I learned a lesson yesterday-slow down, be more aware of my surroundings, and don't try to rush through the scary place hoping to get to the other side in one piece.
When walking Chance from the driveway to the barn, (which requires walking on the main road and is a hot spot for me) Chance became very aware of something that was making him nervous. I looked around and saw nothing. This is when I get myself in trouble, my horse starts to show signs of being afraid, I don't see the problem and force him through it. Now yesterday I did look around and when I couldn't see the problem I thought that getting to the barn as quickly as possible was the answer to his fear. And hopefully we would get there without an explosion. I was lucky because we did get there in one piece. As we were turning into the barn driveway he ran in front of me very quickly and spun around and I heard a voice say "Hi Laura." It was a neighbor out jogging in a very bright shirt. I had no idea she was there, but Chance did. And as far as he was concerned she was a very bright mountain lion getting ready to eat us. Now if I had listened to my horse and taken a couple of minutes to figure out what was bothering him this whole thing would have been avoided. Nothing bad happened but in Chance's mind this brightly colored mountain lion was chasing us and getting ready for the kill and I set us up for it. If I had slowed down and checked things out I would have seen her too and we would have been behind her. I did look around, but quickly. When I didn't see anything my answer was to just get through it. Well, Chance I'm sorry and I promise to slow down and listen to you. I want better than to just get through it. I want him to trust me. I think I finally know how to fix that. With a better awareness of my surroundings, my horse and just plain slowing down.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
We went for a ride
I took Chance for a little ride around the neighborhood today. Just for the fun of it. Also to see how he did in the front of the trailer. He usually rides in the back but because he is the only horse going and the ride is so long, I think he should be in front to keep the weight closer to the truck. He was a little confused and thought he should stay in the back of the trailer. He would walk to the front and turn around, then stop at the back waiting for the door to shut. After 3 times I had to re-think this. The 4th time he walked in, turned around again and stopped at the door. So I backed him to the front and asked him to stand. I then closed the divider and took off the lead line. Then we went for a little ride. He never really relaxed or ate any of the hay but he did poop and I thought that was a good sign. It was a short ride, and very uneventful. Just perfect. Maybe I'll put a saddle on him tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Clinic this weekend?
I am going to a clinic this weekend with Chance in Harmony, Maine with Karina Lewis. This is the 2nd time this winter I am attempting the trip. Darn weather keeps messing it up. The news is saying possible snow on Friday, the day I plan to leave. Regardless, I am going to remain positive! I have already made my check list and started to load the trailer. I have high hopes that this weekend will help me with my anxiety about riding. I know that what I need is time in the saddle, even if it means just getting on and off. I need to be patient with myself. I need to trust myself and my horse. I need to let go of the control I feel I need to have. I need to have fun with my horse. And I need to stop saying the word need. I am going to work through this. I am going to have fun and if I get to go it will be an exciting adventure. This won't be solved in one weekend but taking a trip like this is a great way to start this riding season. My only request for Mother Nature is...please, no more snow and if at all possible maybe temps above 40? Not forever, I'd be happy with one week.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Is it Spring yet?
I can't believe it has been a month and 1/2 since I last posted. I've been busy getting taxes ready, trying to organize the house, and doing little things with Chance. I got some great advice from somebody about how to help him with his feet. She told me it is a very common problem. Somewhere in his training somebody did not let him have his foot when he needed it back. Now
he takes it back when he wants it whether he needs it or not. The new method is to let him have it as soon as he needs it. But to ask for it immediately when it is back on the ground and keep asking until he picks it back up again. The idea is to have the quiet place be when the foot is up. Then give it back before he asks or tugs again. Each time hold it for a different amount of time.
If he tugs before I give it back just repeat the process. I can feel a difference in both of us now. We are both WAY more relaxed! He is making the connection and I am not making a big deal out of this anymore. I think he is very relieved that I have finally gotton it! I guess we humans can learn new tricks after all!
I started taking centered riding lessons. Well, I've had one anyway. It was mostly at the walk and being led around so I could focus on just me. I loved the visuals and the whole thought process with this way of learning. This seems to be the key to help fill the holes I have in my riding right now. I almost called R for a few lessons but I decided to go to somebody who doesn't know me at all. I have had some anxiety creeping up when I ride Chance. So much that I have to remember to breathe. It takes me a long time to get on and as soon as I am on I am ready to get off. I have to talk myself into asking for one step and if it goes okay, I might ask for another. I really want to enjoy my horse so I think the lessons are not only going to help with my seat but it is getting me on other horses so I can work my way up to Chance again. I think money is only going to allow a few lessons but even after just the one I feel like I already have a better seat. My ultimate goal is to ride bareback at the walk, trot and canter. I am determined to get there, its going to be fun and will probably take a while. But I'm okay with that, I'm on horse time and it doesn't get much better than that!
he takes it back when he wants it whether he needs it or not. The new method is to let him have it as soon as he needs it. But to ask for it immediately when it is back on the ground and keep asking until he picks it back up again. The idea is to have the quiet place be when the foot is up. Then give it back before he asks or tugs again. Each time hold it for a different amount of time.
If he tugs before I give it back just repeat the process. I can feel a difference in both of us now. We are both WAY more relaxed! He is making the connection and I am not making a big deal out of this anymore. I think he is very relieved that I have finally gotton it! I guess we humans can learn new tricks after all!
I started taking centered riding lessons. Well, I've had one anyway. It was mostly at the walk and being led around so I could focus on just me. I loved the visuals and the whole thought process with this way of learning. This seems to be the key to help fill the holes I have in my riding right now. I almost called R for a few lessons but I decided to go to somebody who doesn't know me at all. I have had some anxiety creeping up when I ride Chance. So much that I have to remember to breathe. It takes me a long time to get on and as soon as I am on I am ready to get off. I have to talk myself into asking for one step and if it goes okay, I might ask for another. I really want to enjoy my horse so I think the lessons are not only going to help with my seat but it is getting me on other horses so I can work my way up to Chance again. I think money is only going to allow a few lessons but even after just the one I feel like I already have a better seat. My ultimate goal is to ride bareback at the walk, trot and canter. I am determined to get there, its going to be fun and will probably take a while. But I'm okay with that, I'm on horse time and it doesn't get much better than that!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Playing
I have been 'playing' with Chance. His biting was becoming a BIG problem.
I thought it was taken care of with the work we did, setting boundries and not letting him in until he behaved. It only lasted a few days and then he was back to trying to nip me everytime he got the opportunity. He isn't being aggresive or nasty, he is trying to play with me like he would a pasture mate, trying to get my attention. Instead of trying the old stuff again I decided to play with him. We had a great time, I asked him to run off to the right and he would take off like a cannon ball bucking and jumping. When I asked him to stop he would quickly turn in to me and ask "what do you want me to do now?????" So I sent him to the left and off he would go again. YEEE HAAW!!! He followed every instruction with so much enthusiasm and excitement, I could almost hear him laughing as much as I was. And when I asked him to be quiet and still or slowly follow me he was right there, willing to do whatever I asked to the best of his ability. I was careful to mix it up for him, asking for what he knows and then throwing in some new stuff here and there. I even rode him bareback again with the rope halter. He was so patient, standing ready for me to get on. I stood on a muck bucket to get on and even when my foot slipped and I lost my balance he just waited, braceing himself so I could hold on to him to keep from falling.
Yes, he did try and nip me most of the time we played. I got good at blocking but other than that decided to ignore it and see if it would stop. I really think he has been bored out of his mind and is like a little boy looking for attention. And it worked. Then next day I found a much more settled horse, content and happy. He hasn't tried to nip me in 2 days. It is so nice to finally see the horse that was so deep inside himself, so shut down. He still has trouble holding his feet up, but I know that he is holding them up for as long as he can. We will keep working on it and he will eventually learn that he can give up his feet and feel safe.
I thought it was taken care of with the work we did, setting boundries and not letting him in until he behaved. It only lasted a few days and then he was back to trying to nip me everytime he got the opportunity. He isn't being aggresive or nasty, he is trying to play with me like he would a pasture mate, trying to get my attention. Instead of trying the old stuff again I decided to play with him. We had a great time, I asked him to run off to the right and he would take off like a cannon ball bucking and jumping. When I asked him to stop he would quickly turn in to me and ask "what do you want me to do now?????" So I sent him to the left and off he would go again. YEEE HAAW!!! He followed every instruction with so much enthusiasm and excitement, I could almost hear him laughing as much as I was. And when I asked him to be quiet and still or slowly follow me he was right there, willing to do whatever I asked to the best of his ability. I was careful to mix it up for him, asking for what he knows and then throwing in some new stuff here and there. I even rode him bareback again with the rope halter. He was so patient, standing ready for me to get on. I stood on a muck bucket to get on and even when my foot slipped and I lost my balance he just waited, braceing himself so I could hold on to him to keep from falling.
Yes, he did try and nip me most of the time we played. I got good at blocking but other than that decided to ignore it and see if it would stop. I really think he has been bored out of his mind and is like a little boy looking for attention. And it worked. Then next day I found a much more settled horse, content and happy. He hasn't tried to nip me in 2 days. It is so nice to finally see the horse that was so deep inside himself, so shut down. He still has trouble holding his feet up, but I know that he is holding them up for as long as he can. We will keep working on it and he will eventually learn that he can give up his feet and feel safe.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Starting the new year
It has been a slow start to the new year, not feeling well, behind on paperwork and baking
biscuits. But I'm okay with that. Lately Chance and CC have been fighting over the fence between the stalls. I started out with a simple line dividing the paddocks, no electricity because
of the round bale feeder. Since this new game they are playing, I have gone from the line to
the brown tape, New Years Eve morning I woke up to both ponies in Chance's stall. Poor Chance was at the gate looking for a way to escape. So, up went a board nailed across with the brown tape above it. Still no electricity. Today I woke up to the board broken in half, but everyone was where they belonged. So now there is a much larger wooden fence-like wall up with electricity on Chance's side. I wonder how long this will stay up????
After putting up the wall I hopped on Chance for the 1st time since November at Libby's clinic. His behavior has been much better since I worked with him and he seemed to enjoy the
ride as much as me. I threw on his rope halter and jumped on bareback. The footing is not
very good, not icy in the paddock but not very good so we just walked around. I let him decide where to go first and then it was my turn. He even had a little spook when the wind kicked up and blew the snowmobile trailer off the hitch and it moved a couple of feet across the ice. I was very proud of how he handled that! I jumped when it happened! We were really together and I think he just knew not to fall apart because I was there. In a second it was over and I asked him to walk on. We had a nice short ride, I am emphasizing the nice part...not short.
biscuits. But I'm okay with that. Lately Chance and CC have been fighting over the fence between the stalls. I started out with a simple line dividing the paddocks, no electricity because
of the round bale feeder. Since this new game they are playing, I have gone from the line to
the brown tape, New Years Eve morning I woke up to both ponies in Chance's stall. Poor Chance was at the gate looking for a way to escape. So, up went a board nailed across with the brown tape above it. Still no electricity. Today I woke up to the board broken in half, but everyone was where they belonged. So now there is a much larger wooden fence-like wall up with electricity on Chance's side. I wonder how long this will stay up????
After putting up the wall I hopped on Chance for the 1st time since November at Libby's clinic. His behavior has been much better since I worked with him and he seemed to enjoy the
ride as much as me. I threw on his rope halter and jumped on bareback. The footing is not
very good, not icy in the paddock but not very good so we just walked around. I let him decide where to go first and then it was my turn. He even had a little spook when the wind kicked up and blew the snowmobile trailer off the hitch and it moved a couple of feet across the ice. I was very proud of how he handled that! I jumped when it happened! We were really together and I think he just knew not to fall apart because I was there. In a second it was over and I asked him to walk on. We had a nice short ride, I am emphasizing the nice part...not short.
Friday, January 4, 2008
A Spoiled Horse
While I have been working on teaching Chance to trust people, stay awake (not shut down) I have turned him into a spoiled horse. I have confused him with all my hugs and kisses, no boundries. I have let him get as close to me as he wants, wanting him to feel loved. I have to admit that I like it too. He can be very lovable, but I learned my lesson today when he bit me.
I was opening up the feed room door when he walked up behind me and bit me on the hip. I can't say I was very happy but I have no one to blame but myself. So as of today there is a bubble around me and he is not allowed in. I decided how big the bubble is and stood there waving my arms and mittens around like an air traffic controller. When he tried to come in he bumped into my waving arms and mittens. When he stood at a respectable distance I went to him and loved him like crazy. We worked on this for about an hour in the dark and it was very cold. Of course if I had made this a rule from the start I would not have had to freeze my butt off doing this. He just continues to be a great teacher!
I was opening up the feed room door when he walked up behind me and bit me on the hip. I can't say I was very happy but I have no one to blame but myself. So as of today there is a bubble around me and he is not allowed in. I decided how big the bubble is and stood there waving my arms and mittens around like an air traffic controller. When he tried to come in he bumped into my waving arms and mittens. When he stood at a respectable distance I went to him and loved him like crazy. We worked on this for about an hour in the dark and it was very cold. Of course if I had made this a rule from the start I would not have had to freeze my butt off doing this. He just continues to be a great teacher!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
