Much better weather than ours (there's a reason why an indoor is crucial in Western Oregon....)!
Looks good with Mr. Cash. And I like your attitude. Greenies can scare themselves pretty quickly, but it's easy enough to fade that reaction if you're calm about it yourself. Too many people either trigger the horse's anxiety or make it worse when the horse get anxious because they get into that anxiety loop. I think G does a good job with starting horses because he's so quiet and calm about it. But every horse on the place knows that he's Boss. When we were doing lessons more regularly, Mocha would cue transitions off of his voice. She'll still want to react if we're riding in the arena during a lesson--always keeps an ear flicked in his direction. Not so much now as it was when she was younger, but she's still aware of what he's doing.
Steve is like that- when we are at clinics Zorro pretty much stands to attention every time he walks past.
One thing you see a lot here is that people tend to tiptoe around green horses both on the ground and in the saddle. I try really hard to just be matter of fact about everything and just keep things clear and simple until they can get it. If they can stay calm then great, but if they get emotional from time to time that's fine too. It would have to come out at some point after all.
The tiptoeing around the greenies part is something I just don't get. Be careful, yes. Let the horse have time to process the new stuff without excessive overfacing and flooding, yes. Don't start or pick the fight, but don't assume that the horse has to buck, either, but don't be surprised by bucking. And spend time desensitizing the horse to tack and odd stuff in the process as well
( ... )
This is pretty much exactly the way I learned to work when I was staying with Martin- bitting and saddling them up and then turning them loose to get used to the feel of it. I also think that given there are a set of things they are liable to be bothered by actually the bit and saddle both give them things to think about so they may not get so bothered about either one...
Lovely photos and what a handsome fries--I mean Cob!! Is that really all the snow you've got there?? None? It's still melting here. When I rode Sage today, it was bout 50 deg F but then going through the woods where the snow was melting the air temps dropped right down to freezing, and swirled around, and shot back up again. It was so strange to keep changing temperatures in waves as the air moved around and wafted from place to place.
Whee! for good weather! Small Pony is truly adorable.
I don't know what it was in weird old-fashioned money but it was about 16-20C yesterday. Proper summer weather, and the first flies only just hatching. Pretty sweet!
This was the second time we forded this stream on that ride- the first time was a little further up and there was a family with small children on the bridge near the ford. In deference to the presence of the young Zorro and I went through as splashily as possible.
Zorro likes walking through water, Small likes putting his nose into it and blowing bubbles. He'll avoid puddles on the trail though, if he has the choice. I'm rather fond of waiting until Small is skirting a particularly large puddle and then trotting through the middle of it. This is because I am a bad person and Zorro only encourages me.
I can picture the small children watching, their mouths open in awe...
Charm too prefers to go around puddles if there's any choice, but if the road's flooded and there's no dry option, she's philosophical about wading through water.
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Looks good with Mr. Cash. And I like your attitude. Greenies can scare themselves pretty quickly, but it's easy enough to fade that reaction if you're calm about it yourself. Too many people either trigger the horse's anxiety or make it worse when the horse get anxious because they get into that anxiety loop. I think G does a good job with starting horses because he's so quiet and calm about it. But every horse on the place knows that he's Boss. When we were doing lessons more regularly, Mocha would cue transitions off of his voice. She'll still want to react if we're riding in the arena during a lesson--always keeps an ear flicked in his direction. Not so much now as it was when she was younger, but she's still aware of what he's doing.
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One thing you see a lot here is that people tend to tiptoe around green horses both on the ground and in the saddle. I try really hard to just be matter of fact about everything and just keep things clear and simple until they can get it. If they can stay calm then great, but if they get emotional from time to time that's fine too. It would have to come out at some point after all.
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Whee! for good weather! Small Pony is truly adorable.
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Zorro likes walking through water, Small likes putting his nose into it and blowing bubbles. He'll avoid puddles on the trail though, if he has the choice. I'm rather fond of waiting until Small is skirting a particularly large puddle and then trotting through the middle of it. This is because I am a bad person and Zorro only encourages me.
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Charm too prefers to go around puddles if there's any choice, but if the road's flooded and there's no dry option, she's philosophical about wading through water.
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I think he may be part labrador.
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And I love that ford. Randomly. <3
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