I haven't been blogging much, as my time has been filled with re-flooring the barn stalls. It is a time-consuming project, since you have to work around the poles and partitions that are already in place.
I never thought I would have to replace the barn floor, since it is on a rather thick base of blue clay......but this is the second time in ten years that it has become necessary. The first time we filled and tamped and it worked.......for awhile. But I have come to the conclusion that drafties are far harder on the ground than I thought. This time some of the holes have actually gone deeper than the clay, allowing ground water to seep up into the stalls. And, of course, the ever-present rodents keep creating holes under the walls which also allows water to sneak in.
I've had light horses for a long time.....and never had as much of a problem with them tearing up the stall floors. Even though many of them were paw-ers, they just didn't do as much damage. Oh, sure, they were able to make lumpies and holes in their stalls, but not like my big ones do.
I guess it has more to do with their weight. 2000-pounders manage to push and shove material around creating higher lumpies, even hills, and bigger holes. Some of the holes actually look like wildebeest wallows...convenient and comfy for them while laying down.....but massive problems when trying to get back up out of them.....kinda like a bean-bag chair. Once they get their "big shoes" on (scotch bottoms/show shoes) the poor dirt floors don't stand a chance; they get chewed up and re-distributed in ways they shouldn't be.
So, after 12 years and several $1000's of dollars last time, we are trying something new.....well, new for us. This time we are covering the gravel/fill with rubber mats. I've used mats before....in my trailers, under the horses at fair time so they don't start digging to China while bored. When my girlfriend boarded her horses with us, one of them was on mats because the stall floor was in sch bad shape. My girlfriend used mats in her barn at home, and loved them. I'm not so sure, myself, if they are the best choice. I seem to lean more toward the natural end of things, and am not really thrilled with horses lying on cold mats in the winter.
But.....something needed to be done. We are still in the process of fixing the floors, but we have more than half of them done.....and we're running out of mats and fill. The fill is a whole 'nother issue......since the partitions have been in place for some time...it is a one-wheelbarrow-at-a-time and then dump the stuff, rake it out and try to level it as much as possible. That's where the REAL labor is. A skid-steer would be wonderful.....but it would have to be small; like 3' wide. We don't have one, and renting one every week is not a good option. Which is another reason why this project is so labor intensive......between us working our "normal" jobs and keeping up with barn chores there just is not the ability to just "get-r-done" in one fell swoop (although that would be wonderful!!!!) Between working with the feed store to get the mats ordered and in, and dealing with the gravel haulers (who have bigger jobs to do) we are somewhat at the mercy of other interests. However, they have ALL been trying to help as much as possible.
The horses who are now on mats are handling it quite well, thank you. Except for Missy, who thought that the black floor was nothing more than a big hole waiting to swallow her....and nearly killed me the first time she even SAW a matted stall (which wasn't hers, by the way) let alone go into hers once it WAS matted. Fire definitely does NOT like the mats.....she likes pawing the ground and sniffing whatever odors manage to waft out of it.....not something she can do on the mats. She's not much of a paw-er, and being a baby, doesn't do much damage, if any. The others are like.....whatever. Some of them secretly like the noise the mats make when they walk on them, I think. However, we have discovered that it is harder to un-cast a cast horse, as they cannot get a grip with their feet on the rubber like they can with the dirt.
But some good has come out of it on our side, too. It IS easier to clean the stalls. Oh, you still take out as much stuff as before, but it's easier to get to and under....plus you're not taking out even more materials from the holes. And, surprisingly, there is more "clean" stuff left. Because the mats are a bit slick, the sawdust moves from the middle to the sides, so raking what's up against the sides back to the middle has given us much more "decent" sawdust left over!! Plus, the mats keep the decent sawdust from picking up moisture from the ground.
We still have several more horses to do.....some may not get theirs done til Spring, depending on weather around here (getting more fill is tough right now since things are so wet that large dump trucks have a habit of sinking in)....but we've got most of them done....so that only one should go through the winter with a lumpy stall.
I will be so glad when it's all done!!!!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Sales Report
Well, it's over. The Sale, that is.
And to say it SUCKED, is putting it mildly.
We brought Athena back......I just could not give her away.
Summer, however, did not share the same fate. Although we did not want to give her up, we definitely need the room and need to down-size.
It wasn't just our horses......it was everyone's. Oh, yeah, there were those who everyone really wanted......all the ones WE were interested in went for $3000 and up......but there were a LOT of really decent, nicely to well-bred horses, broke, carrying babies that went for anywhere from $500 to $900. Like the auctioneer said.....these aren't horses that were on their last legs; these are horses in their prime: 5-9 years old!
There were people there that looked at horses, made their notes, asked questions, made comments.....that went home empty-handed. People who should have picked up something and would have obviously given them a good home. Why didn't they? I have a theory.
Most of the people who really took time to ask questions were not your normal draft horse people. Most of them looked like hunter/jumper or sport horse people, or people just getting interested in possibly getting a draft horse. But the prices may have stopped them......after all, a saddle-horse that only commands $500 these days is usually a puke, a problem and/or too old to do anything. However, 90% of these horses were none of the above.
Now, there are many small breeders wondering if it is worth breeding anymore. Many of them have very nice horses; it would be a shame to lose those bloodlines. If it is no longer worth it, it will come to pass.
Just another sign of the times, I guess.
And to say it SUCKED, is putting it mildly.
We brought Athena back......I just could not give her away.
Summer, however, did not share the same fate. Although we did not want to give her up, we definitely need the room and need to down-size.
It wasn't just our horses......it was everyone's. Oh, yeah, there were those who everyone really wanted......all the ones WE were interested in went for $3000 and up......but there were a LOT of really decent, nicely to well-bred horses, broke, carrying babies that went for anywhere from $500 to $900. Like the auctioneer said.....these aren't horses that were on their last legs; these are horses in their prime: 5-9 years old!
There were people there that looked at horses, made their notes, asked questions, made comments.....that went home empty-handed. People who should have picked up something and would have obviously given them a good home. Why didn't they? I have a theory.
Most of the people who really took time to ask questions were not your normal draft horse people. Most of them looked like hunter/jumper or sport horse people, or people just getting interested in possibly getting a draft horse. But the prices may have stopped them......after all, a saddle-horse that only commands $500 these days is usually a puke, a problem and/or too old to do anything. However, 90% of these horses were none of the above.
Just look at the financial logistics:
- to get the horse on the ground (i.e., be born) is a stud fee of approximately $500
- there is 2 years of maintenance; feeding, vet, trimming, caring and, maybe, showing
- the horse is trained (broke), usually for a fee: a cheap fee is about $500; the trainer only keeps the horse for a month or so
- the horse is "finished"....used by the owner
- the horse (if its a mare) is bred and is going to have a baby. Stud fee: $500
Just picking up the "big" fees, there is already $1,500 invested in a broke, bred mare.....and they are selling for $500. But it's not a good thing for the draft horses.
Why? Because the cycle of the 1940's will happen again. When horses were replaced by trucks and cars small breeders simply closed up shop. And when people wanted to get them again, they were few and far between. It took a long time to build up the numbers.Now, there are many small breeders wondering if it is worth breeding anymore. Many of them have very nice horses; it would be a shame to lose those bloodlines. If it is no longer worth it, it will come to pass.
Just another sign of the times, I guess.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Selling horses
Anyone who has sold older animals will tell you......they seem to know when you are "getting rid of them". Weanlings of any sort (cat, dog, horse) don't seem to have the same feel, but the older ones definitely do.
Most of the horses I sell are sold for only one reason......they do not fit in with the program.
In draft horses, most of the time it's because they don't have a match/mate; and unless they are phenomenal movers don't have a place locked up on the show thing. I have to admit, we have been very lucky in finding great homes for our "odd-man-out" horses.
But that doesn't change their attitude......or the fact that they seem to "know".
Once a horse is officially "on the market" most of them become like lost puppies.
"Don't you love me anymore?" The sad eyes....the sudden "joined at the hip" with you. They want to be petted and played with.......they "say" with every movement, "You don't really want to sell me, do you?"
I have a hard time selling any horse. I do connect with all of them.....especially ones that I bought from a sale and ones I helped into the world. After buying/selling over 150 horses, it still isn't any easier. But Athena is trying to make it easy.
It seemed that as soon as the paperwork was sent in to the sale, she knew. While Summer has done the "sweet" thing noted above, Athena is more like a child who has to go to camp; but no matter how much he wants to go, is scared of leaving home.....and begins to "act out".
Psychologists call this "making it easier to separate." It's always easier to leave when you're angry.....and it's always easier to "let go" when you're not happy with something.
Athena has never had any vices.....til now. While she has always been independent and superior, she usually went along with things, as long as they were done her way or she could "live with it". The day the papers were sent in.....she started being aggressive. She crowds when you go to feed her; she comes at you with mouth open when you try to fly-spray her; she's taken up nipping; and she doesn't want you to catch her when she comes in from the pasture. None of this was there prior to this day. Since none of this is tolerated in my barn, she has since given up such shenanigans with me....but my guess is she's going to push buttons for someone else.
Until Sunday. On Sunday, we helped some friends with a problem horse (couldn't break her) by bringing up our "rock".....Bill. Bill deals with Jill all the time.....and does a wonderful job....so naturally, he was elected to be the teacher. While his partner lunged and leaped like she was jumping no-stride 2-1/2' cavaletti, poor Bill just tried to keep up......until the mare finally settled down and decided she really could do this thing without being stupid. We had also brought along Summer and Athena, since they really hadn't had a good hitch since May.
While Bill was a star that day, Athena came in a close second. She was perfect hitching.....was actually happy being hitched and played with. While Roy worked Summer, I let Athena lunge for a bit (she's been known to be a bit "hot" if you put her right into a hitch), on her own terms (she knows how to lunge and pretty much does it herself after a few reminders). The more we worked, the more she wanted to work. She really seemed to enjoy herself, while Summer and Sheena really wanted to just go out in the pasture. Not that they were bad, they just weren't as much fun to drive.
As much as her original trainer said she prefers to be ridden, she really liked being driven in the cart. We did not get a chance to drive Athena and Summer as a team.....but then, they don't match anymore, and it would be like driving Mutt and Jeff with their size difference. And that is why they are going to the sale.....they have no matches with our black horses or even our other, very fancy dapple gray.
The sale is this Friday, and I admit I'm stressed. Hope and pray for them to find that good home.
Most of the horses I sell are sold for only one reason......they do not fit in with the program.
In draft horses, most of the time it's because they don't have a match/mate; and unless they are phenomenal movers don't have a place locked up on the show thing. I have to admit, we have been very lucky in finding great homes for our "odd-man-out" horses.
But that doesn't change their attitude......or the fact that they seem to "know".
Once a horse is officially "on the market" most of them become like lost puppies.
"Don't you love me anymore?" The sad eyes....the sudden "joined at the hip" with you. They want to be petted and played with.......they "say" with every movement, "You don't really want to sell me, do you?"
I have a hard time selling any horse. I do connect with all of them.....especially ones that I bought from a sale and ones I helped into the world. After buying/selling over 150 horses, it still isn't any easier. But Athena is trying to make it easy.
It seemed that as soon as the paperwork was sent in to the sale, she knew. While Summer has done the "sweet" thing noted above, Athena is more like a child who has to go to camp; but no matter how much he wants to go, is scared of leaving home.....and begins to "act out".
Psychologists call this "making it easier to separate." It's always easier to leave when you're angry.....and it's always easier to "let go" when you're not happy with something.
Athena has never had any vices.....til now. While she has always been independent and superior, she usually went along with things, as long as they were done her way or she could "live with it". The day the papers were sent in.....she started being aggressive. She crowds when you go to feed her; she comes at you with mouth open when you try to fly-spray her; she's taken up nipping; and she doesn't want you to catch her when she comes in from the pasture. None of this was there prior to this day. Since none of this is tolerated in my barn, she has since given up such shenanigans with me....but my guess is she's going to push buttons for someone else.
Until Sunday. On Sunday, we helped some friends with a problem horse (couldn't break her) by bringing up our "rock".....Bill. Bill deals with Jill all the time.....and does a wonderful job....so naturally, he was elected to be the teacher. While his partner lunged and leaped like she was jumping no-stride 2-1/2' cavaletti, poor Bill just tried to keep up......until the mare finally settled down and decided she really could do this thing without being stupid. We had also brought along Summer and Athena, since they really hadn't had a good hitch since May.
While Bill was a star that day, Athena came in a close second. She was perfect hitching.....was actually happy being hitched and played with. While Roy worked Summer, I let Athena lunge for a bit (she's been known to be a bit "hot" if you put her right into a hitch), on her own terms (she knows how to lunge and pretty much does it herself after a few reminders). The more we worked, the more she wanted to work. She really seemed to enjoy herself, while Summer and Sheena really wanted to just go out in the pasture. Not that they were bad, they just weren't as much fun to drive.
As much as her original trainer said she prefers to be ridden, she really liked being driven in the cart. We did not get a chance to drive Athena and Summer as a team.....but then, they don't match anymore, and it would be like driving Mutt and Jeff with their size difference. And that is why they are going to the sale.....they have no matches with our black horses or even our other, very fancy dapple gray.
The sale is this Friday, and I admit I'm stressed. Hope and pray for them to find that good home.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October Sale Time
It's October.......and for draft horses, that means sales.
It's a time that's both exciting and sad.
Exciting because there may be something there you just can't live without.
Sad because you need to send some friends along to find new homes.
It's sad this year. We need to sell some, and 2 of my nicer animals are going to be leaving.
Summer, our dapple gray 3yo, did not grow as big as we had anticipated. Her team mate, 3 yo blue roan Athena, is pushing 18hh. Their Mutt-and-Jeff appearance makes them no longer the nice team they were. It is, of course, still possible that Summer will grow more......but she will be a "late bloomer" and will not match Athena for a few years. That's a few years too many. We did not breed them......I don't like breeding 3yos.....and that will likely have a major effect on how much they bring. Both are extremely well-bred.....but sometimes that means nothing.
Summer takes care of hubby. He is not an aggressive driver and at times loses focus......but she knows just what to do and keeps him safe. She's a super horse for someone who is new to the business or wants a safe horse for their kids. She had held her own in competition, beating older more mature horses, so she's a nice mover. She's also broke to ride (although I haven't ridden her since last year). And she's a good baby sitter. My present foal, Fire, will need to be weaned again. No vices, either. Just a real nice mare that I would keep if I could.
But I am really going to miss Athena. This blue-roan moves like a 3-day and/or dressage horse. She is the "modern" kind, which means she looks more like a warm-blood than a full-blooded Percheron. She also was broke to ride last year (again, I'm not riding them) and the trainer said she actually preferred to be ridden than driven. She also has held her own against more mature horses and placed well in her classes. She's actually jumped over me when I got knocked by another horse right into her path. I just remembered thinking "this is gonna hurt" and then seeing her feet over my head. This horse and I have quite a history together, which makes it especially hard to see her go.
As a baby, she almost didn't make it out. She got her shoulder caught on her mom's pelvis and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't make it move. Just when I figured was going to have a dead baby, suddenly, it gave, and she came out. When we lost her mother the next year, I really wanted to keep her forever. Then, while out with mares and foals, another mare decided she didn't like her and attacked her. Again, I thought I would have a dead baby......but with a lot of love and care she pulled through. She has her own personality......I gave her the name Athena for a reason......she thinks she's a goddess! And she has the blue roan dorsal stripe down her back and the dark outline of her eye......which actually makes her look more like Cleopatra! It is very Egyptian-like.
I am not looking forward to losing these two.....because that's what it is.....losing them. But circumstances force the issue. 11 horses and 2 people to care for them.....gets to be a bit much at our age.....especially since 1 (me) does most of the day-to-day stuff. I know they are not getting the attention they deserve, since it is focussed on others who need it more right now.
But still.......next week will be a sad week.
It's a time that's both exciting and sad.
Exciting because there may be something there you just can't live without.
Sad because you need to send some friends along to find new homes.
It's sad this year. We need to sell some, and 2 of my nicer animals are going to be leaving.
Summer, our dapple gray 3yo, did not grow as big as we had anticipated. Her team mate, 3 yo blue roan Athena, is pushing 18hh. Their Mutt-and-Jeff appearance makes them no longer the nice team they were. It is, of course, still possible that Summer will grow more......but she will be a "late bloomer" and will not match Athena for a few years. That's a few years too many. We did not breed them......I don't like breeding 3yos.....and that will likely have a major effect on how much they bring. Both are extremely well-bred.....but sometimes that means nothing.
Summer takes care of hubby. He is not an aggressive driver and at times loses focus......but she knows just what to do and keeps him safe. She's a super horse for someone who is new to the business or wants a safe horse for their kids. She had held her own in competition, beating older more mature horses, so she's a nice mover. She's also broke to ride (although I haven't ridden her since last year). And she's a good baby sitter. My present foal, Fire, will need to be weaned again. No vices, either. Just a real nice mare that I would keep if I could.
But I am really going to miss Athena. This blue-roan moves like a 3-day and/or dressage horse. She is the "modern" kind, which means she looks more like a warm-blood than a full-blooded Percheron. She also was broke to ride last year (again, I'm not riding them) and the trainer said she actually preferred to be ridden than driven. She also has held her own against more mature horses and placed well in her classes. She's actually jumped over me when I got knocked by another horse right into her path. I just remembered thinking "this is gonna hurt" and then seeing her feet over my head. This horse and I have quite a history together, which makes it especially hard to see her go.
As a baby, she almost didn't make it out. She got her shoulder caught on her mom's pelvis and no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't make it move. Just when I figured was going to have a dead baby, suddenly, it gave, and she came out. When we lost her mother the next year, I really wanted to keep her forever. Then, while out with mares and foals, another mare decided she didn't like her and attacked her. Again, I thought I would have a dead baby......but with a lot of love and care she pulled through. She has her own personality......I gave her the name Athena for a reason......she thinks she's a goddess! And she has the blue roan dorsal stripe down her back and the dark outline of her eye......which actually makes her look more like Cleopatra! It is very Egyptian-like.
I am not looking forward to losing these two.....because that's what it is.....losing them. But circumstances force the issue. 11 horses and 2 people to care for them.....gets to be a bit much at our age.....especially since 1 (me) does most of the day-to-day stuff. I know they are not getting the attention they deserve, since it is focussed on others who need it more right now.
But still.......next week will be a sad week.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Busy, busy, busy
Haven't been blogging......life has this uncanny way of interrupting your great intentions.
We needed a new roof on the house.....and were in the process of doing a loan for it. Then, when the roofers are on the roof....I call to find out when the money will be deposited in my account and the Bank tells me.....there's a problem.
A problem? You've had the information for a month and NOW you decide there's a problem? You sent me all the info on how much my payments are going to be and when you're going to start taking them out of my account, and NOW you decide there's a problem? What's the problem?
We're CAUV......agriculture use value. Well, duh. And that means.......? Well, we're getting a tax break already. Yeah, and that means......? I mean, they'd give Donald Trump all the money in the WORLD and he has tax breaks out the wazoo. Try again. Well, the value of the house isn't enough for your amount. 1/10th? You can't get me 1/10th the worth of my place?
Well, the rejection letter came back saying that the credit report show insufficient activity. Insufficient activity? (Notice they changed the tune of CAUV....clever, huh?) Been with that bank 15 years and another branch for 2 years......had 2 mortgages with that bank......have a credit card......have had credit cards since 1969 or theresabout. I guess I still had insufficient activity after 17 years with them.....huh?
Went to another bank.....they had a problem with CAUV. Looks like you can't get a loan for remodeling or a 1st mortgage if you have CAUV. Which doesn't make sense.....people who want to move out to a farm are going to do everything possible to keep it. They just do.
I can put it on my credit card (at exhorbitant interest), but not get it otherwise at lower interest like any normal, prudent and financial-thinking person would do. Who'd a thunk?
So scrambling to find enough to scrape together. Did pay the roofer (he was a great guy), but depleted everything else. Being in the horse business, we have a lot of assets.....but they are not very liquid.....in fact they are positively granite boulders.
In scrambling, went to the Credit Union where we had just depleted our account. In less than a week, we were approved for 1/2...that's 50%.....of the value of our place. We don't need that much......but it was interesting how easy they were able to get it done.
Breathing room at last.......well, at least for right now!
We needed a new roof on the house.....and were in the process of doing a loan for it. Then, when the roofers are on the roof....I call to find out when the money will be deposited in my account and the Bank tells me.....there's a problem.
A problem? You've had the information for a month and NOW you decide there's a problem? You sent me all the info on how much my payments are going to be and when you're going to start taking them out of my account, and NOW you decide there's a problem? What's the problem?
We're CAUV......agriculture use value. Well, duh. And that means.......? Well, we're getting a tax break already. Yeah, and that means......? I mean, they'd give Donald Trump all the money in the WORLD and he has tax breaks out the wazoo. Try again. Well, the value of the house isn't enough for your amount. 1/10th? You can't get me 1/10th the worth of my place?
Well, the rejection letter came back saying that the credit report show insufficient activity. Insufficient activity? (Notice they changed the tune of CAUV....clever, huh?) Been with that bank 15 years and another branch for 2 years......had 2 mortgages with that bank......have a credit card......have had credit cards since 1969 or theresabout. I guess I still had insufficient activity after 17 years with them.....huh?
Went to another bank.....they had a problem with CAUV. Looks like you can't get a loan for remodeling or a 1st mortgage if you have CAUV. Which doesn't make sense.....people who want to move out to a farm are going to do everything possible to keep it. They just do.
I can put it on my credit card (at exhorbitant interest), but not get it otherwise at lower interest like any normal, prudent and financial-thinking person would do. Who'd a thunk?
So scrambling to find enough to scrape together. Did pay the roofer (he was a great guy), but depleted everything else. Being in the horse business, we have a lot of assets.....but they are not very liquid.....in fact they are positively granite boulders.
In scrambling, went to the Credit Union where we had just depleted our account. In less than a week, we were approved for 1/2...that's 50%.....of the value of our place. We don't need that much......but it was interesting how easy they were able to get it done.
Breathing room at last.......well, at least for right now!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Fairs are finally over!
Fairs are finally over!! And while I'm still cleaning things and packing them up for next year, I decided to take a break (big sigh) and try to start blogging again.
We did very well this year. While it was not the smoothest or easiest Fair we've been to, Geauga made us "right proud", with bragging rights. Star was the star of the show.....the judges definitely liked her. Star has several issues.....and one of the judges actually commented on how she is such an awesome mare with a few screws loose. And even though she is no longer considered a "halter" mare, since she has a thick area just below her hock from a wire(s) cut she got long before we got her....she managed to become the Reserve Grand Champion mare. Star is a well-bred, well put together mare who should place high, but many judges will not look at a horse that has an injury since it's sometimes hard to tell if it truly is an "injury" or an unsoundness. She won her age class, and was "beat" by a 3yo who is also truly awesome. She won her cart class, then a few classes later went out and won the Champion class, a class with all of the winning cart horses.....from Men's Mare, Ladies Mare, Men's Gelding and Ladies Gelding classes. Geauga is a big draft horse fair.....usually has about 200+ drafts horses and another 50 or 60 Halflinger draft ponies. We generally get judges who judge at the State Fair and National Show level, and almost all of them are pleasantly surprised at the quality of horses at Geauga County Fair. Many of the exhibitors showed or still show at the State Fair/National levels. So it is not an easy task to win a class, let alone a Championship!
I was very proud of Jill. I wrote about her melt-down and was truly concerned about using her, especially since she was in the bulk of our hitches. Several times I thought she was going to blow, but she always seemed to think better of it. Of course we were listening real good, and stepped in real quick when she started to do her dance. As long as Bill stood beside her, she seemed to be able to stay in control. Not so our cart class. We did very nicely as long as we were moving....it was the standing that she just did not care for. The class was so big, it was split, so we had to stand twice. She reared in the cart several times, and I had to walk her around and back into line to stand. She started to get the message a bit better by the end of the second round. Imagine my surprise when my number was called to return for the final round. She placed a respectable 4th out of 16....which makes me wonder what she would have placed had she stood still. Ladies horses are supposed to be easily handled.
Rearing in a cart is a frightening experience....there is no where to escape to. But watching her, I realized that she wasn't rearing in fear, fighting to get away.....she was not rearing high enough to get off balance. She was just having a temper tantrum. Similar to a melt-down but not as severe. No one got hurt or was in any danger. So we made it a lesson.....never expecting to place.
Our unicorn hitch turned out very nice.....Bill and Jill on the wheel and Star (of course) out front. Star still doesn't quite "get it".....that she's supposed to be out there by herself.....but she was right out there like she knew exactly how and what she was supposed to be doing. Well, at least while they're moving......she doesn't get the backing up part yet. But then, we've only done this a few practice times, so we were very pleased to get a 2nd (out of 8) in that class!! We have some awesome pics of the three of them in step and a real cute one of them all looking at something off to the side. Those will be in upcoming issues of the Percheron News this Winter and Spring.
Well, break time is over.....time to continue on.........
We did very well this year. While it was not the smoothest or easiest Fair we've been to, Geauga made us "right proud", with bragging rights. Star was the star of the show.....the judges definitely liked her. Star has several issues.....and one of the judges actually commented on how she is such an awesome mare with a few screws loose. And even though she is no longer considered a "halter" mare, since she has a thick area just below her hock from a wire(s) cut she got long before we got her....she managed to become the Reserve Grand Champion mare. Star is a well-bred, well put together mare who should place high, but many judges will not look at a horse that has an injury since it's sometimes hard to tell if it truly is an "injury" or an unsoundness. She won her age class, and was "beat" by a 3yo who is also truly awesome. She won her cart class, then a few classes later went out and won the Champion class, a class with all of the winning cart horses.....from Men's Mare, Ladies Mare, Men's Gelding and Ladies Gelding classes. Geauga is a big draft horse fair.....usually has about 200+ drafts horses and another 50 or 60 Halflinger draft ponies. We generally get judges who judge at the State Fair and National Show level, and almost all of them are pleasantly surprised at the quality of horses at Geauga County Fair. Many of the exhibitors showed or still show at the State Fair/National levels. So it is not an easy task to win a class, let alone a Championship!
I was very proud of Jill. I wrote about her melt-down and was truly concerned about using her, especially since she was in the bulk of our hitches. Several times I thought she was going to blow, but she always seemed to think better of it. Of course we were listening real good, and stepped in real quick when she started to do her dance. As long as Bill stood beside her, she seemed to be able to stay in control. Not so our cart class. We did very nicely as long as we were moving....it was the standing that she just did not care for. The class was so big, it was split, so we had to stand twice. She reared in the cart several times, and I had to walk her around and back into line to stand. She started to get the message a bit better by the end of the second round. Imagine my surprise when my number was called to return for the final round. She placed a respectable 4th out of 16....which makes me wonder what she would have placed had she stood still. Ladies horses are supposed to be easily handled.
Rearing in a cart is a frightening experience....there is no where to escape to. But watching her, I realized that she wasn't rearing in fear, fighting to get away.....she was not rearing high enough to get off balance. She was just having a temper tantrum. Similar to a melt-down but not as severe. No one got hurt or was in any danger. So we made it a lesson.....never expecting to place.
Our unicorn hitch turned out very nice.....Bill and Jill on the wheel and Star (of course) out front. Star still doesn't quite "get it".....that she's supposed to be out there by herself.....but she was right out there like she knew exactly how and what she was supposed to be doing. Well, at least while they're moving......she doesn't get the backing up part yet. But then, we've only done this a few practice times, so we were very pleased to get a 2nd (out of 8) in that class!! We have some awesome pics of the three of them in step and a real cute one of them all looking at something off to the side. Those will be in upcoming issues of the Percheron News this Winter and Spring.
Well, break time is over.....time to continue on.........
Thursday, August 27, 2009
"You're not listening!"
It's fair time. And that means that I have minimal time between fairs to do a blog. But I did want to put this on......since it shows that even when we humans know better, we still push our critters too far.
Jill is a mare with a past......a bad one. She has PTSD and is either bi-polar or has a severe case of Jeckel/Hyde. I "pet psychic" once said she prefers to be called "Jillian" because it is more elegant than just "Jill". While I laugh about it, I also have to admit that when I first saw her I saw an elegant, classic Percheron filly......not the terror that lives beneath. And the funny thing is, when she is being stupid, I'll say, "You're being a Jill" and she actually does calm down and get better. So who knows.
Jill was trained in an unusual way. She would not cooperate with being teamed up with another horse.....was not quiet in a cart......so she was ridden first. After several days, she was put in the cart and tolerated it. But she never would stand to be hitched to another horse. For several years she was just a cart horse, and she did ok. Then we lost our awesome mare in foaling and she began to pal around with our big gelding Bill. One day last year we hooked them together and, although she was not happy with him cuz he was sandbagging that day (usually Bill is our Rock and rarely sandbags) she put up with it. So the now 18+hh mare became his partner.
This year an extremely capable man wanted to use Jill and Bill as the wheel team (closest to the wagon) and put our newer awesome mare out front in the Unicorn position. We also have a 2yo we were using in a 4-horse hitch. The first time they hitched, Jill was perfect, while the two in the front tried to figure out just what it was they were supposed to be doing. The second time, (two weeks later) Jill Hyde reared her ugly head.
Jill had been switching her tail the entire time (even when just teamed with Bill), and we KNEW that she was absolutely agitated.....and that usually meant a blow-out. But we pushed her on with the 4 and then the unicorn. We had just taken Star out of the unicorn position when Jill's eyes started "spinning" (a term I use when they lose focus and begin to panic) and sudden off she went.....bucking, rearing, kicking. I got Star out of the way, so the guys could handle the team, but she was not listening. When Jill gets this way, someone needs to get right in her face and let her know that the human is in control and it will be okay. Until she can make eye contact, she goes right into panic mode and there's no stopping it. She kicked, she jumped, she sat on the wagon pole, got her feet over it, panicked more. Eventually she broke the 4x4 pole (it was between her legs) and managed to get all twisted up in the harness, facing the wagon, while Bill was still facing away from the wagon. What a mess.
Poor Bill. He is SOOOOOO good. As Jill is doing her thing, he just steps aside.....oh, you're coming here? ok, I'll just take another step.....ok, another step......just getting out of the way, but not participating in all the ruckus.
We knew she was pissy and we pushed her too far. Had I been able to get in her face right away, it may not have happened.....but it did.
However, since she is as big as she is, this is not the way to end a session......so she was hooked to the cart to be worked a bit more before being finished. Of course, she LOVES the cart....so it was not a punishment......even the guy driving her was laughing, saying "she obviously doesn't think THIS is punishment!" Her other bug is standing still for any length of time, so he made her stand, instead.
The long and short of it is.....she did fine at the fairs we've been to so far. Our biggest fair is to come, and we shall see how it turns out.
But the important part is......we didn't listen.....we pushed. And while pushing is often necessary, there is a fine line......and we crossed it. We humans have a time schedule, which causes us to push issues; the horse has only one issue.....how do I feel? We ignore that at our own peril.
Jill is a mare with a past......a bad one. She has PTSD and is either bi-polar or has a severe case of Jeckel/Hyde. I "pet psychic" once said she prefers to be called "Jillian" because it is more elegant than just "Jill". While I laugh about it, I also have to admit that when I first saw her I saw an elegant, classic Percheron filly......not the terror that lives beneath. And the funny thing is, when she is being stupid, I'll say, "You're being a Jill" and she actually does calm down and get better. So who knows.
Jill was trained in an unusual way. She would not cooperate with being teamed up with another horse.....was not quiet in a cart......so she was ridden first. After several days, she was put in the cart and tolerated it. But she never would stand to be hitched to another horse. For several years she was just a cart horse, and she did ok. Then we lost our awesome mare in foaling and she began to pal around with our big gelding Bill. One day last year we hooked them together and, although she was not happy with him cuz he was sandbagging that day (usually Bill is our Rock and rarely sandbags) she put up with it. So the now 18+hh mare became his partner.
This year an extremely capable man wanted to use Jill and Bill as the wheel team (closest to the wagon) and put our newer awesome mare out front in the Unicorn position. We also have a 2yo we were using in a 4-horse hitch. The first time they hitched, Jill was perfect, while the two in the front tried to figure out just what it was they were supposed to be doing. The second time, (two weeks later) Jill Hyde reared her ugly head.
Jill had been switching her tail the entire time (even when just teamed with Bill), and we KNEW that she was absolutely agitated.....and that usually meant a blow-out. But we pushed her on with the 4 and then the unicorn. We had just taken Star out of the unicorn position when Jill's eyes started "spinning" (a term I use when they lose focus and begin to panic) and sudden off she went.....bucking, rearing, kicking. I got Star out of the way, so the guys could handle the team, but she was not listening. When Jill gets this way, someone needs to get right in her face and let her know that the human is in control and it will be okay. Until she can make eye contact, she goes right into panic mode and there's no stopping it. She kicked, she jumped, she sat on the wagon pole, got her feet over it, panicked more. Eventually she broke the 4x4 pole (it was between her legs) and managed to get all twisted up in the harness, facing the wagon, while Bill was still facing away from the wagon. What a mess.
Poor Bill. He is SOOOOOO good. As Jill is doing her thing, he just steps aside.....oh, you're coming here? ok, I'll just take another step.....ok, another step......just getting out of the way, but not participating in all the ruckus.
We knew she was pissy and we pushed her too far. Had I been able to get in her face right away, it may not have happened.....but it did.
However, since she is as big as she is, this is not the way to end a session......so she was hooked to the cart to be worked a bit more before being finished. Of course, she LOVES the cart....so it was not a punishment......even the guy driving her was laughing, saying "she obviously doesn't think THIS is punishment!" Her other bug is standing still for any length of time, so he made her stand, instead.
The long and short of it is.....she did fine at the fairs we've been to so far. Our biggest fair is to come, and we shall see how it turns out.
But the important part is......we didn't listen.....we pushed. And while pushing is often necessary, there is a fine line......and we crossed it. We humans have a time schedule, which causes us to push issues; the horse has only one issue.....how do I feel? We ignore that at our own peril.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Stallion Behavior, Part 2
"He's supposed to act that way. He's a stallion!"
AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
Every time I hear that, I want to clock the speaker upside the head.
Wherever did we get the idea that stallions are supposed to be uncontrollable, overly aggressive and otherwise bad mannered?
Well, after watching people who probably shouldn't have had a stallion in the first place, it becomes real obvious that many human males seem to think that having an aggressive stallion under their control makes them look just too cool .....that people will look up to them. And you might, at first.....until you realize that they are scared to death of the monster they have created.
Some people say its the testosterone. Well, yeah, testosterone does make them more aggressive, just as estrogen makes mares moody. But it's not just the hormones.....it's the way we humans treat them. A horse....any horse.....just wants to be a horse. If it has its "druthers", it would rather be out in a huge pasture of lush grass and just eat. And maybe procreate. After all, any creature with testosterone usually only has one thing on his mind.
But, he can learn. For all Mac's wild entertaining in the halter show ring, he was a first-class gentleman in harness. In fact, we could hitch him with a mare. And, Mac made many children friends at fairs, always bringing his head down for them to pet. Friends of ours had a stallion that they bred their mares to and then used all of them in their hitches. Ben was a lead horse, all the way, and when in harness, he was all business.
So what makes some stallions "different"? Horse handling. Well mannered stallions are expected, first of all, to be horses.....not some special kind of creature we are all supposed to ooooooh and aaaaaaaah about. They want the same consideration as the mares and geldings. I've known a lot of stallions that basically lived their lives in over-sized stalls.....only coming out to breed. It's amazing what daily turn-out can do for a stallions behavior and his outlook. And, if you think about it.....if you're just coming out to breed, well, every time a leadshank is attached, he's ready to go breed something. It's exciting for him....it's the highlight of his day. Finally! Something other than four walls!!! Of course he's going to be stupid!
Stallions are smart.....or at least they have a knack for getting into mischief. They need/want the discipline that goes with being handled. They want the guidance of another party to let them know what they are supposed to be doing.
Take a wild herd. We have all succumbed to the Disney Syndrome....where there is a fantasy idea about the stallion being the all-powerful, wonderful herd leader. Check out the herd. The stallion is only tolerated at best. He is only allowed into the herd if and when the mares "say" it's okay. It's not unusual for a mare to go out to him if the others don't want him around them. The Beta mare is the one who will "shoo" him out and make him stay out. It is the Alpha mare that is the leader.....a post that seems to be shared by the Maternal Mare, who is usually the last one in line. It is the Maternal Mare who "decides" if he's allowed in the herd, close by or kept away. (The Maternal is NOT the omega mare, although it often looks like she is. She has her own "job" to do and that is to keep the herd intact......that's not the stallion's job.) So how do I explain the "protectiveness" of the stallion. It's not so much protective as it is possessive. As in "these are MY mares and you can't have them."
We humans have a ton of beliefs about stallions. Somehow they are more noble than mares or geldings.....they have an "air" about them. And we let them get away with murder. Well, ok, maybe not murder, but you get the idea. A lot of people actually fear all that testosterone, and either allow the horse to run amok, or try to over-compensate by becoming brutal. I've watched people who I know fairly well and feel are very competent, suddenly become like brand new students afraid the horse will step on them when dealing with stallions.....I kid you not! And I've watched a trainer work with this stallion (that took 2 people to bring into the round pen) for 5 minutes and you could see that the horse was looking for that discipline to help him get himself under control. Because that's really what it is. If you leave a horse by himself a lot, he has no need to control himself. What he needs is someone to draw the line and let him know when he has crossed it. Surprise! This is no different than any other mare or gelding. We just seem to be more at ease with them, and more afraid of the response of that testosterone creature.
Stallions are no different from humans, in that respect. Put several 12-year-olds together with no supervision and see what happens. Ditto, 17-year-olds. Over discipline and you may have what appears to be a meek and scared boy, that will eventually turn on you. Under discipline and you get a bully.
The choice is yours......either your stallion becomes a gang member, or he becomes a respected, enjoyable partner.
AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
Every time I hear that, I want to clock the speaker upside the head.
Wherever did we get the idea that stallions are supposed to be uncontrollable, overly aggressive and otherwise bad mannered?
Well, after watching people who probably shouldn't have had a stallion in the first place, it becomes real obvious that many human males seem to think that having an aggressive stallion under their control makes them look just too cool .....that people will look up to them. And you might, at first.....until you realize that they are scared to death of the monster they have created.
Some people say its the testosterone. Well, yeah, testosterone does make them more aggressive, just as estrogen makes mares moody. But it's not just the hormones.....it's the way we humans treat them. A horse....any horse.....just wants to be a horse. If it has its "druthers", it would rather be out in a huge pasture of lush grass and just eat. And maybe procreate. After all, any creature with testosterone usually only has one thing on his mind.
But, he can learn. For all Mac's wild entertaining in the halter show ring, he was a first-class gentleman in harness. In fact, we could hitch him with a mare. And, Mac made many children friends at fairs, always bringing his head down for them to pet. Friends of ours had a stallion that they bred their mares to and then used all of them in their hitches. Ben was a lead horse, all the way, and when in harness, he was all business.
So what makes some stallions "different"? Horse handling. Well mannered stallions are expected, first of all, to be horses.....not some special kind of creature we are all supposed to ooooooh and aaaaaaaah about. They want the same consideration as the mares and geldings. I've known a lot of stallions that basically lived their lives in over-sized stalls.....only coming out to breed. It's amazing what daily turn-out can do for a stallions behavior and his outlook. And, if you think about it.....if you're just coming out to breed, well, every time a leadshank is attached, he's ready to go breed something. It's exciting for him....it's the highlight of his day. Finally! Something other than four walls!!! Of course he's going to be stupid!
Stallions are smart.....or at least they have a knack for getting into mischief. They need/want the discipline that goes with being handled. They want the guidance of another party to let them know what they are supposed to be doing.
Take a wild herd. We have all succumbed to the Disney Syndrome....where there is a fantasy idea about the stallion being the all-powerful, wonderful herd leader. Check out the herd. The stallion is only tolerated at best. He is only allowed into the herd if and when the mares "say" it's okay. It's not unusual for a mare to go out to him if the others don't want him around them. The Beta mare is the one who will "shoo" him out and make him stay out. It is the Alpha mare that is the leader.....a post that seems to be shared by the Maternal Mare, who is usually the last one in line. It is the Maternal Mare who "decides" if he's allowed in the herd, close by or kept away. (The Maternal is NOT the omega mare, although it often looks like she is. She has her own "job" to do and that is to keep the herd intact......that's not the stallion's job.) So how do I explain the "protectiveness" of the stallion. It's not so much protective as it is possessive. As in "these are MY mares and you can't have them."
We humans have a ton of beliefs about stallions. Somehow they are more noble than mares or geldings.....they have an "air" about them. And we let them get away with murder. Well, ok, maybe not murder, but you get the idea. A lot of people actually fear all that testosterone, and either allow the horse to run amok, or try to over-compensate by becoming brutal. I've watched people who I know fairly well and feel are very competent, suddenly become like brand new students afraid the horse will step on them when dealing with stallions.....I kid you not! And I've watched a trainer work with this stallion (that took 2 people to bring into the round pen) for 5 minutes and you could see that the horse was looking for that discipline to help him get himself under control. Because that's really what it is. If you leave a horse by himself a lot, he has no need to control himself. What he needs is someone to draw the line and let him know when he has crossed it. Surprise! This is no different than any other mare or gelding. We just seem to be more at ease with them, and more afraid of the response of that testosterone creature.
Stallions are no different from humans, in that respect. Put several 12-year-olds together with no supervision and see what happens. Ditto, 17-year-olds. Over discipline and you may have what appears to be a meek and scared boy, that will eventually turn on you. Under discipline and you get a bully.
The choice is yours......either your stallion becomes a gang member, or he becomes a respected, enjoyable partner.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Stallion Behavior, Part 1
"He's supposed to act that way.....he's a stallion!"
Oh, I've been confronted with stallions that are just plain mean, and DO intend to "get you". But I've also had to deal with geldings who would just a soon kick your head off, too. But it all boils down to the way you treat them......treat them like they are supposed to be mean and nasty, and they will be more than happy to become the animal you have wished for.
My first experience with stallions came from a Standardbred breeding farm. There were four very high quality stallions that (with a lot of black type) and four distinct personalities. There was the "I'm really a gelding in disguise", an absolute gentleman.....you could change lightbulbs by standing on his back. There was the bored old man who liked to keep you on your toes by taking a nip when you weren't paying attention....always with that gleam in his eye that made you think he was laughing at you (he was). There was the awesome "in-my-prime" guy who would try to bully you, but once you stood your ground he didn't try anything stupid. And there was the "I-hate-you-all-and-want-to-kill-you" guy that came at you teeth and hoof.....all the time. Only the farm manager was able to work with him, and most of the time he was muzzled when handled. He never did get any better.
Later I dealt with TB stallions, and again, found that they were individuals. Some were fine, as long as there wasn't a mare in heat close by. Some were, well, dangerous. It wasn't until later that I learned the "one-finger" rule. But more on that later.
Eventually came the time when we wanted to breed our Percherons. My husband had seen a colt that he really liked, but the man wasn't interested in selling him as a weanling. It wasn't until the fall of his yearling year that the man called and asked if he was still interested in him. My husband went down to look at him and decided to buy him. He didn't take a trailer......the horse was in Amish country and the roads are, well, rather narrow in that section. When they say "make a left at the pig trough" they mean it! We had to wait for several bicycles to find drives to hop into before we could get past them!!
My first view of Charlie was in a low-ceilinged bank barn. He was in a calf pen. And he wanted nothing to do with humans. He did not have a halter on.....it seems that this "crazy horse" wouldn't get caught, so his youngster halter had grown into his skin and been cut off. He had a really nasty, pus-filled gouge actoss his poll.....just beyond ear to ear. They had been treating it.....sort of.....he wasn't real cooperative. So while hubby and Amishman talked man-talk, I went to sit on the pen and try to figure him out (yep, too many Disney movies seen). Several times he "chased" me off the pen, and then turned his butt to me with that "go ahead, make my day" look. I had his halter in my hand.....a big one with sheepskin on it to protect his cut.....and eventually his curiousity got the better of him and he came over to check me out. It took a few tries, but at last I got the halter on. I was going out to get the lead so we could get him on the trailer, when the men (a few more had shown up) came in and they said, "ready for the rodeo?" Now, I was stupid.....I just figured that they meant getting him into a trailer would be, well, ugly, at best. I nodded and asked if Roy had brought the lead shank (which he had, of course). "No, I mean getting his halter on."
"It's on," I blurted. They looked at me like I was nuts. But there stood Charlie, head over the rail, with his halter on. "How did you....." But I just took the lead shank and attached it to the halter.. To be honest, I don't remember much about the going on the trailer part......I know it took a few tries, but it wasnt as bad as I've seen. Ultimately, Charlie acted like a gelding when being handled, but trumpted like an elephant when it was time to breed. Yes, he let his ladies know he was coming!!! This "crazy" horse let a 16 year old girl show him at a major show.....and was the perfect gentleman even with four other obnoxious orangutans leaping and kicking in the show ring. Charlie also tended to be a "ham" in front of an audience. Once when being judged for Supreme Stallion, the judge went to point to the Belgian, and Charlie stomped and picked up a stance that sent the crowd (and the judge) into fits of laughter.
Mac was our second stallion. He was an awesome young man, again pretty much a gentleman. Except in the show ring. His first show was Ohio State.....and he was the usual gentleman. His third show was Indiana State...and something happened. We were on the way to get him his bath before the show, when we passed by the stall of another stallion his age. This stallion was one of those "He's a stallion, he's supposed to act that way". This stallion charged at us. Although it startled me, Mac went balistic. He reared up and threw himself at the other stallion, nearly taking the stall down. I had never seen him so riled. He quieted down while we got his bath done, and he was fine in his own stall.....even though a Clydesdale stallion stood in the next stall.....in fact, he and the Clyde seemed to take a liking to each other. He also took a real liking to the two foals who were next to him. Then, in the show ring, with three other orangutans, he saw the stallion that had gone after us. He pinned his ears and watched that other stallion. As the stallion made his run, Mac was waiting and tried to rush out and get him. He was easily controllable, but he did NOT want that horse anywhere near us. Nor did he want to take the chance that any other horse might hurt his human. Although I was not aware of our bond at that time, there were several horsemen, who's word could be taken as law, who mentioned that fact that Mac always put himself between me and whatever he considered danger.....and if that meant the judge, then he made sure that judge gave us a clear berth. Yet, this same horse, who did airs above the ground in halter class to keep between me and who/whatever, was broke to drive and I drove him in a ladies class where he was an absolute gentleman. That was one class where those same horsemen said, "you really won that class" although I got a 4th. (It was nice that several of them really went to bat for me by screaming at the judge who said, "women should not drive stallions" yelling "he did everything he was supposed to". It was this same horse who, while waiting for a Supreme Champion class, slipped his show bridle (well, it really kinda fell off.....he had a head set that made it hard to keep any kind of halter or bridle on him), and stood there like "Mom, something ain't right", while 20 4-H horses, stood in tie stalls not 15' from him (and at least half had come into heat that week).....and he never made a wrong move.
It was Mac who taught me the "one-finger" rule. Just like a stern mother or grandmother, who shakes her finger at you when you've been bad....and you know you're in big trouble.....Mac responded to the wagging of a single finger by putting his head down and standing still. Eventually, I didn't even have to wag it, just hold it up. It was a fluke discovery......but one that has proven itself over and over.
Slick came to us as an older horse. He had been labeled "crazy".....in fact one of his previous owners was going to shoot him he was so crazy. But his bloodlines were wonderful. We had been told that he could only be led with a bridle, that he was too crazy....you needed a bit to control him. So we used the bridle.....and he behaved "like a stallion"....prancing, trumpeting, basically being "on the muscle". Getting the bridle on was difficult.....until I held up one finger. Sure enough, he dropped his head and stood still. Then, one day, I forgot to put the bridle on. And I discovered the gelding inside the stallion. Even though I lead him right past Mac, he just kept his head down and plodded along beside me...."I'm a gelding". (Mac, of course was not happy that he was not between this "new guy" and me). Slick was great for traumatized mares......he wined and dined them. He was the first horse we allowed to pasture-breed, and he definitely knew what he was doing. It was a comedy show in some ways. We had a traumatized mare (we didn't know it until we tried to breed her).....but he was able to snort, shnuffle and gently convince her it was ok, then did his thing. I don't think she even knew what happened....and when it was all over she had a real funny look on her face.
Now we have Bo. Bo was bought young (a yearling) and bred as a 2-yr-old. When we bought him, he could have been labeled "crazy". He had rarely been handled, and while getting him ready for the sale ring, he behaved "like a stallion"....rearing, bucking, trying to get away from (or get) the man on the end of the leadshank. He's awesome and is, once again, the ultimate gentleman. He has his third crop on the ground now. Yes,he is a stallion and he can become quite obnoxious. But the one-finger rule works on him, too.
So why did my "crazy" stallions turn into gentlemen?
Well, it's not because I'm such a wonderful trainer.......(I'm not).
Part of it is due to horse listening (although Charlie and Mac were really before I got serious about it). But another part is due to really understanding horse behavior....of waiting for them to come to you.....and because I never subscribed to the myths we have about stallions.....which I will go over in "Part 2"
Oh, I've been confronted with stallions that are just plain mean, and DO intend to "get you". But I've also had to deal with geldings who would just a soon kick your head off, too. But it all boils down to the way you treat them......treat them like they are supposed to be mean and nasty, and they will be more than happy to become the animal you have wished for.
My first experience with stallions came from a Standardbred breeding farm. There were four very high quality stallions that (with a lot of black type) and four distinct personalities. There was the "I'm really a gelding in disguise", an absolute gentleman.....you could change lightbulbs by standing on his back. There was the bored old man who liked to keep you on your toes by taking a nip when you weren't paying attention....always with that gleam in his eye that made you think he was laughing at you (he was). There was the awesome "in-my-prime" guy who would try to bully you, but once you stood your ground he didn't try anything stupid. And there was the "I-hate-you-all-and-want-to-kill-you" guy that came at you teeth and hoof.....all the time. Only the farm manager was able to work with him, and most of the time he was muzzled when handled. He never did get any better.
Later I dealt with TB stallions, and again, found that they were individuals. Some were fine, as long as there wasn't a mare in heat close by. Some were, well, dangerous. It wasn't until later that I learned the "one-finger" rule. But more on that later.
Eventually came the time when we wanted to breed our Percherons. My husband had seen a colt that he really liked, but the man wasn't interested in selling him as a weanling. It wasn't until the fall of his yearling year that the man called and asked if he was still interested in him. My husband went down to look at him and decided to buy him. He didn't take a trailer......the horse was in Amish country and the roads are, well, rather narrow in that section. When they say "make a left at the pig trough" they mean it! We had to wait for several bicycles to find drives to hop into before we could get past them!!
My first view of Charlie was in a low-ceilinged bank barn. He was in a calf pen. And he wanted nothing to do with humans. He did not have a halter on.....it seems that this "crazy horse" wouldn't get caught, so his youngster halter had grown into his skin and been cut off. He had a really nasty, pus-filled gouge actoss his poll.....just beyond ear to ear. They had been treating it.....sort of.....he wasn't real cooperative. So while hubby and Amishman talked man-talk, I went to sit on the pen and try to figure him out (yep, too many Disney movies seen). Several times he "chased" me off the pen, and then turned his butt to me with that "go ahead, make my day" look. I had his halter in my hand.....a big one with sheepskin on it to protect his cut.....and eventually his curiousity got the better of him and he came over to check me out. It took a few tries, but at last I got the halter on. I was going out to get the lead so we could get him on the trailer, when the men (a few more had shown up) came in and they said, "ready for the rodeo?" Now, I was stupid.....I just figured that they meant getting him into a trailer would be, well, ugly, at best. I nodded and asked if Roy had brought the lead shank (which he had, of course). "No, I mean getting his halter on."
"It's on," I blurted. They looked at me like I was nuts. But there stood Charlie, head over the rail, with his halter on. "How did you....." But I just took the lead shank and attached it to the halter.. To be honest, I don't remember much about the going on the trailer part......I know it took a few tries, but it wasnt as bad as I've seen. Ultimately, Charlie acted like a gelding when being handled, but trumpted like an elephant when it was time to breed. Yes, he let his ladies know he was coming!!! This "crazy" horse let a 16 year old girl show him at a major show.....and was the perfect gentleman even with four other obnoxious orangutans leaping and kicking in the show ring. Charlie also tended to be a "ham" in front of an audience. Once when being judged for Supreme Stallion, the judge went to point to the Belgian, and Charlie stomped and picked up a stance that sent the crowd (and the judge) into fits of laughter.
Mac was our second stallion. He was an awesome young man, again pretty much a gentleman. Except in the show ring. His first show was Ohio State.....and he was the usual gentleman. His third show was Indiana State...and something happened. We were on the way to get him his bath before the show, when we passed by the stall of another stallion his age. This stallion was one of those "He's a stallion, he's supposed to act that way". This stallion charged at us. Although it startled me, Mac went balistic. He reared up and threw himself at the other stallion, nearly taking the stall down. I had never seen him so riled. He quieted down while we got his bath done, and he was fine in his own stall.....even though a Clydesdale stallion stood in the next stall.....in fact, he and the Clyde seemed to take a liking to each other. He also took a real liking to the two foals who were next to him. Then, in the show ring, with three other orangutans, he saw the stallion that had gone after us. He pinned his ears and watched that other stallion. As the stallion made his run, Mac was waiting and tried to rush out and get him. He was easily controllable, but he did NOT want that horse anywhere near us. Nor did he want to take the chance that any other horse might hurt his human. Although I was not aware of our bond at that time, there were several horsemen, who's word could be taken as law, who mentioned that fact that Mac always put himself between me and whatever he considered danger.....and if that meant the judge, then he made sure that judge gave us a clear berth. Yet, this same horse, who did airs above the ground in halter class to keep between me and who/whatever, was broke to drive and I drove him in a ladies class where he was an absolute gentleman. That was one class where those same horsemen said, "you really won that class" although I got a 4th. (It was nice that several of them really went to bat for me by screaming at the judge who said, "women should not drive stallions" yelling "he did everything he was supposed to". It was this same horse who, while waiting for a Supreme Champion class, slipped his show bridle (well, it really kinda fell off.....he had a head set that made it hard to keep any kind of halter or bridle on him), and stood there like "Mom, something ain't right", while 20 4-H horses, stood in tie stalls not 15' from him (and at least half had come into heat that week).....and he never made a wrong move.
It was Mac who taught me the "one-finger" rule. Just like a stern mother or grandmother, who shakes her finger at you when you've been bad....and you know you're in big trouble.....Mac responded to the wagging of a single finger by putting his head down and standing still. Eventually, I didn't even have to wag it, just hold it up. It was a fluke discovery......but one that has proven itself over and over.
Slick came to us as an older horse. He had been labeled "crazy".....in fact one of his previous owners was going to shoot him he was so crazy. But his bloodlines were wonderful. We had been told that he could only be led with a bridle, that he was too crazy....you needed a bit to control him. So we used the bridle.....and he behaved "like a stallion"....prancing, trumpeting, basically being "on the muscle". Getting the bridle on was difficult.....until I held up one finger. Sure enough, he dropped his head and stood still. Then, one day, I forgot to put the bridle on. And I discovered the gelding inside the stallion. Even though I lead him right past Mac, he just kept his head down and plodded along beside me...."I'm a gelding". (Mac, of course was not happy that he was not between this "new guy" and me). Slick was great for traumatized mares......he wined and dined them. He was the first horse we allowed to pasture-breed, and he definitely knew what he was doing. It was a comedy show in some ways. We had a traumatized mare (we didn't know it until we tried to breed her).....but he was able to snort, shnuffle and gently convince her it was ok, then did his thing. I don't think she even knew what happened....and when it was all over she had a real funny look on her face.
Now we have Bo. Bo was bought young (a yearling) and bred as a 2-yr-old. When we bought him, he could have been labeled "crazy". He had rarely been handled, and while getting him ready for the sale ring, he behaved "like a stallion"....rearing, bucking, trying to get away from (or get) the man on the end of the leadshank. He's awesome and is, once again, the ultimate gentleman. He has his third crop on the ground now. Yes,he is a stallion and he can become quite obnoxious. But the one-finger rule works on him, too.
So why did my "crazy" stallions turn into gentlemen?
Well, it's not because I'm such a wonderful trainer.......(I'm not).
Part of it is due to horse listening (although Charlie and Mac were really before I got serious about it). But another part is due to really understanding horse behavior....of waiting for them to come to you.....and because I never subscribed to the myths we have about stallions.....which I will go over in "Part 2"
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's Hay Season!
Up in the North here it is finally hay season. And there is a lot of hay to be moved. Especially when you have a rather large herd of show horses, whose pasture is small enough that those large plate-sized feet destroy more grass than they graze, and you are close enough to your neighbors that it would not be unusual to find a stray bullet on your property from their target practice. So, we supplement with hay......a lot of hay. We don't have enough acreage to make it feasible to make our own (plus it's not that great) so we buy it. And therein lies the problem.
You can't find help to move it as fast as it needs to get moved. You would think, that with all the talk about the economy tanking; with all the people moaning about losing their jobs; unable to pay bills; and on and on.......that people would be willing to get paid for a day or two of hard, physically demanding work....even if it was just enough to get them groceries for the week. But no. No one wants to get hot and dirty, even if it will get you more per hour than McDonald's or Burger King. And the time commitment is minimal.
Time was when the football coaches would "hire out" their teams to haying farmers instead of doing weight lifting or two-a-day drills. After all, their team would be getting both cardio and weight-lifting all at once!!! Not so any more....the emphasis is on weight-training in an air-conditioned gym (last I knew games were played outside!) and constant game plays. After all, winning is the all in football!
But it seems to be a common problem everywhere, now. We work for the money to provide for our horses (no really!!! That's where most of my income goes!) As a firefighter/paramedic I see it with our probies coming up.....they really don't want to work and love the job because they feel they can spend all their time sleeping, watching TV or playing PlayStation. And in many stations they can.
Not in ours. We do a lot of training and have other duties.....which the youngers don't like.
But we also have air-conditioned work-out rooms......and they are very happy to spend time with their bros in there......usually competing with each other in the nice climate-controlled atmosphere.
But ask these guys to come out for REAL work? Ummmmm.....how many excuses can they come up with. The same guys who praise themselves for bench-pressing 300+# have absolutely no intentions of getting dirty and sweaty for an afternoon of tossing 85# bales (yeah, we weighed them! Friends down the street get 35#-ers).
What does this have to do with horses listening/training? Well, this philosophy spills over into the general dealing with horses. You know what I'm talking about.....the person who comes to the boarding stables or school and does absolutely nothing to get their horse ready, yet takes them out for their lesson then goes home until next week's lesson. This same person gets all bent out of shape at a show, where they spend more time with the horse in a less-than-ideal-situation (i.e. competitive) and they quickly get frustrated because the horse "won't do everything I ask" for several hours when it usually only takes 1 hour at "home". Or the person who has their horse at their place, but only feeds it until such time as they want to do something and then gets bent because it "won't do what I want". Am I guilty of that? ABSOLUTELY!!!! It was one of the things that Rusty taught me only too well. Do I still do it? Absolutely. I'm not proud of admitting it. But, then, I don't EXPECT the horse to be perfect when we DO start something. And that makes a big difference.
I've spent a lot of time watching my horses be horses. I've spent time in their stalls with them. I know their personalities.....I know when they are feeling good and not-so-good. I have horses who are pretty steady and predictable.....and I have goof-balls who are always on the look-out for mischief-making. I'm the one who needs to make the adjustments....because, quite frankly, they don't care if they "look good" in the show ring. Well, except for Bud.....who thrives on an audience.
But that's the difference. The same people who moan and groan about "not having" are the same people who won't make that effort....won't do the work necessary to "make it happen". Even if the work is to simply listen.
You can't find help to move it as fast as it needs to get moved. You would think, that with all the talk about the economy tanking; with all the people moaning about losing their jobs; unable to pay bills; and on and on.......that people would be willing to get paid for a day or two of hard, physically demanding work....even if it was just enough to get them groceries for the week. But no. No one wants to get hot and dirty, even if it will get you more per hour than McDonald's or Burger King. And the time commitment is minimal.
Time was when the football coaches would "hire out" their teams to haying farmers instead of doing weight lifting or two-a-day drills. After all, their team would be getting both cardio and weight-lifting all at once!!! Not so any more....the emphasis is on weight-training in an air-conditioned gym (last I knew games were played outside!) and constant game plays. After all, winning is the all in football!
But it seems to be a common problem everywhere, now. We work for the money to provide for our horses (no really!!! That's where most of my income goes!) As a firefighter/paramedic I see it with our probies coming up.....they really don't want to work and love the job because they feel they can spend all their time sleeping, watching TV or playing PlayStation. And in many stations they can.
Not in ours. We do a lot of training and have other duties.....which the youngers don't like.
But we also have air-conditioned work-out rooms......and they are very happy to spend time with their bros in there......usually competing with each other in the nice climate-controlled atmosphere.
But ask these guys to come out for REAL work? Ummmmm.....how many excuses can they come up with. The same guys who praise themselves for bench-pressing 300+# have absolutely no intentions of getting dirty and sweaty for an afternoon of tossing 85# bales (yeah, we weighed them! Friends down the street get 35#-ers).
What does this have to do with horses listening/training? Well, this philosophy spills over into the general dealing with horses. You know what I'm talking about.....the person who comes to the boarding stables or school and does absolutely nothing to get their horse ready, yet takes them out for their lesson then goes home until next week's lesson. This same person gets all bent out of shape at a show, where they spend more time with the horse in a less-than-ideal-situation (i.e. competitive) and they quickly get frustrated because the horse "won't do everything I ask" for several hours when it usually only takes 1 hour at "home". Or the person who has their horse at their place, but only feeds it until such time as they want to do something and then gets bent because it "won't do what I want". Am I guilty of that? ABSOLUTELY!!!! It was one of the things that Rusty taught me only too well. Do I still do it? Absolutely. I'm not proud of admitting it. But, then, I don't EXPECT the horse to be perfect when we DO start something. And that makes a big difference.
I've spent a lot of time watching my horses be horses. I've spent time in their stalls with them. I know their personalities.....I know when they are feeling good and not-so-good. I have horses who are pretty steady and predictable.....and I have goof-balls who are always on the look-out for mischief-making. I'm the one who needs to make the adjustments....because, quite frankly, they don't care if they "look good" in the show ring. Well, except for Bud.....who thrives on an audience.
But that's the difference. The same people who moan and groan about "not having" are the same people who won't make that effort....won't do the work necessary to "make it happen". Even if the work is to simply listen.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Bud--the Master Teacher
If Archimedes was expressive, and Rusty verbose, then Bud was positively loquacious. Bud never shut up! He could hold whole conversations....with himself!!!! If he had been a human child, he would have been one of those who hang around the adults going, "Watch me!" "Look what I can do!" "Are we there yet?" "What are we going to do now?" He would have been a pest if he hadn't been so funny.
Bud came into my life as an auction horse. This small 2yo came into the auction ring stomping as if he was the most magnificent horse to touch the earth. His breeding was impressive, and the then owner had hoped that he would grow to become the US version of his brother, a premier sire in Canada. He didn't. So he came to the auction. At that time, slaughter houses were still in the US, and he definitely caught the eye of the "meat men". He was what the draft people call a "chunk".....a short, squat, fat/muscular horse who could pull a lot of weight and "dress-out" pretty good too. But, boy, could he move!!! And a horse that could move like that did not deserve the kill pen.....as far as I was concerned. I decided how much I felt he was worth and started bidding against them. I guess I felt he was worth a lot more than they did, cuz I ended up with a small stallion I didn't need. Ultimately he was gelded and trained......and he became the best horse for teaching me how to drive. I also rode him.....which he "allowed" since I also drove him. He loved being driven......and showed off......prancing around in a cart as if he was really something. He was so talented that even a mediocre rider like me could make him passage and piaffe like a Lippanzaner.
He was my first experience with trying Monty Roberts' "Join-Up". It worked. For the next 10 years he was joined at the hip with me. Right after the "Join-Up" session, he would run out into the pasture then turn around and look at me, very clearly saying, "Well, are you coming or what?" He was the only horse I've had that actually looked forward to working. When he saw me coming with a collar, or he heard the clink of the harness as we got it ready for him......he would just about turn himself inside out. He was like Donkey in Shrek....Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!. If he had been a dog, his tail would have been wagging so hard it would have wagged his whole body.
He has a huge heart, and uncompromising spirit. We had a huge willow fall in the pasture, and we were using the horses to haul the pieces out. Bud, of course, made a game of it, and turned it into a "is that the best you can do?" contest. Prancing, trotting and pulling the branches and smaller logs, he got stronger the more we pulled. In fact he almost ran away with me, then turned around as if to say, "that was fun.....that the best you can do?" So, we hooked him to a 12' long, 2-1/2" diameter log that we pretty much figured would stop him in his tracks....especially since it was in the mud. So I asked him to pull, and he thought he was just going to fly off with it and took off.........but the collar stopped him cold. I really wish I had a video of this, because the look on his face was priceless. 'What the h.....?' I was laughing so hard, I almost missed him getting ready for his next attempt. He turned his head and looked at that log like he was thinking how to move it. Then he, with no prompting from me, took 2 steps back, threw himself into the harness and collar like a real, for-sure pulling horse, dropped down almost to his knees.....and hit the end of the tresses........and that huge log moved a few inches!!!!. And he knew it!......His head shot up, his ears went forward and he got that gleam in his eye....."I got you now!!!" He did it again and, sure enough, the log moved out of the mud and he tromped off with it as if it was nothing......until he hit another wet spot and it bogged a bit in the deeper mud. Once he got on dry ground, he was off and running.....well not literally for him, but I was running to keep up.....and stay out of the way of the log.
People constantly said that he was always watching for me. We went to a lot of fairs, and people I did not know would comment on how he would look for me and when he saw me his whole expression and attitude would change. They would say things like, "That must be Mom". However, it did have its down-side......I was just about the only one who could drive him. Even when I started driving him, as soon as I turned the lines over to someone else, he knew.....and his whole demeanor would change. And, people noticed.
Because of our closeness, it was easy for him to "teach" me even more about Equus. The small nuances were easy to pick up with him. Because he was always so happy-go-lucky, it was easy to tell when he wasn't up to snuff. His eye response was all I needed, to know exactly what he felt and what he needed. The crinkle in his lip told me just how hard he was thinking, how crabby he might be (all 50 nuances of crabby to outright nasty!), the worry wrinkles around his eyes also told me how hard he was thinking, and sometimes even what his concern was! From "what is that?" to "I need to look at that" to "That's just dangerous!".
Might there be some telepathy there? Who knows. I think in words.....pet psychics continually stress that they get pictures from their clients. But he taught me how to "read" Equus in a way that no human could have ever done.....in a way no other horse has been able to do. But what I learned from him, I can take to other horses. I can go to a horse show and "hear" the pain of the horse whose head is forced too low; whose saddle doesn't really fit quite right; whose rider over-uses their spurs; to barrel horses that scream, 'if you just wouldn't jab me/hit me I'd be able to stretch out more.....but since I'm waiting for that ouch, I shorten my stride.' to the horse just so overwhelmed by everything going on that it's in a panic.
That's the down side of learning Equus. Although you can understand and communicate with horses, you also "hear" a lot of things you'd rather not. It's hard to watch a show when so many horses are screaming their pain and/or complaints. But it's fun to watch a horse that is doing what it loves to do. You can tell the horse that loves to cut cows, and the one going through the motions; the one that loves to jump and the one that does it grudgingly. Actually, anyone can tell.....it's just that we don't listen.
Bud came into my life as an auction horse. This small 2yo came into the auction ring stomping as if he was the most magnificent horse to touch the earth. His breeding was impressive, and the then owner had hoped that he would grow to become the US version of his brother, a premier sire in Canada. He didn't. So he came to the auction. At that time, slaughter houses were still in the US, and he definitely caught the eye of the "meat men". He was what the draft people call a "chunk".....a short, squat, fat/muscular horse who could pull a lot of weight and "dress-out" pretty good too. But, boy, could he move!!! And a horse that could move like that did not deserve the kill pen.....as far as I was concerned. I decided how much I felt he was worth and started bidding against them. I guess I felt he was worth a lot more than they did, cuz I ended up with a small stallion I didn't need. Ultimately he was gelded and trained......and he became the best horse for teaching me how to drive. I also rode him.....which he "allowed" since I also drove him. He loved being driven......and showed off......prancing around in a cart as if he was really something. He was so talented that even a mediocre rider like me could make him passage and piaffe like a Lippanzaner.
He was my first experience with trying Monty Roberts' "Join-Up". It worked. For the next 10 years he was joined at the hip with me. Right after the "Join-Up" session, he would run out into the pasture then turn around and look at me, very clearly saying, "Well, are you coming or what?" He was the only horse I've had that actually looked forward to working. When he saw me coming with a collar, or he heard the clink of the harness as we got it ready for him......he would just about turn himself inside out. He was like Donkey in Shrek....Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!. If he had been a dog, his tail would have been wagging so hard it would have wagged his whole body.
He has a huge heart, and uncompromising spirit. We had a huge willow fall in the pasture, and we were using the horses to haul the pieces out. Bud, of course, made a game of it, and turned it into a "is that the best you can do?" contest. Prancing, trotting and pulling the branches and smaller logs, he got stronger the more we pulled. In fact he almost ran away with me, then turned around as if to say, "that was fun.....that the best you can do?" So, we hooked him to a 12' long, 2-1/2" diameter log that we pretty much figured would stop him in his tracks....especially since it was in the mud. So I asked him to pull, and he thought he was just going to fly off with it and took off.........but the collar stopped him cold. I really wish I had a video of this, because the look on his face was priceless. 'What the h.....?' I was laughing so hard, I almost missed him getting ready for his next attempt. He turned his head and looked at that log like he was thinking how to move it. Then he, with no prompting from me, took 2 steps back, threw himself into the harness and collar like a real, for-sure pulling horse, dropped down almost to his knees.....and hit the end of the tresses........and that huge log moved a few inches!!!!. And he knew it!......His head shot up, his ears went forward and he got that gleam in his eye....."I got you now!!!" He did it again and, sure enough, the log moved out of the mud and he tromped off with it as if it was nothing......until he hit another wet spot and it bogged a bit in the deeper mud. Once he got on dry ground, he was off and running.....well not literally for him, but I was running to keep up.....and stay out of the way of the log.
People constantly said that he was always watching for me. We went to a lot of fairs, and people I did not know would comment on how he would look for me and when he saw me his whole expression and attitude would change. They would say things like, "That must be Mom". However, it did have its down-side......I was just about the only one who could drive him. Even when I started driving him, as soon as I turned the lines over to someone else, he knew.....and his whole demeanor would change. And, people noticed.
Because of our closeness, it was easy for him to "teach" me even more about Equus. The small nuances were easy to pick up with him. Because he was always so happy-go-lucky, it was easy to tell when he wasn't up to snuff. His eye response was all I needed, to know exactly what he felt and what he needed. The crinkle in his lip told me just how hard he was thinking, how crabby he might be (all 50 nuances of crabby to outright nasty!), the worry wrinkles around his eyes also told me how hard he was thinking, and sometimes even what his concern was! From "what is that?" to "I need to look at that" to "That's just dangerous!".
Might there be some telepathy there? Who knows. I think in words.....pet psychics continually stress that they get pictures from their clients. But he taught me how to "read" Equus in a way that no human could have ever done.....in a way no other horse has been able to do. But what I learned from him, I can take to other horses. I can go to a horse show and "hear" the pain of the horse whose head is forced too low; whose saddle doesn't really fit quite right; whose rider over-uses their spurs; to barrel horses that scream, 'if you just wouldn't jab me/hit me I'd be able to stretch out more.....but since I'm waiting for that ouch, I shorten my stride.' to the horse just so overwhelmed by everything going on that it's in a panic.
That's the down side of learning Equus. Although you can understand and communicate with horses, you also "hear" a lot of things you'd rather not. It's hard to watch a show when so many horses are screaming their pain and/or complaints. But it's fun to watch a horse that is doing what it loves to do. You can tell the horse that loves to cut cows, and the one going through the motions; the one that loves to jump and the one that does it grudgingly. Actually, anyone can tell.....it's just that we don't listen.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Rusty--my 2nd Equus teacher
If Archimedes was expressive, Rusty was verbose. You always knew what she was thinking....or at least, she always let you know what was on her mind!!
Rusty was a "BLACK TYPE" thoroughbred on both sides. Even though she was an "oooops". Both sire and dam were yearlings, running in the pasture. Rusty's Reward had Rusty's Surprise when she was 2, after being sold as a yearling. So it's not surprising that Rusty did not get very big; in fact she was 15.2hh with shoes on. She had been on the track but had not done a whole lot. I bought her from some people who were trying to ride her Western, and go trail riding.....but it had not worked out well for them.
She was her own critter, who grudgingly allowed humans to do things to and with her. She had little use for people other than "Hey, Stupid Human....throw me some hay/grain." She was a decent enough ride, not exactly willing, but not throwing tantrums every time you asked for something.....except a right lead. She just could not balance herself on the right lead. Even when lunging, she would cross-canter for a full circle before her hind legs "fell" into the right pattern. Even out in the pasture she did it. Although the vet checked her, there did not seem to be a physical reason that she would not "push off" with the left hind first.....she just did not like to do it.
It was Rusty who "told" me about letting a horse be all s/he could be. Obviously not with words, since they don't think in words like we do. But for a number of years she carted me around in hunter classes (which later I came to recognize as something she really, really did NOT like to do) and stymied me in under saddle classes with that right lead. Eventually she got VERY good at striking off on a counter-canter and switch in a few strides.....but if she ever took off with the left hind first, it had more to do with blind luck than any doing on my part (even a blind squirrel finds a nut every so often!). No, Rusty did not rings...........unless the jumps were big and/or intimidating. THEN she was out to get them.
At the time I was working for Chuck Kinney, who now does the jumps for the big shows. Those who know Chuck know he is who he is, and you either accept him or hate him (so it seems). Chuck may not have been high with the people skills, but he knew horses....he had a way with them that was just fascinating to watch. And if ever Chuck had a "soft" look about him, it was when he was riding. It took many years for me to comprehend that he really could talk to those horses, and when he was riding, he was holding conversations with them. I mean REAL conversations. Not via words, but via feel....through his seat, the reins and just seeming to know. He was a tough taskmaster, both as a boss and a teacher. I don't think he ever realized that not everyone found it so easy to "talk" to horses. It was, ultimately, things I learned from Chuck that allowed me to find a way to hold discussions with Rusty.
And she responded in kind. Not just while riding, but all the time. It was then that I learned how, when you allow a horse to do things they liked, they usually excelled. Even so, they often "allowed" you to do things with them they would really prefer not to do.
She became that horse that everyone eventually gets.....the one that teaches you what you need to know.....and the one that will always have a special bond with you. She was the one who ultimately taught me the nuances of Equus.....the differences in the eye, even the amount of sparkle in them; the pose of the individual ears, the pull of the lip from just barely a tight line to the full blown snarl. She taught me what each amount of tenseness meant....and where that tenseness was gave so much information of what was going to happen next. The position of the feet, of the tail, of the neck and of the head.....all of which, with just a little variation meant something different. In order to speak Equus, you had to know ALL the signs and how they all related, and somehow, she taught me how to understand her. She probably laughed at me for my stilted conversation back...when you aren't "built" for Equus, it's not as easy to speak back. But, it can be done. Which I was fortunate to learn as my herd grew from 1 to 4 to 8 to 15. Watching herd dynamics not only helped me understand why certain horses are difficult to train, but also how to use my body to "speak" Equus to the horses on a level they understood. Oh, not just the kick/bite level we humans understand only too well.....but from a subtle position so that no one even knows you are having a "conversation".
Rusty was a "BLACK TYPE" thoroughbred on both sides. Even though she was an "oooops". Both sire and dam were yearlings, running in the pasture. Rusty's Reward had Rusty's Surprise when she was 2, after being sold as a yearling. So it's not surprising that Rusty did not get very big; in fact she was 15.2hh with shoes on. She had been on the track but had not done a whole lot. I bought her from some people who were trying to ride her Western, and go trail riding.....but it had not worked out well for them.
She was her own critter, who grudgingly allowed humans to do things to and with her. She had little use for people other than "Hey, Stupid Human....throw me some hay/grain." She was a decent enough ride, not exactly willing, but not throwing tantrums every time you asked for something.....except a right lead. She just could not balance herself on the right lead. Even when lunging, she would cross-canter for a full circle before her hind legs "fell" into the right pattern. Even out in the pasture she did it. Although the vet checked her, there did not seem to be a physical reason that she would not "push off" with the left hind first.....she just did not like to do it.
It was Rusty who "told" me about letting a horse be all s/he could be. Obviously not with words, since they don't think in words like we do. But for a number of years she carted me around in hunter classes (which later I came to recognize as something she really, really did NOT like to do) and stymied me in under saddle classes with that right lead. Eventually she got VERY good at striking off on a counter-canter and switch in a few strides.....but if she ever took off with the left hind first, it had more to do with blind luck than any doing on my part (even a blind squirrel finds a nut every so often!). No, Rusty did not rings...........unless the jumps were big and/or intimidating. THEN she was out to get them.
At the time I was working for Chuck Kinney, who now does the jumps for the big shows. Those who know Chuck know he is who he is, and you either accept him or hate him (so it seems). Chuck may not have been high with the people skills, but he knew horses....he had a way with them that was just fascinating to watch. And if ever Chuck had a "soft" look about him, it was when he was riding. It took many years for me to comprehend that he really could talk to those horses, and when he was riding, he was holding conversations with them. I mean REAL conversations. Not via words, but via feel....through his seat, the reins and just seeming to know. He was a tough taskmaster, both as a boss and a teacher. I don't think he ever realized that not everyone found it so easy to "talk" to horses. It was, ultimately, things I learned from Chuck that allowed me to find a way to hold discussions with Rusty.
And she responded in kind. Not just while riding, but all the time. It was then that I learned how, when you allow a horse to do things they liked, they usually excelled. Even so, they often "allowed" you to do things with them they would really prefer not to do.
She became that horse that everyone eventually gets.....the one that teaches you what you need to know.....and the one that will always have a special bond with you. She was the one who ultimately taught me the nuances of Equus.....the differences in the eye, even the amount of sparkle in them; the pose of the individual ears, the pull of the lip from just barely a tight line to the full blown snarl. She taught me what each amount of tenseness meant....and where that tenseness was gave so much information of what was going to happen next. The position of the feet, of the tail, of the neck and of the head.....all of which, with just a little variation meant something different. In order to speak Equus, you had to know ALL the signs and how they all related, and somehow, she taught me how to understand her. She probably laughed at me for my stilted conversation back...when you aren't "built" for Equus, it's not as easy to speak back. But, it can be done. Which I was fortunate to learn as my herd grew from 1 to 4 to 8 to 15. Watching herd dynamics not only helped me understand why certain horses are difficult to train, but also how to use my body to "speak" Equus to the horses on a level they understood. Oh, not just the kick/bite level we humans understand only too well.....but from a subtle position so that no one even knows you are having a "conversation".
Monday, June 8, 2009
Archimedes--my first horse language teacher
The first horse I owned was a non-descript, bay standardbred gelding...so naturally, he needed a fancy name. He wasn't my first choice (a huge [both high and wide] Palomino QH was), but he was a horse my husband (a non-rider, big time) felt comfortable on. The others we looked at were just way too much for him to handle.
The great thing about having him was what I learned, by having him. We at first boarded at a very nice private stables that raised Gaited Horses, and the owners were kind enough to let me ride and teach me about them. But for "knocking around" and trail riding, Archimedes was better. Later, a recession hit (hard) and we had to leave that place and go to another barn that was.....welll.......not the best clientele. There were wanna-be cowboys and tough guys (like the guy who owned to TWH stallions that he mistreated and underfed). But I learned about people, what they do......in his case, he was scared of his horses, so he tried to get them scared of him!!! Eventually one of the stallions nailed him pretty good and he got rid of them (although the young stallion was probably scarred for life). But there was the time when I was feeding Archimedes and the young stallion (who had been moved next to him for ??? reason) reached over to grab the hay I was tossing into his stall. I have to admit, I was stunned, seeing a gaping mouth and teeth coming at me. Well, Archimedes was having none of that and promptly nailed that stallion on the neck.....hard.....left a mark (but no bleeding). No problem after that!!! Don't mess with HIS food.
He was not the easiest ride.....you definitely had to "ride" him.....no goofing off. Yet, my husband could take him out on the trail with some of the "cowboys" and Archimedes would take care of him. He had an injury that I aggravated when I started working him for shows......he had a bad back left leg, which left him gimpy and unable to canter in the right lead. But, boy, could he gallop!!!! Only in a circle did he have a problem. Yep, you had to ride him, but you could NOT cowboy him. Anytime someone got on him to "prove a point" or "make him do" something......they usually ended up on the ground. That included me. He had this knack of "dropping a shoulder".....and no matter you do, when a horse drops a shoulder.....you're off. And he upped the ante by adding a fishtail or two just before. Several times the wannabes got on him to either catch loose horses or because they needed another horse to go out riding.....and each time he set them on the ground. See Archimedes was a sucker for food.....and even when loose, would head back to the barn where the hay was stored.....so he was an easy catch. But when they dug their heels into him......game on!!
He was also very expressive. He could look like a cartoon horse...and make all the faces you could imagine. He gave me my first lessons in Equus.....the language of the horse. Yeah, I knew about the sounds, the ears, etc. But he showed me the beginnings of the "conversation"....from "go ahead, make my day", to "I REALLY don't feel up to this (but I'm not mad about it)" to "Look what's over there" to "I wonder how that's going to turn out".
It started with his eyes. No matter what was going on, if you looked at his eyes, they told you exactly how he was feeling. Now, I know horses don't "think" like we do.....they pretty much act, react and feel (physically). But they can still carry on a conversation. I always knew when he was saying "that was fun", or "this really sucks" or even "I'm only doing this because you really seem to want me to."
Yes, his ears said things too.....but all the nuances came from his lips. From the little wrinkle to the full-blown snarl...they all meant something. It would take a few more years to begin to understand them.
Ultimately, we had made a purchase of a farm, and he moved with us to 6 acres. Naturally, we needed a companion.....and found someone desparately trying to sell a pony. Smokey was a beautiful pony, as wide as she was tall, and looked like a miniature Morgan. She was also a first class snot. As snotty as she was, she gave us all lots of laughs. She was ridable (my feet didn't even touch the ground she was so wide!) but knew how to get you off.....she'd just get going with that pony trot then suddenly stop and duck her head (or maybe it was the other way around...didn't matter....same effect) and you'd just keep bouncing over her head. She never ran away.....just stood there and looked at you....and you knew what she was thinking. She was almost as expressive as Archimedes.
The third critter was a little fancy shetland pony, bright sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail. I came home from work one day to find a truck and trailer in my driveway. They had just let her out in the field with Archimedes and Smokey. Bad idea. Jody had been raised in someone's garage since the age of 3 months and now she was 2 years old. She had never been in a pasture (or even in the back yard!!), had NO idea what a horse was, and , of course Smokey was not about to share "her" boyfriend. Obviously these people had no idea about horses, and I kept the pony anyway.....just to protect her. Eventually, they all got along....with Archimedes often "herding his mares" around the pasture protecting them from some unseen predator.
Eventually we had to leave Cincinnati for a new position......and all of them got new homes.
But what I learned from them, was the beginning of watching, learning and listening to them....of understanding Equus......the language of the horse.
The great thing about having him was what I learned, by having him. We at first boarded at a very nice private stables that raised Gaited Horses, and the owners were kind enough to let me ride and teach me about them. But for "knocking around" and trail riding, Archimedes was better. Later, a recession hit (hard) and we had to leave that place and go to another barn that was.....welll.......not the best clientele. There were wanna-be cowboys and tough guys (like the guy who owned to TWH stallions that he mistreated and underfed). But I learned about people, what they do......in his case, he was scared of his horses, so he tried to get them scared of him!!! Eventually one of the stallions nailed him pretty good and he got rid of them (although the young stallion was probably scarred for life). But there was the time when I was feeding Archimedes and the young stallion (who had been moved next to him for ??? reason) reached over to grab the hay I was tossing into his stall. I have to admit, I was stunned, seeing a gaping mouth and teeth coming at me. Well, Archimedes was having none of that and promptly nailed that stallion on the neck.....hard.....left a mark (but no bleeding). No problem after that!!! Don't mess with HIS food.
He was not the easiest ride.....you definitely had to "ride" him.....no goofing off. Yet, my husband could take him out on the trail with some of the "cowboys" and Archimedes would take care of him. He had an injury that I aggravated when I started working him for shows......he had a bad back left leg, which left him gimpy and unable to canter in the right lead. But, boy, could he gallop!!!! Only in a circle did he have a problem. Yep, you had to ride him, but you could NOT cowboy him. Anytime someone got on him to "prove a point" or "make him do" something......they usually ended up on the ground. That included me. He had this knack of "dropping a shoulder".....and no matter you do, when a horse drops a shoulder.....you're off. And he upped the ante by adding a fishtail or two just before. Several times the wannabes got on him to either catch loose horses or because they needed another horse to go out riding.....and each time he set them on the ground. See Archimedes was a sucker for food.....and even when loose, would head back to the barn where the hay was stored.....so he was an easy catch. But when they dug their heels into him......game on!!
He was also very expressive. He could look like a cartoon horse...and make all the faces you could imagine. He gave me my first lessons in Equus.....the language of the horse. Yeah, I knew about the sounds, the ears, etc. But he showed me the beginnings of the "conversation"....from "go ahead, make my day", to "I REALLY don't feel up to this (but I'm not mad about it)" to "Look what's over there" to "I wonder how that's going to turn out".
It started with his eyes. No matter what was going on, if you looked at his eyes, they told you exactly how he was feeling. Now, I know horses don't "think" like we do.....they pretty much act, react and feel (physically). But they can still carry on a conversation. I always knew when he was saying "that was fun", or "this really sucks" or even "I'm only doing this because you really seem to want me to."
Yes, his ears said things too.....but all the nuances came from his lips. From the little wrinkle to the full-blown snarl...they all meant something. It would take a few more years to begin to understand them.
Ultimately, we had made a purchase of a farm, and he moved with us to 6 acres. Naturally, we needed a companion.....and found someone desparately trying to sell a pony. Smokey was a beautiful pony, as wide as she was tall, and looked like a miniature Morgan. She was also a first class snot. As snotty as she was, she gave us all lots of laughs. She was ridable (my feet didn't even touch the ground she was so wide!) but knew how to get you off.....she'd just get going with that pony trot then suddenly stop and duck her head (or maybe it was the other way around...didn't matter....same effect) and you'd just keep bouncing over her head. She never ran away.....just stood there and looked at you....and you knew what she was thinking. She was almost as expressive as Archimedes.
The third critter was a little fancy shetland pony, bright sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail. I came home from work one day to find a truck and trailer in my driveway. They had just let her out in the field with Archimedes and Smokey. Bad idea. Jody had been raised in someone's garage since the age of 3 months and now she was 2 years old. She had never been in a pasture (or even in the back yard!!), had NO idea what a horse was, and , of course Smokey was not about to share "her" boyfriend. Obviously these people had no idea about horses, and I kept the pony anyway.....just to protect her. Eventually, they all got along....with Archimedes often "herding his mares" around the pasture protecting them from some unseen predator.
Eventually we had to leave Cincinnati for a new position......and all of them got new homes.
But what I learned from them, was the beginning of watching, learning and listening to them....of understanding Equus......the language of the horse.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
My Journey with Horses (short version)
I've been told that my horses are "crazy", "wild", "scary". When I first heard this (a number of years ago), I was really surprised. So I started thinking about it. And, I started comparing my horses with those of other people (especially the people who made the comments!) So I went 'way back.
As a child growing up in Chicago, I did not have a horse. In fact, I did not get a horse until after I graduated from college! My Grandmother lived on a farm, but she did not have horses either. My cousins remember me screaming in terror when we went on a trail ride when I was about 7 and we started trotting.....but then I was the biggest scaredy-cat in the world at the time. That changed the day a group of teenagers rode past Gram's farm and stopped (she had a Gas Station she ran with a general store) for some pop. I was immediately drawn to them. And the first "real" horse contact came when the biggest one put his head down to mine. If you believe in telepathy, he "spoke" to me; but, regardless, it became very clear to me that these big creatures would never hurt me. The girl was nice enough to get me up on him and walk him around, and it was clear to me that I did not need to worry ever again about horses. This experience let me "read" students who were more afraid than they let on, and allowed me to "guide" them more than teach/make them do things.
It proved itself over and over at places I went trail-riding. After a time, the stables I went to gave me a "problem child" horse....with apologies. The group that day needed my nice beginner horse and if I wanted to ride, I would be on this horse. Fortunately, my "usual" horse had taught me quite a bit (well, anything was quite a bit when you start at zero!) So as I started with this horse, I just kind of played around as to how hard to kick (these were stable horses remember and kicking was the norm to get started), how well he turned, and how hard I had to pull to stop (which was not much!). Even then, I was already "listening" although I didn't know it at the time. I had "listened" to my first horse and now was "listening" to him. He was tense (he was pretty much used to being manhandled), but, since I didn't know much, I didn't ask for much. Ultimately I got the feeling that he had been "using" horse......he was used as a ranch horse (and ultimately I found out that was true). Before long, I was able to do sliding stops on him, spin him and go in any direction I wanted. He even "rescued" several run aways (I don't take credit for them.....he put himself in the position to head them off). They sold him during the summer I was off from school; when I came back the next year, they said they had to, since he would not ride with most people. I got on a lot of horses that year and learned a lot more from them. Ultimately, the stables was arsoned by developers buying up all the other land in the area........18 horses, their feed and saddles were in the barn at the time.
Like I said, I didn't get my first horse til after graduating college. But the one thing I learned from each stable/over-used horse I rode is that even though they had the worst "job" a horse can have, and usually had the attitude to match, when you let them be who they are......they can become happy, enjoyable, and dependable friends.
And I think that's why some people think MY horses are "crazy". They are who they are. I ALLOW them their personalities; I don't expect them to be robots and perform perfectly all the time (although there's lots of times I WISH they would). My horses are excited to see me, they seem to LIKE my presence, and when we are getting ready to perform......they get excited about showing off. Oh, I've had my runaways (been put in the hospital by one). But those people who call my horses "crazy" don't see them at home. They know the difference between training, galvanting around for fun and the show ring. You won't see them hyped up at home.....but they know when there's a show and they do seem to want to show off (well, most of them......there are always a few "Eeyore's").
I've had a few horses that were labeled "crazy" before I got them. And we seem to buy a LOT of horses that have major issues......(most of them have gone on to other homes, not as wound up as they were when we got them....I won't sell a horse that has major issues to deal with, because most people don't "listen" or even want to understand!) But I guess I don't see them as "crazy". And the most surprising part is that once they are allowed to be who they are......the change can be dramatic!
As a child growing up in Chicago, I did not have a horse. In fact, I did not get a horse until after I graduated from college! My Grandmother lived on a farm, but she did not have horses either. My cousins remember me screaming in terror when we went on a trail ride when I was about 7 and we started trotting.....but then I was the biggest scaredy-cat in the world at the time. That changed the day a group of teenagers rode past Gram's farm and stopped (she had a Gas Station she ran with a general store) for some pop. I was immediately drawn to them. And the first "real" horse contact came when the biggest one put his head down to mine. If you believe in telepathy, he "spoke" to me; but, regardless, it became very clear to me that these big creatures would never hurt me. The girl was nice enough to get me up on him and walk him around, and it was clear to me that I did not need to worry ever again about horses. This experience let me "read" students who were more afraid than they let on, and allowed me to "guide" them more than teach/make them do things.
It proved itself over and over at places I went trail-riding. After a time, the stables I went to gave me a "problem child" horse....with apologies. The group that day needed my nice beginner horse and if I wanted to ride, I would be on this horse. Fortunately, my "usual" horse had taught me quite a bit (well, anything was quite a bit when you start at zero!) So as I started with this horse, I just kind of played around as to how hard to kick (these were stable horses remember and kicking was the norm to get started), how well he turned, and how hard I had to pull to stop (which was not much!). Even then, I was already "listening" although I didn't know it at the time. I had "listened" to my first horse and now was "listening" to him. He was tense (he was pretty much used to being manhandled), but, since I didn't know much, I didn't ask for much. Ultimately I got the feeling that he had been "using" horse......he was used as a ranch horse (and ultimately I found out that was true). Before long, I was able to do sliding stops on him, spin him and go in any direction I wanted. He even "rescued" several run aways (I don't take credit for them.....he put himself in the position to head them off). They sold him during the summer I was off from school; when I came back the next year, they said they had to, since he would not ride with most people. I got on a lot of horses that year and learned a lot more from them. Ultimately, the stables was arsoned by developers buying up all the other land in the area........18 horses, their feed and saddles were in the barn at the time.
Like I said, I didn't get my first horse til after graduating college. But the one thing I learned from each stable/over-used horse I rode is that even though they had the worst "job" a horse can have, and usually had the attitude to match, when you let them be who they are......they can become happy, enjoyable, and dependable friends.
And I think that's why some people think MY horses are "crazy". They are who they are. I ALLOW them their personalities; I don't expect them to be robots and perform perfectly all the time (although there's lots of times I WISH they would). My horses are excited to see me, they seem to LIKE my presence, and when we are getting ready to perform......they get excited about showing off. Oh, I've had my runaways (been put in the hospital by one). But those people who call my horses "crazy" don't see them at home. They know the difference between training, galvanting around for fun and the show ring. You won't see them hyped up at home.....but they know when there's a show and they do seem to want to show off (well, most of them......there are always a few "Eeyore's").
I've had a few horses that were labeled "crazy" before I got them. And we seem to buy a LOT of horses that have major issues......(most of them have gone on to other homes, not as wound up as they were when we got them....I won't sell a horse that has major issues to deal with, because most people don't "listen" or even want to understand!) But I guess I don't see them as "crazy". And the most surprising part is that once they are allowed to be who they are......the change can be dramatic!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Trainers
Stay with me on this one, please.
Quite some time ago I came across an article that was titled, "What is this thing with girls and horses?" In the article, the author (whose name escapes me) was discussing his observations that a horse will do almost anything to prevent a girl from falling off, but did not seem to go through all those gyrations for a boy....in fact, might even use an off-balance moment to unseat a boy. I began to watch at shows to see if that was true.....and surprising enough, it was. I was into hunter/jumpers at the time and there was no doubt that when a horse was coming into a fence "wrong" it would do whatever was necessary to get over the fence and keep the rider on its back. If the female rider was already unbalanced coming into the fence, the horse would, of course decline the fence.....but......would do everything in its power to try to keep the rider ON while dodging the fence! I've seen horses literally scoot back under a rider already coming off, or at least not ready to take the fence. However, let it be a male rider and it just would run out.....usually in the opposite direction of the unbalanced boy.....and then turn around a look at him on the ground like, "how do you like that?"
Now, take a look at all the magazines, books and training programs out there. How many of them are women? Probably 95% of the trainers with followings are male. Ever wonder......why is that?
I have my own theories, of course. And I am not, nor will I "knock" any of the male trainers out there....they are all good at what they do, whether I agree with their methods or not......obviously their system works for some horses or they wouldn't be around very long. And the same can be said for female trainers.
But there ARE women trainers out there.....they just aren't so well known. AND I'd hazard a guess that 95% of riding instructors (both English and Western styles) ARE women. No matter what level.....4-H, AQHA, H/J, Dressage....or what breed.... most people go to a FEMALE to learn how to ride OR how to ride THEIR horse.
Therein lies the difference.
When it comes to dominating the horse, we go to men.
When it comes to listening to a horse, we go to women.
It's a societal thing. For some reason, we feel that men don't finesse the horse, that they force it to do something it really doesn't wanna do. Yet, once we learn that a horse won't do what we want it to, we go to women to help us finesse a way out of it....or we send it to a male trainer to "fix" it.
But the top trainers HAVE learned to "finesse it". Otherwise they wouldn't be top trainers. This is (my theory here) why they do so well.....they have overcome the traditional "macho male dominant" role and become soft enough to work with the horse.
However.....they don't seem to do so well passing on what they have learned. Yes, they have their "X-number" step programs for making a horse do......well whatever it is you are having problems doing. For someone who has limited experience (and you can be riding for your whole life and STILL have limited experience.....I know I do.....I'm always learning something new from my herd) and is at the end of their rope.....there's the knot.....hang on! But even though they are their "step program" it is the rider who has to FEEL it working (or not working) and vary it.
Many trainers, both male and female, can't teach that. They can do it, they can have student watch them do it, but they can't really explain what they are feeling.....feeling, not only with their physical bodies but mentally as well.
And that is why so many training programs fail once the horse goes back to the owner/rider. Trainers can sqeak "Equus", but it is a very hard language to teach someone else. It's like learning Japanese or Chinese, with it's subtle sound/tone nuances that completely change the word you're speaking. Or trying to write in the characters of those languages. Since "Equus" is a silent language, a body language, one needs to spend a lot of time literally immersed in it. Trainers do that.....they are around horses 24/7.....the have to learn it to do what they do, to survive in the horses' world. They learn to listen with more than their ears, seat and legs. They watch the nuances between horses, how they communicate, how they physically "feel" that day (uh-oh someone's crabby today, or someone's not feeling all that well today) and it's all done with body language.
The great this is that.......ANYONE can learn it!!!!
Quite some time ago I came across an article that was titled, "What is this thing with girls and horses?" In the article, the author (whose name escapes me) was discussing his observations that a horse will do almost anything to prevent a girl from falling off, but did not seem to go through all those gyrations for a boy....in fact, might even use an off-balance moment to unseat a boy. I began to watch at shows to see if that was true.....and surprising enough, it was. I was into hunter/jumpers at the time and there was no doubt that when a horse was coming into a fence "wrong" it would do whatever was necessary to get over the fence and keep the rider on its back. If the female rider was already unbalanced coming into the fence, the horse would, of course decline the fence.....but......would do everything in its power to try to keep the rider ON while dodging the fence! I've seen horses literally scoot back under a rider already coming off, or at least not ready to take the fence. However, let it be a male rider and it just would run out.....usually in the opposite direction of the unbalanced boy.....and then turn around a look at him on the ground like, "how do you like that?"
Now, take a look at all the magazines, books and training programs out there. How many of them are women? Probably 95% of the trainers with followings are male. Ever wonder......why is that?
I have my own theories, of course. And I am not, nor will I "knock" any of the male trainers out there....they are all good at what they do, whether I agree with their methods or not......obviously their system works for some horses or they wouldn't be around very long. And the same can be said for female trainers.
But there ARE women trainers out there.....they just aren't so well known. AND I'd hazard a guess that 95% of riding instructors (both English and Western styles) ARE women. No matter what level.....4-H, AQHA, H/J, Dressage....or what breed.... most people go to a FEMALE to learn how to ride OR how to ride THEIR horse.
Therein lies the difference.
When it comes to dominating the horse, we go to men.
When it comes to listening to a horse, we go to women.
It's a societal thing. For some reason, we feel that men don't finesse the horse, that they force it to do something it really doesn't wanna do. Yet, once we learn that a horse won't do what we want it to, we go to women to help us finesse a way out of it....or we send it to a male trainer to "fix" it.
But the top trainers HAVE learned to "finesse it". Otherwise they wouldn't be top trainers. This is (my theory here) why they do so well.....they have overcome the traditional "macho male dominant" role and become soft enough to work with the horse.
However.....they don't seem to do so well passing on what they have learned. Yes, they have their "X-number" step programs for making a horse do......well whatever it is you are having problems doing. For someone who has limited experience (and you can be riding for your whole life and STILL have limited experience.....I know I do.....I'm always learning something new from my herd) and is at the end of their rope.....there's the knot.....hang on! But even though they are their "step program" it is the rider who has to FEEL it working (or not working) and vary it.
Many trainers, both male and female, can't teach that. They can do it, they can have student watch them do it, but they can't really explain what they are feeling.....feeling, not only with their physical bodies but mentally as well.
And that is why so many training programs fail once the horse goes back to the owner/rider. Trainers can sqeak "Equus", but it is a very hard language to teach someone else. It's like learning Japanese or Chinese, with it's subtle sound/tone nuances that completely change the word you're speaking. Or trying to write in the characters of those languages. Since "Equus" is a silent language, a body language, one needs to spend a lot of time literally immersed in it. Trainers do that.....they are around horses 24/7.....the have to learn it to do what they do, to survive in the horses' world. They learn to listen with more than their ears, seat and legs. They watch the nuances between horses, how they communicate, how they physically "feel" that day (uh-oh someone's crabby today, or someone's not feeling all that well today) and it's all done with body language.
The great this is that.......ANYONE can learn it!!!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Explanation in order
I was talking to some people about Horse Listening and suddenly realized that they really had no idea of what I was talking about. There were questions about neighs and squeals and nickers, etc.; what they meant. I shook my head; they didn't get it. And, it was my fault, because I really didn't EXPLAIN what Horse Listening really is.
Most people think that Listening is part of sense of hearing. Well it is, but that's not ALL it is.
Hearing is the science of sound waves hitting the eardrum, sending chemical and electrical currents up nerves to the brain. The art of hearing comes as the brain interprets what those chemical and electrical impulses are telling it. Hearing is only a part of Listening.
Humans, as arrogant as we tend to be in relation to our animal friends, seem to think that OUR understanding of the senses is the way ALL creatures should sense. But even WE don't just sense that way. Think about it......how often have you just known something was wrong with a family member or friend, even when no one said anything. Obviously they didn't tell you in the normal sense of the word....you didn't really hear it through your ears. But you still knew it. You LISTENED.
The ART of Listening uses all the senses.....including that sixth sense we call intuition. Yes, it includes the sense of hearing from ears, but it also includes the sense of seeing with eyes, sensing with intuition, perhaps even smelling and/or tasting with the nose and tactile sensations (feeling) with the hands. Anyone who has ever had a really sick horse knows they have an odor that is different from anything ever smelled before. Manure pulled out by a vet smells different that that which plops on the ground normally.
ALL of these things are interpreted by our brains, to give us a "big picture". Now, we can get the wrong big picture because we interpret the signals poorly. Anyone who has played the game of "telephone" as a little kid, knows how distorted the message gets as it gets passed on. Why? Lots of reasons. We may have "heard" the words, but our brain "heard" something else. A long time ago someone said, "You may have heard what you think I said, but I don't think you heard what I really meant."
All that said, now let's get to the meat of this.
Horses, as prey animals, have few sounds. Obviously, the quieter one is, the less likely one will attract a predator. So, many animals rely on displays rather than sounds. "Reading" those displays tell you what is really going on. These displays have different meanings, depending on what other display is happening.
OK that was as clear as mud.
Simply put.......ears back mean ????? Well, it depends on how far back, how they are rotated, what the eyes are focused on, what the lips are doing, how the body is held, how the body is situated to the focus, etc, etc, etc. It's absolutely amazing how very small movements of ears, lips and focus can tell another horse to "knock it off", or "don't even think it", in no uncertain terms for them. Or the head position and focus of a foal, who's mom is nickering because it is too far away, will rotate one ear back, and the mare will go back to eating......she knows the foal knows where she is.....and soon, it trots back to her.
So, Horse Listening is an ART that we have to learn. Horses (and dogs and cats) are much better at learning OUR language than we are at learning theirs. The wonderful thing is, when we learn it, we begin to have whole "conversations" with our friends, and our training and just being with them becomes oh, so much better!!!
Most people think that Listening is part of sense of hearing. Well it is, but that's not ALL it is.
Hearing is the science of sound waves hitting the eardrum, sending chemical and electrical currents up nerves to the brain. The art of hearing comes as the brain interprets what those chemical and electrical impulses are telling it. Hearing is only a part of Listening.
Humans, as arrogant as we tend to be in relation to our animal friends, seem to think that OUR understanding of the senses is the way ALL creatures should sense. But even WE don't just sense that way. Think about it......how often have you just known something was wrong with a family member or friend, even when no one said anything. Obviously they didn't tell you in the normal sense of the word....you didn't really hear it through your ears. But you still knew it. You LISTENED.
The ART of Listening uses all the senses.....including that sixth sense we call intuition. Yes, it includes the sense of hearing from ears, but it also includes the sense of seeing with eyes, sensing with intuition, perhaps even smelling and/or tasting with the nose and tactile sensations (feeling) with the hands. Anyone who has ever had a really sick horse knows they have an odor that is different from anything ever smelled before. Manure pulled out by a vet smells different that that which plops on the ground normally.
ALL of these things are interpreted by our brains, to give us a "big picture". Now, we can get the wrong big picture because we interpret the signals poorly. Anyone who has played the game of "telephone" as a little kid, knows how distorted the message gets as it gets passed on. Why? Lots of reasons. We may have "heard" the words, but our brain "heard" something else. A long time ago someone said, "You may have heard what you think I said, but I don't think you heard what I really meant."
All that said, now let's get to the meat of this.
Horses, as prey animals, have few sounds. Obviously, the quieter one is, the less likely one will attract a predator. So, many animals rely on displays rather than sounds. "Reading" those displays tell you what is really going on. These displays have different meanings, depending on what other display is happening.
OK that was as clear as mud.
Simply put.......ears back mean ????? Well, it depends on how far back, how they are rotated, what the eyes are focused on, what the lips are doing, how the body is held, how the body is situated to the focus, etc, etc, etc. It's absolutely amazing how very small movements of ears, lips and focus can tell another horse to "knock it off", or "don't even think it", in no uncertain terms for them. Or the head position and focus of a foal, who's mom is nickering because it is too far away, will rotate one ear back, and the mare will go back to eating......she knows the foal knows where she is.....and soon, it trots back to her.
So, Horse Listening is an ART that we have to learn. Horses (and dogs and cats) are much better at learning OUR language than we are at learning theirs. The wonderful thing is, when we learn it, we begin to have whole "conversations" with our friends, and our training and just being with them becomes oh, so much better!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
School Horses
School horses are absolutely wonderful to study. You take a bunch of horses that, for whatever reason, can't make it "out there" with one owner/rider, and stick them all together with a bunch of people who don't know anything about horses (particularly new students) and expect miracles. Somehow, this creature is supposed to be able to "fit" many different types of students, style of students and mentality of students. And then we wonder why they get "sour".
Well, duh. How are YOU at being around different people all day.....those who treat you well, those that jerk you around, those that lean heavily on you, those that just seem to tolerate you. Think in terms of family get-togethers......especially the really big family reunions. How does that make you feel? I have a great family, and we have wonderful family reunions, but I can only take it for a few days at most. We all have our comfort zone and we like to be in it. A horse is no different.
Think about it. Look around you if you either have students or are one. Anyone looking at this blog is probably far more aware of things than even they might realize. Think of the horses/students you know. Certain students hate certain school horses, and certain school horses hate certain riders. You can see it when they get paired up. Some school horses are just confused as to why the person on their back seems to have "issues", while others just seem to aggrevate the "issue" in order to get rid of the person. Gee, sound like people you know?
However, the HORSE has no alternative. He can't just walk away. So is it any surprise that they get "sour"; that students have to force the issue? That kicking and cropping become the only way to say, "Hello, need to move here"?
We can take a pleasant animal and turn him into a cranky-butt. And you can see the changes in the herd dynamics. So let's look at this.
A school with say 10-15 horses is excellent for this kind of study. The herd dynamics are the same for any group.....even a group of broodmares. But let's look at what happens.
New horse comes in. He has been selected because he seemed pleasant enough and safe enough to put new students on. He is introduced into the herd, which promptly lets him know where he is in the social order. If he's lucky, he'll find a buddy (often the LAST new horse of the group). From there is his brought in and either brushed hard and quickly by staff to get him ready, or by students (who are also in a hurry to get ready and RIDE!). The brushing may or may not get all the dirt out. The saddle gets thumped on (most new students are young and can't quite reach up high enough to let the saddle down slowly......not to mention if it is a WESTERN saddle and way to heavy for them to lift up!). The bridle is jammed into the mouth, often whacking the teeth as it goes in (serves him right for not opening his mouth for the bit!), and is usually too loose or too tight and the student either struggles with it, trying to get it over the ears, or is unaware that the bit is banging the back of the incisors. The student in unceremoniously pushed on or clambors up as best as s/he can.....pulling the horse's body in one direction, his head in the other (cuz we need the reins to help us up if we aren't tall enough to grab mane), horse stumbles in the direction of pull and is promptly smacked and growled at to "stand there".
Ouch! That little bit of dirt that didn't come out.....that hurts! It's like getting a bit of gravel caught in your shoe.....when you take your shoe off and empty it, there's not much there, but it sure felt like a boulder!!!
Now, he's uncomfortable, and all he can think about or feel is that little bit of dirt. So he's not paying attention. "Kick him" comes the command, which student does. Horse jumps....wasn't ready for that. Student jerks on reins in response (normal response of new student). Ouch, what was that for? That boulder's still there. I don't like this. Ow, I'm getting kicked in the side....jumps.....gets jerked.....what's up with this?
Anyone who's been around school horses knows this goes on. The Newbie student can't help it, it's all instinctive. AND THE HORSE CAN'T HELP IT EITHER......IT'S ALSO INSTINCTIVE.
So, after a few days/weeks/months of this, the horse is suddenly "sour". He's not happy, he's grumpy, and he'll take it out on the rest of the horses when they are out in the pasture, since he can't take it out on the humans. After awhile, he WILL take it out on the human. And while bucking and kicking is the last resort for them, they will use it when it comes to that last resort.
So when your school horse has an attitude.....you need to know WHY. Is it something you're doing...whether on purpose or not. Is it something you can do something about (other than beating the horse into submission)? Or does this animal NOT have the proper mentality to deal with this? Some otherwise excellent horses just can NOT deal with a constant stream of different riders......any more than you could deal with a constant stream of different people; some of us like it, some of us don't.
Listen to the horse. If you truly "love horses" you will listen, really hear and then work with him.
Well, duh. How are YOU at being around different people all day.....those who treat you well, those that jerk you around, those that lean heavily on you, those that just seem to tolerate you. Think in terms of family get-togethers......especially the really big family reunions. How does that make you feel? I have a great family, and we have wonderful family reunions, but I can only take it for a few days at most. We all have our comfort zone and we like to be in it. A horse is no different.
Think about it. Look around you if you either have students or are one. Anyone looking at this blog is probably far more aware of things than even they might realize. Think of the horses/students you know. Certain students hate certain school horses, and certain school horses hate certain riders. You can see it when they get paired up. Some school horses are just confused as to why the person on their back seems to have "issues", while others just seem to aggrevate the "issue" in order to get rid of the person. Gee, sound like people you know?
However, the HORSE has no alternative. He can't just walk away. So is it any surprise that they get "sour"; that students have to force the issue? That kicking and cropping become the only way to say, "Hello, need to move here"?
We can take a pleasant animal and turn him into a cranky-butt. And you can see the changes in the herd dynamics. So let's look at this.
A school with say 10-15 horses is excellent for this kind of study. The herd dynamics are the same for any group.....even a group of broodmares. But let's look at what happens.
New horse comes in. He has been selected because he seemed pleasant enough and safe enough to put new students on. He is introduced into the herd, which promptly lets him know where he is in the social order. If he's lucky, he'll find a buddy (often the LAST new horse of the group). From there is his brought in and either brushed hard and quickly by staff to get him ready, or by students (who are also in a hurry to get ready and RIDE!). The brushing may or may not get all the dirt out. The saddle gets thumped on (most new students are young and can't quite reach up high enough to let the saddle down slowly......not to mention if it is a WESTERN saddle and way to heavy for them to lift up!). The bridle is jammed into the mouth, often whacking the teeth as it goes in (serves him right for not opening his mouth for the bit!), and is usually too loose or too tight and the student either struggles with it, trying to get it over the ears, or is unaware that the bit is banging the back of the incisors. The student in unceremoniously pushed on or clambors up as best as s/he can.....pulling the horse's body in one direction, his head in the other (cuz we need the reins to help us up if we aren't tall enough to grab mane), horse stumbles in the direction of pull and is promptly smacked and growled at to "stand there".
Ouch! That little bit of dirt that didn't come out.....that hurts! It's like getting a bit of gravel caught in your shoe.....when you take your shoe off and empty it, there's not much there, but it sure felt like a boulder!!!
Now, he's uncomfortable, and all he can think about or feel is that little bit of dirt. So he's not paying attention. "Kick him" comes the command, which student does. Horse jumps....wasn't ready for that. Student jerks on reins in response (normal response of new student). Ouch, what was that for? That boulder's still there. I don't like this. Ow, I'm getting kicked in the side....jumps.....gets jerked.....what's up with this?
Anyone who's been around school horses knows this goes on. The Newbie student can't help it, it's all instinctive. AND THE HORSE CAN'T HELP IT EITHER......IT'S ALSO INSTINCTIVE.
So, after a few days/weeks/months of this, the horse is suddenly "sour". He's not happy, he's grumpy, and he'll take it out on the rest of the horses when they are out in the pasture, since he can't take it out on the humans. After awhile, he WILL take it out on the human. And while bucking and kicking is the last resort for them, they will use it when it comes to that last resort.
So when your school horse has an attitude.....you need to know WHY. Is it something you're doing...whether on purpose or not. Is it something you can do something about (other than beating the horse into submission)? Or does this animal NOT have the proper mentality to deal with this? Some otherwise excellent horses just can NOT deal with a constant stream of different riders......any more than you could deal with a constant stream of different people; some of us like it, some of us don't.
Listen to the horse. If you truly "love horses" you will listen, really hear and then work with him.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
About the Delay......
Sorry about the delay. I had a young filly born Mid-March who was exceptional in every way.....but one. She was born rather easily and quickly, but she is a head-strong little cuss, and was trying to "frog" up to Mom's head before she was even half-way out! For those not familiar with birthing, the babies seem to instinctively try to get to Mom's head so she can lick them and get used to them. Since they can't stand yet, they kind of "throw" themselves in the general direction and it looks like a frog hop. Because she was so absolutely determined to get up there right now, she was pulling on the cord, so I had to cut it. I prefer not to, but the choice was..... 1) cut it, 2) let her break the cord close to her body (and trust me, that means a major loss of blood on the foal's part or 3) let her pull the placenta out of Mom (major loss of blood from Mom, plus infection and all sorts of ick). So it got cut......just like human babies.....between 2 ties to prevent as much blood loss as possible. The problem with cutting it is that you usually end up with a "ropier" (thicker) cord than normal.....and that can cause hernias or other problems.
Everything went well......the booger-butt is independent and was not about to let us help her get to her feet; she found the spigot on her own and very quickly.....in fact was the easiest baby we've ever had. I should've known. She was bright-eyed and bouncy.......until no one was around. We have cameras on our broodmares, so we can watch and help if there's a problem. At about 2 weeks of age, I noticed that when there was no one around, she did the "dummy walk". A dummy foal usually does not nurse, is not aware of it's surroundings and it walks into and along the walls, rubbing its nose on the wall as if trying to nurse. I've had one, and it is heartbreaking to watch. However, she was no dummy, since she was easily distracted by people and behaved normally then. She also continued to nurse and check out Mom's feed. She just wasn't........right.
Ultimately I had the vet out; he could find nothing, no temp, no soreness.....nothing. So he took blood. He did a quick test back at the office lab and called immediately and said, "get her to the Horsepital." We are lucky enough in NE Ohio to have several very good ones within 3 hours of us. Her IgG was way low.....less than 400 and they like it at 1600. Something was going on. At first we thought it was a lack in the mare's milk (this is a first foal) so she was transfused with immunity proteins. Fortunately the vet at Equine Specialty listened to me and my gut instincts and went on HER gut instincts and checked her lungs for pneumonia (nope!) and ultra-sounded the umbilicus. Bingo. What looked like a patent yurakus. Meaning the veins, arteries and urinary tract structures that are used when the baby is in utero are still trying to work....and they should stop and shrink when the baby is born. Soooooooo. surgery. Ouch.....for both baby and pocketbook. Sure enough it was way bigger than it should be, but when it was being prepared for pathology (to find out what went wrong) it was full of nasty thick pus. Major, major antibiotics and care have been going on for some time, to clear this all up. All this time she has not acted sick.....like you would expect a sick horse to act. She just would have these little "spells" where she would act like she was a little colicky.....or at least uncomfortable. In fact, it took 4 people to contain her enough to get a sedative in her and 3 people AFTER the shot to get her clipped for the IV!!! You can just imagine the rodeo we had giving her shots at home!!!! (Note to you all: Naxcel is a wonderful drug......but it STINGS when it goes in....and booger-butt let us all know she did NOT appreciate it!!!!) Oh, yeah, she jumped straight up in the air about 5 feet (my arms were almost ripped out of their sockets) for the blood tests.
All things are healing well, now. But the important point is this:
LISTEN TO WHAT THE HORSE IS SAYING!!!!
Most people would have never noticed a change, it was that slight. Just knowing the horse and seeing a change in the sparkle in her eye......being lucky enough to watch the "dummy walk" when the barn was quiet and she was not distracted from realizing that she did not feel good (she is soooooo afraid she might miss something!!).....those were the only markers (and my own gut after seeing it). According to the ES vets, we would have had a dead foal within a week, as the infection was getting ready to bust through the abdominal wall.
So LISTEN. When you know the body language, it can tell you oh so much more than just sight along!!!
Everything went well......the booger-butt is independent and was not about to let us help her get to her feet; she found the spigot on her own and very quickly.....in fact was the easiest baby we've ever had. I should've known. She was bright-eyed and bouncy.......until no one was around. We have cameras on our broodmares, so we can watch and help if there's a problem. At about 2 weeks of age, I noticed that when there was no one around, she did the "dummy walk". A dummy foal usually does not nurse, is not aware of it's surroundings and it walks into and along the walls, rubbing its nose on the wall as if trying to nurse. I've had one, and it is heartbreaking to watch. However, she was no dummy, since she was easily distracted by people and behaved normally then. She also continued to nurse and check out Mom's feed. She just wasn't........right.
Ultimately I had the vet out; he could find nothing, no temp, no soreness.....nothing. So he took blood. He did a quick test back at the office lab and called immediately and said, "get her to the Horsepital." We are lucky enough in NE Ohio to have several very good ones within 3 hours of us. Her IgG was way low.....less than 400 and they like it at 1600. Something was going on. At first we thought it was a lack in the mare's milk (this is a first foal) so she was transfused with immunity proteins. Fortunately the vet at Equine Specialty listened to me and my gut instincts and went on HER gut instincts and checked her lungs for pneumonia (nope!) and ultra-sounded the umbilicus. Bingo. What looked like a patent yurakus. Meaning the veins, arteries and urinary tract structures that are used when the baby is in utero are still trying to work....and they should stop and shrink when the baby is born. Soooooooo. surgery. Ouch.....for both baby and pocketbook. Sure enough it was way bigger than it should be, but when it was being prepared for pathology (to find out what went wrong) it was full of nasty thick pus. Major, major antibiotics and care have been going on for some time, to clear this all up. All this time she has not acted sick.....like you would expect a sick horse to act. She just would have these little "spells" where she would act like she was a little colicky.....or at least uncomfortable. In fact, it took 4 people to contain her enough to get a sedative in her and 3 people AFTER the shot to get her clipped for the IV!!! You can just imagine the rodeo we had giving her shots at home!!!! (Note to you all: Naxcel is a wonderful drug......but it STINGS when it goes in....and booger-butt let us all know she did NOT appreciate it!!!!) Oh, yeah, she jumped straight up in the air about 5 feet (my arms were almost ripped out of their sockets) for the blood tests.
All things are healing well, now. But the important point is this:
LISTEN TO WHAT THE HORSE IS SAYING!!!!
Most people would have never noticed a change, it was that slight. Just knowing the horse and seeing a change in the sparkle in her eye......being lucky enough to watch the "dummy walk" when the barn was quiet and she was not distracted from realizing that she did not feel good (she is soooooo afraid she might miss something!!).....those were the only markers (and my own gut after seeing it). According to the ES vets, we would have had a dead foal within a week, as the infection was getting ready to bust through the abdominal wall.
So LISTEN. When you know the body language, it can tell you oh so much more than just sight along!!!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Jerry's Story
I met Jerry, like Herman, at the public riding place.
Jerry was a big, long, lanky thoroughbred, who was as cranky as he was long.
Everybody hated him.....and he hated everybody.
He'd try to smash you in the standing stall when you groomed him; bit at you when you tried to put on tack, and threatened to kick when he saw you coming with a saddle. Beginners and intermediates were not allowed to ride him.....he had a nasty habit of just stopping, as if to say, "that's enough" and no amount of kicking or crop use would budge him beyond a grudging walk. Even though the advanced riders hated him, getting assigned to him was a sign of having arrived to the advanced levels.
Jerry's mind was always working.....and usually up to no good. If ever I have seen a horse that mutters, it would be Jerry. His lips were always moving in a tense pattern....he even looked like a sour old man muttering at all the craziness around him!
One of the instructors, who was taking dressage lessons, decided that Jerry just needed something different.....and dressage was just the thing. He envisioned Jerry as becoming more soft and forgiving and being used by beginners.
NOT.
Dressage made him worse. Jerry was just too long and lanky to even try to collect. He was heavy on the forehand, and no amount of impulsion could make it go away.
Jerry had been a racehorse for most of his life.....all he had to do was run along with everybody else. At the age of 9 he was sold as a hunter/jumper prospect and had a decent run doing that. But, the under saddle classes and pleasure classes were not his thing.....and someone picked him up to be a steeplechaser. By this time, Jerry was getting way too old for that, and did not do well in the money side.
We did notice that he perked up when we started practicing with cavalletti....he really seemed focused during those sessions. Even the students remarked that he went best through the cavaletti. So, on a whim, we decided to set up a cross-rail on some laid down barrels.
As soon as Jerry saw the little jump, there was a massive change in him. His ears came forward (Jerry's ears were NEVER forward), his head came up and he stared at it. Even coming to it at a trot, Jerry pulled on the reins. He wanted to go. The little hop seemed to be a let-down for him, but he was turned around and hopped over it again. Wow, what a difference in his appearance. So we let him canter over it. The girl riding him had not done much jumping, so she was basically steering. He stared the jump down, changed his stride as needed and took off.....3' higher than the jump! Perfect form, tucked up knees, rounded back.....and when he landed he was looking for another one!
Later, just for kicks, we took him over a jump with a pole across the tops of the standing barrels; he went for it and sailed over it and was just oh so proud of himself!
Unfortunately, the stables was not allowed to teach jumping, because of the liability involved. But we instructors would get on him and jump him every so often.
And wouldn't you know......he was so happy he even let the beginners do their thing with him.
On a sour note......he could no longer be a trail horse......he kept looking for things to jump and would jump them.....whether the rider wanted to or not!!
Eventually one of the advanced students who wanted to take jumping lessons bought him to use. I had heard that the stables he went to bought him from her to use as a school horse (again) and that he was a great baby-sitter for the beginner jumpers.
All he needed was the chance to do and be what he wanted.
Jerry was a big, long, lanky thoroughbred, who was as cranky as he was long.
Everybody hated him.....and he hated everybody.
He'd try to smash you in the standing stall when you groomed him; bit at you when you tried to put on tack, and threatened to kick when he saw you coming with a saddle. Beginners and intermediates were not allowed to ride him.....he had a nasty habit of just stopping, as if to say, "that's enough" and no amount of kicking or crop use would budge him beyond a grudging walk. Even though the advanced riders hated him, getting assigned to him was a sign of having arrived to the advanced levels.
Jerry's mind was always working.....and usually up to no good. If ever I have seen a horse that mutters, it would be Jerry. His lips were always moving in a tense pattern....he even looked like a sour old man muttering at all the craziness around him!
One of the instructors, who was taking dressage lessons, decided that Jerry just needed something different.....and dressage was just the thing. He envisioned Jerry as becoming more soft and forgiving and being used by beginners.
NOT.
Dressage made him worse. Jerry was just too long and lanky to even try to collect. He was heavy on the forehand, and no amount of impulsion could make it go away.
Jerry had been a racehorse for most of his life.....all he had to do was run along with everybody else. At the age of 9 he was sold as a hunter/jumper prospect and had a decent run doing that. But, the under saddle classes and pleasure classes were not his thing.....and someone picked him up to be a steeplechaser. By this time, Jerry was getting way too old for that, and did not do well in the money side.
We did notice that he perked up when we started practicing with cavalletti....he really seemed focused during those sessions. Even the students remarked that he went best through the cavaletti. So, on a whim, we decided to set up a cross-rail on some laid down barrels.
As soon as Jerry saw the little jump, there was a massive change in him. His ears came forward (Jerry's ears were NEVER forward), his head came up and he stared at it. Even coming to it at a trot, Jerry pulled on the reins. He wanted to go. The little hop seemed to be a let-down for him, but he was turned around and hopped over it again. Wow, what a difference in his appearance. So we let him canter over it. The girl riding him had not done much jumping, so she was basically steering. He stared the jump down, changed his stride as needed and took off.....3' higher than the jump! Perfect form, tucked up knees, rounded back.....and when he landed he was looking for another one!
Later, just for kicks, we took him over a jump with a pole across the tops of the standing barrels; he went for it and sailed over it and was just oh so proud of himself!
Unfortunately, the stables was not allowed to teach jumping, because of the liability involved. But we instructors would get on him and jump him every so often.
And wouldn't you know......he was so happy he even let the beginners do their thing with him.
On a sour note......he could no longer be a trail horse......he kept looking for things to jump and would jump them.....whether the rider wanted to or not!!
Eventually one of the advanced students who wanted to take jumping lessons bought him to use. I had heard that the stables he went to bought him from her to use as a school horse (again) and that he was a great baby-sitter for the beginner jumpers.
All he needed was the chance to do and be what he wanted.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Herman's story
Every "problem" horse has taught me something.....even if it is just that we need to listen to them.
I'm going to add the various horses that made it clear what they needed.....and what happens when no one listens.
Herman was a big buckskin quarter horse. You know, the real old style.
I met him when I became a riding instructor at a public stables.
He was big, head-strong and basically grumpy. He was rarely used for beginner lessons, because he would not do what he was supposed to.....and usually had his rider in tears before long. Only the more advanced riders could even begin to make him lope.....and that was usually with a lot of crop use and a lot of kicking.
He was used on trail rides, and always was the last in line, since he kicked at anybody behind him. If someone thought they "were a cowboy" and insisted they knew what they were doing, they got Herman. And Herman generally returned back to the barn either riderless or with a rider pretty scraped up by the branches from the trees Herman used to try to wipe them off with.
Not even the instructors were immune from his shananagins, although we were more likely to be able to counter his moves.
Until, one day, all the instructors were riding together.....and we all had "problem" horses. So we decided to "up the ante" a bit, and do some barrel racing. Well, not really, we were just going to do the pattern at a walk, trot and jog.....and maybe make a run or two at them for fun.
Not Herman. He saw those barrels.......those ears went up, his head went up, and he took off. He knew the course, all you had to do was hang on. And he didn't just run the course.....he cut those barrels close, dug in at just the right time, ran full out and stopped just after the imaginary timer line would be. When he was done, his eyes were shining. We all just sat there, dumfounded. Ol' lazy, fat Herman LOVED barrel racing. For three days after that, he was a different horse, he was ready to play with the humans. Then he returned to his same sullen self.
So what did we learn? We learned that all Herman wanted was to have fun his way. All he needed was a little bit of barrel racing, once a week and he was a different horse. Not only did he quit kicking out on the trail, but he was actually used as the lead horse the guides used......and they all said he was the best guide horse out of all of them.
All we had to do was listen.
I'm going to add the various horses that made it clear what they needed.....and what happens when no one listens.
Herman was a big buckskin quarter horse. You know, the real old style.
I met him when I became a riding instructor at a public stables.
He was big, head-strong and basically grumpy. He was rarely used for beginner lessons, because he would not do what he was supposed to.....and usually had his rider in tears before long. Only the more advanced riders could even begin to make him lope.....and that was usually with a lot of crop use and a lot of kicking.
He was used on trail rides, and always was the last in line, since he kicked at anybody behind him. If someone thought they "were a cowboy" and insisted they knew what they were doing, they got Herman. And Herman generally returned back to the barn either riderless or with a rider pretty scraped up by the branches from the trees Herman used to try to wipe them off with.
Not even the instructors were immune from his shananagins, although we were more likely to be able to counter his moves.
Until, one day, all the instructors were riding together.....and we all had "problem" horses. So we decided to "up the ante" a bit, and do some barrel racing. Well, not really, we were just going to do the pattern at a walk, trot and jog.....and maybe make a run or two at them for fun.
Not Herman. He saw those barrels.......those ears went up, his head went up, and he took off. He knew the course, all you had to do was hang on. And he didn't just run the course.....he cut those barrels close, dug in at just the right time, ran full out and stopped just after the imaginary timer line would be. When he was done, his eyes were shining. We all just sat there, dumfounded. Ol' lazy, fat Herman LOVED barrel racing. For three days after that, he was a different horse, he was ready to play with the humans. Then he returned to his same sullen self.
So what did we learn? We learned that all Herman wanted was to have fun his way. All he needed was a little bit of barrel racing, once a week and he was a different horse. Not only did he quit kicking out on the trail, but he was actually used as the lead horse the guides used......and they all said he was the best guide horse out of all of them.
All we had to do was listen.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Why won't my horse......
After almost 35 years of watching horses in herds, in the show ring, on the trails and in backyards, it STILL amazes me that we know so little about our so-called "best friends".
I admit, I've been lucky. I've had the wonderful fortune of working with top trainers in various fields, including racing (both Standardbred and Thoroughbred), hunter/jumpers, competitive trail, quarter horse, appaloosa and draft horses. I've also been able to watch horses in their natural settings.... meaning that they were out in herds (this on breeding farms). I've worked with 4-H'ers, and Medal/Maclay riders. Just watching has allowed me to see how horses react with each other, how they talk to each other, and what those things mean.
Let's face it. Almost all trainers use the natural responses of horses to get the response they want.
But what happens when a horse doesn't respond they way the trainer thinks they should?
They get labelled.....incorrigible/problematic/mean/stubborn/untrainable
Suggestion....."get rid of it"
Yeah, give it someone else. So how do YOU like it when You get someone else's problem?
So why don't horses "do" what they are "suppose to?"
I admit, I've been lucky. I've had the wonderful fortune of working with top trainers in various fields, including racing (both Standardbred and Thoroughbred), hunter/jumpers, competitive trail, quarter horse, appaloosa and draft horses. I've also been able to watch horses in their natural settings.... meaning that they were out in herds (this on breeding farms). I've worked with 4-H'ers, and Medal/Maclay riders. Just watching has allowed me to see how horses react with each other, how they talk to each other, and what those things mean.
Let's face it. Almost all trainers use the natural responses of horses to get the response they want.
But what happens when a horse doesn't respond they way the trainer thinks they should?
They get labelled.....incorrigible/problematic/mean/stubborn/untrainable
Suggestion....."get rid of it"
Yeah, give it someone else. So how do YOU like it when You get someone else's problem?
So why don't horses "do" what they are "suppose to?"
Several reasons:
- They hurt. Either the tack is pinching, something doesn't fit right; or they twisted a knee,hock, hip, fetlock or even their back or neck or something is in their foot or bruised it.
- They physically can't. Some horses just CAN'T flex at the poll for higher dressage levels; pick their knees high enough to hurdle jumps, do not have the hoof wall necessary for heavy trail riding, or riding over gravel, or can't drop their head low enough to be a peanut-roller pleasure horse.
- They have mental or psychological "problems". These are the ones they say..."Get RID of it!" but these are also the ones who often have reasons for their behavior, whether we know it or not. Sometimes we have to be detectives to figure them out, and that takes time. These will not be 30-60-90 day wonders. Sometimes it takes YEARS to straighten it out.
- Their status in the "herd" makes it difficult. Alpha mares usually do well as performance horses, but are not happy in the pleasure or under saddle classes. They often kick or pin their ears when horses go by. Beta horses respond differently than Deltas, or Omegas. Omegas can make nice pleasure horses because they are easily bullied into submission.
- They just plain ole' don't want to. When you're not feeling well, you don't usually feel like going to the movies or to a party. So when the horse isn't feeling well, he doesn't feel like getting on the trailer and going to a (stressful) horse show!
You have to take time to watch your horse interact with other horses, interact with other humans and interact with YOU. That's hard.....sometimes it helps to video your riding sessions in order to really, REALLY look at what your horse is telling you.
Does your horse do the equivalent of "rolling his eyes" when you approach with the saddle?
Does he pin his ears?
What is he doing with his lips?
These are all LOUD warnings to another horse.....but we're so busy talking and reprimanding, that we don't even notice it! Horses "talk" via body language. Noises are only used for very specific reasons. Squeals mean danger (and usually include kicking or threats of kicking). Neighs ask "where are you?" or "I'm over here!". Nickers mean, "come closer and be safe". Mares do it to their foals to keep them close, and horses to it to you when it's feeding time.....they want their food to be safe. Pawing means "I want what I want NOW!" This can be regarding food, or being let out, or being untied.
Horse whispering is fine. And it works! But we really need to spend a lot more time horse LISTENING. Whispering is still talking TO the horse, and doesn't necessarily mean listening to him (how many times have you said something and the person you were talking to did not really hear you, or has been formulating their own answer and didn't REALLY hear you). That's what WE do.
And we need to really stop it, if we really, honestly want to have a partnership with our "best friends".
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