Blazing Flipiphanies

There IS something about horses, further down, I just had this blather thing going.. I keep deleting a lot, so, jeeesh, I gotta try to not type so much.

Does anybody else cry when they watch the ending to the movie "The Full Monty"? No? Must be me.

Dog Talk...
Have you guys been wondering about my girls? They're ferociously tugging on a helpless frisbee as I type. Flip rumbles loudly with her fiercest growling thunders from the depths of her deep, fearsome killer chest. Blaze, very quietly, grumbles that it's her danged frisbee anyway. Flip loves to rub Blaze's secondary status into her nose.

Blaze outweighs Flip by about 8 pounds, and has inches to spare, both height & paw and ear wise. But Flip is "wilder", and of course, older, and of course, "first" dog.

Blaze FinallY did a predator "straight-UP-Dive Down" jump, after a creature in the snow. Then she moved on. No big deal to her. I howled with laughter, and praised her happily, but, meh, she moved on. Blaze is three years and 2 months old. She will probably never be truly "wild", like her half-sister. I love the freeze, the ears zooming in on the tiny sounds of rodents scratching, the Pounce! Blaze does one pounce per three years, it seems:) Her first pounce was at earthworms, her first spring. Yeah, predator fail.

Blaze doesn't even Like mud. Flip is always enthused by dirt.

Flip will stay in that "seek the creature" zone, seeking/digging, until I call her off, or she decides she's missed. Flip is a "wild" dog. Gotta do what ya gotta Do. When Flip has seeking behaviour switched on, she's in her own little world, a magical kingdom that is all smells and sounds and senses, searching. For some reason, I'm NOT in that world;) (Until I say the right word.)
Flip lives/loves to seek/pounce.

Darned squirrels. The word makes Blaze crayZEE. I mean CraYwithAcapitalZEDeeeeeeee. Chipmunk, geese and rabbit are also just words continuing to electrify Blaze ears, and fire up her paws.

Blaze will gallivant around me, on about a 60' circle, chuckling away as I ask her if she's crazy. She gallops her laps earnestly, ears flailing away in the wind.
Legs a la Pluto Akimbo.

It's a really handy behaviour for when our hour walk just isn't enough for Blaze. She's a leftie, as far as spinning direction. Like me:)

Blaze is alertly awaiting/thinking work, until she falls asleep. Flip comes inside to eat and sleep, and wrestle with her sister, and play matriarch. Mostly she eats and sleeps. Hah, having typed that, Flip is wrestling sister again.

Outdoors, as Blaze and I play, Flip is off killing the BigRedJollyBall, her favourite, the most challenging. Flip likes to become oblivious to anything but the OnE thing she's working on.

Coyote Tangent..
Pretty sure the coyotes shredded MediumBlueJollyBall's handle into a lovely big blue circle, out the back 40, this past fall. They must have been well-fed/bored, to play with something so useless:) Either that, or the one that watched us playing last summer from across the pond got the idea. Coyotes live to Seek, too.

Here's a picture of Flip and BigBlueJollyBall, the first winter we had her.

Flip likes to squash Jollies, with her chest. Big fan of flattening, is Flip:) She counts/hoards her toys this way. She'll end up lying on top of a FrisBee, several stuffies, and a nylabone. Maybe she was a laying hen in a past life;)

Same winter..
Flip diggin' some mice or moles or other hapless rodent:)


Temple Grandin's new book is giving me triple-flip epiphanies when it comes to understanding my behaviour quandaries. She's noticed so many of the same things as me, and I'm only just into the chapter about horses. Her dog chapter was a great summation of the basics we've figured out so far. She liked "Merle's Door", too.

Fascinating, so true, paring their/OUR behaviour down like that. Fear is making clearer sense to me.

OH, this was funny. Kid sister's Millie-dog is our family's canine matriarch, and a deity of GREAT respect accorded by puppy Blaze. Ol' Millie takes no shite from no puppies. Anyway, Millie-Dillie had the frisbee, Blaze wanted the frisbee. No way in the WORLD would Blaze even dream of playing tug with Millie. Millie was totally game for it. OMG, No. Blaze's face was just scandalized that we'd even suggest it!

Blaze has slowly, cautiously learned to play tug with Flip, and Blaze gets a shivery thing going with her mouth, not panting, just, ohohohohohOH. OHverExcitement. Scorpios ThrivE on it;)

Horse Epiphany, out of the Blue
OH, and I recently realized another thing. It's pretty simple. I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned before. I'm positive it has, SOMEwhere. I am most certainly not that unique. I might even be wrong:)
If you look at your position, on the horse, and you can imagine holding that exact same position, on the ground, would you fall over i.e. lose your balance? If your answer is yes, you can hold that position...
THAT's balance.

That's what Christilot Boylen's nasty leg exercise helps the most with.

Keep yourself, balanced over yourself.
Horses are a coiled spring of energy. So are you.
(are not)
Are TOO!

This picture, from the stone ages, clearly shows that I was bloody lucky to survive my early years over fences, with my neck in one piece. That's what first mare taught me too. Keep your leg underneath you. NOT like this...


Compare to this picture, seventeen years later. If you pick me up, and put me on the ground, I will not lose my balance.


Temple Grandin Epiphany One.
Seeking is even more fun than finding.. It's so obvious, isn't it?
Give an animal a purpose, a goal. They seek. As do we.

Seeking can be an antidote for fear. Begin seeking peppermints, HP's Top did. Exactly.

Whoah, choking on the Yoda pill, and out...

Christmas Presence

If you can guess where this duck picture was taken, you will win a FABUlous picture of me 'n Tad Plaid. Why I thought my Dad would want a framed picture of me and my horse is unknown, but he gently, eventually, told me to take it home. I already have one. Jeeeeesh, Mom would have taken one! That's the trouble with Dad's, they really don't want more stuff. Especially horsey stuff. Humph. If it was a golf-ball holder.. Or some form of sport crap...

It is a great old shot of an amateur with her mouth open:)

It would be fun to ask for a critique on COTH, but hey, they have enough to do. And of course, it wouldn't sting me in the slightest, which is entirely the point, it seems. I always critiqued myself. It was fun.

I'll donate this pic to the first right answer. You can then sell the frame or something, and burn the picture. Sacrifice it to the pro-snark deities. Or whatever. So, the big question IS, Where are those ducks???

My Christmas Grove of Stick Tree and Rosemary Tree.
Isn't it lovely? Dontcha think Martha will be calling soon? Yeah, me neither.


Notice the "Barbie" Card, above Centered Riding. snerkle... It's a new decoration this year! You wouldn't believe how long it took me to do this Christmas extravaganza. I am totally exhausted. Send money, I feel a bout of Vincent Van Gogh-lia coming on:)
Sorry, inside joke, if you read anywhere else, you'll know there are horrors to be seen. Overandoverandover. STOP looking, fcs. Ooops. Sorry.

Today is my day to say this. Good day to die, grasshoppah.

Since I discovered the horsey internet, last year, I've been seeking the answer to a lifelong wondering. Why is "BarnBitch Syndrome" considered normal? It's the biggest problem facing horses today. Ask any of my terrified readers. How easy is it to ask a question, and not sound stupid? Why do you think questions are NOT asked? I'm tired of it, and I'm still on the side of civilized discourse, horsey wise:)

I'll tell you a mercifully brief story, which will help you understand why I've been wondering this for a long time. I started riding when I was 11. I wanted to from about the age of 1 and a half, when Butch rollcured/galloped into my life. Silly parents. Plant a seed. It's bound to grow.

Anyway, I started riding at a boarding/schooling barn, good old First/Worst, and was um, less mature and way more naive than the other girls. Most were at least 14 to 18. I looked like a dang stick until I was 38, but that's another story. The oldest "girl" was about 20. Top rider on the property, rode all of F/W guy's show/sale-horses. We'll call her AngelinaJolie, because she was that gorgeous, that felinely beautiful. Her "friends/cohorts/fellow riders" seemed to delight in snickering about her emotionalisms.

I didn't really understand what they were talking about, but sleeping pills before horse shows was gossiped about, and substituting "Smarties" was my idea, during one particularly merciless roasting, which AngelinaJ. just happened to walk in on. I hero-worshiped AJ. She rode like a master. The look on her face as the tackroom went silent made my heart shiver. See, I really started hating snarking right then and there, when I was 11. I was so ashamed. Why, just why?

I started teaching pretty young, at age 14. One of the things I quickly learned, was "you cannot laugh at your students". I mean, it seems obvious, doesn't it? I've never found beginnerdom funny. I guess I always felt too close to that outlook. I always wanted to know more. Still do.

If you can't say something nice about someone else and/or their horse, say something knowledgeable, politely, or say nothing at all. Unless of course, it's time to call the police or something. Or you're watching someone reefing the snot out of a horse's mouth, for no good reason. then, please, say something. Try to use your power voice. Try. But be careful out there!

Here's an old post of mine that still makes me cry. Weird old broad I am. I guess some find that scary;) Sorry. LessonsWithGoLightly

Merry Christmas to all, and to snark, Good night.

Fit For Riding

Butch STILL hasn't finished his new book yet:) He's been all distracted since I showed him Dena's Micah's Daisy. I've tried to explain, rollers can't do rockers, but nope. Dumb oldblood.
I am totally avoiding decorating my rock.


snicker.. Which one is Loopy?


The Tree of Sticks:)
This is one of the keepers, over many years now of "erm, thanks!" gifts from in-laws. Darn thing will not quit. Who Knew you could keep re-using your Christmas Tree? Unadorned here, of course, just some afterthought-where-do-I-put-this everyday stuff:) Cardinals are my favourite bird, we have conversations in the summer time. They play a big part in my feeble attempts at "decor".

Okay, Fit, for riding?
Or, how not to have a fit.
Reasons you give yourself fits.
Because you are not "that" fit. You are slightly crooked in your body design. You have round, not long narrow, thighs. None of that matters, today, on this horse.

You can't lose the fear that can haunt you, if you don't learn how to lose it while you're up there. Muscles remember fear, just as they remember a knee-jerk reaction. You help your body re-learn to relax and Let Go, on the *grope* (explanation forthcoming). Then your horse starts to Go, too.

The best way to allow yourself to follow any horse's movement, independent of your hands, is on the longe line. With a sympathetic groper. I mean lunger person. See, Longer is wrong:)
Now, the longe line can also be spelled the lunge line. It's odd, but it's true.
I theorize that the words "long rope" were contracted to "longe".

"Grope" didn't have quite the same ring to it. But it works, in an evil way, too. You can "grope" a little with your hips, like a blind person searching for the next solid object. When you're on the longe, you can disconnect your two halves of your body, and allow the top half to simply follow the bottom half.. What the heck else can it do, anyway?;)

Tack GoLightly up, will ya? Saddle first, of course. (Amazes me how many riders will put the bridle on first.) Look how he wiggles his nose at the bit, seeking it, opening his mouth, helping you out. I love a horse that looks forward to it's job.

Now, let's get goin'!

You know that scene in "The Black Stallion" where they are galloping on the beach? Kid puts his arms in the air and just allows the go to happen. Bliss occurs. Above your hips is suddenly weightless, because you have no weight to be afraid of, in your hands.
People spend too much time, while they're on, thinking about what should be happening, what has happened, what will happen.

Why not let it happen? That's what the long rope is all about.

You can experiment with the different balances your body achieves, in three different positions. The dreaded two-point, the normal-vertical seat, and the "behind the motion" seat or driving seat. And you'll often discover these different positions by the horse's own reactions to your changing angles and weight shifts. The goal is to ride the horse with as little discomfort as possible. To You, too.

The horse over time,learns to make the adjustments necessary to relieve whatever discomfort his rider or his management applies to him, sometimes knowingly, often not. Same goes for the rider, it's a two-way street.

I guess I'm trying to say that if the horse is bouncing your kidneys out, don't automatically blame yourself:)

All of this while I stand on the end of the long rope, and with the help of my SchoolMaster, GoLightly, using loosely fitted, perfectly even side-reins, I'll be able to show you tiny flexions, AND straightening. How YoU sit, when the horse is in these positions. You see, long roping doesn't even have to be done on a constant circle. It is easier on your equilibrium to think of riding boxes instead of circles. (stops the dizzies)

Isn't it wonderful to just let him Go. Keep your stirrups for now, let's warm him up a little. Trot on, close your eyes if you like, imagine which way you want to go! I'd recommend forward and straight, to start. You don't bend into a pretzel when you turn a corner, neither does your horse. I'll follow your lead, and just allow the horse to go forward. (My lead?? You're thinking. Well, who's riding the horse?) I let you do whatever is comfortable. We use the end of an arena, or the corner of a paddock, with clearly marked boundaries. You feel utterly safe.

Relax... Getting behind him a bit? Big trot, huh. Take your inside hand and grab the pommel of the saddle with a finger or two, and pull your "fork" forward, while stretching down low and long with your legs. Allow the horse's turning to square your shoulders to his. You mirror the horse.

Yes. Feel that? Hang on, his trot stride is humungous. Let's walk, catch your breath. yeah. He's one hell of a horse, this big bay GoLightly horse.

(I couldn't keep the groping joke going, this IS G-Rated, I think. Ya never know with horse blogs:)

I was chuckling to myself, about an old schoolie of HSE's called Red Cloud. Tall bay blanket Appy. Narrow as a rail, choppier strided than a square-wheeled car. He really was reserved for the advanced riders, as he'd have turned ANYone off of riding, in the first five minutes of his trot.

ow, ow, OW. Horses are PAINful. First Timer thinks "To heck with this! Riders must be freakin' masochists!"

Red Cloud was a good jumper, and well-broke. He just bounced beginners right off, over the side as it were. Nothing malicious, he was HARD to sit properly, and man, it wasn't that pleasant anyway. There's a reason we sculptured their bodies to make them more comfortable. Our backs.

Red Cloud has retired:) Jumping was pretty hard on Red Cloud, given his conformation. His high neck attachment gave him an extra jolt of talent for over fences work, though. He was fun to ride, and two-point was your friend:)

Now, I can hear you thinking "But, shouldn't I be able to sit any & ALL horses movement comfortably?"
Strike off the "comfortably", and I can agree. Depending on your own physical limitations, be they self-inflicted falls or whatever, or age, or knees giving out etc., some horse types can be extremely hard on your returning to riding body, after however long a hiatus.

Not necessarily because of huge movement, but because of the horse's own "way of going". It's unique, to each and every horse alive. It's how the two of you can manage to fit together, that matters.

I think Red-Cloud learned how to rid himself of beginners. Just the right ooomph...

Don't forget the exercises! Do extra, whenever you can, that increases your balance, and/or symmetry. It's a life long thing, the striving for balance and strength.

Okay, if I don't start to decorate now, I NeveR will.

Thanks for being there!

Okay, this time, let's try it without your stirrups.

Anthropopreposterocious!TwoToo

And a few more shots of my old first mare. Just for fun, and posterosity:)
(Posterity, if any spelling police are lurking...)

I was totally clueless about a heck of a lot of things, like fashion sense. Those are indeed, canary-yellow breeches. Oh, yeah. How do ya like my Moccasin Boots? Hey, it's 1969, I am groooovy. I was clueless, but I knew enough to turn out my mare before I worked with her. Round pens weren't even invented yet;) I'm just playing with her, chasing her around like the predator I am. She's having a blast. Cute fat pony in the background, huh?

She was a lovely mare, wasn't she. I wish I had more pictures of her. Not a one over fences. She wasn't particularly scopey, but she always pinned well in the hacks. I wish I'd appreciated her more. Her height rankled me. I kept jammin' ZEV down her, hoping she'd at least stick 15.3, but nope. Her genetics decreed 15.2 and a half, and that was IT.




Anthropopreposterocious!
I have a fourth meaning, which hopefully will be clearer than my third meaning.

The biggest mistakes we make as animal handlers usually/always stems from a lack of anthropomorphism, in reverse. Or, animopomorphism, where we assume our reactions are shared by our animals, in every instance. Hey, if nothing else, this post may be helpful at Scrabble games.
So, I find it anthropopreposterocious that many humans insist on denying their own anthropomorphistic tendencies. There is nothing wrong with ascribing "human" emotions to animals. Just make sure you correctly ascertain which emotion you're seeing in the animal.

Truly Bizarro Movie, from 1967..
Hah, half watching a 1967 movie "Reflections in a Golden Eye". Marlon Brando, Liz Taylor and Brian Keith?? On a military base, horse farm too. Half watching it for the horses. Looks like Liz is riding an Andalusian. Brian Keith isn't a terrible rider! They go flying over steeplechase type fences, and nobody falls off!

Marlon plays a repressed homosexual General or something. Both he and his movie wife Liz are hot for this Strange Sombre Soldier Stable Boy. SSSSB is admired as a horse whisperer, and has an odd propensity for going hacking in the nude, and hiding in Liz's room and smelling her clothing, while she sleeps. Liz is having an affair with Brian Keith.. Marlon is a terrible rider, no acting required.

WEIRD, strangely funny movie... OMG, there's Julie Harris, playing Brian Keith's cheated wife.. Lots of ominous music. Cast of frickin' thousands. John Huston directed. Not one of his finer moments..

Good GRIEF! Marlon Brando rides (badly), and then beats the living snot out of Liz Taylor's special Andalusian horse!! Liz Taylor thrashes Marlon on the head with her riding crop! Marlon shoots/kills (in Liz's bedroom) the mysterious SSSSB peeping-tom/panty-sniffer buck-nekkid-riding soldier groom guy horse whisperer!! The final scene is three jerked camera shots, repeated over and over. One, of Marlon, his face contorted with killing rage. One of Liz, doing her best "ScrEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM!". One of the dead SSSSB. The dead guy totally steals the scene.

JEESH! Now THAT is Drama, folks, with a capital MA. Whatever John Huston was smoking, it just wasn't a good thing.

Looks like there was some pretty screwed up morals going on that year. That explains so much, doesn't it?? 1967. Bad year to be foaled out, so many crazy changes in the world were going on. Good changes, some of them, don't get me wrong. I'm talkin' purely from the broodmare's stress point of view;)
Makes me nervous, just thinking about it:)

Only a very few, very special people turned out right, like Fern Valley. And of course, any of my other precious few readers born that very odd year. 1967. Feelin' grooovy...

OH, I'm reading TempleGrandin's book, "Animals Make Us Human". My neck's hurting from nodding agreement at so much of what she's saying.
Fascinating woman, she is. We are animals, deep down. Deep down, is where we're trying to get at, when we work with them. Oh, crap, never mind. I have to keep reading:)

I'll be back before Christmas, (I know you're anxiously awaiting my dried-up stick tree picture) but if I miss you, have a merry, safe, warm, well-fed Christmas.

To Good Horses, at any time of year!

Okay, and to bad Movies, well worth the sociological study. We can learn a lot from past mistakes. We CAN. Doesn't mean we will:)