Chiropractor

I know it's been a while since I've posted. I recently decided to get Gunny to the "body balancer" which is essentially a chiropractor. We discovered Gunny's right shoulder was over an inch out of place, as well as her poll and various places on her spine. She was adjusted and I haven't really had a chance to ride her to see a difference, but I notice now the muscle tone in her right shoulder is very minimal compared to her left. We have to work on retraining her and getting muscle tone built up in her right shoulder as well. I certainly hope it helps. This might have been the root of her behavior all along. I never thought she was out of alignment...but she started being resistant to the right, not bending, nor taking the right lead. When she was adjusted, her eyes got soft and she seemed to be relieved. I hope it helps!!

Flying lead change

Well, I rode outside today, despite that it was cold. The outdoor arena is much larger than the indoor, and I wanted to work on loping work. I put a log/ground pole in the center of the arena...and worked at cantering across it and switching directions after she crossed it. She did switch leads one time, and I was very proud. I know with loping work I need to practice sitting up straight, getting my legs back further and using gentle aides. I was proud of her today and how far we've come. I cut the session short and let her have a big bowl of grain. :) I would like to get a new saddle...as the saddle I'm using is a synthetic and it's 4+ years old...I'd love a leather saddle, but every one I find and try on, she seems to react to. I put on my friend's Circle Y saddle, and before even cinching it down, I tried pressing some weight down on the horn of the saddle..and I got an ear-pinning reaction. I tried the same test with my synthetic saddle, and had no reaction. So my horse is wider than I thought! :) I have to take that into consideration when purchasing a new saddle. I have to be patient and I know when the time comes, I'll find the right saddle for us.

Wow!

Alas, I am so sorry it's been so long since I've posted.

I have been riding pretty regularly, and I felt as though I was making very slow to nothing in terms of progress. Well, I had my girlfriend finally get some videos of me riding Gunny, and I realized we have improved LEAPS AND BOUNDS. The small things I see under saddle are very unnoticeable to others. Gunny's movement is so much more relaxed, fluid, beautiful. I'm not doing too bad either. I'm making a conscious effort not to lean forward and to try to stay relaxed myself. I really think we're getting somewhere. Ryan's program of just teaching basics has helped wonders. I look at old videos and I realize that I was being inconsistent and going too fast. Gunny just didn't understand what I wanted... And I guess, I really wasn't sure how to teach her any other way than trudging through it. But I have finally had a EUREKA! moment and I think we've got the wheels spinning. Although I am not making her lope a ton (we're both out of shape), she does pick up her lope with leg aids, without a ton of fuss. She doesn't have leads or much control with it yet, but we're getting there!! I'm so proud!

Here's a video of us at work -- see? Different horse. (And a different me!)

Before

Almost a year later...

After!

Enjoy!! :)

Saddle makes a big difference

I did change to a wider saddle, and although it's a junkier saddle, it fits her better. So I'm going to ride her in that from now on. I've been doing basic things with her, like go, stop, back, head down, etc. Making small goals and achieving them, trying to be very patient. She's doing wonderfully. I have to make sure to be CONSISTENT with my cues and make sure there's an obvious difference between the cues. I did have trouble with her putting her head up when I stopped her, for whatever reason. She wasn't doing that before, but I thought perhaps it was from the saddle pinching her...so switching saddles was a good idea. She still did it with the new (old) saddle and so I figured she was just anticipating it from before. So, I tried to get her to collect in frame when she stopped instead of stopping on her forehand with her head in the air. It didn't work very well under saddle so I went back to in-hand bridle work. That helped a bit...but not totally. I got on her and worked with it a little at a time, then asked her to step out...go a little work, get her feet moving, then asked her to stop and back immediately. She didn't have time to shift her weight to the forehand..she collected up and immediately got light. From that moment on, she did it correctly. Not sure what I did, but I'd like to think it's progress?

I have to still keep working on the head-down cue, backing with her head down, rhythm (extending and collecting different gaits, mostly walk/trot for now) and line (following a specific path and not deviating from it until told to do so). I have been working also on different leg cues...sidepass vs go forward, etc. I have been able to get her to sidepass and half pass without hesitation...I'm getting somewhere -- I am teaching my horse to be compliant through non resistance and therefore she is doing anything that I ask of her (within reason). She doesn't resist being mounted anymore, and she comes up/nickers at me in the pasture. She seems to enjoy being with me. The only problem right now is her girth issues.

The neoprene girth that I use on this saddle has little "bumps" for grips (it's a roper cinch) and it seems to grab and pinch her, and make her sore. So all in all I have to resort back to my smooth worn-out neoprene cinch that fits her better and allows her some "give". I'll keep an eye on it and try to be gentle. I've been using a mounting block for both our sakes...and that way I can keep her saddle from slipping when I mount...since I'm too big and I can't jump up there right now (especially with my knee bothering me). I keep her cinch a little looser that way, so she's more comfortable. But I'll see if the different cinch makes a difference in her behavior. It's either she's got an internal (rib?) problem, or she's just resentful from the past...memories of getting pinched when I accidentally pinched her here and there. I did touch her in those areas and she responded with ear pinning. I didn't push very hard, so it leads me to believe her girth area is just tender from not having been cinched all summer...and she's not "callused" yet so to speak. I'll keep being gentle. I put some liniment on it..hopefully to help it relax and heal a little while I'm not there.

Tomorrow is my last day working with her for a few days as I'll be away down state with my girlfriend.

My horse and her pasture-mate didn't have salt for at least a week, so I went out and got a block for them. I don't know if they don't give them salt sometimes or they just forgot, but I figured getting a block wouldn't hurt. I've also been giving Gunny some minerals...since the other day I saw her eating dirt and licking rocks...since she's gotten salt and minerals, that has stopped. :)

All in all, very happy with our little bits of progress.

First Ride

First ride was successful. I just did walk/trot stuff and although she's a bit rusty, she didn't do badly. I just need to work on refining her head-down cue, transitions, and getting me back in the game of being consistent and concise with my cues. We both need work. I believe I need to get a saddle that fits her better before we can get into any serious cantering training...I put her saddle on and from the ground pushed down on the saddle horn..and she started to pin her ears and raise her head. So, it's definitely pinching or pressing badly on her withers. It's just a matter of finding the right saddle and being able to afford it. Anyways, not much else to say for now, just gotta keep plugging away at it!

Goal of the day: Cross water, basic control on trail

FAIL!

I went way too fast today. I thought she would be alright by going out on the trail in hand, having us work on go forward, stop, and back up. Once we lost sight of the herd, however, Gunny went nuts. I learned a valuable lesson today, and I am glad I didn't push her by trying to RIDE her out there. She's barn/buddy sour and that needs to be addressed a little at a time, in gradual increasing increments. I realized I pushed her too hard, too fast, and expected way too much from her.

The rest of the session she was wound up and pushy. We didn't accomplish much today, but after I finally got her back to the barn (which was a challenge without her running me over), I started some basic control, with both halter and bridle in the indoor arena. She did calm down some, even went on the block for me. She likes the block...she knows she gets treats if she stands on it!


Ellen (my girlfriend) is coming up to visit this weekend, and I hope to get out to the barn at least one more time this week. Our goals need to be small, and as Ellen said, I need to realize that I spent 5 months away from my horse. I need to reconnect with her, assess where she is at in her training, and bond with her again. Things aren't going to be exactly how they were before, immediately. Just like in school -- you can be great at certain math problems, but after summer vacation, you need a little refresher to remember everything. It isn't that you're incapable of doing it, it's just a matter of getting back into the swing of things. I did notice that even after this reprieve, Gunny still seems ouchie around the girth area when I pull up. I don't know if it's because she's been pinched there in the past, or perhaps there's an underlying problem, like a rib out of place or something. Her reaction when I take my hand and gently pull up with the skin in that area is to bring her nose to my hand. I don't know if that's a threat to bite, or just "Mom, I don't like what you're doing" or "Ouch, stop!" or "I'm just curious?" I'll have to keep an eye on it.

If I can find an equine chiropractor in the area that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, maybe I'll get her adjusted. She's never been her entire life, so perhaps that could be the cause of a lot of different behaviors.

I did place the bit in her mouth today...I sat on her bareback to assess her cues, and she was very rusty and very heavy on the bit. It was like she wanted nothing to do with me or anything else. So I got off immediately before I got hurt. I knew I had more groundwork/basic controls to do. She was also still wound up from our "trail excursion" earlier, so that could have been part of it, too.

She does need to get her feet trimmed, but I must say, for not having anything done with her for almost 5 months, her feet are still in great shape!

All in all, I have to take things slowly, even though I want to get rolling again, and take off where I left off before. But I know I can't do that. "Slow and steady wins the race". I have to gain her trust and bond with her and really think and assess the problem before tackling it.

Eventually, when I get back out on the trail in hand, I have to figure out the spot at which she goes from "Green zone" to "Yellow zone" or, where she goes from being relaxed to pre-flight mode. I have to mark that area somehow, if not just mentally, and try to push that boundary little by little, every day. If she gets flighty, I have to get her back into the green zone by allowing her to go backward to where she was comfortable, and begin again. Just by having her take a step past her comfort zone is progress. I have to remember, this is a long, drawn-out process, and it's going to take a lot of time and PATIENCE.

Today felt like a failure, but I know, everybody, including horses, have good days and bad days. I'll just count today as an attempt and a learning experience, and I can be better prepared for the next session.

My goal for the next lesson is doing basic control in the bridle. Not jumping all over me, backing lightly, turning lightly, focusing on me, and eventually, rhythm. Extending her stride and then shortening her stride (in hand to begin with). There's so much that I can do...and although it gets boring and repetitive, it is essential to having a safe, reliable partner. I'll be proud that I did all my "homework".

Goal of the day: block

When I got to the barn, I said Gunny's nickname (Ponyta) and she whinnied and ran up to me. I suppose she missed me a little. :P

I decided to groom her and then test her basic control work. Still at where I left off, fantastic. I've decided to start working on various ground exercises until I'm confident and she is too. I worked with her slowly, keeping her calm, and got her to step both front feet on a box/block, and down again. Rewarding her with a snippet of grain every time she did what I wanted. It was fun to watch her stay in the "green zone" and be interested in pleasing me. I think the more we're successful together, the more we can have a partnership. I have to get her feet trimmed and up to date. She got her teeth floated over the summer while I was away...and she's put on a lot of weight. Fabulous. She was a bit thin (for my liking) when I left in the spring. Perhaps the teeth issue was what was causing her problems there.

Anyway, I'm just going to work slowly on ground work and basic control for a while. Maybe working on bridle work, but for now, just the halter. I want to keep things interesting, and I want to train MYSELF to be more patient and not expect too much from her. I want to observe her behaviors and reactions to different stimulus. She's a good girl and I'm glad to be back home and "horsin' around"!

Finally back!

Well, I'm finally back from working all summer on Mackinac Island. I drove taxi this past season, and although I made some decent money, the stress and the treatment of the horses was enough. I'm ready to be home. I'm continuing my Ryan Gingerich basic controls with my horse, and ultimately my goal is to get out to the barn within the next few days. I'm going to do my groundwork, get her light and responsive, and see where I left off in my training before I left for the season. My goal (as always) is going to get the lope down without resistance. I know I have been on this Training Course for more than a year now, but life kinda got in the way of my training. One needs money to have a horse and pay for school. So, I need to get back into the swing of things. I'm going to try various ground exercises, desensitized to various things, working on crossing water, and I'm going to start Ryan's spooking DVD to work with her spooking on the trail. Whatever I do, my goal is to be quiet, patient, and understanding of my horse. I do not want to hurt my horse at all -- it's hard to see how some of the horses are treated on the island. They're just a number. Their feet are terrible, and they just get the job done. Balance is not considered, and lameness is a big factor. And although I cannot change that, I can control my own horse's care, and choose not to do anything inhumane or cruel to her.

My goal is to get compliance through nonresistance, and have my horse be my partner and friend. I want my horse to be capable of staying calm and trusting me, whatever we may do. And although it's going to take some time, I am determined to achieve my goal.

Until next time -- I'll be posting soon!

Happy trails!

Yay!

Very successful session today. She was calm and relaxed and kept her head down very well, even with being hyped up yesterday. I started just leisurely walking and jogging her...trusting her on a looser rein. She does tend to veer off the rail while going around to the left (counter-clockwise), so i had to use my leg and rein a lot more to keep her on the rail. But, she's very light and neck reining decently now. I'm quite proud! I did have her lope again, and I decided it would be best to just keep her on the rail, and have her go where i want her to, before i start having her do circles. I want her to be able to build up some endurance and then I will work on collection.

I think before, she wasn't allowed to have her head, and therefore was not balanced, and therefore was resentful or reluctant to try to lope. I'm starting to trust her more and go with her movements, and I'm seeing a lot of improvement. I'm keeping an eye on her back to make sure she's not sore. She was a bit sore today, since I rode her hard yesterday (and I'm very sore, too!) so she's going to get the weekend off most likely. She's very light on the bit and is getting better with turning. All this basic control work and backing up and whatnot has done WONDERS for her control and her stopping power.

I'll keep working on her. I have to leave the 15th of May for Mackinac Island for the summer, so I'm trying to get as much done as I can in terms of training. I've been on this training class for over a year, but I've had so many challenges and other obligations to complete. I hope to finish it by the end of this year when I get home, but hard to say. I need money, that's for sure! So, the lazy horse gets yet another summer off. But, if I didn't have a job, I probably wouldn't have a horse, so this is all in good fun. :)

I'll be driving taxi this summer on the island, which will be new, but fun all the same. Hopefully i'll enjoy it.

Anyway, TTFN!

Success?

Wow, I know it's been a long time since I've posted.

Been progressively working with Gunny outside in the outdoor arena. The last two lessons I asked her to lope, and I gave her her head. She pinned her ears, yes, but she didn't throw her head and she went into the lope and maintained a pretty rhythmic gait that wasn't too fast nor too slow. She hasn't ducked off the rail at all, which I'm very proud of her for. I'm gaining trust in her again. However, I did try to do circles, and she drops her shoulder a lot. That could be from the lunging initially, or me dropping MY shoulder. I tried very hard to keep my leg on her, and sit up straight, but she still did it. That might be something we need to work on...after I did circles, she got hyped up and wanted to go fast...which makes sense, since that's what she was used to with round penning and lunging. I just don't want to back track. I think the saddle pad is helping, which might be the original head throwing problem...the saddle. Either that or me asking her to collect too much, and she couldn't. Either way, she's getting better and I'm proud. I just don't want to back track. Tomorow, going to work on slow, back, walk/trot stuff. Maybe a little loping, but not too much.

Improvement.

I rode both Cash (a pony that we might be getting) and Gunny today. Both were good. It turned out to be quite a nice day. Gunny and I have been working on lengthening and shortening her stride, speed control, line, and half halts. It's a work in progress, but things are getting better. Her neck reining is getting better, and she's doing better with staying on the rail. I did ask her to lope today -- but tried not to "smooch" too loud..and she went into it, just as my barn owner was near. He said I did a great job. She does still pin her ears, but the head tossing is less, so that's a good sign. Still need to work on getting her head down at the extended trot as well, before I can do loping work, but she is improving.

She's been really spooky on the trail, so I've been trying to take her out of the arena just a little bit, until she gets uncomfortable. I always ride her in the outdoor arena first, so she can get used to the sights and smells, while being in the security of an enclosed area. Every day I try to go a little further on the trail. I've been making up songs and singing to her so that we both relax. Surprisingly, it works wonders. We went a bit further than we have been going today, and I just turned her in nice, slow, gradual circles in the area...she started to relax. Then, we headed home. She's been getting slower and slower on the way home, because whenever she tries to hurry back, I back her up and make her stand. So, she's catching on that it's easier to go slowly and get back to the barn faster. :)

The weather is supposed to be superb this week, so I'll keep working at it. I'm sore from riding so much today, but it's sure nice to be able to ride outside again! I have to get in a lot before I head back up to the island at the end of May. It's going to come quick.

Windy!

Was quite windy today, but I rode Gunny outside in the outdoor arena. I want to get her used to the smells by being in a confined area. She did excellent today. She was very responsive and did everything I asked, like a champ. Worked on speed up/slow down, walk, jog, stay on the rail. After our ride, I went out of the gate on her back (very proud) and decided to start on the trail just slightly. I only took her to the end of the driveway and back, as she seemed nervous. Any time she lost focus on me, I backed her up. Then, whenever she rushed on the way home, I backed her up. She was very calm. A very successful day, especially for it being as windy as it was.

Spring "fresh"

Well, I rode Gunny a little bareback today in the indoor arena. She did very well. I then decided to take her on a trail ride with my barn owners...and she was doing just fine until she got wind of a skunk, I think. Larry got a little bit ahead of Gunny and she exploded...she reared, bucked, and started to bolt. I was able to shut her down, but I still felt like I was on a coiled spring. Thankfully, I was able to get off and work her on the ground some...until I felt comfortable to get back on. We rode back to the barn, and every time she started to act up a little bit, I'd back her up. I then rode her into the outdoor arena so she could get used to the sights and smells but be confined. She relaxed and we ended on a good note. I took about 5 minutes to get back to the hitching rail...because whenever she would rush or lift her head, I'd immediately back her up...but I'm glad I stayed on and was able to get through that. I know i need to do my homework/groundwork outside before I can go out again -- I don't want to get myself hurt.

Turned out to be a nice day

It started out overcast, gray and windy..but turned into a nice, sunny 60º day. I decided to take Gunny on a little trail ride...which was a bad idea. She was fresh and something was in the air, so I didn't feel comfortable after we got out there. She got really hot and wouldn't relax. So I had to get off and walk her home. When we got back to the barn, I rode her in the indoor arena and got her to calm down. Did some extending of her jog...and stopping, backing. But mostly worked on rail work. She's listening to my legs *finally* and I was able to go around the arena without touching the reins once, 5 times in a row, both ways, walk and jog. I was very proud. She ended up being a good girl today. Checked her back for soreness, since she did get pretty sweaty today..and it didn't seem sore at all. I put some liniment on it just to be safe. Gave her more salt in her grain today, so she was a happy camper. Lovely day to ride, plain and simple. I feel so blessed.

Where is the sunshine? I'm sick of RAIN.

Well, yesterday I rode Gunny a little bit. Her back doesn't seem very sore at all now, so that's good. I've been taking it easy on her, as well. I did give her a bit of salt in my hand, and she ate a little bit...but not tons. I also put some in her grain as well, just in case. I'll probably do that again today. She seems like she's moving out a bit more freely now.

My goal for today is, like always, keeping her head down and relaxed, and asking her to speed up/slow down. Her stopping has gotten incredible. I'm so proud of her. She sits her hind end right down and stops almost on a dime. Her backing is getting better too. She may have been a bit reluctant because her back hurt her last week. She's staying on the rail a bit better, but it still needs work. I guess, the goals for today are the "same old, same old."

Yesterday I did ride this cute little paint gelding that this lady is trying to give away. I really would love to take him, but my parents said it's probably not a good idea. He's only 14.2. He's stocky, and I'd train him for my sister. He's blind in one eye, but is an absolute sweetheart. The lady said I can ride him whenever I want. He needs his teeth floated...even with gentle hands he tilted his head sideways...evident that he wasn't happy. He had a HUGE curb bit in his mouth. he doesn't need that...at all. The lady said I can ride him in a snaffle (thank goodness) to see how he does.

I did a bit of Ryan's ground work with him..and he was actually VERY good. Not pushy at all, amazing back up with just a nylon halter. His only problem was the "go forward" cue...he'd swish his tail every time you'd tap him at the girth line with the whip. I think it was mostly confusion. If I have time today, I'll work with him again. But he's such a sweetie. I brushed him for like a half an hour, and he just stood there. Picked up all four feet...big baby. Both him and Gunny lost another "horse" of hair, they're shedding so badly! Spring is here, folks! :)

Anyway, updates soon.

Spring is here (!?)

Gunny's back seems to be a lot less sore. I gave her about 4 days off, and I rubbed liniment on her back to help ease the pain of the muscles. I rode her a little on the trail today, although we didn't go far because the mud was deeper than I thought. She did, however, cross 3" deep puddles without even thinking twice. I was SO proud of her!

I rode her in the arena...just lightly. Walk/jog and a little bit of an extended trot. I worked with my legs to keep her on the rail, and she's getting noticeably better at not darting into the center. I just have to be consistent and know when she goes off the rail to prepare to correct her. She's keeping her head down quite well at the jog. She doesn't stay flexed at the poll, but she keeps her head down..so that's a start. I think I made her sore by pushing her too hard, too fast, so I want to take it easy on her and build up her endurance to the training.

I've been giving her a little bit of grain (Nutrena Safe Choice) after each ride, too. She really enjoys that. Only about 4-5 pounds, once a day. So it's just a "treat". Until I can find a hay probe to use to get a hay test (since I board at a barn...I can't just cut open a ton of bales for a test), I hope a little grain will help make up for any protein she might be lacking. I'm going to see if that makes any difference in her top line definition.

For some reason, I've never noticed any salt in the paddock in which she's in. They usually give them scoops of mineral salt (loose) in a dish every day, but every time I go out there, it's empty. I don't know if they have a block somewhere that I didn't see, but I hope that she's getting enough salt. I was thinking of possibly giving her a little sprinkle of salt on her grain, just in case. She has access to free choice, fresh water from a Nelson Automatic Waterer System.

All in all, she seems to be doing well. It was overcast today, but 60 degrees, so it was a nice change. Rain is supposedly coming the next couple days, so I have a feeling I'll be staying home and studying!

Gunny's Sore. :(

I decided to put out 4 trot poles for Gunny to go over, in hopes of defining her top line, since she seems like she's getting a little sway-backed. As soon as I got on her today, she dipped really hard underneath me. I thought maybe she just lost her balance, like when you mount when the horse isn't square.

I rode her today, she did quite well. I tried deletion when she came off the rail. I'd back her to the point she'd come off of it, and begin working again as soon as she was in the right place.

She tripped over the trot poles because she didn't pick up her feet, so they were caddy wampus the entire time. I tried to only trot her very slowly or walk her over them. When she decided to take huge steps over them, I did come down on her back pretty hard and I felt bad.

I worked on speeding her up and then slowing her down just before the poles, to prepare her, just like you would for jumping. She responded quite well.

I decided after our ride to test her back for soreness, because her dipping kind of worried me. I ran my fingers down the outside of her spine down her back. Right in the middle of her back she dipped and started to twitch. It was obvious that she was sore. I felt horrible. It was in an unusual spot -- I am not sure that it's just because she's never been ridden english before and that's a spot that hasn't had much stress with her western saddle, or the fact that she's not nearly at obese as she was before, since she doesn't get free choice hay, or a combination of both. It's right where the seat of the saddle is with my English saddle...not quite as far back as the loins, but, around that area. Either way, I feel horrible for hurting my horse. I put some liniment on her back and tried to massage it a little. It hurt her, for sure, but I tried to do it gently and let her know that I didn't mean to hurt her. I'm going to give her the day off from riding tomorrow, as much as I hate to back track her progress. Maybe I'll try western again since it has different pressure points and I have my new CSI pad. See if that makes a difference. I've had such a hard time with her seeming to be sore ever since she lost some weight from switching barns.

She's probably a body score of 5 maybe 6. She used to be around the 7 range. She has withers now, and is lacking the fat on the topline. She's not skinny by any means, but she's definitely not fat, and I think that may play a factor in how my saddles fit. Maybe it's a lack of muscle...but I've been riding her consistently 3-4 times a week, walk and trot.

I'll keep you posted.

HUGE steps!

Well, today there were a total of 6 of us riding. It was too dusty in the indoor arena, so we decided to ride in the outdoor, since it was 40 degrees or so, and beautifully sunny. Gunny did excellent, both English and Western. Her speed changes are going excellent, and she's improving.

Everybody decided to do a "horse swap" today. I got to ride a TWH, a Missouri Foxtrotter and a MULE! What fun! I think the walker was my favorite. She was such a good girl, and so smooth. Not to mention she's beautifully tall. The fox trotter was also a favorite of mine...he's got such a big stride when he trots. He's such a sweet pea. I also let 3 other ladies ride Gunny. I wasn't sure how she'd do, but she walked around, nonchalantly, head down, relaxed and calm. I was SO proud of her. She's come so far and she's a much more relaxed and confident horse. I've got to keep working on her extending and collecting. I'm so incredibly proud of her. I got so many compliments today on how good and calm Gunny is.

That's a huge success in my opinion!

JoAnn said that maybe we can go for a trail ride sometime in the future. She has two horses -- maybe I can ride her Foxtrotter, Nick, again. Boy, wouldn't that be great!

I'm so thankful for today -- and every day -- that I'm able to be around horses. God is good!

Mom comes to the barn

Rode Gunny english for a few minutes today. My mom came with me today, which never happens. She was smiling and proud as punch of how I was "beaming" on Gunny. We've both come a long way. Just did some short work today, and since Gunny did very well on the basics, I called it a day. I did try smooching today to see if she remembered our confrontation from yesterday. She did raise her head a little bit, and put her ears back a little, but not all the way and not as bad as usual. I was SO proud! She remembered! She did excellent today. Not to mention got all kinds of lovin's from my mom. :)

I did get my CSI pad in the mail today, so maybe western tomorrow? Group ride tomorrow with Joann and the girls. I'm excited!

Goal achieved!

I rode for TWO hours today, and even in an English saddle! Gunny was very good, toward the end of the lesson I was walking and trotting her, and she was staying in frame. I don't post in an English saddle, I use it more or less as a bareback pad. I'm working on my balance and seat for western.

I realized today that clucking/kissing for Gunny to go faster is what triggers the ear pinning. So, confrontation and deletion were done when she pinned her ears. I applied the head-down cue at a scale of 10 and held it until she dropped her head, then immediately tried again. I'm going to try to desensitize her to smooching, because that seems to cause the unwanted behavior. If I ask her gently, she usually goes into a faster gait without any question. She just raises her head. So we went around the arena at an extended trot, me continually kissing, and correcting her if the ears went back or the head went up. We both got a good workout, but I totally think that it was a great lesson. She's coming along nicely.

She's actually getting better at going around the arena to the right, which was her bad side. Now her left side is rusty! I've got to start working on the left side again, because she's getting better at her "bad" side now!

She was a little heavy on the bit when I first started riding her today, but a little bit of backing up and deletion was all she needed. I even saw her salivating on the new sweet iron full cheek bit. That's something I've never seen before with her! All good things.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I had a great ride. Wonderful day!

If the weather is good tomorrow, I'm going to ride again, hopefully for just as long if possible. I'm going to keep working on the head-down cue, working and tuning half halts and speed changes. She tends to hollow her back if I ask her to step out, so we've got to work on that. Her half halts are very rusty. I don't think she really knows what they mean yet -- slow your feet. I've got to work on being clear of what I want when I ask her to slow down to a slower pace.

She's still having issues with staying on the rail, but I also noticed that I was dropping my shoulder more to the left than I was the right. I tried to sit up correctly, and the English saddle is helping me with balance. It wasn't a 360º change or anything, but I did notice a difference with her veering off the rail less when I tried not to drop my shoulder. Something else to work on. :)

Little successes are very refreshing!

Goal for tomorrow:

I didn't get to the barn today, although it was a glorious day. I went ice fishing/snowmobiling with my dad and his friend, Mr. Quinn (who is Joann's husband).

My goal for tomorrow is to ride for at least an hour, allowing Gunny to stay on the rail by herself, at both the walk and the jog, and minimally have to correct her head. If that goes as planned, I'll try to speed her up and slow her down with half haults. I may get the cones out and work on gradual circles and having her not drop her shoulder. I know it's the same old, same old, but things need to be polished before I can move on. My new pad should be here tomorrow, I believe. Hopefully having a day off didn't set her back too much. We'll see how she is! :D

Another Expo

Went to another expo today in Cadillac. It was mostly just a consignment tack sale. Yeah, i ended up buying two saddles. One English, one Western. I only spent 230 dollars total on the both of them. I went and tried both saddles on Gunny...even rode her walk/trot in the English saddle. (I'm not a graceful English rider.) I'm kind of excited and proud of myself. I got lucky. Both of them seem to fit okay...but then again I don't know. I think Gunny just acts like a brat no matter what saddle I have on. I've tried like 6 different saddles, and she's always a little cranky about going faster. I don't know what her deal is.

I'll have to get pictures of her in the western saddle, but above is a picture of her in her new English one.

Blizzard.

Freezing cold again today, which made for an empty indoor arena. I focused on keeping Gunny on the rail and letting her keep her head down by herself, but correcting her if she went of the rail or raised her head. She did quite well. There were a few spots that made her want to go to the center, but I tried to catch them with my leg and hold her on the rail, to set her up for success. I also worked on lengthening and shortening her stride (we have a long way to go). But, she was excellent today, very relaxed, very obedient. I got my new Reinsman full cheek sweet iron snaffle bit yesterday so that's what I'm using now. It's a much better quality bit than the stainless steel one I was using.

There's an expo up in Cadillac tomorrow and I might head up there to visit my friend. Maybe I can find a new saddle?

My goal for the next time I ride is to be able to go around the arena twice without having to correct Gunny at all from going off the rail. That'll take some work, but hopefully it can be done. I also want to have the goal of working on her stride length, but keeping her head down in the process. She tends to hollow her back and raise her head when I ask her to lengthen her stride. If the saddle is uncomfortable to her, hopefully the new pad will make a bit of a difference for her, until I am able to afford a new saddle.

It's Freezing!

Rode a little again with Val and Joann. Just working on Gunny's head-down cue, and lengthening/shortening her stride. I think her saddle and my seat does bother her a little bit. Hopefully this new saddle pad will help with that. I want to see if that makes a difference in her carriage of herself. She was a little rusty today from being off for 4 days, but she kept her head nice and relaxed at the walk. I barely had to even correct her. That's a good sign. :) I'll keep on plugging away at it. Her back is MUCH softer now. I see a dramatic improvement there. She remains in frame and flexes.

My goal for the next time I ride is to have her stay on the rail one time around without me having to correct her. And to continue working on her head-down cue at mostly the jog. She carries her head nicely at the walk, but the jog tends to make it go up a bit. Just little steps. I'll keep working hard!

Group Ride!

Rode with 4 other people today, was able to work on socializing and we played horse soccer. It was a lot of fun, although my toes went numb from the cold. Gunny is still doing great. I keep getting all sorts of compliments on her about how relaxed she is and how good of a girl she is. That makes me feel so accomplished. I got to help Lisa again today with her palomino mare. She actually ended on a good note with her horse, smile on her face and all! It was nice to be able to help someone feel like there was some hope and that they CAN do it. :) She had been injured previously and gets very tense when her horse acts up. So I told her to just set small goals for herself...just walk and stop for the day. And I helped her with her cues, and to not "Y" out her hands to steer. She improved immensely even in the 10 minutes I worked with her. Whenever she got tense, I told her to breathe and relax...ease her mare down...she did a wonderful job. I hope that she keeps it up!

Gunny is backing much better now, she's softening up, and staying on the rail. She's standing still a lot better too. I do have to correct her from dropping her shoulder and trying to go to the center, but that's to be expected. I try not to rest her at all in the center now, only on the rail. The rail isn't a bad place to be. I'm working on getting her to go faster by just leg aides...and to lengthen and shorten her stride. Half halts and small circles, flexing at the poll -- or a "head down" cue. Gotta keep working hard! But it's encouraging to see the continued progress.

Helping others

Had another great day. The sun was shining and Gunny was very good. I rode with a friend of mine at the barn, and she was having a difficult time with her horse. I tried to help her with some ground work methods so that she wasn't so afraid of her horse. It was nice to be able to help others. I gave her my contact information so that if she had any questions, she could ask. Gunny is coming along nicely and is giving to the bit more and more. She's collecting herself and staying on the rail a little bit better too. :) I'm proud of her.

Beautiful sunshine!

Had a great day on Gunny. Did a little bit of ground work and working on giving to the bit. She's getting better, slowly but surely. We worked in both directions at the walk and the jog, getting her to put her head down. As long as I'm consistent with my cues, it seems like she's very responsive. Still a lot of work to do, but I'm excited to see that we're both progressing. She's a little stiff on her backup...but I think it's because it's a newer cue to her. I noticed her getting better toward the end of the lesson, though.

Sure was a nice day. Above freezing and the sun was glorious. My car was actually hot from sitting in the parking lot. :)

I feel so blessed.

Lots of Fun

Today, my friends, Joann, Carol, and Val came to work with their horses (and mule) today with me. We had all sorts of dollar store "scary" toys to de-spook our horses with. I opened an umbrella on Gunny's back...and she ended up getting scared of it, so I had to drop it...but she was almost de-spooked with everything else she had. I even shot a noisy, moving, toy machine gun off of her back. :) I was so proud.

I also worked on the walk and jog and getting her head down and keeping her on the rail. Progress is happening slowly but surely! I'm really proud of her. I'm working more on myself and being clear and consistent with my cues. I think that's my biggest downfall. I don't want to fall back into my old habits. I also need to teach her to rest on the rail, and not the center of the arena.

I ordered her a new full cheek snaffle bit and a nice saddle pad, too. I'm excited for both.

Rehab begins

Well, today the rehabilitation began. I switched to a full cheek snaffle bit, and I began teaching Gunny to give to the bit pressure at the walk and the jog. I hold the outside rein steady and lift the inside rein to get her to drop her head and flex at the poll. When she does this properly, I release the pressure. Right now, that's all I'm going to be working on - and consistency with my cues - to teach her to stay in frame and not drop her shoulder. No loping for at least a month. :)

She was a little bit shaky today, but this is all new to her, and it's a slow teaching process. We'll see how she gets over the next couple weeks.

Pictures from the Expo

Ryan on Gunny!

Dana (Ryan's secretary), Me, and Ryan Gingerich

Ryan's Horse, Dillon, and myself.

I wish my photos weren't so large, or else I'd upload more. It takes 5 minutes to shrink one down. All in all, this was a great experience, and Ryan helped me realize what I was doing wrong and how I can fix it. I can't wait to get started. He basically taught me basic dressage moves to help teach Gunny to drop her head and remain in frame. After we master that at the walk and the trot, it can be taken to the canter, but not at LEAST for a while. She has to be able to respond correctly at least 80% of the time in order to "pass" the test. I'm excited to get started! Will keep you posted. :)

Had a great time!

Well, meeting Ryan was incredible. He helped me so much and actually RODE Gunny. He normally doesn't do that. He basically taught me dressage methods, the foundation of all riding, and things to do and build on. He gave me inspiration and said that I can contact him any time for help if need be. I'm really exhausted from the weekend, but Gunny did very well. I was very proud of her progress from the beginning of the demo to the end. She was a different horse.

I'm going to recuperate, but when I have some time, I'll post some photos! :)

Such a success, and a great experience. Now on to the road to rehabilitation and recovery. ^_^

:)

I got the call this morning, at 8:45. Cathy called the vet and got a little bit nasty to them. I guess her coworker is part of the lab at MSU where the testing happens. And she said she was going to have them email it to her, so we could go. Well, I guess the vet stepped it up and had them get the results in, because not 15 minutes after she called, I got my phone call. I'm so incredibly thankful that I get to go. We're leaving at 10am tomorrow, probably a 3 hour drive. It's going to be a long day/night, but hopefully it'll be worth it.

I spent the majority of this morning/afternoon preparing, packing, loading the truck and trailer. I have everything all set and ready to go for tomorrow. I'm so excited! Hopefully I'll get some good pictures and videos. I'll let you know how it goes!

:)

It's getting near, will I be able to go?

I've done everything I possibly can to prepare for the expo this weekend. I had coggins drawn last Thursday, putting it on rush order. I wasn't charged for it, but I was charged 129 dollars total for the vet call (2 miles down the road), health certificate and coggins test. I guess the results still aren't in, and the analysis hasn't even been completed yet. The veterinary assistant that answered the phone and was really rude to me, for expecting results so quickly. She said "Did you ask the doctor to put it on rush order?", like I was an ignoramus. I simply and kindly told her yes, and I had talked to her about it last week. I'd made it very clear that I needed them by Friday. I got the test as soon as I found out that Ryan wanted to work with us. There isn't much more I could do. Hopefully the test results will be in so that we can go. I really don't want to miss this opportunity.

I'm praying.

I've got all my stuff packed as much as I can. I bought a new helmet for the occasion, did my hair and got a hair cut, got some hay bays, etc. I'm not going to go crazy about clipping Gunny or anything, because she's kept outside and I don't want her to freeze. So, she'll just be a fuzzum. I'll just clean her up as much as I can without giving her an actual "bath".

Anyway, I will keep you guys posted!

OH MY GOSH!!

I got a phone call earlier today from Ryan Gingerich's secretary, Dana, whom asked me to be a participant in their expo at Birch Run next weekend! I get to work for an hour and a half with Ryan, one on one with Gunny. It's going to be such an amazing experience! I'm so excited I can hardly breathe!

I have a lot of things to do. I got my friend Cathy to plan on trailering Gunny down there on the 12th, bless her heart. I just have to pay for diesel and for her way in.

I called the vet today because I need to get Gunny's coggins test done. Unfortunately, it was after hours, so I had to leave a message. Hopefully I can get the vet out there tomorrow, or ASAP, and get a rush order and faxed copy of the results, so I can legally travel.

Next, I have to call Dan, my farrier, and get Gunny's feet all trimmed, so she looks nice.

I have no idea what I'm going to wear...I have to pack and organize, but I am so incredibly excited and so thankful that God has blessed us with this opportunity. I hope and pray everything works out and that I am able to learn a lot. :D

I will hopefully post pictures and videos after it happens.

Need to be ambitious!

So, I've started learning about Ryan Gingerich's ground work methods, and how most problems in horses start with a misunderstanding of the "go" and "stop" cue. It seems to make sense, as almost everything bases itself upon these two things. So, I started working again with ground work, as obviously under saddle work isn't going like I've planned. I'm trying to teach Gunny to drop her head when I set a "bit barrier", so that she goes to achieve release from the pressure, instead of bracing against it, which is what she does at the canter.

So far, it's working! I think she was misunderstanding what I wanted with the bit pressure. She found release from the pressure if she braced against it, and I wasn't strong enough to hold the pressure constant...so we're simply working on giving to the bit again, and shortly, we'll work up to the canter and see if it makes a difference.

The weather has been cold and yucky, and I keep making excuses not to go to the barn and work with her. I need to stop that and just get my butt out there. So, that's my plan for tomorrow!

I will try to blog more, I promise.