December 25th 2010
Hick:
I think Hick is actually a really nervous horse. Aria wanted to ride him today, but I told her and Ben that I don't want any of us riding him until we've done a lot of groundwork and he trusts us a lot more. So we started out by just having me rub him all over, with my hands and the stick; he was actually less comfortable with my hands. He tried very hard to always keep me on his left side, something I wouldn't have clicked to before the clinic. So I think I'm going to work on leading from that side more, as well as spending more quality time there.
Hick wanted to approach me when I let out the rope to face him, and was very startled by the jigging. It made him stop, but when I tried to use it to back him up, he consistently danced to the right (my right). Not sure how to fix that... stick and string? He was chewing hard trying to figure things out. I had a bit more success being beside him, but decided to leave it at that bit of success until I could think about whether I was missing something or asking wrong. I tried teaching him to straighten out, and he was TOTALLY confused at first; but he figured it out really quickly as soon as he had any success. We worked on walking in a circle, and he stopped behind me every time (we only did it 4 or 5 times, though); I got the feeling that he was getting to the point where he needed a break, and the light was fading, so I made it easier by turning with him instead of passing the rope behind me, so that we could end on a high note. What was really cool, though, was that by the time we finished, he was turning to face me as soon as I started to bend over and look toward his hindquarters. So cool! And he let me correct him all the way to straight without drifting forwards. I begin to suspect my “big dumb horse” of actually being my very smart, sensitive horse! He chews a lot more than Bo did, too- mind you, Bo had done everything before, but I don't think I saw him chew at all.
I had more of his attention than I've ever had, today, and he was so alert and responsive. It was really neat seeing this side of him. He may never be the horse I thought I was buying, but I think once I get to know him and we trust each other, he'll be a really neat one.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Day One
December 24th 2010
Ollie:
I tried using the rope twirl to keep Ollie from barging ahead on the lead, and he was very confused. He alternated stopping dead (something he still does occasionally anyway) with tossing his head and dancing away sideways. Hm. So I halted him anytime he was pushing ahead, and lots of other times too, to get them out of his system and put them back on my terms. It seemed to help. He got very good at reading my soft signals for “stop” and “go.” When we were coming home and he knew where we were headed and wanted to hurry, I tried the rope twirl again. We had better luck with me extending my arm with the end of the rope swinging gently but suggestively, or a few twirls to warn him, but he was still more confused than anything. I think maybe if I walked along a fence or wall it would help, then he wouldn't be able to lean away.
I tried going out to the end of his lead facing him, and he allowed that more easily than most of the horses at the clinic. He really did not like the jigging to back up, but eventually (very eventually!) got the idea. It took about three successes before he started chewing, and I expect it'll still need a fair bit more work. His response started coming faster, though, even if I had to jig as hard as I could.
Ollie gives to pressure better than Bo did, interestingly. I'd like to take credit, but I'm pretty sure it's just 'cus he's naturally awesome. ;)
I'm starting to use jigging slightly more naturally, but it'll take a while- I, too, still need a fair bit more work. ;)
Little Miss (and Aria):
Little Miss responded really well to the “combing” technique; I like it much better than the bum rope, it seems much easier to fully release pressure so that learning can happen faster. I'm excited. Aria seems to have gotten the idea about instant release for any try very quickly- it'll need reinforcement, I'm sure, but she's so eager to see Little Miss do well and believe in her, that she's responding very quickly to subtle tries. It was really awesome.
Ollie:
I tried using the rope twirl to keep Ollie from barging ahead on the lead, and he was very confused. He alternated stopping dead (something he still does occasionally anyway) with tossing his head and dancing away sideways. Hm. So I halted him anytime he was pushing ahead, and lots of other times too, to get them out of his system and put them back on my terms. It seemed to help. He got very good at reading my soft signals for “stop” and “go.” When we were coming home and he knew where we were headed and wanted to hurry, I tried the rope twirl again. We had better luck with me extending my arm with the end of the rope swinging gently but suggestively, or a few twirls to warn him, but he was still more confused than anything. I think maybe if I walked along a fence or wall it would help, then he wouldn't be able to lean away.
I tried going out to the end of his lead facing him, and he allowed that more easily than most of the horses at the clinic. He really did not like the jigging to back up, but eventually (very eventually!) got the idea. It took about three successes before he started chewing, and I expect it'll still need a fair bit more work. His response started coming faster, though, even if I had to jig as hard as I could.
Ollie gives to pressure better than Bo did, interestingly. I'd like to take credit, but I'm pretty sure it's just 'cus he's naturally awesome. ;)
I'm starting to use jigging slightly more naturally, but it'll take a while- I, too, still need a fair bit more work. ;)
Little Miss (and Aria):
Little Miss responded really well to the “combing” technique; I like it much better than the bum rope, it seems much easier to fully release pressure so that learning can happen faster. I'm excited. Aria seems to have gotten the idea about instant release for any try very quickly- it'll need reinforcement, I'm sure, but she's so eager to see Little Miss do well and believe in her, that she's responding very quickly to subtle tries. It was really awesome.
This is not a blog
It might eventually meander that way, but for now, it's a record (for me, and anyone else who's interested) of what I'm doing with my horses- specifically since attending a really amazing natural horsemanship clinic put on by Cornerstones.
Cast of characters:
Our horses:
Ollie (Oliver)- Runty Paint, 18m (coming 2 in May)
Hick- 9yo Standardbred, OTT at 5, monster-huge
Little Miss- Wee quarter horse filly, 6m (coming 1 in May)
Eagerly awaited:
Alaadin- 3yo Arabian gelding, green, 30 days training last summer
Mystery (may be renamed)- 1yo (in Jan) arabian gelding
Also starring:
Bo- Lovely old Arabian gelding I worked with at the clinic
People:
Ben- The boyfriend
April- The best friend (also attended and loved the clinic)
Me- (Star)
Aria- My enthusiastic 11yo daughter
Cast of characters:
Our horses:
Ollie (Oliver)- Runty Paint, 18m (coming 2 in May)
Hick- 9yo Standardbred, OTT at 5, monster-huge
Little Miss- Wee quarter horse filly, 6m (coming 1 in May)
Eagerly awaited:
Alaadin- 3yo Arabian gelding, green, 30 days training last summer
Mystery (may be renamed)- 1yo (in Jan) arabian gelding
Also starring:
Bo- Lovely old Arabian gelding I worked with at the clinic
People:
Ben- The boyfriend
April- The best friend (also attended and loved the clinic)
Me- (Star)
Aria- My enthusiastic 11yo daughter
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