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Leading Billie is getting easier and she's fooling me that she's a pro at this. I think she kind of enjoys the diversion.
We brought in the panels for the round pen and got it set up outside her pen. I've still got some stuff to move out of the way, but expect to be able to turn her loose inside the round pen by the weekend. I can't wait to see her explore!
My goal for that is to let her run around some, and also to start working her. Clinton Anderson says you should be successful round penning before starting ground work. We'll see. In my personal experience (only two horses), I've not round penned, only done ground work.
Billie's a pretty smart girl. I hope not too smart for me!
After we've had some successes round penning and/or ground working, I'll start setting up some obstacles for us to lead around. Cool, cool, cool! Can't wait!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
July 17, 2008
More good work today and a few more steps toward my goal. She's still worried about the beach towel, but is leading some and seems to enjoy the task. Picked up all her feet today, too, as usual. I was reading in Mary Twelveponies book on colt starting about how you can work to get the young horse to start lifting its foot (so you do not have to pick it up). I think I'll work toward that--should be interesting!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
I feel like we are back on track. I put Billie's halter on her this morning to lead her around. We did some bring the hind and a little leading. When I led her today, I felt comfortable giving her a couple of feet of lead rope. There was the start of her being able to work off and around me, the start of ground work. Yay! Not perfection, mind you, but a start. I can stand off to the side, face her, and lead her by tapping with the whip on her rump and leading with the lead rope with the leading hand. Did I say Yay?! We worked this both directions and even had some whoa working. Double yay! This we can build on.
The difference? Before I went out this morning, I could picture myself standing in the center of her pen and sending her around me, real ground working. That's my goal.
Keeping the whip in hand helps. I can tap her rump to get her moving. Sometimes it takes a few taps before it registers, but she doesn't seem perturbed. I can use the handle end to poke at her to keep her out of my bubble--it works better than my knuckles and is easier on me. Billie does not seem worried about the whip in hand at all, but I do notice that she seems more "at attention" when I carry it--in a good way. I use it as an extension of my hand to direct her; it's working well to make her turn and move. I feel bigger when I have the whip in hand; Bev knows what I mean.
The difference? Before I went out this morning, I could picture myself standing in the center of her pen and sending her around me, real ground working. That's my goal.
Keeping the whip in hand helps. I can tap her rump to get her moving. Sometimes it takes a few taps before it registers, but she doesn't seem perturbed. I can use the handle end to poke at her to keep her out of my bubble--it works better than my knuckles and is easier on me. Billie does not seem worried about the whip in hand at all, but I do notice that she seems more "at attention" when I carry it--in a good way. I use it as an extension of my hand to direct her; it's working well to make her turn and move. I feel bigger when I have the whip in hand; Bev knows what I mean.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
July 15, 2008
Sometimes it seems that Billie knows exactly what I want. Today I was leading her around the pen. We turned left, we turned right. Then she'd lean into me and I'd have to elbow her away. Not sure if I'm causing that, or if she's being pushy. She'll go back to being led, and then we repeat the cycle. I guess this is just part of her figuring it out. I love it when she licks her lips, though. It makes me think I'm getting somewhere good.
I'm finding the beach towel all over the pen. I hope this means she's actually pulling it around and hope I get to see that soon. When I pick up the towel to hang it back up, she still gives it the hairy eyeball, so I'm not so sure how the towel is moving around. She might just be pulling my leg.
I'm finding the beach towel all over the pen. I hope this means she's actually pulling it around and hope I get to see that soon. When I pick up the towel to hang it back up, she still gives it the hairy eyeball, so I'm not so sure how the towel is moving around. She might just be pulling my leg.
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 14, 2008
Going into the pen with the whip in hand seems to keep Billie from being so pushy. And it comes in handy to direct her. I put the halter and lead on her again today and worked on leading a bit. She's still trying to tell me she has no idea what I'm asking, but I think she's fibbing! It's getting better, and I feel sure that when the additional panels get here and we can make a bigger pen, it will all come together.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
July 12, 2008
Progress today. I worked the girlie today, putting the halter on her and using the long rope and swinging it over her back. She was fine as usual, which is bothersome--she's fooling me. I also flexed her head each way toward her middle. At some point the little imp bit my arm--she definitely thinks she's a teenager and wants to be boss.
After a bit, I went out of the pen and decided to toss the rope over her back while I was out of range. She didn't really care for it (too bad) and so I decided that this was our de-sensitizing project for the day. ; ) I kept following her around the pen (she on the inside, me on the outside) and tossed that rope over her body again and again. Some of the time she thought she could get away by going inside her shelter; no such luck for her! I imagine anybody watching would have thought I had lost my mind and was torturing her. But I knew that when she stopped traveling around the pen and just stood for me to toss that rope over her back, I'd have progress and could stop. It took a good while, close to 30 minutes, but she finally gave up and stood for the rope.
I went out again this evening and repeated the whole thing. Charles added to it by coming out and standing at the rail. Billie thought she would find a rescuer in him, but no. I followed her around for about 5 minutes before she decided to stay in place. At that point, I put down her grain and started up again. It took just a minute or so for her to stand still (yes, she was eating) and let the rope pass over her again and again. After a couple of "standing still" and not caring times, I quit for the day. I'm pleased.
After a bit, I went out of the pen and decided to toss the rope over her back while I was out of range. She didn't really care for it (too bad) and so I decided that this was our de-sensitizing project for the day. ; ) I kept following her around the pen (she on the inside, me on the outside) and tossed that rope over her body again and again. Some of the time she thought she could get away by going inside her shelter; no such luck for her! I imagine anybody watching would have thought I had lost my mind and was torturing her. But I knew that when she stopped traveling around the pen and just stood for me to toss that rope over her back, I'd have progress and could stop. It took a good while, close to 30 minutes, but she finally gave up and stood for the rope.
I went out again this evening and repeated the whole thing. Charles added to it by coming out and standing at the rail. Billie thought she would find a rescuer in him, but no. I followed her around for about 5 minutes before she decided to stay in place. At that point, I put down her grain and started up again. It took just a minute or so for her to stand still (yes, she was eating) and let the rope pass over her again and again. After a couple of "standing still" and not caring times, I quit for the day. I'm pleased.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
July 10, 2008
This morning, I worked on flexing Billie. I put her halter on, added the long lead rope, and then grabbed the halter and used that to make her flex through the poll to each side.
I started back with this basic so that I can perhaps get back to using the rope to make her spin back on herself.
I think that I've hit a wall of sorts. It's not really a wall, but look at it this way: That first month I had Billie were phenomenal. I was quickly able to pet her, then brush her, then pick up her feet, start leading her around the pen...I think I expected everything to move as quickly. She was amazing me every day.
She still amazes me. But I want progress, and I want it now! I want to be able to walk her around outside the pen, and it really surprised me at how much her being keyed up surprised me and worrried me. I've been asking everyone I know what to do next, what to do next, like there is some magic formula and I've skipped some step and am trying to get back on track.
After talking to a friend today, I realized something. She's a horse, she's a baby, she's wild, and OF COURSE she is going to be worried about things, startle at things, get keyed up about things. That's just to be expected. MY job is to understand and expect these reactions and take them in stride. It's no big deal. I'm not the reason she's reacting; she's just reacting as any normal horse exposed to something new, scary, strange, etc., will react.
I've wondered at the calm that I see in the horse trainers on the videos I watch. Of course they are calm--they've seen this a million times before; it's expected; it's normal. I've been beating myself up for my reaction, but really, that's normal, too.
What I have to do better is to think through more than just my plan for what I want to try with Billie on any given day. I need to realize and predict that, yes, she will likely react strongly when I introduce anything new. I need to be ready for that reaction, expect that reaction, and when it happens, know that it is a normal thing for any horse to react this way to this new thing, and that it, too, will pass. I can keep myself out of the way and safe, and keep Billie safe, with my prep. So what if I've not had to handle it a million times already and not had to chance to become de-sensitized to her reaction? I'm the one walking on two legs, so I'm smart enough to fake it; fake calm; fake that I know what I'm doing; fake that I was expecting exactly that reaction because it has happened that way so many times before. And if I'm a good enough faker, maybe Billie will realize there is nothing to be reacting to, and we'll be back on track and moving right along.
I got lucky and lulled into a sense of how easy my mustang was going to be to halter break based on how easy this all started out. I think the mustang I have now is more like what I had expected before I brought Billie home. It will all work out. I have a better plan now.
I started back with this basic so that I can perhaps get back to using the rope to make her spin back on herself.
I think that I've hit a wall of sorts. It's not really a wall, but look at it this way: That first month I had Billie were phenomenal. I was quickly able to pet her, then brush her, then pick up her feet, start leading her around the pen...I think I expected everything to move as quickly. She was amazing me every day.
She still amazes me. But I want progress, and I want it now! I want to be able to walk her around outside the pen, and it really surprised me at how much her being keyed up surprised me and worrried me. I've been asking everyone I know what to do next, what to do next, like there is some magic formula and I've skipped some step and am trying to get back on track.
After talking to a friend today, I realized something. She's a horse, she's a baby, she's wild, and OF COURSE she is going to be worried about things, startle at things, get keyed up about things. That's just to be expected. MY job is to understand and expect these reactions and take them in stride. It's no big deal. I'm not the reason she's reacting; she's just reacting as any normal horse exposed to something new, scary, strange, etc., will react.
I've wondered at the calm that I see in the horse trainers on the videos I watch. Of course they are calm--they've seen this a million times before; it's expected; it's normal. I've been beating myself up for my reaction, but really, that's normal, too.
What I have to do better is to think through more than just my plan for what I want to try with Billie on any given day. I need to realize and predict that, yes, she will likely react strongly when I introduce anything new. I need to be ready for that reaction, expect that reaction, and when it happens, know that it is a normal thing for any horse to react this way to this new thing, and that it, too, will pass. I can keep myself out of the way and safe, and keep Billie safe, with my prep. So what if I've not had to handle it a million times already and not had to chance to become de-sensitized to her reaction? I'm the one walking on two legs, so I'm smart enough to fake it; fake calm; fake that I know what I'm doing; fake that I was expecting exactly that reaction because it has happened that way so many times before. And if I'm a good enough faker, maybe Billie will realize there is nothing to be reacting to, and we'll be back on track and moving right along.
I got lucky and lulled into a sense of how easy my mustang was going to be to halter break based on how easy this all started out. I think the mustang I have now is more like what I had expected before I brought Billie home. It will all work out. I have a better plan now.
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