Letter to GoLightly
My mom told me to contact you about some horse questions I have. I am working with mom's horse and was wondering what tack changes I should make with her.
1) She has a very bad habit of biting on her bit. I am riding her in an English Snaffle. I've made sure that it not too high or loose but she still bites the bit. Her teeth do not need to be floated so I'm not sure if she needs something to play with (roller) or if this is maybe just her way of going. I am very light handed so I do not think that that is the problem.
2) She throws her head up in the air. I was going to put a martingale on her but was wondering if I should use a standing or running. I have only really used standing and am not sure what the difference is.I am not trying to make her some show horse cause she never will be but I am trying to get some good flat work on her to maybe do some very low level eventing in the future. Its been a while since I've been in the horse game so I need a refresher course on some things. Thanks for helping me with this one! Thanks for your time!
I'm not quite sure what you mean, biting the bit. Do you mean she's grinding her teeth a lot, or she "chomps" it, or what? What are you doing with her when she does this? Is she flipping her head as she "bites" the bit? Can she ride with just the halter, as in will she turn/stop? How do you start your ride with her?
Does she flip her head, with no contact from your hands? How many questions is that?? sheeesh, I've lost count:)
oops, dinner bell. Let me know, and we'll think on it.
Thanks for your quick reply. Mare chomps on the bit as soon as it goes in her mouth. From what mom told me (after I sent my first email) was that she has always done this. The owner before used a grazing bit on her. I first thought that it was the placement but have moved the bit to give her more than enough room for that. Still no changes. I have use let her stand to trying to ride her. I have not ridden her with a halter because she is a little barn sour and tries to go home as soon as I take her away from where she wants to be. We have been working on this and she is getting better.
Honestly I haven't been able to ride her as much due to the weather. The only riding I have done with her is just trails through our paddocks to get her over the barn sour issue. I'm taking baby steps. This horse already doesn't like me cause she doesn't get away with the shit she does to mom, don't want her to hate me! The head flipping thing is something she does mostly when she is mad, oh wait thats all the time. But she does hold her head a little high to being with so when she starts flipping it it starts to get a little dangerous. I.e her head hits my head, I fall off she goes back to barn, only one happy here is her. Of course this hasn't happened yet but I also haven't post yet. Wow this is a long email thanks again for all your help.
Okay, Now it's GoLightly again, italics hurt my eyes.
Well, I was stumped by the term grazing bit. I have no idea what that is, how much do I know?? Why would you want them grazing... duh.
I think this mare you've started working with (I know a tiny bit of her history, from your mom) is terribly opinionated. That's point number one. Point number two, she was "broke" by someone who only expected that she go where he pointed her. He might have been terribly rough on her mouth, we just don't know, right? Her flipping could be one of several billion things, most of them tied up in her head and neck.
It could be neurological, like a tic. I knew a few horses that developed this syndrome, as it is now called. I'd suggest searching "shaking head syndrome" in (I think it was) Practical Horseman. An old injury can leave this type of behaviour in it's wake. The less you react to it, the better, though.
I wouldn't recommend using anything other than a standing, adjusted loosely, if you're worried about your nose. Loose means she can still be very comfortable, and high-headed, because that's who she is. I think with this mare, just riding her out on trails if you can, before you do any other "fussing", will get her in a better frame of mind. I wouldn't start trying to do anything with her head, until she's fitter.
I wouldn't worry about ring "work" with this mare, for quite a while, until she's relaxed and trusting you. If she's barn-bound, she may need your mom on the ground with some encouragement, in the form of a longe-whip (if necessary) to help her change her mind.
Try not to do too much too quick, on any one day. You sound like you know what you're doing, just be patient:) (It doesn't seem to run in your family..)
<")
Build slowly, as she's been a pasture queen-beeetch for awhile. Mares can be the toughest nuts to crack.
Fair?
Oh, and sorry, could you explain this sentence, letter writer?
"I have use let her stand to trying to ride her."
I'm hoping others with strong opinions will pipe up and suggest stuff too.
It could also be her own impatience with people in general. Mares often just want to get stuff over with, so they can get back to their hay and buddies.
Thanks for writing, tell your mom I said hi!
50 comments:
There are some horses who have sensitive palates and thick tongues. Mylar makes a 'level one comfort snaffle' that will not form a teepee in the horse's mouth. If the mare was trained in a shanked snaffle she may fear the breaking action of the snaffle across her tongue.
Did I gloat about being first?! Nah, not meeeee!
Oh, and before I started to ride her I would take at least a few days to teach her to lunge properly at home, in full tack, and then lead her out to eat a few bites of grain or a treat. Return home and repeat...then begin to lunge her away from the barn, always ending the session with work at home.
A lot of barn sour horses do not understand that they're getting their mouth yanked because they are misbehaving, they think that their mouth gets yanked because they are leaving home! Also, leaving home represents work. If you change their routine to 'being at home is work, trails are easy,' they soon get it.
A grazing bit is , as far as I know a low port curb . If the mare is doing what I think she is doing ,I wouldn't fuss a whole lot about the chomping ,as she gets more comfortable with the contact that might ease ,the head tossing on the other hand ... I will wait and see what the pro's say
The chomping isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's only a problem if it interferes with contact. Depending on how bad the chomping is, it could be a sign of anticipation anxiety. This explanation might also explain the head tossing. Some horses that are ridden with heavy contact and/or a harsh bit develop these problems when put back on a soft bit and light contact. There's no problem with the bit but they are worried that there might be pain.
Did you get a vet check of the mouth and head? There could be a secondary cause of pain. Once this is ruled out you might try lowering the bit on a little. Sometimes areas of gums can develop as sore area.
After the above start back at the beginning to reintroduce the horse to the bit. Start lunge training. This should give you an understand of were the problem began and what stimulates the problem.
Definitely use a standing martingale, not a running. As far as adjusting the neck strap, after you have attached the end to the noseband, you should be able to bring the neck strap up so that it pretty much follows the underside curve of her neck, but not quite touching. I hope that makes sense.
I believe I still have a Mylar level one bit, if you want to try it out, I will ship it to you. Mylars aren't cheap bits.
I have a very opinionated mare as well. I think it is good advice to take it slow and not try to force anything on her, you could end up with a total mess. It should help with the nicer weather coming, you will be able to ride alot more.
Just another thougt .check the size of the bit .if the mouthprice isthinner. More pressure is exerted thicker means less.add to that not all horses are create rwal and like the saddle fits each back differently so can the bit . If it is dutyign oddly in her mouth that could cause the chomping as well as the head tossing
Also check where the bit joins the rings. Some bits can pinch the corners of the mouth, and some horses have a narrow lower jaw that tents the snaffle, plus make sure the snaffle rings in the center are not pinching her tongue or bruising her palate. It sounds like a long standing problem though, and the evasion may be habit. Is the bit d ring or round ring?
GL- a grazing bit is as FV described. A shanked curb with a low port. She gets the points for the answer there.
Check for pain first in all areas. Saddle fit included. Horses with sore backs, don't always necessarily limit things to just bucking.
Have the vet check her mouth and teeth. Check the bit width. Check the bridle adjustment. If she is literally chomping at the bit, she may need to relearn how to pick it up and hold it comfortably on her own. Put the bridle on her over the halter, drop the bit one hole to where she has to pick it up and hold it herself and longe her as usual. Give her some time to figure it all out. She will get into shape as she learns the bit can be worn comfortably without issue. Don't want it flopping around in there? pick it up and carry it then.
What kind of snaffle is being used? Loose ring, D-ring, eggbutt, full cheek, French link? A french link will provide a bit more palate relief when presure is applied. How thick is the mouthpiece? The thinner the mouthpiece, the more 'bite' a bit has when pressure is applied. More bite=more pain and more issues.
The head tossing may be a habit, but can also be remedied through softening work. Start with ground work in long lines if you are more comfortable doing so. Teach her to just go forward. When you ask for a turn, ask for a big large circle- light contact, let her bend, follow her nose and keep going forward. When contact is made, it can be soft and following. If she throws a tantrum, stay out of her way, wait for her to finish and move on with what you were doing, go forward.
Start with just the walk. When she starts to settle down into her work, praise her out loud. Tell her what she is doing is so wonderfull. Walk, stop, walk, turn stop. Walk, walk, walk, turn, walk, stop. Whoa is always said in a soft and comforting tone. Whooooaaaa, not HO! Would you like being yelled at all the time? If she doesn't respond right away, repeat whoa with a gentle tug on the reins. When she stops, let her stand for a few seconds and then praise her. Let her stand a few more seconds before asking her to walk off again.
Change things up and keep her from anticipating what is next. Circles and turns in both directions. End on a good note and praise her beyond belief. She may start thinking you are a God instead of a meanie who makes me work.
When you get on and start riding again, same thing. Start with a walk, and softening work. Mr Rotten's Neighborhood had a post about softening work a short time back.
I will stop there, since I have a feeling blogger is going to blip something about exceeding their damned limit...
Sorry, clicky link no worky the first time.
I'd probably switch to a french link...or if she is in a french link, switch to a regular mouth snaffle. Different horses react better to different types of pressure. Some of it is just the structure of the individual's mouth. Some can carry a big fat snaffle, some just don't have the room and it is uncomfortable.
I'd go back to the ground with this mare. Way easier to correct the problem on the lunge than under saddle.
Dang, youze guys are good.
Dogs are champing to get out, gotta go.
Thanks, brilliant, all!
Just re read my post from earlier , note to self... DO NOT POST FROM BB!! Short version is thickness of the bit=variance in pressure . Again not all horses are equal in the size shape of their mouths.
Sorry for the "unique" spelling earlier
14th! Until GL gets back with the dogs.
GL- JR keeps asking which mare you liked? He's not sure. Please tell him so he'll quit asking me. :D
OH, the ugly one, CNJ:)
The one he should really just give away.
To Me. She can be boss mare of my herd:)
On my porch.
The mare in question needs to have her head ignored, and her butt moved around.
(tee-Hee!)
Hey, me Too!
OK I'm the one with the original questions.
1) She has seen a vet no teeth mouth issues.
2) She chops and throws head (without a saddle on her)
3) Hate to say this, she does not lunge, i have never had a horse that could not do this. we always had ground work finished before riding anything. I have been working on this but she is the hardest to teach so far. Everyone else in the barn learned beautiful lunge work in about a month.(Bad weather) I have mostly been working on this with her but she seems to not understand at all.
4)She did have an Argentinian snaffle? on her at one point in time and did a little better than with the French snaffle i have her in now. i was not riding her so this is what I am told not sure how true this is.
5)She was trained and raised by the same person who has owned her for 10 yrs. He only had her in a flied and who rode her on trails and nothing more. He is a good old cowboy who would most like ( from things I'm told) be heavy handed on her.
6)As far my riding her I have not done anything thing but simple 15 to 10 minute trail rides. Trying to get her use to me. I've rode her with a saddle and bareback. Threw her head up the same for every ride. I mostly just took her to our bottom flied (farthest from barn) and asked her to stand facing away from barn and walk in circles. Also asked her to walk to the far fance line and some circles in the work area. Don't have an arena yet so using future arena area now as work area. Maybe we have riden 5 times.
7) As for the sentence I wrote that made no sense. I have let her stand with bit in mouth for a bout 3- 5 minutes to get use to it. Nothing changes she acts the same no matter what is going on.
8) I'm sorry but my mom is not going to encourage this horse to do anything. ( Yes I will be in timeout for saying this) This mare has done nothing but bully my mom. She simply knows mom isn't going to make her do to much if anything.
9)Saturday I'm taking her on a real trail ride, off propriety. This is suppost to be her thing. As mom says you can put her on the top of a mountain and she will get to the bottom safe and sound : with rider!!! So maybe this is were she shine, head issues go away, nice happy horse, we will see.
10) I would just like everyone to know that I'm not trying to make her into any great or good show horse. I would love to do some low level eventing minus dressage ( not really my thing) with her. I've been told by a few people who have seen her that this should be possible with her. But I know that I'm never going to get her to trust me enough to jump if she and I are fighting over her head. If I can get her over a jump in a year that is more than I was hoping for. She has a lot of basic thing to learn: lunge, leads, other things I cant think of right now : my brain hurts.
11)Thanks everyone for you input, hope you guys don't mind with some more down the road. I'm going to need it with this horse!
12) If anyone is wondering nccatnip is my mom that might explain a hole lot!!!!!!
Hi Liz , and welcome! We loves nccatnip!! Hope you stay in touch , sounds like you and Redi have some work ahead.
Liz- that's what we are all here for. If you start out in small circles, just getting her to walk and stop on the lunge line- it's a start. It's where we start. That's where we started with my new mare. 10 y/o WB, greener than grass. Walk, stop, walk, stop, reverse, walk, stop. And stopping should always be a comfort zone for them. "They say whoa, I get to stop and relax. Please say whoa and let me stop."
It won't all come together overnight. It won't all happen in a day. Get what you can, push for a little more, praise when she gets it right and end on a good note.
3-5 minutes with the bit in her mouth is really not that long. Let her go longer and try to ignore her bit chomping. It's annoying, but it's much easier on everyone when she figures it out on her own. Putting her on the lunge line will help her focus on something else.
The head throwing is why I recommend long lines. If you have to get into her a bit and she throws her head and tries to go up- you're safer on the ground than on her back. Also you can push her buttons from the ground and see where she goes and how she reacts while being in a safety zone of sorts.
If her previous owner was consistently heavy handed with her, she may have become accustomed to this and with light contact now, there is little or nothing to hang on or lean against for support. Again- softening work. Lateral movement is your friend.
Check JR's blog and email him at will. He did nothing but problem horses for years. Want recommendations? Ask blogger Prairie Farmer how he has helped her with her horses issues. All of it online on the blogs.
Just some more info on the background on the mare-
The head tossing has always been an issue, it was almost a deal breaker when I was looking at her.
Previous owner told me she has always done it, all her life. Never bothered him, "she quits after a few hours on the trails" I was told. He mentioned she was 1/8 TWH, so that was where the bit chewing and head tossing came from so he never worked with her on it.
Bits- FTR- I know squat about bits so have used what has been recommended. Tried a snaffle, argentine dog bone, egg butt, etc. I am also very light handed, in fact to much so according to my trainer. She did well and settled when introducing something new then back to old behavior. I am not really sure that she was not just playing with the bit when with me.
Thanks guys for all the help. If anyone can get anything out of this mare, it will be Liz. Red head has met her match.
Hey, CnJ- ask JR to stop by and add his 2 cents worth.
Nah, JR won't comment here.
He KNOWS we talk about him over here;)
snirkle..
I wannna JohnnyMare & a JohnnieCactus and a Justus, and a Top.
and a donkey, named Mr. Big.
Cause it's FRIday. I am friED.
have a great day!
I JUST realized what you're doing, CNJ.
(Grabs hold of Liz's left arm, digs in heels.)
She's MY commenter, dammit!!
Mine, all MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
snirkle.....
I read this twice and a partial third time. I could have missed it.
I wanna know one thing.
Does this mare toss and swing her head around if you were to say hop on her bareback with just a halter and a lead?
Have you ever?
She sounds, fractious, green, and unmannerly to me.
But I would like to know what she does in a halter and lead before committing to that.
Dena, she is very pushy to me, even with correction. Will try others but quickly learns her manners when corrected. Responds better with men, was never a "pet" horse. I think she learned pretty quickly that Liz is not going to accept bad ground manners, EVER.
Farrier can shoe her alone without even tieing her. Just drops the lead rope and goes to work.
I learned very quickly I was over horsed (as did she, to her advantage) and sent her to Liz to find a job.
Liz and NCCatnip
In reading the history of this horse there is one thing that stands out, and that is that the mare has the problem it with no matter what bit you put into her mouth.
That would indicate to me that the mare is looking for support and unable to find it.
Now this post may be a little long and I am not sure how many characters Blogger will let me put on here, so it will be a few entries.
1) Horses are creatures that love support, when we start them under saddle, they tend to lean on our legs, sometimes on the bit, sometimes the will hug the fence. They are always looking for security.
2) Horses are creatures of habit and we use that weakenss if you want to call it that to train them. Good bad or otherwise, the habits that they learn from what we let them get away with, will always remain with them. When they are in an uncomfortable situation, they always go back to the behavior that got them out of it before. There is no way to retrain that behvior, but we can teach them new habits that can help them in an uncomfortable situation.
I am only telling you this, because you need to know what you are up against.
The thing about head throwing, is that if not dealt with, it can lead to rearing, and I personally have taken a horses head to the face when I was on her and she broke my nose.
Now to deal with the problem, I always out the horse back into an iron snaffle, as they have enough weight the the horse is going to have to carry the bit when it is in their mouths. Long lining does have some merits, however, I prefer to deal with the problem on the horses back bucause I am going to have to anyway.
I also like to start the horse out on a loose rein and gradually like to start to take hold of the horses face as the ride progresses to find out where their comfort zone is. If they are tossing their head on a loose rein, then I will take hold until they stop. When they finally stop, then I will start to add leg pressure and teach the horse lateral aids. I will ask the horse to move their shoulders over both directions, and as they move their shoulders over, I loosen up on the reins and let them drop their heads and relax and continue forward.
Eventually the horse will learn that when he tosses his head, we will add a little leg pressure and make bim bend laterally. If he is bending laterally, then he can not toss his head. It is important that we do not ask the horse to pivot at this point, but to make sure that we keep asking the horse to move forward and bend.
Also remember some light contact on this horses mouth and some light added support from you legs at this point will go a long way.
You will find that over time that if you are in the arena and tracking, for example to the right. All you have to do is add a little inside leg and just a little tug on the rein, and the horse will stop tossing his head.
We are always taught in basic horsemanship 101 that we have to take and release. But what they do not tell you is that sometimes you have to keep in taking hold for a little bit to help the horse out.
NCC
If I ever have a horse that is doing anything on the ground when I am leading them that I do not like, I will chase them backwards a few steps and yell whoa at them a little. Then I make them stand for a few minutes. This always gets their attention and eventually, all I have to do is growl at them and they stop. It is very effective and it also allows me to correct them without jerking on them a lot.
If you would like, we can do a video either this week or next so you can see what I am doing and email it to you.
If you have any questions feel free to email me or you can call me at 480-415-8176
JR
Thanks JR. I am no longer working with the mare, Liz is. I do not believe she is having ground manner issues with her.
I did correct her, everytime, but she just kept finding new ways of being disrepectful. I recognized I was overhorsed for this moment in my life and let go.
Well, smack ME with a feather.
and thanks, JR, beautifully done.
Jeez, now I feel like I shoulda cleaned UP the place.
Humpfh.
men NeveR call.
Hey, horspoor. Hugs and thanks.
GL- I read it all to him and he was pretty much explaining it to me last night. "Do you know why a horse does this? You know what happens when they do this and you do that, right? Post this, tell her this, let them know that... Oh, forget it. I'll put somthing up in the morning."
Sorry, I didn't get a chance to warn you company was coming. LOL! Would it make up for it if I sent you the horse? His horse... Just hide the butterscotch treats and block the windows. Don't ask, just trust me on this.
*off to help GL clean*
And no, I am not trying to take anyone away. From here, there or anywhere. Just trying to help everyone, including the horses, get things right. With little or hopefully No carnage, injuries or wreckage.
Now then, are ya gonna be posting about what you figured out from the pics where the difference in disciplines was concerned? Curiosity is killing the cat.
So i decided to to make sure all tack was a proper fit with Reddi before we went out on the trail tomorrow. Didn't want to have her there and than have issues and I'm so glad I did. I put a Tom thumb on her, and a long shank snaffle she hated both. I know these are
not the softies bites but they were what was already on tack and didn't want to start changing anything around till I just got a glimpse into what she would do with them. I had them under her halter with both for 15- 20 minutes. Chomping was worst with long shank and was not making her happy. third bite was a twisted dog bone snaffle? not sure if that is it correct name but that's what it looked like. Sorry don't remember western bites all that well! She seemed to like twisted more and calmed down greatly with chomping after only a few minutes. I left her along just to see what she would do and it seemed more like playing with me and lite chomping. I did ride her just to see if pressure from my hand would cause an issue. She did try all her normal darn sour shit and than more but quite after i had her to the far fence. We walked along fence line for a while head throwing did decrease but still some. I asked her to our work area she was better today than any other we have had. A few head throws but not much. we did circles and 8s and just changed up in a walk to see if there is any issue with this bit. She was very well behaved and had lots of nice encouragement from me. So not a hundred % what this bit is for but I need to get something close in an english forum. Also any leg pressure i allied today while trying to get her to bend with the bit just ended in her troting. I did try some in straight lines same out some. So im taking it she only kows legs to go. She did hold her head very nicely today almost extremily happy with her besides the barn sour stuff. Can she maybe know she is really out numbered now? I have all of you guys for help and her little trecks arent going to work. Ground manners are great now took a couple shots but she know now she isnt going to walk all over me. Thank god cause she is a big girl to be doing that!
Thankd again everyone for there input.
Liz said:
"Can she maybe know she is really out numbered now?"
Absatootly.
Red Mares are geniuses.
Great job, Liz!
CNJ said "And no, I am not trying to take anyone away.".
Yeah, well,let go of Liz's other arm then. Poor kid's starting to elongate.
I was kiddinG ya great AZ goopy!
JEEEz.
Liz, each day is a new one. Take it slow, enjoy the little victories, make sure you both end up having a good time.
Try not to confuse her with bending and such, too soon. Just get her moving, get her built up.
Start with that loose rein JT talked about, and work on that for a while.
Riding is all about big steps and little ones. Take them as they come.
applauding y'all!!
Oh, hi Dena!
sorry I haven't been blathering, I haven't had too much to say:)
Liz- according to the tag, that was an argentine dog bone snaffle bit you got some success with today.
Are your arms hurting? Do I need to come lengthen your sleeves?
***blushing that my DD is so popular***
GL- I'll let go if ya ezzplain what ya learnt. 'til then, looks like, well, shoot.
I knows yer just kiddin', shucks! Or in a more rednecked way- shucky durn damn!
Liz- Sometimes when taking on a new project like this, ya gotta go with what they know. If leg pressure means go, then that it is for now. If she is used to a tougher hand, so be it. Be a little stronger and 'tweak' the pressure bit by bit as you go along. A little more with the legs over time a little less with the hands. It will come.
NCCatnip- Kudos to you for knowing when too much is too much! Sometimes people let their ego's get in the way. That's usually about when they end up getting hurt and the horse winds up at the sales. Good for you for knowing your limitations. We all have them. I know I have mine!
Me neither GL. Or, maybe too much so I bite my tongue instead.
Liz I meant to add that u8nless the mare actually gaits being 1/8 TWH would not have anything to do with the head tossing or nod.
I have learned on occasion that with some horses less is more.
Meaning that they might prefer a skinnier mouthpiece which is generally associated with being more severe. But in my world the severity is in the hands holding the reins.
I do not have the problems you are describing with horses I have started just the older rehab retrain redos. And sometimes, they like that dangerous in the wrong hands skinny little copper twisted wire snaffle. Think itty bitty little wire hoop earrings compared to the big and heavy suckers that you can also use as bracelets.
Good luck kid.
Just a thought.
NCC, Dena, fcs, shaddup and PULL!
My next blog is still fizzing.
I KNOW, I knoW. It's the drawing part, and you will laugh at how ridiculously long it took me to do, for how simple it actually is.
JR commented!!!
Well, that wasn't too bad was it?
How often do I get guys commenting on this blog!
Party-TimE??
ZachRabow, hey, look!!
I knew it.
Skeered away another one. It's gotta be tough being a guy in the horse biz.
cry me a river;)
Say, Liz, you do look taller! Wow, you can touch the backs of your, wow.
Hugging can be an Olympic Sport, with you as the star!
She's wrapped her arms around that horses' neck three consecutive times!!
Okay, I think I maybe should NOT have napped.
I am defiantly going to try out what JR said. I had already work with her today by the time I had read his entry so out of luck for today. I am going to try to give it a shot on Monday, since I'll sure I wont be able to site in a saddle on Sunday after tomorrow!! Heine hurting.
Dena she doesn't throw her head when on a lead. I'm not sure how dangerous an Argentine dog bone snaffle is but it was twisted so maybe that's a big first step with her.
Gl & CnJ thanks for making me taller. I'm the shortest in this crazy family so now I can go rub it in my sisters face that I'm taller than her. Don't think you can get me as tall as mom and it might hurt but keep on pulling!!!!!!!!!! She is going to be pissed.. HeHeHe
My darling Daughter. You are not any taller tonight than you were this morning. Your arms, though, are much longer and now your knuckles are close to dragging the ground. But you remain the cutest one in the family, in a monkey like kinda way.
Thanks for all the help with the redhead (Redi not GL).
How do you know I'm not taller you haven't seen me tonight? Yes I am a little monkey like but since I look just like YOU (only smaller and younger) I just its a family thing. :)~
That's from your Dad's side, dear.
Ayayaya.... I have created a monster.
Ahhhhhhhhh! Family!
Nobody took me to task for the NCC/Longe Whip scenario.
I wanted pictures:)
Thanks again, JR!
No problem GL
I like it over here
Whoo hoo GL , ya got NCC,s DD And JR commenting on your blog !! You are a star! I always knew it!
GL I had the visual in my head of NCC standing fierce guarding the barn with a lunge whip and Liz having a very exciting adventure.LOL
So today was the trail ride. Reddi started the day in great forum loading into trailer first time asked. This has been a problem that we have been working on but honestly not enough. She was a very good girl on the ride throwing head a little but was busy going up and down a mountain so couldn't do it to much. Chomping was still there but not as bad, some points in time she got going at it again but it was when we were on even ground. Did some trotting, wanted to do the haul ass trot at first but with sweet light whoas from me she slow down nicely and by end of ride she was coming down after a stride or two. By the time we got back to the trailer I was so happy with her I thought we were really clicking at this point. Than in true Reddi forum she refused to load. Oy va with this freakin horse!
Oh, that's just great, Liz!
Reddi was just miffed that you weren't taking a few hundred pictures of her, after the ride.
Where were her paparazzi? She was ready for a close-up!
She didn't want to stop doing her thing,I betcha. What, we have to leave now??
Gotta laugh, Reddi likes being liked and didn't want to go home, having too much fun on the trail!
A little Reddi update.
We have been doing really good since my last post. Only one bad day and I'm blaming it on me. It was just one of those days were the only thing I did right was clean out the water trout! The head throwing has almost completely stop only maybe three times every ride. She is doing really great with me putting leg on her, sometimes gets fast while trotting but will slow back down with me just saying whoa. I did give up trying to lunge her because she just was not getting it. No being mean no refusing to do it just to refuse. She simple just wanted to stand next to me like a good girl with no bad ground manners. Since I did have a come to Jesus meeting with her about her ground manners, I just feel that it is really not a good thing with the lunging. Only way for me to get her to go forward to constantly tap her on the arse with the whip. She simply looks at me like what did I do wrong now. So i gave up on it. I know it might sound bad but she has been more than willing with everything else I have asked her and I just do not think she gets it.
reddi has been doing really good with leg ques and even putting her head into frame a little at a walk. I had a friend come over to look at my seat and ask me what she thought of Reddi. She gave me pointers for both of us and is going to come over tomorrow(Thursday0 to give me a lesson. My legs are to forward, no i do not look like the stick figures. I look like a puffed pastry! Any suggestions Barb since you are the stick figure poster master.
So all in all everything is going good with Reddi. Let you no in a week or two how everything is going. I'm also working with Riddler mostly just lunging since he was in such bad shape. Riding is good but i have to find the forward button on him every time.
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