|
|
Post by horselover4life on Dec 28, 2014 0:01:07 GMT
What ever word you use, use it and only it or Peach will not easily make the connection.
Horses may not understand our exact word spoken but they can hear and associate sounds to what they are to do "command" wise.
I also love soft fuzzy horse lips but if I mess to much with either of my horses mouths they usually c/a/t/c/h my fingers and "nip" one.
My sons horse, "Chance", he actually likes to suck on my fingers then he bites!!! So no more is he allowed to do that sweet trick...
 now he knows better as does my poor finger!
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647 
|
Post by hugs on Dec 28, 2014 2:27:56 GMT
Peaches is a nibbler, her upper lip is nearly prehensile. I bet if we traced the evolutionary path of horses and elephants we'd notice a connection. But if I get her to be easy with her mouth, it'll make worming easier.
We call our Ziggy, Hoover, doesn't nibble but she can vacuum your hand as quick as anything.
|
|
|
|
Post by carshon on Dec 28, 2014 17:15:33 GMT
 - I think what you are doing is fantastic. My horses don't stay, stand, stop or do much of anything by voice command. Many many times after Cherokee died (my horse of 23 years) I would work with my other horse Harley and just cry - cry from frustration cry from fear and cry from the feeling that I just could not ever do anything right. I have been a horse owner my entire life and broke young stock while in HS- but kids and extra weight and a job - life made my perspective change. I could not just "jump on anything and ride it" any longer. Harley became a good trail horse but was way too short for me - so I inherited Naughty Steve - who had bucked my husband off so hard he swore he would never ride again. Years of just putzing with him at home led to tears on the trail. Nausea each and every time I loaded him up to ride with my friends, tears when he tried to run up hills, down hills, over the top of the horse in front of us- I got so tired for crying in front of of my friends and apologizing for the horrible horse I was riding. Until one day - I decided I had 3 months to make a change - just a little one so I worked in baby steps on the ground - we started with backing out of my space - it took me months but we did it. I felt that at 40 years old - that I was starting over. And that is what I needed to do. baby steps - legos in my fortress. Naughty Steve is still naughty- but I don't make myself physically ill when I think about trailering him to ride with my friends. I really want you to know that you are inspiring - you are learning and teaching - you are progressing and you are achieving your goal. I am so proud of you and love all of the pictures! keep it up YOU ARE DOING THIS! You are not the only one who has felt these frustrations - you are not alone. |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 28, 2014 18:57:08 GMT
I'm feeling a subdued after reading about Mister's passing, how heartbreaking 884530 Here's a bit of what we did this morning Still pictures didn't work so well  About as calm as Peaches get when tied up, except for grooming, she's usually fairly good then (click for movie)  She calms down when she's being lunged. I used to have a thing against those mindless circles but she needs many more circles than I realized. I also realized that she'll pick the pace depending upon her confidence/calmness, its very telling. I used to try to get her to walk, but now I realize that I need to let her pick the pace and calm herself down. And when she starts to calm down, then I can ask for change of direction, etc. Horses are like a book when we take the trouble to figure them out. We take lovie breaks when she is able to appreciate them. I know I like them. I don't give her treats or food of any kind until the very end. Today I gave her an apple and I wish I could have recorded the smell for you, it was the most gorgeous apple smell. Pony gets apples as treats so I had to stand guard, but I could tell Peaches really appreciated it over the drier probiotic cookies, but then, here she is doing what she and I do best (click for movie)  |
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Dec 28, 2014 19:37:00 GMT
Peaches looks great. I liked watching the  in the video. snowman-waving |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 28, 2014 21:18:57 GMT
That pretty snow ended up 4 to 6 inches. I guess it had to happen again after it all melted a few weeks ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Dec 29, 2014 0:47:10 GMT
We are supposed to get a few inches tomorrow night, and into Tuesday. It is also going to get colder. I do like . It's pretty to look at. I just don't like it when it turns into mud. Especially when it sucks one of my muck boots off. That is some serious burr. Especially, when I can't keep my balance and a sock foot, meets really cold mud. |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 29, 2014 1:12:05 GMT
Ooh yeah, I HATE sock mud or mud socks, either way. You have serious clay out there don't you. See there is some advantage to having younger soil, the clay isn't as sticky.
|
|
Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
|
Post by Terry on Dec 29, 2014 1:32:14 GMT
I know what you mean about the mud - yuck! We've been living with boot-sucking mud for far too long now. I almost wound up with a mud sock last night, but I was able to regain my balance and get my foot back in the boot instead of into the mud. At this point I'm looking forward to it getting colder just so it will firm up the ground!
I am loving all the pictures of Peaches, ! Keep 'em coming!  |
|
|
|
Post by lorddaxter on Dec 29, 2014 13:52:33 GMT
Good you're getting to spend so much time with her, how'd you get that heavy saddle all the way up there, I struggle with Dax who's tiny lol!
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 29, 2014 17:06:24 GMT
Ha ha Peaches is only 14h and the saddle is maybe 35-40 lbs.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Dec 29, 2014 19:04:15 GMT
Looking great . and you two are making progress. now just a little advice. the girth you have on her is a soft one and should not cause irritation BUT i think it is too short as it hits the back of her leg when she is moving  ? perhaps a longer one will be better perhaps 3 inches or 4 ?? |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 30, 2014 16:51:53 GMT
That could be about the girth but I'm not sure it was on correctly. I was lucky I could get it cinchrd up at all. Of course never overlook a reason to buy more tack.
|
|
|
|
Post by horselady on Dec 31, 2014 2:00:49 GMT
Does your instructor ride peaches in that saddle.?? and with out the tie in a close up photo i can not see if it is tied correctly . but clicking on the photos they are videos and she does look like a feisty little horse. lol   |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Dec 31, 2014 3:09:30 GMT
Andrea uses one of her own English saddles and I gotta say, Peaches looks good in it. Andrea also has the luxury of lunging the snot out of Peaches before she tacks her up. I can't always because when I get there classes are going on until way late and its tough for me to wait that long. I tried today but couldn't do it.
Oh well.
If nothing else I just go out and pet Peaches a little bit, give her some probiotics since she was on antibiotics for so long. I'll go again tomorrow. Thursday I can go early and beat the rush. Saturday the Peach goes back to Isanti so I have to get there early enough to lunge her and cool her off before loading. Lois wants me to lead Peaches into the death trap, figures it will be easier on her because she did better going from Solway to Isanti, about 4 hours, than the half hour from Isanti to Anoka.
This training worked a LOT better than Ziggy's. Ziggy's was a complete and I mean COMPLETE waste of money. I can't say it was worth what I spent for Peaches but then how can you really over come so much in such a short period of time, and then that week with the injury sure didn't help. I'm not saying Andrea didn't do enough or anything like that. Its just that I wish Peaches could go from freakie to calm in 30 days, but it just couldn't happen.
The lessons aren't what was so expensive, it was only $20/lesson and most lessons were no less than 1 hour, most were 2 to 3. And given what Andrea did with Peach, I certainly got my money's worth. Board was $375, not expensive around here for access to a heated indoor and use of stalls and everything. Nope, I can't say I didn't get my money's worth it's just that its very expensive. And for what I wish I had in Peaches we're not much closer. It all takes so much more time.
Out of this experience I am ready to continue what we both learned. We have a plan and I have to tools and skills up to a point anyway. The rest is practice.
Interestingly Peaches doesn't balance herself very well on the lunge line. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it, I'll text Andrea and ask her. But your suggestions are sure welcome!
|
|
|
|
Post by horselover4life on Dec 31, 2014 12:32:16 GMT
Ready, here goes........
As you know, Peaches injury set her back some because it was what it was, down time to heal. No ones fault, it happens. Nature of the beast.
30 days isn't a huge amount of training time, yet Andrea did accomplish quite a bit and gave you resources to use and seeing-is-believing proof that Peach can do what you thought otherwise.
Andrea gave you confidence and a larger arsenal of tricks to work with Peach and make advancements in what you want to work toward.
If you can afford it and can work it into your schedule....continue taking lessons, astride {yes, ride!} so you also get comfortable with your ability up there and increase your knowledge, muscle strengths and abilities...then take it back to the Peach and work her with it....amazing what progress you will make, honest.
Peach is very smart and takes her cues from you, steps up and surpasses what you expected of her, is wanting to learn and please you I believe.
As for balancing on a lunge line....
Well...Peach is small and compact. Her body is not long and lean, lanky.
Some of her inability to balance on a lunge line could be she is not able to bend and move forward simultaneously very well on a continual arc.
Lunging is hard work, needs muscle strength and conditioning.
The size of the circle you use can make a difference in how well a horse balances too...a larger circle is a less bend than a small and tight turning radius circle.
Speed of the gait you lunge at also must be thought of...it is harder to control your body at faster speeds than slower ones. {think of driving your car...easier to remain in great accurate control at slow speed than 65 mph!}
I am not a large believer in chiro work, but it is possible Peach could be slightly out of sync and that can cause some difficulty in balancing in a arc at a greater pace....
And many horses are not ambidextrous same a humans. They have a favorite direction of travel and to go opposite causes them to feel, then act unbalanced. {I actually work a horse to their weaker direction harder and longer so they compensate by working those muscles, that hemisphere of the brain more and strengthen that side more....}
Most horses are either right sided or left sided partial....
So, the Peach returns home to her other barn soon.
Take with you the knowledge that Andrea gave you, to continue to gain confidence in handling and soon riding Peach. You have made more progress than you realize in the last few weeks than I think you realize, honest That progress has also started transferring to Peach in everyday small things you do and now not even realize you are doing them! {truth!}
The small light at the end of the tunnel to get you as a working team is started, build on that and it will brighten and get to be a large orb in shape....one you will soon be jumping through with glee.
Enjoy the journey, the experience of exploration together.......  .... 467029partners together!
jmo...
|
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Jan 1, 2015 13:55:40 GMT
Had a good but short time with the Peach yesterday. She did better with her mouth, very impressed, I could pull her top and bottom lip apart and keep them that way for a moment or two without ANY head tossing. She really appreciates lavish praise, not just a rub or two, to get the message home. And when she's REALLY impressive, then a hug. I suppose I'm reading too much into it but I think when I do more than a simple "atta girl" she understands better. She also did better standing still, although I kinda screwed up once, we'll keep working on it, its not like she'll instantly run away or anything. Here's a pictoral progression    |
|
hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
|
Post by hugs on Jan 1, 2015 14:09:56 GMT
You know that "holes in training" thread I started? Well when I tack her up with the saddle she really fights it. Ah ha, hole in the training. Well I kept flapping the blanket on her back the other day and yesterday and she'll now stand still. Today I'll do the same thing with the saddle but not putting it on, reaching under for the cinch. So we'll work on that today.
Yesterday we also worked on standing straight and still by the mounting block. She angles out her back end to face me and if I ask her to whoa in increments it kinda works to get her straight beside the mounting block. So I'm going to see how we can use the "stay" cue and put the two things together.
I noticed that when Andrea tacked Peaches up it wasn't a training in standing still, it was more "I gotta do this", do you know what I mean? Andrea was more intent on getting Peach tacked up so she could teach the riders their lesson than training Peaches. The other riders have similar issues with their horses. No one whose horse doesn't stand still for tacking and saddling really work on it, its all about them getting on to ride.
I'm not that way.
I want to actually train Peaches and get her comfortable with all of this, not rely on my ability to intimidate her or compensate for bad behavior. I'm old and not getting younger, neither is Peach, we are going to be more of a team, than a "I'm gonna get this done". You guys know what I mean.
Peachie got all four feet cleaned and her legs massaged. She got Vetricyned on her leg and unfortunately a new scrape/cut on her back left. At first she didn't stand still but we got there.
Oh and this was kind of fun... for me. There's these jumps, maybe a foot high. We walked over them and then stopped halfway over and then backed up. Then I had her back up all the way over, didn't take too kindly to that, but we got that too. Seemed like a good trailering training lesson. Andrea said "if it isn't too cold we'll work on trailering". Well its January in Minnesota, exactly what is "not too cold"? Above zero? Below zero but no wind? Personally, I get warmed up enough working with Peaches that if there isn't a wind but its below zero, it'll be fine, but oh well (I say that a lot), it'll be what it is. Peaches has gone in the two times in the past two-three months so why not Saturday?
|
|
|
|
Post by ladymcts on Jan 1, 2015 17:03:15 GMT
*snort* "Not too cold" in Minnesota. *wipes soda from monitor*
Just keep remembering that Peachy is always trying to train you too. The more you stop to figure her out, the more she's getting away with not working. Not like I'm a know-it-all or successful expert of any kind, because I was totally having dancing-at-the-mounting-block issues with Reggie too, but just sayin' ...
|
|
|
|
Post by diamondgirl on Jan 1, 2015 21:39:03 GMT
*snort* "Not too cold" in Minnesota. *wipes soda from monitor* Oh my gosh Lady you cracked me up  . And here I was, thinking last night, at midnight, standing out in the field, with the temp at 5 degrees, and no wind, between two large horses, gee whiz, it isn't to bad out here right now. What I didn't consider is,,,, in Minnesota that would probably a heat wave.  |
|
now he knows better as does my poor finger!
- I think what you are doing is fantastic. My horses don't stay, stand, stop or do much of anything by voice command. Many many times after Cherokee died (my horse of 23 years) I would work with my other horse Harley and just cry - cry from frustration cry from fear and cry from the feeling that I just could not ever do anything right. I have been a horse owner my entire life and broke young stock while in HS- but kids and extra weight and a job - life made my perspective change. I could not just "jump on anything and ride it" any longer. Harley became a good trail horse but was way too short for me - so I inherited Naughty Steve - who had bucked my husband off so hard he swore he would never ride again. Years of just putzing with him at home led to tears on the trail. Nausea each and every time I loaded him up to ride with my friends, tears when he tried to run up hills, down hills, over the top of the horse in front of us- I got so tired for crying in front of of my friends and apologizing for the horrible horse I was riding. Until one day - I decided I had 3 months to make a change - just a little one so I worked in baby steps on the ground - we started with backing out of my space - it took me months but we did it. I felt that at 40 years old - that I was starting over. And that is what I needed to do. baby steps - legos in my fortress.
in the video. snowman-waving
? perhaps a longer one will be better perhaps 3 inches or 4 ?? 
.... 467029partners together!
. And here I was, thinking last night, at midnight, standing out in the field, with the temp at 5 degrees, and no wind, between two large horses, gee whiz, it isn't to bad out here right now. What I didn't consider is,,,, in Minnesota that would probably a heat wave. 