My first experience with desensitizing a horse was the summer when I was 10 years old. I had a 14 hand, round-as-a-barrel, pony named Candy that I rode everywhere. I discovered one day while on a trail ride that Candy spooked if palmetto branches brushed by her head. I decided that the easiest way to cure her of this problem was to harass her with palmettos so often that she wouldn't even notice them anymore. I literally carried one with me for the majority of the summer. I waved it above me. I waved it above her. I dropped it on her head sporadically while we rode. I threw it in front of her. I brushed it over her rump. By the end of the summer I could canter her across a field while shaking a palmetto branch and she wouldn't even flinch. Since then I've considered it good practice to harass horses with a wide variety of objects until they can handle anything you throw at them (literally), calmly. I'm sure at some point there will be posts where I'm annoying Ace with rain coats, tarps, ropes, stuffed animals, pool noodles, or other very obviously dangerous things. But, the annoyance for today (because I think Ace has a bit of a cold and wasn't feeling real well) is a simple lunge whip. As you can see, he showed his true "crazy" colors.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I Sat On Ace!
For the first time since my riding accident last fall, I hopped on Ace!
And by "hopped on" I mean I took approximately 20 minutes to mount.
(This was also the first time Ace has had someone on him since our "incident" in the fall.)
Horses are always worked with on their left side. We as horseman lead, bridle, saddle, and mount from the left side. I've always been a believer that a truly "broke" horse should let you do all of those things from BOTH sides.
So, everything that I do on the left also happens on the right.
As soon as I put my foot in the stirrup, Ace tensed up. I waited for him to relax. I pulled myself up and leaned over his back, keeping both feet on one side of him. He tensed up. I waited for him to relax. I got off and then repeated the whole process on the other side of him. Eventually I was able to swing my leg over him and just sit. He arched hisback up at first, but then gradually relaxed.
However, how he's acting isn't normal. To me it says pain. This is not how a reasonable horse who has been ridden extensively should act. Before I actually ride him, I'm going to have a chiropractor come out to look at him. It wouldn't be fair to him for me to start expecting him to behave if he might be in pain.
On that note though, he is so much better with the bit now! (This is the first time I've gotten to test how he reacts since having his wolf tooth pulled!) He doesn't even raise his head if you tighten the reins on his neck, he doesn't shake his head, he gives very willingly to pressure from both sides- flexing his neck when you ask. I played with him on the ground obviously but I think that was definitely an issue, so I'm glad I found the solution to it.
And by "hopped on" I mean I took approximately 20 minutes to mount.
(This was also the first time Ace has had someone on him since our "incident" in the fall.)
Horses are always worked with on their left side. We as horseman lead, bridle, saddle, and mount from the left side. I've always been a believer that a truly "broke" horse should let you do all of those things from BOTH sides.
So, everything that I do on the left also happens on the right.
As soon as I put my foot in the stirrup, Ace tensed up. I waited for him to relax. I pulled myself up and leaned over his back, keeping both feet on one side of him. He tensed up. I waited for him to relax. I got off and then repeated the whole process on the other side of him. Eventually I was able to swing my leg over him and just sit. He arched hisback up at first, but then gradually relaxed.
However, how he's acting isn't normal. To me it says pain. This is not how a reasonable horse who has been ridden extensively should act. Before I actually ride him, I'm going to have a chiropractor come out to look at him. It wouldn't be fair to him for me to start expecting him to behave if he might be in pain.
On that note though, he is so much better with the bit now! (This is the first time I've gotten to test how he reacts since having his wolf tooth pulled!) He doesn't even raise his head if you tighten the reins on his neck, he doesn't shake his head, he gives very willingly to pressure from both sides- flexing his neck when you ask. I played with him on the ground obviously but I think that was definitely an issue, so I'm glad I found the solution to it.
Friday, March 18, 2011
If You Want To Make A Million Dollars In The Horse Business, Start Out With Five Million.
Just some fun facts for those of you who don't have horses...
The first 12 months worth of Ace:
March, 2010:
Purchase price: $1,250 (I didn't know his history at the time- don't I feel dumb now?)
Pre-purchase Vet Check: $115
Coggins Drawn: $60
Vaccinations: $45
Purchase price: $1,250 (I didn't know his history at the time- don't I feel dumb now?)
Pre-purchase Vet Check: $115
Coggins Drawn: $60
Vaccinations: $45
Hooves trimmed: $25
Dewormer: $20
Dewormer: $20
Safechoice pelleted feed: $36 (2.5 bags per month)
Coastal hay: $54 (9 bales per month)
TOTAL: $1,505
Coastal hay: $54 (9 bales per month)
TOTAL: $1,505
April, 2010:
Safechoice pelleted feed: $36
Coastal hay: $54
TOTAL: $90 (From here on referred to as, "Feed and Hay.")
Safechoice pelleted feed: $36
Coastal hay: $54
TOTAL: $90 (From here on referred to as, "Feed and Hay.")
May, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $135
June, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Feed and Hay: $90
TOTAL: $90
July, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $135
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $135
August, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
TOTAL: $90
TOTAL: $90
September, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
Vet Barn Visit (for his itchy-ness): $40
TOTAL: $175
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
Vet Barn Visit (for his itchy-ness): $40
TOTAL: $175
October, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Teeth floated and tooth extracted: $135
TOTAL: $225
Feed and Hay: $90
Teeth floated and tooth extracted: $135
TOTAL: $225
November, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $135
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $135
December, 2010:
Feed and Hay: $90
Feed and Hay: $90
Extra Hay (because it got cold enough for the grass to die): $25
TOTAL: $115
TOTAL: $115
January, 2011:
Feed and Hay: $90
Extra Hay: $25
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $160
Feed and Hay: $90
Extra Hay: $25
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
TOTAL: $160
February, 2011:
Feed and Hay: $90
Extra Hay: $25
TOTAL: $115
Feed and Hay: $90
Extra Hay: $25
TOTAL: $115
March, 2011:
Feed and Hay: $90
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
Coggins drawn: $60
Vaccinations: $45
Sheath cleaned/beaned (with sedation): $120
Neurological exam: $45
Barn visit for most of the above: $40
TOTAL: $445
Dewormer: $20
Hooves trimmed: $25
Coggins drawn: $60
Vaccinations: $45
Sheath cleaned/beaned (with sedation): $120
Neurological exam: $45
Barn visit for most of the above: $40
TOTAL: $445
Miscellaneous Ace-related things I've had to purchase in the last 12 months:
(First time horse buyers, note that I already had a lot of things that are initially very costly such as saddles, saddle pads, bridles, grooming equipment, etc.,.)
(First time horse buyers, note that I already had a lot of things that are initially very costly such as saddles, saddle pads, bridles, grooming equipment, etc.,.)
-Feed buckets (2): $14
-Salt blocks (2): $16
-O-ring snaffle bit: $26
-Salt blocks (2): $16
-O-ring snaffle bit: $26
-Halter and Lead rope: $22
-Lunge line: $12
-Lunge whip: $10
-Lunge line: $12
-Lunge whip: $10
-Hay bag: $6
-Girth: $29
-Hydrocortisone cream for his itchy-ness (in bulk): $36
-Mane and Tail Shampoo (apprx. 3 bottles): $19
-Hydrocortisone cream for his itchy-ness (in bulk): $36
-Mane and Tail Shampoo (apprx. 3 bottles): $19
TOTAL: $190
TOTAL COST OF YEAR: $3,605
I would like to point out again that this does include the initial purchase price of the horse (and the vet check that comes along with that) and some items that I now have for future use (buckets, lunge line, etc.,.).
However, if you subtract the initial purchasing costs, and everything that I bought and can now keep, the total comes to: $2,105
So, assuming that Ace doesn't have any emergencies in the next year, this is what I can anticipate spending in the next 12 months.
This works out to be:
$175 per month
$40 per week
$40 per week
$6 per day
(This is what a $6 a day face looks like.)Moral of the story? Buying the horse is the cheapest part of owning one.
Let's Talk About Patience.
I know I've mentioned in a previous post how important I thought it was for horses to learn patience. Just as importantly though, is a trainer's ability to have patience.
Yesterday I pulled Ace out of the pasture and lunged him on a line. He did beautifully, trotting in calm circles, reversing and stopping when I asked.
I put a bridle on him (first time with a bit in his mouth since having his teeth floated in the fall!) and lunged him some more. He played with the bit a moment, and then that was that.
He was doing so well, that I saddled him.
When I walked over with the saddle he tensed up, but I waited for him to relax before putting it on him and then he tacked up fine.
He handled the saddle so well, that I was aching to get on him. But, I knew that if I allowed my lack of patience to get the best of me, I could actually go backwards in my training.
When I lifted the saddle stirrups and let them fall to Ace's sides, he lifted his head up, put his ears back, tightened his neck muscles. He was skeptical and tense. Even though he didn't snort, or try to pull away, or flex his back up- he was still not completely relaxed which in my book means "not yet ready for a rider."
I think that when training anything it's easy to get excited when things are going well and push too far, too fast. It's important to remind ourselves that "ending on a good note" sometimes means stopping for the day before we want to.
I didn't get a video of Ace lunging yesterday, but here is one of him lunging last fall.
Yesterday I pulled Ace out of the pasture and lunged him on a line. He did beautifully, trotting in calm circles, reversing and stopping when I asked.
I put a bridle on him (first time with a bit in his mouth since having his teeth floated in the fall!) and lunged him some more. He played with the bit a moment, and then that was that.
He was doing so well, that I saddled him.
When I walked over with the saddle he tensed up, but I waited for him to relax before putting it on him and then he tacked up fine.
He handled the saddle so well, that I was aching to get on him. But, I knew that if I allowed my lack of patience to get the best of me, I could actually go backwards in my training.
When I lifted the saddle stirrups and let them fall to Ace's sides, he lifted his head up, put his ears back, tightened his neck muscles. He was skeptical and tense. Even though he didn't snort, or try to pull away, or flex his back up- he was still not completely relaxed which in my book means "not yet ready for a rider."
I think that when training anything it's easy to get excited when things are going well and push too far, too fast. It's important to remind ourselves that "ending on a good note" sometimes means stopping for the day before we want to.
I didn't get a video of Ace lunging yesterday, but here is one of him lunging last fall.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Taking "Fresh Start" Literally
Step one in the re-training Ace adventure: Start clean!
(Payton the cattle dog supervised the operation.)
I was excited to start playing with Ace again today, but I didn't have much time. He's a mess from being turned out for so long (and from his allergies) so I figured a quick bath would be a good jumping off place for today.
It also allowed us to practice his ground manners, including ground tying. He had gotten great at ground tying before he went on his hiatus, and he remembered it like an old pro! I just dropped the lead rope and he went to sleep on the driveway while I scrubbed him down.
I think if nothing else, he certainly likes the attention. He's a big sweetheart- on the ground. I just have to get him so he keeps that mindset undersaddle.
(Payton the cattle dog supervised the operation.)Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Ace is home!
My boy is finally back with me at school so now the real work begins!
It feels like I should develop some sort of "training plan" for him before I begin.
Do This first, then That, by This time...but I don't think that will work in this case.
Re-training Ace is going to take out-of-the-box thinking.
I still need to try and pin down what causes him to have his freak outs so sporadically, but I also need to improve the foundation of his training. I'm not just fixing a problem, I'm fixing a history of problems.
We also need to re-build our bond. He and I are going to be spending a lot of quality time together on the ground re-strengthening the relationship we have. He is a one person horse and I need to be his person.
Get excited, the blog is about to be updated regularly again!
It feels like I should develop some sort of "training plan" for him before I begin.
Do This first, then That, by This time...but I don't think that will work in this case.
Re-training Ace is going to take out-of-the-box thinking.
I still need to try and pin down what causes him to have his freak outs so sporadically, but I also need to improve the foundation of his training. I'm not just fixing a problem, I'm fixing a history of problems.
We also need to re-build our bond. He and I are going to be spending a lot of quality time together on the ground re-strengthening the relationship we have. He is a one person horse and I need to be his person.
Get excited, the blog is about to be updated regularly again!
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