Posts
I'm thinking that I probably will take Billie to Ft. Worth. Somebody gets to win the big bucks, and maybe it will be us. Monday there is a mustang clinic in Marble Falls--might be worth taking her.
We've been traveling around the outside of the pen the last few days. Mostly she is unconcerned about anything but getting to eat grass. This morning I learned that the caliche drive in front of our house bothers her feet. We'll try that again tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, I'm planning to work with Bev again. I'll take Billie over to Switch Willo and see what fun stuff she's been doing next door. Christy should be on hand and can show off Billie's tricks to me!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August 27, 2008
I've spent some time each day since Bev's visit on Monday taking Billie outside the pen. It's no big deal anymore. It helps that I trimmed the tree outside the gate so I do not have to duck anymore.
Christy took Billie over to the stables again today, and tells me that Billie was a Super-Star. They walked and trotted over poles, an X, and a gate. They even put a scary saddle pad across the X and she still went over it!
I'm planning to meet up with them on Sunday and see how it's done!
Christy took Billie over to the stables again today, and tells me that Billie was a Super-Star. They walked and trotted over poles, an X, and a gate. They even put a scary saddle pad across the X and she still went over it!
I'm planning to meet up with them on Sunday and see how it's done!
Monday, August 25, 2008
August 25, 2008
Yes, a very exciting day all around!
This morning when I went out to check on/feed/clean up Billie's pen, I opened the gate between the pens. Usually I leave this open, but we've had a bit of rain and I didn't want the footing to get real yucky, so I'd closed her out of the round pen for a few days. Billie was excited, mainly because in the interim, choice green shoots had made their way to the surface and dotted the round pen. She had a good time making her way around the pen sucking up juicy morsels. The perimeter had some good stuff too, so she stuck her head under the panels trying to get to that.
Yesterday morning I had a little scare. I was standing outside the pen gate, on my way back in. I think I had her feed in hand. Billie stuck her head through the gate panels as she sometimes does (which I hate), but this time when she started to bring her head back in, she had turned it and was stuck! OMG! I let go of the gate, and it swung in with her. She quickly got her head free, and it turned out to be no big deal. Funny, though, that she has not stuck her head through the panel since. Ha! Good lesson. Lucky pony!
So back to this morning...I used the opportunity of Billie being in the round pen to hang her Blocker bolt (for tying). We "chatted" a bit more, and then I went inside the house.
After a bit, I was feeling guilty, thinking that this poor little girl needs a bit of work. I'd neglected working her the last few days since I'd taken Decker to the horse show the past weekend. I headed out of the house, but before I could take two steps out the door, I saw that Billie was entertaining herself! She was running and bucking in the round pen! She'd make a circuit, then run into the small pen and stop. Next, she'd dash back out to the round pen and kick and buck some more. I saw her repeat this 5 or 6 times. What a hoot to see!
After a while more, I decided that I really should work her, so I made my way into the pen with all my "tools"--the bamboo pole and the stock whip. She was up for a bit of fun. I made her walk each direction, turn in toward me, and walk on some more. She was so hard to get going! She a Decker both are so NOT worried about me! Billie kept turning in toward me, licking her lips, as if to let me know that all she wanted to do was to play follow-the-leader. Well, we did that, too.
This evening as I was driving into the driveway, it dawned on me that I really do not have to take Billie to Ft. Worth. I decided last week that I'm going to keep her afterall. Why do I need the stress of Ft. Worth?
I feel like a slacker, though. I've not made up my mind about it!
I talked with Bev this evening, too. And in talking with her, got to face up to some of my worries. And then, of course, had to go act on them! I put my boots on and headed out to the pen one more time. Bev came over, too, which gave me something more to work on when Billie acted scared. We/I handled it! I took it as a training op! Good for me!
Next, Bev moved the junk from in front of the gate, and Billie and I went outside! We lived! Yippee! We had to repeat this a bunch of times, and it got better each time. We had to have "discussions" to go back inside the pen, but, hey, we lived! Billie even got caught up in the hose strewn across that area, and she handled it so well--it was no biggie--I love this horse! Bev helped point out where I needed to be a bit more abrupt in my corrections, and geez does this pony pay attention. It amazes me that the more she has to focus, the calmer she gets. Bev thinks it's because she feels comfortable knowing she can defer the leadership to the handler, and I'd have to agree.
At this point, I told Bev I needed to be able to trot Billie in hand, so we made a stab at this. Truely, Billie had no clue what I was doing--was I inviting to play? Did she need to run away? Did she need to rear? What was I doing? We kind of got the hang of a very ugly in-hand trot. Now I want to get a nice one going, with a nice float in the lead.
To end the evening, I tied Billie to the Blocker bolt. I was SO worried about this! So I looped the rope through, leaving her a little float to her head. She checked it out this way and that. She even tried to turn and pull away. It's amazing to me to be able to watch as she is thinking this through. She'd stand with a bit of pressure, then step up and release the pressure herself. She kept checking it out. After a few minutes, I picked a point so that the next time she stepped up and released her pressure and stood still, I would release her, and I did--end of lesson. Only one time did she pull enough slack that I felt the need to re-set the rope. Of course, next time, she may have more tricks up her sleeve. Next time, I'll let her check it out for a few minutes more.
Big day, huh?
This morning when I went out to check on/feed/clean up Billie's pen, I opened the gate between the pens. Usually I leave this open, but we've had a bit of rain and I didn't want the footing to get real yucky, so I'd closed her out of the round pen for a few days. Billie was excited, mainly because in the interim, choice green shoots had made their way to the surface and dotted the round pen. She had a good time making her way around the pen sucking up juicy morsels. The perimeter had some good stuff too, so she stuck her head under the panels trying to get to that.
Yesterday morning I had a little scare. I was standing outside the pen gate, on my way back in. I think I had her feed in hand. Billie stuck her head through the gate panels as she sometimes does (which I hate), but this time when she started to bring her head back in, she had turned it and was stuck! OMG! I let go of the gate, and it swung in with her. She quickly got her head free, and it turned out to be no big deal. Funny, though, that she has not stuck her head through the panel since. Ha! Good lesson. Lucky pony!
So back to this morning...I used the opportunity of Billie being in the round pen to hang her Blocker bolt (for tying). We "chatted" a bit more, and then I went inside the house.
After a bit, I was feeling guilty, thinking that this poor little girl needs a bit of work. I'd neglected working her the last few days since I'd taken Decker to the horse show the past weekend. I headed out of the house, but before I could take two steps out the door, I saw that Billie was entertaining herself! She was running and bucking in the round pen! She'd make a circuit, then run into the small pen and stop. Next, she'd dash back out to the round pen and kick and buck some more. I saw her repeat this 5 or 6 times. What a hoot to see!
After a while more, I decided that I really should work her, so I made my way into the pen with all my "tools"--the bamboo pole and the stock whip. She was up for a bit of fun. I made her walk each direction, turn in toward me, and walk on some more. She was so hard to get going! She a Decker both are so NOT worried about me! Billie kept turning in toward me, licking her lips, as if to let me know that all she wanted to do was to play follow-the-leader. Well, we did that, too.
This evening as I was driving into the driveway, it dawned on me that I really do not have to take Billie to Ft. Worth. I decided last week that I'm going to keep her afterall. Why do I need the stress of Ft. Worth?
I feel like a slacker, though. I've not made up my mind about it!
I talked with Bev this evening, too. And in talking with her, got to face up to some of my worries. And then, of course, had to go act on them! I put my boots on and headed out to the pen one more time. Bev came over, too, which gave me something more to work on when Billie acted scared. We/I handled it! I took it as a training op! Good for me!
Next, Bev moved the junk from in front of the gate, and Billie and I went outside! We lived! Yippee! We had to repeat this a bunch of times, and it got better each time. We had to have "discussions" to go back inside the pen, but, hey, we lived! Billie even got caught up in the hose strewn across that area, and she handled it so well--it was no biggie--I love this horse! Bev helped point out where I needed to be a bit more abrupt in my corrections, and geez does this pony pay attention. It amazes me that the more she has to focus, the calmer she gets. Bev thinks it's because she feels comfortable knowing she can defer the leadership to the handler, and I'd have to agree.
At this point, I told Bev I needed to be able to trot Billie in hand, so we made a stab at this. Truely, Billie had no clue what I was doing--was I inviting to play? Did she need to run away? Did she need to rear? What was I doing? We kind of got the hang of a very ugly in-hand trot. Now I want to get a nice one going, with a nice float in the lead.
To end the evening, I tied Billie to the Blocker bolt. I was SO worried about this! So I looped the rope through, leaving her a little float to her head. She checked it out this way and that. She even tried to turn and pull away. It's amazing to me to be able to watch as she is thinking this through. She'd stand with a bit of pressure, then step up and release the pressure herself. She kept checking it out. After a few minutes, I picked a point so that the next time she stepped up and released her pressure and stood still, I would release her, and I did--end of lesson. Only one time did she pull enough slack that I felt the need to re-set the rope. Of course, next time, she may have more tricks up her sleeve. Next time, I'll let her check it out for a few minutes more.
Big day, huh?
Friday, August 22, 2008
August 22, 2008
This weekend, I'm at a horse show. I had seriously considered bringing Billie, but have had all sorts of things come up the last three shows which caused me to not be able to go to them, that I decided to focus on MY show and not take the mustang. At this last Summer Circuit show each season, there is a hunter breeding class for yearlings. It's not that I'm really considering Billie for hunters that I was thinking of taking her, it was the experience of getting her away from home. But I've not attempted trailer-loading her or even tying her yet, so opted not to take her.
I got to watch the yearling event today, though. Who knows how she'd have done? And when it started, this giant gust of wind hit and made a lot of the horses bonkers.
This morning, I put a log in the round pen with Billie. I was thinking that each time I looked out at her, she was hanging out on the other side of the pen. Surely she was not afraid of it?! I went out later and had her approach me at that side, then step over the pole, and she was fine. She must have just been sunning herself!
I found out today that for the event, we need these basics: walk in hand, trot in hand, back up, walk over poles, pick up feed, and trailer load. I expect we'll have more than this to demo, but we have most of these down. Next week I'll try trotting in hand in the pen. I'm not sure when we'll try the trailer-loading--hopefully not the day we are trying to leave!
I got to watch the yearling event today, though. Who knows how she'd have done? And when it started, this giant gust of wind hit and made a lot of the horses bonkers.
This morning, I put a log in the round pen with Billie. I was thinking that each time I looked out at her, she was hanging out on the other side of the pen. Surely she was not afraid of it?! I went out later and had her approach me at that side, then step over the pole, and she was fine. She must have just been sunning herself!
I found out today that for the event, we need these basics: walk in hand, trot in hand, back up, walk over poles, pick up feed, and trailer load. I expect we'll have more than this to demo, but we have most of these down. Next week I'll try trotting in hand in the pen. I'm not sure when we'll try the trailer-loading--hopefully not the day we are trying to leave!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
August 21, 2008
These are fun days. Last week, my friend, Christy Schier, started working with Billie. I find Christy unflappable where horses are concerned. My favorite Christy-moment was last spring, when my horse, Ghost, was flipping out in the paddock. He had a terrible head-shaking syndrome going on. Sometimes when he was turned out in the paddock, which is fenced with electric wire, he would touch his nose to the wire, then go running around the pen like banshees were chasing him. Then he'd touch the wire again, and again run around like a lunatic. When he'd start this, I'd bring him in. This particular day, he was really freaking me out, and I could not work up the nerve to halter him. Christy kindly took the halter from me, walked out to the crazy horse, stood there a moment to let Ghost focus, haltered the fool, and then led him down the aisle and he was a calm horse. Wow!
So, I knew she's be up to this task of helping me. Here's what's happened under Christy's watch so far: The first day, after round penning, she took Billie out of the pen and all around it. The next day, she took Billie out of the yard and over to the stables. Bev tells me that Billie had a few hissy fits along the way, but as I expected, Christy handled these outbursts appropriately, and made it a positive outing for my little mustang. This really paves the way for me, and I can't thank Christy enough!
Friday, August 15, 2008
August 15, 2008
Bev came over to help with Billie again. I had stopped round penning so much since I felt like I had somehow de-sensitized her to my presence--he stopping with her butt to me was a clue. Bev helped me clean that up, and I feel like we are back on track with that. It's amazing how the littlest things can convey so much to a horse, especially when you don't even mean to!
I proudly showed off how well Billie leads in the pen, how she sends through the connector gate, how she brings the hind, yada yada. So naturally it was time to open a panel and send her through--just like the gate, right? What's the big deal?
I could not believe how my heart was racing. It was almost making me feel sick. So I took a deep breath. The plan was to send her through a time or two and with both directions. It really went okay. The next step was to lead her outside the pen, turn, and come back in. That was definitely more scary for me, but the mustang seemed okay. When we had to try a few more steps, we were okay circling left with Billie on my right, but it fell apart circling right with Billie on the right.
This showed that we needed work on her yielding her front end, and me letting her yield her front end. We spent the rest of our time chasing that goal, and found a good stopping point with it.
I've spent the last couple of mornings working the yield the front. This morning, I was going to open the end panel and try through the opening again, but Billie twice pushed at me (I think) as if in a hurry to get out, and I hadn't even unhooked the chain. So I changed plans and we worked on her backing, bringing the hind and backing, sending through the gate, and then sending past me. She reached a good and cooperative point, so we stopped.
I'm realizing that when Billie's reacting not the way I want, I need to make a quick check of my cues to her. I still sometimes find myself offering her contradictory things. Focus focus focus! And baby steps!
And I had to remind myself what I figured out a month ago: It's okay for Billie to react to things. It's my job to NOT react when she reacts; be prepared that she is going to react; and welcome the learning going on. Duh! She's a baby and everything is new. She is not nearly as concerned about most of these things as I am, so I need to chill and enjoy the process. I wish I'd had this in mind on Wednesday when Bev was here and we were going through the panels.
I think I need to have someone on hand next time I want to go through the gate so that I do not have to mess with the chain.
And I need to get my Blocker tie put up so that we can have a tying session. I think we are ready for it.
I proudly showed off how well Billie leads in the pen, how she sends through the connector gate, how she brings the hind, yada yada. So naturally it was time to open a panel and send her through--just like the gate, right? What's the big deal?
I could not believe how my heart was racing. It was almost making me feel sick. So I took a deep breath. The plan was to send her through a time or two and with both directions. It really went okay. The next step was to lead her outside the pen, turn, and come back in. That was definitely more scary for me, but the mustang seemed okay. When we had to try a few more steps, we were okay circling left with Billie on my right, but it fell apart circling right with Billie on the right.
This showed that we needed work on her yielding her front end, and me letting her yield her front end. We spent the rest of our time chasing that goal, and found a good stopping point with it.
I've spent the last couple of mornings working the yield the front. This morning, I was going to open the end panel and try through the opening again, but Billie twice pushed at me (I think) as if in a hurry to get out, and I hadn't even unhooked the chain. So I changed plans and we worked on her backing, bringing the hind and backing, sending through the gate, and then sending past me. She reached a good and cooperative point, so we stopped.
I'm realizing that when Billie's reacting not the way I want, I need to make a quick check of my cues to her. I still sometimes find myself offering her contradictory things. Focus focus focus! And baby steps!
And I had to remind myself what I figured out a month ago: It's okay for Billie to react to things. It's my job to NOT react when she reacts; be prepared that she is going to react; and welcome the learning going on. Duh! She's a baby and everything is new. She is not nearly as concerned about most of these things as I am, so I need to chill and enjoy the process. I wish I'd had this in mind on Wednesday when Bev was here and we were going through the panels.
I think I need to have someone on hand next time I want to go through the gate so that I do not have to mess with the chain.
And I need to get my Blocker tie put up so that we can have a tying session. I think we are ready for it.
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