Winter Blues

Judy on Flicka and Cherie on Tea: a little class time between storms

Flicka told me she’d like to talk a bit about what’s been going on at the Ranch the past month, so I’ll let her take the helm once again (“let” her? she’ll do it whether I give permission or not.)

Flicka, aka Lips Potter

“This has been another winter where we’ve had to face day after day of bitter cold temperatures, several snowstorms, a brief spell of dry but cold days, followed by rain, then bitter cold, snow again, and lots of cloudy, gray days. These conditions don’t help my old bones feel springy, but since I’ve been getting goodly sized meals I can’t complain much. I’ve even been keeping the shavings in my stall fairly tidy so I have a soft, dry place to stand or to lay down in. And at least with the nice, roomy paddock I don’t feel cooped up as if I’m in a prison.”

Breeze talking to Judy,’where’s the treats?’

“When I go into the turnout I have a good roll, maybe a little bucking around to kick up the heels, and then a noontime nap if the sun comes out. Will warmer days ever return? My mistress assures me they will, but I think she has her doubts. The Tall One and her students go about the daily chores, trudging around in several layers of bulky clothes and mucking out our paddocks, breaking ice in the troughs and trying not to freeze their little hands and feet. We all wish for Spring when the sun warms our backs and we feel like playing and even working in the arena. Well, that’s about all I have to say, but I do also want to remind my friends, horses and humans, how nice it is to live here with the Tall One who tends to us with so much care, compassion and kindness. It makes this lousy weather bearable”

Thanks, Flicka, for your informative report. And I do appreciate that you’re taking care to keep your shavings clean.
Yes, all the Featherettes are anxious to get back in the saddle. At least we’ve been able to keep up with some liberty work, giving every horse time in the round pens to get the kinks out, stretch out a bit for a little trot and perhaps a canter if the temperature allows it. By the time the day warms up, we barely have enough time to give everyone a bit of light exercise before the sun starts heading over the mountain and the temperature plunges back into the teens.

Why are these girls smiling?

Here we are on one lovely day in December when 3 of us got to take 3 of the horses out for a trail ride. A pleasant day, indeed. We had a short class beforehand and I’ll admit that I felt VERY rusty! I could have become frustrated by this, but patience and knowledge has taught me to look at the positive side of every session. Even in spite of the layoff from riding, our horses were agreeable and accepting of us, not grumpy or irritated about being back in a class or out on the trail. There can’t be enough said about the benefit of laying a good foundation when it comes to horses and horsemanship.
We often become so obsessed and preoccupied about obtaining a perfect move or achieving success in the show ring that we forget the most important facet of sensible, classical training; To help our horses be safe, calm, obedient, and happy partners.

Sherrie C gets a lesson on a rare, not so cold day

It’s wonderful when we do get to have frequent classes because our skills (quiet seat, independent hand and leg, balance – just to name a few of the technical aspects) and comprehension increase more rapidly. However, under the watchful eye of our teacher we have been gaining the secure, solid base to build upon. Just knowing that we do have a good foundation is
a boost to our confidence. Lucky Featherettes.

Cherie says mucking is a better workout than going to the gym!

I’ve come to realize how much there is to learn from the horses when we’re spending every day caring for them, leading them to turn out, feeding, grooming. Really paying attention to what they’re saying (it helps to have our Equine Interpreter around when I don’t understand what they’re telling me), how each one reacts in a different manner to situations. Every nuance means something and it’s so easy to miss it. What fun to spend time hanging out with them, talking, listening and laughing!

Staying fit for riding can be fun, too. I’m just as rusty on my skis and mountain bike as I am on the horses, and I almost felt like the snow had a mind of it’s own when I got back on skis last week. Last month I thought my mountain bike was purposely going to send me OTB (over the bars) when I rode it down some icy singletrack. In both cases, “going forward will cure most problems”, yeah, but “fear stops training” (or biking, or skiing…). This could be a great time to review the Alphabet on the Arena page, as it applies to our horses and training it could also apply to other aspects of our lives.

Cabo’s first shoes

A banner day for our little Cabo who got his very first shoes, fronts only, last week! Thank you, Judy, for expertly handling Cabo while Randy worked on his feet.

Fellow Featherette Margie is also anxious to start working her horses, particularly her new boy Apache. From the looks of this photo it appears he will soon be going into dressage training. We’re looking forward to having Micahh, Cinnamon and their new friend Apache in class as soon as the weather warms up.

Here is our mascot Hush Puppy and one of his kitty friends. What a good boy he is, always accompanying us as we make our rounds in the paddocks, letting us know when the Wild Ones are coming over to say hello. Thank you faithful Hush Puppy.

Everyone is working so diligently to keep the horses happy and healthy, and I want to thank all of you for the effort – it’s much appreciated by our horse friends. Stay warm, think good thoughts and dream of the wonderful year ahead!

Cabo says, “Thank you, auntie Judy

Musings at the Hitching Post

It’s so easy to NOT write a post, just the act of having to sit down and put thoughts into words is time consuming at best, and simply exhausting at worst. I start out thinking, “I’ll just write a quick post and it shouldn’t take more than a half hour”, then hours later I check the time and it’s close to midnight. Hence my excuse for not keeping up with the blog, plus I think if I procrastinate a wee bit longer then maybe someone else will decide to take up pen in hand and write down their thoughts about our horsemanship program. For that matter the art of mucking manure would be good for a sentence or two!

Because we’re approaching our 4 month anniversary at the Ranch, I’d like to mention a few things I’ve noticed (this may be redundant as I’m sure it’s been mentioned in a couple previous posts). First, and most important, our horses are happier, healthier, robust (perhaps a few are a tad round, but I’m not divulging their names..) and willing to work. Second, I’ve noticed great improvement in everyone’s riding skills, and I’ll get to the details of this topic in a bit.
I don’t think we appreciate how difficult the conditions were for us in the previous stables. Contentment for horses and humans is an important ingredient for riding and schooling, and even absorbing the knowledge we gained from each session was impacted by the amount of work we had to do to keep our horses relatively happy.

One thing can be said about the trials and tribulations we went through; every one of us in our group has the capability to run a barn, and always with the mind that the primary concern is welfare of the horses. Thanks to our teacher we’ve learned to be vigilant observers, whether it’s checking out quality of hay, shoeing, water intake, etc. I know I’ve written about this before, but it’s a huge part of what we must learn to do in order to be the best equine caretakers (and horsewomen) possible. I know we don’t appreciate ourselves enough, but simply take a look at what we’ve been able to do on a shoestring budget.

Regarding the ubiquitous manure: we had to put up with lousy footing in more than a few “arenas” (meaning most of the sand was gone, or no footing, or decomposed granite with rocks, or hard pan, ad nauseam), when there was a simple, inexpensive answer right on the premises.

Good old manure. I even looked it up in a Google search, and although some argue that it’s “smelly and dusty”, many others agree that it provides a beautiful, excellent footing when mixed with sand, dampened and dragged. Look at our court in this photo. Nicest court/arena we’ve had since our group formed. Not one of our horses has stumbled, strained themselves, or had a stone bruise (all issues we encountered over the last couple years) in our court.

I hate to sound crabby and self righteous, but if I hadn’t seen this stuff occur for myself I would never have believed how
people can become so belligerent about anything to do with horse care if it meant more work or spending an extra dime (but in the case of dumping and spreading manure in an inadequate outdoor arena, it would’ve actually saved on the expense of hauling it to the landfill. What’s up with that?).

Enough about the past! Let’s look at what’s been going on over the last four months and why I think our photos don’t lie about
the improvements in each rider. Again, I’ve said this before, take the time to look at the pictures we’ve been taking of our classes over the last 2 years. What do you see? Sure, I can pick apart lots of things I don’t like about my position and posture, especially when I “change” because of an issue I may be working through with one of the horses. But if I do a serious comparison between last year’s classes and some of the most recent work, I do see a clear difference for the better. The job of our teacher IS to help us get better (“nitpicking”, she calls it). It’s easy to get rusty, but when we develop physically and mentally (which is often the most important part of the equation), it honestly doesn’t take long to come back right where we were when we left off. Things can only improve when we’re under the direction of our teacher.

I’ve been riding under the Tall One’s discerning eye for a little over 3 years and, yes, there have been times when I questioned if I’d “ever get this…I’m not getting better…this is hard..wah, wah”. I vividly recall the early Spring day when I took my first group lesson from Tall One. Couldn’t halt from leg, couldn’t keep horse straight, what the heck was contact, what is inside leg to outside rein, independent hands, quiet seat, (hmmmnnn, just thinking about this helps me realize how much I’ve learned, or at least am now aware of!), plus that damn breathing leg. Man, I couldn’t do a thing. But I could trail ride! woo hoo! I wanted to learn real communication, but, but…how long would it take? Tall One would come up to me (whilst my horse hid behind the arena water trough) and ask “And what was that supposed to be?”. I’d say, “well, I think she gave me the counter canter because I , blah, blah, blah, blah”. Or, “well, I thought if I did this, I’d get that”.

“DON’T OVER ANALYZE!”, she’d tell me after the ten-thousandth time of me trying to explain what it was, why, and what my horse did. “SIMPLIFY” . And that’s what finally helped me gain a sliver of light to understanding what it is we’re learning.

Those of us who’ve stuck with this method came from many diverse paths, each one of our horses had training issues, every one had some degree of physical problem( sucked back necks, hollowed backs, sore feet and legs), and every one of them a very distinct personality. None of what we did in the beginning made much sense and it all seemed so very complicated.

Our balance and position must first improve if we want to become better equestrians; patient, capable riders who understand what the horse is telling us, and this in itself is overwhelming! How can we keep a horse straight if our body is flopping around atop him? How can he understand us if we’re moving our hands about, our legs banging away, looking down, and elbows akimbo? It’s also pretty close to what we should do when riding a bike, except our bike doesn’t care if we move about, grip the handlebars, or look down at the rock. We get dumped off our bikes, too, but they don’t run off hightailing it for the barn!

Once I got this through my head, plus that I needed to be patient with myself, it became easier to let all the other stuff go and just enjoy the gradual process of becoming a more efficient and thoughtful rider. With improvement in physical skill the rest will come, be it ever so subtle. There are some days when I really feel something come through that we’ve discussed, only to have it poof out of my mind the next time I ride. A fleeting recognition of what a certain movement should feel like, a correct placement of leg, a brief moment of what the horse is telling me, lovely connected contact; these things often seem so elusive much of the time, but I can’t dwell on it because it sure won’t help the horse I happen to be working with.
Our horse is not an automaton and he certainly doesn’t care what our agenda may be.

Soon enough the light bulb moments last a little longer every time – maybe one day the lamp will stay plugged in for an entire day! Why not be happy with the progress we make every time we have the luxury of riding in class? Our enthusiasm is infectious not only to one another, but also to our horses.

Simplify
Again this word came to my mind after I signed up for a “Classical Dressage” discussion group. I was curious as to what people have to say, what they discuss, and even their approach to riding and training. Ugh! I quit reading the threads after a few weeks. So much arguing, discussion of arcane training methods, differences of opinions amongst trainers. I feel sorry for novices who come to this panel for advice with their riding and training, and even send along videos of themselves riding and request help with their problems and lack of skills- these are folks who have no one else to turn to (and if they did, would they get any better training?).
So much confusing advice makes for very confused riders and terribly unhappy horses. How rare to have a teacher who helps students by asking us to “Simplify”, to “Do Less”. The rest will come.
It really doesn’t matter what we want to pursue, our education is ultimately a benefit to the horses, whether we want to trail ride, enter a small schooling show, ride over jumps, dream of Grand Prix, or even become a teacher/trainer (what a job!).

This is a time consuming endeavor, the horses need as consistent a program as we do, and often life itself gets in the way of our efforts to be dependable trainer/riders. If we at least have a good foundation of skills (the building blocks), then the periods of time when we’re unable to ride don’t cause a deterioration in our abilities, but allow us to re-establish our relationship with the horse and continue our education in the art of riding. I believe this became very apparent with our group during the last 2 years as we limped over the hurdles that always seemed before us. Our unique group could not have done this without a clear vision of what we hoped to achieve. A hearty “Well Done” to all !

Too Windy to Ride? Tales from Flicka

The Matriarch

Oh those lackadaisical Featherettes! It’s been well over 3 weeks since anyone in their little group has written a post, and it wouldn’t matter anyway because all they would do is whine about the windy, chilly weather and how they don’t like to ride in it, wah, wah, boohoo.

So it’s up to me, the grand dame ( as defined in the Horse’s Dictionary “A highly respected elderly or middle-aged mare” ) of our herd, to let the outside world know what’s going on these days. In a nutshell, not much. But since I like to flap my lips I don’t mind taking up the slack and filling up empty space with a word or two.

First, as spokes-mare for the group I want to let the Tall One know how content and happy we horses are living here. The nice, big paddocks are such a relief from the tiny runs most of us have lived in at other places. As for myself, I never could get used to the dinky paddocks (“runs” they call them. who can run in those tight quarters?) from the day my mistress moved off her own property and started boarding me at other peoples’ places.

Breeze and Cabo – Life is Good!

Nope, never liked any of ’em. But now it’s like being back at my old home when I lived with my human mom and she was there every day to take care of me. This is the real deal! The Tall One checks on us throughout the day and night, talking to us, taking us to daily turnout, never forgetting to give us a pat on the neck and a crunchy cookie or two.

Peace!
And to think I used to live only a mile or two over the hill from the Tall One! My little human and I would go for long jaunts down the trail that is within sight of my current paddock. The Tall One said she is quite sure she used to see us! She would watch as we gaily trotted along the road, my girl-human unaware each time I switched her posting diagonal to my preferred side. Ah, those were the days – she was so blissfully unaware of the advantages I took – and I still have fun with her, showing her who’s really in charge of this team.

Lover Boy Hermie

Thanks to this dressage stuff I’ve been able to continue working into my golden years, and even better than before because it doesn’t take me as long to stretch and limber up before the real work begins. Maybe I’m like that 87 year old man who pole vaults, or even the 104 year old lady who still drives her car; stay in shape and stay sharp. And even if I’m a little pudgy I can still kick up my heels when I feel like it, such as when my boyfriend is out of my sight. Oh, did I mention my little Hermie? He’s such a cute little burrito!

Autumn on Flicka with instructor Kristy
I got to see my youngest student again a few weeks ago. It was nice to have Autumn visit because she takes the time to brush me all over, making sure my mane and tail are untangled and getting my polo wraps just right.
Even though we had a lapse between our lessons she didn’t miss a beat, from her balance and rhythm while posting my trot, to the even, steady contact (yet with light hands!) on the reins.
I hope she knows that I can feel the improvements, especially in her seat and legs (and my, have her legs grown longer!). We had fun and I’m looking forward to her next lesson.

A line up after the lesson!

Yes, it’s been windy and sometimes chilly, which is why most of us haven’t lost all our winter coats, but we have been out in the court whenever there is a break. Carley rode me one day when I was not in the best of moods because I wanted to get back to my Hermie, but I couldn’t rattle her nerves at all. I pulled the same stunts on my little human and she just laughed at me…curses!

The 6 Amigos! Judy/Breeze, Amy/Flicka, Kristy/Relentless

Everyone has been in good spirits and it’s a pleasure to see the teams back in action; Carley and Breeze, Medina with her Stefanie, Tea and her mom Cherie. My mistress and my aunties Judy and Kristy take turns at partnering up with Relentless, me or Breeze. And soon Micahh and Cinnamon will be joining the group along with aunt Margie. I like it when Sherrie C comes over for lessons with her horse Maida because I really put on a good act trying to bluff and intimidate that little paint mare. I’m pretty sure I have everyone fooled, except maybe the Tall One.

Another rare, warm day- Amy/Relentless, Kristy/Flicka, Stef/Medina, Cherie/Tea

I guess the only other thing I can add is that we horses agree our little bunch of humans is deeply committed to learning how to be better equine communicators. They strive to do the best they can as the Tall One instructs them in the fine art of riding.
They diligently work at achieving a better seat and quiet aids, furthering their skills every time we carry them around. Every Featherette has continued to make progress in spite of all the obstacles we’ve been through. All anyone has to do is take a look at how we work; whether we’re in our “home court”, at a show, on the trails, or simply standing patiently (OK, so sometimes I paw the ground a little..that’s because I’m afraid Tea is getting too close to my dreamy Hermie) at the hitching rail to see the benefits of good, sensible schooling/training/dressage. Practical, simple, quiet, patient and thoughtful work. We horses appreciate fairness and consideration from our humans, and in return we offer the gift of our companionship. Treat us fairly and we will cooperate to the best of our understanding and athletic ability.

Medina and Stefanie
The philosophy of riding is about so much more than simply riding us “better”. It’s also about paying attention to what we horses can teach you, and in turn you must always remember to continue the cycle by passing along your knowledge and becoming an advocate for us! Horses everywhere would be grateful for each small improvement their rider makes because of the guidance and instruction of an astute teacher/trainer.

We’re all in this together, but we horses don’t have a choice about it, and it’s humans like the Tall One who helps us by teaching others how to be compassionate, patient and tactful equestrians.
Keep in mind: Patience, Persistence, Praise!

blah,blah,blah

More thoughts on an Evaluation (from Judy and Kristy)

As promised, Judy and Kristy have continued the discussion of observing the evaluation of a horse and rider/trainer. Read on!

What an honor to watch someone so experienced and accomplished as Tall One methodically working through an evaluation. Every movement and every word of hers has purpose.

Few in this world could communicate so well with a mare they’d just met and so quickly gain her trust.
So much of training occurs when one is not in the saddle.

Watching from the point of view of a spectator allows one to observe behavior and movement (of both horse and trainer/rider) that one cannot see from the saddle.

When one truly disciplines oneself to observe the tiniest detail, the amount of information gathered could fill a book- indeed many books.
Just think of the volumes of information Tall One has gathered in her head after so many years – it would make the entire collection of Encyclopedia Brittanica look like a quick read!

Spending time watching the horse any time is a valuable addition to what the rider feels under the saddle!

Final thoughts by Kristy.

In summary, being able to watch this evaluation was a great opportunity to be able to observe the horse and rider relationship as well as watch a professional trainer evaluate skill levels and offer expertise.  Not only did I learn how to evaluate a horse and rider from the first introduction but I learned how critical it is to just watch and listen.   Whether I decide to become a trainer or just continue with riding, I am learning how to be able to LISTEN, OBSERVE and APPLY the tools that I will need to be able to enjoy horses in a safe manner.  When I signed up for this training, I agreed to give 100% of myself and try to benefit the most I can from each opportunity.  Thank-you Tall One for taking us down the “Yellow Brick Road” and showing us all the little lessons as well as the big ones along the way. Kristy

A Lesson in Observation Skills

(we had a “class assignment” the other week to write about our thoughts, feelings, insights of the Evaluation we had the opportunity to observe. Herewith my submission, and following this is a post from fellow Featherette Peggy. Judy? Kristy?
Stay tuned for their posts!)

Where would I begin if I’m ever asked to help someone with their horse? It could be a friend who “just’ wants to learn to ride their new horse, or perhaps they have specific issues and problems with their horse and ask me for training advice. What would I do? Would I have enough confidence to say I could help them, and then how do I determine what the priorities are?

I haven’t given this much thought before because although Flicka and I started our training together almost 3 years ago, she’s now the who’s giving lessons to the humans! This doesn’t let me off the hook because the Tall One advises that not only are we becoming thoughtful, correct and effective riders and trainers, continually adding skills and knowledge into our “toolbox”, but at some point we’ll also find ourselves in the roles of teachers.

So it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to observe a full evaluation of horse and rider when our Equine Counselor (yes, Feather) invited Judy, Kristy, Peggy and me to attend just such a session.

Esperanza is a lovely bay Arab mare, and it was immediately evident that her human mom Victoria has treated her with kindness and gentle training. We watched as the pretty mare was led out of her trailer and walked around the outdoor arena, showing only a little distress at the new surroundings. It didn’t take long before she settled down and became intrigued with the tall human who approached and offered her a tasty apple cookie.

I did feel empathy for Victoria as I know how it is to be in the hot seat, so to speak. Having to work with one’s horse in front of an audience can really add pressure to being in the ring, the attention of the teacher/trainer focused entirely on you!
Both horse and rider handled it well, which was another indicator to me of Victoria’s relationship with Esperanza.

A teacher/trainer must mentally note all details; beginning from the exit out of a horse trailer, to the ground manners, groundwork skills, or lack of; equipment currently being used, from the type of headstall/bit to saddle and even the pad! Note the hoof and its care, whether barefoot or shod we should see good wall and angle. What is the feeding program and current exercise regimen?

Asking questions, quietly watching, discussing issues. Oh boy, now to the work!
Lets not forget to watch for mounting and dismounting issues. How is the horse’s athleticism? Nicely rounded, supple and bending, or stiff and hollow, crooked and leaning on rein? Is there lameness or soreness apparent when we watch the movement during groundwork or under saddle? And what of our rider? Why have they come to us and what is it they seem to be searching for?
I remember when I wasn’t even sure WHAT I was looking for, except to become a better rider. I didn’t have an inkling what that meant and where it would lead me.

We watched as Esperanza began her groundwork, the training foundation we build upon, and although she hadn’t been lounged much lately she soon settled into an easy walk and trot even in spite of a surcingle which did not fit too well (one of ours–seems like our horses tend toward an “ample” girth size!). Canter was more difficult for her, particularly the right lead, and our Equine Counselor spent some time with Esperanza using the long lines, watching and “listening” to the little Arab mare as she quietly worked with her.

The evaluation continued in the ring as we watched Victoria ride her pretty mare, working through up/down transitions, half turn on forehand/haunches, halt from leg. Watching a lesson from the ground got me to really look at what it is we actually DO during our group and private sessions. I thought about how much each of us has learned in the last few years, how far we’ve come and where we’ll be in another two years as we continue our education in horsemanship.

Just the word “Evaluation” and what it means to the trainer/teacher and to the student is pause for reflection . This was a thorough exam of a horse and rider that took place over several hours. Both teacher and student have time to ask and answer questions, the horse has time to settle down and perform without pressure or stress, and each party has the opportunity to come to an understanding of what they are hoping to achieve. As with all our own sessions, this particular one ended on a positive, happy note, with teacher, student, and horse all smiles.

Good work, Victoria and Esperanza! And thanks to our Tall One for another lesson in the quest to further our education in horsemanship. We don’t have to be the one in the saddle to gain knowledge or learn a new skill- take a break every now and then and observe a lesson from the sideline (and for something even more demanding….teach a class!)

Evaluation of Horse and Rider

Watching the evaluation of a horse and rider isn’t the most exciting way to spend a day, but the insights learned are priceless.

When working with an unfamiliar horse and rider team it’s important to evaluate where they are so a training program can be formulated.

The evaluation starts when the horse is unloaded from the trailer then proceeds with ground work and then under saddle. Both the horse and the handler/rider demonstrate where they are in their training program and more important, what is missing.

Among the things you look for and ask:
What does the person intend to do with her horse?
How do they relate to each other and new situations and environments? Are they relaxed and taking things in stride or acting nervous and flighty?
Does the tack fit? Is it adjusted properly or is it too tight or too loose? Is it appropriate for the training level of both horse and handler?
How does the horse react to the handler’s requests? Is he willing or argumentative? Soft and supple or stiff as a board?
How does the handler deal with the horse? Is she soft and patient or rough and abrupt? Is she the leader or does the horse make the decisions?

As you can see, the list seems endless.

By the end of the assessment you will have an idea of what has been accomplished in the team’s training, were the ‘holes’ are in that training and a start in formulating where your training should begin.

Communication

Cherie working with Tea “at liberty”

I think we can all remember playing a game called “pass it on”. You sit in a circle and begin by the 1st person whispering a phase in the next person’s ear. Then the game continues by each person whispering what they thought they heard whispered in their ear to the person next to them. The fun part comes at the end of the game when the last person reveals what they believe the original phrase was. Usually when it is compared to the actual original phrase it is so convoluted that the final phrase is not at all close. The point of the game is to show us that we “hear” what we believe people are saying not what they are actually saying.

Now imagine playing the game and the communication is so clear that the final phrase comes out exactly the same at the end as the original phrase. Wouldn’t that make the game even more fun? When communicating with our equine partners this is our goal, communicating so precisely and clearly that there is no opportunity for them “hear” what they believe we are saying as opposed to what we are really are trying to say, eliminating all chance for interpretation on their part.. Clear, concise aides and body language, this is what the “tall one” refers to as doing less. Correct, consistent, precise, and quiet aides equal good communication. Just a whisper.

Perception, According to Cabo

I was the KING today! I was chosen  FIRST and I was the ONLY horse being worked. All the lady people were watching and all the other horses were jealous. It was amazing, all I had to do was pay attention and do what I was asked, then I was rewarded. It was so great! I have been waiting and waiting for this day to come and FINALLY it did, and it was today.

First, the Tall One came out with me in the big indoor arena. We had done this type of work four other times before, ‘Liberty Work’, I think she called it. So when we started today I got really excited because I am beginning to understand what she wants. She stood in the center of the arena and I knew instantly that I had to behave myself and pay attention because she was anticipating my every move.   Man, she wouldn’t let me get away with anything! I noticed how her eyes were not always on me, but somehow she still saw everything I did. What is this, I thought, does she have eyes in the back of her head? It almost seemed like she was reading my mind, hmm, maybe she really was? Anyway, she made me feel comfortable early on by making simple, subtle gestures with her body just at the correct moment. I knew what she wanted and her timing was so perfect, it felt like we were somehow connected. She never broke that connection, not even once. It made me feel confident and smart, it was cool.

above: Kristy working Cabo at liberty
Then the Tall One left and one by one all her students gave it a try. That’s when the real fun began. I would test each student to see how much I could get away with. It didn’t take me long to realize they didn’t seem to be watching me as closely, so I could play a little bit. However, each time I started to have some fun, the student would jump down my throat. They would really shout their commands to get me back on track. Don’t they know that if they were just a little more perceptive they can avoid that? S’sheesh, I was only trying to have my fun, so I don’t see what they were getting so worked up about? It almost seemed like their timing was a bit slow. Hmmm, I bet Tall One has mentioned that a few times, like a thousand, ha,ha! Those silly ladies. Don’t get me wrong, with Tall One giving them cues during the training, I noticed that their timing was really improving. It is crucial that we keep that constant connection going otherwise I get bored and look for ways to amuse myself. Last, I noticed it was very easy for me to get off track when the student stood in the wrong spot. A lot of times if they would just take a step back towards my hind, that would keep me on track instead of taking a step forward. The position of the student is most crucial for the stability of our training session. Just the slightest degree off may break that connection as well.

Anyway, it was a fun day and I can’t wait to do it again! King Cabo, yeah, I like the sound of that. I feel so happy, today was the best day ever. All the hot mares are looking at me now, they think I am a stud! Get in line ladies, there is enough of the CABO WABO to go around!

P.S. I wanted to take this time to give the people ladies a couple of pointers for next session. First, be present and perceptive. This means to basically read my thoughts and have eyes in the back of your head, that way you can keep me on track with subtle corrections instead of loud ones. Next, make sure you have perfect timing as you know that if you are even a second late our connection could be lost. Last, don’t forget to watch your position and make sure you are standing in the correct spot. If you follow these three pointers in our next session we will have lots of fun, guaranteed!

I am sure I may have missed something, so please let me know if there is anything you would like to add. I am definitely not an expert but I know a thing or two.

A Horse Speaks of Lessons and Humans

“I would like to make a short report to let everyone know what our human companions have been doing over the last few weeks. As the so called “senior citizen” of our small herd, I have a tendency to keep an eye on what is going on around us at all times. Many years of being around and watching the often clumsy, frequently impatient, and always confounding beings has taught me to at least be amused by them, if not perplexed by their actions.

Our group agrees how pleased we are with the new apartment. The stalls are nice and airy, with sweet smelling shavings covering the soft floors, plenty of fresh water in our personal fountains, nifty dutch doors, and lots of clean hay to munch on. We are so content! Our people come see us every day, learning to become more efficient with the clean up, working together
with no complaint, gaining a better understanding of how much it means to horses when we are truly taken care of. Many, many humans seem to forget we are half of the team -they throw the saddle on us, a cold bit in our mouth, haul their oafish body atop us, and off we go, only to be stuck back in a tiny, stinky stall when they’ve decided they’re done with the ride.
Phooey on that!

Most of us have been wanting to get back to work, so the Tall One recently had our humans start the winter training program. We were off schedule for an entire month and it isn’t easy to plunge back into class, but she had us start with easy basics. Walking on long rein, gathering to get a little collection, getting the kinks out and our muscles stretched before moving into working trot (or gait, as is the case with Splash and Relentless) and at last, canter!

I carried not only my own human mom for a lesson, but also my friends Judy, Kristy and Carley in classes over the last week. I was very happy to do the work and was well rewarded with cookies from the Tall One.

One day recently, my little human was to ride Breeze in class. He was tied near me and I noticed how fidgety and pushy he was getting while being curried and readied for class. He got a little naughty during our work session but the Tall One helped my mom through the situation.
They laughed at Breeze, and then they talked about me and how I used to pull “stunts” to get out of doing work. I’m not sure what they’re talking about as I can’t recall ever running to a water trough in the corner of an arena while we were having a class…I think they’re mistaken. I’m a perfect angel.

Anyway, after the class my mom mentioned to Tall One that while she was brushing and tacking Breeze, she was thinking about the tips from the Arena page. The list of Good Signs and the Warning Signs during grooming (Fussing, Not Standing Still, among others). Paying attention to details; this is what the Tall One instills in her students. Always watch, observe, notice surroundings, don’t take us for granted.
Breeze told me the problem was that he really didn’t feel like working; he thought turn out was enough exercise for the day,and would’ve been just as happy to go back to his stall and finish his breakfast leftovers.
He’ll learn, just as I did (oops, gave myself away), how this stuff the Tall One teaches is actually pretty fun.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned for further updates and progress reports. Your friend, Flicka”

A Look back on a Year of Riding Lessons

I’ve been thinking about this topic for the last week or so. I’ve been looking at the Flick’r photo album, flipping through the archives beginning in January up to now. Because we try to take at least a few photos every week, we have an excellent way to gauge our development as riders and see the improvements in our horses. And if I go even further back to the 2008 classes, boy there is a lot that has changed! In a previous post, “Then and Now”, I added a photo of me riding a gaited horse in an early 2008 class wherein I look pretty darn stiff and even a bit stressed. That seems such a long, long time ago.

This year went by in a blur, and upon reflection it feels like I was in one big ongoing class. Adding up the total lesson hours, though, and I really only have a little over 2 1/2 weeks spent in classes. I’m hopeful that my position in the saddle has improved; I’m not having to remind myself quite as often to fix something, or I find myself thinking “oops, that’s not right, fix it”, just as Feather starts to mention it. An inkling at times of what a true “independent hand” means, or the breathing leg, and the horse light and airy even if it’s just for a brief moment. I’ve tried to become less fidgety, to not ride with force, especially when something seems so elusive and difficult – such as a simple canter depart, or posting a medium trot to sitting trot. Among many other things, I feel I have better comprehension of, and better skills, to correctly ask for beginning lateral work (leg yield). I think I can finally somewhat identify when the horse I’m riding is stepping out of a turn on haunches, and sometimes even correct it before we step on the flowers!

But the physical side is only one aspect of working and riding horses over the last year where I think I’ve made some changes. The area I believe has made the most impact on me is something that seems so simple. It’s Observation. Whether we’re observing a horse/rider team working through a move during our class, watching shows or clinics, even standing quietly aside and peeking at the horses while they play during turnout, when Feather points out something, or asks “why do you think that’s so”, it requires me to pay attention to little things I used to ignore, or that I didn’t recognize as something potentially important the horse was telling me.

Power of observation has challenged me to speak up in situations where before I’d keep mum rather than cause an uncomfortable situation. This will occur whenever we are around “horse people” and don’t like what we see them doing, whether it’s in the ring, at a show or a clinic; be it endurance riders, or trail riders, Western disciplines, English jumpers, Dressage, so called “natural horsemanship”. It can be backyard horses, show horses, gaited horses, miniature ponies, small barns or large stables. It’s becoming harder to keep my mouth shut.
Recognizing that even poor barn management prevents our horses from performing at their optimum level should be cause enough for every horseman to become more diligently observant.

This process really took place over this last year, and especially became more apparent to me when we began our groundwork lessons. Focusing on the horse during lunging, long lining and driving taught me that one must stay observant at all times during this work. If I get distracted while working from the ground, the horse can so quickly get away with something the moment I have my eyes off of him! I hope we’ll be able to learn more about groundwork training in the year to come. What a fascinating part of horsemanship so often neglected by riders.

Speaking of groundwork, last month I checked out a book at the library titled “Training the Horse in Hand” by Alfons Dietz. So far I’ve only had time to been to read a little of it, but I do like the way the author/trainer writes as it reminds me so much of what Feather teaches us.

I especially like what he writes in the Conclusion, “Why do we actually train horses? What gives us the right to ride a living being that is not really made to be ridden? Too often the horse is locked in a stable for 23 hours a day and then taken out as an article used for sports, the rider oblivious to the character of the horse or what the horse actually does for the rider. In answer to this question one can only say that we do not really have any right to do this”.

Mr Dietz goes on to say , “Love, patience, sensitivity and, above all, compassion should accompany our contact with horses. This is the very least we can offer our four-legged friends, who are willing to accompany us on such a long road”.
That statement pretty well sums up own my reflections of what I feel I’ve learned over the last year.