I did some ground work with Chance today and which led to learning more about me. He is having a very difficult time with transitions. To be more specific - When asking him to move around me at a walk he is okay, asking him to transition to a trot and then a canter is difficult for him. He bucks, crow hops, pulls back, tries to come in on me and whatever he can think of to avoid the transition. This relates to me because I have always hated lunging horses and even though this isn't really lunging it is asking a horse to move quickly in a circle around me. This has always scared me and I have always tried to avoid this groundwork exercise. Chance knows this and because I think something bad is going to happen (I'm going to get kicked, run over, whatever) I'm sure he does to.
How do I fix this? I'm going to have to face my fear and work through it. I'll do it with help and as safely as possible but this one is going to be hard. This is what I worked on for 2 days at Libby's clinic and why I had such a hard time that weekend. I need to fix this, it's holding me and my horse back.
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Life is a journey...enjoy the ride
About Me
The Horsewoman's Prayer
Dearest God in Heaven,
Give me the strength to guide my horse, make my hands soft and my head clear. Let my horse understand me and I him. My heart you have blessed with a special love of these animals, let me never lose sight of it. My soul you have gifted with a deep need for them, let that need never lessen.
Always let my breath catch as the sun gleams on an elegant head. Always let my throat tighten at the sound of a gentle nicker. Let the scent of fresh hay and a new bag of grain always be sweet to me. Let the warm touch of a soft nose on my hand always bring me a smile. I adore the joy of a warm day on the farm. The grace and spendor of a running horse, the thunder of it's hooves makes my eyes burn and my heart soar, let it always be so.
Grant me patience, for horses are harnessed wind and
wind can be flighty. Let me not frighten or harm them,
instead show me ways to understand them. When I pass from this world, send my soul to no heaven without them,
For this love you have given me graces my existence and
I shall cherish it, and praise You for it, for all time. Amen
Author Unknown
Dearest God in Heaven,
Give me the strength to guide my horse, make my hands soft and my head clear. Let my horse understand me and I him. My heart you have blessed with a special love of these animals, let me never lose sight of it. My soul you have gifted with a deep need for them, let that need never lessen.
Always let my breath catch as the sun gleams on an elegant head. Always let my throat tighten at the sound of a gentle nicker. Let the scent of fresh hay and a new bag of grain always be sweet to me. Let the warm touch of a soft nose on my hand always bring me a smile. I adore the joy of a warm day on the farm. The grace and spendor of a running horse, the thunder of it's hooves makes my eyes burn and my heart soar, let it always be so.
Grant me patience, for horses are harnessed wind and
wind can be flighty. Let me not frighten or harm them,
instead show me ways to understand them. When I pass from this world, send my soul to no heaven without them,
For this love you have given me graces my existence and
I shall cherish it, and praise You for it, for all time. Amen
Author Unknown
He knows when you're happy
He knows when you're comfortable
He knows when you're confident
And he always know when you have carrots.
~Author Unknown
He knows when you're comfortable
He knows when you're confident
And he always know when you have carrots.
~Author Unknown
"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway".
by John Wayne
by John Wayne
Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison
2 comments:
How about sticking with a walk to fast walk transition while you figure out what your fear is doing to you and hence, doing to Chance? Like lunging at the walk and practicing breathing, relaxing body parts, walking normally, etc. Then speed up your walk a little and see if he speeds up a little. If he doesn't, then ask with something else like hand, or a little action in your lead rope or something.
I'm a big fan of starting with little things and figuring out small and slow before proceeding. Chance might be confused as well as fearful because of your fear. It's OK to go very, very slowly as we are sorting these things out.
Breathing and walking normally is a great place to start!
Thank you ljb, I do forget to breathe and usually end up over- doing and creating confusion and fear in myself and Chance. Now that I actually know this, I really want to fix it once and for all.
Jaye was here on Sunday and was a big help, we found that Chance is having a right eye issue, he is coming in on me when he is going to the right, trying to look at me with his left eye. I am right handed and do spend more time on his left, so now I'll do more things with my left hand and spend more time on his right side.
And you are right about going slow. The more time I spend with a horse bucking and crow hopping at the end of the lead line and don't get hurt does build confidence in me. But it's kind of like 'shock therapy' and I know there has to be a better way! :) And I'm sure Chance would really rather not do this either.
Having a person with me is a huge help, Jaye was able to talk me through Chance's more active moments. I am hoping that starting slow (so I can remember to breathe) will build the confidence in both of us enough so that when we are alone and he can't keep all 4 feet on the ground I can be the solution for Chance instead of becoming part of the problem.
Thanks for reminding me that I don't have to fix this all at once!
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