The canter has always been Feronia's strongest gait. She didn't get the memo about Morgans being a trotting breed!
The mane rules are ... complicated. But in general, Morgans in the "sport" disciplines and in Hunter Pleasure are expected, but not required, to be braided, and many, in fact, have pulled manes and wear traditional button braids. Feronia has a full mane because it suits her; it's currently recovering from an encounter with an ill-fitting neck cover last winter, so I don't braid it unless I feel I really must, or will do a running braid just down to the damaged part.
I worked on a ranch that used ONLY mules for a year and a half. I loved all 56 of them and have been longing for one since I left the ranch and they wouldn't let me buy 'my' guy. I'd love to hear more about your mule client. Mules are an entirely different can of worms. If you want to talk mules let me know.
In my horse life I'm selling my mare and starting a long term lease on a 3rd level dressage schoolmaster. I'm pretty excited about it. He's going to teach me so much!
That's awesome! I'd love to talk mules! I have worked her a half dozen times now and have been very aware that they ARE different, but still figuring out HOW different. She is four and has (supposedly) been broke to ride, pack, and drive (as a team at least). I am getting her broke to drive single, or rather, making sure she is actually broke to drive so her owner doesn't have issues as he learns to drive.
That sounds like an awesome opportunity. My plans for Z include taking her as far as I can in dressage and I need to get myself on some schoolmasters so I can keep up with her! (Silly thing has used pirouettes to evade cantering forward and I'm sitting there thinking: "really? This is EASIER than just going forward?!")
It took me several months of daily work to figure out the mules and their differences from horses. Unfortunately each one seems to be different in a slightly different way. The one concept that really made sense to me, and allowed me to get a good grasp of the mule's brain is that donkeys are essentially mountain creatures while horses are flat land creatures. That means that they need to think about things more than horses who react- horses have the ability to use their flight portion of 'flight or fight' much more than an animal who lives on a steep, rocky incline
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It was actually very interesting! I didn't realize that donkeys were a mountain creature, that does make a lot of sense.
So the mule recognized that it was the person doing it and not just the whip. That is interesting as the horse will tend to focus more on the object than the one wielding it.
All good things to keep in mind, thank you so much for sharing! I have not had any real troubles with her outside of what i would expect from a horse learning to lunge etc, but I am trying my best to figure out the best ways to work with her. She seems pretty sweet.
I started the show season off by my mare just refusing to load again. When we finally got her on the hitch on the trailer broke. Womp womp.
But since then, I put the Goober through trailer loading bootcamp and we're not having such a dramatic issue anymore. I'm hoping to get her pretty solidly cantering under saddle by the end of the summer, in time for a dressage show.
Well, thankfully the hitch breaking was not traumatic. We had barely pulled onto the road from the barn, so we were going about 5 mph MAYBE. She was unphased, unloaded nicely and I walked her back to the barn where she got to ogle shetland ponies because our barn was hosting a 4H driving show.
Honestly, she doesn't have a trailer issue per say, she has a stubborness and respect issue and was getting dangerous in-hand protesting getting on the trailer. We did a lot of groundwork and bam, trailer loading became easy again. Once she's on the trailer she's fine.
a comment re mules, "You HAVE to train a mule the way you SHOULD train a horse". They are very smart and will keep you on your toes. I have 2 mules and used to have another. I had her for 5 years and couldnt lead her-she would bolt on lead. I traded her for a saddle and at her new home, she is much happier, leads great and loves her new owners! I am happy she found a home where she fits in. My original 2 mules are bonded with me and have no behavior problems. They are individuals and no one approach works with every mule. Good luck with yours! I love mules and have a lot of respect for them.
I have heard that saying, good thing I'm in the habit of being very thorough with my horses! I have also been blessed/cursed with really smart horses, perhaps they have prepared me a little ...
It sounds like mules are a little more particular about who they work for and have long memories. All good things to keep in mind as i work with her.
At the moment I can say I love the idea of mules since Molly is the only one I have had a lot of interaction with at this point. I have a lot of respect for then and am seeing some similarities with my Fjord (her nicker even soubds mulish). I am looking forward to learning more about them, for sure!
I have dived focused-like back into dressage (maybe even with a capital D) with my mare, who seems to love it. I had a grand goal of getting to some shows this summer, mostly because I've never done any serious showing and I want to experience it.
We've got some wicked trails access though and I'm working two jobs that don't leave me lots of weekends, so it's a constant dilemma about what to do with the rare few I get off: show, or ride trails.
I did get to a clinic with Jacquie Brooks recently though, which was one of my bucket list items ("go to a clinic with a big name rider") for the summer, so there's that.
And otherwise hoping my husband can get the job change he wants so he can ride more, work less. :P His two horses are hardly getting their fair share of riding, so I took his big boy out for a hack the other day and he loved it.
Did you ride in the clinic or just watch? I audited a Debbie MacDonald clinic a few years ago, which was awesome and also a total fluke. She just happened to be down the road while I was visiting my grandparents.
Decisions, decisions, I admit if my rising time was crunched I'd probably lean towards the trail rides and maybe a show ... maybe.
I hope it works out for your husband. I miss tiding with mine.
I rode in the clinic and watched everyone else. I've been able to audit a Cindy Ishoy clinic before, but this was my first time riding with an Olympian watching. We were the lowest level pairing in the house, for sure, and it could be argued that it isn't great value for the money when you're training level like that, but we're in a dressage wasteland and this clinic was actually closer than just about any other instructor anyways.
My truck just started showing some un-fun dashboard lights and so I think it may be making the "show or not show" decision for us, sadly...
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Don't Morgans usually show unbraided?
Your filly appears to be maturing nicely. I am sure you are excited to bring her home next year!
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The mane rules are ... complicated. But in general, Morgans in the "sport" disciplines and in Hunter Pleasure are expected, but not required, to be braided, and many, in fact, have pulled manes and wear traditional button braids. Feronia has a full mane because it suits her; it's currently recovering from an encounter with an ill-fitting neck cover last winter, so I don't braid it unless I feel I really must, or will do a running braid just down to the damaged part.
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In my horse life I'm selling my mare and starting a long term lease on a 3rd level dressage schoolmaster. I'm pretty excited about it. He's going to teach me so much!
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That sounds like an awesome opportunity. My plans for Z include taking her as far as I can in dressage and I need to get myself on some schoolmasters so I can keep up with her! (Silly thing has used pirouettes to evade cantering forward and I'm sitting there thinking: "really? This is EASIER than just going forward?!")
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So the mule recognized that it was the person doing it and not just the whip. That is interesting as the horse will tend to focus more on the object than the one wielding it.
All good things to keep in mind, thank you so much for sharing! I have not had any real troubles with her outside of what i would expect from a horse learning to lunge etc, but I am trying my best to figure out the best ways to work with her. She seems pretty sweet.
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But since then, I put the Goober through trailer loading bootcamp and we're not having such a dramatic issue anymore. I'm hoping to get her pretty solidly cantering under saddle by the end of the summer, in time for a dressage show.
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Sounds like fun!
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Honestly, she doesn't have a trailer issue per say, she has a stubborness and respect issue and was getting dangerous in-hand protesting getting on the trailer. We did a lot of groundwork and bam, trailer loading became easy again. Once she's on the trailer she's fine.
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Daw, a herd of Shetland ponies being driven by 4Hers. I have visions of adorableness.
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I have 2 mules and used to have another. I had her for 5 years and couldnt lead her-she would bolt on lead. I traded her for a saddle and at her new home, she is much happier, leads great and loves her new owners! I am happy she found a home where she fits in. My original 2 mules are bonded with me and have no behavior problems. They are individuals and no one approach works with every mule. Good luck with yours! I love mules and have a lot of respect for them.
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It sounds like mules are a little more particular about who they work for and have long memories. All good things to keep in mind as i work with her.
At the moment I can say I love the idea of mules since Molly is the only one I have had a lot of interaction with at this point. I have a lot of respect for then and am seeing some similarities with my Fjord (her nicker even soubds mulish). I am looking forward to learning more about them, for sure!
Thank you!
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We've got some wicked trails access though and I'm working two jobs that don't leave me lots of weekends, so it's a constant dilemma about what to do with the rare few I get off: show, or ride trails.
I did get to a clinic with Jacquie Brooks recently though, which was one of my bucket list items ("go to a clinic with a big name rider") for the summer, so there's that.
And otherwise hoping my husband can get the job change he wants so he can ride more, work less. :P His two horses are hardly getting their fair share of riding, so I took his big boy out for a hack the other day and he loved it.
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Decisions, decisions, I admit if my rising time was crunched I'd probably lean towards the trail rides and maybe a show ... maybe.
I hope it works out for your husband. I miss tiding with mine.
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My truck just started showing some un-fun dashboard lights and so I think it may be making the "show or not show" decision for us, sadly...
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Aw, dang.
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