I was planning today to write another piece on my journey with Joe, however, I have pushed that to a bit later in the week for the following reason. A friend shared this article on his Facebook, and the title caught me right away. I invited a similar discussion with my article on horsemanship, but this writer blows me out of the water. She touches on the exact thoughts that go through my head every single day as an equestrian. Also, #2 is especially important to me, because I am often asked why I don't teach lessons, or have any desire to.
So, another installment on Joe will be arriving soon, in the meantime, please read this article!
Top 3 Reasons Why America's Producing So Many Mediocre Instructors
Monday, February 10, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Available for Lease: K.O.
As some of you may know, I discovered that K.O. had a very small suspensory tear (less than 5%) and she has been rehabbing since mid December. Dr. Meuse came out yesterday to re-evaluate her and she should be ready for lease beginning March 1. Her suspensory injury is very, very minor and will heal without any physical restriction. If you or someone you know is interested in leasing please contact me!
Lease terms are negotiable for anyone interested in something less than a full or half lease, although that would restrict showing opportunities. K.O. is super flashy, quiet and level-headed. She's a super mover and one of the safest horses in the barn. I will continue training her for the duration of the lease, she is just better off in the hands of a youth or small adult for show season!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
My first ride on Joe, the initial assessment
I hope everyone in the midwest has been staying warm! At this point, I'm not sure I even remember how to ride! :)
I want to start my first post on Joe, discussing my first ride and any initial assessments I had made. From a progress standpoint, it's virtually impossible to really accomplish anything in one ride; most of the time nothing impressive happens, but it allows me to push some buttons and begin brainstorming a game plan.
To refresh everyones memory, the points of concern with Joe were that he was reluctant to work and would demonstrate this reluctance through pinning his ears, cow kicks and some impressive bucks. He was purchased with hopes he would be a husband-safe trail horse/light work pleasure horse, but they were having a hard time convincing him to do even that.
My first observation with this situation was that they were riding him in a pelham. I'm not a big fan of pelham's, however there is a time and a place for their use, usually best saved for upper level horses. I tried to ride him in it regardless, since it was what they had been using. When I got on him I found that he was defensive with this bit: he would "hide" behind it and when I would use my hand to ask him to engage his shoulder, he would take offense. When working with any horse, the last thing I want is for them to take offense to my aids. So, I suggested we try a rubber snaffle next time. My goal here was to be able to use my hand, without offending him. A lot of the time, riders can be hesitant to use such a basic bit on an aggressive-type horse, however I've had much more success taking it slow with a snaffle than preparing for battle with a complicated bit.
My next observation was that after mounting, I could feel Joe's whole body was tense. Every single muscle was tight and he felt like he was holding his breath. When I asked him to walk forward, I could feel him contemplating ejecting me from my saddle, but luckily he decided just to walk. After several walk laps around the ring, some changes of direction, and some figure 8's, he still hadn't relaxed even slightly. It was very obvious that Joe dreaded every single moment a rider was on his back, this was the first thing I wanted to change his mind on.
I usually find that the horses who dread work are usually overwhelmed by the idea of work. In their mind, when you ask them to go forward, they imagine they will be going forward for days and days with no break and eventually refuse to go forward at all. This sounds dramatic, but horses are not always practical :) So what I try to do is change their mind. Well take a couple steps forward, then stop and hangout. I'll pet them and well just stare into space for awhile. Then we'll take some more steps forward and stop again. The goal is to compromise with them,"If you move off my leg, I will let you rest." Eventually the thought of going forward isn't so daunting and they stop associating your aids with trauma.
So, my plan after our first ride was to start working on creating a horse that was willing to move off leg and to try a rubble snaffle next ride and to see what he brought to the table then. Many of their complaints about Joe were about his behavior at the canter, however Joe gave many clues on the ground, the walk and the trot that the canter was going to be the peak of his upset. So, I wanted to first begin chipping away at the foundation of the problem, instead of going straight to the top and starting an unnecessary battle.
I want to start my first post on Joe, discussing my first ride and any initial assessments I had made. From a progress standpoint, it's virtually impossible to really accomplish anything in one ride; most of the time nothing impressive happens, but it allows me to push some buttons and begin brainstorming a game plan.
To refresh everyones memory, the points of concern with Joe were that he was reluctant to work and would demonstrate this reluctance through pinning his ears, cow kicks and some impressive bucks. He was purchased with hopes he would be a husband-safe trail horse/light work pleasure horse, but they were having a hard time convincing him to do even that.
My first observation with this situation was that they were riding him in a pelham. I'm not a big fan of pelham's, however there is a time and a place for their use, usually best saved for upper level horses. I tried to ride him in it regardless, since it was what they had been using. When I got on him I found that he was defensive with this bit: he would "hide" behind it and when I would use my hand to ask him to engage his shoulder, he would take offense. When working with any horse, the last thing I want is for them to take offense to my aids. So, I suggested we try a rubber snaffle next time. My goal here was to be able to use my hand, without offending him. A lot of the time, riders can be hesitant to use such a basic bit on an aggressive-type horse, however I've had much more success taking it slow with a snaffle than preparing for battle with a complicated bit.
My next observation was that after mounting, I could feel Joe's whole body was tense. Every single muscle was tight and he felt like he was holding his breath. When I asked him to walk forward, I could feel him contemplating ejecting me from my saddle, but luckily he decided just to walk. After several walk laps around the ring, some changes of direction, and some figure 8's, he still hadn't relaxed even slightly. It was very obvious that Joe dreaded every single moment a rider was on his back, this was the first thing I wanted to change his mind on.
I usually find that the horses who dread work are usually overwhelmed by the idea of work. In their mind, when you ask them to go forward, they imagine they will be going forward for days and days with no break and eventually refuse to go forward at all. This sounds dramatic, but horses are not always practical :) So what I try to do is change their mind. Well take a couple steps forward, then stop and hangout. I'll pet them and well just stare into space for awhile. Then we'll take some more steps forward and stop again. The goal is to compromise with them,"If you move off my leg, I will let you rest." Eventually the thought of going forward isn't so daunting and they stop associating your aids with trauma.
So, my plan after our first ride was to start working on creating a horse that was willing to move off leg and to try a rubble snaffle next ride and to see what he brought to the table then. Many of their complaints about Joe were about his behavior at the canter, however Joe gave many clues on the ground, the walk and the trot that the canter was going to be the peak of his upset. So, I wanted to first begin chipping away at the foundation of the problem, instead of going straight to the top and starting an unnecessary battle.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Meet Joe
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I'm going to be featuring a small series on a horse I've been working with. He's special because he's gorgeous, athletic, exceptionally well-bred, but also sensitive, emotional, defensive, and sometimes aggressive. When I asked his owner if I could talk about Joe on my blog, she surprised me by being ecstatic. There aren't a lot of owners who are interested in talking about their struggles with their complicated mounts, but I'm grateful she can see the educational value in speaking on it publicly. She asked if she could write the first post, so below is her words, to introduce Joe.
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| Joe, his "after" shot |
This is My Game, or as he is known by his barn name, “Joe,” joined our family in the fall of 2011 as a “husband horse” that would enjoy a job as a trail partner and generally relax with the 3 other horses at our home farm. Joe had been rescued by a friend and was in desperate need of a new home—he came off the track with abscesses in all four feet, a back covered with rain rot and about 200 plus pounds underweight. Nevertheless, there was a look of potential greatness in his eyes: that this 16.2 hh, dark bay gelding was a survivor and deserved a chance to have a new life and career. From the beginning, Joe had comfortable gaits, showed no tendency to want to bolt, spook or run, and in fact, seemed very content to trot and walk. He self-loaded onto trailers, arrived at new indoor arenas where we rode during the winter and never gave anything a second look. He clipped without fuss and all early indications suggested he was making a transition to pleasure mount easily.
As my husband’s lessons progressed, we had learned that Joe preferred the lightest contact on his mouth and no leg contact at all. This was not a big issue until it was time to start work at the canter. Then Joe told us that he was not happy and that cantering was not an option: he bucked. Quite spectacularly.
So, having read all the articles about horsemanship and figuring out the cause (and fix) for behavioral issues, we started with his physical condition:
· Teeth were checked: status good
· Feet were checked: status good
· Back was checked: put on Robaxin, drugs to deal with arthritis, joint supplements, ulcer supplements and chiropractice treatment; Legend and Adequan injections monthly; depo shots to help with “marish” mood swings
· Saddle was checked: fit okay
· Husband was checked: well, enough said.
The resistance to go forward at the canter persisted, and in fact, Joe was now showing anxiety about being asked to go forward at all from the walk. Joe had improved physically, gained weight, and frankly, looked amazing. But he was less and less happy. Really perplexed, I realized I needed professional help, but not many trainers who are committed and busy with barns of horse-show bound clients have the time or inclination to fix a bucking OTTB whose life is destined to be a trail partner. Until I found Nikki Roshon.
Nikki agreed to take on Joe to help him work through his issues and find happiness in his new life. Her blog will detail her approach to identifying the issues Joe presented, and how, rather than try to overpower those issues, get inside Joe’s head to find a solution that grows organically from Joe himself: what and how to ask Joe to work under saddle and to help Joe establish confidence in himself to respond to a rider’s aids.
The lesson I have learned: listen to the horse and with patience, a willingness to try many paths to a solution and with kindness, a horse like Joe can find his place in life.
Enjoy his journey.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Updates!
I have a confession, I am a horrible blogger. However! I decided my New Years Resolution would be to change that! So, here are some updates to bring everyone up to speed.
Qashmir SS:
Qashmir found a home! He left at the end of November. I was thrilled with this placement for several reasons, but primarily because he went to a friend of a friend in Pennsylvania, who I received stunning reviews about, so his owner and I both know he will be loved and well-cared for. It's especially important to me to ensure that the "special needs" types find the perfect match. I can't wait to see how they progress together!
K.O. :
K.O. was continuing under saddle and coming along famously. She was used in several lessons, even some for beginners, and packed them around like a schoolmaster! Feral to lesson program in 3 months isn't too shabby if you ask me! I have been SO proud of her. I was hoping to lease her out starting this January, however that has been postponed for now. She was coming up off/on lame on her RF, so I had the vet out before I continued to pursue any leasing commitments. He confirmed a 2% tear of her RF suspensory. The "bad" news is she has been on stall rest since the beginning of December (former feral pony+stall rest...you do the math) BUT the good news is she will have absolutely no physical limitations after rehabilitation. A 2% is as miniscule as it sounds. I'm hoping to have her back up and in full work by March 1 (and hopefully leased!)
Cinch:
Cinch is a coming 6 y.o. AQHA gelding that I was putting some miles on for the month of December. He's a super well bred guy with a great personality that is going to make someone a great show mount. In just 30 +/- days with me he made a lot of progress. Although I wasn't able to continue working with him this semester (I am a full time student before anything else :)), he is still available for sale and any interested parties are more than welcome to contact me and I can put you in touch with his owner.
Joe:
Joe is a 2006 OTTB gelding (JC "This Is My Game") that I have been riding for a client since October. I haven't mentioned him in my blog for several reasons, one being that he's a real tough cookie and I wanted to respect their privacy. However, these past couple weeks we have made some major breakthroughs, so I asked his owner for permission to feature my work with him on here. She excitedly agreed, so I am pleased to announce that for the next several weeks I will be discussing my journey with Joe! Stay tuned.
Qashmir SS:
Qashmir found a home! He left at the end of November. I was thrilled with this placement for several reasons, but primarily because he went to a friend of a friend in Pennsylvania, who I received stunning reviews about, so his owner and I both know he will be loved and well-cared for. It's especially important to me to ensure that the "special needs" types find the perfect match. I can't wait to see how they progress together!
 |
| Qashmir with his new mom! |
K.O. was continuing under saddle and coming along famously. She was used in several lessons, even some for beginners, and packed them around like a schoolmaster! Feral to lesson program in 3 months isn't too shabby if you ask me! I have been SO proud of her. I was hoping to lease her out starting this January, however that has been postponed for now. She was coming up off/on lame on her RF, so I had the vet out before I continued to pursue any leasing commitments. He confirmed a 2% tear of her RF suspensory. The "bad" news is she has been on stall rest since the beginning of December (former feral pony+stall rest...you do the math) BUT the good news is she will have absolutely no physical limitations after rehabilitation. A 2% is as miniscule as it sounds. I'm hoping to have her back up and in full work by March 1 (and hopefully leased!)
 |
| K.O. during a lesson(pre-stall rest) |
Cinch:
Cinch is a coming 6 y.o. AQHA gelding that I was putting some miles on for the month of December. He's a super well bred guy with a great personality that is going to make someone a great show mount. In just 30 +/- days with me he made a lot of progress. Although I wasn't able to continue working with him this semester (I am a full time student before anything else :)), he is still available for sale and any interested parties are more than welcome to contact me and I can put you in touch with his owner.
Joe:
Joe is a 2006 OTTB gelding (JC "This Is My Game") that I have been riding for a client since October. I haven't mentioned him in my blog for several reasons, one being that he's a real tough cookie and I wanted to respect their privacy. However, these past couple weeks we have made some major breakthroughs, so I asked his owner for permission to feature my work with him on here. She excitedly agreed, so I am pleased to announce that for the next several weeks I will be discussing my journey with Joe! Stay tuned.
 |
| "This Is My Game" aka Joe |
Monday, January 13, 2014
The Absence of Horsemanship in the Modern Training Program
I have a bone to pick with my equestrian peers. Something terrible is happening and I can't ignore it any longer. Somewhere along the line horsemanship was removed from the lesson plan.
Apparently it is absent from a lot of lesson plans. Sure students are still being taught to lead on the left and to wait to tighten their girth when they get to the arena, but I'm talking about the nitty gritty of true horsemanship; when students have confidence with their mounts and enough common horse sense to navigate through challenges. I've witnessed far too many trainers insuring the longevity of their careers by creating students who are far too dependent on them for guidance. Their students have been disillusioned into thinking that horse training is a one way street and there is absolutely no room for error. This couldn't be further from the truth.
Of course there are always situations where a trainer is absolutely needed and necessary, but I'm talking about people who have been riding for years and years and still feel that if they make a mistake with their horse then it will be forever ruined, so they employ a trainer at every turn. I can't stress enough how silly it is to feel that dependency. In my eyes, it's equally important for a trainer to teach their student how to read their horse, just as well as they teach them to ride it. Riding and reading are two completely different skills. I would like to see trainers encouraging more conscious riders; riders who are just as concerned about their horses body language as they are their equitation. It's an invaluable skill to be able to safely make mistakes with a horse and in turn, come to a safe solution. I will forever be indebted to the trainer who taught me how to make mistakes, she has made an everlasting impact on the horseman I am today.
Casey Pierce isn't a "typical" trainer for me; I had been riding hunter/jumpers for 7 years and she is a reining trainer, but my horse was injured so I decided to branch out while he was laid up; a choice that I will forever appreciate. Casey is stationed out of Middlefield, Ohio, better known for her wins at Equine Affaire in the Extreme Cowboy Competition. Casey is unlike any trainer I have ever trained with. She didn't improve my equitation and I didn't win any ribbons with her, but the horsemanship skills I learned from her go above and beyond everything else. She was always encouraging me to try new things, make some mistakes and most of all, pay attention to my horse. As unfortunate as it sounds, it was a new concept for me. She taught me how to safely try something new and to accurately assess my horses reaction. Most of the things I learned during my time spent with her were from the horses I was riding; if I received a positive reaction, I was doing something right, if the reaction was negative, it was back to the drawing board. Casey always stressed for me to go slow, be gentle and pay attention. Three small rules that have changed the way I ride immensely.
One day in particular we had gone to a local obstacle schooling and I brought my horse who was relatively fresh off layup. I had planned to just walk him around the obstacles, mess around with a couple and just give him some experience. He was being very quiet and handling everything well, so I decided to try the pole drag. Once I turned him around and started backing up, he completely panicked and took off like a bat out of hell. We had caused quite a scene and I was unbelievably embarrassed. Once I was able to stop my horse, I became aware that everyone in the building was staring at me, and they all knew I had come with Casey. One lady ran up to me, grabbed my bridle and said, "Are you okay?! You probably want to dismount...I'll hold him while you hop off." Before I could even reply, Casey rode over to me, absolutely cracking up. Laughing, she suggested that I try again, since my horse and I were both okay, just shook up. I could barely believe her reaction. I had been bracing myself, anticipating the wrath of a morbidly embarrassed trainer, but instead she encouraged me to try again, this time a little slower. It took some time, but within minutes we were confidently able to drag the pole.
Since my time with Casey, I have yet to experience many trainers who don't make their students feel insecure when they make a mistake. This is terribly unfortunate since I truly feel they are doing their students a disservice by not teaching them horse sense. Of course, how are their students to know they are being shortchanged when it's all they know?
So, consider this a call to action. If you're a trainer, consider taking some time to teach your students how to be a better horseman, as well as a better rider. If you're a student and you're with a trainer that isn't empowering you as a horseman, then I urge you to reconsider who you're training with.
Apparently it is absent from a lot of lesson plans. Sure students are still being taught to lead on the left and to wait to tighten their girth when they get to the arena, but I'm talking about the nitty gritty of true horsemanship; when students have confidence with their mounts and enough common horse sense to navigate through challenges. I've witnessed far too many trainers insuring the longevity of their careers by creating students who are far too dependent on them for guidance. Their students have been disillusioned into thinking that horse training is a one way street and there is absolutely no room for error. This couldn't be further from the truth.
Of course there are always situations where a trainer is absolutely needed and necessary, but I'm talking about people who have been riding for years and years and still feel that if they make a mistake with their horse then it will be forever ruined, so they employ a trainer at every turn. I can't stress enough how silly it is to feel that dependency. In my eyes, it's equally important for a trainer to teach their student how to read their horse, just as well as they teach them to ride it. Riding and reading are two completely different skills. I would like to see trainers encouraging more conscious riders; riders who are just as concerned about their horses body language as they are their equitation. It's an invaluable skill to be able to safely make mistakes with a horse and in turn, come to a safe solution. I will forever be indebted to the trainer who taught me how to make mistakes, she has made an everlasting impact on the horseman I am today.
Casey Pierce isn't a "typical" trainer for me; I had been riding hunter/jumpers for 7 years and she is a reining trainer, but my horse was injured so I decided to branch out while he was laid up; a choice that I will forever appreciate. Casey is stationed out of Middlefield, Ohio, better known for her wins at Equine Affaire in the Extreme Cowboy Competition. Casey is unlike any trainer I have ever trained with. She didn't improve my equitation and I didn't win any ribbons with her, but the horsemanship skills I learned from her go above and beyond everything else. She was always encouraging me to try new things, make some mistakes and most of all, pay attention to my horse. As unfortunate as it sounds, it was a new concept for me. She taught me how to safely try something new and to accurately assess my horses reaction. Most of the things I learned during my time spent with her were from the horses I was riding; if I received a positive reaction, I was doing something right, if the reaction was negative, it was back to the drawing board. Casey always stressed for me to go slow, be gentle and pay attention. Three small rules that have changed the way I ride immensely.
One day in particular we had gone to a local obstacle schooling and I brought my horse who was relatively fresh off layup. I had planned to just walk him around the obstacles, mess around with a couple and just give him some experience. He was being very quiet and handling everything well, so I decided to try the pole drag. Once I turned him around and started backing up, he completely panicked and took off like a bat out of hell. We had caused quite a scene and I was unbelievably embarrassed. Once I was able to stop my horse, I became aware that everyone in the building was staring at me, and they all knew I had come with Casey. One lady ran up to me, grabbed my bridle and said, "Are you okay?! You probably want to dismount...I'll hold him while you hop off." Before I could even reply, Casey rode over to me, absolutely cracking up. Laughing, she suggested that I try again, since my horse and I were both okay, just shook up. I could barely believe her reaction. I had been bracing myself, anticipating the wrath of a morbidly embarrassed trainer, but instead she encouraged me to try again, this time a little slower. It took some time, but within minutes we were confidently able to drag the pole.
Since my time with Casey, I have yet to experience many trainers who don't make their students feel insecure when they make a mistake. This is terribly unfortunate since I truly feel they are doing their students a disservice by not teaching them horse sense. Of course, how are their students to know they are being shortchanged when it's all they know?
So, consider this a call to action. If you're a trainer, consider taking some time to teach your students how to be a better horseman, as well as a better rider. If you're a student and you're with a trainer that isn't empowering you as a horseman, then I urge you to reconsider who you're training with.
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