I have started spending a few minutes each night sitting in Chance's paddock in the
dark. Sometimes I close my eyes and just listen to the horses eat. It is so peaceful,
a nice way to end the day.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Surprise Trail Ride
Today I went to A's to take some pictures of her kittens and her new horse. After being there for a few minutes I was told that my horse was ready. A had tacked up her mare Val so I could
go on a trail ride with her. What a nice surprise! We also met up with Pam and her gelding Chocolate and off we went down to the brook. The weather was perfect, the horses were happy and so were we. Adrieanne had a nice 1st trail ride on her new 4 yr old, Cruz. After a little bit of a rough start, some rearing when she got on which probably happened because he has difficulty switching eyes, off we went. I would have been on the ground immediately but not A. She has an unbelievable seat and rode through it. He calmed down and was more than happy to go exploring with her. It was a perfect 1st trail ride for both of them!
go on a trail ride with her. What a nice surprise! We also met up with Pam and her gelding Chocolate and off we went down to the brook. The weather was perfect, the horses were happy and so were we. Adrieanne had a nice 1st trail ride on her new 4 yr old, Cruz. After a little bit of a rough start, some rearing when she got on which probably happened because he has difficulty switching eyes, off we went. I would have been on the ground immediately but not A. She has an unbelievable seat and rode through it. He calmed down and was more than happy to go exploring with her. It was a perfect 1st trail ride for both of them!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Rode Chance Today
Well, the saddle I was borrowing for Chance isn't fitting him like it should so I returned it. Which means that the only way I can ride is bareback or not at all until I get another saddle.
So, I hopped on today in the paddock. We had fun. Every time I get on him it seems we have
another breakthrough. He tested me again, pinned ears and threatened to bite me, this time I
was ready and let him hit my boot. He still continues to do this, but no more pinned ears and it
is now more of a little kid behavior, not threatening anymore. So I'll do what I would do with my kids, ignore it and continue to let him hit my boot.
We went up and back down the rocky hill, around barrels, and just had a good time. This is really going to be good for my seat! And I can feel him under me much better than in the saddle. Also, for some reason the fear in me is going away. Today I was able to be a leader and
Chance was able to be with me. It was a nice.
So, I hopped on today in the paddock. We had fun. Every time I get on him it seems we have
another breakthrough. He tested me again, pinned ears and threatened to bite me, this time I
was ready and let him hit my boot. He still continues to do this, but no more pinned ears and it
is now more of a little kid behavior, not threatening anymore. So I'll do what I would do with my kids, ignore it and continue to let him hit my boot.
We went up and back down the rocky hill, around barrels, and just had a good time. This is really going to be good for my seat! And I can feel him under me much better than in the saddle. Also, for some reason the fear in me is going away. Today I was able to be a leader and
Chance was able to be with me. It was a nice.
Trail Ride with Jaye and her horses
We took Jaye's horse out for a nice trail ride the other day. I love riding Striker, she is teaching me a lot.
I can really feel her under me, her back, her feet and I love the way she sways her butt back and forth when she walks. It was fun for all of us!
I can really feel her under me, her back, her feet and I love the way she sways her butt back and forth when she walks. It was fun for all of us!
It's been a busy week
Things have been pretty busy since my last post. I'm not sure where to start. I met some really neat people, Karina and Kirk - their website is http://www.themirroreffect.com/. Kirk is a farrier and Karina is a trainer. They are more than just those things, I don't think I can accurately describe everything they do. Looking up the website would be the best way to get an understanding of them. I can accurately say that Karina has worked with myself and 3 other close friends and has made some pretty remarkable changes in all of us. And has inspired others that just listened.
I now have a clearer understanding of where Chance has come from and why things have been
tough for him. I didn't realize or maybe didn't take into consideration the differences between Maine and the western part of the country. Not only is the terrain totally different, so are the smells, animals, tack, and his training. He might as well have been dropped off in a foreign country! Also the white spots on his body are really scars from tack that didn't fit and equipment used to manage him. From some of the behavior he shows he has most likely been roped and treated pretty badly.
The good thing is that I do have a better picture of his past life which will help me help him.
I now have a clearer understanding of where Chance has come from and why things have been
tough for him. I didn't realize or maybe didn't take into consideration the differences between Maine and the western part of the country. Not only is the terrain totally different, so are the smells, animals, tack, and his training. He might as well have been dropped off in a foreign country! Also the white spots on his body are really scars from tack that didn't fit and equipment used to manage him. From some of the behavior he shows he has most likely been roped and treated pretty badly.
The good thing is that I do have a better picture of his past life which will help me help him.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Nice Short Ride
Jaye came over to today to hang out with me while I rode Chance. This time I tacked him up. He wanted to play with the saddle pads, so I let him. He sniffed and rubbed his head all over them. He picked one up in his mouth and tossed it around a little. It it nice to see his personality coming out. He was fine with the pads on his back but is still not so sure about the saddle and bridle. Tomorrow I'll put the saddle on and let him eat clover. No riding.
He did accept the saddle and bridle after a while and I hopped on. He took me right over to the gate, out we went and just walked around. The ride lasted about 10-15 minutes long. He never really relaxed but he also never got stressed or shut down. I have made it a rule for now that there will be NO eating while riding. That makes things clear for both of us.
The ride was short and sweet. It was fun and it won't be long before we are both relaxing.
He did accept the saddle and bridle after a while and I hopped on. He took me right over to the gate, out we went and just walked around. The ride lasted about 10-15 minutes long. He never really relaxed but he also never got stressed or shut down. I have made it a rule for now that there will be NO eating while riding. That makes things clear for both of us.
The ride was short and sweet. It was fun and it won't be long before we are both relaxing.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Our World is Expanding
I had another lesson on Chance yesterday and rode him bareback out of the ring again. This time he had NO trouble going through the gate knowing that there was grass and clover waiting for him on the other side. He did however have trouble leaving the grass and clover to take me to see other things. Not out of fear or anxiety, just plain old stubborness. He actually got cranky with me and for the 1st time since I have had him pinned his ears back and got pissy with me! I have never seen this horse get angry before, never once has he pinned his ears like that. Snack time was over and I was asking him to walk forward. He started walking backwards, almost into a snowmobile trailer, and when I wouldn't let him drop his head to eat he pinned his ears and hit my leg with his mouth! He didn't bite me, but he was warning me. This was new and I had to figure out how I was going to react to this!
Because I was bareback and not very confident in myself being able to stay on if I continued to ask him to walk forward I decided to stop asking. Also, he was showing me an emotion. Not shutting down like he would have a few months ago. I was grateful for that. But that behavior is not acceptable so I had to do something. Getting angry myself was also not an option and I wasn't going to let this turn into something even uglier. So, I got off and walked him out of the clover patch. Showing no emotions myself I decided to do something that we both already knew and I got back on in a place without clover. I needed to set him up for success and now I know that he isn't ready to be ridden and be allowed to eat. I actually think it is good that he is testing me. I just need to make sure I handle this correctly.
I rode him around the barn area showing him new things for about another 15 minutes, his emotions would build and I would bring him back to a safe place. I really struggled with letting him look around without shutting him down. I am having trouble reading him, is he just looking or is he too focused and going to exlode? It is going to take some time, I am still dealing with my own anxiety. So what will I do differently next time?
I will ride with a saddle - I don't feel confident enough in my riding to stay balanced if I need to help him out of a scary place.
I will picture a safe ride in my mind before I get on.
I will ride like a have a plan even if I don't. I will ride like we have a destination. I left too many decisions up to him, I didn't know what I wanted to do so he took over.
I won't be hard on myself! This IS fun and for both of our sakes I am going to keep it that way. I won't get caught up in the negative, and I won't get too serious.
Because I was bareback and not very confident in myself being able to stay on if I continued to ask him to walk forward I decided to stop asking. Also, he was showing me an emotion. Not shutting down like he would have a few months ago. I was grateful for that. But that behavior is not acceptable so I had to do something. Getting angry myself was also not an option and I wasn't going to let this turn into something even uglier. So, I got off and walked him out of the clover patch. Showing no emotions myself I decided to do something that we both already knew and I got back on in a place without clover. I needed to set him up for success and now I know that he isn't ready to be ridden and be allowed to eat. I actually think it is good that he is testing me. I just need to make sure I handle this correctly.
I rode him around the barn area showing him new things for about another 15 minutes, his emotions would build and I would bring him back to a safe place. I really struggled with letting him look around without shutting him down. I am having trouble reading him, is he just looking or is he too focused and going to exlode? It is going to take some time, I am still dealing with my own anxiety. So what will I do differently next time?
I will ride with a saddle - I don't feel confident enough in my riding to stay balanced if I need to help him out of a scary place.
I will picture a safe ride in my mind before I get on.
I will ride like a have a plan even if I don't. I will ride like we have a destination. I left too many decisions up to him, I didn't know what I wanted to do so he took over.
I won't be hard on myself! This IS fun and for both of our sakes I am going to keep it that way. I won't get caught up in the negative, and I won't get too serious.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
He carried me through the gate!
I like the idea of riding without intentions. Chance does too. It's relaxing for both of us. I took him into the ring with no idea of what we where going to do, just no routine. So I did the ground work we do know (Yes, that is routine) but for safety I have to make sure he was feeling okay. I brought him to one of the barrels, climbed up and when he was ready I got on. Bareback with a rope halter. I let him take me where ever he wants, sometimes he stops, and sometimes I'll ask him to change direction. Every few minutes I check in with him and yes he is still with me. No pressure, deep breaths, scratching his neck and enjoying the moment. He even did a little trotting. :)
After a while I asked my mother-in-law to open the gate for us. The one down at the barn, not on the hill. This is the same gate I walk him in and out of EVERY day. But this time I was on his back. I asked Chance to walk in that direction. He did but wasn't feeling that great about it. So we turned around and stayed in for a few more minutes and then I asked again. We gradually got closer and then he found a little bit of hay. It was right in the middle of the open gate. It was nervous eating but after a minute or so it took his mind off of the scary thought of leaving the ring. I let him eat and relax again, more breathing, more scratching. When he was ready I asked and he carried me through v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. He stopped and looked around. I asked him to check in with me, and yes, he was still with me. We found some grass and clover, I let him stand and eat and enjoy the moment. I was enjoying it too! It was time to go back in, I asked him to go through and again he wasn't feeling good about it. I asked him to walk around avoiding the gate which helped. Eventually he was ready and we went back in. Then we went back in and out one more time. This time it was much better, he was a lot more relaxed so I got off, gave him a hug, a mint and some hay.
After a while I asked my mother-in-law to open the gate for us. The one down at the barn, not on the hill. This is the same gate I walk him in and out of EVERY day. But this time I was on his back. I asked Chance to walk in that direction. He did but wasn't feeling that great about it. So we turned around and stayed in for a few more minutes and then I asked again. We gradually got closer and then he found a little bit of hay. It was right in the middle of the open gate. It was nervous eating but after a minute or so it took his mind off of the scary thought of leaving the ring. I let him eat and relax again, more breathing, more scratching. When he was ready I asked and he carried me through v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. He stopped and looked around. I asked him to check in with me, and yes, he was still with me. We found some grass and clover, I let him stand and eat and enjoy the moment. I was enjoying it too! It was time to go back in, I asked him to go through and again he wasn't feeling good about it. I asked him to walk around avoiding the gate which helped. Eventually he was ready and we went back in. Then we went back in and out one more time. This time it was much better, he was a lot more relaxed so I got off, gave him a hug, a mint and some hay.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Less is More
I had a very nice lesson on Chance Friday. I was told to do "as little" as I possibly could with him and what I did was up to me. Awe Man! I really had to think, being told what to do is much easier. I was ready for a real work out but what I got was 150% better. He wanted to be with me, he was very hooked on and following me everywhere. I got on bareback with the rope halter and had fun with him. We didn't do very much but the feeling between us was worth a million dollars! So now I have to remember that I can't have any routine with this horse, I have to find it within myself to duplicate this feeling and do something different. Maybe this time I'll open the gate and see if he takes me out of the ring.
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