School is in session! I loaded up Chickory- she hopped in the trailer nicely- and off we went to the round pen. She didn't unload as nicely though! Took her at least 10 minutes to step out of the trailer. I had to tap her butt, with forward movement the reward that stopped the tapping, until she finally- and gracefully- stepped out. I'm glad she didn't leap out. I longed her for couple of minutes, then saddled her and longed her some more. This was her first time longeing, and she did really well. When I moved her up into a trot I wondered if she would get upset at the stirrups flopping, but no problems. Then it was time to introduce her to the snaffle bridle. First time for that too.
More longeing while she figured that one out.
There was the usual mouthing, and some neck shaking, but thought she handled it well.
What I was really pleased about is that she doesn't seem to be a bucker. This girl has a really strong flight instinct; she about jumps out of her skin if she isn't sure about something.When she does that, she doesn't go far, just a big jump then she stops and figures it out. It's that big jump that has me worried though; I think I will have to spend more time on groundwork with her than on any other horse I've started, cause I sure don't want her doing that when I'm in the saddle! But that ability to move like that is what is going to make this mare perfect for cutting.
After longeing I asked her to give to the bit; just looking for that little give to pressure, then release.
That was enough for day one, so it was time to leave, and I loaded her, then unloaded her a couple of times, and I guess she figured out the unloading part because she went in and out with no problems- except for me letting her step over the lead rope when she was unloading- hey, I had my hands full with camera! But except for her flight instinct, she really is a very smart horse. And I think that as she gets mentally mature, we'll be able to get a handle on that too.
10 comments:
Looks like she is working well so far,I am with you just taking your time she will do well. I am not a big fan of those huge sideways leaps either
Just a side note; I did wash out my trailer after I got it home! And Sydney, I know you're a bitless aficionado, but this is how I do it; it works for me.
She's doing great! You do your starting just the way I do. I like how she's thinking about things...she'll be a good one!
Oooh! I really like her! She's a thinker, and those are the best. Nice job!
Hey, do you have dividers for your trailer, or...? Do you tie them when you have more than one? I love that concept, open and airy, room to move. My horse hates a 2-horse straight, and isn't a whole lot better in a slant. He seems to prefer OPEN and roomy. He will load easily onto anything I tell him to, but he sometimes has "panic attacks" in that tight space. Just looking for ideas.
Go Chickory!
A flighty horse like that (my pony lol hes bad) I see made worse all the time by riders that snatch up the reins the second they feel uncomfortable. Like my pony if you gave him his head when he spooked and jumped ahead he would take about 5-10 paces and go back to whatever gait he was at before. However if you grabbed the reins he might go 100 meters before slowing.
Nice that's she's a thinker, they seem to be easier to start!
She really is a beautiful horse.
Since I don't know the first thing about them, what I'm about to write may come across as stating the obvious, but I'm like how you took your time with her. You didn't force her nose in your direction nor did you impatiently yank her out of the trailer. This makes me especially thankful that she's under your care and instead the care of someone else.
Going off on a tangent, how is PG doing? Haven't heard a thing from her in months.
She seems to be doing quite well. She didn't even get too flustered with the rope under her leg.
Lopinon4- I don't have dividers, it's just a stock trailer. Actually it started life as a 4 horse with a center divider and a manger, but we closed off the manger and took out the center divider. It's 13 feet inside. I've hauled 4 horses- even 5 smaller ones- and what I do is tie their heads on the drivers side, I load them so that they are on an angle with their heads facing the rear. I don't haul Beamer with the mares because of no divider.
This is awesome! You can see the trust in her eyes, too. I love a horse that thinks things through instead of jumping or bolting or spinning.
I feel that with Apache. She eyes things and she seems to always be thinking. When she does get spooked about something, her hide jumps, not her legs. It's barely perceptible, but I can see her skin literally vibrate if she's spooked.
Baby Doll on the other hand, she woulnd't even give any warning when she spooked big.....just boom!
I never even had a chance to grab the horn to hold on, and I always ride with a loose rein, so when she spooked and teleported sideways, I had no chance of collecting her. Same with bolting, but at least with forward motion, I could do a quick one-rein stop and not fly off sideways.
I like a thinking horse....not a reactionary horse.
Chickory seems like a thinking horse and if she has any momentary gaps, you are building that trust, so her reactions should be much less.
Way to go.
~Lisa
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