Tai’s blog…with a little Spike and Woodstock for good measure.

Since Kerry’s visit, Tai and I have been pretty much cantering a few strides at a time each day we’ve been riding.  Yippee!  I really need to work on my cantering, he seems to be picking up his leads nicely.  Now if I could sit still perhaps we could go for longer distance.

Haven’t been doing cantering patterns on the ground either, like we should, or that would probably improve things as well.  Have been trying to help Spike with his feet and Woody with his, too.  The tire is a valuable asset to trailering or foot handling.  Seems to have translated well for Maryann and Tom, too.  Somehow though we missed the “feet on the ramp sideways” but not in the trailer with Woods…oh, well.  Working on that now.  Maryann got Spike to go in the trailer following her on Saturday, but that is overwith now as Hannah finally got him to go in on his own.  He also didn’t want to come out, which is a good sign.  Tom can get Woody to go in, but I see the RBI possibility of danger with Woody when things begin to change up.  Like make any noises, or touch him even for a moment…need to work on squeezes around the trailer, and all seven games with food in the trailer, but never asking him to go in to get it.  We’ll be doing the opposite with Woods and going “SLOWER” on Wednesday’s session.  I will also rewatch on Hannah’s advice the “Trailering by Horsenality”  savvy Club DVD with Pat to see what else we can throw in.  Jeez thanks, Hannah-you’re done with school and now I’ve got homework!

I don’t know if it was the wind yesterday, or the fact that there is so much construction going on in every direction around the barn, but Tai was pretty RBI .  I’m oddly more comfortable with that lately, don’t know if it’s because I suspect he may be innately RBI or what.  Can’t wait to see what they have to say in Florida.  Still has many LB qualities, but now I’m not sure if he got those from me or if he had them all along.  Didn’t do much groundwork with Tai since I spent 1 and 1/2 hours on Woody earlier.  Tai and I just ate lunch in the barn and I tacked up in there, which really just contributes to his RB, but maybe the practice is good?  I have a fifty/fifty chance of being right…

Decided to try riding with his bit and bridle on.  That went pretty well after multiple tension “spooks” in the saddle and roundpen.  Don’t even touch the reins/bit at all and Tai acts like he did when we first started riding 2 and 1/2 years ago.  Head tossing before thinking.  We just go slow and when he can “think”, things seem better.  At least grazing and eating treats with his bit in is not a problem.  Decided not to try cantering today, so left the bridle on for the entire ride.  He did fine.  I hate to think what our winter is going to be like, Tai’s coat is something akin to the Abominable Snowman/Yeti’s.

Which way do you want me to go?

Arrived at Winter Hawk on Friday afternoon, June 19. Woodstock was in the front paddock after the evening feeding. I don’t know all of the lingo yet, so bear with me when I use different language to describe something. I went out and played “I see you, and you see me.” The first time, Woodstock came to me, I scratched him a bit, and we walked away. We did this a couple of times, and then I placed his halter on him. We walked to the water trough and he drank some water before we walked through the gate. Friendly, friendly, friendly, then over to the hitching post for some grooming. We then played with his feet, trying to get him to lift his feet from the same side. Three out of four. We played with his blanket and a new saddle (for him). Elise thinks this saddle fits perfectfully for him.Taking my time with all of this, lots of time cinching the girth.

Off to the round pen. How do I get him to walk his own line, and not crowd me, slowly cutting me off? Where should I walk in relation to him?

At the round pen, we decide to back him in. He seems unsure of this, moving across the gate opening from left to right, right to left. He’ll stand still facing away from the gate, but won’t take more than a couple of steps backwards, before he turns off left or right. Each time I ask him to stop and back up, he gets a little more energized. Each time I ask him to stop, I drop my energy so that he knows its OK, it’s not about the gate. Finally something clicks, for him or me I’m not sure. But we backs up through the gate and we both relax (“Sung” in Tai Chi). I bring him back to me, and we do it again, much easier this time. I then go to him.

I need to use sounds more for encouragement and guidance, and avoid the word “No”.

Inside the round pen, we work on figure eights. We’re both getting better at this. I’m moving less, and giving him time to move the pattern without pressure.  Elise decides we should do it at a trot, then we decide to just do circles at a trot, changing direction whenever he slows down or stops. We changed repeatedly, though none of the changes were at a trot. Next time.

I find I can work more easily with just the 24-foot line, using the end to help guide him. I’ll get the hang of the line and the carrot stick with practice. It’s a lot to maneuver and switch hands when using both.

We then play a bit with his new saddle. Weight, unweight the stirrup, again and again, from his right side. Settle my weight on him facing forward a few times. Then, finally swinging my left leg over, sitting quietly. Then off and that’s it. I sit on the barrel and we just have some quiet time.

Let’s back out of the round pen. He can’t understand me, thinking that I still want him to do circling games whenever I ask him to stop to back up. Finally, Elise figures it out. With him stopped, I ask him to just move his hind quarters to the gate and he backs up. I guess I was jsut asking too much, or not differentiating well.

Back at the barn, off with the saddle. Out to the field, goodbye treats. Off with the bridle, away he runs. He bucks a bit as he runs, which Elise says we’ll work on next time. Probably more down time, and then taking him all the way out to the herd.

Another good day, but they’re all good days. I don’t know enough yet to know otherwise, but it’s fun and I hope he enjoys it as much as I do. Thanks to Elise, Hannah, and Kathy for the day.

Beginnings…

My first post, anywhere. I am relatively new to horses. I have always admired them, and respected them, as I do all living things. I’ve just never had much opportunity to associate with them. Like many of the Peanuts here, my real involvement began at Blue Horse, and then mostly to support Elise because I knew how important horses are to her. But I also wanted to understand their point of view, their needs and desires, their stories. I worked at Blue Horse to support Biah, Elise, and the volunteers. I built barns and did what I could to make the rescued horses more comfortable. And I watched and tried to learn.

Now, I’m at Winter Hawk. There are good people here, people who care for horses. I have been given the opportunity to work with Woodstock. It seems we’re both new to this relationship building thing. Good. Perhaps we are alike in that we make friends slowly. I will try to see everything from his perspective as much as I can. I will go slowly and gently. I will watch, listen, and learn.

On Saturday, June 13, we had our 3rd or 4th session together. We played games. We played with the trailer. I spent a lot of time grooming. Time spent grooming may be new to Woodstock. That’s OK, I’m in no hurry. I will spend as much time as he needs, and it will be good for both of us. I placed a pad and saddle on him, and that too took time. Advance and retreat. Let go of my agenda, but have goals, and expect to have them change. We intended to work on mounting and dismounting, but then the rain came. So, we went inside the barn and spent time. I know that I have a lot to learn, and I know I have a lot to see and discover. My new friends at Winter Hawk, two-legged and four-legged, will help me in my journey. Let’s see what we can do together, Woodstock.