Tornado - in coming!!

Ok, we don't get tornados out here, but after the week I've had it may have well have been one. Off to the Back Country Horsesman of California Rendezvous in Merced at the County Fair, Youngest One and I trundle off with the Kit mare along for Matt Sheridan to work in his clinic. 

Signups had "stalls" @ $20/night, so I packed shavings and buckets and stall stuff...  Rolled in around 8:30PM on thurs. and what? no stalls, they had them, but even the event organizer (not a horse person) wouldn't let me use them.  Little Kit was gonna get more than her one or two lessons this weekend....  Turned her out in an arena with 5 other stock all owned by the same guy. She immediately picked out the smallest burro out there and started cutting it from the herd.

 By this time its a long way past my bedtime and my friends said they keep track of her for me, and off to the hotel I went. Nice place, Kelly was already there.  The Booth we vend for the AV Unit of BCHC was set up and ready to go, so we turned in.

Friday AM: Youngest one is still in a wrist cast from his latest scooter advetnure, so bag the cast/duct tape/shower for him and then the rest of us and off to the fair...  Picked Kit up out of the arena, and she was a little pushy and sorta haughty about the fact she got to track that poor little burro all over hell and gone all night long.  Brought her over to where Matt would be clinicing, and found a stand alone pen for her to be in.  Did I mention she's only been with buddies or in a separate pen next to somebody before?  Food & water out for her and off to the booth to check on Kelly and Youngest one.  They are doing fine, so nervous mother that I am, I head back out to check the mare.  She's fine and Matt still isn't here, back to the booth to try and help there for awhile, but really not focused on what needs doing. 

Matt rolls in and wants me to go ahead and saddle the mare and tells me we plan on riding her both days (oh great, now  I can make a fool of myself twice in one weekend).  He starts on the first horse and I stand with the mare outside on a halter line.  About an hour later, JC the first mare is done and he calls me in explaning our background and his work with us thus far.  We start off just circling and bending left (bad side) on the halter from the ground, much like he finished up with JC, but she is not the same horse we had last weekend at his place.  Resistant, and non-compliant, and not trying very much.  Matt takes over and tries to get her working, but still no really  change.  The decision is made to "lay her down. "

First thought - my saddle and tack will be dirt filled, yuck.
2nd thought - it all washes, if she needs it, go ahead.
Next - oh call Kelly out of the booth to watch, too. 

I have only some idea what this entails, and Matt asks me, "It will probably take about 45 minutes for this mare to decide to lay down for us, are you ok with that?"  He's the trainer, so I agree and step out of  the way and watch the man work his magic.

In the next 45 minutes, he danced with this mare and was safe with her until she chose to lay down for him.  He had a tough time, the mare has had her way all her life and no one has ever asked this of her before. She went through all the stages, fighting him, sulling up and getting mad, etc.  She even went as far as to flop herself down, and then raise her head and look at him as if to say, "Is this what you want and can I get up now?" at which point she'd come up swinging for Matt with her head or her shoulder or a front foot.  That little mare was not about to choose to lay down and (the important part) let down emotionally.  Matt was right, at about 45 minutes, she finally laid down and shut her eyes and just rested there calmly.  Stretched out like a big dog sunning herself in the pasture.  When he was done, he just let her rest and get up on her own - took about 3-4 minutes for her  to regain her feet. She first sat up like a dog and looked around like "mmhuh, well, looks like they don't want hurt me after all." She caught her breath and got up to her feet, and just stood there. Matt gave her patts and turned her over to me and said, "She's gonna need a bath." The crowd was good, Matt asked that when the mare went down that they please stay quiet and for the most part they did. Everybody clapped and I led her off and the mare who has only had one bath her entire life stood stock still (not even tied) while I washed the entire  mess (saddle, horse, pads). I tied her to the trailer, undressed her, and turned to watch Matt's remaining stock work.

That was emotional for all of us; I was a nervous wreck hoping Matt wouldn't get hurt, YO who videoed most of it, was worried for the mare and his mom (who evidently was a little pale through the whole thing), Matt was working hard to stay safe and keep the mare from hurting herself or him, Kelly was watching to make sure it all went down well and to know what she'd have to deal with when we got home,  and I was just a wreck worrying about the mare, Matt's safety, my tack, the mess I've have to clean up after, how she'd turn out, would it make a difference, will I be able to transfer this lesson on to me, not just Matt. Gosh the list was endless.

Afterwards at dinner, YO asked Matt, "So Matt do you dance that well with your wife?" Got a totally blank look from Matt, YO explained that it looked like he was dancing with the mare this afternoon... Matt did an aw shucks kinda move, smiled and said, "No, I'm a horse trainer, not a dancer." 

BTW we highlined all Matt's horses (even mine-I borrowed one)  <-- Another lesson for Kit.  Tied overnight.  Another tale for another time...  Off to bed.

Dream Contest, mmmm what's yours?

http://bitlesshorse.blogspot.com/2010/03/contest-dreams.html

this link is to a dream contest, post the answer to your dreams in the comments and you could win the really cool horse hair charm pictured.  If you want, copy paste the comment here, so we can  all read them...

So having said that,
Tell me what your "American (Or Canadian for them there) dream is" How are you going to achieve it? Does it involve horses? Are you already living it? Give us the details here in a comment and you could win this lovely little bridle (or key chain, your call) tassel.

here's mine: (currently)

My Dream: Living most of it....  house wiht acreage and a nice barn, family, happy marriage, good kids, nice horses living on my place, good friends, $$ enough to keep the creditors happy, and time to spend with my family and my horses.

How:Working my ass off as a HS teacher until its time to retire, probably after Youngest finishes college (about 10 more years),
Horses:  you betcha, part of that dream is to ride Gettsburg on my horses and go on a couple AQHA trail rides, and be a competitor in Ranch Horse Versatility, at least locally.  I'm training a homebred mare that is a really good RVH prospect.  Got a nice homebred gelding that makes a great trail horse for camping, or for freinds to ride that would tune up real nice, if needed.  My stallion, Rodeo, is a darling, I need to promote him more, but he is the best minded horse I've ever ridden. So much try, and so much please, and all this on top of good bloodlines and confirmation.  I love my horses, they are part of the family.  Even my boys say Rodeo is the middle child at our house.  Two comfort loving ridgebacks complete the picture and its my favorite time of day at teh end of it donwn at the barn after I've fed and the dog are who-rahing the sun down and the horses are munching, and the shadows are crawling down the hill and into the valley floor.

Trail ride from the house. Got home in a rush. Maggie said she'd ride with me but they were almost ready. Tried to rush Kit, and ended up back in the round pen with the side reins on just watching her go. She wouldn't walk. Half Halts weren't working. Circles just made her worse . I haven't the energy to do this today. So back to the ranch, into the round pen and on the side reins she went.

Took her all of 10 minutes of dragging herself around the round pen at a fast trot to figure out I wasn't the one pulling on her face.

She walked about three minutes and will probably trot for another 45 before she slows down enough to think walking would be easier. Maybe I can nap while she's out there.... I can dream can I? Wait. It only took her 4 start walking. There might be brain in there somewhere under all that energy. Smart little mare. Maybe it was the lounge chair and can of soda that clued her in. Or the clack of the keyboard of me blogging about her. LOL

Tuesday after the Insanity

Off to ride the mare, Kit again... I am dreading screwing her up, but what I need to do is ride her and work on what I need to work on. Facing your inadequacies is tough, and this one is evidently a big one. < sigh> Will let you know how it goes... E>)

DVMsWife: I Refer To It As My "Nervous Breakdown"

DVMsWife: I Refer To It As My "Nervous Breakdown"

Insanity in the snow

ok, here's how it went.
Plan: Lesson with Matt Sheridan at his place in Tehachapi.  Sorta worried about fee and our budget, but prayed it'd work out.

Night before: got a email from Matt about hauling a horse up for him from Phelan for the price of my lesson (prayer does get answered, thank you God). Make arrangements, get horse, take Kelly with me for advice and general entertainment value. Also she sees me ride more and can continue the things Matt sees/tells me. And if I'm lucky she'll offer to drive home and I can nap.

Morning of: outta bed, showered, etc. got horse picked up, Kellys along with... Everythings going smoothly. Unload at Matts saddle up (it is a biting 36 degrees with a overcast sky and 15 MPH winds, snow flurries half way thru lesson). 

First off, Kit is fresh, so she's walking and looking and looking and not paying me much mind. Matt says, No this is not allowed, she is to pay attention to you and give you her face and shoulder and ribs at all times. No bracing or bending against you or heavens not pulling on you.  He takes over, Kit softens up her face, shoulder, and ribs from the ground in the halter and starts walking like the lady I know she can be. Mmmmm, what am I doing wrong that would give that bad habit a start.  <-- Being too lenient and not paying attention to where her body is from the ground. ok got it work on that.

Into the round coral (not even the arena), ok this will be a basics day. She needs that (maybe? I guess Matt would know- its what I paying for right?).  He works her again from the ground about 4 or 5 times left then only one time right and then back left.  His release and demand is consistent and smooth, timing flawless, the mare is learning to give her face,shoulders, and ribs to him as asked, when asked, as much as is asked, no more. Then he climbs on her, same lesson with variation of adding the halter as a left side rein to help me(him) stay outta her mouth and still get the necessary bend etc. Gets her going good, settled in great. 

This whole time Kelly is whacking me in the arm everytime Matt says something she has been telling me for the last 6 months, ok she only actually connected 3-4 times, but she was constantly giving me the "see, its the same lesson we've been having for the last 6 months."  This must be so frustrating for her to have to listen to the same stuff she's been saying over and over to me again from a different angle.  She tries handing me the new camera to take pictures, so I try and use it for all of 5 minutes and give it back to her because I can't concentrate on what he's saying and take pictures. Screw the pictures I'm here for the lesson.

Crap, now its time for me to ride the mare.  On we go, and its the same lesson over and over. at one point he was pulling on my sleeve like I pull on the mare. I had no clue, so I was just giving to the pressure and leaning over toward him, he kept pulling and finally said, are you gonna let me pull you off of this horse? I am clueless what he is trying to get across, so I look at him like, Is that what you want me to do? What do you want me to do pull back?, so I try resisting, and he pulls again and releases the moment I give. Then he pulls again and says this is how I want you to pull and releases as fast as I give in a smooth pull, release. Then he pulls again and says this is how you are pulling and pulls lightly, I give and he only lightens the pressure then pulls again lightly, I give more and he holds the pull and asks me what I would do if this was one of my kids. I take a light swat at his head and he says, "Exactly what the mare is doing, isn't it?"  She is wanting it this way... demonstrating correctly again and you are giving her this demonstrating what I'm doing wrong again.  You've got to really release this mare, she wants you to throw her head away when she gives you what you want.

So I try it, he corrects,
I try it ok better,
I try it not quick enough,
I try it nope, pull smoothly until you get the change, then dump her.
I try it no don't shake the rein at her pull smoothly until she gives, then release.
But she isn't holding the bend,
so turn her again, add another corner to the circle (really a polygon).
Pick up, release,
pick up release again, again, again.....
right, wrong wrong right better wrong ...
relax your hand after you release her you look like a SpEd kid. pick up release pick and hold...
When she's given her ribs take a leg off and let her stop
look for her release of your pressure, release her there.
getting better, practice sliding your hand up the rein to shorten it, more, your not picking her up enough. 

Its like your teaching a kid learning division and rewarding her for putting her pencil on the paper, but not writing any answer. Pull through smoothly until you get the change, don't let her take the rein away until she's given, then give her all she wants.

Now try right, she's not a resistant this way because your hand comes out to the side more naturally, stop pulling straight to the hip on the left, its gotta be out to the knee at the side.  Right is easier for you (why is that? I'm lefthanded??)

Now back left, no don't pull up, pull out to the side.  What was that? A fix not a turn... I just wanted her face straight not a turn. ok, no for now its gotta be a turn if you touch her face, left or right, but turn even if its only a slight corner, make it a change in her body. 

ok you lost forward, flap (not spur or cue) just bounce your inside leg on her with no pressure on her face, get forward then ask for turn, ok try that start again. gather your reins like your going to do something, squeeze and tip forward, flap your leg if she won't move.  He likes a horses that needs a little winding up to get moving.  good you've got forward now pick up and turn, release her, pick up, release, pick up, release, better, not enough, don't shake your rein smooth pulls to her change and release.

End of lesson: we ended on a postive note couple of good turns and releases.

Take her up an tie her to a rail and watch the next lesson. Rene on Star in  the two rein setup. They are much further along then us. We still are in the snaffle and seem stuck there forever. Will I ever learn the timing and intensity and ability to read this mare? She is telling me what she wants and I don't know how to give it to her.

My habits seem to never change and aren't getting any better, have I peaked out as a trainer? No matter how hard I try and visualize what needs doing, practice doing it right (or so I think), its never right, its always the same issue for the last six months (Kelly will probably say years) but glaringly for the last 6 months.

At times like these I feel like an English teacher trying to teach Spanish to 3rd graders when what they really need is long division math.  I have reached a point that I am blindly searching for the correct way to do it, and not knowing what the correct way should look like when I get it or how to I got the corect way if I did get it.  The only thing I can compare it to is trying to teach somebody to change a tire when they have never even seen a tire on a car to know what needs changing and there is no car in sight.  I'd like to ride a more finished horse once or twice under total supervison, so I can get my cueing, releasing, and timing down better before trying to teach it to my green reining horse Kit. 

The only time I ever actually rode a trained finished horse was once in a long time ago when somebody let me ride their "old rope horse." "Be careful Snake's a mean one" was all the warning I got.  He was a little rusty, but from what I'd seen Kelly do, I asked this horse to spin and viola he spun, slowly at first, then when I asked for speed, he gave it to me. Oh Lord in Heaven, what a wonderful feeling.  He turned right better then he turned left, but he did both pretty good for me not even having done more than watching Kelly school her horses(15 years before).  When I finished playing with him the owner got down off the fence and said, How'd you make him do that? I've never seen him do that except to dump somebody off. He's never done that on command, what did you do?  Then he wouldn't let me ride him anymore, because I petted him and told him he was a good boy and  I was spoiling him.

Drove home,  unloaded, fed the crew and went up to the house to cry out my frustrations....  Now you've read the whole nasty story.... What do I do?