M:y friends, this will be a long post! I had a disastrous weekend on Wishbone. Undoubtedly none of the leadership that I have begun to develop with him on the ground has as yet transferred to our under saddle work. I am feeling down and discouraged right now.
Saturday afternoon I went to the barn. It was a lovely day – breezy and actually cool. We’ve had a ton of rainy weather in the prior 3 weeks, and Wish didn’t get worked much for the last 3 weeks. Last week was finally dry, so the ground was good, and I decided we should just have fun and hit the trails on the farm. I did just a few ground exercises and rode around the ring long enough to do some flexion, some backing, disengage the hindquarters, etc. – about 15 minutes. Wish was calm and responsive, and I felt confident to head out.
He did fairly well down the driveway, but the second we hit the woods he got tense. He was jumping at everything – birds fluttering in the trees, squirrels rustling in the underbrush. The flies were horrible, and he was tossing his head non-stop. As we went on, he kept getting more and more wound. I thought it would be better once we reached the cornfield. We have a huge cornfield with a path all the way around it for us to ride. The path has the woods on one side and the corn on the other. The corn is about knee high right now. I knew the flies would be better once we were there, and thought that would help settle him. Unfortunately, he turned into a quivering basket case. He bolted twice – once because of something unseen rustling in the woods beside us and once over a ground hog that was sitting just at the ends of the woods. Both times he didn’t go far, and I was able to bend and circle him. Because I am extremely conscientious about damaging farm crops, as soon as I circled him I took him back on the path and we kept going. We reached the trail to head back into the woods and he was acting terribly. He was pulling the reins out of my hands, rushing ahead – paying no attention to hands or legs. I decided there was no way I was heading for home in this condition. I was truly afraid he would just rip the reins out of my hands and gallop home. I told him we were going to stay at the trailhead until he settled down. We did circles, figure-eights, flexion, backing, disengaging the hindquarters. Over and over. He would start to settle down and then all of a sudden flare back up again. He tried one more bolt, only this time I was ready for him and I was mad. Instead of just circling him once and getting back on the trail, I circled him again and again and again. This time I didn’t care about the corn. One more time after that I could feel him get ready to bolt but he must have remembered the tight circles and decided it wasn’t worth it. Finally I had him to the point were he was calm and quiet and paying attention. We headed into the woods, and he immediately tensed up and we jigged and fought our way back to the barn.
I was so angry with him that I doubt I said 2 words to him when we got back. I untacked, hosed him off, loaded him up with his sunscreen, fly spray, and fly mask, put him out in the field and walked away without looking back. I could tell from his attitude, he knew I was royally ticked.
So, now we move on to Sunday. I was determined to work his tail into the ground. I discovered that the noseband on his new bridle was loose – I think it has now stretched. So, I tightened it up. I think that was part of why he was able to evade my hands so well the day before. I did lots of ground exercises with him, lunged him in the side reins, and rode him in the ring. I worked him really, really hard and I figured he’d be pretty tired. We headed down the driveway. He was trying to spook all the way down the driveway, but I kept him busy doing serpentines the entire length. We probably looked like we were drunk! But it worked. We got to the end of the driveway to the entrance to the woods, and I just stopped and stood him there. We stood there listening to all of the little critters rustling away in there and watched the squirrels running around. Eventually he gave out this huge sigh, turned to look at me – like “well are we just going to stand here all day!”. So we went into the woods. A squirrel popped out and ran right in front of us, and he barely flicked an ear. I was thrilled. He was still bugged by the flies and tossed his head repeatedly, but he didn’t get nearly as worked up as the day before. I decided to repeat our ride of the day before just to show we could. We got up in the cornfield, and he was a little tense but not bad. I was singing to keep us both calm, and all was well. We were almost to the trailhead to go back into the woods and head for home. We turned a corner and about 10 feet in front of us out pops a d*mn deer! Wish immediately spun and took off. I completely lost it and went sailing off his back, landing hard on my back in the cornfield. The breath was completely knocked out of me, and all I could do was lay there gasping for air and listening to his hoofbeats going further and further down the hill and away from home. When I caught my breath, I sat up and took inventory. I realized I was bruised and sore but nothing broken. As I looked around, there was Wish – he had come back! He was a good 40 to 50 feet away, and I sat there talking to him. Then I stood up, and he got spooked and took off again. However, I just stood still and he came right back. As soon as he saw me standing he started trotting toward me. He only got so far and stopped but at least I didn’t have to chase him all over God’s green earth. He stood and let me walk up to him. I led him out of the field and back to the path. We went past where the deer had popped out. When I found a sloped spot where I knew I could get back up, I turned him sideways told him to STAND, and drug myself back up in the saddle. He stood as good as gold for me. Of course, I was a quivering mass of jelly, and we were both a bit tense going through the woods, but I rode him back to the barn.
So, today I am bruised and sore in places too numerous to mention. Thankfully, I do not seem to have damaged my Achilles tendon, which was my biggest worry (I was just discharged by the dr. 3 weeks ago with an admonishment to still be very, very careful with it!). I never hit my head (yes, I ALWAYS wear my hard hat).
Although the barn owner praised me highly for getting back up when she heard what happened (and I know she was right – that was a big feat), I am very disheartened at what transpired over the weekend. I know what you all are going to say to me, and believe me, I’ve said it all myself. A spin and a bolt CANNOT be his response to a monster. I was in an extremely unsafe situation. I dealt with it the best I could at the time, but I know we have to do better in the future. I know I have to work on myself getting a more secure seat. And obviously our leadership work still needs to continue. But in the meantime, while my body heals, I’m going to allow myself a few days to feel sorry for myself. By the time I’m physically ready to ride, I’ll be mentally ready too. If I can sort through the bad, I guess there was some good. One was that Wish came back to me. Apparently, he didn’t want to be in the big, spooky cornfield by himself. I’m taking that as a sign that maybe he did think of me as his protector once I was on the ground! And I did make myself get back up. This was the first fall I have had since my accident almost 3 years ago. In a way, it may be a good thing, because I think in the back of my mind I have been waiting for that “first fall”. Now, at least I’ve gotten that out of the way!
Can you ride with another horse and rider ? It sounds like Wish is not confident enought to cross certain thresholds out on his own. (squirrels, deer, leaves) If this were my horse I would try to ride with others to make him feel safer. (herd mentality)Alot of horses have fear out alone. Try not to be mad at him as he is being a horse and horses spook. If the horse feels a persons tension and frustration, he will pick up on it and react to it which could make things even worse. I am guilty too but I no longer get frusrated, I just try to stay as in the moment as I can. Once something is over, just move on.(I know easier said than done) That is what you did and why you should be very proud for going on.Can you walk him on these trails by hand and get him used to being there? His flight responses are a response to his fear, imagined or real, it feels 100% real to him. I'm glad to hear you are not all broken up. And at least he did come back to you so I don't think your leadership is the issue. How long has he been under saddle ? What is his past ? Was he a trail horse before you got him ? What I am discovering and experiencing within my own horsemanship journey is that the feelings on the inside of me are too strong to mask. The horse knows what I feel no matter what I try to hide. I can't fake it. Horses are too perseptive. They have to be to survive. So if I don't feel great/confident on the inside I don't get on. I also don't make plans to ride. I decide on the day, " I'll go for a ride today " when I am feeling it. If I say, I will ride next Thursday at noon, I become to anxious and uptight by the time the moment rolls around so I just try to go with how I am feeling today. I also cannot ride if I feel tired, I am too uncoordinated ! LOL Good Luck on your next ride!
Sounds like a rough weekend. Determined, I'm both ashamed and happy to say that, in a situation such as yours, I would not have been able to get back in the saddle. And two days in a row! My God! You're SuperWoman! I think that Wish coming back to you was the result of excellent ground work.Congrats! And don't blame yourself about falling; as you said, there was a d*mn deer! Hope you have more adventures, though maybe safer is better... And remember, there are 100 good experiences for 1 bad one. ---------- Trot= bruise Rack= SMOOTH! ~Holly's Hero~
Wow Determined, you sure picked the right name for yourself! Sounds like you did a lot of stuff right, that's for sure. Some of Wish's actions are likely because the weather was cool and he hadn't been out in some time. Since it worked out well with you getting back on after the fall it's good that you did. In general though, I've heard that the new thought on that is that if you haven't changed anything to manage what caused the fall it's not a good idea to get back on and try again. I agree that maybe leading out into the spooky area would be something to try. One more thought (I've been in similar situations with a horse not listening and also in finally getting mad-which for a timid person isn't necessarily a bad thing)-when doing circling and figure 8's, if you are trying to calm a horse the circles have to be big and slowing. In this type of situation it's easy to try to whip the horse around in a punishing manner, which sometimes hypes them up worse. This is hard to do when you are either scared or mad though. But it makes a difference. Keep us posted on how you are doing. You've got a lot of courage!
Well, that sounds like one heckuva weekend, Determined! If I wasn't already not-thrilled about trail rides, an experience like that'd put me right off. I'm so glad you weren't seriously hurt!
horsinaround, you're right - it would be better with another horse. Unfortunately, we are short boarders right now, and the only two remaining besides me have older horses with lameness issues and rarely ride. When I spoke to the barn owner after the fall, she said that she is anxious to get back in the saddle, and her mother (who lives right down the road) wants to ride more. So, it is possible that I will get some rides together with them. I know that will help - you are right that he is not confident alone. However, more than likely for the time being more of our rides will be alone than with someone, so we need to work our way through this.
Holly's Hero - thanks for the kind words. You are right, I have had far more positive rides on him than negative. I'm just feeling down right now. But I'm a naturally optimistic person, and I'm sure I'll feel better in a few days.
cckiger - I see what you're saying about not getting back on right away. And you're probably right. However, for me I think the longer I don't get back on, the less confident I'll feel the next time. In other words, I've already gotten back on, so that part is behind me for now. I did make the circles as large as I could for the area we had. The only time I truly spun him hard was as a punishment for bolting. He does have to have consequences for his actions. I know that being alone is probably the issue. I really hope I can get some rides together with others. It would really help.
Meezer - I don't know how you do what you do with your horses - those situations would scare me silly. To me, a trail ride is tame compared to that!
Wow determined , you remind me of myself with that story - you did so many amazing things the whole weekend - so positive for both you and your horse and the one thing you are focused on is the fall - he is a horse, sometimes horses get so scared they lose their minds and just have to follow instinct - it sounds to me like you have worked hard and that hard work paid off in many ways throughout your story - he had a bad scary moment and most likely not being out in weeks and having it be chilly all added to that - perhaps the next time you have circumstances like that stay and work around home for at least a few days to get him settled back in to work and then take a buddy for the first few trail rides if you can. Please don't only focus on the bolt and fall -there were many good things that both you and Wish did - he is an animal and can't reason the way we do and if I have learned anything working with horses is that there will always be a tiny a step backwards and that eventually propels you foward. I will tell you a little story about myself and you will see how we are similar - a few years ago I was riding my TB ( cantering) and for some reason he tripped and we both slammed head first into the ground - it was a very scary fall but other than some scrapes and bruises we we okay - Thank God - a week or two later there was a clinic at my barn by a great H/J clinician and trainer and rider named Michael Paige - I was still rattled by the fall and feeling not quite prepared to do the clinic but despite my inner voice I felt I needed to do it - I have to say I had my reservations as I am sure you did when you were walking down your driveway to head into the woods once again - but like you I ignored my inner voice and forged ahead ( brave girl) The clinic was a jumping clinic and when I tell you we must have jumped 30 jumps , everything in the ring from flowery and scary to skinny and weird - my horse was amazing - we came to one line and the jump in was ugly - my distance was bad I jumped ahead , my horse was going to stop but felt me ahead so he jumped and when we landed I was hanging off of his side - he continued to canter to next jump - somehow this registered with me and while hanging off of his side I steered him so he would not be aiming at the jump and finally after much hanging on him and ugly I righted myself back on top and we stopped. I didn't actually fall but the display was ugly indeed. The clinician made me finish my course and needless to say it took several tries before I could get my horse over that fence but we did and we finished. My trainer told me that my horse worked hard to stay underneath me the best he could to keep me up there ( he's amazing). So here is the thing , I jumped a lot of jumps that day and did a lot of good , but the only thing I could focus on was the fact that I had screwed up that one jump and almost fell. Which I think is what you are doing here - you did a lot of great things that I can see, okay , he did bolt and run away but that is something for you to work on with him, but all of the other things are as a result of your hard work and courage. Reread what you wrote and pretend it is someone elses post and see what you think about the lady who wrote that - you will think wow - she did amazing, yes you fell but you got back on and got home.
As I read your post, I could visualize so well the body language of your horse and I could also foresee what was going to happen, even after he had "calmed down".
Please, bare with me while I go a little into trainer mode.
Always look back ona situation as a learning opportunity. Of what went wrong, why did it go wrong, what were the precursors, and what could I have done differently.
Your horse was overfaced. He was clearly not comfortable with things though he obviously feels a bond to you as indicated by him coming back. What was asked of him was simply more than he was capable of giving.
Circles are not always the answer especially in a horse that is getting amped. His adrenaline is pumping and building. The best case scenario would have been to dismount and go back to a point in training that he is confortable in order to regain his faith. As wired for sound as he was, he needed a total refresher day. Like it or not, we must ride the horse we hve that day no matter our own agenda.
Also, be VERY VERY careful about remounting after a HARD fall. The ride started amped, had a wreck and continued amped... a recipe for a trainwreck. If you had a bruised/hairline fractured rib/ a mild concussion/etc and then took another fall again immediately, it could be so very very bad.
I knew of a young couple who went riding together. The wife got dumped, was on the ground, was about to get up on her hands and knees and collapsed. She died on the way to the hospital because she had in fact broken her neck. When she moved, it sealed her fate. Now, this is an extreme example but my point being that sometimes we don't know how hurt we really are.
I'd go back to basics with your horse and slowly build him back up. For whatever reason his confidence is shot but he obviously wants to please you. Let him know you recognize his efforts. Comfort a frightened horse. Wish wasn't telling you "I won't", he was telling you "I can't". There was simply a jumble of miscommunication. The approach we use with a horse is determined by the cause of the behavior ratherthan the behavior itself. A horse that says "I can't" needs to encouraged by reminding him of what he can do and by demonstrating to him that we will support him and not ask him to take on more than he is capable of handling with success. A horse that says "I won't" needs to be shown he can work smarter or harder.
I don't think your leadership skills are lacking. Wish came back after being totally freaked out. That speaks VOLUMES! You simply misread the approach to take.
Poeta, you are so right about everything. I read your post about 3 times (so far), and I can see exactly what you were saying. I keep forgetting that it has really been almost a year since he was last ridden on these trails(and since he just turned 6 a few weeks ago, a year is a really long time). I think that because he's been on these trails for 3 years, he should be totally comfortable with them. Undoubtedly that is not the case. I have to keep remembering that 6 really is young yet, especially since I've had so much time off for injury this last year.
And you are right too that I should have turned back when he got more and more antsy. It was such a beautiful day, and I really am anxious to get back out on the trail and out of the ring. I guess I was too anxious.
I always wonder about getting down, though. I'm not a trainer and it's sometimes hard for me to make these judgement calls. If the horse jumps around and I get down, am I just teaching him that if he acts antsy, I get down and he gets out of work? Sometimes it's hard for me to draw the line between sticking with him and riding it out and getting down and taking a step back. I guess it is always better to take the step back then push too hard.
Thanks so much for your post, Poeta. You have really opened my eyes. I will do a lot of thinking in the next few days. I need to remember to work at his pace and not at the pace I think he should be working at.
Poeta said : Comfort a frightened horse. Wish wasn't telling you "I won't", he was telling you "I can't". There was simply a jumble of miscommunication. The approach we use with a horse is determined by the cause of the behavior ratherthan the behavior itself. A horse that says "I can't" needs to encouraged by reminding him of what he can do and by demonstrating to him that we will support him and not ask him to take on more than he is capable of handling with success. A horse that says "I won't" needs to be shown he can work smarter or harder.
Well said. This horse has thresholds and if pushed over them too far too fast he can and will explode. I would slow down and help him thru his fear. And get a friend to ride with. Please be safe !
Until I read Poeta's post, I would have suggested that Determined consider a horse that would be a less stressful partner. After reading Poeta's post it is clear that the issue is really patience. I am a very impatient person with a green horse, but I have a trainer who keeps ME in line. (the horse is fine - I am the one my trainer has to work on - every time my horse does something where I feel uncomfortable or at a loss to fix, I start second guessing myself about buying her) We expect so much from our horses and yet we do not interact with them as much as we think that we do. If we look at other species, I spent an entire year teaching one of my dogs to learn to sit on command (the other one got the idea in 10 minutes!) The slow wants to please, he just doesn't get things very quickly. John Lyons stresses repetition in his videos. He says "you may have to repeat this action or cue hundreds of times before it becomes automatic". Poeta is spot on. If we have horses with issues, then it is going to take a large investment in time and effort to work them through these issues, otherwise our safety will be compromised.
Determined, you were awesome. You used all the tools that you knew to keep him focused. You didn't take out your anger on him. After Saturday, you went out with a plan in place on Sunday. Sometimes these things happen...it just is. I am glad that you are not hurt. Take time with yourself, but try not to let the event over shadow all the progress you have made.
Determined, I am so sorry about your fall. I agree with Poeta that your leadership skills are not lacking. You used all sorts of tools and actually got him calmed several times. The deer was just the last straw for him. Whenever I have fallen, the thing that has bothered me most was not knowing how to prevent the very same thing from happening again. Getting to the core of the spook/fall can really help, and it sounds like Poeta nailed it. It's so much easier to get back on and not feel so completely vulnerable when you are able to understand the dynamics of what happened and then come up with a prevention plan.
As far as getting off if you feel like you are in a dangerous situation, get off already! I know what you mean when you say you don't want the horse to think he can start acting up and get you to dismount. But you can still work him from the ground. Once last year when I had a Christmas blow up monster to get past, I just got real scared. So I got off and worked her with that monster for nearly an hour. She eventually became totally calm, but I was sill a little scared to get back on. My son happened to drive up just then, so he got on and rode her past the thing several times, and then I did, too. It was never a problem after that. But she sure didn't get out of any work just because I was on the ground.
I also think it is really awesome that he came back to you. It shows that he is bonded to you and has a real relationship with you. If you had been lying on the road knocked out, I bet he wouldn't have left you. He felt more secure with you, even then, than running off by himself and leaving you behind.
Perhaps using another horse and rider to go out with on training rides for a few times would be a good idea. Playing the in and out game or the yo-yo game with each other along the road would give a focus, but having a really calm horse along could be a big help.
Again, Determined, I am so sorry about what happened. But you are such a learner and I know this will be one of those experiences that you will come back from stronger than ever. I'm so glad you weren't hurt badly, but I bet today you're feeling like a truck ran over you. My best wishes are with you. ----------
Dixie Mom
"The art of riding: Keeping a horse between you and the ground!"
Hello Determined, I think you did amazingly well. you recently said in one of your posts, how far Zack and I had come. Well I think the same about you. Even now I would not have the guts to try and get Zack out on his own. I tried it once last year and it turned into a disaster. Like several other people have said PLEASE ride with someone - at least untill he gets familiar with the trails again. When I started riding zack out again early this year - on routes that he had done plenty of times before - but months before, he was spooking left right and centre. On one particular ride I remember we went through the village and he was spooking from one side of the road to the other - virtually all the way through the village! It speaks volumes for your relationship with Wish that he came back when you had fallen off. I Think Poeta is absolutely right when she says he was saying 'I can't' rather than 'I won't'. Please keep yourself safe and dont lose confidence over this incident - Wish sounds like a horse well worth persivereing with and you'll both get there in the end. Megan
Poeta has spoken very wise words. He hasn't been on those trails in a while and he is young...he was going over thresholds he couldnt yet. I think if the thought enters your head "should I get down" you should. You can always work the horse from the ground, especially if you have a halter and a lead rope with you. Maybe next time, when you are ready, your trail ride should just be up to the woods, then turn around. A "trail ride" can be up the driveway, turn around. Push the boundaries very slowly. Also, if you can ride with a partner that is a very good idea.
As I think Poeta said you have to ride the horse that shows up that day. It's very hard to do when we have a "plan."
Determined, you were very brave indeed. I think you did great, and I'm sorry you had a rough time. Clearly, you have a great relationship with Wish, there just seems to have been a language barrier... There is so much good advice on here, especially Poeta's insights about your horses' behavior. I agree with everyone here, please go out with a friend and keep yourself safe!
I do think you have a lot of successes in this event, or at worst, a lot of learning opportunities. In reading your post, I can see them. Don't forget to hold onto them. I am very, very glad you didn't get injured!
It doesn't sound to me like Wish is the kind of horse that will do things to try to get you to get off if you feel you need to do so. If you get off it will likely be because Wish is hyped and when he's hyped he wants to feel more secure, not get out of working. At least that's my take. I've got a 5 year old that I wasn't able to take on some regular trails for a spell (weeks). I noticed that he was less confident than before which surprised me. Like you said, you think, well the horse has been ridden here for 2 years or whatever, but these young ones don't have that solid, long term foundation of the older horses. I see it coming back in mine with not too much time but I do recall being surprised by it and almost thought he was trying to get away with something. He wasn't though. I like that idea of riding the horse you have that day.
I think you are very brave for staying on and trying to use all the tools. I agree with everyone else that riding out with someone could help. Also lead him out there every day and work him out there on the ground. I'm doing that with my new boy. We go for doggie walks along the road. If he gets nervous i get him to move his feet. I will build up to ridden with the others and also alone. I'm sorry you came off, I came off a friend's horse two weeks ago and hurt my back. Like you nothing broken but painful and disappointing. Don't lose heart. Just remember when you are out there on that trail we are all there with you. ---------- Bitless - not witless!
Myself, because I am alone, I do not ride. I am looking to find a riding body who could help me to get back on the saddle. It is also too scary/dangerous to be by yourself.
You are using all the tools that are needed to pull thru. Chin up! I wish I could say the same...
You all are SO AWESOME!!!! I can't tell you how much everything that has been posted means to me.
Ktrox, you are right that patience is the key. I sooo want to do trail rides. I really detest ring work. What I truly like to do is trail rides. And it was ME being anxious to get out there and do it, not Wish.
Poeta, you really hit the bullseye. I did a lot of thinking and a lot of soul searching last night. Here's my conclusion:
Wish's field was changed about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Even though he was in that field a couple of years ago, it was still a big change. In the process of switching fields, he was pulled away from his horse buddy and put in with two cows. He can see his horse buddy across the driveway, but it's not the same as being with him. I think perhaps this change has affected him far more than I realized.
DixieMom always says that we need to learn to listen to our horses because they do talk to us. I think Wish has indeed been talking to me but I wasn't listening. Although he has been quiet to handle, his eye is calm, and he seems fine, he has also been pooping a lot when I work him in the ring. This has just been since the field switch. I figured out a long time ago that is one of his reactions to stress. I just sort of forgot that and didn't pay the attention to that sign that I should have. On Saturday and Sunday both, he was pooping for all he was worth. On Sunday he even stopped while I was lunging him to squeeze out two small turd balls. Why the heck didn't I pay attention to that??? Instead, I just shook my head and laughed at him and told him to move along.
I had several opportunities on Sunday to have called it quits when he was quiet and calm. I was so determined to show him that we could do the same ride we did on Saturday that I didn't make the wise choice. Once again, that was my impatience showing.
I think that being moved into a field without any other equines and then being asked to walk on the trails alone was all just too much. I say this because he and I had already done this same exact ride only a few weeks ago, and he was totally calm and fine. This is why I think the field switch is what has brought this about.
So, now I have a 3-day weekend coming up. I should be healed by then and ready to move on. My plan is still being formulated in my head. But I know what the goal is - the goal is to work with him in a calm and controlled manner until he is calm and controlled.
I'm going to contact the owner of one of the other boarded horses. Her horse has arthritis and moves very slowly but he is good enough to go out for a very short walk. I'm hoping that if I work Wish quietly and calmly in the ring and maybe handwalk him down the driveway and into the woods on Friday and Saturday, he will be ready to go for a short walk through the woods with her horse, who happens to be Wish's former horse buddy that he was pastured with.
I really need to learn to be a better listener.
Once again, thanks to EVERYONE who posted. Even if I didn't mention you by name, you all contributed something to turning my thought processes around.
Now if only we all lived close enough together that we have our own little equine community and work our horses together - how awesome would that be??!!!
Hindsight can really be 20/20. But the good news is that you have progressed and gained some insight that you may have overlooked before. I have been guilty of putting my purpose or goals before my principles too. As humans we have to work to overcome that. Boy, horses teach us alot about who we are and help us become more intuitive and considerate people. I think your plan sounds great and look forward to updates on how the plan works out. My current goal is to pony Jake from Willows back. I have been working with each horse individually on the ground. Getting them used to ropes around their butts, legs and under their tails. I have hand walked the two together by myself all around my property and have been very pleased with their willingness to move their bodies which ever way I ask them to. Still, I want to continue the ground work and then eventually pony my daughter's calmer pony before I pony Jake. All this practice, preparation and activity is actually fun to me because I know that one day I will pony Jake and will be able to take him on rides with us. It will be safer and more successful because of the time spent making everyone prepared. Good luck on your plan !
Here's a saying I tell my students--- "Better to get off on a bad note than on a WORSE note." There is no shame in dismounting from a horse. I prefer my clients do that and then let me address an issue rather than (example) have the horse get pissy, they stay on, the horse rares, they fall off and NOW the horse has learned to rare on top of the minor issue we had to begin with. Instead go back to what you know you can succeed at and though your training may not progress that day it won't digress.
A horse that is scared remembers bad stuff easier because he is looking for the boogie man. If a negative happens upon him being afraid we run the risk of legitimizing his fear. We want to minimize it. Think of it like a child who is afraid of the dark. If we continue to leave the light on, we legitimize the fear but if we turn the bedroom light off and leave the hall light on, and then a nightlight, we are eventually able to help him discover his fear is unsubstantiated and then the next time he is afraid and we tell him not to be, he is more apt to trust our judgement and he will have learned how to steady his own fears.
The best way to moniter whether or not you should dismount is based upon your own adrenaline/energy. There are two energies present. Your's and the horse's. Only one of them can be dominant.If your energy is coming up and you are not able to bring it down easily, better to dismount because now you are feeding his dominant energy with more of the same.
Also, journal. You'd be amazed at the tiny changes we take for granted that horses are affected by.
When should you get off ? ....... When the thought crosses your mind. That's the rule I ride by and I don't let anyone shame me into staying on. It's not their life up there and they don't know how you feel inside. I love the "new day, new slate" motto. Horses live in the moment so we too should strive for that when we are with them. Such good thoughts and ideas we all share ! Ride smart !
I've been trying (not always succeeding) to go out with a plan and a goal, but then to try to get out of my head enough that I can go with what seems to be needed that day, even if it goes in a different direction than what I'd planned. I might plan to ride over to the creek but when crossing the tall grass to get there my horse balks, tries to eat and doesn't go forward off my leg. I get him through it but then do I keep going toward my goal or do I say, no, it's more important to work on him moving off my leg and being obedient. Or a dozen other scenarios. I guess I'm trying to be more in the present and work from there.
I had a thought today, you say people to ride with are thin on the ground, but could someone simply walk another horse out in hand with you? It's what me and my daughter do sometimes,If there is no one for me to ride with she 'borrows' a friends elderly companion pony and simply walks her out with me and Zack - so he's not on his own. Just a thought! Bye for now Megan
LC I have done the same thing. A friend led Emerique (I wouldn't let her ride him he's too unpredictable) and I have ridden Iro. She got lots more excercise than me but it worked great. We are now leading Iro and Gringo out together to get Em used to being left alone. There are all sort of solutions. ---------- Bitless - not witless!
cckiger - that's my problem also. I need to learn to be a bit more flexible. I generally have something in mind that I want to do and that's what I'll do. After this week, I'm learning that I need to be more ready to give and change.
I'm still a bit sore, although much much better. Tomorrow and Saturday I am doing ring work. Tomorrow will be ground and I'll only get up if I truly feel he is relaxed and confident. Saturday hopefully will be ground work and riding, again only if he is relaxed and confident. Both sessions will focus on slow, easy lessons. Nothing new and nothing quick.
Sunday, I'm doing ring work again - ground exercises and then riding - again everything slow, easy, and familiar. Then I've made arrangements to meet the other boarder I mentioned before. Here's the way we've got it organized - we are doing only what the least of us is comfortable with. In other words, if both riders and 1 horse are comfortable, but 1 horse isn't, then we don't go out of the ring; likewise if it is both horses and 1 rider feeling good. We're hoping to do a short loop through the woods, but again are planning to be completely flexible. If all we get is to the top of the driveway and someone (horse or person) says "that's it", then that's as far as we go. I told her that I had completely tuned Wish out last weekend, and there was no way I wanted to do that again. From now on, I need to learn to listen and pay attention to what he is telling me. And if that means altering plans, then so be it.
The barn owner offered to ride with me and her mother. However, Wish doesn't know those horses, and at this point, I do not want to put him with unfamiliar horses. A few weeks ago I wouldn't have hesitated. But after last weekend, we really need to take a couple of steps back.
I need to learn to control my impatience. Focus on the end goal (which is a calm, quiet, confident trail horse who trusts me to keep him safe in any situation). And however long it takes us to get there is how long it takes.
Wow Determined - what a positive plan. I am sure that you will see results. One thing that helps with patience is keeping a journal. Then, when I get frustrated, I can see the things that my horse and I have accomplished.
I do too write a journal. when you read yourself back, you can see that you are growing from so many things learned, it is so different when you can read yourself and appreciate it all. You remember also the good times too! Seems like we all keep the bads ones in our heads and forget about the small successes. I had forgotten that my mustang used to move away when I was mounting him. Not any more. So many little things that make you aware, or realise your efforts or your horse's. I think it is one of my favorite tools to be able to write down my emotions, the ups and downs of an horse owner...
