hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 22, 2015 2:43:43 GMT
PEACHES
Since Peaches came home from Boulder Pointe I've had a new trainer gal working with her a couple times a week, so its been 4 or 5 times now, hasn't gotten her saddled up to ride yet.
I think this new trainer gal is less likely to continue to tack up and ride if Peaches is reactive and will stop and work on the issue whereas the BP gal's philosophy was, as long as the horse and rider are safe, just ignore the "bad" behavior, don't attend to it and eventually it will go away. There is science behind that method, its called "extinguishing the behavior". But if this new gal doesn't get to ride Peaches within another couple lessons, I think I'll take back the reins so to speak and quit spending so much money on not much. Then I'll split my time between Suzie and Peaches.
It's also made me rethink the purpose of what I've been trying to do with the training. I've had this idea that I'll ask Peaches to do things that are likely to make her react and work through it until she relaxes even just a little bit and then stop the lesson. I can say we're making some progress but its just so blessed slow. So maybe we're doing it right and I just need to be patient.
But here, tell me what you would do; There is a wooden bridge or platform, Peaches does NOT want to walk on it to cross it, its too tippy to walk the length of it so we've just been working on crossing it. But now Peaches is jumping it. How do I get her back to walking rather than jumping?
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Jan 22, 2015 4:13:15 GMT
The new training gal, Stephanie, got Peaches tacked up and was able to ride her today! Said she was good once Peaches relaxed. Peaches and relaxed in one sentence, that's pretty good news! Maybe I'm going to get my money's worth sooner than later?! Well... at least "at all"!
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Post by Shelly on Jan 22, 2015 13:56:31 GMT
That's great news!!! I'm happy she's now being ridden that's for sure its a really good sign! Sometimes with horses like peaches you really have to take a few steps back and really go back to the basics (which from the sound of it that's what this trainer is doing). As for the bridge, does peaches stand in front of it calmly when you're trying to get her to cross it? Not sure if this method would work for you, but when Sheldon didn't want to get on the trailer I physically picked up his foot and put it on a few times and eventually he went on. Now if Peachie is very dancy or reactive I wouldn't suggest it but it worked great for Sheldon. A person told me once that trailering/going over objects like that should be an "extension of the walk" so if your horse is "with you" they should just go over no problem --in a perfect world of course. I wasn't crazy about the method they used to get the horse to submit to them. They just tossed a chain over their nose and kept forcing their head down below your shoulder and made them walk and every time their head when up then yanked them down. Like I said I wasn't crazy about this method BUT it did work. I tried to load that horse for 2-3hours and they showed up, put a chain on him and got him on in 10 mins... So it makes you think sometimes. With Peachie and the scary platform I think your best friend will be time and patience  Love hearing Peachie updates btw !! |
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Post by lorddaxter on Jan 22, 2015 14:01:03 GMT
Proud of how well you are doing with Peaches, you have way more patience and determination than me:)
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 22, 2015 21:46:19 GMT
Shelly I understand where you are coming from in both parts but here's the thing. What about when I need Peaches to do something critical like walk on the traffic side instead of falling down a ditch? I need someone who trusts me so I can trust her. It isn't about the ramp its about communication and trust. I know you know that and its why you gave your doubts.
Lord all I can say is that Peaches and I have a lot in common. To give up on her means I'm not worth the effort either. That nay not make sense for folks who gave different relationships with their horses and I sure don't make them wrong for it but this is how it is with me. Plus I mostly enjoy Peaches.
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 22, 2015 22:10:57 GMT
I have a 2 foot by 8 foot wooden platform to walk across. Both Stormy and Chief would cross it after 20 to 30 minutes work. Diamond took several days. I led her cross ways several times, then I just had her put one foot on it, then back up. We did that, until we got both front feet on it, then backed off. Once she would put both front feet on it, and stand for a second or two, while I praised her, I had her walk across, cross wise. The back feet must be a lot scarier than the front feet, because it took me a long time before I could get her to stop, with her back feet still on the platform. Once we got to where we could stop with out back, or front feet on the platform, I rode her across, cross wise. After that it didn't take long until we were riding across lengthwise. Now all I have to do is point her at the (we call it the bridge) and she walks across like a pro.
We did have a major set back last summer. When she was about half way across, a rabbit took off from under the bridge, and scared the daylights out of both of us. She was so nervous, we had to go all the way back to just standing near it, but she progressed pretty quickly to walking calmly across it again.
We also have a teeter that she was crossing last summer. I need to get it sealed again, and put it back on the ground. She really hates that. I haven't got her to where she will stop in the middle yet so I can rock her back and forth, but Stormy will. I can only lead him, but if I can get him pretty well balanced I can sway back and forth enough to teeter totter him. |
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Post by horselady on Jan 23, 2015 1:56:36 GMT
You are doing amazing work with her in the short amount of time you have each week. what determination and drive you have and she is learning. and with that new knowledge comes the trust that you are not going to put her in harms way. and she will not allow you to be harmed either. you are listening to each other with respect.
as for not jumping the wooden bridge. start on the long side even if you have to put the bridge on a wall long ways and you walk beside her to keep her on the wood. better yet. a wall on both side is best until she learns to walk on the sound of the bridge. 633995
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Jan 23, 2015 2:37:13 GMT
Good suggestions, thanks. The neet thing is that I understand what you are saying ;) and it isn't anything extraordinary.
Tomorrow after work is my day to play with Suzie, she shall see how "sour" she is. Its supposed to be in the 40s for heaven's sake so we'll be in the round pen rather than the indoor. If she is more compliant we'll try what I call small motor skills, like standing properly in front of the mounting block and such in preparation for riding. I'm told she's a babysitter type so I'm counting on that.
Gerald's been working with Penny and Ziggy since this past weekend and he's making great progress with those two. Ziggy is much more interested in it than Penny and will do what you ask with hardly any pressure, just have to pretty much point and she'll move. But that's just the difference in their personalities. The really nice thing is if the 3/4 bar tooled saddle I bought will fit Ziggy so the full quarter horse will fit Penny. Then Gerald and I can ride together this summer, God willing, the creek don't rise and his knee will allow it. My other saddle is full quarter for Peaches and it has a high cantle so I'm snug in there like those plastic cowboy and Indians snap onto their horses when we were kids. It makes it tough for my arthritic hips to hoist my leg over but that only means I'll have to desensitize Peaches to my leg dragging over her bottom :-/
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Lipizzan
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Europe, Croatia
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Post by Lipizzan on Jan 23, 2015 8:13:57 GMT
I am so glad to hear you have not given up on her. I am sure she will reward you eventually. :-) I am looking forward of a picture where you both are, no matter riding or leading or working. I hope you will start to enjoy Peaches soon.
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 23, 2015 12:36:39 GMT
Thank you Lipizzan, of course I couldn't give up on her. My attraction to her was immediate, I suppose for romantic reasons although her sister Penny is really a very pretty horse and moves quite eloquently. Peachie is stubby but what does love know, it just is.
This weekend will be a very horsie weekend, although its freezing rain and then snow for the next few days, which really STINK! But I have the Rav4 to drive again and that is a lot heavier and so works better than the Prius c. I like driving that Prius, its fun and gets phenomenal gas mileage and its big enough for everything I do.
Anyway, I'm excited now since Stephanie got her saddled and ridden. As in everything it takes the time it takes. But quite frankly I get tired of spending so much to get there. Its not like I have nothing else to do with my money.
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 1:30:48 GMT
I went to the barn after work tonight and got Suzie.
Suzie isn't the best for standing still or parallel to the mounting block so over the course of an hour I got to where I was kinda laying/crouching on her like that last step before you swing your leg over. So even if she does walk away from the mounting block while I'm trying to get on it isn't very fast.
Ordinarily because I'm training my own horse I would simply have worked on standing still and parallel instead of perpendicular but because I want to get to riding I went with what appears to be another "philosophy" which is, if the horse's behavior isn't dangerous then keep trying to do what you want to do, ignoring the improper behavior and eventually it'll all come together. That works with a safe horse which I believe Suzie is. We'll continue tomorrow on riding. Hope it stays warm, it was 40oF today!!!!! The melty snow is the only way that those plastic mounting blocks are at all stable, otherwise I really don't like mounting off a tippy mounting block.
Peaches is going to have another lesson tomorrow too.
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Post by Shelly on Jan 24, 2015 1:57:30 GMT
that's awesome! Well that's the thing when you're training your own horses. I find you have to pick at things a little every day. Let us know how Peaches does in the lesson tomorrow! |
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 2:19:07 GMT
Sure will let you know! I never like to wait to do that (rofl)
As I write about this I kinda figure this horse thing out a little bit better. In fact, I just now wrote about the difference between Sheldon and Peaches which is also Suzie and Peaches. I'm so accustomed to doing things appropriate for Peaches I've kinda got myself held back. Like I don't know when its okay to just go on ahead and get on and ride, for instance. Especially since I'm a pretty conservative person anyway. Plus I spend a lot of time at work so I'm thinking about it without being able to do anything about it. That's one of the reasons why this job is so gosh darn important to me. Its the first time I earn enough to have Peaches boarded and trained near where I live and I also have a good horse available to ride. All these things have never been at one time before. I sure hope it stays this way!!!
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Post by Shelly on Jan 24, 2015 2:49:28 GMT
Ya for sure!!! I understand that one too!!! lol
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hugs
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Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 2:58:18 GMT
Thank you. The support you folks give me means a whole lot!
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Post by Shelly on Jan 24, 2015 3:00:26 GMT
You should take a video of Peachie's Lesson I'm sure she's going to be a rockstar! |
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 13:28:24 GMT
Oh Shelly, you're so funny :-[
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Terry
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Central Illinois, USA
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Post by Terry on Jan 24, 2015 17:08:07 GMT
I can't wait to hear all about all of your horsey time this weekend! I've got high hopes for you, Suzie, and of course, Peaches! 
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hugs
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Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 18:42:05 GMT
I rode Suzie today! :-[
I got on the first time and my mind was just blank as I tried to think of how to calm myself. I used to think of "what would <such and so> say that would tell me I'm doing well but then I realized as I sat up there that it wasn't a good idea to think of things that weren't real (how embarrassing but its true) and to think of what was going right and respond to that. But like I said my mind was blank so I got off. Then we did a few other exercises and I got on again and I was a tiny bit more relaxed (more empowering to say it that way than less nervous) so I asked her to move out and just like a turtle in molasses we took a few steps and I thought, you know, that's enough. And I slid off and told Suzie what a wonderful girl she was for me and thank you, thank you, thank you.
She is a good girl, even takes kindly to kisses, which is of course very very important. Also that she is extremely laid back, which is why Lois said I could ride her. I can tell that she'll move out faster if she's asked but if not, she's okay not even moving, which I SO appreciate :))
I'll go again tomorrow and will see how much we ride together.
Went to see Peaches just to groom her and process what I did with Suzie. And Peaches has this idea that if I don't have a halter on her she doesn't have to stand still. Yes you do Peaches. So we had a lesson out there in the pasture with all of her friends watching.
But one of them isn't her friend because Peaches has a bite mark on her right upper arm. I Vetricyned it and tomorrow I'll bring out some antibiotic. It isn't too bad but there is one spot that broke skin. Something that happens with horses, but that right arm of hers is taking the brunt of it all, poor thing. Not that its better to get hurt in a lot of different places...
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Lipizzan
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Europe, Croatia
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Post by Lipizzan on Jan 24, 2015 18:56:18 GMT
I am so glad that you got on and get to experience Suzie from different point of view. Good job.
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