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Thread Six: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1414401/posts |
Posted on 03/21/2005 7:18:04 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
New folk and occasional posters, jump right in and introduce yourselves, tell us about your horses, and post pictures if you've got them!
I think Cyn believes she was terribly abused by this bath. :)
Good morning.
I have a friend I haven't rode with in a while coming to ride this morning about 10.
Becky
Good for you. I can't wait to go riding when we get the trailer! :~D
I am thinking I should maybe lunge Cyn frequently so she learns to do it better and keep her working... But I'd really like for her to think she's ecurbh's horse and not bond with me too much. I want her to learn to work well for ~him~, not just me. What do you think?
That's the rub... he doesn't really have time, and he doesn't really like to lunge anyway. She's frustrating for him because she just faces him and won't go... she's not real good at lunging and he isn't real good at teaching her to do it, because he doesn't really know himself. I think it'd be good for her to learn it and do it, he'd rather just ride her. I can take over and get her moving, but she just does the same thing when I give her back. Yesterday though, he got really mad at me when I was trying to yell instructions, so I said "direct that anger at the horse! get aggressive with her!" He did and that worked. It was funny.
If she got better trained at it, it'd probably make it easier for him to get the concepts to. Right now it's blind leading the blind.
That's great you are all going to the Martha Josey Clinic. Making it a family affair, will be lots of fun. I saw her at the Quarter Horse Congress, selling her tapes and barrel racing tack. We will need a full report and pictures when you get back.
Let me see if I can state this correctly. You have a fairly new horse and a new horse owner. Give them both some time, and they will work it out, with your guidance. Yes, it can be frustrating, but so enjoyable when all is said and done.
I am leaving work at 11 today. Our trap shooting league starts today, and I am helping with the kitchen chores. Everyone have a good day.
It is very hard for someone who hasn't lunged a horse to lunge one that hasn't been trained too. I would have him lunge Bay. Even tho he seems automatic to you, it will still be a challenge for ecurbh. Have ecurbh, make note of every thing he does while lunging BAY. How he holds the line, whip, etc. His body postion in relation to Bays at each step
It's funny, beginner lungers never like lunging:) When Heather was going to go work with that horses that they Knew nothing about, she couldn't get it to lunge, and just gave up and climbed on. I had her lunge mine here once or twice for practice, and she had trouble even tho I think mine are pretty good at it. Horses just know when someone is inexperienced and take advantage. But the only way to learn is keep doing it, and IMO, it is a very very important thing to learn for any horse person to know how to do.
Becky
Celia called, we've put off the ride till 1. Looks like we are going to get some rain.
Becky
I hope it clears off by one!
It's raining here too. I may work with Cyn a little today if it dries up for a few minutes here or there. I know they'd figure it out on their own in time, but I'd like to get her to the point where she at least ~will~ go nice at the lunge for me, then when ecurbh has time at least I know more about what to tell him that will work with her. I sortof experiment with her myself.
There's a few things I don't like about how she goes. First, she doesn't keep gait real well... breaks from trot to canter at her own whim and sometimes picks up the wrong lead, and two, at the canter she builds speed and races around at a dead run. She needs to slow down and settle down.
I'd bet my bottom dollar if you worked with her everyday for a week she'd have it down almost as good as Bay. They really learn quick.
I would also be lunging her saddled and bridled.
What do you do when she breaks gait?
Becky
When she breaks gait I do the loud "Aeh Aeh!" and a sharp jerk or two, and she comes down. Also when she picks up the wrong lead.
Can ecrubh learn to lunge with Bay? I don't think that lunging Cyn will cause you to bond too much with her over ercubh. Horses just know what they can get away with with one person over another, that's all. If he gets out there and does one on one things with her like grooming her and pampering her, she'll bond with him right quick :-)Grooming is a great bonding process.
When I have one break gait, I always bring them to a complete "whoa" very firmly. Then start them right back up, and always using "easy" for awhile. Once they have made two complete circles in the correct gait, I whoa them give them a pat, let them stand then try again. I don't make them go for great lengths at a time when they are going correctly. Give them a reward pat (actually I think the whoaing is more reward to them then the pat) fairly quickly. I think that helps them connect what you are asking of them.
If they have broken gait, and get whoaed, there is no pat and no length of time for them to stand, just whoa, start again quickly.
Becky
That's a ~little~ different than me, in that if they'll come back to a trot within a stride or two, I let them and say "goooood trot". I do a complete woah if they get too out of hand, but like you, I don't use "woah" unless I want a full stop, I don't use it for any other 'slow down', I use, "eeeeeeeeesy". When they've gone around good a couple times I'll stop and approach and pet.
Slowing down her gallop into a nicer canter is a little more of a challege, light pulls, but not enough to pull her back down to a trot, and lots of soothing 'easy's? Is that what you'd do? Is it a mortal sin for her to gallop or is there some beneficial element to letting her wear herself out if she is at least going round without too much horseplay?
I think the trouble with her is that she was mostly round-penned, and I think the usual round pen strategy is 95% exercise, 5% obedience. If they run in the round pen, I think the Monty Roberts mehod is to run them harder until they really want to stop. I prefer lunging as 65% obedience 35% exercise. I want nice response to commands, and exercise is secondary.
Heh... I've got a good picture opp outside I think... I think I've got two mares in heat and a curious but naive gelding.
Cyn's really not resisting. I used to worry that he'd try this with the pony because he's too heavy. He'd sometimes look like he was getting 'light' in the front with pony in the past, but it never went this far. Should I just let all of them learn there's no point in trying? This is the first day of obvious heat, and this will come up again and again. Should I let nature take it's course here or play the chaperone? Right now they are just pacing around with short bursts of horseplay and quasi horse porn. The mares follow him relentlessly if he ignores them, and I think the pony might be the next one to jump Cyn if Bay gets tired ;~D
I think feeding is good too... Learn who butters the bread. ;~D I try to have ecurbh feed her in the evening.
Ping to my pics above... Warning... adult content!
Wanting advice on the situation, Bay is a gelding, so I'm not concerned about anything 'happening'... but I don't want anyone to get hurt.
Neither of the mares are shod.
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