I only rode Harry today.
I think I'm going to switch up his bit tomorrow. Right now he has a pretty falt one and I think I'm going to switch it with Nina's. The one that Harry has we originally purchased for Nina, but then Carmello told us that Nina was better off with one like Brie's so we ended up buying another one and gave the leftover to Harry when we got him. Paco said that he had a different bit than one like ours when he was working with Harry, one like Nina's so we're going to try it tomorrow. I only hope that Nina is okay with everything and she doesn't regress.
Why am I making all these changes you ask? I just feel like I can't control Harry. Between the crappy jaquima (we still need to order one) and this bit, everything seems ineffective. He just keeps on plowing onwards. It's like he has no respect for me. I took him outside today and as much as I would've liked to stay outside, I went back in because he would NOT respond to anything I asked of him (such as slowing down) and just did as he pleased. The most I could get him to do was turn, but even that was a yank. I don't want my fists to be up at my shoulders while riding him because that's how much effort I have to put into it, it's just ridiculous.
He was much better lunging today though, now that I know what I'm doing. He only ran out on me maybe twice. I was also very proud of him because I got him to get into the wash rack, something with which he's been having some trouble with the past couple of weeks. He's been scared of it. So I was very proud of both myself and him when I got him in there today.
Mom rode Brie outside for a while. Paco told us that he rode her yesterday and that she was all uptight and upset because she knew after about 20 minutes Paco would take her back into the barn so he stayed out a while longer and she calmed down. I wish I could ride Brie outside but I have to deal with Harry.
My brother rode Nina inside and outside. My mom and he also worked on her legshyness since she's informed us that the farrier should be out in about three weeks. I wasn't there to watch, but it sounded like it went well. No panicky yells or pounding dancing hooves on the concrete, so I assume it all went well.
Wish me luck with the bit change tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be one heck of a day!
Showing posts with label wash rack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wash rack. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
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.
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