Many people don't ride their young horses until they are three. They are worried about making their horse lame. That is a legitimate reason to not ride until they are stronger and have stronger, more stable, bones. I think that you can start riding before that. I started riding my fillies when I thought they were ready. I prepared them the best I could, and when I felt they would accept someone on their back I got on. That's way simplified, but that's the jist of what happened. The first time I rode those fillies was the fall of last year. Granted someone was leading. It was a very short session. They were actually less than two years old. Throughout the winter we didn't do a whole lot of riding. When we did ride someone was leading. Through most of the winter we worked on ground driving, just waiting for them to get a little bigger. We sat on them and got them accustomed to someone on their back. Our legit riding didn't take place until the end of the winter. Still less than two years old. We kept riding times really short. Less than ten minutes, and we never did hard exercise. Mostly it was walking, with a little bit of trotting. We kept circle work to a bare minimum. Doing lots of circles with a growing horse is bad for their joints. They definitely needed to know how to do it, they didn't need to be superstars at it. At two years old we were working on cantering. Cantering was kept to a minimum. Still no lameness issues. We limited the amount of work we did with them so that we could proceed faster. Over the summer we did lots of trail rides. Our shortest trail ride was 20 minutes, and our longest is three hours. We do not work them really hard on the trails. Especially when we first started, we did very little cantering and trotting. Now we do quite a bit more of it, but they are stronger. We still don't do a whole lot of circles. We do work a little on circles, but we only do a couple of circles. We never drill it into them. Now I just want to say that our fillies are 2 1/2 and still have quite a bit of growing to do. They could still become lame, but we work to make sure they don't. The real test will be when they are five or six and still without lameness issues.
To sum this up if you want to start riding a horse early, keep things light and non-stressful.
That's my limited insight into riding young horses. I wish I had the experience of starting hundreds of foals. Unfortunately I don't. I could give you a more accurate and informed opinion on the subject if I did.
Prepare your Horse!
Lydia Johnson
Information. That's what this is about. Where to find it, and what I have learned. I can not claim to be an expert in the area of training horses, but I will try my best to be helpful.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
What a World of Personalities
This is about the different quirks each one of my horses have. I could be all "horsenality", but on some level that word bugs me, and on another it's not worth getting worked up about. Eh.
It's funny how each one of my horses can be so different.
Santana is my easy going horse, and doesn't need a lot of attention.
Misstack is my beautiful idiot, that is super sensitive to everything.
Ana is the hyper one that is a dream to ride when she's not hyper.
Toffy is the horse that gets scared really easily and doesn't have a whole lot of confidence.
Dash is my steady eddy, but gets bored really easily.
Frosty is the happy-go-lucky horse, and is super confident.
Coffie is the lazy horse that doesn't like doing work, but listens to what you say quite readily.
I love all of them. They are so fun to work with. Though honestly I like riding every horse I come across. I've discovered how to deal with each of their different quirks.
With Santana we just hang. He loves barrels and is totally fine with just riding around. Which is usually why I ride him last.
Misstack needs to pay attention to every little thing and noise. I've learned to pay attention with her and decide that it's okay.
Ana needs a voice telling her "easy".
Toffy needs to be rewarded for every little try, else she quits trying, but sometimes you need to urge her on just a little bit more.
For Dash I will set out random objects and we'll do something with them. If she thinks it's boring she won't do anything.
Frosty has a motto, "If I can bite it it's safe." I don't need to do a whole lot with her just because of that. She has a tendency to want to go fast.
For Coffie, the first time I worked with her I saw that lazy, bossy attitude in her right away. We made sure to never let her get away with being lazy and bossy.
It's funny how each one of my horses can be so different.
Santana is my easy going horse, and doesn't need a lot of attention.
Misstack is my beautiful idiot, that is super sensitive to everything.
Ana is the hyper one that is a dream to ride when she's not hyper.
Toffy is the horse that gets scared really easily and doesn't have a whole lot of confidence.
Dash is my steady eddy, but gets bored really easily.
Frosty is the happy-go-lucky horse, and is super confident.
Coffie is the lazy horse that doesn't like doing work, but listens to what you say quite readily.
I love all of them. They are so fun to work with. Though honestly I like riding every horse I come across. I've discovered how to deal with each of their different quirks.
With Santana we just hang. He loves barrels and is totally fine with just riding around. Which is usually why I ride him last.
Misstack needs to pay attention to every little thing and noise. I've learned to pay attention with her and decide that it's okay.
Ana needs a voice telling her "easy".
Toffy needs to be rewarded for every little try, else she quits trying, but sometimes you need to urge her on just a little bit more.
For Dash I will set out random objects and we'll do something with them. If she thinks it's boring she won't do anything.
Frosty has a motto, "If I can bite it it's safe." I don't need to do a whole lot with her just because of that. She has a tendency to want to go fast.
For Coffie, the first time I worked with her I saw that lazy, bossy attitude in her right away. We made sure to never let her get away with being lazy and bossy.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Trot....Trot... Keep Trotting
I found an exercise that is very useful for many things. I have no idea were I found it.
Take a loose hold of the reins, and get into a balanced position if you aren't already. Which most of you will know, but your heels are down, your back is straight, and your heels, hip, and shoulder line up. You should be able to look down your shoulder and see the heel of your boot. Then you ask your horse to trot. You can do this at the walk, but it is more effective at the trot. You can also do this at the canter, but it's safer at a trot. Basically your goal is to keep your horse at the speed you chose, and you let him go wherever he wants. LEAVE THE REINS ALONE. Unless you need to slow them down, or they do something stupid. You will do this exercise for as long as you want. I would suggest five minutes.
Now when a horse gets to decide where he gets to go, he will probably head toward a gate, or a "safe spot". And generally stay in that area. So your horse trots right up to the gate. Kiss and kick to keep him going, because he will stop. Don't stop kissing and kicking until your horse gets goin and leaves the gate. Your horse may need a little help from the reins. That's the only time you have permission to use the reins. But let him try to figure it out first. Basically he'll learn that he can't stop, so the gate isn't so much of a problem anymore.
Now while your horse is trotting around mostly you will do nothing, but try to stay on. Keep a center of balance and move with your horse. It teaches you to zig when he zigs, and zag, when he zags. Now for some reason when you go back to using your reins your balance gets screwed up, so try to work on keeping that balance you feel when you just let the horse trot, and transferring it over to using leg pressure and reins.
It has been my experience that when a horse first starts this he will hang around the gate. As it continues the horse will slowly get further and further away from the gate. So either, he has decided that it is really boring hanging around the gate and he wants to go somewhere new, or he has gained a little more confidence, and is more willing to go away from the gate.
I think the constant speed is obvious. So I won't bother to explain that one.
Trot Away!
Lydia Johnson
- It gives a horse confidence
- It helps the rider become more balanced
- Focuses on maintaining a constant speed
- Teaches the horse that stopping next to the gate is not an option.
Take a loose hold of the reins, and get into a balanced position if you aren't already. Which most of you will know, but your heels are down, your back is straight, and your heels, hip, and shoulder line up. You should be able to look down your shoulder and see the heel of your boot. Then you ask your horse to trot. You can do this at the walk, but it is more effective at the trot. You can also do this at the canter, but it's safer at a trot. Basically your goal is to keep your horse at the speed you chose, and you let him go wherever he wants. LEAVE THE REINS ALONE. Unless you need to slow them down, or they do something stupid. You will do this exercise for as long as you want. I would suggest five minutes.
Now when a horse gets to decide where he gets to go, he will probably head toward a gate, or a "safe spot". And generally stay in that area. So your horse trots right up to the gate. Kiss and kick to keep him going, because he will stop. Don't stop kissing and kicking until your horse gets goin and leaves the gate. Your horse may need a little help from the reins. That's the only time you have permission to use the reins. But let him try to figure it out first. Basically he'll learn that he can't stop, so the gate isn't so much of a problem anymore.
Now while your horse is trotting around mostly you will do nothing, but try to stay on. Keep a center of balance and move with your horse. It teaches you to zig when he zigs, and zag, when he zags. Now for some reason when you go back to using your reins your balance gets screwed up, so try to work on keeping that balance you feel when you just let the horse trot, and transferring it over to using leg pressure and reins.
It has been my experience that when a horse first starts this he will hang around the gate. As it continues the horse will slowly get further and further away from the gate. So either, he has decided that it is really boring hanging around the gate and he wants to go somewhere new, or he has gained a little more confidence, and is more willing to go away from the gate.
I think the constant speed is obvious. So I won't bother to explain that one.
Trot Away!
Lydia Johnson
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Baby go Straight
If you have ever worked with a young horse you know that at some point they will try to ignore you when you ask them to turn. How are you supposed to address that?
I stumbled across one way that works well with one of my young horses. I do this at a canter, because that's when I see her trying to go wherever she wants the most. You can do this at whatever speed you choose. I get her going on a loose rein, and when she starts to not listen I will politely ask her to keep going where I want her to. When she doesn't do it, I get her turned around somehow or another. Usually by kicking her hip out, but it doesn't really matter. And we trot energetically back towards the point she started not listening and we start cantering from there. She understands this really well.
Another way is to practice straight lines. Get your young horse to walk, trot, and canter in between two invisible lines. At first you are going to want these lines to be at least six feet apart. You'll start out in between those two lines, and when your horse tries going somewhere else you will take hold of your reins and bring him back in between your two invisible lines. Now the most important part of this is to let him make the mistake of going outside of your two invisible lines before you pick up your reins and bring him back. Eventually you will make your invisible lines narrower until the horse goes wherever you choose in a straight line.
You could also do this. When your horse won't turn, get him to turn a full circle in the direction you are pulling before going where you want. So you are going along, you ask him to turn to the left, and he doesn't. Now get him to go in a small 360 degree circle to the left and when you are in the direction you want to go let him go straight again. If you are asking for a turn to the right, you will make your circle to the right. Now the circle is just a circle. It's not a correction. Just a circle. If you think of it as a correction your hands will make the bit harsh, and the circle becomes a punishment.
One more. You can do patterns. Set out cones, or whatever obstacles you have and do patterns around them.
I lied. This is the last one. Teach them to do a spin on their hindquarters. It's shoulder control.
Get 'er goin'!!
Lydia Johnson
I stumbled across one way that works well with one of my young horses. I do this at a canter, because that's when I see her trying to go wherever she wants the most. You can do this at whatever speed you choose. I get her going on a loose rein, and when she starts to not listen I will politely ask her to keep going where I want her to. When she doesn't do it, I get her turned around somehow or another. Usually by kicking her hip out, but it doesn't really matter. And we trot energetically back towards the point she started not listening and we start cantering from there. She understands this really well.
Another way is to practice straight lines. Get your young horse to walk, trot, and canter in between two invisible lines. At first you are going to want these lines to be at least six feet apart. You'll start out in between those two lines, and when your horse tries going somewhere else you will take hold of your reins and bring him back in between your two invisible lines. Now the most important part of this is to let him make the mistake of going outside of your two invisible lines before you pick up your reins and bring him back. Eventually you will make your invisible lines narrower until the horse goes wherever you choose in a straight line.
You could also do this. When your horse won't turn, get him to turn a full circle in the direction you are pulling before going where you want. So you are going along, you ask him to turn to the left, and he doesn't. Now get him to go in a small 360 degree circle to the left and when you are in the direction you want to go let him go straight again. If you are asking for a turn to the right, you will make your circle to the right. Now the circle is just a circle. It's not a correction. Just a circle. If you think of it as a correction your hands will make the bit harsh, and the circle becomes a punishment.
One more. You can do patterns. Set out cones, or whatever obstacles you have and do patterns around them.
I lied. This is the last one. Teach them to do a spin on their hindquarters. It's shoulder control.
Get 'er goin'!!
Lydia Johnson
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Soft and Light
Soft and Light.
Hmm. What to say.
Here we go; got it.
I'll start with the definition of soft and light.
Soft and light is when a horse is ready and willing to do what you ask. This could be looked at from different perspectives. For some people it means that the horse can do complicated maneuvers with ease, grace, and willingness.
You could say soft and light is when a horse tucks his nose and responds to you reins, seat, voice, and legs. I think that is a huge part of it, but not necessarily all of it.
When I think of soft and light I think of another side to it. Another perspective. I think of the side where the horse tries for you. That could mean that you could have a green colt, that doesn't know a lick of anything, but he tries so hard to do what you ask. It's all about the willingness. If I could get a horse that was extremely well trained and had that willingness, I would never let him go. If I had to choose between a horse that tries, but has poor training, and a horse that has very good training, but doesn't care, I would choose the first.
Now I definitely do like it when my horses respond to my cues. If your horse is willing he is responding to your cues. Doesn't mean he does them perfectly though. They can be separated the other way though. You can have a horse that responds to your cues, but doesn't care. Which means the maneuver is left half completed. Half tried. You feel like you could have done it so much better. My barrel horse gives me that attitude all the time. He does what I ask, just not whole heartedly.
Here is what soft and light doesn't mean.
It doesn't mean that your horse's head and neck is detached from the rest of his body.
You do want your horse to be able to move every part of his body individually, but not so extreme that he evades you.
How to get it:
That's a little harder. A good rule to go by is, "Your horse will only ever be as soft as you are."
If the first cue you give your horse to go is a smack, that's as light as your horse will get is a smack. If, on the other hand, the first cue you use to get your horse to go is a thought, eventually, with practice, and consistency, he will go with a thought. Another good rule is to be consistent. Being consistent will help your horse to learn his boundaries, and help both of you to trust each other. If you are light handed one day, and heavy handed the next your horse will start to avoid you. Be consistent with your cues too. If you are asking your horse to back up you will use your lightest cue first, and gradually get harder. Don't stop because your horse won't back up. He will. Eventually. I was teaching Flicka to back up and it took five minutes of me smacking her chest to get her to take one step back. The moment she did though I quit. Also with the be consistent is punishment. Punishment should be swift and short. Punish immediately. Your horse will not understand why you are hitting him if you wait even ten seconds after he did something bad.
I can't tell you set things to work on, because it's not something you will gain from doing a maneuver over and over again. It is something that needs to be in every part of your handling of horses. It's not so much about your horse as it is about you. If you are soft your horse will be soft.
Be soft,
Lydia Johnson
Hmm. What to say.
Here we go; got it.
I'll start with the definition of soft and light.
Soft and light is when a horse is ready and willing to do what you ask. This could be looked at from different perspectives. For some people it means that the horse can do complicated maneuvers with ease, grace, and willingness.
You could say soft and light is when a horse tucks his nose and responds to you reins, seat, voice, and legs. I think that is a huge part of it, but not necessarily all of it.
When I think of soft and light I think of another side to it. Another perspective. I think of the side where the horse tries for you. That could mean that you could have a green colt, that doesn't know a lick of anything, but he tries so hard to do what you ask. It's all about the willingness. If I could get a horse that was extremely well trained and had that willingness, I would never let him go. If I had to choose between a horse that tries, but has poor training, and a horse that has very good training, but doesn't care, I would choose the first.
Now I definitely do like it when my horses respond to my cues. If your horse is willing he is responding to your cues. Doesn't mean he does them perfectly though. They can be separated the other way though. You can have a horse that responds to your cues, but doesn't care. Which means the maneuver is left half completed. Half tried. You feel like you could have done it so much better. My barrel horse gives me that attitude all the time. He does what I ask, just not whole heartedly.
Here is what soft and light doesn't mean.
It doesn't mean that your horse's head and neck is detached from the rest of his body.
You do want your horse to be able to move every part of his body individually, but not so extreme that he evades you.
How to get it:
That's a little harder. A good rule to go by is, "Your horse will only ever be as soft as you are."
If the first cue you give your horse to go is a smack, that's as light as your horse will get is a smack. If, on the other hand, the first cue you use to get your horse to go is a thought, eventually, with practice, and consistency, he will go with a thought. Another good rule is to be consistent. Being consistent will help your horse to learn his boundaries, and help both of you to trust each other. If you are light handed one day, and heavy handed the next your horse will start to avoid you. Be consistent with your cues too. If you are asking your horse to back up you will use your lightest cue first, and gradually get harder. Don't stop because your horse won't back up. He will. Eventually. I was teaching Flicka to back up and it took five minutes of me smacking her chest to get her to take one step back. The moment she did though I quit. Also with the be consistent is punishment. Punishment should be swift and short. Punish immediately. Your horse will not understand why you are hitting him if you wait even ten seconds after he did something bad.
I can't tell you set things to work on, because it's not something you will gain from doing a maneuver over and over again. It is something that needs to be in every part of your handling of horses. It's not so much about your horse as it is about you. If you are soft your horse will be soft.
Be soft,
Lydia Johnson
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
"Shut Up and Listen to the Other Guy"
Have any of you had to talk to someone who won't listen to what you say? If you haven't you're probably the person who won't listen. You could be both.
It's a really big problem. Everywhere.
The internet, religion, politics, training methods, who cleaned the bathroom last, ect.. It can be about the most unimportant things.
I was talking to a group of elderly people one Sunday with a bunch of friends, and we asked them, "If you could say one thing to the younger generation, what would it be?" One man piped up and said, "Shut up and listen to the other guy."
His word could not be more true. We, as humans, have a really hard time doing that. Our opinion is so important, that it has to be said NOW, and it can't wait to be said until the other person has finished. Do you have any idea how easy it is to have a calm discussion if you let people rant and rave about whatever they feel they need to rant and rave about before you say a word? One at a time though. It can solve quite a bit of frustration.
Here's a story from "Whole Heart, Whole Horse" by Mark Rashid on this topic. If you haven't read this book you should, and if you have, you should read it again. It's very good.
The scene is of Mark Rashid as a young boy working with "the Old Man" at the old man's place on a hot day.
"Whoever was coming up the drive must have been in a hurry, because they didn't waste any time getting from the gate to the barn. We could hear the telltale sound of a four-barrel carburetor opening up as the driver floored the accelerator. WoaaAAAH, screamed the engine as the vehicle left the road over a quarter mile away, throwing dirt and rocks up against the wooden gate and sending a huge cloud of dust billowing into the air.
In no time at all the Ford was in front of the barn, sliding sideways and screeching to a stop. 'Hmm,' the old man said. He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a pack of cigarettes that was also soaked with sweat and too wet to light. He grimaced a little at the prospect of not being able to get a smoke in, put the soggy pack back in his pocket, and walked outside.
By this time the car's driver was stomping toward the barn. He was a short, slightly heavyset man, not really fat, but not thing either, wearing knee-length shorts, brown penny loafers with white socks, an unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt with red and white vertical strips, and a white t-shirt underneath that. Both shirts were wet with sweat. His dark hair was plastered to his head, which made it hard to tell if it was just wet from him sweating or if he was wearing some kind of hair cream, which was all the rage back then.
'You the owner of this place?' the fellow half shouted as the old man walked past him toward his old pickup truck. In his hurry, the fellow overshot the old man slightly and had to stop himself in mid-stride so he could turn and follow.
'yup,' the old man said quietly, as he continued walking.
'then I got a bone to pick with you.' The man was mad, and getting madder.
'Well...' The old man opened his truck door and pulled out a pack of cigarettes that was sitting on the seat. 'Go ahead.'
'You sold my wife a horse,' the fellow shouted as the old man nonchalantly turned toward him, pulled a cigarette from the pack, and lit it. 'And I want you to take it back.'
'Which one:' the old man asked quietly as a puff of bluish smoke rolled out of his mouth.
'What?' the fellow angrily questioned.
'Which horse?' the old man repeated.
'What?' the fellow asked again.
'Which horse did I sell her?' The old man started walking back toward the barn.
'Which horse? hell, I don't know...'
'You mind if we talk in the barn?' the old man interrupted. 'It's not much cooler in there, but at least it's out of the sun.'
The fellow stopped dead in his tracks, as if not knowing what to say next. The old man turned toward him and motioned for him to follow, which the fellow finally did.
'Mind if I ask your name?' the old man interrupted.
'What?' the question shot out of the fellow's mouth.
'Your name...; the old man repeated quietly. 'What's your name?'
'Wheeler.' The fellow said it as if he wasn't sure himself. 'George Wheeler. My wife's name is Maggie. You sold her a horse a couple months ago... a grown horse.'
'Yes... a couple months ago. I remember,' the old man nodded. 'A sorrel gelding named Booker.' He paused. 'Nice horse. Your wife seemed to get along with him pretty good when she came to take a look at him. Is she having a problem with him?'
'No,' Wheeler blurted. ' I just want you to take him back!'
'He's not lame or sick or anything?' The old man asked.
Wheeler stopped talking for a second and stood looking down at the old man from his standing position just inside the barn door. 'Not that I know of...' HIs voice was quieter, as if he was finally trying to control himself.
'Well, now,' the old man said, wiping the sweat form his brow with his already sweat-soaked sleeve. 'I suppose you know I can't just take a horse back for no good reason... specially a horse that was bought and sold in good faith.' He pulled the handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from inside his hat once again. 'Now if she was to have a good reason for me to take the good gelding back, I reckon give it a little thought and maybe see if we could work something out that would be a benefit to both of us.'
Wheeler stood quietly for what seemed like a long time before he spoke. 'What happened,' he finally said, 'was she bought him without asking me first.'
'I see,' the old man nodded. 'Spent some of your money without telling you, eh?
'Well, no... it was her money.' There was suddenly a slightly sheepish tone in his voice. The old man took another drag from his cigarette and made firm, intentional eye contact with Wheeler. I knew that look all too well. I had seen it many times in the past, usually when I had verbally painted myself in a corner with him in one way or another. It was the look that said, 'Why don't you give what you're saying here just a little more thought before we continue with this discussion?'
'Well, Mr. Wheeler.' The old man slowly lifted himself from the hay bale and walked slowly toward the now slightly red-faced man standing by the door. 'I appreciate you coming all the way out here to have this visit.' As the old man got to where Wheeler was, he gently placed his gnarled hand on Wheeler's shoulder and softly turned him back in the direction of the station wagon. 'I'm confident you and the Missus will be ale to come to a reasonable solution to this situation.' He quietly guided Wheeler all the way out to his car, with Wheeler looking just like I always felt when the old man would point out how ridiculous something I had just said was.
The old man opened the car door, and Wheeler slid in behind the steering wheel. 'That's a pretty nice gelding she got herself. And if I remember, she rides him real well, too. Now I ain't never one to get into someone else's business, but I do know you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.' The old man closed the car door. 'Thanks again for coming out, and please give my best to the Missus.'
The old man turned to walk away as Wheeler, looking for all he was worth like a puppy that had just been scolded for peeing on the carpet, started up the Ford.
'Oh, and by the way...' The old man turned back toward the car as if he had suddenly remembered something. 'If you could drive out just a little slower than you came in, I'd sure appreciate it.'
As Wheeler turned and slowly drove down the driveway toward the road, the old man turned toward the barn.
'Too damn hot to fight today anyway.' There was just a hint of a Cheshire cat smile on his face as he walked passed me."
The old man's calmness defused the situation.
Mark Rashid goes on to explain how when you interact with someone or something, together your energies should equal ten. If one of you has a higher energy than the other than one of you needs to have a lower energy, and vice versa.
The same goes with horses. If your horse is freaking out you need to not freak out. If your horse is really lazy you need to raise your energy to get him to not be so lazy.
Mark Rashid explains it way better than I do and goes into more detail.
It will not be easy to control yourself and not get emotionally involved in a situation. It can be done though.
Keep Calm and Ride Your Horse,
Lydia Johnson
It's a really big problem. Everywhere.
The internet, religion, politics, training methods, who cleaned the bathroom last, ect.. It can be about the most unimportant things.
I was talking to a group of elderly people one Sunday with a bunch of friends, and we asked them, "If you could say one thing to the younger generation, what would it be?" One man piped up and said, "Shut up and listen to the other guy."
His word could not be more true. We, as humans, have a really hard time doing that. Our opinion is so important, that it has to be said NOW, and it can't wait to be said until the other person has finished. Do you have any idea how easy it is to have a calm discussion if you let people rant and rave about whatever they feel they need to rant and rave about before you say a word? One at a time though. It can solve quite a bit of frustration.
Here's a story from "Whole Heart, Whole Horse" by Mark Rashid on this topic. If you haven't read this book you should, and if you have, you should read it again. It's very good.
The scene is of Mark Rashid as a young boy working with "the Old Man" at the old man's place on a hot day.
"Whoever was coming up the drive must have been in a hurry, because they didn't waste any time getting from the gate to the barn. We could hear the telltale sound of a four-barrel carburetor opening up as the driver floored the accelerator. WoaaAAAH, screamed the engine as the vehicle left the road over a quarter mile away, throwing dirt and rocks up against the wooden gate and sending a huge cloud of dust billowing into the air.
In no time at all the Ford was in front of the barn, sliding sideways and screeching to a stop. 'Hmm,' the old man said. He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a pack of cigarettes that was also soaked with sweat and too wet to light. He grimaced a little at the prospect of not being able to get a smoke in, put the soggy pack back in his pocket, and walked outside.
By this time the car's driver was stomping toward the barn. He was a short, slightly heavyset man, not really fat, but not thing either, wearing knee-length shorts, brown penny loafers with white socks, an unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt with red and white vertical strips, and a white t-shirt underneath that. Both shirts were wet with sweat. His dark hair was plastered to his head, which made it hard to tell if it was just wet from him sweating or if he was wearing some kind of hair cream, which was all the rage back then.
'You the owner of this place?' the fellow half shouted as the old man walked past him toward his old pickup truck. In his hurry, the fellow overshot the old man slightly and had to stop himself in mid-stride so he could turn and follow.
'yup,' the old man said quietly, as he continued walking.
'then I got a bone to pick with you.' The man was mad, and getting madder.
'Well...' The old man opened his truck door and pulled out a pack of cigarettes that was sitting on the seat. 'Go ahead.'
'You sold my wife a horse,' the fellow shouted as the old man nonchalantly turned toward him, pulled a cigarette from the pack, and lit it. 'And I want you to take it back.'
'Which one:' the old man asked quietly as a puff of bluish smoke rolled out of his mouth.
'What?' the fellow angrily questioned.
'Which horse?' the old man repeated.
'What?' the fellow asked again.
'Which horse did I sell her?' The old man started walking back toward the barn.
'Which horse? hell, I don't know...'
'You mind if we talk in the barn?' the old man interrupted. 'It's not much cooler in there, but at least it's out of the sun.'
The fellow stopped dead in his tracks, as if not knowing what to say next. The old man turned toward him and motioned for him to follow, which the fellow finally did.
'Mind if I ask your name?' the old man interrupted.
'What?' the question shot out of the fellow's mouth.
'Your name...; the old man repeated quietly. 'What's your name?'
'Wheeler.' The fellow said it as if he wasn't sure himself. 'George Wheeler. My wife's name is Maggie. You sold her a horse a couple months ago... a grown horse.'
'Yes... a couple months ago. I remember,' the old man nodded. 'A sorrel gelding named Booker.' He paused. 'Nice horse. Your wife seemed to get along with him pretty good when she came to take a look at him. Is she having a problem with him?'
'No,' Wheeler blurted. ' I just want you to take him back!'
'He's not lame or sick or anything?' The old man asked.
Wheeler stopped talking for a second and stood looking down at the old man from his standing position just inside the barn door. 'Not that I know of...' HIs voice was quieter, as if he was finally trying to control himself.
'Well, now,' the old man said, wiping the sweat form his brow with his already sweat-soaked sleeve. 'I suppose you know I can't just take a horse back for no good reason... specially a horse that was bought and sold in good faith.' He pulled the handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from inside his hat once again. 'Now if she was to have a good reason for me to take the good gelding back, I reckon give it a little thought and maybe see if we could work something out that would be a benefit to both of us.'
Wheeler stood quietly for what seemed like a long time before he spoke. 'What happened,' he finally said, 'was she bought him without asking me first.'
'I see,' the old man nodded. 'Spent some of your money without telling you, eh?
'Well, no... it was her money.' There was suddenly a slightly sheepish tone in his voice. The old man took another drag from his cigarette and made firm, intentional eye contact with Wheeler. I knew that look all too well. I had seen it many times in the past, usually when I had verbally painted myself in a corner with him in one way or another. It was the look that said, 'Why don't you give what you're saying here just a little more thought before we continue with this discussion?'
'Well, Mr. Wheeler.' The old man slowly lifted himself from the hay bale and walked slowly toward the now slightly red-faced man standing by the door. 'I appreciate you coming all the way out here to have this visit.' As the old man got to where Wheeler was, he gently placed his gnarled hand on Wheeler's shoulder and softly turned him back in the direction of the station wagon. 'I'm confident you and the Missus will be ale to come to a reasonable solution to this situation.' He quietly guided Wheeler all the way out to his car, with Wheeler looking just like I always felt when the old man would point out how ridiculous something I had just said was.
The old man opened the car door, and Wheeler slid in behind the steering wheel. 'That's a pretty nice gelding she got herself. And if I remember, she rides him real well, too. Now I ain't never one to get into someone else's business, but I do know you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.' The old man closed the car door. 'Thanks again for coming out, and please give my best to the Missus.'
The old man turned to walk away as Wheeler, looking for all he was worth like a puppy that had just been scolded for peeing on the carpet, started up the Ford.
'Oh, and by the way...' The old man turned back toward the car as if he had suddenly remembered something. 'If you could drive out just a little slower than you came in, I'd sure appreciate it.'
As Wheeler turned and slowly drove down the driveway toward the road, the old man turned toward the barn.
'Too damn hot to fight today anyway.' There was just a hint of a Cheshire cat smile on his face as he walked passed me."
The old man's calmness defused the situation.
Mark Rashid goes on to explain how when you interact with someone or something, together your energies should equal ten. If one of you has a higher energy than the other than one of you needs to have a lower energy, and vice versa.
The same goes with horses. If your horse is freaking out you need to not freak out. If your horse is really lazy you need to raise your energy to get him to not be so lazy.
Mark Rashid explains it way better than I do and goes into more detail.
It will not be easy to control yourself and not get emotionally involved in a situation. It can be done though.
Keep Calm and Ride Your Horse,
Lydia Johnson
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Whole Heart, Whole Horse
A few years ago I found a book in the library called Whole Heart, Whole Horse by Mark Rashid. I read it. It was quite enlightening. I honestly can't remember most of what was in there.
Well once again I was at the library and saw this book. I decided to read it again.
The stories in there, and the concepts really make me look at what I do, and what my horses do.
Like the other day I went out to say hello to the horses, and when the four youngest saw me they all came up and said hello and the bigger horses followed. Why? One of the four youngest, Dash, followed me around while I went around and said hello to the other horses. Why? I can look at it how most people would look at it which is; she enjoys my company, or she likes being petted. The other way I could look at it is a way Mark Rashid presents in this book. "Everything a horse does is information." Horses don't have the same level of feelings that humans do so I can't label it as Dash just loving my company. One reason I could come up with for her following me is because she perceives me as leader. In her mind I am the horse who is like the lead mare. When I go left she goes left, when I go right she goes right, when I stop she stops. The moment I decide to go back to the barn she stops following.
Another thought that just occurred to me is that in a herd horses have buddies. I'm not really sure what the role of a buddy is, but from what I have seen it's sorta like how Dash reacts to me.
I was on a trail ride with a friend on a horse I have probably ridden twice sense last year. First trail ride of the year. She was all over the place. She turned around a couple times on me, she picked her own speed, she wasn't listening. I did one rein stops like we normally do, and she would stop and stand, but when we got going again she would go back to her normal antics. It took an hour to get a mile. She wouldn't walk. We got on a dirt road and eventually ran into a small hill of dirt with grass growing on it because it hadn't been disturbed in quite some time. I made her go up and down that, but that still didn't help. When we reached a little area of grass I let her go any speed she wanted, I just chose direction. She cantered for a little bit, trotted for a little bit more, then walked. It helped a little bit, but when we got back on that dirt road she was still a little ansy so I let her gallop. When I slowed her down I kept contact with her mouth. I don't know why. I just did. The whole way home I kept contact with her mouth. She tucked her head, jogged really, really slowly, flicked her ears back at me, went straight, and didn't spook at the water or the man hole. Why?
I have thought for years that she hated contact. She doesn't. She's more comfortable with it. She was trained in the English style of riding, and we have been riding her in the western style way.
That's about as far as I got in my thinking about it. Then I picked up "Whole Heart, Whole Horse" and started reading it. Mark Rashid was telling a story about a horse that walked like a drunken sailor. Basically the rider didn't include himself in the riding, so the horse made his own decisions and was lost.
I think about that and I go "huh, maybe Ana has a similar problem. Maybe she doesn't feel like I'm giving her enough direction." Maybe I'm not being as much as a leader as she needs me to be.
On the way back from that trail ride it took only a thought to get her to trot faster and catch up. Only a thought to get her to slow down. I even asked for a sidepass just to she what she would do, and she took four neat little steps to the other side of the trail. She never did walk, but her trot was slow and fancy. That horse amazes me sometimes.
What that means for future reference, I couldn't really say. She still needs to learn to walk, and stop. She still needs to be able to go nicely without contact. I think that instead of using your hands to make contact with her bit you could use your legs to make direct her and give her something to rely on. It's something that needs to be explored. I need to be more of an active leader with her. It should prove interesting.
Be Involved and Stay Involved,
Lydia Johnson
Well once again I was at the library and saw this book. I decided to read it again.
The stories in there, and the concepts really make me look at what I do, and what my horses do.
Like the other day I went out to say hello to the horses, and when the four youngest saw me they all came up and said hello and the bigger horses followed. Why? One of the four youngest, Dash, followed me around while I went around and said hello to the other horses. Why? I can look at it how most people would look at it which is; she enjoys my company, or she likes being petted. The other way I could look at it is a way Mark Rashid presents in this book. "Everything a horse does is information." Horses don't have the same level of feelings that humans do so I can't label it as Dash just loving my company. One reason I could come up with for her following me is because she perceives me as leader. In her mind I am the horse who is like the lead mare. When I go left she goes left, when I go right she goes right, when I stop she stops. The moment I decide to go back to the barn she stops following.
Another thought that just occurred to me is that in a herd horses have buddies. I'm not really sure what the role of a buddy is, but from what I have seen it's sorta like how Dash reacts to me.
I was on a trail ride with a friend on a horse I have probably ridden twice sense last year. First trail ride of the year. She was all over the place. She turned around a couple times on me, she picked her own speed, she wasn't listening. I did one rein stops like we normally do, and she would stop and stand, but when we got going again she would go back to her normal antics. It took an hour to get a mile. She wouldn't walk. We got on a dirt road and eventually ran into a small hill of dirt with grass growing on it because it hadn't been disturbed in quite some time. I made her go up and down that, but that still didn't help. When we reached a little area of grass I let her go any speed she wanted, I just chose direction. She cantered for a little bit, trotted for a little bit more, then walked. It helped a little bit, but when we got back on that dirt road she was still a little ansy so I let her gallop. When I slowed her down I kept contact with her mouth. I don't know why. I just did. The whole way home I kept contact with her mouth. She tucked her head, jogged really, really slowly, flicked her ears back at me, went straight, and didn't spook at the water or the man hole. Why?
I have thought for years that she hated contact. She doesn't. She's more comfortable with it. She was trained in the English style of riding, and we have been riding her in the western style way.
That's about as far as I got in my thinking about it. Then I picked up "Whole Heart, Whole Horse" and started reading it. Mark Rashid was telling a story about a horse that walked like a drunken sailor. Basically the rider didn't include himself in the riding, so the horse made his own decisions and was lost.
I think about that and I go "huh, maybe Ana has a similar problem. Maybe she doesn't feel like I'm giving her enough direction." Maybe I'm not being as much as a leader as she needs me to be.
On the way back from that trail ride it took only a thought to get her to trot faster and catch up. Only a thought to get her to slow down. I even asked for a sidepass just to she what she would do, and she took four neat little steps to the other side of the trail. She never did walk, but her trot was slow and fancy. That horse amazes me sometimes.
What that means for future reference, I couldn't really say. She still needs to learn to walk, and stop. She still needs to be able to go nicely without contact. I think that instead of using your hands to make contact with her bit you could use your legs to make direct her and give her something to rely on. It's something that needs to be explored. I need to be more of an active leader with her. It should prove interesting.
Be Involved and Stay Involved,
Lydia Johnson
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