Peach vs Ziggy

hugs
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Peach vs Ziggy Mar 31, 2014 21:04:37 GMT redzip likes this

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Post by hugs on Mar 31, 2014 21:04:37 GMT

Peaches
We made progress! Yay us. We did some "keyhole pen" work, that is to say, some of you have round pens and the rest of us make do but are happy for it. The ice in the paddock was too treacherous to do lead line work. Anyway, at first Peaches as all freaky, ragged figure 8s and I fought with her not to change direction on her own. Then I just got as big as I could and she got the message. Gerald thought I was angry, but I was just putting as much energy into myself as I could, otherwise I'm too mild to get through someone who shall remain nameless's hard Appaloosa skull! afraid

When I was consistently able to keep her in pattern, the figure 8 got smoother and her pace got more even. That's when I asked her to "whoa". Mostly she took a step or two and faced me. But I decided that we were past that and I wanted a complete stop, no more steps and once she actually sat on her haunches a bit and came to a complete and utter stop! I rewarded her with more rest but I'm not sure she entirely got it, since it didn't happen again, but we can keep trying.

Then after we were working on our stops her figure 8 went to a circle and her pace slowed a bit. I took that as good news, although I did have to add more cueing to keep going which I guess is okay. No improvement is a straight line.

I'm hoping next weekend will be in a circle at an easy pace so we can work on stops, but we'll see.

Ziggy
Ziggy is amazing. She will walk when I ask, trot when I ask. Stop still, no more steps when I ask. Change direction with the littlest cue. Can't ask for more than that EXCEPT Gerald insisted that she have her eyes or at least one ear on me. That she looks around and isn't paying attention to me. But I don't get that, sure she looks around but she does everything I ask?! Doesn't that mean she's paying attention?

I haven't ridden Ziggy much because she was so under weight but when I did she would backup and it took all the encouragement I could muster to go forward. She had been in a Walk-Trot class once and was at a trainer for 6 months as a 3 yr old (she's 12 now), so why the backing up? Is she confused? Is she belligerent?

"The sooner you quit something that stinks, the sooner you find something that doesn't", Lillian, "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

diamondgirl
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Peach vs Ziggy Mar 31, 2014 22:58:17 GMT

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Post by diamondgirl on Mar 31, 2014 22:58:17 GMT

You are still having to deal with ice?!! Wow, you must be so tired of winter. I think both your horses will improve once you have more time, and better weather to work with them.

Chief and Diamond are totally different with their ground work, and manors. Well Chief was different with his stops, (he didn't have one) and his turns, (he was very slow), and I could hardly get him to lope. Diamond would turn away rather than toward me, when I asked her to change direction, and she didn't always have an ear on me. Anyway, I have been watching Downunder horsemanship (I know I know some people don't like Clinton Anderson, the over the top showman,) and I think it is helping. I watched him break down the steps to have your horse turn toward you. I tried to follow the steps, and low and behold, it worked. Both horses are doing better.

I sure wish I could afford to buy his training series, but I really can't afford it. The other thing is, I think I can understand better, by watching him correct someone else who is making a mistake on the TV show. That way I can see how not to do things, and try to follow what he said, and hopefully do things closer to the right way.

If Gerald thought you were getting angry, maybe he needs to spend a little time watching that crazy Aussie and see what intense training is all about.

I think you are doing great. You are out there working with your horses. You are working toward a goal. You are even using the ice in your training, when you changed patterns, and even make a new one all together. I say YEA hugs

!!!!! (I would have stuck the little wave guys in here if they were available) applause

hugs
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Peach vs Ziggy Apr 1, 2014 1:36:41 GMT redzip likes this

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Post by hugs on Apr 1, 2014 1:36:41 GMT

Thanks so much. Its so hard for me to do this horse training thing. I dont' exactly know how to explain it, maybe its simply lack of confidence in my skills up against a horse who knows exactly how and what to do. Oh well, I feel comforted when I remember that its just one step at a time.

"The sooner you quit something that stinks, the sooner you find something that doesn't", Lillian, "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

diamondgirl
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Peach vs Ziggy Apr 1, 2014 2:22:33 GMT

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Post by diamondgirl on Apr 1, 2014 2:22:33 GMT

You know Hugs, I think a lot of my problem is I never could play basket ball. For Volleyball and Tennis, I was better off warming the bench. I have never been a sports star, but that doesn't mean I have any less heart than any other athlete. I just don't have the coordination. Ok, that being admitted, it doesn't mean I can't ride a horse. It doesn't mean I can't work with, and train my horses. Ok I will never be a champion barrel racer. It's just as well, because I don't want to ride in an arena. I just want to be one with my horse, ride around, and make the ordinary things I see, more exciting because I am seeing them from the back of my horse.

I don't know if you're an athlete or not, but it seems to me a lot of horse training suggestions, are made from one athlete to another. I can't run in a circle and swing my stick and string with one arm while holding the lead rope and pointing with the other one, and I look really dumb when I try. My poor horses look at me, like they are so confused. They have no idea what I am trying to tell them to do but, they are so wonderful, they seem to figure it out anyway. As for riding. Well half the time I forget to use my leg cues, but eventually they move ahead anyway.

There is hope for non athletes like myself. The hope is we are working with one of the most forgiving of all Gods creatures. I thank God for horses. They have the ability to make the most non athletic of people look good.

Last Edit: Apr 1, 2014 2:23:06 GMT by diamondgirl

1fatmule
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Peach vs Ziggy Apr 1, 2014 14:01:18 GMT

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Post by 1fatmule on Apr 1, 2014 14:01:18 GMT

i think you are just lucky to be able to work with your own horses. so many people just dont "get it", and dont have the ability to gain the trust/love of their horses enough for them to get them to come in by themselves at feeding time!! i still believe it isnt ALL about respect, sure it is needed, but if you dont have a good rapport with your horse he/she isnt going to go out of their way to please you. sounds to me that you are making progress, and with an appy mare, and that in its self deserves a pat on the back

appies are my breed of choice, yet somewhere waaaay down the line there just MAY be a little mule in most of them ...

hugs
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Peach vs Ziggy Apr 2, 2014 1:50:16 GMT horselady likes this

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Post by hugs on Apr 2, 2014 1:50:16 GMT

Well last night we got almost 20 inches of snow

in Thief River where I work but back home there was 4 inches of rain before the snow

.
I just love snow

over smooth ice >:D

Let's all hope for above freezing temps to thaw all of that stuff, one thing, at this point mud is becoming more appealing

I guess a person just has to learn themselves and learn the horse all the while making decisions as to what to do, how far to go and staying as safe as possible.

Here's something I wonder about; because Peaches is obedient but belligerent or at least not willing, do you suppose that means that she could just stop being obedient and go off on a tangent? Do horses do stuff like that?

"The sooner you quit something that stinks, the sooner you find something that doesn't", Lillian, "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

diamondgirl
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Peach vs Ziggy Apr 2, 2014 15:12:16 GMT

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Post by diamondgirl on Apr 2, 2014 15:12:16 GMT

Yup!

Diamond throws fits when she doesn't get her way, but it's not her fault. It's mine. When I first got her she had been so spoiled she was dangerous. Her owners had put her through 45 days with a trainer, but she went back into the same environment, and her behavior got even worse. They had to get rid of her before she hurt someone, so I bought her. I thought I could fix her problems. I couldn't, so I sent her for 30 days with my trainer. When I got her back she was better, not great,,, but better. My trainer didn't like her at all. He said she was so spoiled, she had learned to take advantage of people, and if given a chance she always would. He told me, she was not the horse for me.

I love her, and can't get rid of her. It's not her fault she is the way she is. She was spoiled.

She has run over the top of me and broke my wrist, and bucked me off a couple of times, but it is not her fault. It is my lack of confidence that allows her to think, she can get by with acting that way. If a real cowboy gets on her, and insists on her respect, she shows she is unhappy, but she doesn't try to buck them off.

I understand, it's me. It's my problem, keeping her from becoming the great horse she can be.

So could Peachie go off on a tangent with you? Yup. The answer is not only, she could, but she will,,,, unless you can get her respect.

I wish I could tell you how, but I can't. I think a lot has to do with our own confidence level, as leaders. Some horses are natural born leaders and some are followers, but they all respect a true leader, if you can only present yourself that way, you don't have to worry about tangents. I am working on it.

hugs Junior Member Posts: 2,647	Peach vs Ziggy Apr 3, 2014 0:15:14 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by hugs on Apr 3, 2014 0:15:14 GMT I totally get what you're saying. Its an adventure, isn't it
	"The sooner you quit something that stinks, the sooner you find something that doesn't", Lillian, "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

nhg Junior Member Posts: 2,429	Peach vs Ziggy Apr 8, 2014 14:55:00 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by nhg on Apr 8, 2014 14:55:00 GMT Good for you! It feels so good to make progress, doesn't it. And to know that you did it yourself is so rewarding.

Post by hugs on Mar 31, 2014 21:04:37 GMT

Post by diamondgirl on Mar 31, 2014 22:58:17 GMT

Post by hugs on Apr 1, 2014 1:36:41 GMT

Post by diamondgirl on Apr 1, 2014 2:22:33 GMT

Post by 1fatmule on Apr 1, 2014 14:01:18 GMT

Post by hugs on Apr 2, 2014 1:50:16 GMT

Post by diamondgirl on Apr 2, 2014 15:12:16 GMT

Post by hugs on Apr 3, 2014 0:15:14 GMT

Post by nhg on Apr 8, 2014 14:55:00 GMT