Thursday

Well, yesterday did not go a bit like I had planned. I received a call at 3:00 pm at work and was told that all of our cows were out on the road. I blazed out of work to put the cows up before the school bus ran it's route. I hurried home and when I got there, no cows were out just Jacob's practice steer, Heartbreak Kid. I ran and got a bucket of feed and led the steer back through the gate into the pasture. I started to walk the fence to see where he had gotten out when my neighbor showed up. Dana said that there had been a cow and several calves out on the road and Jacob's steer. I asked if the cow was a black and white paint horned cow. He said "Yes, how did you know?". Well that is Tiny I and that is what she does. We sold her mom for the same thing, she would not stay in the pasture no matter what fence (electric, barb wire, wood). She was a hazard on the road so we had to sell her. Tiny I isn't usually bad, but this is the 2nd time in two days and this time she brought all the calves with her. As usual though, she puts herself back up and then you have to hunt to find out where she jumped, crawled or broke the fence. This time the hoof prints reveled her spot. She had broken the fence behind a thicket and crawled through the torns. That repaired, I set off to make sure all of the calves had made it safely back to the pasture. To my dismay, all but one was accounted for, Jelly's heifer (her picture is posted). I searched the pasture and the road for the missing heifer. Soon I heard her bawl and located her. She is in the BULL PASTURE! How??? Why??? Who knows! The bulls will take care of her and protect her until, we can either cajole her into the lot or she finds her way back to mom. UGH!! By the time all of the fence is fixed and all of the cattle located, my husband arrives with a load of feed. We unload the feed into the bin and now it is time to take Jacob to football practice and Rendi and I have a 4H meeting where we finalize plans for the upcoming county fair horse show and petting zoo. Back home at 10:00 to whip something up for dinner, eat, and then collapse into bed. The dishes can wait until morning!

Wednesday Training

No riding lessons.

Missy - Today's primary goal: tuning in and softening up
Secondary goal: standing to mount
After a through grooming, I tacked Missy up and she stood like a champ. No anxiety even when Jacob came flying by in the adjoining paddock with his show heifer. Began the lesson with lunging. She was more willing to move out, but the random "Oh, God - what is going on!" moments led me to believe that she still hasn't melded the entire concept in her mind. After about 15 minutes, she was changing direction easily and whould whoa much quicker upon cue. Her attention span was better and she stayed much more relaxed. She no longer thinks that the lunge line is a snake waiting to bite and trusts that I will not hit her. She relapses occasionally when her attention has wandered and I ask for a direction change, but as her understanding develops, she is learning to think first than react. We then moved on to suppling her jaw, poll and neck by asking her to give to the side. She did much better especially to the right. The left is still a little sticky. We need to continue with this to enforce the idea that she must give no matter the outside stimulus. Next we worked on her standing to be mounted. This is a very touchy area and one to be methodically worked through on both sides. This was the push button for her bucking. I believe that the bucking was initally due to wither pain at mounting ( thin horse, prominent withers) so I am encouraging Missy to remain calm and so far she doesn't show any anxiety. I begin by jumping by the saddle to accustom her to the movement, then I move the stirrups around to accustom her to the saddle movement and sound. Next I place weight in the stirrups by pushing down on the stirrups with my arms and then I place my foot in the stirrup and get into mounting position. At this point she begins to show anxiety and I continue this step a couple of times until she relaxes and then call it quits on this lesson for the day. She has already progressed so much in this area and patience is winning out. To end the day on a positive note, I again work through the suppling exercises and put her up for the day. She did fantastic and remained a willing pupil throughout today's lesson - she received a good rub-down with extra belly rubs. As far as her goals for the day, I think we progressed on all levels but still need refinement on all before she will be ready to move on to the next steps.

Kixsie - Today's primary goal: developing trust
Secondary goal: learning to relax and not be so reactive
To begin the lesson, I worked on catching Kixsie in her paddock. She moved away, but with advance and retreat, she came and stood to be haltered. This mare shows so much anxiety at being handled in any way. Since she came, she is finally beginning to relax in her paddock and shows signs of wanting to socialize. She nickers when she sees me and comes to the fence when I am around. However, she will not allow me to pet/scratch her throught the panels. She will now stay by the fence and sniff my hand. She is easier to catch in her paddock and acts like she wants to be handled, she just can't let her guard down. There is a willing and intelligent horse in there, we just have to work past her trust issues. I addressed this issue last night by simply treating her to a relaxing grooming session and walk around the yard. She is on guard the whole time you are around her - she holds her breath, holds head high and shows tenseness throughout. The human touch is not something that she finds comfort in. The human voice doesn't reassure her at all. After 45 minutes of walking and scratching, she finally began to lip and chew but never exhaled (sighed). She was calmer and upon returning to her paddock, lingered for a belly scratch. I will need to take it slow with her at first, but once she learns to relax and trust, I feel that she will progress at a rapid pace. Not much progress on her goals today, but I have to remember to not rush or push.

It is raining now and training tonight looks doubtful, but fingers crossed that the storms will clear off.

Horses in training

I am going to try to keep this blog more up to date, make it more into a training diary. I make daily notes for the horses in training so I can track progress, but for the owners, I think a blog might make them feel more in touch with the training progress. This means that I will need to be more diligent in taking pictures. That sounds like a great job for the kids! Well, here we go.

Missy - Brown grade mare, 4 years old. Here to be green broke. Owner had previously tried to break her, but instead created some problems. History of bucking under saddle, skittish, and unwilling to be handled. Upon first handling the mare appeared to want to cooperate, just needed to develop trust. She is a very kind mare with a want to please demeanor. She is a tad bit lazy and hates repeative work. I need to make sure that her training remains fresh and challenging. She will probably benefit more from pasture riding/training than from arena work. Major training obstacle: She has already learned to buck when mounted and was rewarded by being put up.
Primary Goals: 1 - soft, supple and willing under saddle
2 - stand while being mounted (this is when she bucked)
3 - safe mount for an intermediate rider

Secondary Goals: 1 - handle feet easily
2 - accept handling of entire body
3 - be caught and haltered easily
4 - become bold and confident ( mounted and on the ground)


Kixsie - 7 year old sorrel roan QH mare. Owner wants her to become a more dependable,solid riding horse. I am the 4th trainer this mare has had. Upon first handling her, she is fearful but had been trained well to stand. She is easily distracted and has limited ability to remain focused. She is a reactionary mare which means consistency is her key. I feel that she will always be a little standoffish, but trust can be established. She has been through several trainers and she knows what to do to get a release, she just doesn't commit to it. Her training will focus on several trust exercises and lots of repetition. She will find comfort in the familiar.
Major training obstacle: The mares unwillingness to connect with a rider.
Primary Goals: 1- a soft, supple willing mount
2 - boldness under saddle (the owner wants to be able to hunt off the mare)
3 - safe for a beginner rider

Secondary Goals: 1 - increase attention span
2 - a relaxed horse
3 - easy to catch and halter in the pasture
4 - beginning collection

Monday's Training bog

Horse: Abby
Today's Main Goals: Transitions and Forward
Today's Secondary Goals: Buddy Sour
Began the session with a short trail ride around the pasture (20 minutes). Working in a forward frame and building confidence away from the other horses being ridden. She was very hesitant to lead off the group and kept lagging until she was behind the group. I worked her repeatedly up and back in the group. I then started to rein her away from the group for short forays. When she would continue on with a slack rein and straight, we would return to the group. I then took her several yards behind the group and asked her to maintain a walk and not rush back to the group. All went very well. I then broke off from the group to return to the riding arena. She again was hesitant to move off, but soon gained confidence as we walked on.
The focus of today's arena work was transitions. I repeatedly asked for walk/trot transitions. I incorporated a dressage whip today to get her to upward transitions lighter and quicker. The lope transitions take so much urging that I want to get a more responsive trot transition before tackling the lope transition much. Her downward transitions were excellent! I sort of expected that though, she likes to go slow. She transitioned just off body cues (slowing seat, deeper seat). Her halts stuck, no floating through them. She halted square would move back easily when cued. We worked on these goals for about 45 minutes. Transitions became smoother, upward transitions came easier and quicker, she moved out in a more energetic trot, she began to rein better at the trot off of leg cues along with rein cues, she maintained focus longer and relaxed throughout. All in all a successful lesson with improvement in all of todays goals. Next lesson goals: continue with transition work incorporating the lope transitions, began introducing under saddle lateral work, more trail riding to improve confidence in new situations both with a group and alone.

Riding Lessons

Last night was riding lesson night with my youngest student (7). This was her 4th lesson and she has been struggling with the trot. She is still riding bareback with the halter and is doing great at the walk, but the trot scares the bejesus out of her. Last week she had to ride Brandy because Sadie had decided to jump a gate and cut her leg. They got along well, but Brandy has a much rougher trot and a bony back. Jaylee valiantly tried to sit the trot, but instinctivly "kneed up" whenever she attempted the trot. Near the end of the lesson I had her recite the ABC's while lunging. Much better seat. We ended on that high note. Now this week, she is back on Sadie. We begin with walking exercises (figure 8, poles, serpintines) and now it is time to practice the trot. Jaylee immediately stiffens up. I start her on breathing exercises and once she begins to relax I encourage her to cue Sadie for the trot. She starts off okay, but the knees soon start to inch up and she is so stiff in her arms, that she pushes herself back. We reposition and begin again. This time I start asking her about her upcoming trip, 4th of July, etc. Soon she is relaxing, reaching down with her heels and sitting up taller. We practice on the lunge for a few minutes and then I send her out on her own. Again the tension. I tell her that I know she is ready to try this and remind her of my promise to NEVER ask her to do something that I don't think she is ready for. She smiles and sets out to try. At first she resorts to the monkey on a dog position but after a few laps she is sitting the trot softly and enjoying herself. By the end of the lesson, she is doing figure 8s and poles at the trot. She is soooo pround of herself and I am estatic at her progress. She can't wait to go home and show her cousins how much she has learned. Hopefully by the time she has her next lesson, my insurance issues will be cleared up and we can use my bigger riding arena. I think she is ready.

The District & State Shows

Last year when we went to the District show, we left early on the morning we showed. Bad mistake! We were scheduled to leave at 5:30 am to make an 8:30 pre-show meeting. Mapquest gave us an 1 hr & 45 min route - no problem right? WRONG! One of the horses took 30 minutes to load and mapquest lied! The route we were told to take took 2 hrs and 45 min and we hauled butt the whole time. So needless to say, we made it to the show 10 minutes before the first class. Thankfully we had done all grooming the night before - so a quick wipe down and we were showing. The whole day seemed to go that way - hurry, hurry - rush, rush. It showed in our results. The horses and the girls were keyed up all day - the only classes we qualified for state in were by default ( less than 11 in the class) except for Cash - he placed 4th in Gelding Halter. This year, it would be different. We reserved stalls and went down the day before. The girls watched the speed events, did final grooming touch-ups and went to the hotel and swam. The horses were walked around the grounds and relaxed in their stalls. I was the lucky one that got to sleep in the extra stall! Wahoo! Actually I preferred it - I don't think I could have taken a night of pre-teen drama. I'll take the steady munch of hay and swishing of shavings any day. We did much better in the arena as well - maybe not in placing, but each girl performed better than last year. For example - Rendi & Cash competed in 4 classes last year ( 4th - Halter, 11th - Showmanship, DQ - Western Pleasure & DQ - Trail) this year they competed in the same 4 classes ( 3rd - Halter, 11th - Showmanship (they both hate it), 10th - Western Pleasure and DQ - Trail) Not great results, but considering last years performance Cash was a champ. Last year, his fear of other horses caused him to freak in Western Pleasure and is fear of well everything caused him to freak in Trail. This year Western Pleasure went well, except for his barrel horse run-down the arena, and Trail was fairly respectable as well. He is still learning to cue with neck reins and this was his first time to be exclusively neck reined. My daughter learned a valuable lesson on preparation and practice. Everyone had a good time and almost everyone was pleased with their performances. We know that we aren't at the level to win and we just want the experience. Now on to State! Rendi qualified in 3 events, but chose to only show in Halter. It was the only event she felt she had earned a right to compete in. But, UHOH, she breaks her leg the week before. Luckily, she is put in a walking cast and is cleared to show in halter. Cash took such care of her in the ring, even seemingly to block the judge away from Rendi when he came too close - not a big help in placing. They did not place under either judge, not a big surprise. None of the girls placed at State - way out of our league, but they did seem to get a fire under them. I have long told them that to really compete, they must practice, practice, practice. They were just content to participate. Now they saw that it would not take a whole lot to step it up and be show ready. They want me to find them some shows to go to and especially some shows in the NE District, the toughest district. Rendi now finally understands that Cash can't be a playday horse and be a tough competitor in the show ring. She also now understands that she really hates showmanship and dislikes the way Western Pleasure horses must travel (trope) to be really competitive. She is now going to focus on the Trail, Western Horsemanship and Western Riding classes. She knows that she is still going to have to slow Cash down, but not alter his natural gaits. She still refuses to show english - too bad. She has also decided to show in the speed events. She asked a friend if she could train his horse to run barrels & poles. He was happy to oblige. He gets his "extra" horse trained to do something and Rendi gets to bolster her horsemanship skills and experience. Win-Win. Needless to say - all of Rendi's plans with her horses are on hold for at least another month. Darn broken leg!

Whew, finally an update!

Alot has happened in the last two months! My two kids have been playing in the local little league, so we have been at softball/baseball games four nights a week. My 4H group competed in the District and State Horse Shows. Thanks to my husband, I have three horses currently in training. Riding lessons 3 days a week. My daughter has decided that she wants to be able to compete in the 4H speed events next year and she talked our neighbor into letting her use his green broke mare. Guess who gets to train her? Yep, me. My husband and I have been in the hayfields cutting hay for this winter. Rodeos every weekend - the boys (bulls) are doing fantastic! My daughter's cheer fundraisers, the school fundraiser's and the little league fundraisers. My 4H club's combined playday series - 5 weeks. Whew! In there sometime, my daughter slid into home and broke her leg. At least she scored! Also I have desperately been trying to find the time to work with my own horse. I have for the first time in a looong time set my own horsemanship goal - I want to be able to ride my own horse in the County Fair horse show! So far it isn't gping all that great. I have rode him 4 times in the last month. Wellback to work, then to the hayfield, back to the barn to train and then home to collapse into bed!