Showing posts with label horse training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse training. Show all posts

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Today I got dumped on my head!




I got a new horse. For my husband, mind you. A very nice even tempered breeding stock paint. His name is Reese. A gelding.. why do they still classify them as breeding stock? Isn't it more appropriate to call them "no color paint"? ..go figure. Anyway, he is a very nice guy. But still has alot to learn. Which, I guess, so do I since I fell on my head today.

It was my fault, not his. When I walk out into the pasture, the boys ( Reese and his pasture mate, JerryJeff) like to run all over the fields. They crash thru the woods and pop out and run down the hill. So when I rode him the first time thru those woods today, I thought he wanted to run down the hill......so I thought. First mistake. I decided to go with him..picturing us running down and away. So I did the one thing I tell every new rider NOT to do. I leaned forward. Second mistake. ( As my good friend, Kris asked " Didn't you see Snowy River??)

Well, he put his head down. My feet got behind me. He started crow-hopping and slowing down... downhill. Me, I just kept going forward cuz now I was leaning downhill and with his head so far far down there, I was now riding his neck. I hung on to his neck the best I could, and flipped over on my back and landed BAMM!! square on my back and head... so very lucky. The spongy pasture was pretty resilient, he didn't step on me and no serious damage ensued. (But I expect I'll be feeling it tomorrow.)(Yes folks, I was wearing my helmet..and glad I did!)

** Just an added note **
Thinking back on this I'm not young and bouncy like I usta be. I think as we get older the earth acts like a huge magnet and we just thud right on down to the ground and stay there. Stuck. Unable to move. Jeez.
** **

Reese calmed right down and looked at me like "What an idiot you are. What exactly would you call that maneuver?". After a breather, and making sure my brain wasn't rattling around in my skull, and there were no broken bones, I got back on and we tackled that downhill again.

Needless to say, I kept my feet under me, he kept his head up and a lesson was learned by both today.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

No more "Now"

Take out the “now” in your asking. My horse will do anything I ask him as long as I take as long as needed to keep the horse calm, trusting and willing. Remember, the horse has no agenda, only we do. Kindness goes a really long way. Be fair. Its only between you and him. There needs to be understanding on both your sides. Show him the correct answer to your question. A gentle cajole with small progresses. Take what he gives you. Ignore the wrong responses. Don't fight with him. Reward and build. Be persistent and consistent but don't try to get it all done at once . Be happy with him. You will be surprised how quickly it all goes when you take the "now" out of your training.