Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466 
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Post by Terry on Sept 28, 2014 18:17:59 GMT
I went for a nice long ride on Sis today. We stayed in the round pen, pasture and paddock the whole time. She started out acting very anxious, so I did a little lunging with her first, worked her on the cowboy curtain and did some backing, and then once I saddled up we did lots of stops and starts, and up and down hills to keep her paying attention to me. Several times she tried to pull towards Zena, but I steered her away. When I did steer her towards Zena, I made her do lots of small circles at a trot right next to Zena, and then we walked away and rested away from Zena. Before I finished the ride I rode her back into the round pen (where Zena had decided to hang out, since I'd left the gate open), did more small circles at a trot near Zena, and then hubby got Zena out of the round pen and closed the gate, so I let Sis rest. Then I rode Sis through the cowboy curtain a few times and called it done. By the end of our ride she was back to being the calm, quiet, attentive horse I know and love. 
I thought about leading her out to the side yard when we were done with our ride, but she was being so good that I wanted to end it there on a good note. Later today I'll lead her out of the pasture to the side yard again and just hang out with her there for a bit. We're going to do this in baby steps, but I'm trying as best I can to let her know that (a) being near Zena means work, but being with me is nice; (b) she won't die if she's taken away from Zena; and (c) she and Zena will always be back together again when it's over.
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 28, 2014 18:31:32 GMT
That's perfect.  Wow Terry you are a great trainer, and gave a wonderful lesson here.  |
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Sept 28, 2014 19:51:06 GMT
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Sept 28, 2014 19:53:48 GMT
That's perfect. Wow Terry you are a great trainer, and gave a wonderful lesson here.
Aw shucks, thanks ma'am. Adventures2
Thanks to all of you for the advice, support and encouragement!
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Sept 28, 2014 21:26:14 GMT
When I first started working on Peaches buddy-sweetness I couldn't even walk her facing away from the other horses, never mind to another pasture/corral. Today I can walk her away no problem, no hesitation, doing exactly what I'm asking her to do whether we are in a corral next door or to another part of the farm, in a trailer, doesn't matter. I do not believe there is an exact science here, but I agree with H4L that calling out from the horse you're leading is a no-no. They're attention is on you, they take their orders/how they act from you.
They can feel whatever they feel but what they do is where you must have control.
But as far as saying the horse left behind is the problem, sorry I don't buy that. I think, and it sounds like you have it, that you have control over what your horse does regardless of what is happening around them. We can't desensitize them to everything, we can't control their emotions, we work to control what they do. So like you, I work on new stuff from the ground and develop strategies there.
So what I'm interested in for this conversation is learning how to transfer the ground work behavior/cues to when I'm riding. For instance, disengaging the hind quarters, I'm learning how to do that in the lessons I started a couple weeks ago. Then there is the head down cue, I'm just learning that one but I don't know how to transfer that one. I'd like to have a few more cue/behaviors that diffuse the tension the horse is feeling in my quiver.
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Sept 28, 2014 21:38:23 GMT
So what I'm interested in for this conversation is learning how to transfer the ground work behavior/cues to when I'm riding. For instance, disengaging the hind quarters, I'm learning how to do that in the lessons I started a couple weeks ago. Then there is the head down cue, I'm just learning that one but I don't know how to transfer that one. I'd like to have a few more cue/behaviors that diffuse the tension the horse is feeling in my quiver. When Zippy starts getting 'jazzed' and nervous, I will stop him and just flex his head from side to side for a few minutes. I pat him, talk to him, let him play with my foot in the stirrup. It seems to help bring back his focus on me, and it reassures him also bc its a familiar activity. He regroups, refocuses his attn., and settles down pretty quickly. Seems to work for us  |
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Sept 28, 2014 23:45:14 GMT
I agree that the horse that is with me needs to be completely with me at all times, not acting out because of another horse in the vicinity. I am working on that with Sis now and she is coming along. Tonight when I led her out of the pasture and into the side yard closest to the barn she was much more calm, quiet and well behaved. She kept her focus on me, ignored Zena much better, and even nibbled a little grass while we were away. We even walked a little further away this time before heading back. Once again Zena (the horse left behind) was calling out and running around some, but again, not as bad as she did Friday. It's a work in progress.
Just to be clear, Sis, the horse that is with me, the horse that I'm leading away, is not the horse doing the calling. She did not call out on Friday when she was having her nervous breakdown, nor has she ever called out when I've led her away. Zena, the horse left behind alone, is the one doing all the calling.
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Post by horselady on Sept 29, 2014 0:12:00 GMT
OFF TOPIC lol and the cat is not a member on here and can not post. how cute is he.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Sept 29, 2014 0:58:18 GMT
So what I'm interested in for this conversation is learning how to transfer the ground work behavior/cues to when I'm riding. For instance, disengaging the hind quarters, I'm learning how to do that in the lessons I started a couple weeks ago. Then there is the head down cue, I'm just learning that one but I don't know how to transfer that one. I'd like to have a few more cue/behaviors that diffuse the tension the horse is feeling in my quiver. When Zippy starts getting 'jazzed' and nervous, I will stop him and just flex his head from side to side for a few minutes. I pat him, talk to him, let him play with my foot in the stirrup. It seems to help bring back his focus on me, and it reassures him also bc its a familiar activity. He regroups, refocuses his attn., and settles down pretty quickly. Seems to work for us :-[ Ugh, a quote within a quote, my head is spinning... Anyway, the flex back and forth, so which "on the ground" is that one?! And how do I flex a horses head away from me without extensions on my arms or working with a mini? Terry, I think you did say that Zena, the horse who was left home, was the one making a stink. I was commenting on a comment LOL Another cue I use that may or may not be effective with other horses, I guess its somewhat akin to the "Quit" cue, is the "Get Over Yourself" cue. I've been led to believe our vocalizations aren't as effective as our attitude or maybe our behavior or maybe its our demeanor. |
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 29, 2014 1:02:46 GMT
Oh darn I'm sorry. I guess I need to re-read the rules. Really sorry, and he not even an adult. He is only kitten.  I will ever let it happen again. I promise. He He.
The thing I think is so cool about this thread is, that Terry did exactly what I have seen a big name trainer do, to address a similar problem, with another horse. She brought it home for me. You don't have to be a big name trainer, to have excellent training techniques. We are all capable of doing the right thing with our horses. I guess that is why we are all here. We want to do our best by our horses, and by our fellow horse lovers and friends.  |
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Post by horselady on Sept 29, 2014 1:14:49 GMT
DG< i did not mean anything bad by that comment.. i thought it was cute that he wanted to chime in. and he can post anytime. made me smile after a day of frowns.
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Post by diamondgirl on Sept 29, 2014 1:49:34 GMT
I didn't take any offence by what you said HL. I would prefer, if he wouldn't spend so much time in my lap, but on the other hand, I love it, that he is so darn cuddly. He is my baby boy. What can I say.
I am sorry you had a day of frowns. I wish I could email you Morris, for awhile. He would take all your frowns away, and,,,, rub kitty fur up your nose, just for good measure. |
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Post by lorddaxter on Sept 29, 2014 12:22:29 GMT
Buy a third horse lol?!
Have you tried stabling zena, maybe she'd be quiter and settle?
This is the reason I decided on threw although Im considering going back to two in the future, for a while anyway, mine aren't buddy sour but ira is so attached to dax that when I come back he starts whickering, dax ignores him though!
I have had a few times that Isis and dax did do the screaming when out on trail, no idea why, I tell them to quit and give them a sharp kick or a slap on the neck when they do that, I don't like their attention being elsewhere.
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Sept 29, 2014 13:24:36 GMT
Sorry I am late getting into this. Terry, I think you are doing a great job with Sis. My suggestion is to continue doing what you are doing but also not bringing Sis back until Zena calms down some. Otherwise, you are rewarding Zena for calling and pacing. I know, it's hard to balance two horses at once and end on a good note for both of them. Just something to think about.
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Terry
Junior Member
Central Illinois, USA
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Terry on Sept 29, 2014 15:18:07 GMT
Actually, MM, I'm glad you mentioned that! It's an excellent point! I did think about it and did act on it, just never thought to mention it. I do not return Sis to Zena until Zena is quiet and calm. If Zena is still calling, then Sis and I continue to stay away until she stops. Like you said, it is very difficult to juggle both horses at the same time, but I'm definitely trying to do my best.
As for adding a 3rd horse, LD, the thought has gone through my mind, and I would still like to get a pony for my granddaughters, but right now is just not the time. Money has been very tight, so adding another large mouth to feed is just not in the cards for us right now.
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Sept 29, 2014 17:11:12 GMT
Good job Terry. It sounds like you have a lot of patients.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Sept 29, 2014 17:27:24 GMT
Buck Brannaman does something very similar to deal with a buddy sour horse. Basically, he'll do things like work the horse hard by it's buddies and then let it relax when away from them. The thing is he gets someone to hold the buddies while he's doing it so I think what you're doing works great for you in your situation.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Sept 29, 2014 23:51:46 GMT
This is all good stuff! Keep it coming!
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redzip
Junior Member
Posts: 1,701
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Post by redzip on Sept 30, 2014 1:37:33 GMT
Julie Goodnight is on RFDTV tonight doing an episode on the 'barn sour horse'. I realize its a bit different, but it might have some good techniques for any type 'sourness' in horses  |
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Wow Terry you are a great trainer, and gave a wonderful lesson here. 
I will ever let it happen again. I promise. He He.
