When They Don't Want To Load

Dixie is such a good buddy to have while teaching a horse to trailer load! Yesterday, I had to load a young, almost 5 year old, filly, who hasn’t been loaded into a horse trailer since she was 6 months old. Did I mention she was orphaned before 6 months old? Did I mention she hasn’t lived with horses since, and didn’t know her owner wasn’t a horse? Did I mention how pushy she was?

First impressions were very good. Well built, ears perked, a pretty filly. Stood quiet for the owner, a middle age gentleman. And gentle was his middle name. He loves this little mare. She was orphaned , and when another person didn’t take her, he felt sorry for her, and he brought her home. He cared for her, and he loved her. And she grew and filled out. And she became a brat when she had to do anything that wasn’t her idea. So he called me, and he wanted her to trained, so he could ride her.

When I showed up to get her, because he didn’t have a trailer, I was prepared. I took an old mare along to be in the trailer so the young filly didn’t have to be scared. I knew it would be easier for her to have another horse in the trailer when we started moving. I took a rope halter, and an extra lunge rope, and another extra lunge rope. I took patience, and time, and a mindset that I would not get upset. I was lucky that I had an owner that loved his horse, but did not get in the way, yet stepped in at the last minute to save the day!!!

Hubby parked the trailer as I went over the training contract with the owner, get phone numbers and info that I needed. Hubby had the trailer backed up to a grassy area. Owner went for the horse and she was at the gate.

She was very apprehensive approaching the trailer, even when she saw another horse in the trailer. She was scared of the trailer, and I could tell she was full of energy, so without a round pen to free lunge her and to set up dominance, I did the next best thing and lunged her down.

About every 10 minutes, I brought her to the trailer to load, and she refused. I do the “John Lyons tap, tap, tap” on the butt. She kicked out at every tap. Back to work time and lunging, so she knew kicking out wasn’t acceptable. We worked on the lunge line, loping and trotting. Boy, does she have a great lope, and a personality to go with it. Back to the trailer to rest and load. Every time she refused, back to the lunging. Every time she tried, we waited. And asked. And asked again. Every now and then, she kicked out, with a powerful side kick! Every time she did that, we went back to work.

I believe in a few of the John Lyons tips. Tap on the butt for forward movement. Kill for 3 seconds when they are bad. And I tapped, but I didn’t have to try to “kill”. I tapped, and tapped harder, and she kicked out, big time! Powerful kicks. I made sure to keep myself, the owner, and hubby out of the way of those hind legs.

The filly went from scared to defiant during the first ½ hour. During the 2nd half hour, she was just bad. Trying to turn different ways on the lunge line. Trying to get her head away from me. Trying to run me over as we approached the trailer. Trying her best to evade the trailer. The third ½ hour, she was just plain mad! You could see it in her eyes. You could see it in her body language. Yes, we have been working an hour and a half, calmly. And I knew she was getting physically and mentally tired. And that turned into madness.

I told the guys that I felt like we were in a month’s training. The first week is ok, just building up endurance and teaching the basics. The 2nd week, we go to work and get a little tired. The 3rd week, the horse figures out that we are working, and he/she doesn’t like it, and starts to rebel. So we are in week 3. But hang on, be patient, week 4 will be here and over, sooner than later, I hoped.

The temper tantrums subsided, getting less and less. She came up to the trailer and just stopped. Her eyes were no longer scared, or angry. She tried to lift a leg, but she just wasn’t going in to the trailer. At least, the kicks were getting less and less.

At this time, we had a rope halter on her and a long line going through the D by the tie strap of the inside of the trailer. We wanted her to stay at the trailer. She was wore out from working earlier. Now it was still up to her to get in, but we were keeping her pointed at the trailer. Hubby had the rope behind her legs (I know, I know…old ways, but sometimes old ways work and this was the time I had to go back to it. This young filly fought coming to the trailer and when I asked her to go in, then back to work mode for an hour and a half. We were just done and so was her mind.)

The owner wasn’t upset, but he said a few times, “(horse’s name), please get into the trailer. Come on, you can do it”. This actually made me chuckle inside. He really cares for this horse. The owner got another rope and he and hubby held it behind her, and tried applying pressure behind her legs, maybe trying to force her/maybe trying to get her to take those first steps. And she did once, with 1 leg, but it came right back out. (I know, old ways again, but we had to teach her forward and to step up. I wasn’t comfortable reaching down and putting her leg into the trailer. And I wanted the decision to lift her leg, her idea.

And this was one time I listened, really listened to the owner, and his advice. He had asked earlier, about an hour earlier, if he could try to lead the horse inside. But I didn’t want him hurt and it was my trailer, so I was thinking, no, too much risk. Then about this time, where the horse was just standing, he asked if he could put some alfalfa in the trailer. And I said sure, it couldn’t hurt anything. Her attitude had improved, as we were nearing the end of week 4 training mentality.

I could have kept asking her to work, then come to the trailer to load, but I really do think it would have just kept this filly mad. I needed her to know that yes, this is work, no, you don’t have to be mad, but yes, it’s time to get into the trailer.

Now this was the amazing part. That young filly turned and watched that owner walk away, and kept watching until he returned. Both hubby and I thought the same thing, it was like watching a dog watching for his owner. It was amazing to see the difference in the horse’s personality change. When the owner is around, it isn’t like the horse is worse, like some horses. She’s quiet, but bully and wants her own way. But when the owner left and came back, that horse dropped her head and you could see the calmness.

The owner put the hay in the trailer, and the horse really tried hard to reach with her neck and you could see her legs trying to step up. Finally the owner asked again if he could try leading her in. I said sure, just stand off to this near side so she has room if she jumps. I’m sure you all can guess what happened. With her standing calm and stretching out her neck to the little bit of hay in her owner’s hand, she put her 2 front feet in. She stood quietly, moved her back feet some, and with a little pushing on her body, (well a lot, and we closed one door most of the way, so she could tell she was almost in), she stepped up in beside her owner. And she remained quiet! That was a great sign. We tied her with the lead rope, left her to eat some hay from the feeder, stepped out and closed the door.

No stomping, no kicking. Absolutely quiet. And she rode home quiet next to Dixie and settled in quiet in her outside pen. She is definitely a people horse, but she needs to learn she is a horse. Even though Day 1 took over 2 hours, she did it, we did it. That was like Day 1, 2 and 3 wrapped into one, with the trailer ride.

So now on to the rest of the week, free lunging and setting up dominance like I like to. Hubby wants to try trailer loading again. Soon, but not too soon. I’m going to work on her mind first. Then we’ll do the work and ask. Refuse, go back to work, then come back and ask.

Any time we go close to her pen, she is right there, waiting for human contact. I’m really hoping she starts to act like a horse as she sees the horses beside her.

Arena Work on the Last Day of Training

Tammy (Horsetrailriders.com) came on Friday for her 2nd lesson and to take Windy home after her 2 week “Spring Tune-up”. I worked on supple-ing (sp) Windy, getting her to start to collect and to stay collected at the trot and lope. Tammy also wanted me to get her to side pass better and to stand at different obstacles to mount.

First, let me say, we woke to a winter wonderland! (See previous blog post). At 7 am, we had 4” of a very wet snow, hanging onto the tree branches. We are glad that it was wet, because by 10, the driveway and sidewalks had melted, even though the temp was in the mid 30’s. By noon, the snow was almost gone! Tammy came at 1, and there was very little snow. Actually, the temp wasn’t that bad, and when we rode, we had to take off our winter coat. Geez, winter coat at the end of March!

I rode Windy first, showing Tammy what I had worked on during this past 2nd week. I showed her how to keep Windy traveling straight, how to keep her shoulders up, and how to travel in a circle, with a slight bend in Windy’s body, starting with the head. I ask a horse to travel with the jaw tipped back towards the point of the horse’s shoulder, without a bend in the neck.

Once I trotted and long trotted Windy some, and worked the collected trot at both speeds, we moved up to the lope. Windy takes a lot of leg to stay collected and loping, as she is still building up stamina for this. She has come a long way in 2 weeks, as her body, and her mind, can work the whole hour, staying in frame and staying collected. I showed Tammy how to stop and roll back to the outside to help to hold Windy up and not leaning into the circles.

We worked on 2 tracking (half pass), side passing, and forehand turns, asking that hip to move both directions. We walked the logs, and worked on side passing both direction.

When Tammy rode, we worked mostly on the trot. Everything goes back to the basics, and Windy rode well at the walk and the trot. Tammy circled her, serpentined, and reversed directions. Riding small and large circles. Changing directions smoothly.

As we moved up to the lope, we will continue to work on keeping Windy collected. We cooled down with working the logs, and standing quietly at the dismount.

I am very happy with Windy’s progress in 2 weeks. I am really pleased that Tammy is happy with the results. I look forward to helping Tammy during lessons!

Great Training and Ride Day

All photos are of Windy, compliments of Tammy (Horsetrailriders.com)

I continued working Savannah on the ground, asking her to give her hip both directions. My young 3 year old gelding, Duster, came over to bother us, as I was working Savannah in the horse lot. 2 things were very interesting. Since he was right there, I asked him to move his hip. Him without halter or lead, me holding another horse. And he gave his hip both directions. Secondly, this young gelding is never tense. As I was doing these manuevers, he would lick and chew. Hmmmm. After the Chat group discussion about Van Hargis saying licking comes from a tense horse, I’m seeing a young, very confident, horse lick and chew BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS SOMETHING. Him, tense? I think not. Bully in a non-pushy way, yes, but never tense. I adore him, as much as I adore Shaggy’s big puppy dog ways!

I’ve had Tammy’s, (Horsetrailriders.com) horse Windy here all week. She was in for a tune up on giving to the bit and collection work at the trot and lope, standing still while mounting, and side passing. Yesterday, Tammy came today to watch me ride Windy and to take a lesson on her. After we rode, we went to the field to ride.

Windy showed a little attitude at the trot, which she got corrected for, but then rode off without hesitating. She has learned to stay collected at the trot, giving nicely to the bit. We circled and made small figure 8’s, while she stayed in frame and had a very smooth trot. Coming out of the figure 8, we moved on down the rail at the extended trot. We stopped and reversed and went the other way.

Once her trot leveled out and stayed smooth, I asked for the lope. There was no kicking out and she kept her nose tucked. I am working on her stops, asking her to keep her nose tucked and stopping with her hind legs under her. She is starting to understand the moving with her body in frame is better for her. I’m wondering if the kicking out was a sign of soreness or defiance. But as I work quietly with her, she appears to understand that the collected movement is easier than head up and hollow back.

Tammy took a lot of pics and video. Hubby always said I should set the old camcorder up and video my rides. They are very insightful! I saw where I need to work on Windy. I saw how I rode. I saw how the horse responded with what I did.

Tammy rode and did very well. I had encouraged her to quiet her hands and she did a great job. I asked her to carry my hands a little higher, at the height of the horn, as this helps to lift a horse’s shoulder. I was amazed that I rode with hands a little lower than I wanted her to ride. But my hands are moving slightly, very little, and I really need to watch myself ride more often!

I had a wonderful time riding and teaching. Maybe it started because I Centered myself and started with some Centered Riding exercises with Tammy. Maybe because I centered myself and became calmer. Maybe because I centered myself and enjoyed the moment.

Tammy and Windy responded well together, and we took Windy to the point where working became hard for Windy. I talked about that with Tammy. Windy had worked physically and mentally, and all 3 of us were done. Let’s find something easy to do and be done.

The 3 of us walked to the barn. Tammy and I got a cold drink, I bridled Shaggy who was already saddled and standing quietly tied, and we headed to the field. How much fun is it to ride horses that are matched movers? I needed to be a little cautious with Shaggy, as he just came back from having a sore ankle a month and ½ ago. I have been riding him with sport boots to support his ankle.

We weren’t long in the field before Tammy wanted to move out. LOL Slow trot, extended long trot, then a slow lope for me and a little bit faster lope for Windy. We crossed the road and rode a ½ mile north, then a ½ mile west, weaving through the fields. Trotting and loping. Extended trotting and posting. Loping. We circled back around, adding another mile to our ride. Then letting a little bit loose and running. Tammy was ahead, Shaggy felt good, and I just HAD to let him out a little. Oh my goodness. Have you seen on the races when the TB is held back, let go, and he spurts ahead? Now, Shaggy didn’t spurt, but he went. I told Tammy I was behind her, then I was beside her, then I shot ahead. Tammy went sideways, lol. I pulled Shaggy up, as I didn’t want to strain his leg any more that I already had.

He is a mover. Maybe a better mover than Finny. Maybe things really do happen for a reason. We only know afterwards the “why”. All I know now is that I’m glad I kept Shaggy and I am enjoying riding him. I have always like his “looks”. He was handsome at 6 months, and at 3 years, and now. What a mover! I just need to balance my Centered Riding work, and my future dressage lessons, and the trail riding with his mind. I want to keep him as balanced and calm as I want my life.

Tammy and I ended the ride by walking through a CRP field, kicking out some deer, twice. We walked a tree lined field, enjoying the scenery. Walking back to the barn we only rode an hour and a ½, riding almost 6 miles. And the tension, and the last year and 5 months melted away, and I was in the moment.

The training and lesson day ended with 2 friends catching up, lounging on chairs, with a glass of Shiraz. The only sounds were the birds in the trees and the horses moving in the distance. The day was still warm, and there wasn’t a breeze, and it felt wonderful to just lounge.

Take time for yourself each day. I have enjoyed sitting with a cup of coffee at the end of each day, listening to the sounds outside. Today, I sat with a glass of wine with a good friend. And the peace and calmness was there.

After a deep breath, I sense the beginning of a different way of life. I life I want to share with my grandbabies. After many years with horses, I am still learning. I am learning that I am always learning.

Moving Savannah's hip from the Ground

Shaggy loping

After yesterday’s Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group discussion, I decided Savannah needs more ground work. I need her paying attention to me! And not looking everywhere but at me. (Click on name if you would like to join in the discussion or follow along).

After riding the other 2 horses, which I’ll talk about after this, I took a rope halter and cotton rope lunge line down to the lower lot. I planned on just working Savannah where the other horses were, so she had to pay attention to me.

I gave Sara my carrot stick to use, so I used a buggie whip in its place. Now, I know what it looks like to ask a horse to give its hip and I know how the horse is to respond, but I’ll sum up my time with this: Hubby asked if the horse is confused/getting it/learning or me?

I teach my horses to lunge, so giving Savannah credit, she thought I wanted her to lunge. Nooooo. When I point to your hip, you are suppose to move that hip away. Don’t lunge. Don’t run off. And Don’t run over me.

I shortened the lunge line. We went from a 20’ line to a 15’ line, and I could pull her head towards me easier when she went to lope off in a circle. I have the rope halter on, but sometimes it’s easier, well all the time it’s easier, if I use a chain over the nose for a little more control. Last year, that big girl would just turn her neck and pull the other way. The chain gave me the leverage that my body, and arms needed, so she didn’t pull away from me.

Shortening the line, and being a little quieter with the whip, helped. Finally, I got her to where she would just move her hip, and cross over her hind legs, and look at me. From both sides. So I petted her and left her looses. Enough for 1 day. Especially with me trying to hobble along and hold her with 2 gigantic blisters on the back side of my ankles, where a pair of old boots rubbed earlier in the day. I knew I shouldn’t have used them, but we were burning a little bit of brush, and they were the oldest pair I have. I was only in them for an hour, and I have the largest blisters that I have ever had! They still look nice, and now I know why. They pinch my toes, and after the blisters today, they are going in the goodwill bag!

Hubby thinks Shaggy is going to be his horse.

After burning brush this morning, the wind picked up. I free lunged Windy a few minutes, and she wanted to run. She is collecting up nice at the trot, and is staying soft and starting to extend at the long trot, instead of just picking up speed. She is starting to lope off while giving to the bit, but she still doesn’t like to be collected. Today, she gave me some kicks, and was told that wasn’t nice, and we reversed and loped off. Many times. I think she got it when one time, I reversed to the outside, and the next step was a lope step. Good girl.

I continued asking Windy (Tammy's horse, of Horsetrailriders.com) to stand still and mount from whatever I had around. Mounting block, upside down feeder, old water tank. Only when we approached something different was she hesitant. But she is learning to side pass over from the ground, and most of the time, she stands still.

Windy is starting to anticipate the side pass now. Today, I stopped and pause going over the logs, instead of just walking over them. Stopped and used some Centered Riding Breathing. Then asked for a step or 2 of the side pass. Windy likes to back up while going sideways, so I’m constantly asking for more forward motion. Anytime I work the 2 tract (half pass), I start walking forward first, then asked for the movements. My legs always need to be further back on Windy’s side, and I reinforce moving the hip by doing forehand turns also.

Shaggy is learning so fast. His lope has come a long way in less than a year. I really need to keep things slow for him, as he wants to think fast and do it. His trot is awesome, and I found myself working on the extended trot while in 2 point position. His trot will condition ME for CTR’s this year! Once again, I didn’t work him long, maybe 45 minutes, as I want to condition that leg that had been sprained a month or so ago. We loped both direction, and instead of working on him, I found myself working on myself and another Centered Riding exercise. As we lope, I lifted my shoulders, and I imagined my center going up and around, spinning backwards in a nice large pattern. I wanted him to slow down and have a lift “up” to his stride. What a difference in your own position when you do this.

I didn’t get to bring the 2 3 year olds into the barn and have them stand tied. I think I will add them to the agenda next week. But I did saddle Dixie, my 16 year old mare that I purchased last spring as another lesson mare. I took her to the field for a little over a ½ hour and for a 2 mile ride. That girl will be my extra trail horse. Point her and she goes. Down a short bank, straight down for 2 feet, and she couldn’t care. Through the fields. Ears perked, wanting to go. No whinnying. But she is out of shape and was huffing. I stayed out just long enough to get a few early sunset pics.

Next week, I’ll need to saddle both Chick and Dixie, and pony one so I can get them both to the field. I don’t pony horses, yet! But I will start. I wonder who will like to lead and who will like to follow?

Shaggy

I'm back to riding and training this week. It's been a long winter, and even a longer time for me to feel this good. I plan on blogging nightly about my day, but as you see, I'm alreay to days late, lol! I'll have 2 posts today for the last 2 days!

I'm also talking about Training Tips and Centered Riding Exercises on my Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group. Click here if you would like to join in or just follow along.

Tuesday and Wed's thoughts:

Gorgeous Days

I’m going to lump the last 2 days into one post. The last 2 days have been just plain gorgeous. Both Top 10 days. Warm 60-70 degree weather. A little bit of wind but we’ll take it if the days are this warm. When I was in the shelter of the trees at the outside arena, there was almost no wind. I just love sun and warmth!

And I will repeat what I said the first day of the week, I sure loved being in the barn the last 3 days! The horses didn’t agree. Shaggy whinnied the first day, then stood quiet. Savannah whinnied and tried to climb out of the stall both days. She didn’t succeed.

I had always used web halters, but I had a rope halter on her yesterday. I’m sure the extra pressure of the rope on her poll told her to stay down. She didn’t learn the lesson and tried to go back up today. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Windy is such a good girl when tied. She just stood there, waiting her turn. She was good until we went to the arena! And then she just showed me some mare attitude with “I don’t want to work” attitude. We worked through all of that.

Good riding days. Yesterday, (Tuesday) I worked on Tammy's Windy, as well as lunging Savannah under saddle, and lunging and riding Shaggy. Shaggy's leg is better, a little bit of puffy area, but no swelling and no heat. I put sport boots on him for support and I saw and felt no gimpiness. and boy did he move! I think he is even a better mover than Finny was. I had a great day outside, can you tell? :-)))

Savannah was only free lunged under saddle. She could have cared less if I was there, flapping the lunge line, that had a baggie attached to the end of it, around. I kept moving her and she kept paying attention to something else. Is this a THW trait? She was sweating after that first day, but she never really paid attention to me. I don’t know why and I don’t like that. She should have, eventually, turned and come to me. I guess we’ll be free lunging a lot, to set me up as her leader.

Shaggy through the logs

Shaggy lunged beautiful, with no signs of soreness. And boy, did he move. He trotted and loped freely, with a little playful horse play amongst the loping. I flapped the baggie around him too, and he didn’t care. Every time I stopped flapping the lunge line with baggie attached to it, he would walk up to me. I rode him lightly on Tuesday, as I didn’t want to aggravate his leg and any potential residual soreness. We trotted, and I worked him at a posting trot and at a 2 point. Boy, is he a smooth ride. And he can cover ground. Shaggy is my Centered Riding horse, and I plan on taking dressage lessons with him. I didn’t lope him, just walked and trotted the arena and logs. I cooled him off by walking, side passing, 2 tracking, and walking the logs.

Windy saying I'm done lunging and I'm watching you.

Windy went back to work. I free lunged her again, and she left me know when she was done lunging, as she would stop and look at me. LOL She didn’t walk up to me, but I’ll continue to work on that bonding. She needs to learn that I’m the leader and she needs to learn to accept the human as leader. She watched intently though, and I just loved her expressions. As I put the lunge whip away, she did approach. We are to work on quietly standing still while mounting, so I had her approach the mounting block from both directions, getting on and off both sides. She did well.

We continued working the collected trot, both at the sitting and posting trot. Once she was moving freer, and moving more willingly forward, we worked on the collective lope. This takes some leg from me to hold her in that frame, and this takes a mental mind from her, as this is a mental and physical job for her. Once again, she left me know that she didn’t like this job, and with a toss of her head, she left out a kick as we loped off. Stop, one swat, reversed, and lope off. 2 times around, no kick out. Stop, reverse, lope off, no kick, just ears back, lope a few times around. Repeat until ears where better and Windy was puffing. Now we have the mind, and we walked off on a relaxed long rein. She side passes and 2 tracks but her hip lags behind. I worked on moving the hip more. I worked on more forehand turns, asking the hips to move around. I think the trick with Windy is the leg needs to be further back to encourage the hind legs to move. She anticipates the side pass, so I worked on stepping over logs and waiting, then just ask for 2 or 3 good side pass steps, then moved forward. On the side pass, she has a tendency to back up.

Today, (Wed), I worked and rode all 3 horses. I just need to add the 2 3year olds to the daily routine now, as well as Dixie and Chick, the 2 lesson mares. They need to be in shape for the trotting that the lesson kids want to do!

Savannah, standing tied after being worked. She needs to learn patience!

Wed was a repeat of Tuesday’s work. I lunged Savannah a little less, working on getting her attention on me and not on the trees, the birds, any movement, the horses that she can barely see in the other lot, and…. She was calmed and walked up to me. I rode her at the walk and the gait. With Savannah, I’m learning to hold my hands a little higher above and forward of the horn and take a light hold on the reins. She will gait easier that way. With her tendency to want to see everything, this helps to hold her straight. Her response to something that unrepentantly happens is to always rush forward, holding her helps me to keep her from jumping ahead of herself. I worked on bending any time she gave an inclination of excitement. Any time she wanted to move forward too fast, I stopped and reversed out, and moved on down the opposite rail. I think she got the hint. I’ve decided I’m going to work her like we work Chick, our reiner. She is going to physically work until I have that mind. She will be a broke quiet horse!!!

Shaggy appeared just a little puffy on his one leg, which could just be residual swelling. So after a little bit of lunging, I rode him at a walk with minimal trotting. I’m in no rush with him. He doesn’t buck and he doesn’t bolt. I want him quiet. So we walked and side passed and worked on a few logs. My phone beeped as we went by a stack of logs, and wouldn’t you know it, he thought those logs were after him for the next couple of passes around the arena. We stopped and studied the logs after that. Isn’t it something what a strange sound at a particular instant can do to a horse’s mind? Those logs meant nothing until a sound was made as we were by them.

Windy free lunging easily, going over the logs.

Windy showed a little more attitude today, but I find that happens as I work horses. They don’t like work mode. Her trotting is smoothing out and she willingly lopes. She now tries to lope too fast. I hold her in a collective lope. Each time I let her have an inch, she takes it and sticks out her nose. We stop, trying to get her to stop collectively, and I am always asking for the back at the stop with her. In this way, she’ll start to stop, using her hind end. I always end on a relaxed walk with her, as she enjoys walking out, and I want to end the training time on something fun for her.

Tammy has been working one of her other horses at home. She’s going to be ready when Windy comes home! Windy needs to have a little work time each day, just for the mind set, then she’ll always be ready to go down the trail!

Barn Time

I'm back to riding and training this week. It's been a long winter, and even a longer time for me to feel this good. I plan on blogging nightly about my day, but as you see, I'm alreay to days late, lol! I'll have 2 posts today for the last 2 days!

I'm also talking about Training Tips and Centered Riding Exercises on my Horses Are Our Lives Chat Group. Click here if you would like to join in or just follow along.

Monday's thoughts:

Barn Time

Yesterday, I've had my first barn time today that I have truly enjoyed in a long time. And it wasn't on one of my own horses. It was on a training horse. A mare. Have I told you that I truly love mares. And their personalities. But maybe not so much their pi$$imess. lol But I understand them, and their "whys" they do what they do. I just love mares, and their babies.

I enjoyed my barn time because I went into the barn without a set schedule. No husband. No kids. No lessons, therefore I didn't have to rush to get done. Tired from expo, so therefore, I didn't need to work all the horses that I needed to start riding.

I just needed to start working on a training horse. Which was a mare. On obstacles/maneuvers that made me realize as I talked to the owner this morning, that THIS is where my training program is going.

Actually the wanting to ride has come back! and it feels great. Yesterday (actually Monday, I’m a few days behind), I had such a good time riding and dealing with Tammy's, of Horsetrailriders.com, Windy. Windy's here for 2 weeks, getting a tune-up. She is fun, but makes me work. She is so quiet at times, then gives me some attitude. lol I just put that mind to work, and after about 6 lope circles around the outdoor arena, you could just feel her say, ok I'll be good. And this was after some collective trotting. She started doing things before I asked. lol

After saying goodbye to Sara and Makenzie, which makes me sad, AND unloading the racks and most of the clothing, home decor, etc., I still had to work this mare. What I enjoyed the most was going to the barn without rushing. I didn't work any other horse, as we had a busy day, getting Sara and M on the road, and unpacking 2 horse trailers. I got out Windy, rode, put her away, and it was so relaxing!

I know that losing a horse is hard, and I had a very hard time losing Finny, and I wasn't excited about riding since, even though I started a relationship with Shaggy and started Duster, who is awesome. But now, after a few meltdowns this winter, I can put Finny to rest and move on. Training and riding and competing is my dream, and Finny was part of my dream, and dreams continue.

Thank you to all the mares that I have ridden and that I will continue to ride. You give me back my desire, because of your opinionated ways. Even though my latest 3 horses that I have raised and are riding are geldings, Finny, Shaggy and Duster, mares are very special.

Even though my family complains about Starlet in a good way, thank you Starlet for understanding me as well as I understand you.

I better get that Arab mare soon! I need to start getting ready for the CTR’s and Endurance rides.

Back to riding the training horse:

Tammy, from Horsetrailriders.com brought Windy for a 2 week tune up. Windy will be a good horse! I love mares, and Windy didn't disappoint me. We did EVERYTHING today that I was to work on, and a few others. She is so quiet, and then she demonstrates her personality. lol She stood still each time at the step stool! I'll have to try to set her up to be bad. But I did a few things I can show you to get her mind first. I think it comes from years of showmanship.

I sent her off in the outside arena, making sure there were no bucks, while I moved logs. Then I got on and trotted around, bumping with a LOT of leg. ok, girl, you will learn to move on and move forward. after a while, asked for the lope, 3,4 trot steps and she loped off, and I thought, let's go around 2 times. Well, we only made it 1/4 turn before a kick out. Now, I don't get mad anymore, but kicking out like that can really get to my lower back, so she got a mild licking, and we asked again. We loped 2 laps, ears sometimes pinned, lol, but no kick outs, stopped, walked on a loose rein, turned around, and loped off. She loped until there were NO ears pinned and no attitude. lol

We side passed, 2 tracked (half pass), and worked over logs at both the trot and side pass. I have a few things to work on to make these maneuvers better.


All in all, she did well. Sweated a little, and stood quietly in a stall cooling down. I worked on her paying attention to me when I led her, instead of looking everywhere. She is so quiet when you lead her, you don‘t realize that she is looking for the other horses. I want a horse to pay attention to me when I lead them.

Windy is a good girl. She just needs reminders that it's not her world, but mine right now, then her owner’s world for the rest of her life.

I enjoy mares, because they let you know exactly what they are thinking, Most of the time, aren't bully like geldings! They just want their own way.

I enjoyed my hour in the barn, and that hasn't happened in a long time. Thanks for bringing her to me. I believe my true healing started over Christmas with Sara's book she gave to me about Finny, and I am moving on. Windy is the first horse in my new training program. Thanks for the support of my friends who encourage me to keep going when the time was tough.

“Embrace the Journey!”

Makenzie and Horses at Colorado

Grandma and Makenzie

Sara and Makenzie

Makenzie at swim class


Swimming with arms and legs

Blowing bubbles

Working Roz on the lunge line

Sara bridling Roz

Ground Driving Roz

Lunging Peaches

Riding Peaches

What a great trot!

Fantastic Lope on Peaches.

Woring 3 year old Chex

First time lunging

What a quiet young gelding!

Getting ready for cattle classes. You can almost see him looking at cows!

Sara and I looking intense.

We were looking at a computer program.

Change and Rewards

"Change is for the better. How can people ignore what seems so obvious because it would mean change." The book, "The Soul of the Horse", talks about doing what is best for the horse, and our relationship with them. Use logic and knowledge wherever found, searching and finding out what works for you. Ray Hunt would say that he is here for the horse.

“Just as a rainmaker doesn't quit until it rains, don't quit until you have what you want”. Continue working with your horse until you get the desired results. As you build a confident horse, the horse will change for the better. You will change into the herd leader.

“Some people think they will hurt the horse’s feelings. This is simply leadership in action. You would actually be building respect as the leader.” How true! Horses aren’t people and don’t need what people need. Horses aren’t dogs and don’t need what dogs need. Horses need what horses need. And that is a leader. One that they can trust to lead them to safety.

All horses need a good sleep, and in the wild, they will go to the center of the herd and lay down, where they feel safe. It makes me think that we need a good sleep too, somewhere where you aren't thinking about the day or what to do, somewhere where you can fall into a deep sleep, waking up refreshed.

Communicate with your horse. Be safe while doing that. Move your horse around, gaining the respect of the horse. Begin to speak the language of the horse. Like Joe says in his book, "who moves who".

Horses will never be dishonest with you. I have always said horses are black and white, they will always let you know where they stand.

Are you black and white with your horse? Where are the gray areas? What will you do, specifically and not in a general way, to change the gray into black and white?

Change is necessary as we grow in our communication with the horse.

I guess I will work on the general area of patience, but more specifically work on slowing down when asking for each step of maneuver.

What about you? Change how you handle the horse, change how you ride, change how you communicate with the horse?

Change is good. We learn to be better horsewomen and leaders.

Just as rewards are good. Horses need to be rewarded when they try or when they accomplish something. And I think horses need to be rewarded a little, maybe in the form of backing off some, when they are bad, as you can’t keep the “punishment” going on forever. The horse’s reward is “release of pressure”. When the horse does something you want, has some try with what you want, doesn’t understand what you want, may be getting a little worse than what you want, THEN release the pressure. Go back to where the horse understands and start over. Slower.

Have you ever watch horses in a herd. Even a herd of 2 or 3. Sometimes they are not kind teachers. They bite and they kick. They can look really nasty. But they get the point across. Move or I will move you. Now, there is no gray in that look.

Then have you ever seen that horse, that gets nasty with another horse, stand beside that horse and swish flies or let them eat hay with him? What happens when the nasty horse walks away? The other horses follow. They know who is the leader.

Continue to learn as much as you can. With learning comes understanding. You’ll learn what works for you and your horse and what doesn’t.

But the learning may take time. Getting the respect from your horse may take time. Be patient and take the time that is necessary. If you rush yourself, you will get flustered. If you rush the horse, you will go back 2 steps.

“Are you a person of action?” If you make the decision or suggest a choice when you are in a group, people start looking to you to make the next decision or choice. Making a decision is acting on your thoughts. When you work with your horse, you need to decide what you want the horse to do. It’s ok if it’s not quite the right decision, because the next time you ask, you will change how you ask or what you ask for, and that is how to get to the right decision for you.

How should we act around our horse? How should we act when we ride? How should we act when we approach to catch or just to rub some? We should be confident and act the same way in all that we do. Act like you know what you want to accomplish, even if you are unsure. Don’t act unsure, act confident. Maybe, in the same way we take the pressure off the horse when the horse doesn’t understand what we want, take some pressure off yourself. Go back a step to where you know what you want and where you are confident. Remember, respect from the horse goes to the confident leader. Whether the leader is on the ground or on the horse.

Now we are full circle and it come down to communicating with the horse, in the horse’s language. No gray and white areas. Be the leader. The horse will respect you for it. And not only respect you, but want you to be the leader.

And the horse will chose you!

“Embrace the Journey!”

Start with a Blank Sheet

First, I have to say, I can't believe it's been a week since I blogged! Geez, where does the time go? I've been gone for a week and time is flying by.

anyways... to continue the Book post....

"Start with a blank sheet and fill it up." Another quote from the Book, "The Soul of a Horse". Joe Camp wants a relationship with his horses. He wants his horses to chose him. He wants himself and his horse to work together to build a relationship.

How would we start our blank sheet? How would you start now to build a relationship with your horse? Where would you start?

My blank sheet is in front of me (that would be the blank page of the computer screen with the title "Building a relationship with my horse".

I'm starting with a blank sheet, a clean slate, a new beginning to how I think and how I train. I want the horse to chose me. That only comes from the horse seeing you as a leader (and not a predator.)

Number 1, start in the round pen, building that trust and that leadership, having the horse chose me.
#1. Becoming a better leader.

what is your #1 and how will you get there. Think ahead to HOW you will fill up your blank page.
Right now, my last number, and maybe yours, could be doing that endurance ride, or that intense trail ride, or that day long trail ride, or that day in the arena playing games with your horse. Because what better way to know you have a true partner is when you do something together, and you move together, and you work towards your dream together.

For me, # 1 was to start in the round pen, building that trust and thatleadership,having the horse chose me.

#1. Becoming a better leader.

#2 After the horse chooses me and bonds with me, then I'll work on the horse"walking" with me in all directions. Front, back, sideways, etc.I think I will get the horse to do more manuevers by thinking of it as "fun"time and not "work" time.

#3 Saddling, Bridling, Ground Driving - everything I do, I'll continue, but onceagain, I'll think fun maneuvers. Keep the horse thinking. Do many smallermaneuvers, circles, serpentines, etc and keep it fun and interesting for thehorse.

I'll take the pressure off by doing less collection work in the beginning tomore "just riding" work/fun time.

By the time I leave #3, I should have a horse that is riding well, ridingforward, eagerly looking for the next thing, ready for the trail and the realworld. I'm heading to the bottom of the Blank Sheet.

As I am that confident leader for that horse, I want to develop that confidenthorse underneath me.

What are your #3 and #4? How will you get to the end of your Blank Sheet?
Start with 1, think of a plan, and fill in #2 and #3, and even to the end.

What do you want to start with and where do you want to go?

What is your #1 and how will you work on it, your #2 and #3?B

"Embrace the Journey!"

Peter Campbell Clinic Day 1

First, Happy Birthday, Sara! I can not believe that 28 years has passed since I held my baby girl for the first time. I do miss those years of when you were little, and it was just us playing together. But you know the feeling, because now you are doing the same things with Makenzie. Have a fantastic day!




I am almost too tired to post. I think the excitement of participating in the clinic, along with 7 hours of clinic time, has me almost too tired to move. And this is from a person who rides a lot and who is pretty active outside.



I think my tiredness come from anticipation of what will happen at the clinic. I also took 2 horses. One was a 2 year old that hasn’t left the place until today. I think the tiredness comes from total concentration of what we were working on.



Duster is my 2 year old. He is extremely bully and pushy. A big puppy dog who is gentle, but had a mother who was herd mare, at least for the last 5 years. Duster isn’t scared of the older geldings. He just walks among them and pushes into between them at the feeders.



He had a major attitude adjustment today. We worked on moving hips and shoulders. And moving the body away from us. Duster didn’t want to stop, or turn, or move where he was suppose to. I was starting to sweat. Peter came over and asked if he could work with him. I said of course, Peter wanted a YES, and Duster went to school. He graduated with more manners.



During the afternoon session, I rode Shaggy. We did a LOT of walk, trot, extended trot, walk, stop transitions. Shaggy got lighter and lighter. We worked in pairs and trotted and loped circles around our partner. The main emphasis was on stopping light and giving to the bit.



I hope to be able to write more over the next 3 days. I think I’ll sleep good tonight!

Ground Driving Duster

I have gone back to ground driving all the colts I start, as well as the training horses that I ride. I find that when I drive the young horses with long lines, they not only get used to the ropes around their legs, they begin to give to the bit better and learn how to turn. For the older horses that are in for training, it helps to develop a working mindset, as well as refresh them on staying soft and turning when they feel the pressure of the bit.



Duster, my 2 year old, bridled easily today, already accepting the bit in his mouth. But on the lunge line, he is slightly fighting the pressure of turning with the long lines. I don’t blame him, as this was his first day driving. This is only the 2nd time with a bit in his mouth. He is a smart guy though. He refused to turn, and as he refused and shook his head, he continued to feel the pressure on his mouth. When he gives and turns his head the way he is suppose to be going, he released the pressure himself, rewarding himself for doing the right thing. When he turned his head the way he is suppose to be going, and the pressure was gone, he dropped his head and moved on.



My first day of ground driving him went very well. I ended up being able to ground drive him on a straight line, turning in serpentines, and driving him in a circle around me. When I was behind him, I moved the ropes against his side, slapping the ropes gently on him, and shaking the ropes. Nothing I did with the ropes spooked him.



He is quietly bully, but he gives in and accepts his job. I wonder if he is going to do the same when I get on him! This week, I plan on ground driving me, desensitizing him to the bag on the lunge whip, and stepping up and down off of him. Maybe I’ll be able to ride him at the walk. Fingers crossed, as I want him doing as much as he can, preparing him for the Peter Campbell clinic this next weekend.

Bridle on Duster

Yesterday, I took him, saddled, to the arena and lunged him. There was no buck in him as he took off at the trot, and even when he loped around. He is a little bossy and pushy, but in a pleasant way, and if that is possible, it is possible with this colt. He is gentle, but he just walks through everything. That is about to change. I made him change direction, and to pay attention to me.

Duster had the bridle on for the first time today. I brought him up from the lot, along with another horse to keep him company. I tied them both in their own stall, across the aisle from each other. They could see each other, but they weren’t side by side.

I saddled Duster, and today he was going to stand with the bridle on also. I bridled him with a harness leather headstall with a big, copper D ring bit. I like to have them stand tied, chew on the bit, and get used to it in his mouth. He took the bit easily, chewed once or twice, then just stood there. I left him stand tied an hour, gaining some needed patience while feeling the bit in his mouth.

Today, he lunged with the bridle on. I led him to the outside arena. He just went around like he has been doing this for awhile. He trotted and loped around like a pleasure horse.

He trotted and loped over the logs.

He walked over the bridge.

He didn’t care if the rope was around his legs. The only time he jumped was when he farted and scared himself.

I threw the rope all around him. Over his head. Over the saddle. Behind his legs. He isn’t scared of anything. I guess being a bully, but confident, colt has good points.