This is a big deal for me. I suspect it will increase my empathy for people who are in the student role with me. I will be in the student role tomorrow, with a new teacher.
I'm fairly comfortable with the teachers/clinicians/coaches already in my life. I see them once or twice a year if I'm able to arrange that (only one still comes within a few hours from here). But tomorrow I will venture to take a lesson not in horsemanship but an equitation lesson. I'm having mixed feelings of course -- excitement and nervousness. I know I will learn new things and I hope I will learn without tears or shame or anguish. Yes, I'm capable of emotional upheaval, although it really has not happened much in the past year or two. At least not in the area of Learning About Horses.
I am grateful for the openness of a horsey friend who blogs prolifically about her lessons and her learning. She has portrayed her instructor in ways that I know I could learn from her, someone with kindness and clarity and a tremendously humungous background with horses and teaching. I have scheduled a lesson with this instructor.
By the way, I confess this will be my first ever lunge line lesson. Something I advocate and teach myself, but have never done it. I expect some interesting revelations!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Teeth
The equine floater was here the other day. He travels from afar a few times a year and checks and/or works on all of our horses. I like that he is commited to doing teeth without sedation, speculum, or power tools. For the most part my horses like this, too.
I say "for the most part" because for the past few visits, Rusty has not wanted to let the floater do his job. It raises questions and provokes conversation. This visit went much better than last visit. Last time I was ready to say, "Nope, you won't be handling this horse again." I am a protective owner, but sometimes I wonder if I'm over protective, if I expect too little, if I allow too much.
Rusty has been provoking my learning since I got him as a yearling. I'm grateful for the sense (or nonsense) that has led me down this path of horsemanship so that he and I could enjoy our time together. I spent the first few years criticizing him, misunderstanding his needs and his communications, and finally have adjusted my presentation enough so that 96% of our time together is indeed together. What a treat!
So when Rusty was not cooperating with the floater, I got to doubting my approach, wondering if I'd missed something that this horse of mine was so strong in his opinions. Those strong opinons matched with a large healthy body result in situations where either we gain his cooperation, or we don't.
I tried to express this while things were a bit of a mess during the prior visit. I know I used the right words in terms of being clear and understandable, but there might have been an edge to my emotions, because in fact, there was an edge to my emotions. As I watched what was going on I felt increasingly uncomfortable and protective of Rusty. What a bind -- wanting to stop an interaction between a professional and my horse -- risking losing the professional's accessiblity and skill if I seriously turned him off in my effort to protect my horse and facilitate some change so that better communication and cooperation were happening.
Rusty cannot be forced. He has to think about things and make a decision. I know he trusts me enough that ever we had an emergency he would let go of his ideas right away and follow my feel, follow my directions there and then. But on less urgent issues, no force. Period. He knows he is stronger, and he knows from experience that his ways of taking care of himself are likely to be better than those ways of us silly humans.
A vet I used before I moved called Rusty a Prima Donna. Prima Donna has a few meanings: the leading woman soloist in an opera company; a temperamental, conceited person; a disagreeable person, unpleasant person. The vet's comment came after doing the usual annual vet stuff with Rusty, and watching me ask Rusty to stand or move, to lift a foot or whatever. It was not said in a warm loving manner, more with some exasperation that I would have a horse who needed the time he did before he'd 'behave himself'.
And that raises the huge question about horses behaving themselves. How can a horse behave on human terms? Most of what we ask them to do is counter to their very nature. So, in my understanding, am I enabling a disruptive, unruly horse or am I letting him be a horse as long as I'm safe and I enjoy our rides together?
I have to remember that each of us makes choices about our horse handling (excluding those folks who act unconsciously day after day around horses, and sadly there are folks like that), and that my choices reflect who I am today and my history with life in general not only with horses. My reactions around horses are similar to my reactions around people. My best communication offerings around horses are similar to my best around people. I am one and the same person regardless of what species I'm with.
Although, as so many of us know, it is often easier to be in the presence of horse or dog or cat, than of a fellow human being. Sad but true.
I wander in my writing this evening. I started out thinking I'd share about how well little Bo did with the floater. He was awesome! He questioned what this stranger wanted to do but allowed him and was more relaxed at the end than at the start. It was comforting to learn that his teeth were in pretty good shape as I have few details about his past.
I'm a type of person who questions a lot. So now I question -- how come Bo was so good (there's that judgmental word!) and Rusty wasn't (more judgment!)? I question if I've done something wrong and wonder if the longer Bo lives with me the better chance he'll be troublesome, too.
But then I remember standing there after the floater decided not to try anymore -- concerned he'd get hurt as Rusty threw his head around -- and put my fingers in Rusty's mouth, from one side, from both sides, reaching back up toward his molars, pulling his lower lip down, stretching the sides of his lips out, and Rusty allowed this except for one complaint. So that tells me I really can't do anything myself to prepare him any better to accept the floater, unless I asked everyone who comes to the farm to put their fingers and metal objects into his mouth? Sigh. I can do that. But I imagine that anyone I enlisted would either offer an acceptable feel to Rusty and be successful as I was, or offer an unacceptable feel and be rejected as clearly and quickly as a moving equine head can express.
It comes back to the word feel. And what we do when a horse accepts or rejects the feel we offer. Unless it's an emergency, I'm commited to letting the horse say no to me, and then looking for how I can share my intent and gain his cooperation without force. Leslie Desmond has told us that unless a horse can say "no", his "yes" will have little meaning. I'd say this applies to people as well. Having the choice to say "yes" implies that it is OK to say "no" as well. And often I've let a horse say "no", waited a bit, and found the horse offering a "yes".
Blah, blah, blah. It was an invigorating day outside in the chilly air but bright sun, warmed by my brandnew sheepskin hat, much more fashionable than my trusty old red and purple gortex hat. I'll have to get a picture of it, or wait and take a picture of my dreams if I make them come true -- dreams of making sheepskin hats from our Jacob sheepskins. I think their long fleece would look good on the outside of a hat, but would it be as warm as when it's on the inside?
Here I go again... blah, blah, blah.
I say "for the most part" because for the past few visits, Rusty has not wanted to let the floater do his job. It raises questions and provokes conversation. This visit went much better than last visit. Last time I was ready to say, "Nope, you won't be handling this horse again." I am a protective owner, but sometimes I wonder if I'm over protective, if I expect too little, if I allow too much.
Rusty has been provoking my learning since I got him as a yearling. I'm grateful for the sense (or nonsense) that has led me down this path of horsemanship so that he and I could enjoy our time together. I spent the first few years criticizing him, misunderstanding his needs and his communications, and finally have adjusted my presentation enough so that 96% of our time together is indeed together. What a treat!
So when Rusty was not cooperating with the floater, I got to doubting my approach, wondering if I'd missed something that this horse of mine was so strong in his opinions. Those strong opinons matched with a large healthy body result in situations where either we gain his cooperation, or we don't.
I tried to express this while things were a bit of a mess during the prior visit. I know I used the right words in terms of being clear and understandable, but there might have been an edge to my emotions, because in fact, there was an edge to my emotions. As I watched what was going on I felt increasingly uncomfortable and protective of Rusty. What a bind -- wanting to stop an interaction between a professional and my horse -- risking losing the professional's accessiblity and skill if I seriously turned him off in my effort to protect my horse and facilitate some change so that better communication and cooperation were happening.
Rusty cannot be forced. He has to think about things and make a decision. I know he trusts me enough that ever we had an emergency he would let go of his ideas right away and follow my feel, follow my directions there and then. But on less urgent issues, no force. Period. He knows he is stronger, and he knows from experience that his ways of taking care of himself are likely to be better than those ways of us silly humans.
A vet I used before I moved called Rusty a Prima Donna. Prima Donna has a few meanings: the leading woman soloist in an opera company; a temperamental, conceited person; a disagreeable person, unpleasant person. The vet's comment came after doing the usual annual vet stuff with Rusty, and watching me ask Rusty to stand or move, to lift a foot or whatever. It was not said in a warm loving manner, more with some exasperation that I would have a horse who needed the time he did before he'd 'behave himself'.
And that raises the huge question about horses behaving themselves. How can a horse behave on human terms? Most of what we ask them to do is counter to their very nature. So, in my understanding, am I enabling a disruptive, unruly horse or am I letting him be a horse as long as I'm safe and I enjoy our rides together?
I have to remember that each of us makes choices about our horse handling (excluding those folks who act unconsciously day after day around horses, and sadly there are folks like that), and that my choices reflect who I am today and my history with life in general not only with horses. My reactions around horses are similar to my reactions around people. My best communication offerings around horses are similar to my best around people. I am one and the same person regardless of what species I'm with.
Although, as so many of us know, it is often easier to be in the presence of horse or dog or cat, than of a fellow human being. Sad but true.
I wander in my writing this evening. I started out thinking I'd share about how well little Bo did with the floater. He was awesome! He questioned what this stranger wanted to do but allowed him and was more relaxed at the end than at the start. It was comforting to learn that his teeth were in pretty good shape as I have few details about his past.
I'm a type of person who questions a lot. So now I question -- how come Bo was so good (there's that judgmental word!) and Rusty wasn't (more judgment!)? I question if I've done something wrong and wonder if the longer Bo lives with me the better chance he'll be troublesome, too.
But then I remember standing there after the floater decided not to try anymore -- concerned he'd get hurt as Rusty threw his head around -- and put my fingers in Rusty's mouth, from one side, from both sides, reaching back up toward his molars, pulling his lower lip down, stretching the sides of his lips out, and Rusty allowed this except for one complaint. So that tells me I really can't do anything myself to prepare him any better to accept the floater, unless I asked everyone who comes to the farm to put their fingers and metal objects into his mouth? Sigh. I can do that. But I imagine that anyone I enlisted would either offer an acceptable feel to Rusty and be successful as I was, or offer an unacceptable feel and be rejected as clearly and quickly as a moving equine head can express.
It comes back to the word feel. And what we do when a horse accepts or rejects the feel we offer. Unless it's an emergency, I'm commited to letting the horse say no to me, and then looking for how I can share my intent and gain his cooperation without force. Leslie Desmond has told us that unless a horse can say "no", his "yes" will have little meaning. I'd say this applies to people as well. Having the choice to say "yes" implies that it is OK to say "no" as well. And often I've let a horse say "no", waited a bit, and found the horse offering a "yes".
Blah, blah, blah. It was an invigorating day outside in the chilly air but bright sun, warmed by my brandnew sheepskin hat, much more fashionable than my trusty old red and purple gortex hat. I'll have to get a picture of it, or wait and take a picture of my dreams if I make them come true -- dreams of making sheepskin hats from our Jacob sheepskins. I think their long fleece would look good on the outside of a hat, but would it be as warm as when it's on the inside?
Here I go again... blah, blah, blah.
It's in the little things
I spent time with Bo today. I haltered him and checked how he responded to my requests for him to circle around me, change directions, slow down, stop... All this within a few feet of his beloved Sofia, then further away when things went well at that close proximity.
He would have preferred at times to be shooing the other horses away from Sofia. But he let go of those thoughts fairly easily. When I felt like he was comfortably with me, I gave him a job: follow me while I picked up rocks and moved them.
Sometimes I do this with a horse whether there are rocks to be moved or not. Today there were real rocks. Real or imaginary, that doesn't matter as much as my focus and intent on doing something. He stalled out a few times but then understood what his job was, keeping the float in the lead and stopping when I did, and waiting. It's amazing how relaxed a horse can get when he has a job and knows what it is, and especially when he's asked to do something meaningful, not simply asked to move this way or that. Horses prefer to join us when the focus is on something we can do together, not just when we focus on them doing something.
I did find that if my rock-carrying route was off to the right of him, he didn't understand how he could reposition his body to let me do my part of this job. So I helped him get a better understanding of something some might call yielding his front end, or a turn on the hindquarters. It involved helping him think about getting ready, lifting his withers, stepping back and over away from where I needed to walk, giving me the space to pass there. He picked it up pretty quickly. It was sweet.
Then I led him into the barn. I had no plan other than 'take some rocks' into the barn, then we headed out again. Knowing how quickly the white of his eyes comes to view, I was careful all the time to take him deeply into his comfort zone after I took him a little bit toward the outer edge of his comfort zone. So in the barn, turn and out of the barn. Go pick up rocks again and back to the barn. Realizing this would be a good time to check if any of our saddles fit him, I tied him to the high O-ring and got the first saddle I came across. He was a little worried about the saddle and about being separated from Sofia, but Sofia must have known this because she arrived at the barn door and stood there.
That first saddle was too big -- too wide and too low on the withers. The second saddle, another English one, fit better and might do, although he's a pony and the saddle looks big on him. I suspect anything that is going to fit me will look too big for him.
Then I set my nice western saddle (semi custom from David Genadek, www.aboutthehorse.com) on him. Although proportionately it looks big for him like the English saddles did, it fit his back pretty well.
If I keep this handsome pony, I will get a saddle that fits him better. I'm fussy when it comes to saddle fit, regarding both fits -- fit for horse, fit for rider.
Done with that, I untied him and led him back out to the paddock. After I removed his halter, he stood there, 'with' me, until I released him to go. I'm growing fond of this fellow, and I think he's starting to understand the routine here and feel OK about it.
He would have preferred at times to be shooing the other horses away from Sofia. But he let go of those thoughts fairly easily. When I felt like he was comfortably with me, I gave him a job: follow me while I picked up rocks and moved them.
Sometimes I do this with a horse whether there are rocks to be moved or not. Today there were real rocks. Real or imaginary, that doesn't matter as much as my focus and intent on doing something. He stalled out a few times but then understood what his job was, keeping the float in the lead and stopping when I did, and waiting. It's amazing how relaxed a horse can get when he has a job and knows what it is, and especially when he's asked to do something meaningful, not simply asked to move this way or that. Horses prefer to join us when the focus is on something we can do together, not just when we focus on them doing something.
I did find that if my rock-carrying route was off to the right of him, he didn't understand how he could reposition his body to let me do my part of this job. So I helped him get a better understanding of something some might call yielding his front end, or a turn on the hindquarters. It involved helping him think about getting ready, lifting his withers, stepping back and over away from where I needed to walk, giving me the space to pass there. He picked it up pretty quickly. It was sweet.
Then I led him into the barn. I had no plan other than 'take some rocks' into the barn, then we headed out again. Knowing how quickly the white of his eyes comes to view, I was careful all the time to take him deeply into his comfort zone after I took him a little bit toward the outer edge of his comfort zone. So in the barn, turn and out of the barn. Go pick up rocks again and back to the barn. Realizing this would be a good time to check if any of our saddles fit him, I tied him to the high O-ring and got the first saddle I came across. He was a little worried about the saddle and about being separated from Sofia, but Sofia must have known this because she arrived at the barn door and stood there.
That first saddle was too big -- too wide and too low on the withers. The second saddle, another English one, fit better and might do, although he's a pony and the saddle looks big on him. I suspect anything that is going to fit me will look too big for him.
Then I set my nice western saddle (semi custom from David Genadek, www.aboutthehorse.com) on him. Although proportionately it looks big for him like the English saddles did, it fit his back pretty well.
If I keep this handsome pony, I will get a saddle that fits him better. I'm fussy when it comes to saddle fit, regarding both fits -- fit for horse, fit for rider.
Done with that, I untied him and led him back out to the paddock. After I removed his halter, he stood there, 'with' me, until I released him to go. I'm growing fond of this fellow, and I think he's starting to understand the routine here and feel OK about it.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Bo update
The equine floater was here today and Bo was very good for this. Apparently Bo has been done before, has had regular care, and just needed what one would expect a horse to need who hadn't been floated recently. So either he has been done or he's got an amazingly good bite and ability to keep his teeth in good form on his own.
This floater does it without sedative or speculum or power tools, just gets his own hands into the horse's mouth and assesses then uses normal hand tools. Bo questioned this but then settled in for the process. I have the horses done outside so if they need to back up for awhile they can. A horse who is an old hand like our Haflinger can be done inside in a more confined space.
It's interesting to take out hay and see who gets to approach me first. Sometimes it's Bo and Sofia, sometimes it's Rusty and Kacee. I really like the changes with Bo regarding his apparent attacking behavior -- he sometimes still does it when he feels another gelding is too close, but he puts much less effort into it and does it less often. He seems most worried when Sofia wanders off close to the other horses.
Understanding regardless of equipment
I've been thinking about some recent discussions on a yahoo list I'm on (BillsBook@yahoogroups) which is set up as a study group focussed on True Horsemanship Through Feel (THTF) by Bill Dorrance and Leslie Desmond, and on Leslie's new audio book, Horse Handling and Riding Through Feel. The talk has been about bits, and has left me scratching my head some. Finally, in good study group form, I opened THTF to look for some ideas from Bill about what was mulling around inside me.
I quote from the top of Page 95: "A horse that doesn't lead up well when you want him to, isn't going to be reliable to ride. When you cannot control the timing and placement of his feet in response to the feel you present with the lead rope, your intent won't be clear to him through the reins either."
There are other great quotes in the next few pages. This one I choose to focus on because behind the words, I'm given a bigger picture of what I have going for me, or not, that is basic and can be tested from the ground before I ever mount up. (See Page 96: Test Him Out: "No matter what you have on the horse's head, you'll first test him out on certain things to see how much he understands.")
I'm guilty. Guilty of overexposing my horses because in my eagerness to 'go for a ride', I have many, many times tacked up and mounted before adequate understanding was developed between us. It wasn't until my last riding injury that I took this ground preparation with great seriousness. Before that yeah, it was important, but heck, I can ride some wildness and gee, I'll take care of it from his back. Those are some of the less conservative, more thoughtless ideas that permitted some of my riding activities.
Now though, I do want to see signs of some solid understanding before I mount. That I can assess this by leading a horse someplace is so easy it eluded me. Now combine that assessing with some common sense (don't get on before the understanding is established on the ground) and I'm golden.
This ties in with the tack stuff I've been thinking about. I know quite a bit about pressure and release, and at times have been satisfied and confident that I can teach a horse where to find a release. Lately though I'm no longer satisfied with that, and want to teach my horse to follow my intent, my feel, with slack in the lead rope or the reins. This is different from finding his way off pressure. This is more like shining a flashlight to illuminate the route through a fully furnished dark room instead of shuffling along, feeling for the likely bumps into furniture as I make my way in the dark. I'm not sure if I'm expressing this clearly or not.
In any case, when I take the time to establish a clearer understanding about stop and go, and speed and direction, then it hardly matters whether I have a piece of cotton sewing thread in his mouth, or single or double jointed snaffle bit. He will respond to my intent, my line of sight, my body shape changing, the feel of the reins on his neck, but really, if I've done my homework, he would not have to run into the nutcracker on the roof of his mouth or stretching of his lips because he knows what to do and I'm paying attention not to let us get into something that might elicit my relying on applying pressure on the reins/bit/mouth.
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not 'there' all the time with my horses by any means. But the vision of how it can be is clearer and my motivation is stronger than ever, and so far so good.
I'll include one more quote, this time from Page 97: "What I mean by 'leading up real free' is a horse paying attention to the feel of your halter rope, or your reins, and following the feel you present by livening up his whole body. The important part in this is that he's ready to move his feet, and will move them, before the float is ever taken out of the rope. And he'll do this without any confusion, and he won't be trying to take over with ideas of his own. No, it would only be in response to your feel to move that he'll lead up with a float in the rope and look for a place to go."
Now to keep my assessing frame of mind as I go out to feed some hay to the herd.
I quote from the top of Page 95: "A horse that doesn't lead up well when you want him to, isn't going to be reliable to ride. When you cannot control the timing and placement of his feet in response to the feel you present with the lead rope, your intent won't be clear to him through the reins either."
There are other great quotes in the next few pages. This one I choose to focus on because behind the words, I'm given a bigger picture of what I have going for me, or not, that is basic and can be tested from the ground before I ever mount up. (See Page 96: Test Him Out: "No matter what you have on the horse's head, you'll first test him out on certain things to see how much he understands.")
I'm guilty. Guilty of overexposing my horses because in my eagerness to 'go for a ride', I have many, many times tacked up and mounted before adequate understanding was developed between us. It wasn't until my last riding injury that I took this ground preparation with great seriousness. Before that yeah, it was important, but heck, I can ride some wildness and gee, I'll take care of it from his back. Those are some of the less conservative, more thoughtless ideas that permitted some of my riding activities.
Now though, I do want to see signs of some solid understanding before I mount. That I can assess this by leading a horse someplace is so easy it eluded me. Now combine that assessing with some common sense (don't get on before the understanding is established on the ground) and I'm golden.
This ties in with the tack stuff I've been thinking about. I know quite a bit about pressure and release, and at times have been satisfied and confident that I can teach a horse where to find a release. Lately though I'm no longer satisfied with that, and want to teach my horse to follow my intent, my feel, with slack in the lead rope or the reins. This is different from finding his way off pressure. This is more like shining a flashlight to illuminate the route through a fully furnished dark room instead of shuffling along, feeling for the likely bumps into furniture as I make my way in the dark. I'm not sure if I'm expressing this clearly or not.
In any case, when I take the time to establish a clearer understanding about stop and go, and speed and direction, then it hardly matters whether I have a piece of cotton sewing thread in his mouth, or single or double jointed snaffle bit. He will respond to my intent, my line of sight, my body shape changing, the feel of the reins on his neck, but really, if I've done my homework, he would not have to run into the nutcracker on the roof of his mouth or stretching of his lips because he knows what to do and I'm paying attention not to let us get into something that might elicit my relying on applying pressure on the reins/bit/mouth.
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not 'there' all the time with my horses by any means. But the vision of how it can be is clearer and my motivation is stronger than ever, and so far so good.
I'll include one more quote, this time from Page 97: "What I mean by 'leading up real free' is a horse paying attention to the feel of your halter rope, or your reins, and following the feel you present by livening up his whole body. The important part in this is that he's ready to move his feet, and will move them, before the float is ever taken out of the rope. And he'll do this without any confusion, and he won't be trying to take over with ideas of his own. No, it would only be in response to your feel to move that he'll lead up with a float in the rope and look for a place to go."
Now to keep my assessing frame of mind as I go out to feed some hay to the herd.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Horses calm in proximity
Horses eating hay on a sunny afternoon. From left to right: Rusty, Kacee, Soli, Prince, Bo, Sofia.
RNB and I built three hay cribs last fall in hopes of losing less hay to the snow and mud. In the cold of winter I put a square bale in each box twice day. This time of year most of the horses still are on pasture although they all enjoy some hay once or twice a day. Kacee is off pasture unless muzzled there for short periods due to metabolic issues with the grass.
"Easy keeper" is a misnomer. She is not an easy keeper -- she requires hay all year despite the pastures we have. But it is worth taking care of her -- she's a doll to ride, and I'll be forever grateful for all the learning she has facilitated.
Can you see the two other species in the photo?
I did ride Rusty
Weird picture, eh?
I was riding Rusty and started taking pictures of my riding companion...
I found Rusty on the edge of startlement each time the digital camera made its little electronic clickety beepy sounds. So I took a few shots just to acclimate him to the sound, not attending to focus or content of picture.
Ride was pleasant. 40 degrees, sunny, horses happy enough to head out down the road. Nothing remarkable to report. Which is, in fact, remarkable.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Latest horse delight
When I went out to feed some hay last night, standing there blinking in the brightness of spotlight turned on, were four dark horses facing me, side by side all in a row two yards from the doorway: Sofia, Bo, Kacee, and Rusty. Oh how I wish I had had my camera handy!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
I did not ride Rusty
I love this horse. He is eager to go on adventures 99% of the time. Today was no different when I came out of the barn into the paddock with halter in hand. But no, not today, Rusty.
Why not today? Well, because he has some puffy areas on his back where the saddle would sit -- puffy and bare of hair. Consequences of some interherd dynamics since little Bo joined us. That pony is athletic!
Rusty must grow to about 17 hands when his life is up. Round and levitating and gorgeous. And somehow that little pipsqueek of a pony -- 13 hands or so -- can get his teeth on Rusty's withers at the gallop.
I am so very grateful that nothing more than hide damage has occurred here. Not counting fence damage, that is. But both are repairable, either by me or by Mother Nature. And day by day the horses get more comfortable sharing space. I watch their personal bubbles shrinking.
One day I will be amazed watching Rusty and Bo share a pile of hay. Today I was amazed watching them standing still about three yards apart. It wouldn't be quite accurate if I said "hanging out" because the vibe wasn't quite a hanging out vibe. It had some watchfulness, but no commitment to defensiveness or offensiveness, not even on the edge. Some readiness, yes, of course.
If there is no more teeth contact, I should be riding Rusty again in a few days. I am liberal with tea tree oil, Eclipse wound healing cream, and healing intentions.
Lively herd...
Quiet herd...
Why not today? Well, because he has some puffy areas on his back where the saddle would sit -- puffy and bare of hair. Consequences of some interherd dynamics since little Bo joined us. That pony is athletic!
Rusty must grow to about 17 hands when his life is up. Round and levitating and gorgeous. And somehow that little pipsqueek of a pony -- 13 hands or so -- can get his teeth on Rusty's withers at the gallop.
I am so very grateful that nothing more than hide damage has occurred here. Not counting fence damage, that is. But both are repairable, either by me or by Mother Nature. And day by day the horses get more comfortable sharing space. I watch their personal bubbles shrinking.
One day I will be amazed watching Rusty and Bo share a pile of hay. Today I was amazed watching them standing still about three yards apart. It wouldn't be quite accurate if I said "hanging out" because the vibe wasn't quite a hanging out vibe. It had some watchfulness, but no commitment to defensiveness or offensiveness, not even on the edge. Some readiness, yes, of course.
If there is no more teeth contact, I should be riding Rusty again in a few days. I am liberal with tea tree oil, Eclipse wound healing cream, and healing intentions.
Lively herd...
Quiet herd...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
End of a teaching day
Teaching therapeutic riding lessons today went well. The team of horses, volunteers, and site staff worked well and creativity infused our time with students. We are still getting used to teaching in the indoor arena, a new arrangement this season.
On the way home, a glorious sunset caught my attention time and time again. I stopped to take pictures and although none do justice to the real thing, here is what I captured on camera.
On the way home, a glorious sunset caught my attention time and time again. I stopped to take pictures and although none do justice to the real thing, here is what I captured on camera.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Chilly ride
We rode today! Neither cold nor hunting season kept us away from a lively 'trail ride' on the near-by dirt roads. The youngster who has been riding with me for a few months joined RNB and I for this adventure and it was fun. We rode Prince, Rusty, and Soli, and all were forward and responsive and a bit on the edge of lots of life. There were some controlled trots, some intermittently controlled canters, and some full out galloping. The horses needed it as much as we did. They've been spending a lot of time on soft footing (muddy paddock and/or damp pasture) and I know it feels good to stretch out on some firmer footing!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Horses getting along
I love this picture of Bo and Sofia, gazing off in the distance. I've read that being able to see across distances is soothing to a horse. I'm guessing it relates to their self preservation and the need to see what is around them and decide whether to eat, nap, or run depending on what they perceive in their environment.
Progress with building
The arena has two sides covered. We will use trampoline type fabric to cover the remaining openings along the sides. That fabric allows air to circulate while keeping most precipitation outside.
The house has many of the rafters in place. The crew expects to place the rest of them today, including some odd angles with the second timberframe dormer.
Four pictures of one rafter's journey:
We joked about creating a saddle to add a measure of comfort for the men straddling the beams.
Status of building at end of day yesterday.
It poured rain overnight and fields here are flooded. The cows are stuck across the brook which now covers most of the lower two pastures. We'll soon see how the drainage is at the new place.
RNB envisions me trailering over to ride in the arena when it's done. I say, let's see what the roads are like at that point!
With the rain and deer hunting season and the excitement of the timberframe arrival, I have not ridden much in the past few weeks. I am taking the slow approach to expecting much from our new horse, allowing him lots of time to acclimate and settle in the herd. I've already found he has started to look to me and approach me out in the field similar to how the other horses do. He's watching them come to me for closeness, with or without scratches. He's wondering about all this.
The house has many of the rafters in place. The crew expects to place the rest of them today, including some odd angles with the second timberframe dormer.
Four pictures of one rafter's journey:
We joked about creating a saddle to add a measure of comfort for the men straddling the beams.
Status of building at end of day yesterday.
It poured rain overnight and fields here are flooded. The cows are stuck across the brook which now covers most of the lower two pastures. We'll soon see how the drainage is at the new place.
RNB envisions me trailering over to ride in the arena when it's done. I say, let's see what the roads are like at that point!
With the rain and deer hunting season and the excitement of the timberframe arrival, I have not ridden much in the past few weeks. I am taking the slow approach to expecting much from our new horse, allowing him lots of time to acclimate and settle in the herd. I've already found he has started to look to me and approach me out in the field similar to how the other horses do. He's watching them come to me for closeness, with or without scratches. He's wondering about all this.
Where am I this time?
It's hard to get good pictures in an indoor arena setting without a tripod. I have to turn off the flash option and hold steady. No success getting the photographic subjects to stand still!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Rafters
Such an interesting pictorial depiction of a timberframe building coming to life... Here is a series illustrating one rafter coming into place.
We are tremendously grateful for the unusually cooperative November weather and the amazing skills and teamwork of the crew!
We are tremendously grateful for the unusually cooperative November weather and the amazing skills and teamwork of the crew!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Activity in the herd
I love watching the horses when their life is up! (Do you know you can click on any picture and get a BIG version of it?)
Rusty watches Bobo's first meeting with Soli
Rusty and Kacee coming to intervene
Some cantering down hill while Sofia and Bobo watch
There was a pattern... Bobo would approach one or more horses. Rusty and/or Kacee would chase him away. All would graze or move someplace. Bobo would approach again. Rusty and/or Kacee would chase him away. All would graze or move again.
Here is Bobo looking on, wanting to be part of things but without much of a clue how to get along -- yet. He is learning some essential lessons about being part of a group from the horses themselves. Already he's looking and waiting at a distance, not charging up to anyone like he did at first. No sense in my doing much with him before he settles into his horseness.
Rusty watches Bobo's first meeting with Soli
Rusty and Kacee coming to intervene
Some cantering down hill while Sofia and Bobo watch
There was a pattern... Bobo would approach one or more horses. Rusty and/or Kacee would chase him away. All would graze or move someplace. Bobo would approach again. Rusty and/or Kacee would chase him away. All would graze or move again.
Here is Bobo looking on, wanting to be part of things but without much of a clue how to get along -- yet. He is learning some essential lessons about being part of a group from the horses themselves. Already he's looking and waiting at a distance, not charging up to anyone like he did at first. No sense in my doing much with him before he settles into his horseness.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
On the horizon
I wrote this yesterday morning before I brought Bobo home...
I'm about to head out to pick up a pony I just bought from a rescue organization. He's sweet until he's not sweet. Reportedly has not been successfully turned out with anyone other than his favorite mares du jour. 15 yo shetland/arab cross with supposedly lots of trail experience. But ZERO ground manners around other horses, and some missing ground manners around humans. I met him a couple of weeks ago when I helped trim at the rescue, and he seems simply to not stop and think that anyone might have a thought other than himself. But not too hard to redirect. However that was in a barn with no other horses around.
As I lay sleepless last night thinking ahead to today and tomorrow and the next few days/weeks/whatever, I remembered my experience with Rusty when he wanted to kill Belle, Harry Whitney's mare who had been in the round pen with my 5 year old mare -- Rusty's gal pal -- the infamous Glorious Sofia. Harry coached me to the other side of a potentially very dangerous situation. Dangerous to Belle, and likely to me and Harry just because we were in the vicinity. So I think I have something to draw on. Indeed that event in TN was a little rough around the edges on my part, but successful. I suspect I have a little more finesse to offer this pony. For one thing, he's smaller than Rusty and I won't be afraid. Ain't that a foolish thing to say! In any case I have a better understanding of timing, of blocking a thought without anger, and deeper connection to that 'faith' piece that Harry speaks of -- having faith that the horse can make the change. I saw it in small ways with the pony while handling him while he was being trimmed.
Bobo
This little fellow is home with me now. More to come as I explore who he is and what he thinks about things I ask of him. So far, he's quiet and safe to be around. I've been blending with him while he walks around, approaching him from any angle and he's fine, picking burrs out of his mane, asking for feet, and rubbing him. All at liberty. I want his mind and cooperative attitude with me established without tack first. So far, so good.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Dreams are manifesting
Arena
House
Sunset view
I'm a bit antsy with having little time to sit and cogitate and put into words some of the inner and outer happenings of late. It will suffice that I share a few pictures. I realize I do not know what this new building will create for me in terms of my current level of horse involvement. Certainly these past WET weeks would have seen me riding and handling horses more than I have been! Though yesterday was warm and sunny and I was out on the trails with some friendly folks and perfect horses in a comfortable teaching environment. Here I go, trying to cover many bases in a few minutes...
House
Sunset view
I'm a bit antsy with having little time to sit and cogitate and put into words some of the inner and outer happenings of late. It will suffice that I share a few pictures. I realize I do not know what this new building will create for me in terms of my current level of horse involvement. Certainly these past WET weeks would have seen me riding and handling horses more than I have been! Though yesterday was warm and sunny and I was out on the trails with some friendly folks and perfect horses in a comfortable teaching environment. Here I go, trying to cover many bases in a few minutes...
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Challenges
My friend asked, "Do you like challenge in all creatures or just horses?"
I respond:
I like challenges less and less, though I doubt I'll ever get to zero tolerance of a challenge. I've had an adrenaline reaction tied into facing a challenge, and over the years, I've grown to enjoy life without adrenaline. A whole 'nother universe.
More often than not, I would chose a type of challenge that requires supporting the true nature of a being to surface when a being had chosen, consciously or unconsciously to shrink one's expressions, hide one's essence, in order to get along. In my clinical profession it was a preference for working with people with depression rather than people with actiing out behaviors like addictions, self mutilation, anger dyscontrol.
So it's a stretch for me to be dealing with horses who have little self control, little stop-and-think time between a thought and some impulsive and powerful activity. Give me a depressed horse, an insecure withdrawn horse, and I know just what to do.
And yes, I have kept passing up the opportunities to relate with bomb proof horses and mild, yielding humans in favor of developing relationships with those with some strong opinions and unstable connectedness. Of course, I do like to be silently in touch with the deep stillness within all creatures.
Some paradoxes and contradictions I guess. I mean really, LJB, how can you be married to RNB and say you don't like a big challenge?!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Turbulence
I met a pony the other day. He is not happy deep in his soul. How do I know? I heard enough of his history and shared some experiences with him and that is how I know.
But I have faith that he can change.
He was a stallion until 15 or so, and not helped to develope a willingness to get along with mares and geldings alike. That would have been a suitable thing for a handsome young fellow to do.
Shetland/Arab cross. Can you imagine? Brains, looks, build, athleticism, and a long time with major hormones driving his decisions. Poor fellow.
Hormonal compulsion is gone now. But his thoughts have not changed.
If he were mine (and admittedly I think about this), I would see about helping him change his mind about other horses as soon as possible. How can a horse be happy if he thinks about defending his space instead of having thoughts about sharing an acre or mutual grooming or such? How can a horse be happy when he's on the lookout, worried with a busy mind most of the time?
I've had fantasies about what I would do. I would definitely employ the help of my herd to socialize him. But first I might want to introduce him to a horse or two while I have some control, like with halter and lead in case I wanted to actively work at interrupting his thoughts to attack my horses. He needs help to have some new thoughts, to start trying to think differently when his chemical reaction kicks in.
I wonder, do horses get adrenaline rushes like humans do? And cortisol flooding the veins like humans do? When cortisol comes, there is no thinking. Only reacting on an emotional, survival level. I'm guessing the same biochemical activity occurs in horses as in humans.
I think of Harry Whitney and his passion about helping horses change how they are feeling. I can hear him say "Don't let his actions confirm his feelings." That would suggest that I could help when this pony's emotions are aroused and he starts moving toward another gelding with lots of bad feelings. I could help by interrupting his behavior and interrupting his thoughts. And giving him a moment to come up with a new thought. Then decide if that new thought warrants my allowing him to act on it (ears up, curiuos) or the thought warrants another effort to interrupt his likely behavior should it be a repeat of the thought to attack.
Interrupting without criticizing.
It would be interesting and challenging. Once the initial upheaval looked like it would have a safe outcome, I would let my opinionated and confident horses attend to the business of putting this pony in his right place in their heirarchy. They do a terrific job of that, so much more effective than I could ever be!
However when I'm thinking clearly, I remember I have more horses than I can ride right now anyway.
AHA! That is what is going on! This is the season when I don't ride much, so having some new horse(s) to mess around with on the ground is attractive. I am not drawn to do much ground work with the ones I have -- that would bore them or offend them unless I was particularly creative and inspired and managed to engage them as if they'd never done any ground work. Ok, that could be a Double Dare Me revelation. On the other hand, I truly enjoy the early changes that occur -- they can be so radical and rewarding. So if that's something I prefer, why deny myself the enjoyment?
I'll figure this out some day soon, and either go get one or two of these horses I'm thinking about, or not.
But I have faith that he can change.
He was a stallion until 15 or so, and not helped to develope a willingness to get along with mares and geldings alike. That would have been a suitable thing for a handsome young fellow to do.
Shetland/Arab cross. Can you imagine? Brains, looks, build, athleticism, and a long time with major hormones driving his decisions. Poor fellow.
Hormonal compulsion is gone now. But his thoughts have not changed.
If he were mine (and admittedly I think about this), I would see about helping him change his mind about other horses as soon as possible. How can a horse be happy if he thinks about defending his space instead of having thoughts about sharing an acre or mutual grooming or such? How can a horse be happy when he's on the lookout, worried with a busy mind most of the time?
I've had fantasies about what I would do. I would definitely employ the help of my herd to socialize him. But first I might want to introduce him to a horse or two while I have some control, like with halter and lead in case I wanted to actively work at interrupting his thoughts to attack my horses. He needs help to have some new thoughts, to start trying to think differently when his chemical reaction kicks in.
I wonder, do horses get adrenaline rushes like humans do? And cortisol flooding the veins like humans do? When cortisol comes, there is no thinking. Only reacting on an emotional, survival level. I'm guessing the same biochemical activity occurs in horses as in humans.
I think of Harry Whitney and his passion about helping horses change how they are feeling. I can hear him say "Don't let his actions confirm his feelings." That would suggest that I could help when this pony's emotions are aroused and he starts moving toward another gelding with lots of bad feelings. I could help by interrupting his behavior and interrupting his thoughts. And giving him a moment to come up with a new thought. Then decide if that new thought warrants my allowing him to act on it (ears up, curiuos) or the thought warrants another effort to interrupt his likely behavior should it be a repeat of the thought to attack.
Interrupting without criticizing.
It would be interesting and challenging. Once the initial upheaval looked like it would have a safe outcome, I would let my opinionated and confident horses attend to the business of putting this pony in his right place in their heirarchy. They do a terrific job of that, so much more effective than I could ever be!
However when I'm thinking clearly, I remember I have more horses than I can ride right now anyway.
AHA! That is what is going on! This is the season when I don't ride much, so having some new horse(s) to mess around with on the ground is attractive. I am not drawn to do much ground work with the ones I have -- that would bore them or offend them unless I was particularly creative and inspired and managed to engage them as if they'd never done any ground work. Ok, that could be a Double Dare Me revelation. On the other hand, I truly enjoy the early changes that occur -- they can be so radical and rewarding. So if that's something I prefer, why deny myself the enjoyment?
I'll figure this out some day soon, and either go get one or two of these horses I'm thinking about, or not.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
What IS the attraction?
I went to see this Morgan gelding today. A horse I could take home if I chose. I am sort of looking for a solid riding horse for RNB. His current riding horse -- whom I love dearly -- had a foal injury that leaves his gait imbalanced. Happy and holding up well, but the odds are against his joints staying functional and painfree throughout his life.
This morgan is a handsome boy.
I am also mentally toying with the idea of taking in a lively pony I met today. I like a challenge and this pony would present a few.
So I wonder not so much about my attraction to some Morgan eye candy, but the attraction to a challenging horse.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Water
OK, today I could be introducing a diatribe about the amount of precipitation we're having. Or about the amount of flooding in the lower fields. However, this water is about what appeared where some sandy gravel was being moved from one part of our NH land to another part.
The first three pictures are within a few minutes of one swipe of the excavator. The last picture, same spot two days later. The dig site, uphill from the building site, is behind me where I stand looking down the roadway.
It sure looks like our dream of a gravity-fed water source for the barn if not the barn and the house.
The first three pictures are within a few minutes of one swipe of the excavator. The last picture, same spot two days later. The dig site, uphill from the building site, is behind me where I stand looking down the roadway.
It sure looks like our dream of a gravity-fed water source for the barn if not the barn and the house.
Friday, October 20, 2006
An old porcupine story
I lifted this story (my story) from a website I partially created once upon a time. I remembered it when I saw the porcupine recently, waddling nonchalantly across the dirt road. I did, by the way, keep some quills as a reminder of this fine being, and incorporated them harmlessly into a hat band.
Porcupine
I have a drawing not a photograph of Porcupine [not transferable from other website], and a story to share, written in January 2001...
I've been visited by a dying animal, again. Last year it was a mouse that lay in my path and invited me to be with it while it died.
Today it's been a porcupine. And it's still dying. I've talked to him, sat with him, breathed with him, cried with him. I have never been near a porcupine before, and didn't want to risk the quills or else I would have picked him up and held him in my lap. When he was still able to crawl, he kept moving himself to face me, creeping close. I let him come within a couple feet then moved my upturned bucket back a little, apologizing with an explanation of my concern with his quills.
I called the police who sent word out to the game warden, but I didn't hear back from anyone. I was hoping they'd have a way to euthanize him.
I get the sense he's an old fellow, has enjoyed his life around here. I first saw him just before Christmas, waddling along the road that passes my house. I hadn't known they are nocturnal animals, or I would have been surprised that he was out in the day.
This afternoon his moving appeared difficult but he waddled from in front of the next house down, to in front of my drive, with a few criss-crosses along the way. And now, for the past few hours, he's been lying in the snow, breathing, occasionally moving his head or forearms. I feel so helpless. I'd still be out there sitting with him if I hadn't gotten so cold.
I keep going out to check on him and let him know it's okay. One time I find him still, totally still. I shine my flashlight and look closely. No breathing, no eye movement. He's gone. I wish him well and thank him for his efforts to be near me in this unusual way. And I cry.
Porcupine
I have a drawing not a photograph of Porcupine [not transferable from other website], and a story to share, written in January 2001...
I've been visited by a dying animal, again. Last year it was a mouse that lay in my path and invited me to be with it while it died.
Today it's been a porcupine. And it's still dying. I've talked to him, sat with him, breathed with him, cried with him. I have never been near a porcupine before, and didn't want to risk the quills or else I would have picked him up and held him in my lap. When he was still able to crawl, he kept moving himself to face me, creeping close. I let him come within a couple feet then moved my upturned bucket back a little, apologizing with an explanation of my concern with his quills.
I called the police who sent word out to the game warden, but I didn't hear back from anyone. I was hoping they'd have a way to euthanize him.
I get the sense he's an old fellow, has enjoyed his life around here. I first saw him just before Christmas, waddling along the road that passes my house. I hadn't known they are nocturnal animals, or I would have been surprised that he was out in the day.
This afternoon his moving appeared difficult but he waddled from in front of the next house down, to in front of my drive, with a few criss-crosses along the way. And now, for the past few hours, he's been lying in the snow, breathing, occasionally moving his head or forearms. I feel so helpless. I'd still be out there sitting with him if I hadn't gotten so cold.
I keep going out to check on him and let him know it's okay. One time I find him still, totally still. I shine my flashlight and look closely. No breathing, no eye movement. He's gone. I wish him well and thank him for his efforts to be near me in this unusual way. And I cry.
Poetry
No, I'm not writing poetry these days. I have in the past. Today, I share the blog address where you will find the poems of a dear friend.
She ponders the depths as I do, however my ponderings run circles around horses as my words expose my inner ticking, and hers... well, have a look if you like and allow yourself to go journeying where her words will take you.
www.sosaybl.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Comfort Zone
My friend is wondering about her horse's comfort zone.
The more I pay attention to my horse's comfort zone, and stay within it, the better my ride today, and the better my ride tomorrow.
I'm thinking about my human relationships, too. There are some things required of me to be actively involved in a conscious marriage. One of those things is to know myself and to progressively know my spouse. One of those things to know about each of us is the parameters of our comfort zones.
And the variations of those parameters based on other stressors currently active.
So, one day life in general may feel calm and stable, and my comfort zone may be larger than a day when the car breaks down, the cows go on a walkabout, the fox gets my favorite hen... When other emotions in my life use up some of my moment's energetic and emotional and mental resources, my comfort zone shrinks. I have less attention and physical resources to deal with the requirements of stretching myself. My energies are needed for healing or dealing, some more contracted focus, not for expanding and trying new things, venturing into the unfamiliar.
I've been told by many trusted and wiser horsepeople to establish some communication habits and movement patterns with my horse in a calm, predictable setting. Once we both know we know how to do a few fun and relaxing things together, then head out to situations where more random events may occur.
Like preparing for a trail ride. My horse and I need confidence about our communication -- communicating about moving, stopping, turning left, turning right, bringing life up, dialing life down, all with mental availability and consequent softness through the whole body.
The learning process for those few things (FEW? Ha ha ha!), happens as a dance of tentative attempts with feedback about success or good try and try again, there that's more like it, thanks... Which, if I'm in my right mind, is how I will communicate when something less controllable occurs in a new setting to disturb our mutual focus and joint efforts to do something, go someplace...
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