Undemanding Time (well, mostly)

I've had a crazy week this past week, which means my poor horses got placed on the back burner. I've neglected them all week except to go out and say hello once in a while. And next week is going to be worse, I'm afraid. I did manage to spend about an hour at Ken's yesterday watching him work with Joe. This time he had the arena gate closed! He did many of the same things with Joe as before, but it took him a bit longer to get the saddle on. Joe managed to sidestep out from under it about 3 times before Ken managed to get the cinch tightened. There was a lot more bucking this time too after the saddle was on, but it didn't last long. Pretty soon the saddle wasn't an issue again as he was directed through his exercises. I didn't get to stay as long, so didn't get to see how it ended, but it's pretty clear that Joe is a much tougher nut to crack than Skittles was/is. WAY more repetition through simple challenges before he'll settle down.

Today, when I finally got done driving kids around, I went out and spent some non-demanding time with the horses. Just went out for a visit, lots of scratches and everyone came up for attention. I climbed up on the gate at one point since Jake was right next to it, just to see if he'd let me on his back, but he moved away. Oh well. I tugged on his mane to see if he'd come closer and he took a couple steps closer, but not close enough, then he decided to leave. So seeing as I was close, I decided to get his halter and try him out with the bareback pad. He's a lot like Gypsy when it comes to putting on a saddle (does everything to avoid it). With him I completely understand it: he's so big that I doubt he's ever had a saddle that fits him, so I'm sure he hates the sight of them!

Today was no different. He backed away and blocked me every time I approached him with the pad. So I started using it like a brush and rubbing him all over (this time of year with all the shedding, they're all so itchy). I guess I found some sweet spots because I got him stretching out his neck a couple times and enjoying it! So I swung it around on his back a few more times from both sides, walked away and approached him again until he just stood there and didn't back up. Then we did some driving game and yoyo, just to see if he was paying attention to me and I led him over to the tack box and climbed on. He had his own ideas about where we should go, so we did some circling and backing and changing direction just to get him to pay attention to me again. I only had the halter on him and so was trying to use my seat and leg primarily to guide him. Naturally as this was our first attempt, he wasn't getting the signals until I picked up the lead and put pressure on the nose band. But, like Gypsy, it was surprisingly less than it would have been with the bridle!

Holly went for a ride with me too after a while, then when we got off even Kev wanted a go. So Jake had a bit of excercise, but he did it all with a great attitude. Most times I ride him, he gets really annoyed when I direct him places he doesn't want to go (or he just stops and refuses to go). I had none of that attitude today, and I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that he didn't have a pinching saddle on his back?

Once Kev took over, I took my brushes into the pasture and started brushing the rest of the horses. This time of year is so disgusting with all the melting snow. The horse-sh-- is all over the place and mud everywhere, all my poor horses are covered in crusty crap and mud, so I spent about an hour going from horse to horse just trying to brush it all off. The problem was that once I left one to go work on another, the first one would be trying to get my attention again! Skittles was the worst (for being dirty), so I spent most of my time on her and I just about lulled her to sleep. She absolutely LOVES being brushed. Indy was all over me trying to get more attention. She was literally trying to get between Skittles and the brush! She couldn't get enough. And of course poor Yarrow (today's photo) -- always left out -- kept vying for attention too. So today he got some attention as well, and got his neck and upper lipped streched out so far (from enjoyment) I thought he was going to fall over! It feels good when I can make them feel good without expecting something in return. And since I've had such an exhausting week, it helped make my day a bit too.

Gypsy - saddling and mounting

Ah.... all the best intentions to do lots with the horses this weekend, but life seems to always have other plans. I didn't get nearly as much done as I'd hoped. LIFE just keeps getting in the way! I did manage to spend a bit of time with Skittles yesterday - started off just cleaning up her leg, but then did some driving game and getting her OK with flipping the rope over her head and string around her legs. Also worked more with her picking up her feet. All went well, just didn't do nearly as much as I'd hoped.

Then today I spent about an hour and a half with Gypsy. She's always had an issue with me putting a saddle on her. I've always managed to GET a saddle on her, but it was always chasing her with it, her sidestepping and getting cranky. If I can get her to accept it willingly, we'll have a much better start to all our rides and hopefully a much more willing partner. So I decided to spend LOTS of time just getting her to stand still and be OK with me putting on the pad and saddle from either side. I spent lots of time grooming and picking up her feet first, then started with the saddle pad - approach and retreat (before she decided to leave), each time getting a bit closer, then moving it around on her body. She still moved around a bit, but wasn't terribly concerned. I just kept it up until she was able to stand calmly, put in on, took it off, over and over , both sides. Then I introduced the saddle. She was again concerned and moved away. More approach and retreat, approach and retreat. Since I've always put the saddle on from the left, she consistently blocked me on that side, but blocked less on the right (which is where I started putting it on from today). After a couple of times on her back, then removing it, she started blocking me on that side as well. So I just let her keep her head in my way, stood there... waited... waited... .... ... and eventually she moved her head out of the way and let me in. After that she didn't seem to have any issue with my putting the saddle on her.

I did up the girth, let her do some circling, tightened the girth a bit more, circling, tighten again, and all throughout she had a pretty good expression. She fidgeted a bit when I tightened the girth, but settled easily with my hand on her chest. So I decided to start trying to mount up from the off-side. HA! I've been mounting from the left for over 20 years. I've NEVER mounted from the right. Do you think I could convince my body to cooperate? First of all, my right leg wouldn't lift up to the stirrup on its own (like my left leg does), and second of all, once my foot was in the stirrup, my leg wouldn't LIFT me UP! It was really quite comical. Add that to the fact that Gypsy was wondering WHAT THE HECK was going on? I started just mounting my usual way from the left - on and off, on and off - until she stood quietly without moving away. Once she was good with that, I started on the right side. She DID NOT like that so much. It was many attempts later before she settled enough for me to hop hop hop up onto the saddle. And if I hadn't been laughing at my ineptitude so hard, I might have made it up with a little more grace. My ever-so-helpful son took photos for me (giggling at me the whole time), and mercifully deleted the worst of them. The one attached here is the least embarrassing! After a couple of GOOD right-side mounts, Gypsy indicated she'd had enough and I let her take me up the driveway and we went for a ride. She was happy to be moving and I enjoyed her good mood as well as the beautiful day and trotted and galloped up and down our subdivision road. A good day. I hope future attempts with the saddle will get easier and easier after this.

Watching and Learning

I intended to work with either Gypsy or Indy today, but just ran out of time (I threw in pictures of Indy and Jake - just for interest's sake). I started the day by going to Ken's (the trainer who had Skittles for 2 weeks) in the morning to watch him working with a little 2-year old stud colt. Ken has had this colt for a few weeks now - I've been out to watch a couple other times as well - and he'll have him for another month or two until he's broke to ride from what I understand.

Normally Ken works about an hour each day with a horse. Today was a fair bit longer. He started out with working on things the colt has been working on for quite a while, moving off a feel and trying to get him to soften around a bend. At the moment, the colt (Joe is his name) is consistently counter-bent around the ring (bending to the outside around a turn rather than bending in around a turn). So Ken gets him to turn inwards and change direction often, and each time he does that, there's a brief moment when Joe is bent correctly. Eventually, Joe will start softening up around these bends more consistently. Not too long into the session, Ken put a saddle on Joe. I missed the last 2 sessions when the saddle was first introduced, which I hear was rather exciting. But even in this session, Joe was wound up and looked ready to bolt any second while Ken put the saddle on him. But he got it on him without incident and then let him move his feet. He trotted and galloped around Ken at the end of the lead. Once he settled, Ken asked him to move off the feel of the lead - same as before the saddle. It wasn't long before the saddle was not an issue at all. Toward the end of the session, Ken was standing up in the stirrup on both sides. Joe wasn't exactly OK with it, but he's the type of horse that is not relaxed about much of anything yet. But he's handling it and starting to think through things, so Ken is continually adding new challenges so eventually some of the older challenges will get easier and less scary each time. This colt is significantly more uptight than Skittles was. Skittles, apparently, is a WAY more confident horse and is able to handle and adjust to new challenges much easier than Joe is. An interesting contrast. If I had not seen the change in Skittles, I would not have thought that about her.

The entire session with Joe up to this point took about an hour and a half give or take, then as he was letting Joe out of the ring, Joe decided to bolt through the gate. Well, obviously this wasn't acceptable, so Ken spent ANOTHER HOUR working with Joe trying to get him through the gate and back into the round pen. Joe would have NONE of that, so Ken patiently kept making it more difficult to be away from the gate than it was to be near the gate. At one point Joe bolted to the arena door with Ken skiing behind and then took off outside, leaving Ken in the dust. Yikes! So Ken went to catch him up again (I followed to help), he brought Joe back to the arena and walked straight into that round pen without any hesitation! I just shook my head.... why now? And not before? The next half hour or so Ken had Joe go in and out of that round pen, eventually until he could do it both ways quietly with only Ken pointing in the direction Joe was supposed to go. Several times Ken had Joe stop half way through the gate and just stand there -- getting him used to the feeling of confinement and being relaxed about it.

What I took from this session was just how long it sometimes takes to help a horse get through some tough challenges. Joe was sweated up pretty good, but in the end he was relaxed and willing and at no point was he ever harmed or in danger of being hurt - even though the energy level got pretty high at one point. I don't think I would have stuck it out that long with a horse if I was on my own. Maybe, after seeing this session, I may think differently when things get challenging. I was impressed by Ken's patience and persistence and his ability to stay calm throughout. And I'm really glad I had the time to see this through to the end. It was inspiring.

Anyway, because I didn't leave there until noon, I only had time to get a few errands done before the kids got home, then it was off to gymnastics shortly after that... so no lessons with my own horses. But the weekend is supposed to be nice, so I hope to get lots done in the next couple of days.

Gypsy's Turn

Gypsy wasn't all that keen on working with me today. Yarrow and Indy came up to me first (Yarrow is often the first to say hello... too bad he's not mine!) and Gypsy walked away. So I walked up behind her, she didn't move away, I scratched her on her back and she turned and checked me out -- probably looking for treats! When I approached her with the halter she tried to turn and walk away, but Jake blocked her! I have a team working on my side! So she stood - defeated as I put the halter on. Then just spent some time rubbing her all over until she got a "smile" on her face. Then we left the pasture and I started on some of the Parelli games with her.

She's good with the Carrot stick all over, so long as I'm not swinging the savvy string. When I swing the savvy string, to her it means move. So she circled around me while I was swinging the string over her back and stopped when she stopped. I started swinging it again, she started moving again, she stopped, I stopped. We continued this for a while, and eventually she stood still. Then I did it all again on the other side. Same pattern, but it took less time.

We moved on to porcupine game. She's been in a Parelli clinic with me before, so this was "old news" for her; more or less a reintroduction. Phase 2 on the chest, phase 3 on the jaw to start (followed quickly be phase 2 then 1) to get the front yield. And phase 2 for a hind-end yield. Some phase 1, but not consistently... probably more to do with my timing than her sensitivity.

I skipped the driving game (more of an oversight... not planned) because she started crowding me, so I started refreshing her memory of the yoyo game. Her first response was to phase 2 (yippee!). But after the 2nd yoyo she started pawing the ground as if to say "enough... move on!"

I introduced her next to my new bareback pad (it came in yesterday! Amazingly quick!). She didn't like the looks of that too much so we did LOTS of "friendly game" with the bareback pad, approach and retreat and getting her to approach and put her nose on it. When she was relaxed enough for me to put it on her, we went for a ride!

It was the perfect day for a ride and we trotted up and down the road a few times while I practiced turning slowing and backing up with just my body. Not great, but the backing up was awesome! She really was paying attention! There were definitely times she wanted to go somewhere I didn't, so I bumped her a few times with the halter and she changed direction. When she was trotting, she didn't listen to anything except the halter. But it was surprisingly less contact than I usually have with the bridle. All in all, an awesome day. I almost forgot how much I love riding her!

Fair-weather Horsewoman

OK I admit it, I'm a wimp! I haven't done anything with the horses these past two days because it's been too cold! We had a BEAUTIFUL day on Saturday (+9C), when I worked with Jake, but then it was back down to -10C on Sunday and -15C today (with a -22 windchill). So... nothing to report. I was wishing for nicer weather, but it just didn't arrive. So I did some more studying of my Parelli Level 1 material and DVDs inside. Lots to absorb! I just have to keep it straight in my head so I don't get it all muddled when I'm working with the horses.

I also splurged and purchased a bareback pad off the internet (one of the risks of being cooped up inside!). Looking forward to when the snow actually melts so I can actually RIDE again. It's so icy around here.... too dangerous to ride. I also researched some of the warmblood studs in and around the area -- thinking of trying to breed Gypsy again this spring. If I can find a good warmblood stud who won't break the bank.

Today's photo shows IndyAnna (left) and an adorable 5-year-old Arab gelding named Yarrow (right) who is boarding at our place. He's for sale... anyone interested?

Skittles - Introduction to Stick & Savvy string

I worked primarily with Jake today, but as I headed out of the pasture, Skittles looked at me as if to say, "what about me?" So all I did was some "friendly game" with her. I had my Parelli "carrot stick" and savvy string with me, so started to rub her all over with the stick. No big deal, she quite enjoyed it. Then I let the savvy string loose and let it fall against her side. She has always been a little leary about ropes, and this was no exception (see photo). I think she thinks they're snakes or something. At any rate, it took some time for her to settle. But I definitely give her props because I did all of this without a halter on her, so she could have left at any time, and she didn't. It wasn't too long before she realized the rope wasn't a snake and it actually felt pretty good! I was so proud of her! Lots of licking and chewing which meant she was relaxed and happy. And she didn't leave- even after I started swinging it around on her back, over her neck and around her legs. Again, I can't get over the change in her. She's my superstar.

Jake - Parelli games 1-4

I went out with my halter, not planning to catch any specific horse -- but thought I'd work with the horse that showed up. Jake approached me first and seemed most curious, so I started with him. I started with the "friendly game" (using Parelli terms here... Parelli uses the term "games" rather than tasks... makes it more "fun" than a "job".... it's all about psychology!). The Friendly game is rubbing him with the end of the stick, throwing the savvy string over him all over his back, neck, legs, etc until he's relaxed and licking his lips -- basically unconcerned with the rope or stick on any part of his body. Jake was definitely unconcerned, so we didn't spend too much time on this.

Moved on to the porcupine game (teaching him to move away from pressure). First with the stick in his chest to back up. I got him to back up consistently with phase 2 and occasionally with phase 1. I only had to use phase 4 once. (4 phases = phase 1: press the hair, phase 2: press the skin, phase 3: press the muscle, and phase 4: press the bone). Then we tried yielding the forehand with the stick behind the side of his jaw. He tried to shake that off a few times before figuring out to move his front feet sideways. It was kind of tough to keep the pressure up while he's tossing his head up and down and around, but eventually he figured that wasn't going to work. So then he tried backing up. Still didn't work. Finally he moved his front feet to the side and, voila! no more pressure. Licking lips... good! Try again and got a yield at phase 2. Same with the other side.

Moving on to a yield of the hindquarters with Porcupine game, I used phase 4 the first time and he sat there for quite some time leaning on me. He's a BIG boy, so not sure how long I was going to be able to hold the pressure! But he figured it out and moved away from me. After than it took very little time to get a yield with phase 1. On both sides. He's more reluctant for me to be on his right side. He consistently tries to block me when I move to that side.

Next was driving game - using rhythmic pressure to get a yield. Started with phase 3 on the neck/head to get a forehand yield to the right, but worked at it until we got consistent phase 2. He had trouble figuring out not to move backwards at first. Yield to the left was easier.

Yielding the hind end using the driving game took no time at all to get to phase 1 after the first phase 4! I really got his attention with that first whack! Both sides, but he kept blocking me at first from moving to his right: I'd get a block as well as a yield of his hind end!

He wasn't all that great with the yoyo game ("driving game" to back him, and "porcupine game" forward). Photo shows him at the end of the line after a good phase 2. We didn't get any response at phase 1 today. Will have to see if it improves next time. It took several phase 4's before he started to figure it out. I would say that phase 3 is consistent, and phase 2 is almost there. (For you laymen, the phases in the yoyo game are: phase 1= just wiggling your finger at him, phase 2= moving only your wrist back & forth (holding the line), phase 3= shaking the line moving your arm only from your elbow and phase 4= shaking the line moving your entire arm from your shoulder). The bring back was consistently phase 2.

He was backing up crooked most of the time (keeping me on his left side), so I tried a hind end yield while he was at the end of the line. He didn't pay attention until I used phase 4, then took off like a rocket around and around and around me and it wasn't until I got the line shortened to about half that he turned and faced me. So we know he's paying attention when I'm up close, so will have to work on the same response further away from me.

That's as far as we got today with Jake. Will have to see if Gypsy is interested next time!

The whole time I was working with Jake today, I was constantly trying to get IndyAnna out of the way. Might have to try her next.