Regarding the Horses in our lives...

[Bunnylady]

Thanks. I think she's cute, but I may be just a bit biased.:/

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly they can go from reactive to sensible. A few minutes before that picture was taken, Syd's brain fell out as we approached the chicken tractor that she has walked past dozens of times. I think a chicken may have sneezed..... Total wig-out; spin and run like the devil himself was after her. Fortunately,she's a small pony. STOP. TURN. WALK ON. Right up beside the tractor, where I made her stand still while I slapped and banged on the tractor (it has a large piece of flashing on it, so it can be gratifyingly LOUD!) Now,then, do we have a problem with the chicken tractor? Nah, I didn't think so.

The rest of our lesson went relatively well. When we went out on the road (BB2K and Betsy went with us) we had a few discussions about which direction we were heading in, but no outright refusals or tantrums. We did some random circles, a few figure 8's - she's getting better with each outing.

 

[waddles99]

This is my 15 yr old Standardbred Gelding, "Nash". I just got him a couple days ago and I love him! He is my first horse and has already been a great introduction into the world of horses. Very sweet and well behaved!

 

[perchie.girl]

This is my 15 yr old Standardbred Gelding, "Nash". I just got him a couple days ago and I love him! He is my first horse and has already been a great introduction into the world of horses. Very sweet and well behaved!

Awesome start.... my Standardbed Mare Misty was a sweetie pie and put up with alot of "teenage messin" Hats, gloves on ears, paint, Learning how to swing up bareback... lots of falling off... "whacha doin down there looks were given"

ONE thing though... I hope you wear a helmet... thats the best "new to me" thing to come out these past few years. I came off 100 times my first year... It was a rite of passage for my instructor... I started riding in 1967... back then helmets were only for english and only for showing.

deb

 

[Bunnylady]

This is my 15 yr old Standardbred Gelding, "Nash". I just got him a couple days ago and I love him! He is my first horse and has already been a great introduction into the world of horses. Very sweet and well behaved!

Isn't he a big, handsome boy! Congrats on your first horse!

 

[waddles99]

Isn't he a big, handsome boy! Congrats on your first horse!

Thank you very much! I am very excited about him!!

Awesome start.... my Standardbed Mare Misty was a sweetie pie and put up with alot of "teenage messin"  Hats, gloves on ears, paint, Learning how to swing up bareback...  lots of falling off... "whacha doin down there looks were given"

ONE thing though...  I hope you wear a helmet...  thats the best "new to me" thing to come out these past few years.  I came off 100 times my first year...  It was a rite of passage for my instructor...  I started riding in 1967...  back then helmets were only for english and only for showing.

deb

Yeah, I don't know if it's a breed thing but Nash is so sweet and calm. Loads well, stands for brushing and hoof cleaning, and doesn't even mind baths! And yeah, I definetly will wear a helmet. EVERYBODY is telling me that. I think it is a common thing for people not to buy as beginners.

 

[BantyChooks]

Aww! I love horses, but unfortonatly do not have any at this time. or ever. i love seeing everyone else's horses though!

 

[Bunnylady]

Got an indication that our work is starting to pay off today.

Syd and I did a little bit of ground work today - yielding front and hind ends; backing on command. Then I clipped on the drive lines and we went for a little walk. As we approached the end of the driveway, 3 Mourning Doves flew up out of some high grass not more than 10 feet away. Syd stumbled slightly and sort of ducked; I was rather startled, too, and said reflexively, "Whoa!" Syd stopped, but I swear, I think if I hadn't said anything, she'd have just kept right on walking. I patted Syd on the rump and told her she was a good girl, but I though I didn't want to make too big a deal out of it, I was really proud of her. It wasn't just the sudden movement (which has been bad enough in the past); doves are pretty noisy when they take off like that. BB2K had spent a fair amount of time just a couple of days before working on desensitizing Syd to the sound of her clapping her hands near her . . . . good job, BB2K and Syd!

 

[perchie.girl]

Got an indication that our work is starting to pay off today.

Syd and I did a little bit of ground work today - yielding front and hind ends; backing on command. Then I clipped on the drive lines and we went for a little walk. As we approached the end of the driveway, 3 Mourning Doves flew up out of some high grass not more than 10 feet away. Syd stumbled slightly and sort of ducked; I was rather startled, too, and said reflexively, "Whoa!" Syd stopped, but I swear, I think if I hadn't said anything, she'd have just kept right on walking. I patted Syd on the rump and told her she was a good girl, but I though I didn't want to make too big a deal out of it, I was really proud of her. It wasn't just the sudden movement (which has been bad enough in the past); doves are pretty noisy when they take off like that. BB2K had spent a fair amount of time just a couple of days before working on desensitizing Syd to the sound of her clapping her hands near her . . . . good job, BB2K and Syd!

good Job Bunny and BB2k

 

[Bunnylady]

Syd is continuing to improve. I've long been of the opinion that the most important thing you will ever teach a horse is "whoa," and while I thought Syd had learned it years ago, she is getting much better at doing it now, rather than . . . . . eventually. We are having fewer arguments, and though Syd still has her opinion on which way we should go, she's getting better about relinquishing the point when our opinions differ. I think she has finally realized that she isn't living in a Doctor Who episode, and "RUN!" is not the order of the day.

A couple of days ago, I introduced Syd to side poles. Thinking that she is more comfortable there, I was working her in the paddock with the others (who stayed out of the way better than the goats did). The poles are PVC and about 5 feet long. At first, I dragged the poles behind me, so she could get used to the sight and sound of them following her. She skittered around a little when I attached one to the harness loop on one side, so I let her pull just the one for a while. She hardly seemed to notice when the second one went on.

We won't be taking the poles on the road, of course, but I think we will be dragging them around the barnyard for a while. Since noises are such an issue with Syd, I think I may attach a string of empty cans to the poles. The noise would be really annoying for me, too, but if Syd can learn to tune that out, no sound a cart could make would faze her!

 

[perchie.girl]

Bravo Bunny..... Awesome news. Once she is comfortable dragging the poles DO make a trip across the road and back if possible... So she can hear the noise on the pavement.

deb