I started taking lessons as a freshman in high school riding hunt seat. It really was Hunter Under Saddle lessons rather than "hunters" because it was at an AQHA barn. Before that, I had only ever ridden at camp and bareback on my parent's friend's horses a couple times a year. I wasn't raised in a "horsie" family at all. I was just like every other little girl who had dreamed of riding ponies, except for I never grew out of it.
Junior year of high school I leased a pony and during that summer, my pony went to go become a camp pony and I decided it was time for me to purchase a horse. I saved $1000 that summer and my mom said she would pay up to $4000 for a horse. I looked on equine.com and found Kandi listed for $2000. I had been looking for a 16 hh bay jumping gelding so of course the horse I found and fell in love with was a 15.1 hh chestnut mare who was not in any way made for jumping. Go figure.
Kandi was the mare and she was spooky and had had a history of being fearful of vets, farriers, strangers, tarps, and anything else abnormal. I had been taking lessons and leased a pony so I thought I was the world's greatest expert. She was totally beyond my abilities but I tried her out anyway. She was so smooth to ride and had such a pretty, flowing tail. She was a little aloof and I was fascinated by her. Plus, her mom had been a high point champion at one point in AQHA and Kandi herself had been in Hunter Pleasure and Equitation in an open show association. I didn't realize that was when she has two and she had since filled out and muscled up. I was the world's biggest expert, you know. I had to have her and I bought her.
Kandi and I had a rough start. She was a very nice mover and was well trained. I didn't know how to ride a well trained horse and I pushed her. Hard. My inexperience flustered an already sensitive mare and she started trying every trick in the book, including head tossing, trotting faster rather than loping, troping, evading.....anything you can think of. Miss Expert that I was didn't know that she was testing me, or how to pass her tests. She was already high strung, but my indecidedness and my fear of the unknown heightened her fears and lowered her confidence. So, after nine months, after I had almost thoroughly ruined her, I sent her to a trainer, the same woman I had been taking lessons from. Her name was Lynn.
Lynn did great things with her. Taught her how to use her body again, showed me how to help her use her body, and helped ease Kandi's fears. I became dead set on making Kandi a pleasure horse. After all, her mom had multiple pleasure points and her dad was a pleasure horse. What I didn't realize at the time is that Kandi's hocks are set too far underneath her body. Her stride was never going to be that short. Lynn tried to explain it to me. I thought if we just tried harder, she could do it. I tried to get her to do everything at once when she hadn't really done much for years before I bought her. (I bought her when she was 8.) Lynn also taught Kandi showmanship, which we have found to be something Kandi TRULY enjoys.
I tried to show Kandi hunt seat, without really working on it, and it was a disaster. I got frustrated with myself and got nervous and stiff and pissed Kandi off. It was not a good situation.
While Lynn was AWESOME for Kandi, I guess she and I didn't mesh as well. We got along, but I needed someone to work on ME. As a freshman, I rode for someone who was not good for me. She made me very stiff and ineffective. I came home from my first year of college a worse, less confident rider than I had been when I went to college. Lynn tried to make me less stiff, but I just didn't get it. My second year I found a coach who was WONDERFUL for me to ride for. She really taught me how to manipulate my body to make a horse really go well, even a shitty mover. Kandi and I still butted heads. At this point, we both wanted to do things our way and I didn't know how to give and take effectively. I was a much better rider, but I had an attitude. I would get frustrated and hang on Kandi's mouth. She was patient and forgiving but I know she was frustrated too. We were doing better, but we still seemed hopeless. I didn't know how to change things.
The next year, I was a junior in college and I had learned how to use my body well at this point. She and I were finally jiving. I finally stopped trying to make her something she wasn't and vowed to focus on horsemanship, trail, western riding, and showmanship. Lynn was working on lead changes with her and all was going well. Then, the vet scared Kandi and she fell on her hock, tearing the ligament in her hock. I also got pregnant about the same time. This was October. She was on stall rest until December. From December to March, she was on stall rest most of the day and hand walked once a day. Then, in March she was ridden at a walk/jog. From July to September she moved and was let out alone a couple of hours a day (after her predicament where I tried to make her an outdoor horse.) I started riding her in September. She was still sore then, but I got her a legend shot, an adjustment by a chiropractor, corrective trimming, and put her on a total joint supplement with HA.
I have not had a lot of time to ride here lately because I became a single mother in July. However, the times I have ridden her, she has been phenomenal. She has not taken a lame step in about 2 months. She gets turned out during the day with her boyfriend Pepper and has a mare and foal stall at night with her own window. We finally mesh the way I always wanted after FOUR years! She developed a bit of a hunter's bump and a club foot from compensating so much from her injury, but with exercise and proper trims these are decreasing. I showed her in halter several times a few years back and she did GREAT. Maybe I will do that again as we build her back up.
I saw a video of her at various shows showing in the hunter classes as a two year old and she won every one of those classes. It has inspired me to try to get her back to performing like she used to, in western and in hunt seat classes. I thought for awhile that she wouldn't move the same again, but she moved pretty great the last time I rode her. I am going to try my best to prove myself wrong. I will get a job that will allow a little disposable income to work with a trainer. I believe in that horse and I think we came this far together for some reason.
She has been a phenomenal teacher. She has taught me what not to do and has always been honest. She tells on me when I am wrong and I will always be grateful for the rider she has helped me to turn into. She is the other half of my team and we have had a hell of a road together! I am looking forward to where it takes us next.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Failed outside horse experience!
Well, I tried to let her live outside and it failed. Miserably.
The day she moved I went into labor so I wasn't able to see any of it happen. Basically, she wouldn't socialize and wouldn't eat. She ran back and forth in front of the gate. Because she was moving all the time and not eating, she lost a good 200 lbs. She also developed hives.
Then, when she had been there about 8 days, it rained hard. She picked that time to try to work her way into the herd so she could go into a run-in shed. The herd did not agree and beat her up pretty bad, until an obese breeding stock paint gelding decided to rescue her and spend the next day protecting her. I took her out of that field after 9 days and found that her nose was swollen and she had a big old gash under her eye. Neither of these things were apparent because she was wearing a fly mask and it was completely intact.
So, no more outside horse. She went into a stall that day and was turned out in a small paddock alone for an hour per day. Then she moved to Kentucky with me. She goes outside with her new boyfriend during the day when it's not too cold, then has a large mare and foal stall to enjoy at night. She loves it!!!! She is so happy. She is also finally sound! I may show her this spring!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Taking a show horse from stall life to pasture board
I haven't a clue how this is going to work.
I am finally letting my precious, well bred, prissy showmanship horse live outside. I know a lot of people think that all horses need to go outside every day to be happy and healthy. That's not true, not in my experience. As long as a stalled show horse is exercised regularly and given plenty of attention, they really don't want for anything.
The other concerns are that they are likely to colic, develop bad habits, develop ulcers. Correct feeding and GOOD exercise and plenty of attention prevents this. They shouldn't have a very fatty diet, they should probably be on something like oats rather than, say, sweet feed. But a horse can be totally happy and healthy being in a stall. They should be allowed to go out in a round pen or an arena once or twice a week to stretch their legs on their own a little bit. Most want to come back in after about 15 minutes.
A lot of the show horses, the way they are bred these days, don't even like to be outside. They miss their fly spray and their toys and the comfort of their stall. Hell, my horse loves to TRAILER and will pace back and forth in front of the gate wanting to come back in when she goes outside.
So, she's being turned out with about 15 other horses which has never happened. She's been turned out with some other mares and with a single gelding before. She has no social skills. Apparently, her 18 year old mother has been mainly outside for about 5+ years and still hasn't developed much social skills and still would rather be in. It's just the way these guys are bred.
But, putting a horse on pasture saves money. And when they're like mine and not showing and recovering from a ligament injury, I would rather she be outside stretching her legs than in a stall. All that needs to happen with that ligament now is it needs to strengthen itself. I am tired of paying people to rehab her (since I'm pregnant and not riding) when they're just walk/jogging and it's not getting anywhere. Also, they don't seem to want to turn her out because of her aversion to it.
Well, the owner (me!) says that she needs to get over it. And she does. I honestly don't want to put too much more money into her than I have, except for the necessities. I want to be looking for something a little more competitive, probably in 2012, so I would like to introduce her to what I call "real horse" lifestyle. She's 12 now, and she's been pretty adaptable, so I think she will do alright. She's been a wonderful teacher and a loyal companion, and I want to make sure she's taken care of for the rest of her life, so I do not plan on selling her.
This is going to be interesting. I have never done anything like this before. I'm a little scared, to be honest! She just got show clipped for maintenance before I made this excutive decision, so I hope she does okay on pasture. It's hot out so it wouldn't be as bad as if it were cold. I just hope she doesn't scrape herself up! I also hope she will develop social skills.
We shall see...should be interesting!
I am finally letting my precious, well bred, prissy showmanship horse live outside. I know a lot of people think that all horses need to go outside every day to be happy and healthy. That's not true, not in my experience. As long as a stalled show horse is exercised regularly and given plenty of attention, they really don't want for anything.
The other concerns are that they are likely to colic, develop bad habits, develop ulcers. Correct feeding and GOOD exercise and plenty of attention prevents this. They shouldn't have a very fatty diet, they should probably be on something like oats rather than, say, sweet feed. But a horse can be totally happy and healthy being in a stall. They should be allowed to go out in a round pen or an arena once or twice a week to stretch their legs on their own a little bit. Most want to come back in after about 15 minutes.
A lot of the show horses, the way they are bred these days, don't even like to be outside. They miss their fly spray and their toys and the comfort of their stall. Hell, my horse loves to TRAILER and will pace back and forth in front of the gate wanting to come back in when she goes outside.
So, she's being turned out with about 15 other horses which has never happened. She's been turned out with some other mares and with a single gelding before. She has no social skills. Apparently, her 18 year old mother has been mainly outside for about 5+ years and still hasn't developed much social skills and still would rather be in. It's just the way these guys are bred.
But, putting a horse on pasture saves money. And when they're like mine and not showing and recovering from a ligament injury, I would rather she be outside stretching her legs than in a stall. All that needs to happen with that ligament now is it needs to strengthen itself. I am tired of paying people to rehab her (since I'm pregnant and not riding) when they're just walk/jogging and it's not getting anywhere. Also, they don't seem to want to turn her out because of her aversion to it.
Well, the owner (me!) says that she needs to get over it. And she does. I honestly don't want to put too much more money into her than I have, except for the necessities. I want to be looking for something a little more competitive, probably in 2012, so I would like to introduce her to what I call "real horse" lifestyle. She's 12 now, and she's been pretty adaptable, so I think she will do alright. She's been a wonderful teacher and a loyal companion, and I want to make sure she's taken care of for the rest of her life, so I do not plan on selling her.
This is going to be interesting. I have never done anything like this before. I'm a little scared, to be honest! She just got show clipped for maintenance before I made this excutive decision, so I hope she does okay on pasture. It's hot out so it wouldn't be as bad as if it were cold. I just hope she doesn't scrape herself up! I also hope she will develop social skills.
We shall see...should be interesting!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Why Pat Parelli Sucks
1. The horses who have been trained in his methods tell me so. Their ears are pinned all the time and they just always look generally pissed at the world. Clinton Anderson and John Lyons horses look HAPPY and relaxed all the time. The horse will tell you!
2. Weanlings jumping logs. 'Nuff said.
3. It seems as though Pat and Linda woke up one morning and said, "How much can we possibly annoy our horses today?" And they tried a whole bunch of things like poking them and chasing them in little circles with sticks and IT WORKED!!!
4. The games seem oddly similar to regular horsemanship technicques fancied and gadgeted up. These are not new concepts, just a whole bunch of bells and whistles attached.
5. Um...I am sorry, but HOW can you call it "natural horsemanship" when you are poking a horse with a stick and waving a stick in front of their face and putting them on a lunge with like a 10 degree radius? HOW IS ANY OF THAT "NATURAL"????????????? Natural implies that you are speaking horse language and moving your body around them in ways that they understand because it is the way the herd leader would tell them what to do. I have never seen horses chase each other with sticks or put each other on ropes with 5 ft of slack and make them run around them senselessly. Ew!
6. AAAAAND what is that bull about how your horse is your equal? Your friend? UM NO that is not the way it works in HorseyLand. There is a totem pole, and on that pole, there is the top, next from the top, next lowest, next lowest after that,........and bottom. There are NO equal rights in HorseyLand!!!!!!!!! Ever notice how horses are happier with a LEADER not a buddy? They are secure. I have seen horses with leaders as owners and "friends". Friends are not friends, they are lower on the totem pole because the horse knows they won't take a higher position and the horse feels he must. The ones with leaders are happier, more relaxed, more content, and all around healthier mentally.
2. Weanlings jumping logs. 'Nuff said.
3. It seems as though Pat and Linda woke up one morning and said, "How much can we possibly annoy our horses today?" And they tried a whole bunch of things like poking them and chasing them in little circles with sticks and IT WORKED!!!
4. The games seem oddly similar to regular horsemanship technicques fancied and gadgeted up. These are not new concepts, just a whole bunch of bells and whistles attached.
5. Um...I am sorry, but HOW can you call it "natural horsemanship" when you are poking a horse with a stick and waving a stick in front of their face and putting them on a lunge with like a 10 degree radius? HOW IS ANY OF THAT "NATURAL"????????????? Natural implies that you are speaking horse language and moving your body around them in ways that they understand because it is the way the herd leader would tell them what to do. I have never seen horses chase each other with sticks or put each other on ropes with 5 ft of slack and make them run around them senselessly. Ew!
6. AAAAAND what is that bull about how your horse is your equal? Your friend? UM NO that is not the way it works in HorseyLand. There is a totem pole, and on that pole, there is the top, next from the top, next lowest, next lowest after that,........and bottom. There are NO equal rights in HorseyLand!!!!!!!!! Ever notice how horses are happier with a LEADER not a buddy? They are secure. I have seen horses with leaders as owners and "friends". Friends are not friends, they are lower on the totem pole because the horse knows they won't take a higher position and the horse feels he must. The ones with leaders are happier, more relaxed, more content, and all around healthier mentally.
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