First of all I want to send out a huge, hearty THANK YOU to Teresa for all of her hard work in cleaning up this site. I am thrilled to have it back. So, a standing ovation to you, Teresa!!!!!
Even though the summer has been too blasted hot to accomplish much, Wish and I are continuing to tackle those monsters.
Two weeks ago, a large white rock that appeared when the barn owners knocked down some brush was a BIG DEAL. We worked it until he was ready to fall down from boredom. The next ride, he went by it without even looking at it. The next ride after that (this past Saturday), I used that rock as a mounting block when I had to get down mid-ride. Wish walked right up to it, I stepped on it and got right up and away we went!
On Saturday our monster was a new camper that the barn owners must have just gotten. Fortunately it was parked in a spot where I had lots of room to work. I saw it from the ring, so as soon as we finished there, I headed right for it because I knew that was our next monster. It took maybe 15 to 20 minutes but when we were finished I stopped him right beside it. The second we stopped, he turned his head around and bumped my foot with his nose. Like he was saying "come on Mom, let's go do something else." I still stayed there for a while rubbing him. On our way back to the barn I tested him by riding right past it. He went by without even a glance at it. There was a picnic table and chairs set up outside with some stuff on the table, and a plastic bag hanging on the outside that was blowing in the breeze!
I did have to get down on Saturday, though. As we were riding in the cornfield, something large crashed through the woods very close to us. It was probably a deer. I could literally feel Wish's heart pounding under my leg. I said to myself, "there's a time to be brave and confident, and a time to be smart. This is the time to be smart". And I got down. I led him by the spot, and then that's when I took him down to the rock to mount and we finished the ride.
But overall, I am seeing a huge improvement in spookiness. We still have a looooong way to go, but it's feeling good so far.
Brilliant Determined, well done indeed! I am like you, have to go alone, so it's great to hear your progress, I often think of you when I'm out there (I think I've said this before actually, sorry!). Also, very grateful to Teresa for her hard work, thank you!
Determined, Sounds like you are doing great. It is a different game when you have to ride alone. Many horses will do very well with companions on a trail ride but you couldn't get them out of the barn alone. I have to ride alone and find that it helps if you constantly keep your horses mind busy. By doing this he has to pay attention to you and not all the other things out there. You are doing great, keep up the good work.
Ridin'On you are so right. For so many years I was merely a passenger. I am now trying to ride more aggressively. I am asking for the turns in the trail, not just expecting the horse will turn because the trail does. I have also found that once I get up in the cornfield, if I stop him and back for a few steps, it seems to focus and relax him. Sort of a reminder that we don't just do that kind of thing in the ring.
This is so new to me, though, that it is easy for me to slip into the old habits. Previously I did, in fact, only do that stuff in the ring. Never dreamed of doing it out on the trail. I definitely see the benefits of it, just have to keep reminding myself not to just become a passenger.
Trina and Ridin'On, I wish we could ride together!
Much as I hate to do this because I absolutely love the barn where I'm at, if it doesn't become a more active barn in the next couple of years, I will move Wish. Right now, there are a total of 3 boarders. One has retired her horse and herself, so she doesn't ride at all. The other one is an older woman and an older horse, both with health issues. The horse has a bone spur in his stifle, navicular, arthritis, etc. He walks at a snail's pace and even then only on Bute. The rider just had both knees replaced in the last year. Needless to say, they are not good companions for Wish and I, as he has a very long-strided walk, which I am trying to encourage. The barn owner also has a horse but she hasn't ridden in so long that her tack is covered in cobwebs! I am the only one using the trails and the ring. The barn owners have been away a lot this summer and the trails and the ring are a bit untended now.
Plus, despite numerous assurances over the years that they were going to work with the neighbors to develop a trail system that would connect to the farm and give us more places to ride, that doesn't seem to have happened. So, once Wish and I conquer the farm, I have no other place to ride unless I trailer someplace. I don't currently own a trailer, so that leaves me stuck with riding the same trails over and over - not a fun prospect. I'm ok with it now just because Wish and I still have to work on our confidence, but in another couple of years, I expect we'll be ready to spread our wings, and unless the farm changes the dynamics and the trail system, I can't picture me staying there forever.
I can absolutely relate to what you are saying. Although I have my family to ride with, we have nowhere to go at our current barn. There are theoretically "trails", but this is really just an area of woods with nothing marked and plenty of brush/fallen trees. I went through it twice with some other people. I really wouldn't want to do it again. We just continue to work on things in the arenas (I have to admin, having an indoor is great when there's rain/snow).
Congrats Determined! Sounds like you are doing really well.
We are finally getting to trail ride again after coming through last year's injury. We are fortunate-live near the national forest and also Yosemite, a national park. I have to trailer to them but we have good access. We rode 11 miles yesterday in the national forest and the trails and dirt roads were lovely. My horse did well, other than when asked to trot behind another. Guess that's the next project. I never take it for granted how lucky we are to have places to ride.
Something I've noticed-I had to do a LOT of arena riding when bringing this horse back from the injury. Now that he gets to go out to new places he is MUCH happier and much more fun. Every trainer I've ever gone to says the horse is bored to death. What a difference in attitude when he gets to do a different job. He really likes to be able to go out with other horses too. From my experience, it is very good to be able to vary what the horse does.
You should be very proud. I rode in the fields all along for 5 years, am moving my horse to a barn where there is an arena and big dirt ring. I am so releived. Keep up the good work! I really benefit from all your posts here, how you cope with issues, new challenges. Go girls!
