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!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
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.
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