The Sampson Chronicles
I can't believe I've already had Sampson for over a month! Time flies, but I have made good use of it (which is why I haven't updated about him yet, actually).
Our first few sessions in the beginning of January were groundwork of course, and boy does this horse make you pay attention! He had about three YEARS of Chris Irwin natural horsemanship groundwork, so he knows his stuff and expects you to as well. That means body language is extremely important -- if your body angle is off, you aren't looking in the right place, or you raise your arm a few inches too high -- he STOPS and LOOKS at you, as if to say, "Er, what are you DOING?" That may sound like poor prior training, but once I figured out what his cues were, he was great. I've never worked with an Irwin-trained horse before, so I wasn't used to things like him turning into the circle (facing me) when I asked for a halt. He often thought I was asking for a halt when I wasn't, so it took awhile to work out what was causing him to do so. It mostly had to do with not driving him enough from behind; if my body angle was too straight-on or I too close to his front end, he would stop.
I also had to adjust the amount of energy I was using to drive him forward, because he often went faster than I wanted. He has the nicest move-off-the-hip walk, so I almost never had to encourage him to walk out, but he would get rushy at the trot. I ended up not carrying a whip to lunge him because it was too much for him; instead, I just used a finger to dictate how fast I wanted him to go: holding my finger out meant go, and wagging my finger meant go faster! I realized that the whip wasn't just overstimulating him, but that he was actually afraid of it... which is strange, because I would expect a horse who has been groundworked to death to be fine with a whip, as well as numerous other strange objects. While I could drag the whip over him and rub his legs, belly, head, etc. with it, he still flinched if I got too overzealous with it, so I did some more de-sensitizing with him and now he's good.
My experienced trainer friend Pep came out a few nights to help me out, since she knows a lot more about natural horsemanship than me. She had him reversing on the circle (turning on the hindquarters), and "line dancing" side to side (where they cross over), haha. She also got his first canter on the lunge line, and I see why his trainer from the summer thought he was too unbalanced to canter under saddle yet! He was totally playing NASCAR racer on the lunge line, nearly falling over with the degree he was leaning in, and kicking up massive clouds of sand as he struggled to stay on the circle... then breaking into a choppy trot when he couldn't keep his momentum up by rushing anymore! The next time we tried, he started protesting by screeching to a halt and facing Pep, but this time I don't think she was causing it with her body language or otherwise -- he was just having a tantrum because it was HARD. Whereas usually I'd say a horse like that needs to sort out the canter on the lunge line before I'd even think about doing it under saddle, in this case I felt like he could benefit from the support and direction a rider lends... but first I had to attempt and master the other gaits under saddle!
I didn't think I would be on his back as soon as I was, but Pep convinced me to climb on up after only about four groundwork sessions (this was on January 10th). After all, I had ridden him in his trial and he was fine, but ever since my accident with Midnight, I am extra-cautious with getting on green horses. I had her lunge me on him, though, and he was perfect! We did some walk and trot, and some halts.
The next time Pep came out, she lunged me on him and then unclipped me and I walked around the arena with him by myself. He was a doll!
After this I started riding him on my own. His beautiful walk transferred from the lunge line to the saddle, which is great because I hate having to constantly bug a horse to walk on (Theo is a bit like this, the lazy sod!). He has a great trot, too: nice and forward, and so easy to sit to! His trainer from the summer did some wonderful work with the beginnings of collection, so he's very supple most of the time. It doesn't take him long to warm up and he seems very happy to work. The major thing I have been trying to address is bend and bulging out; he has a lovely bend to the inside most of the time, but he can really drop a shoulder when he wants to! Carrying a dressage whip has fixed this pretty quickly, but he still tries it once in awhile.
One thing I would like to ask my horsey friends about is chewing on the bit. At first I thought he was just playing with it (I started him in a French link), but I realized he was gnashing on it a little too. I tried him in a loose-ring snaffle with no improvement, so I decided to try a Kimberwick (on the upper rein attachment, as he doesn't need the leverage, and it's the kind with a joint in the middle so the sides move independently). I thought it would have less play in it and move around less. It has helped, but he still seems to "lip smack" quite a bit. This is probably OK (I imagine it means he is thinking), but is there anything else I should try? I tend to see a horse in a kimberwick and think they are the type that needs it for extra control, but Sam is really not like this, and I don't want to put off potential buyers if they think the same way as me.
Back to riding: by January 19th (about four rides in), he was working so wonderfully at the walk and trot that I tried him at a canter! His summer trainer never did canter him under saddle, so it was a complete first! We just did a few strides, but I was very proud of him! In the last couple weeks I have tried him again a few times and he is getting the hang of it, but he still rushes into it and leans a lot, so I think he will benefit from some bending work and general strengthening so he can hold himself up better. I do see glimmers of a beautiful, rhythmic canter in the future though. :)
I've also had him going over ground poles and even a baby crossrail one night, which he has taken all in stride. I really hope I can get him jumping soon, but I think I want the canter first!
Snug as a bug in a rug. :)
New friend?
Gosh, he's so HANDSOME!
Hoar frost on his halter.
With his 35 year old Doppelgänger, Charlie! Lookit Charlie's ears... how cute is that?!
Since we have been together for a month, I decided it was time I introduced my parents to him and... they approve! Phew. lol :D My dad took the following two pictures. I didn't set the camera up on a fast enough shutter speed, so it's blurry, but check out the reach on that walk! I wasn't kidding, hey?
Sam is quite the hairy beast and gets very sweaty working, which means about an hour of towelling and blowdrying after each ride. Last week, I finally gave up and clipped him along with Pep's help.
Overall he was really good for his clip, but you can definitely tell where he flinched, hahah.
Now that's what I call a haircut!
We clipped part of his neck, but I didn't think about the lack of a hood on his blanket until afterward, so I tried some extensions on him that Pep had... but they were a little too small...
Here's a video of him showing off his Irwin stylings, hahah.
The muffled thing I say at 40 seconds is "And we need a video of this, because he loves to cuddle!" Aww. <3
Our first few sessions in the beginning of January were groundwork of course, and boy does this horse make you pay attention! He had about three YEARS of Chris Irwin natural horsemanship groundwork, so he knows his stuff and expects you to as well. That means body language is extremely important -- if your body angle is off, you aren't looking in the right place, or you raise your arm a few inches too high -- he STOPS and LOOKS at you, as if to say, "Er, what are you DOING?" That may sound like poor prior training, but once I figured out what his cues were, he was great. I've never worked with an Irwin-trained horse before, so I wasn't used to things like him turning into the circle (facing me) when I asked for a halt. He often thought I was asking for a halt when I wasn't, so it took awhile to work out what was causing him to do so. It mostly had to do with not driving him enough from behind; if my body angle was too straight-on or I too close to his front end, he would stop.
I also had to adjust the amount of energy I was using to drive him forward, because he often went faster than I wanted. He has the nicest move-off-the-hip walk, so I almost never had to encourage him to walk out, but he would get rushy at the trot. I ended up not carrying a whip to lunge him because it was too much for him; instead, I just used a finger to dictate how fast I wanted him to go: holding my finger out meant go, and wagging my finger meant go faster! I realized that the whip wasn't just overstimulating him, but that he was actually afraid of it... which is strange, because I would expect a horse who has been groundworked to death to be fine with a whip, as well as numerous other strange objects. While I could drag the whip over him and rub his legs, belly, head, etc. with it, he still flinched if I got too overzealous with it, so I did some more de-sensitizing with him and now he's good.
My experienced trainer friend Pep came out a few nights to help me out, since she knows a lot more about natural horsemanship than me. She had him reversing on the circle (turning on the hindquarters), and "line dancing" side to side (where they cross over), haha. She also got his first canter on the lunge line, and I see why his trainer from the summer thought he was too unbalanced to canter under saddle yet! He was totally playing NASCAR racer on the lunge line, nearly falling over with the degree he was leaning in, and kicking up massive clouds of sand as he struggled to stay on the circle... then breaking into a choppy trot when he couldn't keep his momentum up by rushing anymore! The next time we tried, he started protesting by screeching to a halt and facing Pep, but this time I don't think she was causing it with her body language or otherwise -- he was just having a tantrum because it was HARD. Whereas usually I'd say a horse like that needs to sort out the canter on the lunge line before I'd even think about doing it under saddle, in this case I felt like he could benefit from the support and direction a rider lends... but first I had to attempt and master the other gaits under saddle!
I didn't think I would be on his back as soon as I was, but Pep convinced me to climb on up after only about four groundwork sessions (this was on January 10th). After all, I had ridden him in his trial and he was fine, but ever since my accident with Midnight, I am extra-cautious with getting on green horses. I had her lunge me on him, though, and he was perfect! We did some walk and trot, and some halts.
The next time Pep came out, she lunged me on him and then unclipped me and I walked around the arena with him by myself. He was a doll!
After this I started riding him on my own. His beautiful walk transferred from the lunge line to the saddle, which is great because I hate having to constantly bug a horse to walk on (Theo is a bit like this, the lazy sod!). He has a great trot, too: nice and forward, and so easy to sit to! His trainer from the summer did some wonderful work with the beginnings of collection, so he's very supple most of the time. It doesn't take him long to warm up and he seems very happy to work. The major thing I have been trying to address is bend and bulging out; he has a lovely bend to the inside most of the time, but he can really drop a shoulder when he wants to! Carrying a dressage whip has fixed this pretty quickly, but he still tries it once in awhile.
One thing I would like to ask my horsey friends about is chewing on the bit. At first I thought he was just playing with it (I started him in a French link), but I realized he was gnashing on it a little too. I tried him in a loose-ring snaffle with no improvement, so I decided to try a Kimberwick (on the upper rein attachment, as he doesn't need the leverage, and it's the kind with a joint in the middle so the sides move independently). I thought it would have less play in it and move around less. It has helped, but he still seems to "lip smack" quite a bit. This is probably OK (I imagine it means he is thinking), but is there anything else I should try? I tend to see a horse in a kimberwick and think they are the type that needs it for extra control, but Sam is really not like this, and I don't want to put off potential buyers if they think the same way as me.
Back to riding: by January 19th (about four rides in), he was working so wonderfully at the walk and trot that I tried him at a canter! His summer trainer never did canter him under saddle, so it was a complete first! We just did a few strides, but I was very proud of him! In the last couple weeks I have tried him again a few times and he is getting the hang of it, but he still rushes into it and leans a lot, so I think he will benefit from some bending work and general strengthening so he can hold himself up better. I do see glimmers of a beautiful, rhythmic canter in the future though. :)
I've also had him going over ground poles and even a baby crossrail one night, which he has taken all in stride. I really hope I can get him jumping soon, but I think I want the canter first!
Snug as a bug in a rug. :)
New friend?
Gosh, he's so HANDSOME!
Hoar frost on his halter.
With his 35 year old Doppelgänger, Charlie! Lookit Charlie's ears... how cute is that?!
Since we have been together for a month, I decided it was time I introduced my parents to him and... they approve! Phew. lol :D My dad took the following two pictures. I didn't set the camera up on a fast enough shutter speed, so it's blurry, but check out the reach on that walk! I wasn't kidding, hey?
Sam is quite the hairy beast and gets very sweaty working, which means about an hour of towelling and blowdrying after each ride. Last week, I finally gave up and clipped him along with Pep's help.
Overall he was really good for his clip, but you can definitely tell where he flinched, hahah.
Now that's what I call a haircut!
We clipped part of his neck, but I didn't think about the lack of a hood on his blanket until afterward, so I tried some extensions on him that Pep had... but they were a little too small...
Here's a video of him showing off his Irwin stylings, hahah.
The muffled thing I say at 40 seconds is "And we need a video of this, because he loves to cuddle!" Aww. <3