A Willing Partner

I coined stole this phrase from BEC when she gave me her assessment of her little bit of time watching me ride Trax and riding him herself.  She said, "You have your work cut out for you, he is not the most willing partner." (also coupled in with "You have done a great job with him so far, keep it up." )  Her assessment was 100% correct and I have known this for a long time.  In fact it is one of the reasons I am constantly horse shopping, because I want a willing partner.

Trax likes to get things right, just like any horse, because getting it right means he can go back to his nap.  Some horses, on the other hand enjoy learning knew things and thrive off of the challenge.  With all of his baggage, he thrives off of being left along.

Also, on the day that she rode him he was not feeling well. In fact he was not well for a couple of weeks, so that did contribute to his attitude that day. What else...well I wanted him to be something he wasn't yet and I was pushing him faster than he was ready for.  This sort of behavior on my part puts up three more bricks in the wall that I just tore 1 down out of.

So lets see that was about a month ago.  Alot has happened for the old guy since then.

He/we had a meltdown, which in turn brought about a few revelations on my part.

He is on a new diet. I was looking for a magnesium supplement but since I couldn't find it settled on a grain made for IR horses.   He is also getting a vitamin supplement and a joint supplement.  One at the behest of the trimmer to get those soles growing better, and the other at the behest of the chiro who thinks it will help the pain in his one hock.

He had a chiro adjustment which left him hardly able to keep his eyes open.

Today was our first ride since the melt down and since his chiro appt.

I won't say I had a new horse today, but he was different for sure.

First off I noticed today that my horse has withers.  Did you know that my horse has withers?  I know, you would think that I should have known, but truly today is the first time I have seen them.  It kind of freaked me out. I thought "Argh, he is getting too skinny!"  But then I felt for his ribs. Yes you can feel them, but the are not stick out.   I looked at his butt. Not sunk in at all, still round and muscular.  I felt his back bone, yes I can feel it, but it is not sticking up, it is just flat.   But that big strap of fat over his withers is gone.

You can bet that I'll be watching his weight closely, in fact even now he is out in the pasture all by himself having a snack, but right now he looks great. After our ride today I hosed him down and really looked at him with all his winter hairs smoothed down. Not skinny, just has withers....go figure.

So we rode. We started with the lunging and he...started....at...a...walk.  He has never done that.  EVER.

We had a welcomed audience today of A, who is quite modest and does not call her self a trainer, but who has spent a lot of time around some of the bigger named trainers in the area, and does give lessons to young children.  She just wanted to watch us for a bit.

When I got on, I asked for the later flex. He was good to the left still, really stiff to the right.  We trotted around moved off my leg, counter arched, stopped, backed up. Stood still and reminded him that if he feels the slightest pressure on his mouth, if he drops his head the pressure will stop.

We ran our wild circles and then when he felt right I asked for a little more control.  He gave it to me willingly.  He was just so damn good.

We worked a little on our roll backs and she mentioned that if I sat back on his butt a little more it would encourage him to plant that hind foot a little better.  Damn straight it did!

I side passed him for her, it actually felt pretty nice and she said that he only crab stepped once or twice before he moved gracefully and crossed over in front...both directions.

We loped the other way, working on our transitions of faster to slower and back again.

Then it was time for her to go so I kept riding, we worked on our lead changes.  Did you know that Trax can almost do a flying lead change?  I didn't.  By time we finished with that exercised I was able break him down just one step ask for the change and get it.  Can you see my grin from where you are?

We did a few more roll backs against the fence. He is so good in one direction but not the other...but we will get there.  We did them at a trot.

Earlier when we were loping circles I had asked for a stop but got my cues all wonky and the stop was all wonky. On our last circle, I tried to pick up on his front end just a little, said, "Ready", sat down, and then said "Whoa". It was the best stop he has ever done.

We stopped right there, walked down the road and then came home for a hose down, a quick hoof file and now he is getting his pasture time.

He is becoming a willing partner.  I don't know if it is me or him, the supplements, the chiro or a combination of it all, but it was tangible progress today and I could not be happier with my horse.

I have had 3 different people tell me now that I really ride much better than I give myself credit for. So I guess I'll quit saying I can't ride at all now.

One thing that A said she noticed that she thought was very cool is that Trax and I have constant conversation's going on.  He asks, "This?"  and I say, "No this." and so he gives what I want and then I reward with the release. Then he says, "Can I lift my head?" and I say, "No I'd rather it was down." and so he gives it back again and gets his release.  I never realized that about us, but I guess it is true. I guess that is a good thing.

Late for work now.

PS.  Done with the horse shopping.

Tick Tock....

I sure do hope I get the chance to ride tomorrow.

That is all.

And the light bulb comes on.....

I was just responding to a comment from Crystal about whether or not I had ever tracked on cow on Trax.  As I typed out the words trying to explain what the problem is, I suddenly realized what the problem really is.

It is awfully bright in here right now, what with all this light shining between my ears.


Trax does better if we do things slow....but the minute I ask for any speed he looses it.

This is not in reference to loping circles or forward movement. We can do that just fine.

I'm referring to those stop, roll back, move out- follow the flag moves.  These are things you need to have solid if you plan on boxing your cow in stock horse or Ranch Versatility and getting any kind of decent score.

Trax was taught to follow the cow, get the cow into "perfect roping position" and then to turn his hip and face that cow.

He can do that.  He actually does it really well.  He will follow and track and keep the cow from getting so far way you cannot rope it.  He will turn it back around if he thinks that is what you want, but he doesn't do it on his hind end, he does it on the forehand....like he was taught.

That's okay Buddy, you are doing the best you can, right now.

So now I am teaching him something different.  I'm not the best teacher in the world.  I am impatient.  I want him to get it soon.

Two days ago I was listening to a friend explain to me about the mechanics of barrel racing, and about teaching young horses how to run the pattern properly.  She told me what the hardest part of the whole process for the horses to learn is.  And she explained how, with the young horse she is currently working with, she is giving him all the time he needs to feel completely solid in "that one spot" before she ever really pushes for any speed.  This was not a "how too" session, this was a simple telling of a story of her own journey with her own horses.

I was so busy listening, I forgot to hear what she was saying.

Take it slow until the horse is comfortable, then ask for more speed.

I am reminded once again of Michael Johnson and his horse Shine.  The one thing he stressed so many times in his story and in our emails back and forth was time.

It takes as long as it takes, he says.

Michael worked Shine on those slow cows (roping) forever.  He tried bringing in faster cows much earlier than his horse was ready and his horse fell apart.  He had to go back to the dairy queens.  Every so often he would try one fast one.  Not ten, just one.  And if his horse wasn't ready he would let the fast cow go down to the catch pen, and never even throw his loop.

Healing Shine is also not a "how too" book. It is a story of a man and his journey with his horses, and I have listened to it many times, and I have heard his words. Some of them sank in, but obviously not deep enough.

It takes as long as it takes, and my horse isn't ready.  He is just learning what "move the shoulder" means.  I have got to quit putting this horse on a deadline!

I have another clinic in April, and I will keep practicing and trying to get my horse solid on those basics.  When that day comes I will ride the horse I have, not the horse I think Mr. Pieper wants to see.

Just for the record that doesn't mean that I won't occasionally ask for a little more energy, but I will give him the time he needs to be solid.

This is true with the competitive trail also- foot falls, taking it slow, it is all about being a better teacher.

A New Day

Today is a new day and I am over my whine fest.  And just for the record, the next time I have a "whine-fest" copious amounts of actual wine will be involved just to make it a little more interesting!  Nothing more boring and depressing than a whine fest without wine.

With a little time to examine where my sadness was coming from and a nice long talk with a new old friend, I was able to recognize some things.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter if I can or cannot compete in stock horse stuff.

It doesn't matter if Sassy is never anything more than a trail horse. (but there is still a small chance she can do more)

It doesn't matter that I cannot afford (right now) to go and buy the horse of my dreams who does sliding stops and fancy spins.

 None of it really matters.

What matters is that I have what I have always wanted...horses in my yard.

What matters is that I am able to do the very best I can for these horses.

What matters is that I am grateful to have them in my life and trail riding IS enough if that is all there is.

What matters is that for the most part, these horses are healthy and really only have typical things that all horses go through.  (Well maybe not Sassy, but there is still hope for her- I just have to be patient)


I have begun to notice a distinct fault in myself in the last few years, and I am not enjoying it at all.

The fault is that I am never happy with what I have.

Here are a couple of examples.

TC bought me a jeep for my birthday, that I pointed out and said I wanted.  After I got it, I was not happy with it (gas mileage and handling) and ended up selling it.

After that I bought my Envoy, which I loved...for about a month. Now I hate it and I want to get rid of it.  (mileage and its "not me"- how stupid is that?)

I want a small pick up, but I know that once I get it I will get tired of it and want a something different.  I need something that gets super good gas mileage, but I hate anything that sits low and since VW has not made a compact diesel pick up yet, I knows that I will not be happy with anything.

I have 3 horses but always feel like I need a better one.

I have a great house...nope wait...scratch that one, I love our place and would not trade it for the world.

But...

I always need better clothes, more antiques, a different job (or no job but still the income would be better), a different hair color, stuff, stuff, stuff, stuff, stuff.

Lets put things into perspective.

2003 was the year that I was homeless, I had the clothes on my back and 10 dollars in my pocket, no vehicle, and my kids had been taken from me.  So in eleven years I went from that to having my kids back with me, and pretty much everything else I was afraid to dream of.  

I think a little gratitude is in order here.

This morning I went out to mix up the morning "soup" for my equine buddies.  They were all there happy to see me, each one greeting me in their own special way. It made my heart smile.

That is what matters.

A lot to process

First visit with the chiro went well....I guess, I mean I have nothing to compare it too, so it is hard to say for sure.

There was a lot of information passed back and forth and I'm still sort of reeling from it all.

In a nutshell, Trax got a lot of work done on him, and is on a treatment plan, which will last a few months and then will be on an as needed basis.  He does need dental work done which will happen in a couple of weeks.  There was a ton of popping and cracking and he got a little reactive a few times, but for the most part was pretty darn good and only tried to kick her once.  In all fairness I did warn her about his touchy spot, and he didn't actually "kick" as much as he warned her that he was thinking about it.  On the other hand by time she was done with him, he was much less reactive about being touched there and was ready for a nap.

I had to laugh at the number of times she had to tell me to breathe so that he would too.  Once I did, then in a few seconds he would and she was able to go back to business at hand.   Apparently Trax and I are a little bit connected.

Killian got an exam but no work done today.  He is very stiff in his hocks and in a lot of pain in his back and hind end. She says it is arthritis in his hocks and has urged me to put him on some joint supplements.  He did not get done because we ran out of time, but he will get his chance next time around.  He also needs a little bit of dental work done but not as much as Trax.

Sassy was so foot sore today after her trim the other day that she got nothing more than a look over.  She also needs dental work, nothing major but it is enough to warrant the job.  I find myself wanting to blame the trimmer for her being so dang sore, but I was there when she was trimming. She took off sooo little. In fact I keep looking at that toe callus and want to go in and file it down more.  I just might, but at the advice of a friend, will wait a few days.  For now I will just keep her in soft sand or in boots which seems to be bearable for her.

Both the boys will start the joint supplements in the morning, plus Trax is now on Magnesium, and they are all on a vitamin supplement at the urging of the trimmer who wanted to see a little more copper and zinc in their diets to help with the hoof growth.  Sassy is on a BL pain supplement as well.

Interestingly enough both the trimmer and the chiro have done or still do quite a bit of work for the Forever Home Donkey Rescue whose blog I follow.

Every time I go through a day like this...expensive, lots to fix, not knowing if I am doing the right things, wondering if anything is ever going to work....I find myself window shopping for horses again.  Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have one that isn't lame, isn't crazy, isn't locked in his own mental dungeon, or who actually wanted to be a willing partner.  I realize that all horses need "stuff", even the good ones. But dang I seem to have more than my fair share.

I know I'm whining and lots of people have it worse....I'm over it now.

Job Options...For My Horse, Not For Me

So as I consider the possibility of extreme trail or competitive trail as a job for Trax, I thought that perhaps I should investigate just what sort of things he would need to learn.

The ACTHA has a great website with a page dedicate to what kind of obstacles  you should train your horse for.  A lot of it is man made stuff, and things a horse might encounter "out of the ordinary" on a trail ride in the real world.

The next thing I went to, and this is a pretty popular video on facebook and youtube is a speed event done on and indoor extreme course in Oregon.

I love this video and I really think that this is something that Trax could do super well at.  There are only 2 things on here that I can see that he would really struggle with.  The "suspension bridge" and then the water. But he has already gotten a gazillion times better on the water so that is just a matter of more exposure, and then the bridge...well heck, if I can teach my horse to do a rope gate (given his fear of ropes) I know I can teach that bridge.  Just have to figure out how to build one.

Here is another one That looks kind of fun. Trax would lose his mind over the golf carts though!

This one is a good example of the things a horse might not want to do But I love that the gal put in all the the little thought boxes of what she or her horse was thinking through it all.

So anyway, these are some of the things I am looking at to try with him.  I really love the one they have in Oregon, but at this point I don't think we have anything like that in AZ.

But maybe its time we did!

Getting to know my horse

This is going to be short because I'm feeling pretty peaked today and also it is harder to type from my phone. 

I am coming to recognize what is going to hurt Trax the most when it comes to doing RV. 

I think this is directly related to his past and although I'm not saying that we will never get past it. I can see where it is a huge problem for him right now. 

Trax 's automatic transmission is broken. 

In order for a horse to do well in these kind of competitions it is important to be able to shift gears smoothly.  It generally doesn't take a ton of energy to do the reining, in fact calm is better there. Calm is vital in the trail portion. But cow work requires energy. 

It requires a horse to be able to be quick on his feet and mentally ready to go as fast or slow as needed to keep up with and control the cow. 

Yesterday I rode Trax and we did a little work on our imaginary flag again. This time he was doing the same as before. Slogging along like we were pushing a Dairy Queen. 

So I thought I would do just like I did before and give him the tap on the shoulder to wake him up. But he knew what was coming this time and I barely even got my hand on the rein and he lost it!!! 

He took off at Mach 9 and nothing I did would slow him down for a bit. He did not buck but he ran pretty wildly for a while. I rode it out and tried to talk to him. 

Pretty soon his ears flicked back and he relaxed a little.  Then I ran him straight into the fence. He stood there with his sides heaving and his eyes as big as saucers. 

I turned him slowly and asked him to just walk until he would put his head down. 

Then we went back to the flag. I asked for the lope departure, the stop and the turn and we did it several times but I could feel him getting ready to snap again. So I quit before he did. 

Then We just long trotted those circles and figure eights again until he relaxed. 

So here is my problem. 

It is as if he is missing a gear in his tranny. Because he has first and second, but no third. 

He does have overdrive though.  And that play on words is more accurate than you may think. 

He can go slow and easy. He can pick it up enough to lope some nice circles, he can not pick it up enough to be quick on his feet but just jumps straight to race mode and spins wildly out of control. 

I believe there is a way to fix this. I just have to find it. I have no doubt that I will but it is going to take some time....and that is ok. I am not on a deadline with this horse. I've got all the time in the world. 

I do have some ideas which I discussed yesterday wth a friend. One of them being magnesium supplements to get him to be just a little less reactive and looser in those muscles.  

When I got Trax his rubber band was wound up as right as it could go. He only knew overdrive. So the fact that he has some lower gears now is great. Now I just need to find that gear that is missing. 

In other news there is a lot of up coming stuff right here in my neighborhood. Including the trim clinic, an extreme trail course, perhaps some lessons for simon on Killian and maybe me on sassy, and the chance to do some free cow work at my own pace. So I am very excited about that. 

The trimmer was here yesterday so I will have some pics to post soon. 

The chiro/ dental gal will be here tomorrow to asses all the ponies.