2016 Week 2 w/ Nike - Moving Forward

WEEK 2: 01/11-17/16: At the Fairgrounds again! This arena will probably be our home base for most of the season as it is fairly close to home and has LIGHTS, good footing (when not over watered) and it’s covered. There are also four pens we can use which makes rotating the horses  MUCH easier. This is our first time under the lights. Things look different. When we arrive tonight we noted that the foot was a bit swampy in areas. Someone over watered the footing. Sigh. Sowe had to be careful about what, where and when we did stuff.

            This was Day 3 in a row of both groundwork and under saddle work for Nike. We KNOW that in last humans did very little with her to develop her work ethic. Consistent work on consecutive days have really helped her to settle is faster and sass less. Plus we are seeing some muscle tone and we swear she is getting taller! We reviewed the lessons from the previous day. Since she was last to get work on Sunday we worked with her first on Monday. As we were doing our groundwork lesson other folks started to show up at the arena. Keeping Nike focus on the work takes effort and moving her feet helps. She figured out quickly that “two eyes” gets rest and rubs. Being a looky-loo gets her feet moving. One of the challenges we have had with Nike is her "gas pedal" while under saddle. She’ll walks at a mellow place all day long and will trot with some cadence and then just stop when she thinks she is done. Her last humans really did not push her through these points of resistance and she gets sassy (kicks out) when you cue for more impulsion. In short Nike takes a level of motivation to move faster, which folks who follow Downunder Horsemanship call Squeeze, Cluck and Spank. She is ridden in a smooth snaffle with a mecate set up so we have a “spanker” at the end of the line. She has a "sewing machine" like trot that she'll go into in protest of actually being asked to lope. It does some brutal things to one's innards and man-parts. Well tonight we rode through the "sewing machine" trot and sassy fit (she kicked out once and met the spanker) and found her real lope...twice. The lope was nice. The second request was given a much smoother response and felt really nice. My innards and man parts hate me, though. Still the soreness will fade and we achieved the objective. Now we build on that confidence. She also trotted with other horses quite a long time with cadence tonight which was nice. We ended with some lateral and vertical flexion exercises and some really nice backing. Ahhh, how we suffer for our art. One of our goals is to be as ready as we can for The Downunder Brumbies practice this Saturday. I think we are going to do pretty well.

We are also getting Ronan and Argent ready for the season ahead. Ronan and I are participating in a 3 Day Clinic with Clinton Anderson next month and I want us both to be a ready as possible so we can get the most out of the learning experience. Since I work with Nike and Ronan consistently we should be fine. The vast differences in work ethic, experience, and physical presence between these two creates an opportunity that allows my horsemanship to grow. I have to read and adjust what I am doing with each horse while remaining true to the essence of the exercise I am working on. It is a unique and challenging journey!

 Nike: First Ride

 Ronan: Glamour Shot

Here we are in 2016!

WEEK 1 January 4-10, 2016: Goals are to take everything we have worked on in the last twenty two days and get those skills really sharp with good energy and performance. This week has seen us get hit with a large amount of rain and some snow. Of course this means the footing at home and the local outdoor arenas are swamp like. So we’ll tighten our budget once again and see about getting a pass to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. At least the foot in good there so all three horses can get the work they need (Ronan and Michael are set up for the 3 Day Clinic in February with Clinton Anderson). No round pen there sigh) so Nike will be working mostly on the lead line and under saddle on the Fundamentals.

            01/09/16: NEW PLACE! We headed over to the El Dorado County Fairground. This is a very active facility with folks coming and going to different functions and lots of folks walking their dogs and riding their bicycles near the arena. We have had a very wet week which made training very challenging. We FINALLY got hold of someone in the know at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds who knew when open rides (with a monthly or quarterly pass) were. We got a pass and then got to work! The Downunder Brumbies are having a practice on the 16^th of the month so we wanted all of our horses to be ready for the focus exercises. So this session focused on lateral flexion, introducing vertical flexion, getting  a ”yes sir” attitude when lunging for respect stage 1 and 2, improving the yields of the HQ and FW and leading beside. (all groundwork). We also focused on the Sending exercises and LOTS of desensitizing activities. Under saddle we worked on lateral and vertical flexion, unsticking her gas pedal and freeing up her steering and well as several suppling exercises. Having five days off showed in her sassy face and her performance. We worked through everything and got some wins. It was a productive session.

            01/10/16: Nike was worked after we wrapped with Ronan and Argent. The arena was BUSY today! When we got there we had the place to ourselves and encourages all three horses to run around and get the fresh out. They didn’t have much fresh and after some decent laps and turns just gave us “two eyes” so we got to work. Nike’s lesson was like that of the day before. Same goals but looking for a higher level of performance. Other horses were around – some calm and some not so much- and acted like magnet times but we saw some real improvement on all her focus exercises. She moved out and maintained her trot much longer today and even began to Follow the Fence. She was acting a little dull to my leg cues so I added some spurs to the mix. Woke her up and helped getting some roundness when we backed up and nice bends and lateral movement. Yesterday as I dismounted I twisted my ankle pretty bad. Silly but it happened. It started hurting pretty bad but I maintained until I got some real improvement and then dismounted so Laurie could handle Nike/s cool down. They did a little more trotting just to be sure the lesson was understood and then wrapped up with some Bending at the Walk. Good session! Nike was a bit tired but is making good progress. We’ll be back at the same place tomorrow afternoon!

DAY 22 - GROUNDWORK REVIEW

DAY 22 GROUNDWORK REVIEW: Today was a groundwork review day. The footing at home is still pretty bad so riding was out of the question. Reviewing the exercises we have learned over the last three weeks seemed like a good idea, especially with the really wet/cold/snowy weather we have coming in. Improvement in performance was the goal. We began in the round pen. Still having a little issue with getting two eyes when she is going to the right but her direction changes both ways have progressed with energy and a nice use of her hind end. Thinking this issue is of our own creation. Will continue to do on this in the round pen and evaluate our body language via video. On the lead line the same energy is there and we get two eyes going to the right easier. Her lateral flex is nice both with the line and with the bridle. Yielding the HQ Stage 1 and 2 are solid. Now it is time to increase the energy in those steps to build more muscle and confidence. Yielding the FQ is good and we’ll continue to refine this so it is really smooth and will translate easily to under saddle work. Backing is getting much smoother and with more control in all four methods. We have begun backing through smaller spaces and in a serpentine pattern as well. Sending is nice most of the time. She gets a little lazy with the hind end so we’ll be more black and white in the days ahead. Circle Driving is okay and we just need to do it more. We have worked on exercises like Turn and Go and some of the more subtle groundwork exercises. She is learning them very quickly and is understanding what is expected of her without over doing it or over reacting. We quit after playing on some of the trail obstacles and playing with the concept of side passing along the fence. Lots of rubs and scratches today. As soon as we quit and got her blanket on the rain began to fall. Sigh. Timing is everything.

            From this point forward we know the progress will be incremental in nature. We may work on the same things for several days before going on to something new. We also will be working on overall conditioning so she gains muscle and fitness. Since this is the nature of the program we will make weekly entries into this journal on Nike’s progress. Stay tuned for those updates!

BACK AGAIN! Day 21

DAY 21 – BACK AGAIN! We were able to head back over to South Shingle Ranch again    today! This time instead of Nike being worked first, she went last. We put Ronan and Argent through their paces! Since it supposed to be a decent night we felt okay getting everyone a little sweaty. Long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training is the key.

            The goals with Nike today included freeing up her gas pedal, working on her brakes and seeing about refining her steering. We were also going to do almost all of this session in the large arena. Sounds simple but the truth of the matter is these fundamental skills give the horse and the human a real workout! We started off in the round pen and got the fresh out and the mind engaged. Every session sees improvement and understanding. As we work together we find she knows some neat stuff –what we call big bang skills which have flash but don’t necessarily help her to be a great equine citizen. Icing on the cake as it were. We will utilize those skills when appropriate to be sure but for now it is about getting all the gaps in her foundation filled. We did the off the line work in the round pen and helped her find a better cadence for her trot and lope. Then we headed over to the large arena via the pasture with the mini horses. Since she seemed interested in them we figured it would be best to introduce each other before going to work. Good plan.

            We did our ground work and raised the expectation of performance a bit. Got a little sass from Nike but that was to be expected. The sass didn’t last too long and she did pretty well. Lunge for Respect 1 and 2, all four Backing methods, Yielding the HQ 1 and 2, Yielding the FQ, Sending and Circle Driving were reviewed and improved upon. Then we saddled up after making all the necessary tack adjustments for her slender build. We worked on Cruising at the trot, One Rein Stops, Yielding the HQ under saddle and getting some nice turns/ direction changes. Because we raised the expectations of performance in this area over the last session we got some sass. She refused to move out a time or two when Squeeze and Cluck happened so Spank was applied. She tried to pop up on the forequarters a little so she got hustled in some tight circles. She even tried to kick out/crow hop once. She got to be sweaty instead. To be fair we know we have worked her more in the last 21 days that she had seen in the months of being leased out. Our expectation bar also moves which was not in her contract before. A reality shift sometimes brings sass and you simply have to deal with it, correct it and move on. By the end of the session we got some really nice posting trots, easy turns, good stops and even a pleasant lope! She needs more saddle time and conditioning of course but if the progress she is making stays on course we are feeling pretty good that she will be a joy to work with. She is a young horse. She is growing. She is learning and she is trying to perform. Can’t ask for more than that right now.

            The weather here in the Sierra Foothills looks to be WET and COLD this week. Will do our best to squeeze in training as we can.

GETTING A RESCUE HORSE.

GETTING A “RESCUE” HORSE

Recently we adopted a horse that was in need of “rescue” and have enjoyed the adventure! This is the third time we have done this. Each experience has been rewarding it its own way. We have learned a great deal and helped some horses in the process. Still we don’t recommend it to anyone who is not willing to REALLY think about what they are getting into. It takes a certain level of dedication, commitment and focus which many folks are not, for a variety of reasons, unable to truly have no matter what their intentions of the heart may be.

Rescue Horse or General Sale Horse?

Well trained, well cared for horses are NOT cheap. Just look at any of the social media forums if you want to see what the market in your area supports. An experienced, safe and well trained horse that is suitable for the novice rider may range anywhere from $2000.00 to $5000.00 or more. Why? Simple. THEY ARE SAFE, WELL TRAINED and IN GOOD SHAPE. Not only are you paying for the horse but all the TIME, ENERGY and CARE that went into helping this horse be awesome! You need to acknowledge that “you get what you pay for” and you need to keep you “wish list” realistic when looking at a rescue over a general sale horse purchase.

Why is the horse in need of “rescue” and not simply being sold?

This is a valid question to ask. Sometimes it comes down to “life”, time and finances. Horses are not cheap to own (especially in California). If a household loses income or faces some major hardship they may need to rehome said horse quickly for the sake of the animal’s well-being. Selling a horse for fair market value takes time and preparation. Making sure the horse is looking good and is well trained takes real effort. In a rescue situation this may not be the case. Sometimes the horse and human simply don’t fit well together. It happens. Horses, like humans have personalities and aptitudes. If the team does not work it is tough to want to keep it together. Sometimes there is health issues or behavior issues that come up. Sometimes the horse needs more care, training or time than the human has to give. Sometimes it is a combination of all of the above and more. The bottom line is this: There is some “issue” and the human needs out of the relationship quickly. If you are thinking of adopting a “rescue” horse keep this in mind!

Is Cheap/ Free really Cheap/Free?

The answer is no. While the upfront investment may be appealing because of the low to no cost (our current rescue horse was free) to you, the REALITY is that horse is going to COST you MONEY and TIME! Besides the normal feeding, housing, hoof care and vet visits, you may be looking at additional supplements and special health care needs to help the horse be happy and healthy. You may need to increase your tack and saddle collection (Our new mare is slender and our saddles are not the best fit for her so – new saddle time!) on some level, especially if the horse is young and growing! In most cases there is some gap in the horse’s training or there are behavior issues that need to be dealt with. An investment of TIME, MONEY (even if you do it all yourself) or BOTH is going to be needed to help fill those gaps to ensure the horse has a solid foundation. This is a COMMITMENT that has to be acknowledged and made. If you can’t budget for additional training, either by you several times a week or by a reputable trainer, then DO NO GET THE HORSE. Remember you are taking on a horse that for whatever reason could not be a general sale horse (see above). You are going to take on whatever baggage that horse has and will need to commit to the process of helping it become a good equine citizen. Keep this in mind.

“Wish List” versus Reality – Can I Get What I Want?

As was stated, you get what you pay for. Ask yourself what you REALLY want and what you can REALLY handle. If you need a pasture pet or companion horse then your needs are easy and finding a “free to a good home” horse is too. However, if your “needs” call for a well trained, well adjusted, kid safe horse that is good for the novice rider but your budget is less than $500.00 you are, quite frankly, being unrealistic! Think about it. If you had a horse that met those criteria would you sell it cheap or give it away? No, you would not. You would want a fair market price. Rescue horses do not fall into the fair market price category (see above). If your needs are realistic like the horse should be rideable, broke to saddle, in overall decent health and have no major abuse/neglect issues you can find some wonderful horses out there. You can begin your adventure together as you add weight through good nutrition and care and as you craft a bond through building a solid foundation of trust through good training and conditioning. Your “ideal” horse may simply be a diamond in the rough and with time, training and good health care you can have a real treasure. The reward comes from hard work, dedication and focus. You either buy the diamond already polished and set or you take on the challenge of mining and crafting the diamond yourself.  Examine your needs, your skill set, your network of support and your time/money budget before making a commitment. Ask yourself some tough questions. The answers you get will help you determine if a rescue horse is the best option for you.

Is It Time To Go Shopping?

            If you asked yourself all the tough questions, if you have a support network to help you should you run into issues you are not able to handle alone and if you have developed a flexible game plan for helping the rescue horse achieve its best potential (or at least begin the process) then it is time to start meeting some horses! Avoid taking home the first horse you see. Take notes on each horse you meet which highlight the positives and challenges of each candidate. Be willing to walk away and think about it or bring someone who can do that for you. The various social media sites like Facebook have some great rescue horse forums. Craigslist is also another easy to use resource for finding leads on rescue horses. Of course your local/regional large animal rescue organizations are awesome as well. Be willing to travel a little bit (say 100 miles from home) to find a horse that fits your realistic needs list. Be willing to spend time with the horse, getting to know it on the ground and if possible, under saddle. Use your brain, trust your instincts and leave your heart in the truck (for now). If the horse responds as you would like and if it is in a condition you can deal with then it can go on your Possible List. After you have met a few horses, review your notes, speak with your support network and then make a choice. Remember that once you load that horse up and begin heading home the responsibility for its health, training and happiness falls on you.

            There are some REALLY wonderful horses out there in need of rescue. If you are willing to work a bit you can help create a great relationship and a great horse that will never need rescue again. The journey is a rewarding one if you are prepared to take those first few steps armed with a good plan! You will be glad you did.

ANOTHER ADVENTURE TO SOMEPLACE NEW

DAY 20 – SOMEPLACE NEW: We got word that a normally non-public arena was going to be open to the public this weekend. So today we are heading over to South Shingle Arena in Shingle Springs which is about 30 minutes away. We are taking all three of our horses. Supposedly this arena has a nice round pen which is perfect for Nike! It is always good to TRAVEL with the horses and get them exposed to new places and new faces! The weather forecast calls for rain early this week so we want to get in as much training time as we can with all of the horses!

Not sure it ever got above 45 degrees outside today. Welcome to winter in the Sierra’s.

Trailering: She OWNS it now. We simply point and she loads up. Freaking awesome! We see many folks who have a real issue with this aspect of their horsemanship. Just goes to show that if you train with the horse’s mind in mind you can get great results!

Round Pen: Today we did all of Nike’s work in the round pen as there were some folks racing around the arena who had their dog loose. Not cool but what can you do. So we did what we do in the round pen at liberty and on the line. In general she is really getting it and moving well. She is changing directions nicely and using her hind end. We rode in the round pen too. Outside of getting too close with me on her back to the rail a couple of times we got a nicer series with trotting and loping. Well, her lope is kind of sad. The time with the dressage person really confused her and she does this hop-lope thing under saddle. We know we can get it to feel balanced and normal with some work but wow…it is a workout to sit it. Her trot has at least two speeds so that is fun. Feeling good about her steering wheel so next time we’ll ride in the larger arena and see if that helps. After her workout she got to stand tied near the large arena to contemplate her lesson. We are heading back to the same place tomorrow if it does not rain! It was a good session. Both horse and human are learning and that makes the adventure extra special.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DAY 18 & 19 – NEW YEAR’S EVE/ NEW YEARS’S DAY: New Year’s Eve -We were scrambling to get the house ready for a little shindig tonight but of course we had to work with Nike. The ground was rock hard in some places and really slick in others so we went with low impact. Trotting and direction changes to start along with the usual warm up exercises. She is moving with much more confidence and understanding of the signals. Really nice improvement in the round pen. Then we played in the bigger area working on Sending and the low level obstacles we have set up. Again, some really nice improvements there too. It was a short session (about 40 minutes) but we got a lot done and ended on some wins. She backed up the length of the lead rope (about 14 feet) with Tap the Air. Do we have lots of work to do? You bet. We have confidence in the heart and ability to learn of this little mare.

New Year’s Day – Some of our overnight guests wanted to meet Nike in the day time so we headed on down to the round pen with her. She got to show off a bit. We reviewed the lessons from yesterday and even saw some improvements! Could not complain! She charmed our friends with her cute self. Tomorrow we meet up with some Downunder Brumbies at Pioneer Park Arena in Somerset. Should be a great way to start off 2016!