Saturday, May 21, 2011

Day three of wet blankets and long miles

Still a quagmire here... far too muddy and slick to do any work out on the trails.  We worked some more on disengaging the hind quarters, lateral flexion, and long periods of trotting to build muscle and wind.  Just look back to yesterdays blog for any details.   

In addition to training, I do farrier work for a small group of clients.  I'm about ready to mandate that all my trimming clients become training clients too- there are far too many ignorant owners creating monsters out of their horses!  1200 pound monsters with NO manners what-so-ever. 

Yesterday I had to trim two horses that would not stand, would not lift their feet, and would not back up... at least for the owner.  I tried to explain a little bit of philosophy to their owner, who was inadvertently causing ALL of the issues.  She brought the first horse out into the aisle.  She doesn't like to cross tie, and won't let me hold the horse (my preferred method), so holds the horse herself.  Even though the gelding was standing quietly, she had a choke hold on his halter and was pulling down.  Pretty soon, the horse began moving around seeking some relief.  She had effectively desensitized him to the halter.  If you want a horse to stand still, you need to SENSITIZE him to halter pressure; he needs to know that standing is comfortable and that moving causes pressure to be put on the halter.  This poor horse couldn't get a break no matter what he did, so in his mind, the best option was to try and leave. 

The next issue we ran into was him not wanting to yield his feet.  I'd ask him to lift a hoof, and he'd pick up his foot, then jerk it away.  This is a direct result of his owner allowing him to do so each and every time she picks his feet.  Her remark?  "He's just lazy.  That's what he always does".  Simply by working with this horse five minutes a day would remarkably improve his attitude towards hoof handling.  My horses at home will lift each and every foot from just a simple tap on the leg (SENSITIZE them to cue; tap until they lift, then quit and rub).  My horses will hold their leg up until I tell them otherwise.  It is NEVER permissible to slam a foot down; Most times, I'll place the hoof down so it's just resting on the toe - I want to lower the foot in a CONTROLLED manner, not just drop it rudely. 

Unfortunately, my recommendations of working with him have been ignored.  As I was asking him to lift a leg, using gradually increasing pressure, I suddenly found he was no longer responding to any suggestions I was making,  He wasn't shifting his weight, he was making no effort, when only a few seconds earlier we were making progress.  A quick glance upwards revealed what was going on.  This poor boy's owner had eared him quite severely; his ear was completely twisted around and pulled down by his eye.  I was a bit taken aback and explained to the owner that the horse was not focusing on me due to what she was doing.  Her reply, 'we'll he's being stubborn and needs to learn a lesson".  I, oh so politely, let her know that what she was doing was cruel, and that he would not make the connection.  I have no issue with increasing the pressure; in fact, I'll tap away on the cannon bone with my rasp if a horse is being particularly obstinate.  BUT, the horse is making a connection in my case.  As soon as he lifts his leg, the tapping magically stops! 

People, please think before you act.  If you are trying to get a horse to pick his feet up, hurting his ears will not fix the problem.  Learn the difference between SENSITIZING and DESENSITIZING.  Before you start labeling your horse lazy, stupid, spooky, etc.. take a look at the way you are handling them.  A dull, bull headed horse often has a heavy handed owner.  When my horses overreact, it's usually because I've tensed up or given them reason to.  When I loose my feel, my horses no longer perform the way I'd like them to.  But horses with owners like this never really have a chance. 

Friday, May 20, 2011

Day two of wet blankets and long miles

It's been a straight week of rain here... far too wet to hit the trails (at least without causing some major damage!).  Instead we're working on some key foundation skills undersaddle, some obstacle work, and trotting to build up some wind. 

  1. lateral flexion-  This is a basic skill we've already taught from the ground and undersaddle.  I like to go back to it frequently, check in and make sure everything is still soft and light.  

  1. Move the hips- This is a skill we've worked at length from the ground, but not so much from the horse's back.  It is something I've been a bit neglectful of, and need to remedy this.  It's a simple task, but will lead to much more advanced movements once fine tuned.  This movement is much easier to teach if the feet are already in motion.  
To get the hips moving:
    1. Start by putting the horse in a forward walk on a circle.  It should be a relatively small circle, with the horse correctly bent and soft.  You don't want to proceed if the horse is dropping a shoulder or falling out with the hips.  Correct these problems first.   
    2. Tip the nose to the inside of the circle, turn and look at the hip, sliding your inside leg back as you do so.  Your leg should be back by the rear cinch.  
    3. As soon as the horse steps the hind leg underneath herself (in FRONT of the other leg), release.  
    •  Key points
      • You need to cue the hind leg WHILE it is on the ground and RELEASE as the horse is doing the movement.  Time your leg and rein cues simultaneously with the leg movement.  
      • Ask for only one step to start off with, then return to your circle.  Have your horse hustle a bit through the circle so that the turn on the forehand becomes a reward in itself!
      • GRADUALLY build to a quarter circle, half circle, full circle and so on.  This movement will require the horse to engage muscles that she may not have worked before with the added weight of a rider.  She will also have to focus on her balance.
      • As your horse gets better, use less rein.. eventually the head and neck should remain straight.  
Tip the nose

Tip the nose, look back, and press the hips over

Hind leg crossing OVER


 Spend some time trotting.  Trotting helps develop wind, muscle and overall conditioning.  Make it your horse's responsibility to maintain gait; don't constantly nag him with your leg.  Ask for a trot, get that trot, then leave him alone.  If he tries to break gait, let him, and THEN correct him.  Spend time making lots of turns, circles, figure eights...

 Work over some obstacles.  Today, we focused on raised caveletti.  This was not one of Stevie's strong suits.  For all her knee action, the lower leg tends to hang, and she has no worries about contacting a pole with her leg.  Caveletti are a nice tool; they can be used to simulate hill work, and cause the horse to really engage it's hindquarters. 

The plan for next time is going to be weather permitting.  If the rain has let up and the trails are dry, I prefer to get Stevie out of the arena.  If not (and it's looking like this will be the case...) We'll try to refine moving the hips, and introduce the bend-and-go drill.  

 

Please use caution and common sense.  Horses are large animals, with an exceptional amount of power and strength.  They are also concerned above all with their own personal safety, and will do whatever they feel it takes to keep themselves from harm.  Being individuals that act and react differently, the only certainty you have when working a horse is uncertainty.  I am a professional trainer with twenty plus years experience, yet even with the knowledge I possess, I still get hurt from time to time.  This blog and the accompanying media are for entertainment purposes only.  No responsibility will be assumed for injuries or damages incurred while trying to use these methods at home.  Please ride responsibly; protective gear can save your life!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Day one of Wet blankets and long miles

For the first "real" session back of the season, my goal was two fold; work on conditioning and cadence by trotting out on a loose rein, expecting Stevie to maintain speed and pace.  I alternate between a long fast trot and a shorter slower trot (I don't use the terms collected or extended yet because these are too advanced for what we are doing.  Eventually this exercise will turn into that, but for now, the focus is more on speed and tempo than anything else).

With any young horse, but especially when coming back into work, I start with a quick overview of pre-requisite ground skills.  I don't want the horse tired at all when I go to climb on, but I do want her thinking.  The typical 'drill' might go something like this:

  1. Circle left
  2. Disengage the hips
  3. Back three steps
  4. Send the shoulders right
  5. circle right, disengage the hips, back three steps and send the shoulders left
  6. circle left
  7. draw the horse to you and send right
  8. repeat the other way
Stevie ultimately performed these tasks well, but had a bit of a temper tantrum when warming up with the saddle on.  Even though it was a pretty extreme reaction, by giving her a moment to work through it, I was able to get her mind back, finish the drill and then ride without any further issue.













Please use caution and common sense.  Horses are large animals, with an exceptional amount of power and strength.  They are also concerned above all with their own personal safety, and will do whatever they feel it takes to keep themselves from harm.  Being individuals that act and react differently, the only certainty you have when working a horse is uncertainty.  I am a professional trainer with twenty plus years experience, yet even with the knowledge I possess, I still get hurt from time to time.  This blog and the accompanying media are for entertainment purposes only.  No responsibility will be assumed for injuries or damages incurred while trying to use these methods at home.  Please ride responsibly; protective gear can save your life!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Second year: Wet blankets and long miles

After a long, snowy winter off, the horses are getting ready to go back into work (or I am at least!).  Over the course of the last month, I've been reviewing all the 'compulsory' exercises with Stevie.  I'm basically going over everything she learned last year, and making sure she willingly responds.  The tasks I'm looking for near-perfection in are:

  1. Moving forward at all three gaits
  2. Disengaging the Hindquarters both from a stand still and from all three gaits (with the inside leg crossing OVER the outside)
  3. Yielding the shoulders in either direction (with the outside leg crossing OVER the inside)
  4. Sacking out
  5. Softness in flexions with the bridle and hackamore
I mix these tasks up as much as possible; I never want the horse to get bored with what we are doing.  For example; when asking her to go forward, I have many options:

  1. Simple circling on the ground
  2. Moving forward undersaddle
  3. Figure eights on the ground by disengaging the hindquarters
  4. Figure eights on the ground by drawing and yielding the shoulders
  5. Moving forward over obstacles (jumps, tarps, logs, etc)
  6. Getting out of the arena, moving forward up and down hills, etc
The foundation is going to be key to the next step in this filly's education.  Over the course of this year, I'm going to be looking to develop five key elements that I feel EVERY horse should be proficient in.  They are very simple concepts, but judging by the issues so many horses I work with have, they are very often overlooked as well.

  1. Manners:  This is a biggie.  Way too many horses out they are pushy and disrespectful.  They crowd you on the ground, they nip, they paw, they lag behind you or drag you around.  Horses are way too big and powerful an animal to not have good manners. 
  2. Softness:  I want to be able to lightly pick up a rein and have my horse yield to me.  I want to be able to lay my leg on the horse's side and have him step away.  I don't want to break into a sweat riding a circle!
  3. Cadence:  I should be able to put my horse into any gait and have him stay there without me constantly nagging him to go, or pleading with him to slow down.  Let's give our horses' some responsibility!
  4. Confidence: I want a horse that isn't going to jump out of his skin when the wind blows.  I want to be able to take my horse out on the trail without her spooking every ten feet.  I grew up with arabians and used that as an excuse for spooky nonsense far too long; even the hottest horse can learn to control themselves.
  5. Strength:  The horse needs to have enough physical strength and stamina to perform.  Strong horses are also less likely to get hurt than their pudgy counterparts.  
So that's the plan for this year; I'll be posting as often as I can (several times a week at least!), and aim to make some real progress.



Please use caution and common sense.  Horses are large animals, with an exceptional amount of power and strength.  They are also concerned above all with their own personal safety, and will do whatever they feel it takes to keep themselves from harm.  Being individuals that act and react differently, the only certainty you have when working a horse is uncertainty.  I am a professional trainer with twenty plus years experience, yet even with the knowledge I possess, I still get hurt from time to time.  This blog and the accompanying media are for entertainment purposes only.  No responsibility will be assumed for injuries or damages incurred while trying to use these methods at home.  Please ride responsibly; protective gear can save your life!