hugs
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Post by hugs on Oct 7, 2014 2:45:14 GMT
Gosh, I hope what you say is true, Diamond, I really do. But I get insecure/worried that thinking like that is pie in the sky. Could something wonderful like that really be true for me too? Are strong interpersonal relationships with horses something common with horses so it wouldn't be so out of the ordinary for it to happen for me too?
I want Peaches to be reliable. I want to go out trail riding and go on adventures, go camping. I want to get a pickup and trailer and go on horse vacations. I want to ride around the farm with Coda bounding along. I want her to be happy to see me and come up to me in the pasture. I want her to hug me with her neck again and lean her fuzzy little face against mine again, simply enjoying being near me. But I know for sure that letting her get by with stuff isn't the way to get those things. We hear so much of a horse getting worse after its brought home. Well maybe Peaches could be better off than she is but she's a heckuva lot better of than she was!
I'll do my best to take lotsa pictures when she goes to her new home.
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nhg
Junior Member
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Post by nhg on Oct 7, 2014 5:20:38 GMT
How did she react to you tuning her in when she didn't want her feet done? I bet she was surprised and smartened right up.
They're like kids. Kids think they want the parent who has no rules and lets them do whatever they want but it only breeds contempt and disrespect for that parent. A parent has to be firm and fair but have expectations that are to be met. It makes them better citizens and it makes horses better equine citizens, too.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 7, 2014 22:54:32 GMT
I think you're right NHG on all counts. It wasn't that I was letting her get by with things before, it was that I wasn't able to progress beyond where we were because I didn't have the skills. Now through my lessons I'm getting them. I was supposed to go for another lesson tonight but had to stay home so the gas could get connected to the furnace.
Anyway, Peaches has a busy mouth but oddly enough she tried to nibble on me more and on the rope less! That's kind of odd but I think it means that she wasn't nearly as nervous as she used to be but she was trying to "get" me and I wouldn't have it. She didn't persist too long but tried numerous times. To someone who didn't know they might of thought I was trying to fly away as I was elbowing around to get her off of me. And then just to make it clear I shook and shuddered like a horse getting rid of flies, Peach got the message.
She did pretty well being tied up too. I think she's basically a lazy horse or more accurately, if she sees a value from her point of view she'll move, otherwise, "meh".
I'm getting to where I am almost looking forward to being with horses. The dream is very much alive but the reality was getting suckier by the day. I think we've made a turn here with the lessons. Do you have any idea how frustrating it has been for me since 2005!?!
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Oct 8, 2014 1:22:46 GMT
472536Hooray!!
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Post by enigma on Oct 16, 2014 12:11:46 GMT
This is awesome. Please continue to share - I'd love to follow along on the home game.
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Post by horselady on Oct 16, 2014 19:32:05 GMT
It would be interesting to find out how you and peaches are doing. and the elbow in the face is the way to go. or the elbow in their shoulder which tells them to move over and leave me alone. if you watch a herd of horses and their body language, and use that information for when you are near your horse. she will understand and listen to you .
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 16, 2014 23:21:36 GMT
Thanks. This weekend is THE weekend Peaches is hauled to Isanti! Eeek!
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Lipizzan
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Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Oct 17, 2014 8:42:02 GMT
I had a no nonsense hour with Mrs. Peach Pit today focusing on the lessons I'd been learning including a really fast and easy way to tie her. Gerald just had knee surgery a couple days ago so he didn't hold Peaches but he did give me moral support, so that was nice. I didn't take 'no' for an answer about cleaning her feet and while she was able to pull her feet away from me on a couple of occasions I got right back and we got 'er done I have to admit I got kinda angry with her when she was really kicking around with her back foot. I spanked her side, not hard, but the message was clear. I went around three times to clean her feet so that there was no mistake that this was going to be a regular thing from now on. She flexed her neck fairly well, kinda sticky on the right side, but practice will take care of that. I've tried to get her to go sideways which I don't do well, I think I'm not being clear enough or she doesn't see the point. Either way, I think getting her more accustomed to moving away from pressure will help that. She did pretty well with the head down cue, so that's good. A couple times she dipped her head down to go for the grass, so that didn't count of course. She will always try to do things her way. She is such a brat sometimes. Then I had her stand tied for about 5 minutes or thereabouts. She called out once. Pawed once and that was about it. Next time we'll work on that for longer and I'll leave the corral every so often and we'll see how that goes. The folks where I'm going to board Peaches will haul her to their place for 1/2 of what the other folks would charge, so that's a no brainer. Oct 19th, is the day, cross your fingers the weather is good. They were going to do it this Sunday but given we had a storm Friday night and Gerald just had surgery, I thought it better to put it off. Keep going, you are doing a great job, just don't give up.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 17, 2014 12:15:45 GMT
Thank you Lipizzan, I've given up SO many times since 2005. 1. I'm not cut out for this 2. I get no support from Gerald 3. No body is here to help me. 4. I can't take the pressure (and all forms of "I'm not cut out for this")
Last night Gerald actually said his first words of support for me bringing her down here for me to work with her daily. It'll be odd to go home on the weekends and not see her. Like I should buy a pickup and trailer and bring her with me every weekend. But I'm not made out of money so...
Sometimes I wish I would be more bonded/enthused with Penny, who is by all counts a much better choice for a saddle horse. Even Ziggy is a much better horse than Peaches. Peaches is one of those horses who get bounced from owner to owner until... But I can't let that happen on my watch you know. And Gerald who before was always saying, "Sell the horses and get yourself a babysitter", really didn't mean that so much because when I got closer to doing that he said that I didn't have to... but the idea of buying a babysitter is still a good idea, but I can't justify buying another horse when I have three!!!! Especially since Gerald can't ride because of his knee. Which is such a heartbreak. He has to retire because his knee got injured and his doctor was in bed with the insurance company, and forces Gerald to do too much too soon which resulted in him having to have another surgery which is so much worse recovery than the first. I'm sure it frustrates Gerald more than me, I can't even imagine but I wouldn't be so well adjusted as he is... mainly because I'm not that well adjusted in the first place!
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dc
New Member
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Post by dc on Oct 17, 2014 12:22:52 GMT
Sure doesn't sound like a 'given up' situation to me.
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 17, 2014 13:03:32 GMT
Well soon you will be able to cross #s 1, 3 and 4 off your list of excuses and it sounds like Gerald is coming around so maybe cross off #2 as well. Wait, that means no more excuses! I can't wait to hear all about your time with Peachie. And no worries leaving her behind on the weekends, it will give you some time to play with Ziggy and Penny (and maybe a little time for Gerald too!).
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 17, 2014 21:07:15 GMT
Sounds to me like you are very well on your way to #1,2,3 & 4 all being "done deal" status.....
Enjoy the journey and exploration.....
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Post by enigma on Oct 19, 2014 23:38:55 GMT
I am loving reading this.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 20, 2014 20:50:25 GMT
I would love love love not to feel so much suffering. Who knew staying alive would be so troublesome. But I'm just not cut out for easy. Gosh dang it.
Boy but I hope this makes sense Cruz I really want to figure this next bit out.... how to connect and be more horse without thinking about it. His to be it not figure it out?
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Post by enigma on Oct 21, 2014 15:00:15 GMT
Sounds like you're not feeling well? Sorry about the not-easy part. I love that you are taking such an analytical, step-by-step approach to all of this. And SHARING.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 21, 2014 22:53:25 GMT
Obviously my typing doesn't feel well, goodness knows I didn't proofread any of that. Sheesh. Yeah, I do suffer because its so difficult to live "away from home" and then... oh never mind, its just whining, its how it is and how it will be...
Thank you Engits, nice to "see" you here
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Post by horselady on Oct 21, 2014 23:46:38 GMT
Horse is simple. they only think for the moment. and their only interest is eating. moving. breeding. not jumping or making friends with humans. it is humans that put the burden on horses so we need to figure out a way to ask them to be nice. to perform and to love what they are doing in the moment. for us. we say please move over and touch their side and from the pressure they move over. we tap their chest or from up on their back we jerk the reins to back up and they put their feet in reverse and go backwards. what ever we ask of them they should comply. because they want to please us and when done they go back to eating. you are not home and it is hard for you to always work with them. remember it is quality not quantity.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Oct 22, 2014 2:54:00 GMT
Horselady, that's what Andrea says too. Must be true then, huh?
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