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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 24, 2015 19:16:17 GMT
Yea!!! Way to go!!! I am glad Suzie was good for you today, and you got to ride.
I think you are doing really great, if Peaches will allow you to spray Vetricyn on her, while she is standing out in the field. I think that say a lot about the way you have trained her. I don't think there are very many horses that will let a person work with them at liberty. You, and Peach are one of a kind.  |
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 19:16:57 GMT
Thank you, it is a round and fuzzy point of view, although she is very similar from any angle (rofl)
Yeah, so as I'm processing this, given my mind was blank during I'm kinda wishing I woulda ridden more but that's easy to wish, you know.
I am so lucky I have an outdoor arena to play in too and cones and such and of course snow. The weather reports said it was going to be freezing rain this afternoon so I hate to drive out there and be stuck in that.
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Jan 24, 2015 19:21:26 GMT
Oh Diamond, no didn't spray on her, I sprayed on a cotton pad and then rubbed on her, which is a lot to ask at liberty but you know what? Still going to expect it. I mean Ziggy will let you clean her feet, worm her, do just about anything you can think of while she's at liberty, but then she is a confident little girl and Peaches isn't. But maybe that's how you get confident? Doing things little by little that make you uncomfortable and live through it and see that you're okay and all is well with the world. Just like I'm doing with Suzie.
Did I mention I'm riding bareback? Fuzzback? ;)
I used one of my Dring snaffles on Suzie thinking the clearer the cue the better. Its nice that its warm enough for that.
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 24, 2015 19:40:28 GMT
I love to ride bare back, if we aren't going anywhere. Horses are so warm, and it feels so good. I also love the way my jeans smell like horses, after I am done. Mmmmm. They smell so good.
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jan 24, 2015 20:00:39 GMT
I'm so glad you got to ride today! Now that you've taken that first step, hopefully you'll be more comfortable and able to ride Suzie for a bit longer next time. Keep up the good work!
Sorry to hear that Peaches got another battle wound from one of her pasture mates. Poor girl. Good for you on working with her to get her to let you do things with her at liberty, like putting Vetericyn or ointment on her wounds. I do a lot of at liberty stuff with my horses. I expect them to stand still and let me groom them, put medicine on the wounds, etc. I look at it as another way to build trust and bonding.
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Post by Shelly on Jan 24, 2015 23:44:25 GMT
Glad things went well today!! Baby steps, you'll get there  Sad to hear about Preaches bo-bo's |
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 25, 2015 19:45:32 GMT
Today was disappointing. It turns out that the horse I was working with yesterday and got them to stand still and next to the mounting block properly wasn't Suzie! I just didn't look past the first horse that had the right looking star. I remembered Lois saying that Suzie was the only one who wasn't a bay and I kept thinking, this horse looks like a bay to me. But the horse acted very similarly, and same height... except, well, you know the sorrel/bay thing.
So when I got Suzie she was tough to get out of the pasture, stand still for grooming, then would not stand properly for mounting. So all the work I did yesterday was for naught, because it was the wrong horse! I just didn't want to go through all of that again and felt like, gosh darn it, I thought I wasn't supposed to have go through all of this?!
But I guess I do and I'll just get okay with it. So there is always tomorrow after work.
I wanted to ride so much and I didn't want to leave it at that and I was too disappointed to try again so I went and got Peaches. Peaches came when I called, and was better with the platform as Stephanie had worked with her on that yesterday along with saddling. And I worked with Peaches on saddling too but I had the wrong boots but she did get to where she was standing properly at the mounting block.
Lois is back so she can show me Suzie's tack and I'll just do what I need to do. I don't want to lose the little bit of confidence I gained yesterday.
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Post by horselady on Jan 26, 2015 1:53:32 GMT
not feel bad about grabbing the wrong horse. happens to everyone even me. and i own them. I needed to have my lesson horse so on a hot summer day i walked wayyyy up the hill to the far field and grabbed a grey/white horse. put the halter on and started to walk down the hill, my goodness, why is this horse just dragging it's feet. i pulled and told her to walk faster please as the lesson was going to be at the barn any minute. I turned around and looked at this horse and realized it was the wrong one. now wonder. she was stalling. she knew i had the wrong horse. so i let her go and had to walk allll the way to the far hill again. and this time i made sure i got the right one. i should have used the first one anyway but i had sold her and she was here for board. and i did not want to have a student on her. you did the best you could in those circumstances. and just go with it. all these littles lessons are a learning experience.  |
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 26, 2015 2:09:05 GMT
Yeah, I suppose, if I ever get my own horses confused take me to a doctor stat! I should be able to tell one from the other even with my eyes closed.
The thing I feel bad about the most is that the wrong horse is easier to deal with than the right one. I am so close to being done with working with a horse without riding I could just cry... in fact I did. And the thing is, if I had just been able to get myself over it and I think I could have worked Suzie to get her compliant but I was so weary right to my bones and my body still hurts from that fall. I don't mind so much if I have bad days after work but not on a weekend, I have such hopes for weekends. I'm disappointed I didn't stick with it but I did work with Peaches and she was so good that if I had the proper boots I would have gotten her used to a me getting on and off instead of just weight in the saddle and leaning on her back.
Tomorrow...
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 26, 2015 2:31:40 GMT
You are right. There is always a tomorrow. I am going to use you as my inspiration and I am going to try to start riding more. It's supposed to be a good, but windy day tomorrow, and I really want to ride. We will see.
I feel a little ashamed of myself. Here you guys really have to deal with serious cold, and I wimp out when the temp drops below freezing.  |
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Post by Shelly on Jan 26, 2015 2:37:02 GMT
Honestly, Grabbing the wrong horse happens to everyone at some point! I know I did that... I was suppose to work a green horse have them get used to being groomed and saddled, maybe put some weight in the stirrups. Well the horse I grabbed was perfect! I was even able to sit on him... Well turns out that was Mr.Old pro instead of Sir Spooks-alot. LOL The work wasn't lost. You got to work with someone new and that is a bonus in it's own way.
I wouldn't give up just yet! And it's super cute that Peaches comes when you call her!! <3
You got this!!
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 26, 2015 2:52:48 GMT
I am wondering, could you work with the other horse that you get along well with, rather than Suzie? Not everyone gets along with every person they meet, and all horses have different personalities, so I think it is reasonable that you would mesh with one horse personality, and maybe not do as well with another. Maybe the horse you were working with yesterday has a better personality fit for you. I don't know.
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hugs
Junior Member
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Post by hugs on Jan 26, 2015 3:44:51 GMT
I never thought anyone else would of grabbed the wrong horse. I was told Suzie was the only one who wasn't a bay and I was introduced to her but I focused on the star on her forehead. Shhh, I suppose I should get permission before posting pictures of someone else's horses but here is a picture of Coke and Suzie. As you're looking at the picture Coke is on the left and Suzie is on the right. Of course, Suzie is a sorrel and Coke is a bay... I dunno, I kinda thought something was wrong when I got her but she was so easy to get along and I didn't want to support my insecurity so I decided to go with what I thought was true... shows what that gets me  |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Jan 26, 2015 13:50:40 GMT
Look at it this way  - if you knew you would be working with a horse you didn't know and riding said horse, don't you think you would have been more nervous than you were when you were thinking it was Suzie? You got on a strange horse and even rode him some! That is a big thing. I think as soon as Suzie sees you as the alpha, you won't have some many problems with her. Besides, Lois wouldn't let you work with and ride a horse she didn't think you could handle. Keep up the good work....baby steps are steps forward you know. Did Peaches have a lesson this weekend? How'd that go? |
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
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Post by mingiz on Jan 26, 2015 14:04:15 GMT
That's why I have different colored horses.. So I don't grab the wrong one.  Your doing great just remember when your working with them your the boss mare.. You will get there just keep a positive thought. Keep up the good work!! I see you |
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Post by carshon on Jan 26, 2015 14:16:42 GMT
I think you are doing great! Instead of being down about grabbing Coke you should pat yourself on the shoulder. If you had gone to the barn and they said - you can't work with Suzie today but you can work with Coke you would have been nerved up because you did not know Coke and had anticipated working with Suzie. Now you KNOW (for a fact) that the skills you have are solid and that you can work with other horses. Working with horses is such a mental sport - and I do not think non-horsey people realize that. We can work ourselves up or down and it will affect the outcome of what we are doing - and the horse reads us better than we read ourselves.
You did it! You had a wonderful weekend working with 3 different horses. 3 - not one, not two but three. What is wrong with that? Why be down? I own 4 horses and did not work with even 1 - I know I should and I don't. I have become a fair weather rider.
I admire what you are doing and appreciate your honesty and the insight into your thought process. And I want you to know I am rooting for you 100,000% Keep up the good work.
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hugs
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Post by hugs on Jan 26, 2015 16:42:49 GMT
Thank you so much from the bottom of my little chubby arthritic heart :-)
I am rather a high maintenance person in regard to this horse stuff so you guys are vital just critical for me to feel better about my adventure with all if this.
I was so encouraged to read Tom Dorrance say he developed his approach because he was a small sickly child. Horses listen as well to firm cues don't need to be loud or aggressive neither of which I am either and it seems to work.
Peaches is coming along faster with the help of Stephanie. On Friday Peaches would jump the wooden bridge. Stephanie worked on that Saturday and by Sunday Peaches was willing to cross it no problem and stand on it front feet too!
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Post by lorddaxter on Jan 26, 2015 16:48:13 GMT
Wow!....so good to hear Peaches is being peachy:)
I'm enjoying reading your posts, nice to read about your commitment and watching you grow more confident:)
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Jan 27, 2015 0:49:01 GMT
I don't think you have given yourself enough credit here. So ok, you grabbed the wrong horse, but you worked with and rode him/her!!! When you grabbed Suzie (for real) the next time, and she wasn't as good as Coke (fake Suzie  ) was and you had to work on some of the same things again, well that's just good practice! I think it's great that you're getting an opportunity to work with different horses, even if it wasn't intentional. Every horse is a little different. They each have their own personalities and quirks. The more you get to work with them and get them to do what you want, the better and more confident you'll become! It's all good practice, and the fact that you rode fake Suzie should be a huge confidence builder for you! Keep at it! I'm so happy for you!
Oh, and I'm thrilled to hear the progress Stephanie is making with Peaches, especially with the bridge! Before long we're going to be hearing stories about your rides on Peaches!!
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 27, 2015 1:50:46 GMT
You know am thinking about Suzie.
I wonder how many different riders (handlers) she has had? You have said before, that a horse is always learning. Any time you spend with them, they are learning, whether it is good habits, or bad habits, they are learning something. I wonder if some of the different people, who have handled Suzie, didn't know, or were never taught, that it is just as easy to teach a horse bad habits, as it is, to try to teach them good ones. Maybe you would never let a horse get by with some of the things Suzie is trying to pull on you, but it is possible that others have, and by doing so, she learned a whole bag of tricks, to get out of doing something she doesn't want to do.
The reason I am wondering this is, I bought Chief, as a kid broke horse. He was ridden extensively by little kids. Well he had, and still has, some huge behavioral issues. He bites, he is pushy, he wouldn't bend, or turn left. It didn't matter how a little kid tried, he wouldn't break into a trot. (ok some bad habits are good from a Grandmotherly point of view.) It's just that, he was not what I would consider, a beginner broke horse, because he had to many bad habits, taught to him by young beginners.
I am not saying that you are in any way a beginner, but Suzie doesn't know you yet, and she might have a plan, to pull out every trick, out of her extensive bag of tricks, to get out of doing anything.
You will get through to her. She might really try to push the issue, but in the long run, she will be a better horse, because she got to meet you. |
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- if you knew you would be working with a horse you didn't know and riding said horse, don't you think you would have been more nervous than you were when you were thinking it was Suzie? You got on a strange horse and even rode him some! That is a big thing.
Your doing great just remember when your working with them your the boss mare.. You will get there just keep a positive thought. Keep up the good work!! I see you
) was and you had to work on some of the same things again, well that's just good practice!