically because of the facilities not being up to my own personal standards. I just found out that they've decided to move locations to a WAY better stable (one that I suggested way back when) and I'm joining again when school starts. I'm so excited! I missed jumping, and now that I know for sure I have to stop with Brie, it'll be nice to get it somewhere. I plan on starting lessons by the end of the month again, if not sooner!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Day 126
Short day booo. Also, it was not 50 degrees like I'd hoped. But we did get to open the big doors to the aisles and arena to see the light of the wonderful world today!
All the snow and ice has pretty much melted, and for three horses who haven't been outside to play since before I can remember, they weren't too excited! We let them out in the small paddocks today and they only bucked and ran for a few minutes, then just stood around and enjoyed the sunshine, which is definitely a great thing for anyone to do as this winter breaks. =] And! I got to apply the Yo-Yo Game in real life for the first time today with Brie! We were leaving the paddock and I didn't want to awkwardly back her up with the gate, since it opens inwards, and possibly be squished, so I was like "Hmm...Yo yo game?" and while it took a couple times for her to understand that I wanted her to pause and wait a minute and let me ask her to step forward, she was a total doll and stood patiently until I was out of the paddock, holding the gate aside for her to come out.
I only worked with Brie today. I was being very slow about brushing her and saddling up. I decided to try something new and goofy too. We have poles that are guides for figure 8s, but they were moved to the sides and the PVC covers come off, so I took one off and set it on the ground in the arena and worked with Brie to step over it. At first she was like "OH MY GOD SCARY WILD WHITE POLE MONSTER AHHH!" and just kept eyeballing and snorting at it, going around it and never over, but after a few sniffs and a tap, she pretty much had the idea. So after I walked with her over it for a while, I sent her out to lunge over it. It was so cute, she kept approaching it like it was a 5 ft jump when it's just this little 8 inch high pole with the most determined look on her face. We worked on actually walking over it while I was on her.
Tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to ride Harry. Maybe Nina too.
Oh! And Brie had this horrible habit of throwing her head while on cross ties when you wanted to kiss her nose (which we're all guilty of doing with Harry and Nina...I know, I know, one day I might be sorry with a broken nose, I just can't help it) so I was teaching her to not toss her head by holding a carrot down so she could grab a bite as I kissed her. Today it was so funny, after I rode and she cooled, I was going to give her a carrot and I just said "Gimme a kiss" and put my head forward a bit like I had been doing when holding the carrot down last week, and she held her nose out to let me kiss her! Multiple times! I just thought that was so cute =]
All the snow and ice has pretty much melted, and for three horses who haven't been outside to play since before I can remember, they weren't too excited! We let them out in the small paddocks today and they only bucked and ran for a few minutes, then just stood around and enjoyed the sunshine, which is definitely a great thing for anyone to do as this winter breaks. =] And! I got to apply the Yo-Yo Game in real life for the first time today with Brie! We were leaving the paddock and I didn't want to awkwardly back her up with the gate, since it opens inwards, and possibly be squished, so I was like "Hmm...Yo yo game?" and while it took a couple times for her to understand that I wanted her to pause and wait a minute and let me ask her to step forward, she was a total doll and stood patiently until I was out of the paddock, holding the gate aside for her to come out.
I only worked with Brie today. I was being very slow about brushing her and saddling up. I decided to try something new and goofy too. We have poles that are guides for figure 8s, but they were moved to the sides and the PVC covers come off, so I took one off and set it on the ground in the arena and worked with Brie to step over it. At first she was like "OH MY GOD SCARY WILD WHITE POLE MONSTER AHHH!" and just kept eyeballing and snorting at it, going around it and never over, but after a few sniffs and a tap, she pretty much had the idea. So after I walked with her over it for a while, I sent her out to lunge over it. It was so cute, she kept approaching it like it was a 5 ft jump when it's just this little 8 inch high pole with the most determined look on her face. We worked on actually walking over it while I was on her.
Tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to ride Harry. Maybe Nina too.
Oh! And Brie had this horrible habit of throwing her head while on cross ties when you wanted to kiss her nose (which we're all guilty of doing with Harry and Nina...I know, I know, one day I might be sorry with a broken nose, I just can't help it) so I was teaching her to not toss her head by holding a carrot down so she could grab a bite as I kissed her. Today it was so funny, after I rode and she cooled, I was going to give her a carrot and I just said "Gimme a kiss" and put my head forward a bit like I had been doing when holding the carrot down last week, and she held her nose out to let me kiss her! Multiple times! I just thought that was so cute =]
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Day 73
I'm going to try to work on those encyclopedias for you, I promise! I've just been so wiped out after work and was not in the condition to sit down and write this afternoon after horse training and while looking forward to Eclipse.
Making good progress Parelli-wise with Harry. He doesn't quite get the Porcupine Game yet, but he's getting really good at the YoYo game. I'm also trying the Friendly Game a little differently. Today I make like a sideways helicopter with the carrot stick and the string and he kind of got nervous hearing the string hitting the ground each time around, but he didn't do anything about it.
Boy was he a pistol lunging today. He keeps fishtailing out on me! I lunged using the pole, but he would still pull back and slam me into it. Everytime he did that, I started snapping the rein that I was lunging him with, making him back up since that's what he was doing. Paco intervened and said that I was just making him angry and "You have to act like the horse is stupid". He went on to lunge Harry pretty well. Harry doesn't like going one direction though, I forgot which right now, and I'm not sure why, but we have to work on getting over that. He rode beautifully after being tired out from an hour of lunging. He sounded phenomenal, like a little wind up train, on the sound board.
Didn't get to pay attention to Nina. =[ My mom and brother said she was amazing as well and that her gait is coming along really well. Now if we could only get her to keep her head set without using draw reins when warming up, then we'd be set!
I got really fed up with Brie today. It was definitely the disappointment from showing carrying over. She was going really well in the indoor arena. My mom asked that I stop with the cantering because Brie wasn't wanting to gait for her so I gaited around for a while and went to walking before I tried to get her to canter. She took off galloping so after two laps around the arena of trying to make her slow down I got her back to a walk and attempted to do a slower canter. She did pretty well one direction, I forgot which, and kind of okay in the other going back and forth between gaiting and cantering which isn't that great. I walked her around after that for about 10 minutes before I decided that all I wanted to do to end the day was to walk outside to the round pen and back a couple of times and then call it a day.
She wasn't having it. After trying to crush my leg against the side of the barn, I got off angrily before either one of us got hurt by our rash actions and walked her all along the property by hand. She was perfectly fine! It was about a 20 minute walk and by then my mom and brother were done washing Nina and Harry so they came out to watch. We walked back to the barn, I got on, and immediately she starts crowhopping. All I wanted her to do was calmly do once to the round pen and back before quitting but she would freak on either direction until she melted down. I never kicked her before but after having to kick Jimmy to trot at lessons, I kicked her. She was not moving. My mom had to get her on the pisador and lunge her in order to make her move. I was upset by then and we all called it a day after she lunged.
After crying about how Brie isn't good at showing, trail riding, or even being a pasture pet because she's insulin resistant, my mom starting telling me about diabetics and how they get cranky and how Brie might not even be happy most days. It made me feel even worse. I don't know what to do. We had her on that calming supplement, which helped a lot in the indoor but pretty much no where else, so now we're going to look for some insulin resistant medicine/supplement. I'm so upset because I can't do anything for Brie. I don't know what she's good at or what she likes, still, this far into having her. She hates showing. She hates trail riding. All she really likes to do, or hasn't protested about, is riding around the indoor arena. That's nice and all but...I don't know. I feel like I'm failing her. Mom suggesting jumping. I jumped her a couple of times and she didn't really object...I don't know if that means she likes it or is just going along with it. Maybe I'll build a little X jump for her or two and set them up in the outdoor arena and we'll try it.
I just want to find something she's good at that she enjoys and for her to not be cranky.
Making good progress Parelli-wise with Harry. He doesn't quite get the Porcupine Game yet, but he's getting really good at the YoYo game. I'm also trying the Friendly Game a little differently. Today I make like a sideways helicopter with the carrot stick and the string and he kind of got nervous hearing the string hitting the ground each time around, but he didn't do anything about it.
Boy was he a pistol lunging today. He keeps fishtailing out on me! I lunged using the pole, but he would still pull back and slam me into it. Everytime he did that, I started snapping the rein that I was lunging him with, making him back up since that's what he was doing. Paco intervened and said that I was just making him angry and "You have to act like the horse is stupid". He went on to lunge Harry pretty well. Harry doesn't like going one direction though, I forgot which right now, and I'm not sure why, but we have to work on getting over that. He rode beautifully after being tired out from an hour of lunging. He sounded phenomenal, like a little wind up train, on the sound board.
Didn't get to pay attention to Nina. =[ My mom and brother said she was amazing as well and that her gait is coming along really well. Now if we could only get her to keep her head set without using draw reins when warming up, then we'd be set!
I got really fed up with Brie today. It was definitely the disappointment from showing carrying over. She was going really well in the indoor arena. My mom asked that I stop with the cantering because Brie wasn't wanting to gait for her so I gaited around for a while and went to walking before I tried to get her to canter. She took off galloping so after two laps around the arena of trying to make her slow down I got her back to a walk and attempted to do a slower canter. She did pretty well one direction, I forgot which, and kind of okay in the other going back and forth between gaiting and cantering which isn't that great. I walked her around after that for about 10 minutes before I decided that all I wanted to do to end the day was to walk outside to the round pen and back a couple of times and then call it a day.
She wasn't having it. After trying to crush my leg against the side of the barn, I got off angrily before either one of us got hurt by our rash actions and walked her all along the property by hand. She was perfectly fine! It was about a 20 minute walk and by then my mom and brother were done washing Nina and Harry so they came out to watch. We walked back to the barn, I got on, and immediately she starts crowhopping. All I wanted her to do was calmly do once to the round pen and back before quitting but she would freak on either direction until she melted down. I never kicked her before but after having to kick Jimmy to trot at lessons, I kicked her. She was not moving. My mom had to get her on the pisador and lunge her in order to make her move. I was upset by then and we all called it a day after she lunged.
After crying about how Brie isn't good at showing, trail riding, or even being a pasture pet because she's insulin resistant, my mom starting telling me about diabetics and how they get cranky and how Brie might not even be happy most days. It made me feel even worse. I don't know what to do. We had her on that calming supplement, which helped a lot in the indoor but pretty much no where else, so now we're going to look for some insulin resistant medicine/supplement. I'm so upset because I can't do anything for Brie. I don't know what she's good at or what she likes, still, this far into having her. She hates showing. She hates trail riding. All she really likes to do, or hasn't protested about, is riding around the indoor arena. That's nice and all but...I don't know. I feel like I'm failing her. Mom suggesting jumping. I jumped her a couple of times and she didn't really object...I don't know if that means she likes it or is just going along with it. Maybe I'll build a little X jump for her or two and set them up in the outdoor arena and we'll try it.
I just want to find something she's good at that she enjoys and for her to not be cranky.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Day 72
More Parelli games! Harry was able to go right to me swinging around the string and carrot stick on him and he was pretty much fine. He's also getting better at the Porcupine game and not just trying to bite or kick the stick away from him and he's mastering the Yo-yo game. After a few blank stares as to why I was waving the rope around like a crazy nutso, he understood that I wanted him to back up and it was a piece of cake from then on out!
On a side note, I'm going to start working on a Parelli and Paso Fino encyclopedia here. I'll try to have it finished by next weekend for you. =]
Let's see, the rest of today was pretty good. I lunged Harry for a while with the barbada rein instead of the pisador, which was pretty effective clockwise but he kept fishtailing out counter-clockwise. It got really frustrating so I lunged him around the pole we have cemented into the ground in the arena. After a few of his tugs launching me into the pole and a few of my tugs making his eyes go wide, we got to a happy medium. We were even able to move away from the pole and lunge like normal beings! His gait is getting really collected and I know he'll do well in show. I only hope he doesn't turn out to be another horse-show-shy-Brie type horse.
We even went outside today! My mom and my brother and I went outside, only about 30 feet to the round pen and back, but I felt accomplished! I have to admit that I don't trust him enough to go all the way back to the tree line, so we'll work up to it.
Brie. Oh Brie. Now that I'm asking her to do things other than "corto in a circle, largo in a circle, walk in a circle, couple reverses, soundboard, back up, done, let's go get carrots" she's unleashing her attitude again, which is a sign that she's thinking! I guess it's better for her to think than to be completely bored, right? I've started trying to teach her to canter on command without the crowfeet and it's going pretty well. I cantered her around the arena today instead of outside, since she was previously worked up outside with my mom. I think it's the coolest thing just going in that rhythm, hearing her snort her breaths. She would happily go like that for hours.
I, on the other hand, have a problem. I suck at keeping my heels down while cantering. It's a tiny bit easier to do it on the schooling horses for the Equestrian Team (which I've started taking lessons again by the way!), but still pretty hard on Brie. I set my stirrups the second hole from the top, almost the shortest they can go, when I ride. If I shorten them all the way, I can't properly grip the saddle with my thighs and just know I'm going to fly off over her head. What do I do? I can't punch a hole between the two, they're so close together. Is the only solution trying to be more conscious of what I'm doing or is there a trick to this skill that I'm not getting?
On a side note, I'm going to start working on a Parelli and Paso Fino encyclopedia here. I'll try to have it finished by next weekend for you. =]
Let's see, the rest of today was pretty good. I lunged Harry for a while with the barbada rein instead of the pisador, which was pretty effective clockwise but he kept fishtailing out counter-clockwise. It got really frustrating so I lunged him around the pole we have cemented into the ground in the arena. After a few of his tugs launching me into the pole and a few of my tugs making his eyes go wide, we got to a happy medium. We were even able to move away from the pole and lunge like normal beings! His gait is getting really collected and I know he'll do well in show. I only hope he doesn't turn out to be another horse-show-shy-Brie type horse.
We even went outside today! My mom and my brother and I went outside, only about 30 feet to the round pen and back, but I felt accomplished! I have to admit that I don't trust him enough to go all the way back to the tree line, so we'll work up to it.
Brie. Oh Brie. Now that I'm asking her to do things other than "corto in a circle, largo in a circle, walk in a circle, couple reverses, soundboard, back up, done, let's go get carrots" she's unleashing her attitude again, which is a sign that she's thinking! I guess it's better for her to think than to be completely bored, right? I've started trying to teach her to canter on command without the crowfeet and it's going pretty well. I cantered her around the arena today instead of outside, since she was previously worked up outside with my mom. I think it's the coolest thing just going in that rhythm, hearing her snort her breaths. She would happily go like that for hours.
I, on the other hand, have a problem. I suck at keeping my heels down while cantering. It's a tiny bit easier to do it on the schooling horses for the Equestrian Team (which I've started taking lessons again by the way!), but still pretty hard on Brie. I set my stirrups the second hole from the top, almost the shortest they can go, when I ride. If I shorten them all the way, I can't properly grip the saddle with my thighs and just know I'm going to fly off over her head. What do I do? I can't punch a hole between the two, they're so close together. Is the only solution trying to be more conscious of what I'm doing or is there a trick to this skill that I'm not getting?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Day 71
At the end of the day, I smelled like a wet dog, sweaty horse, and dirt.
Let me explain (all but the wet dog part...I don't know where that came from). Today is the first time Harry has been worked for two weeks since we didn't bring him to the show last weekend. I expected him to be kind of crazy.
I didn't expect him to run away.
I was in the arena trying to lunge him. He had on Brie's old jaquima, the first one that we ever had that Andre made for us. He was very excited and then I noticed a little too late that the pisador (leadline, if you will) doesn't make full contact to get his attention if I pull on it (kind of like a lasso). It doesn't tighten as far as it needs to. Also, that jaquima has a nylon pisador, not a rawhide one like Brie's or Nina's current jaquimas.
The result? Harry was getting a little out of control excited, I tried to pull him back in with the pisador, it totally didn't get his attention, he ran out on me which resulted in rope burn. I still clung to it until he ran around one of the poles in the middle of the arena where I was lunging him, knocked it over, freaked himself out even more, wanted to rear yet not trample the flowers, and headed for the door, knocking me over and pulling me behind him. I was not about to be dragged through the dirt and get even worse rope burn by that point so I let go, and yelled "HE'S LOOSE!!" (as if they couldn't already tell) to my family and the electrician as Harry ran out one of the doors.
I jumped up, wild-eyed, and barked for my brother, who was on Brie, to go after Harry one way as I ran out the other (as if I could catch him). No where in sight, I ran back down one of the aisles where my mom yelled that he was coming around the back, so I ran out again. Saw him, he saw me, and he kept running, nearly jumping over one of the landscapers on his riding mower. He ran back into the barn (after being barricaded by our Jeep and my brother) and headed for his stall when my mom caught him.
All through that, his reins, which were tied to his saddle, didn't even come loose. Thank God for Andre teaching me a knot that ACTUALLY WORKS! It's secure and can be easily pulled off! I can just see what would've happened in my mind: the double reins flying over his head as he nailed a corner, him freaking out at these ropes suddenly flying over his head, rearing, getting caught in the reins, breaking his legs....*shudder*. The pisador didn't even get caught around his legs, thank God.
After all of that, he was shaking. I brought him outside into the round pen and worked. I lunged him with the rein instead of the pisador, tying that and the bit rein to the saddle, lunging with just the barbada rein. He was pretty shaken up, what could you expect from a mini Derby? I got on him and tried to just keep him from taking off in the pen and eventually got him to walk for a good 10 minutes (which is like 2 hours in Harry-time) after about an hour. I figured with the mini-Derby combined with the intense barbada lunging and then actually training plus the fact that it was 90 degrees out just about did it for him and didn't venture into the arena today. I'll leave that for tomorrow, now that I know not to ever lunge with the pisador on that jaquima again.
As for Brie, I told her today that since she doesn't want to show, she's going to be good for something: trail riding. It's either one or the other. So I cantered her around the arena a couple times, let her catch her breath, then it was outside! OH MY GOD she might get murdered by the sunshine demons. Just saying. It's that scary for her. We swerved all the way to one tree line until she got too close to the barbed wire for my liking then took off for the next tree line. She galloped *ahem* to the fence line and practically into Gary's house for dinner. After she got that out of her system, I made her walk as calmly as possible back to the barn so she could break her habit of charging it. She did pretty well. So that's our new mission: acting civilized outside.
Worked with the bucket and Nina again today. It got caught between her legs again and she freaked a little less severely, which is progress. I also managed to do some Parelli with Harry. Here's to hoping I don't get dragged through the dirt again tomorrow.
Let me explain (all but the wet dog part...I don't know where that came from). Today is the first time Harry has been worked for two weeks since we didn't bring him to the show last weekend. I expected him to be kind of crazy.
I didn't expect him to run away.
I was in the arena trying to lunge him. He had on Brie's old jaquima, the first one that we ever had that Andre made for us. He was very excited and then I noticed a little too late that the pisador (leadline, if you will) doesn't make full contact to get his attention if I pull on it (kind of like a lasso). It doesn't tighten as far as it needs to. Also, that jaquima has a nylon pisador, not a rawhide one like Brie's or Nina's current jaquimas.
The result? Harry was getting a little out of control excited, I tried to pull him back in with the pisador, it totally didn't get his attention, he ran out on me which resulted in rope burn. I still clung to it until he ran around one of the poles in the middle of the arena where I was lunging him, knocked it over, freaked himself out even more, wanted to rear yet not trample the flowers, and headed for the door, knocking me over and pulling me behind him. I was not about to be dragged through the dirt and get even worse rope burn by that point so I let go, and yelled "HE'S LOOSE!!" (as if they couldn't already tell) to my family and the electrician as Harry ran out one of the doors.
I jumped up, wild-eyed, and barked for my brother, who was on Brie, to go after Harry one way as I ran out the other (as if I could catch him). No where in sight, I ran back down one of the aisles where my mom yelled that he was coming around the back, so I ran out again. Saw him, he saw me, and he kept running, nearly jumping over one of the landscapers on his riding mower. He ran back into the barn (after being barricaded by our Jeep and my brother) and headed for his stall when my mom caught him.
All through that, his reins, which were tied to his saddle, didn't even come loose. Thank God for Andre teaching me a knot that ACTUALLY WORKS! It's secure and can be easily pulled off! I can just see what would've happened in my mind: the double reins flying over his head as he nailed a corner, him freaking out at these ropes suddenly flying over his head, rearing, getting caught in the reins, breaking his legs....*shudder*. The pisador didn't even get caught around his legs, thank God.
After all of that, he was shaking. I brought him outside into the round pen and worked. I lunged him with the rein instead of the pisador, tying that and the bit rein to the saddle, lunging with just the barbada rein. He was pretty shaken up, what could you expect from a mini Derby? I got on him and tried to just keep him from taking off in the pen and eventually got him to walk for a good 10 minutes (which is like 2 hours in Harry-time) after about an hour. I figured with the mini-Derby combined with the intense barbada lunging and then actually training plus the fact that it was 90 degrees out just about did it for him and didn't venture into the arena today. I'll leave that for tomorrow, now that I know not to ever lunge with the pisador on that jaquima again.
As for Brie, I told her today that since she doesn't want to show, she's going to be good for something: trail riding. It's either one or the other. So I cantered her around the arena a couple times, let her catch her breath, then it was outside! OH MY GOD she might get murdered by the sunshine demons. Just saying. It's that scary for her. We swerved all the way to one tree line until she got too close to the barbed wire for my liking then took off for the next tree line. She galloped *ahem* to the fence line and practically into Gary's house for dinner. After she got that out of her system, I made her walk as calmly as possible back to the barn so she could break her habit of charging it. She did pretty well. So that's our new mission: acting civilized outside.
Worked with the bucket and Nina again today. It got caught between her legs again and she freaked a little less severely, which is progress. I also managed to do some Parelli with Harry. Here's to hoping I don't get dragged through the dirt again tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day 70
Last practice before the Michigan show this weekend and I have such a good feeling about this! I rode Brie probably for the longest amount of time since we got Harry. It was oddly strange but fantastic at the same time. I never really realized just exactly how sharply she can reverse when you emphasize your leg rather than your hands. It's beautiful. I just hope she sticks to that little trick when I'm showing her this weekend! I also got to enjoy her love of largo (it's verrry close to a fast canter) which I haven't done in a while. We bought the local farm/show/overall event magazine today while we were getting thrush medicine for Nina and I saw all of these shows I'd love to go to. They're all non-pointed (sad) but it'd be so fun to do them with Brie. Like the Water In a Cup Class, Egg and Spoon race, you know, all that jazz...
One thing I'm really interested in is barrel racing. Not like the super competitive kind, just the kind for these little local shows. It sounds like a blast and Brie is a racehorse in spirit. Annie does barrel racing with her horses, so maybe next time she comes out I'll have her show me the ropes.
I worked with Nina today. I do not understand that horse. She's so easily bored, she was looking at everything else except me and I had to keep grabbing her attention. She was completely relaxed for the Friendly Game, as I suspected she would be. She's getting the hang of the Porcupine Game. She gets it more with the back end than the front end.
So I tried something new. I went and grabbed a bucket, which makes the same plastic noise as the hoof stand, and wiggled it around her legs. She was shaking like a leaf again, but she calmed down. I just kept shaking it and petting her, assuring her that it won't jump up and eat her. I looped a string through the handle and then started swinging it around her legs. She was pretty good with the front legs but very nervous with the back and kept trying to run out on me. After about a half hour of doing that, though, I was able to kind of knock it against her legs like the stand did yesterday without her really moving. I also was able to flip it over and pull her legs out to rest her hooves on it. I think it was a success.
There is something I'm more nervous about this weekend than showing Brie though. My brother is backing out of showing Nina, so I have to show her.
Literally, I can count on both of my hands the number of times I've ridden her. I don't understand the logistics of her training (I actually think they're kind of stupid, the ridiculous things you have to do with your hands and reins to keep her going) and I know I won't be able to get her out of a trot. I know we won't place. My brother, on the other hand, totally loves the logistics of her training and is just being a chicken about it. Maybe we'll just have to make him suck it up and ride.
One thing I'm really interested in is barrel racing. Not like the super competitive kind, just the kind for these little local shows. It sounds like a blast and Brie is a racehorse in spirit. Annie does barrel racing with her horses, so maybe next time she comes out I'll have her show me the ropes.
I worked with Nina today. I do not understand that horse. She's so easily bored, she was looking at everything else except me and I had to keep grabbing her attention. She was completely relaxed for the Friendly Game, as I suspected she would be. She's getting the hang of the Porcupine Game. She gets it more with the back end than the front end.
So I tried something new. I went and grabbed a bucket, which makes the same plastic noise as the hoof stand, and wiggled it around her legs. She was shaking like a leaf again, but she calmed down. I just kept shaking it and petting her, assuring her that it won't jump up and eat her. I looped a string through the handle and then started swinging it around her legs. She was pretty good with the front legs but very nervous with the back and kept trying to run out on me. After about a half hour of doing that, though, I was able to kind of knock it against her legs like the stand did yesterday without her really moving. I also was able to flip it over and pull her legs out to rest her hooves on it. I think it was a success.
There is something I'm more nervous about this weekend than showing Brie though. My brother is backing out of showing Nina, so I have to show her.
Literally, I can count on both of my hands the number of times I've ridden her. I don't understand the logistics of her training (I actually think they're kind of stupid, the ridiculous things you have to do with your hands and reins to keep her going) and I know I won't be able to get her out of a trot. I know we won't place. My brother, on the other hand, totally loves the logistics of her training and is just being a chicken about it. Maybe we'll just have to make him suck it up and ride.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Day 68
Yay for progress!
I may have told you a while back that I started working with Harry on some Parelli games. Well, actually, game in the singular. I started working on the Friendly Game with him and he was okay with the string for the carrot stick and the carrot stick separately, but not together, probably because it looks like a giant whip (but it's really not). We made huge progress today when I was able to connect the two and rub them over him and he didn't flinch! It was fantastic. Step 1 of the trust-building achieved!
It was thunder-storming today. Last time I rode Harry in a thunder-storm he got kind of freaked out. He was okay today, probably because the thunder was far away and it was just raining hard. I lunged him for quite a while and then started working. We changed his bosal and barbada (noseband and chin piece) and his entire jaquima because of Paco's recommendation yesterday. After working for a while, trying (unsuccessfully) to get him to walk on the rail, Paco adjusted the jaquima and told me that sometimes I have to give a little to get something in return from the horse, otherwise he'll just be mad at me. Makes sense. So he told me to just work on going straight down the line, not necessarily on the rail, and that each time to push Harry over a little bit and soon he'll be on the rail. Hopefully that works.
I also have exciting news. Exciting for me at least. Ray was watching us today while he was training and he told me as I passed by on Harry that I was doing a good job and to keep it up, I'll get there eventually. That may have just been a crock, but it gave me a smug feeling to know that he complimented me.
Didn't ride Nina. Again.
Rode Brie. This is our second to last practice before our Michigan show next weekend. I'm excited for it. She was a little uppity today, hopefully she's more calm on Wednesday for our last practice. I really hope she does well, I have to admit, I'll be really disappointed if she doesn't. All I'm asking for is to NOT get excused and to NOT come in last place. Second to last place is completely acceptable at this point. I gotta work my way up.
I may have told you a while back that I started working with Harry on some Parelli games. Well, actually, game in the singular. I started working on the Friendly Game with him and he was okay with the string for the carrot stick and the carrot stick separately, but not together, probably because it looks like a giant whip (but it's really not). We made huge progress today when I was able to connect the two and rub them over him and he didn't flinch! It was fantastic. Step 1 of the trust-building achieved!
It was thunder-storming today. Last time I rode Harry in a thunder-storm he got kind of freaked out. He was okay today, probably because the thunder was far away and it was just raining hard. I lunged him for quite a while and then started working. We changed his bosal and barbada (noseband and chin piece) and his entire jaquima because of Paco's recommendation yesterday. After working for a while, trying (unsuccessfully) to get him to walk on the rail, Paco adjusted the jaquima and told me that sometimes I have to give a little to get something in return from the horse, otherwise he'll just be mad at me. Makes sense. So he told me to just work on going straight down the line, not necessarily on the rail, and that each time to push Harry over a little bit and soon he'll be on the rail. Hopefully that works.
I also have exciting news. Exciting for me at least. Ray was watching us today while he was training and he told me as I passed by on Harry that I was doing a good job and to keep it up, I'll get there eventually. That may have just been a crock, but it gave me a smug feeling to know that he complimented me.
Didn't ride Nina. Again.
Rode Brie. This is our second to last practice before our Michigan show next weekend. I'm excited for it. She was a little uppity today, hopefully she's more calm on Wednesday for our last practice. I really hope she does well, I have to admit, I'll be really disappointed if she doesn't. All I'm asking for is to NOT get excused and to NOT come in last place. Second to last place is completely acceptable at this point. I gotta work my way up.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Day 67
It takes a young horse to remind me that we all have our bad days.
With that said, Harry was a bit of a psycho today. I worked for the longest time with him to the point where I was as hot and sticky as the horse. He doesn't want to walk on the rail, doesn't want to go straight when he walks on the inside, doesn't want to WALK period. Everyone tells me to just let him get his energy out of his system but wouldn't that defeat the point I'm trying to make? Do I need to stop trying to make a point and try to bond with him? Is he doing this to test me or because he doesn't trust me? I was going to do some Parelli games with him, but was so exhausted that I completely forgot about that intention.
One reader last week answered the question I asked: should I bring Harry or Brie to Michigan next week? I thank you for your advice, saying that if I never bring him to the show then he'll remain the horse that's never been shown. After today, though, it's clear to me that something isn't clicking between us and I don't think we'll get anywhere until we work on this unsolved issue between us. Tomorrow I'm going to work some Parelli before I ride, that way I won't be tired out. That means I'll have to reassemble the round pen. Fantastic.
I've finally accepted that everyone, no matter who you are or what you're doing, will look at you and laugh because you're not doing things to their expectations. It takes a strong person to ignore all of that and proceed to prove them wrong. I'll have to be that strong person if I want to fix this trust between Harry and I.
I didn't get to ride Nina like I wanted to today. I was still working Harry when my brother put her back in the stall.
Speaking of trust, Harry now has this problem going into the wash rack. Popped out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago and you have to do this ridiculous back and forth trickery nonsense to get him in and even that didn't work today. Paco had to get him into the wash stall for me and you know I'm not too pleased about having to have other people help me out. So that's another goal to add onto Harry's list: get into the wash stall.
Brie was apparently psycho for my mom outside, but we all know that's because she was outside. Have you ever had a horse who hated trail rides? How did you fix that?
She was great for me indoors though. I'm confidant about next weekend. Michigan, you better watch out!
Doesn't it seem that in the past couple of months this has turned from Brie-centered to Harry-centered?
So now the goal of this blog is to not end when Brie gets a blue ribbon in a class of ten or more; it has turned into a blog with the goal of living happily with my three horses and eliminating all of their problems, whether they're trust issues, showing issues, or trail issues.
Looks like I'll be here for a while.
With that said, Harry was a bit of a psycho today. I worked for the longest time with him to the point where I was as hot and sticky as the horse. He doesn't want to walk on the rail, doesn't want to go straight when he walks on the inside, doesn't want to WALK period. Everyone tells me to just let him get his energy out of his system but wouldn't that defeat the point I'm trying to make? Do I need to stop trying to make a point and try to bond with him? Is he doing this to test me or because he doesn't trust me? I was going to do some Parelli games with him, but was so exhausted that I completely forgot about that intention.
One reader last week answered the question I asked: should I bring Harry or Brie to Michigan next week? I thank you for your advice, saying that if I never bring him to the show then he'll remain the horse that's never been shown. After today, though, it's clear to me that something isn't clicking between us and I don't think we'll get anywhere until we work on this unsolved issue between us. Tomorrow I'm going to work some Parelli before I ride, that way I won't be tired out. That means I'll have to reassemble the round pen. Fantastic.
I've finally accepted that everyone, no matter who you are or what you're doing, will look at you and laugh because you're not doing things to their expectations. It takes a strong person to ignore all of that and proceed to prove them wrong. I'll have to be that strong person if I want to fix this trust between Harry and I.
I didn't get to ride Nina like I wanted to today. I was still working Harry when my brother put her back in the stall.
Speaking of trust, Harry now has this problem going into the wash rack. Popped out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago and you have to do this ridiculous back and forth trickery nonsense to get him in and even that didn't work today. Paco had to get him into the wash stall for me and you know I'm not too pleased about having to have other people help me out. So that's another goal to add onto Harry's list: get into the wash stall.
Brie was apparently psycho for my mom outside, but we all know that's because she was outside. Have you ever had a horse who hated trail rides? How did you fix that?
She was great for me indoors though. I'm confidant about next weekend. Michigan, you better watch out!
Doesn't it seem that in the past couple of months this has turned from Brie-centered to Harry-centered?
So now the goal of this blog is to not end when Brie gets a blue ribbon in a class of ten or more; it has turned into a blog with the goal of living happily with my three horses and eliminating all of their problems, whether they're trust issues, showing issues, or trail issues.
Looks like I'll be here for a while.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 62
Accomplishments!!
It was mega hot out today. Not pleasant. We had to clean our stalls again, but didn't have to strip them, thankfully. The horses didn't even want to stay outside, so we brought them in and braided all of their hair! I wish I would've taken pictures. They looked really cute.
After the hair braiding festivities, my brother and I set out to tack up Nina. He had been working with her playing the Friendly Game for a while before I showed up, so she was fairly calm. Fairly calm as in it took us at least 30 minutes to get the jaquima on her head. I insisted on not having her on the cross ties while doings this because for one she'd feel trapped and two I would be getting choked/hit in the face with the cross ties every time she jerked her head back. After our huge accomplishment we still needed to get the bit in. At that point my parents were getting antsy (grrrrr) so my mom stepped in, hooked her to the cross ties, and put the bit on her (after another 15 minutes of my brother and I trying).
We rode. Harry was okay, I only got to ride him. =[ He's just a little engine! I worked to make him walk without me having to pull on his bit and when he did that once around each way I ended the session.
All in all, it was a good day =]
It was mega hot out today. Not pleasant. We had to clean our stalls again, but didn't have to strip them, thankfully. The horses didn't even want to stay outside, so we brought them in and braided all of their hair! I wish I would've taken pictures. They looked really cute.
After the hair braiding festivities, my brother and I set out to tack up Nina. He had been working with her playing the Friendly Game for a while before I showed up, so she was fairly calm. Fairly calm as in it took us at least 30 minutes to get the jaquima on her head. I insisted on not having her on the cross ties while doings this because for one she'd feel trapped and two I would be getting choked/hit in the face with the cross ties every time she jerked her head back. After our huge accomplishment we still needed to get the bit in. At that point my parents were getting antsy (grrrrr) so my mom stepped in, hooked her to the cross ties, and put the bit on her (after another 15 minutes of my brother and I trying).
We rode. Harry was okay, I only got to ride him. =[ He's just a little engine! I worked to make him walk without me having to pull on his bit and when he did that once around each way I ended the session.
All in all, it was a good day =]
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 61
What was the hardest working day in a while turned out to be the most fun I've had with horses since we moved to the new stable.
I already told you that we decided not to go to the Springfield show this weekend, which means that we had to truck back everything we brought home for the show.
Before arrival, we realized we forgot one important thing: all of the head gear. We can ride at least Brie bareback, but with just a halter on? I don't think so. My mom was thoroughly upset while I took it as a good sign: now we'd be able to work with Nina without the pressure of wanting to ride!
That all ended once we walked in the stable. The stalls were FILTHY, like they haven't been cleaned for days, and there wasn't a scrap of hay in any of the holders. Not again, we thought. This kind of incident has happened too often in our horse-owning history. It's been really good at the stable now because of Paco. Paco is amazing at staying on top of the cleaning and handiwork around the stable; but he is at the show this weekend as well, cleaning and being on top of handiwork over there. I don't even know who was hired to clean and feed, but to say it was disappointing is to say the least. So we broke open a bale of hay, flaked it up, and fed it to the horses on our side. Later on, the electrician said he saw the temporary help feeding at 6 AM. Oh. Well that would make sense why there's no food in the holders. At least it was only hay. Lunch won't hurt them (horses are actually supposed to be fed three times day, but at most places are only fed twice).
We put the horses outside and my parents, my brother, and I got to cleaning stalls. We had to strip down Nina and Harry's stall because they're messy when they go to the bathroom. Brie's stall we only had to sift through the enormous mound of poo and move more shavings over the stripped wet spots. That's one thing I love about Brie: she's very neat. My brother was excited because he got to drive the Gator back and forth between the stalls and the manure mound. My brother and I ended up doing the colt's stall on our side (we love him to death, his nickname is Ken) and Taco's stall as well. I think that is probably the cleanest their stalls have ever been. John came by, Jane's boyfriend, he actually owns Taco, and thanked us for cleaning the stall and asked that we put Taco outside in the grass pasture, so I did.
After seeing the mudcakes that Harry, Nina, and Brie had become after playing in the mud pastures, my mom wanted to give them all baths. She did Brie first while my brother and I stayed outside with Harry and Nina. We took this opportunity to go after Nina's ears and head. Harry went next while I let Brie get her 10 minutes of grass, which undoubtedly made her life the happiest it's been since the last stable. She rarely gets grass because of her insulin resistance problem. After bringing her and Taco back inside, I held Harry outside while watching my brother chase Nina around the pasture and try to go after her ears. Let me tell you, Nina was not a happy camper. My mom took her inside, I brought Harry inside, and before we gave Nina a bath, we decided to do some Parelli with her.
The most basic Parelli game, the Friendly Game, involves using your hand, carrot stick, or string (or all three if you can multitask) to just rub the horse all over. If they're skittish, the point of the game is to get them to stop wincing or dancing around when you touch them. All the games have one goal: trust between the horse and rider(or non rider owner). Since the moment we got Nina, she was pretty much bomb-proof. She was the quickest learning and most eager to play the games.
Not today. She HATED the game and kept wiggling around and trying to hop away, but that wasn't happening. She was in the shower stall anyways. So after working herself up for about 10 minutes while I wiggled a piece of string around her legs and neck, she started calming down and let me throw it over her ears. I switched with my brother and he did the same. Then I got to the front of her head, facing her, and started wiggling it on her face. After initially freaking out, she started to calm down (along with the help of some peppermints and carrots). By the end of the session, which was about 45 minutes, I was about to get the bit hanger sans bit over her ears and off again without her flinching. With this, we stopped and bathed her, feeling the most accomplished and proud we've felt in a while. I felt especially proud because I haven't bonded with Nina that much, as my brother took a liking to her right away and I was focusing on rehabbing Brie.
All in all, it was a fantastically accomplished laid back day with a minor downfall of filthy stalls. Thankfully Paco will be back tomorrow afternoon.
I already told you that we decided not to go to the Springfield show this weekend, which means that we had to truck back everything we brought home for the show.
Before arrival, we realized we forgot one important thing: all of the head gear. We can ride at least Brie bareback, but with just a halter on? I don't think so. My mom was thoroughly upset while I took it as a good sign: now we'd be able to work with Nina without the pressure of wanting to ride!
That all ended once we walked in the stable. The stalls were FILTHY, like they haven't been cleaned for days, and there wasn't a scrap of hay in any of the holders. Not again, we thought. This kind of incident has happened too often in our horse-owning history. It's been really good at the stable now because of Paco. Paco is amazing at staying on top of the cleaning and handiwork around the stable; but he is at the show this weekend as well, cleaning and being on top of handiwork over there. I don't even know who was hired to clean and feed, but to say it was disappointing is to say the least. So we broke open a bale of hay, flaked it up, and fed it to the horses on our side. Later on, the electrician said he saw the temporary help feeding at 6 AM. Oh. Well that would make sense why there's no food in the holders. At least it was only hay. Lunch won't hurt them (horses are actually supposed to be fed three times day, but at most places are only fed twice).
We put the horses outside and my parents, my brother, and I got to cleaning stalls. We had to strip down Nina and Harry's stall because they're messy when they go to the bathroom. Brie's stall we only had to sift through the enormous mound of poo and move more shavings over the stripped wet spots. That's one thing I love about Brie: she's very neat. My brother was excited because he got to drive the Gator back and forth between the stalls and the manure mound. My brother and I ended up doing the colt's stall on our side (we love him to death, his nickname is Ken) and Taco's stall as well. I think that is probably the cleanest their stalls have ever been. John came by, Jane's boyfriend, he actually owns Taco, and thanked us for cleaning the stall and asked that we put Taco outside in the grass pasture, so I did.
After seeing the mudcakes that Harry, Nina, and Brie had become after playing in the mud pastures, my mom wanted to give them all baths. She did Brie first while my brother and I stayed outside with Harry and Nina. We took this opportunity to go after Nina's ears and head. Harry went next while I let Brie get her 10 minutes of grass, which undoubtedly made her life the happiest it's been since the last stable. She rarely gets grass because of her insulin resistance problem. After bringing her and Taco back inside, I held Harry outside while watching my brother chase Nina around the pasture and try to go after her ears. Let me tell you, Nina was not a happy camper. My mom took her inside, I brought Harry inside, and before we gave Nina a bath, we decided to do some Parelli with her.
The most basic Parelli game, the Friendly Game, involves using your hand, carrot stick, or string (or all three if you can multitask) to just rub the horse all over. If they're skittish, the point of the game is to get them to stop wincing or dancing around when you touch them. All the games have one goal: trust between the horse and rider(or non rider owner). Since the moment we got Nina, she was pretty much bomb-proof. She was the quickest learning and most eager to play the games.
Not today. She HATED the game and kept wiggling around and trying to hop away, but that wasn't happening. She was in the shower stall anyways. So after working herself up for about 10 minutes while I wiggled a piece of string around her legs and neck, she started calming down and let me throw it over her ears. I switched with my brother and he did the same. Then I got to the front of her head, facing her, and started wiggling it on her face. After initially freaking out, she started to calm down (along with the help of some peppermints and carrots). By the end of the session, which was about 45 minutes, I was about to get the bit hanger sans bit over her ears and off again without her flinching. With this, we stopped and bathed her, feeling the most accomplished and proud we've felt in a while. I felt especially proud because I haven't bonded with Nina that much, as my brother took a liking to her right away and I was focusing on rehabbing Brie.
All in all, it was a fantastically accomplished laid back day with a minor downfall of filthy stalls. Thankfully Paco will be back tomorrow afternoon.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Days 55 & 56
Saturday
Today I didn't do any riding because the vet came out. We had all three horses' teeth floated and they were given their annual spring shots. I would've taken pictures of them while they were all sedated, but I didn't want to embarrass them any more than they were while they were in our presence. While they were sedated, we clipped all of their ears. This is fantastic because they never let us get to their ears with the clippers (or anything, including fingers) while they're awake. This was especially important for Brie because the tips of her ears were DIRTYYY.
Sunday
It was kind of rainy today. I started off riding Harry in the indoor arena but was easily getting frustrated and upset so I went into the round pen outside to work with him in between rain showers. He calmed down out there while Brie was going pretty berzerk from being outside with mom. Nina looked fantastically calm, as usual, with Antz. After Harry was sufficiently calm, I went back inside.
I started getting frustrated again. So instead of being angry and letting him feel it and then possibly getting hurt and being counter-productive, I just got him to walk around the arena once, even if he wasn't on the rail, and then stopped. He doesn't like the rail because there are flags hanging on the walls. I think he'll get over that as he learns to trust me more because he doesn't have a problem walking next to the rail when I have him on a leadline.
I rode Brie. Immediately angry 1) because she was uppity after being outside and 2) because I HATE THAT SADDLE!! It is the WORST saddle in history in my opinion. Maybe it would be okay if I wore full chaps all the time, but it's for show, and I'm wearing tuxedo pants for show, and I definitely can not be sliding around and compromising my ribbon and safety in front of dozens of people. It's going on eBay this week.
I walked Brie back to the aisle to untack, had a good cry, and went on giving them showers.
In the wise words of Linda Parelli, "Don't get upset at your horse. Cry, let it out, end your session, and the next time you'll have a better day". I'll be watching more Parelli while I'm at work once I've caught up on all my homework.
Today I didn't do any riding because the vet came out. We had all three horses' teeth floated and they were given their annual spring shots. I would've taken pictures of them while they were all sedated, but I didn't want to embarrass them any more than they were while they were in our presence. While they were sedated, we clipped all of their ears. This is fantastic because they never let us get to their ears with the clippers (or anything, including fingers) while they're awake. This was especially important for Brie because the tips of her ears were DIRTYYY.
Sunday
It was kind of rainy today. I started off riding Harry in the indoor arena but was easily getting frustrated and upset so I went into the round pen outside to work with him in between rain showers. He calmed down out there while Brie was going pretty berzerk from being outside with mom. Nina looked fantastically calm, as usual, with Antz. After Harry was sufficiently calm, I went back inside.
I started getting frustrated again. So instead of being angry and letting him feel it and then possibly getting hurt and being counter-productive, I just got him to walk around the arena once, even if he wasn't on the rail, and then stopped. He doesn't like the rail because there are flags hanging on the walls. I think he'll get over that as he learns to trust me more because he doesn't have a problem walking next to the rail when I have him on a leadline.
I rode Brie. Immediately angry 1) because she was uppity after being outside and 2) because I HATE THAT SADDLE!! It is the WORST saddle in history in my opinion. Maybe it would be okay if I wore full chaps all the time, but it's for show, and I'm wearing tuxedo pants for show, and I definitely can not be sliding around and compromising my ribbon and safety in front of dozens of people. It's going on eBay this week.
I walked Brie back to the aisle to untack, had a good cry, and went on giving them showers.
In the wise words of Linda Parelli, "Don't get upset at your horse. Cry, let it out, end your session, and the next time you'll have a better day". I'll be watching more Parelli while I'm at work once I've caught up on all my homework.
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