It's funny what horses spook at. It makes me laugh! Cypress spooks at the same stick in the ground every time we go on a trail ride.
Here is a list of the things my horse spooks at on the trail....
*The stick that could be a very stiff and arthritic snake.
*The stump with ivy that could very well be a dragon.
*The noise of someone using a hammer that might as well be a drive by horse shooting.
*The speed bumps in the road that may jump up and bite.
*God forbid, another horse on the trail...don't trust it, it could be a Trojan horse!
*The LOG. It's a bear pretending to sleep.
*Bunny rabbits. They are little venomous goblins.
*Being in front of the pack...and being left behind... and being in the middle!
Horses are silly, but their sense of self preservation amazes me. Gotta love them for that.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Dogs of Mecca
We have a lot of dogs at Mecca. They bark. They play. They run. They drive me nuts. But for some reason, they just fit in here. Clyde is the king of the barn. He is this little half red healer and half Pomeranian. What a mix! I got him from the pound about 4 years ago. He drove me crazy when we first got him, but he has turned out to be the best dog in the world. He understands English. I've never trained him to sit or roll over... he just does it. His favorite thing in the whole world is to bark and to be touched. This dog will roll on his back and lay there for hours being scratched. He will go from person to person accepting love all day. Thank God for him there are tons of people here all the time.
Ray is the big, dopey black lab we have. He is always happy. He has this killer paw that clobbers you every time he says hello. We have been trying to break him of this for years and it's just a losing battle. He also has a bad habit of putting his nose where he shouldn't. I apologize in advance if he bestows this greeting on you! He is also the best watch dog around. I remember one day, I was in the barn. Ray comes tearing down the aisle way, sped past me into the holding pen and out to the big summer pastures. I thought "what on earth has gotten into him?" I followed this speed demon down into pasture... when I arrived, he was chasing the whole herd up the hill. Again, I thought he had gone mad. What was he doing? I yelled for him and he ignored me... He chased the horses all the way up... then turned around barking and sounding off like a siren. He ran like lightning back down the hill. Just then, I heard what sounded like hundreds of coyotes. It was a BIG pack of them. He barked and barked and ran... the coyotes sounded farther away and eventually and obviously were gone. It took about 10 minutes before Ray came trotting up the hill, tongue on the ground. He trotted right past me and jumped into the water trough. I thought... "maybe he isn't so stupid after all. He just herded the horses away from danger and chased off a pack coyotes." Good dog Ray. :)
We've also got little Freya at the barn. She is Max's (cute blue eyed mini aussie shepard) best friend. She is a little Boston Terrier with the heart of a big dog. She is a little spitfire you will see running through the barn like a bullet. She's not so car savvy, but we've all been working on it. Watch out for the little mouse of a dog when you drive in, she still thinks cars are big chew toys! She also likes to nap right in the middle of the parking lot.
There is also Monica's famous Dex. He is a wiener dog who has lost the use of his back legs, so he is in a wheelchair built just for him. Of course there are many jokes flying around about his name... such as "Roll-a-Dex". But Dex keeps on truckin'. He keeps up with the best of them and is a favorite at the barn!
These dogs are fun to watch, fun to talk about and fun to love on. I feel so blessed we have such great animals at Mecca. :)
Ray is the big, dopey black lab we have. He is always happy. He has this killer paw that clobbers you every time he says hello. We have been trying to break him of this for years and it's just a losing battle. He also has a bad habit of putting his nose where he shouldn't. I apologize in advance if he bestows this greeting on you! He is also the best watch dog around. I remember one day, I was in the barn. Ray comes tearing down the aisle way, sped past me into the holding pen and out to the big summer pastures. I thought "what on earth has gotten into him?" I followed this speed demon down into pasture... when I arrived, he was chasing the whole herd up the hill. Again, I thought he had gone mad. What was he doing? I yelled for him and he ignored me... He chased the horses all the way up... then turned around barking and sounding off like a siren. He ran like lightning back down the hill. Just then, I heard what sounded like hundreds of coyotes. It was a BIG pack of them. He barked and barked and ran... the coyotes sounded farther away and eventually and obviously were gone. It took about 10 minutes before Ray came trotting up the hill, tongue on the ground. He trotted right past me and jumped into the water trough. I thought... "maybe he isn't so stupid after all. He just herded the horses away from danger and chased off a pack coyotes." Good dog Ray. :)
We've also got little Freya at the barn. She is Max's (cute blue eyed mini aussie shepard) best friend. She is a little Boston Terrier with the heart of a big dog. She is a little spitfire you will see running through the barn like a bullet. She's not so car savvy, but we've all been working on it. Watch out for the little mouse of a dog when you drive in, she still thinks cars are big chew toys! She also likes to nap right in the middle of the parking lot.
There is also Monica's famous Dex. He is a wiener dog who has lost the use of his back legs, so he is in a wheelchair built just for him. Of course there are many jokes flying around about his name... such as "Roll-a-Dex". But Dex keeps on truckin'. He keeps up with the best of them and is a favorite at the barn!
These dogs are fun to watch, fun to talk about and fun to love on. I feel so blessed we have such great animals at Mecca. :)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
They all must measure up to Rooster
Riding Rooster is like riding heaven. He is an amazing western horse. He's who I measure all riding horses by. My goal is to get Cypress (and all horses I train) like Roo. He's a tiny little bull dog of a horse...standing almost 14.3 hh. He is not the prettiest horse but in my eyes, he is the best. He taught me what it should be like... do not settle for anything less, get them as light as Roo and you're good to go.
His personality is what makes him so cool. He is SO friendly and comes trotting up to you not only with ears pricked all the way forward, but he nickers to you when you call his name. He loves being scratched... ALL OVER HIS BODY... anywhere will do and he will love every minute of it.
Rooster will always have a place in my heart and I will always love riding him. He reads your mind, and I love that...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
It's too hot
Today at 100 degrees, I did nothing. I left Cypress into ride and didn't do it. It felt like we lived on Mars today. So hot my eyes were burning. The horses were sweating badly in the barn at 8:30 pm. If it EVER gets this hot again, I'm movng to the North Pole.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Somtimes you gotta keep trying
Cypress is not an easy horse to train. He's got a big body and a big mind. It took me 4 years to figure out he's not being resistant because he is an ass... he's frustrated. When he doesn't understand, he does weird things. For instance, sometimes he's as light as a Butterfly. Sometimes he wont even walk on. When asked to turn on the haunches, he will fake it and still walk with his back legs. Then he'll start shaking his head and getting angry if I don't stay calm. If I get frustrated, so does he. It's as if it is insulting to him for me to get frustrated with him when he is TRYING to give me the right answer. And it is not fair if I am not being a patient teacher.
The canter has been a nightmare. I was beginning to think he doesn't know how or he physically can not do it.
I've changed bits, I've changed saddles, I've changed my mind a million times on what to do. Another person would of given up a long time ago and put him in that nasty category of "mustangs are worthless lazy bones."
But I love him so much, and he will give 100% 3/4th of the time, so I continued on. So, about 2 months ago I began to really pay attention to what exactly was happening. I started noticing a pattern and began to work more with his frustration. I broke it down, didn't ask anything of him I wasn't totally sure of how to ask till I figured it out myself... and just went about business. I'll be honest with you, after some of the rides I had on him, I didn't feel like riding him for a couple weeks. I felt guilty, but the thought of confusing this horse more and feeling like I would have one more bad ride under my belt was something I didn't feel like doing.
Cypress has always been in a french link snaffle for the dressage training. When I started his western pleasure training 6 months ago, I kept him in that till I wanted to fine tune the neck reining. So I switched to a light Tom Thumb. He did well in it, but I thought trying him in a low port would really help him get clearer signals with a lighter touch. Boy, was I wrong. The shape of his mouth really calls for some sort of snaffle. I've been resistant to want to keep him in a jointed bit because I know it does alot of pinching. Then, last week, I found a french link Tom Thumb western bit. I almost didn't buy it, but I am glad I did. When I put it in his mouth, he seemed relaxed and sort of like, "Thank you, this is what I'm used to."
When I rode him last night, I felt yet another connection. I stayed relaxed and tried to be the best teacher I could be for him. I think I had the best ride ever on him last night. I rode him on a loose, droopy, one handed western rein (something I haven't done yet because he was still at the stage of needing two hands to half halt and ask for bending, etc). We worked on stopping, using his hind end more for the walk and jog. We worked on stopping with my seat. I like a horse that puts on the brakes and stops when I want to stop. We got to the point where he would stop on a dime....relaxed. No head coming up, no 2-3 extra steps.... all done on that droopy rein, with him saying "Yes Ma'am, whats next?!"
I thought about how he hates feeling trapped. He is not claustrophobic in spaces, but he doesn't like his body to feel constrained. So, after about an hour of riding out the smoothest, slowest jog ever, I asked for the lope. Now usually it's me picking up the reins, begging him to canter and then after 2 laps of speed trotting he would go into this cannon ball run canter/hand gallop. We had been working on it on the ground and out on the trails, but I hadn't asked for it in the arena for over a month. I set my mind, told myself to keep the droopy rein, don't box him in with my hands... just ask for it and see what happens. If he trots on, no big deal, ask for that great stop. Wouldn't you know it, it worked. I put no expectations on him, and he went from a walk to a canter. What?! I tried again from the halt... I actually got a lope. Not a canter, a lope! I tried again, and asked for him to bring himself under my legs and he was loping like a western horse should.... body free, up and collected on his own, me relaxed and supporting his sides, we circled, he obliged. He broke gate, we stopped, I asked again from the halt.... right back into it.
The difference was not the bit. The difference was patience, thought, trying new things and understanding this one of a kind horse. Now, I'm sure we'll hit more snags, but at least now I know to keep trying and not give up on this horse. When I took him in a couple walk/jog classes against 30 beautiful paints and quarter horses and we came in 2nd and 3rd out of 30, I knew that this so thought lazy mustang was something special. Sometimes believing in a horse and trying over and over with new ideas and thoughts is all you need to keep going. This can be hard for me since I am a person who expects results and when I don't get them, I get stuck. Cypress has taught me to open my mind, be understanding of his mind and find different ways to guide him. What a wonderful gift he has given me. The power to follow through, not give up and to be patient. Thanks Cypress. :)
The canter has been a nightmare. I was beginning to think he doesn't know how or he physically can not do it.
I've changed bits, I've changed saddles, I've changed my mind a million times on what to do. Another person would of given up a long time ago and put him in that nasty category of "mustangs are worthless lazy bones."
But I love him so much, and he will give 100% 3/4th of the time, so I continued on. So, about 2 months ago I began to really pay attention to what exactly was happening. I started noticing a pattern and began to work more with his frustration. I broke it down, didn't ask anything of him I wasn't totally sure of how to ask till I figured it out myself... and just went about business. I'll be honest with you, after some of the rides I had on him, I didn't feel like riding him for a couple weeks. I felt guilty, but the thought of confusing this horse more and feeling like I would have one more bad ride under my belt was something I didn't feel like doing.
Cypress has always been in a french link snaffle for the dressage training. When I started his western pleasure training 6 months ago, I kept him in that till I wanted to fine tune the neck reining. So I switched to a light Tom Thumb. He did well in it, but I thought trying him in a low port would really help him get clearer signals with a lighter touch. Boy, was I wrong. The shape of his mouth really calls for some sort of snaffle. I've been resistant to want to keep him in a jointed bit because I know it does alot of pinching. Then, last week, I found a french link Tom Thumb western bit. I almost didn't buy it, but I am glad I did. When I put it in his mouth, he seemed relaxed and sort of like, "Thank you, this is what I'm used to."
When I rode him last night, I felt yet another connection. I stayed relaxed and tried to be the best teacher I could be for him. I think I had the best ride ever on him last night. I rode him on a loose, droopy, one handed western rein (something I haven't done yet because he was still at the stage of needing two hands to half halt and ask for bending, etc). We worked on stopping, using his hind end more for the walk and jog. We worked on stopping with my seat. I like a horse that puts on the brakes and stops when I want to stop. We got to the point where he would stop on a dime....relaxed. No head coming up, no 2-3 extra steps.... all done on that droopy rein, with him saying "Yes Ma'am, whats next?!"
I thought about how he hates feeling trapped. He is not claustrophobic in spaces, but he doesn't like his body to feel constrained. So, after about an hour of riding out the smoothest, slowest jog ever, I asked for the lope. Now usually it's me picking up the reins, begging him to canter and then after 2 laps of speed trotting he would go into this cannon ball run canter/hand gallop. We had been working on it on the ground and out on the trails, but I hadn't asked for it in the arena for over a month. I set my mind, told myself to keep the droopy rein, don't box him in with my hands... just ask for it and see what happens. If he trots on, no big deal, ask for that great stop. Wouldn't you know it, it worked. I put no expectations on him, and he went from a walk to a canter. What?! I tried again from the halt... I actually got a lope. Not a canter, a lope! I tried again, and asked for him to bring himself under my legs and he was loping like a western horse should.... body free, up and collected on his own, me relaxed and supporting his sides, we circled, he obliged. He broke gate, we stopped, I asked again from the halt.... right back into it.
The difference was not the bit. The difference was patience, thought, trying new things and understanding this one of a kind horse. Now, I'm sure we'll hit more snags, but at least now I know to keep trying and not give up on this horse. When I took him in a couple walk/jog classes against 30 beautiful paints and quarter horses and we came in 2nd and 3rd out of 30, I knew that this so thought lazy mustang was something special. Sometimes believing in a horse and trying over and over with new ideas and thoughts is all you need to keep going. This can be hard for me since I am a person who expects results and when I don't get them, I get stuck. Cypress has taught me to open my mind, be understanding of his mind and find different ways to guide him. What a wonderful gift he has given me. The power to follow through, not give up and to be patient. Thanks Cypress. :)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Apollo
Apollo is such a diamond. He is an amazing dressage horse. He's suffered from various lameness issues off and on and at one point before I owned him, a vet told his previous owner he should only be a pasture horse. Apollo begs to differ. He is not 100% perfect in his gates now, but he is very rideable through 3rd level and still the coolest horse to ride. He has so much knowledge and so much in that big brain of his. He has taught me a great deal about dressage and what it means to have lightness. He makes you work for it, but when he gives it to you, it rocks.
He is so beautiful. So beautiful it takes my breath away at times. Lisa rode him tonight and just watching him makes my knees week. Arabians are my favorite horses. Apollo is my dream Arabian...standing at 16.1 hh and 1200 lbs, people think he is a cross, but I assure you he is ALL arab. :) He's that beautiful deep, rich bay with black points. He is large boned and nicely put together.
His personality is what makes me fall in love with him over and over. He's a little shy, but curious all at the same time. He really needs leadership but is confident at the same time. He loves treats and those big liquid eyes are hard to resist.
I sometimes have a hard time sharing Apollo. But I do as that is the nature of having a riding school. Apollo can be such and amazing teacher as he is not a guesser. He needs clarity and he is then he is golden. He gives you what you ask for always.
He is so beautiful. So beautiful it takes my breath away at times. Lisa rode him tonight and just watching him makes my knees week. Arabians are my favorite horses. Apollo is my dream Arabian...standing at 16.1 hh and 1200 lbs, people think he is a cross, but I assure you he is ALL arab. :) He's that beautiful deep, rich bay with black points. He is large boned and nicely put together.
His personality is what makes me fall in love with him over and over. He's a little shy, but curious all at the same time. He really needs leadership but is confident at the same time. He loves treats and those big liquid eyes are hard to resist.
I sometimes have a hard time sharing Apollo. But I do as that is the nature of having a riding school. Apollo can be such and amazing teacher as he is not a guesser. He needs clarity and he is then he is golden. He gives you what you ask for always.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Tuaca and Melissa
Tuaca: I've known him for almost 4 years now. When I first met him I thought he was a nut ball. He flipped over in the cross ties, paniced when he saw the tractor and rubbed his tail completely out in his stall. His tail was literally 2 feet long. The poor fellow was afraid of whips, scared of his own shadow and completely insecure. He was owned by a woman who did not have time for him but loved him dearly. She decided to sell him.
Enter Melissa. She came to Mecca as a western student. She was afraid of horses even after 2 years of riding lessons at another stable. She kept flinching our first lesson, but quickly caught on to the fact our horses were different. I watched her blossom as a rider as the months went on. Then one day she comes to me and says she's ready for a horse. She wants one....now. So she looked at several, and was interested in one or two here at the barn. Then, someone suggests Tuaca. I rolled my eyes and said, "I don't think that would be a good match...noooo, not Tuaca and Melissa..." BOY, was I wrong! She feel in love with him. She bought him.
After several months of getting to know him, I watched her and Tuaca change and get better. She went from not being able to stop him to winning 1st places in shows! She had a goal and she is reaching it. I admire Melissa for what she has done, not too many greenies can achieve it so quick! Melissa now trail rides Tuaca alone, canters him bareback and performs flying lead changes on him.
Tuaca has really grown in her care as well. He is so cool now. I rode him tonight and couldn't believe I didn't see his potential way back then. What a wonderful ride and what a wonderful horse. He is confident, understands, and I highly doubt he'll be spooking at his own shadow from here on out. I especially like how she has taught him to ground tie. :) Im proud of both of them.
Enter Melissa. She came to Mecca as a western student. She was afraid of horses even after 2 years of riding lessons at another stable. She kept flinching our first lesson, but quickly caught on to the fact our horses were different. I watched her blossom as a rider as the months went on. Then one day she comes to me and says she's ready for a horse. She wants one....now. So she looked at several, and was interested in one or two here at the barn. Then, someone suggests Tuaca. I rolled my eyes and said, "I don't think that would be a good match...noooo, not Tuaca and Melissa..." BOY, was I wrong! She feel in love with him. She bought him.
After several months of getting to know him, I watched her and Tuaca change and get better. She went from not being able to stop him to winning 1st places in shows! She had a goal and she is reaching it. I admire Melissa for what she has done, not too many greenies can achieve it so quick! Melissa now trail rides Tuaca alone, canters him bareback and performs flying lead changes on him.
Tuaca has really grown in her care as well. He is so cool now. I rode him tonight and couldn't believe I didn't see his potential way back then. What a wonderful ride and what a wonderful horse. He is confident, understands, and I highly doubt he'll be spooking at his own shadow from here on out. I especially like how she has taught him to ground tie. :) Im proud of both of them.
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