tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post9151485707360371349..comments2023-06-10T06:38:37.815-07:00Comments on Life With My Herd: Not the "Best Day Ever"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-48344373131814623362013-03-01T22:57:56.882-08:002013-03-01T22:57:56.882-08:00I reckon if Trax is happy with the tiny wiggle as ...I reckon if Trax is happy with the tiny wiggle as his cue to begin backing up, then why change for one he isn't? Maybe instead you can being to 'hold' with your backside and reins, just a hint, before you do that wiggle, and after a while he might begin to offer the back just from that. When I get mine good I can just hold the forward movement ever so lightly with my body and think 'back' with my butt and back we go. :) <br /><br />We used to have different instructors all the time at the adult riding club I went to. It got so confusing and also they just never knew me or my horse and our goals and needs. I was better working alone at home. I think you should trust your own experience more and not rely on someone to tell you how and what all the time. You can get too dependent and it has the reverse effect on confidence than you would expect. You know your horse, he knows you. You are a good rider and handler and you have his best interests at heart. Trust yourself! Keechyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508060247369251383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-60276838154287085472013-03-01T06:59:16.853-08:002013-03-01T06:59:16.853-08:00Thanks Crystal. I would gladly drive 2 hours once...Thanks Crystal. I would gladly drive 2 hours once a week for a good trainer! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-2384252046684067072013-03-01T06:58:06.505-08:002013-03-01T06:58:06.505-08:00Marissa, you brought up some really good points, s...Marissa, you brought up some really good points, so I had to really think back over my actions and determine if I was rushing Danny. <br />With Danny and his handicap it is always important to give him the time he needs to figure out how he is getting into the trailer. I did do that. I let him sniff and check everything out, about 5 min or so. Usually within a minute or so he is in. After that 5 min, when he started backing up, is probably when I started getting impatient. So yes it could be that I was making things worse for him.<br /> <br />But sometimes with him it is him just being stubborn. When I first rode him at my moms in Oregon, he was so good. Didn't give me a lick of trouble. A year later he came to me a different horse. Stubborn and bossy and disrespectful. I would get on him and he wouldn't go, he refused to do anything I ask. Why? Well, with my mom Danny didn't have to do anything. He was able to be the boss and she let him. It didn't matter to her, because she never took him anywhere, she didn't ride him, she fed him and groomed him and made sure he was healthy. She let him be retired and he liked that. So when he came to me, he was prepared to continue his retirement. It took about 3 lessons with Jay to remind him who the boss was. We didn't have to get mean, we just had to move his feet, and teach him to respect the bubble. After that we got along great. BUT, if I let him sit too long without doing anything, he reverts back to that jerk that came to me 4 years ago. With the cold, he hasn't done much in a while. So this time I think it was combination of me rushing him and him trying to convince me that he is still in retirement. <br />Truthfully he is still in retirement, but he still needs enough exercise to stay sound. <br /><br />As far as Trax goes...he is my boy. I understand him like no one ever has. We aren't giving up, just had a rough day. And you are right, mental work is the best for him. <br /><br />Have I mentioned lately that you are smart beyond your years! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-82177588471831958922013-03-01T06:45:58.730-08:002013-03-01T06:45:58.730-08:00That would be cool to be able to ride together!
That would be cool to be able to ride together! <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-36921538576751719672013-02-28T17:56:23.375-08:002013-02-28T17:56:23.375-08:00Wow! What a bummer of a day!!!
Me and my trainer...Wow! What a bummer of a day!!! <br /><br />Me and my trainer had a conversation today that pertains to that EXACTLY. It's the whole 'if you have all day it'll take 5 minutes, if you have 5 minutes it'll take all day' thing. Her story was that when she was really tired and would pull pony out and not feel like working with her, shed turn her out, and pony would be a nutcase for like 15 minutes and then not let my trainer catch her for another half an hour. However, on the days she pulled her out in the morning and gave her attention and time, she was an angel. <br /><br />Maybe Danny feels like if you rush and don't give him the time HE thinks he deserves, then he doesn't feel like he needs to give you respect. Because even when we don't think that we are 'rushing' they can sense out feelings better than we can!<br /><br />I think that you and trax will improve leaps and bounds with more regular work! Which is of course tough in the winter! I ride pony 4 times a week and I had to crazy trot her for a full 30 minutes before she calmed down, I bet trax just needs more regular work for him to start really improving! <br /><br />I can see how frustrating your ride was, the first half of my ride today was just like that!! It really makes it tough, but that's what makes these speedy ponies that we love even more awesome! Especially because how great it feels when you are capable of getting quality work from them!!<br /><br />I definitely don't think trax has too much baggage for him to learn, I really honestly think that good hard work will make all the difference. When he has so much energy it's tough for him to focus on learning when each ride he has to work through the energy first!! <br /><br />Also, when I say good hard work, I mean mentally hard as well. I honestly think no good can come of loping around for an hour. I think transitions and stopping and leg yielding and transitions and circles and straights and rollbacks over and over to keep their brains working are much more exhausting to them, and clear their heads to learn more!<br />Marissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09209197198281908402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-26850179472488972012013-02-28T17:42:22.229-08:002013-02-28T17:42:22.229-08:00Sounds like a tough night! But good for you for s...Sounds like a tough night! But good for you for sticking it out. I was at that with so many different opinions and then found a good trainer/friend and learned a lot and outgrew her training and moved on to a different trainer. he sure pushes me but I am glad and I have learned more from him in one lesson than a few years with the first trainer. So sometimes just a few lessons will make a difference, even if you have to travel a ways to get them (mine is almost 2 hours away) <br /><br />I totally agree it would be so much easier if I had an arena at home as well, I can wish but doubt it will ever happen.Crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18035210092855895218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-80804684282939433982013-02-28T17:13:35.421-08:002013-02-28T17:13:35.421-08:00:) You've just made me smile!! Wish we were ...:) You've just made me smile!! Wish we were closer, we could ride together and give each other support. We have lots of people around here who call themselves "trainers". Trouble is, most of them I wouldn't let touch my horse if they were paying me!! I'm in the same boat, trying to find someone who I can respect and learn from, so that I can better work with my horse and build that relationship that I want. Oh, without spending my last dime to achieve it! C-ingspotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-31714535817015151522013-02-28T12:59:29.684-08:002013-02-28T12:59:29.684-08:00That was supposed to say "even if he isn'...That was supposed to say "even if he isn't perfect"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-86070725789632894742013-02-28T12:00:00.510-08:002013-02-28T12:00:00.510-08:00Thanks, I guess that is one way of looking at it! ...Thanks, I guess that is one way of looking at it! Yeah...I was victorious against all odds! I like that! I have to admit I was seriously tempted to just leave Danny home when he wouldn't load the first time, but knew that if I did that, I would never get him into a trailer again, so I had to keep going. <br /><br />You are right about opinions, everyone has one, and each trainer believes that their way is the best way, when really it is more horse specific I think. I'm really feeling like once we move,(if we move) or once I know that we aren't moving, then I need to actively seek out one trainer to work with. Oddly enough, there aren't that many here where I live. <br />I also agree about keeping it simple. Getting the easy trot without him running off really was big stride for him, the runaway. So if I shorten my goals just a little for this day, then we accomplished just enough without driving him into the ground. Thank you for bringing me back to that. I think that I feel pressure to teach him so much before June, but really I don't have to do it all today or even this week. As long as I keep breaking it down into small pieces, he will get it. He always does. Even if he is perfect in time for the shows, we will still compete, do the best we can, get some great experience and have some fun laughing at our own mistakes. <br /><br />Thank you, I really needed that little boost...Sista! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-28961872800371541502013-02-28T11:32:57.322-08:002013-02-28T11:32:57.322-08:00Wow, what a day from hell huh? Well, you're d...Wow, what a day from hell huh? Well, you're discouraged, but I am so proud of you for making it there at all. You didn't feel well, went anyway, then Danny is an ass, you work through that and are victorious, not to mention that it's colder than a witch's tit in January (I would have boged out right there), then mother nature graces you with her presence (oh joy), and it's probably the first ride in a while without being consistent, you know how horses are creatures of habit, right? Girl, like I said...I'm very proud of you for sticking to your guns and showing tenacity. Bet next time, the horses won't push your buttons quite so much. Momma's no quitter!! Ooh, and ouch that finger! :( I know how difficult it can be listening to everybody out there with an opinion. *sigh* That's why I follow one type of horsemanship, practice it to the best of my abilities and keep working at it. I don't practice it often enough, that's my main problem. When you find that 1 person who believes in training methods as you do, stick with that person and forget about all the other ways to skin that cat. My grandma used to say..."opinions are like mothers, everybody's got one". You know what? She was right! One more thing...do you think you're trying to work on too many different things at once, and confusing your horse? I like the KISS method. Keep it simple sista...baby steps with perfection, before you know it, the difficult maneuvers almost happen by themselves. C-ingspotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.com