A Magical Dance with my horses

When I told Carolyn Resnick about my experience after leading Scottie from behind, her comment was:


"You were in a social dance, how exciting. This is wonderful. You were very lucky." 


Yippee!


So, here's what happened.  I went out to Share Territory  with Scottie. Instead of taking him to the arena like we have been, I stayed in his paddock with him, Gem and Astro.  I read for  a while and thought about the things Carolyn and I discussed in our last call together. She mentioned that next for Scottie was leading from behind and the 5 piles of hay exercise.


I got up, got my reed, and went over to Scottie. I was behind and to the side of him. I swished my arm asking him to move.  He moved off forward, and I followed.  Soon, he began to lead Gem from behind. Within moments Gem began leading Astro.  We formed a large circle. Me, Scottie, Gem & Astro. All walking round and round. We were like a live merry go round. When I realized this was happening I felt pure joy inside of me.  My Reiki was flowing and it was truly a very special moment.  I asked Carolyn if it had a meaning, and the statement above was her response to me.

Loretta 
 the natural horseman
 clear communication/visible results

Scottie's training

Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Leadership

I think it's possible that Scottie's previous refusals to move on the trail were behavioral in the way that I was not spending enough time with him, therefore he didn't really view me as leader.  When we went out with another horse that he did not know, he could not be sure they could lead either.  I've been spending more time with him plus he likes and respects Gem, so taking him out with her encouraged him. Fun ride with an awesome student.  em had a grand time splashing in the water, right near the edge as it was very swelled from all the rain.







Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Special Needs Equines

Image via Wikipedia

Hmmmm, sounds like someone I know. Also sounds like some hyper sensitive people. Interesting. It is common to hear talk of people like this. Sometimes they have ADD/ADHD or are Autistic. So why is it that people tend to lump horses into one big category and expect them all to behave the same? (i.e. properly).

Amplify’d from www.performanceequineusa.com

What we have learned from working with owners with challenging horses is that some horses, no matter how good the training, breeding, care and equipment, just cannot handle much pressure. These horses are typically extremely gifted and talented athletes but anxiety and excitability get in the way of a winning performance. They are over-sensitive to their surroundings, your show nerves,  your tension, weather, other horses....you name it, they see it, feel it, hear it, have to look at it and worry about it!   These horses require finesse on the riders part and a great deal of patience and stamina. These horses often require an absurd amount of warm up time and can be very complex to show. They run on adrenaline most of the time and fatiguing them is our only option at a show. Read more at www.performanceequineusa.com

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Scottie and Gem have a conversation over the round bale

It went something like this:

Gem says to Scottie between munches, "you really need to lighten up on her a bit."

Scottie:  "What?  What are you talking about?"

Gem:  "Come on now.  You know what I'm talking about.  You know I was watching you the other day.  There's really no reason at all for you to act like that."

Scottie:"UMPFFF.  Did you see what she did??!!  How can I trust her?!"

Gem:  "That's just an excuse and you know it.  You have absolutely no reason not to trust her completely.  And you know it.  It's been what, 5 years now you've been here?

Scottie: "Yeah. Well.  So what.  How do you know we can trust her so much. You've only been here a short time."

Gem:  "Well first, she's had me for a year now.  Second, I can just tell.  Just look at how she looks at you.  She loves you more than anything.  She will do anything for you.  She just wants you to be happy and healthy and to love her."

Scottie:  "So then why'd she stick me with that sharp thing?"

Gem: deep sigh.  "Because it helps your allergies.  You know how you get all itchy?  Well, it helps you not to be so itchy.  See, she loves you.  Really.  How many people give their horse allergy shots???  It's because she loves you."

Gem contuining:  "I think you need to grow up and act your age a bit.  Things are wonderful here.  You have everything ANY horse could desire and more.  And that unconditional love she has for you.  It is pretty big considering she still loves you after that display the other day.  You know, you can look pretty scary when you do that.  I recommend you NEVER do that again.  I think she went in the house to cry.  She was very sad.  She deserves more than that from you."

Scottie:  "So, how come you're so smart?"

Gem:  smiling. "I'm getting to be an old horse now, my boy.  I've been around and seen a thing or two.  I've seen horses that aren't loved or cared for.  I know what love looks and feels like.  I know how to trust.  Did you see the other day when I was lying down and I let her climb on me and lay on me?  I knew how happy that would make her, she told me.  And I wasn't worried she was going to do something mean.  She just wanted to lay down on me.  And I trust her and know she loves me too. Oh and don't forget I am a mother, so I've had to teach my foals all of these things.

I had a lot of pain and she fixed it for me. I am very grateful for that.  I will always try to please her.  That is what a good horse does."

Scottie:  "Well, I want to be a good horse too.  But sometimes I am just frightened and do not really know why.  Do you (pause)...do you think you could (pause) help me?"

Gem:  "Yes Scottie.  I will help in any way I can."

to be continued........

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Listening to my horse

I took Scottie on a trail ride today.  We started with our usual routine of grooming, then ground work.  I got on him in my ring/front pasture. We walked around a bit and then headed out for the trail.  


I opted to take a well known favorite that would take about an hour with time to stop at the river.


After about 20 minutes he stopped.  Simply didn't move forward any more.  Now, he has done this before.  One time he actually cocked a leg. It was as if he was saying, hey, I just need a breather (and we were with a friend then.)  Being alone today, and he hasn't done much since my foot was broken all summer, I assumed it was a 'I really want my friends' kind of stop.  He did not try to turn, spin, or in any way attempt to head back. Those are all things a herd bound horse would do.  So, it did strike me as odd, but I was pretty sure that was the answer.  Onward I pushed, literally, and he gave nothing.   


Eventually we had a chat.  I explained to him that I would kick him if he wouldn't go and that I really did not want to do that.  So, I kicked.  And pushed.  And kicked.  Nothing.  So, I got down.  I figured I would walk him forward a bit, get back on, and once he realized that he had to move forward anyway, he'd be fine.


I found an appropriate sized log to stand on (he's 17.3h) and up I went.  Ok, here we go.  Nope.  He still wasn't moving.  While being hand walked he seemed fine.  Never stopped or even pulled or tugged on me.  Just willingly following me.  Hmmmm.....  I grabbed a stick and whacked him.  He moved about 3 steps and stopped.  I was stumped.  I was not going to haul with all my might on my sensitive friend.  I have a brain and know that is not a good idea.  So, I told him we'd just hang out there together for a while and think about this.  I told him I wanted to know what was going on and that I wanted to have fun with him.  We stood there for about 10 minutes.  Not once did he try to turn around.  All of a sudden a thought popped into my head. (This is typically how my intuition works.)  My thought sounded like Scottie and he was saying, " You said you wanted more warning  if something is wrong.  If you'd stop trying to make me move forward and pay attention and listen, you would know I am trying to tell you something. "  


I took a deep breath, asked him to turn around, and we walked home.  Quietly.  It was not a 'yeah she's letting me go home' walk like Shadow would've done.  It was just Scottie walking. 


For those of you reading this that do not know, about 1 1/2 years ago I was on a trail ride with Scottie and a friend when he suddenly, without any warning (or so it seemed) bucked and flung me into the air.  I was catapulted up and over, landing head first. Broke my ankle, which I am so grateful for because landing on my head scared the crap out of me.  After that we had many conversations about how and why this happened.  Turned out his back was very sore from a previous spill he took on a trail.  I asked him to make sure and tell me 'louder' next time he had a problem.  I asked him to make sure I understood so this never happened again.


I felt ashamed as we walked home.  Why did it take so long for me to figure out?  My first thoughts were of a negative nature.  That he was doing something wrong and I could not let him win by turning around.  I had tears in my eyes as I apologized to him.  I think at that moment he was feeling that humans are a bit slow.  I am sure there are many horsey folk who would say I did the wrong thing.  You know, I don't care.  I am safe.  He is too.  I'll get the chiropractor back out, and we'll go from there.  I'd rather be alive and wrong than dead or injured and right.



Loretta the natural horseman clear communication/visible results

Stories from Scottie

The weather has been great and I'm really eager to go out more with Loretta.  She's got all these ponies keeping her busy now and we need some time to hit the trails.  So yesterday we headed out. I was a bit surprised that we only did about 10 minutes of playing before she brushed and tacked me up.  Anyway, we were headed out, same ole path.  Then up ahead I noticed something moving.  That's when everything changed.

We kept walking down the path, we were still close to home.  I soon realized that there was something VERY scary at a neighbor's house.  It was long, moving all around and making funny noises.  And it covered their whole driveway.  My first thought was to run.  But I heard Loretta telling me to relax and that it would be ok.  But as we got closer it got scarier.  The noise got louder and I really feared for our safety.  I made the executive decision to leave.  The easiest way out was to run up the hill I was next to.  That would give us some distance and a good opportunity to watch for an attack.  Loretta asked me really hard to stop.  I know I should listen to her, so I did stop, but really didn't want to.  If she's not going to protect us, then I have to!  I was trembling all over and thought I could hear her telling me to calm down and that it would be ok.  

It went something like this:

L:  calm down boy, it's ok. easy.

S:  wwwwhat?  did you say something?  do you see that THING over there?!

L:  yes Scottie, I see it.  But it's ok.  It's tape to keep cars out.  It can't move, it's not alive.

S:  But look!!! It IS  moving!  And it sounds like its crawling closer and closer to us!

L:  ssshhhhh boy, relax.  It really will be ok.  we're fine, see?  it's just blowing in the wind.

S:  But it's never been there before.  we pass here all the time.  and it's never, i say never been there before.

L:  The home owner just put it there.  Let's just walk on quietly by.

S:  I can't take it anymore.  I want to please you, but I have to make a decision and I'm choosing our lives!  Let's GO!

I couldn't hear anything Loretta said after that and she ended up getting down.  She asked me to walk down the hill which I did not want to do.  She then asked me to walk back and forth in front of that thing for like half an hour!  She must be crazy.  How can she not see that thing is terrifying?  And why isn't she scared of it?

Finally she brought me home.  I was sweating up a storm and real nervous.  I was so happy to be back at the barn with hay to munch on.  Home sweet home.

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Take the time it takes

Ah, what a beautiful spring day. The sky was so blue and the air had a new crispness in it. The perfect day!

I spent a lot of quality time with Scottie today. We did 30 minutes of ground work and at least another 30 of grooming time before heading out on the trail. Scottie was beautifully behaved, and considering it has been so long since he's been out, that's pretty good! Of course, if he had been acting up I would have done more ground work with him and/or decided not to ride him. This leads me to one of my favorite ground work/pre flight check topics.

Picture this scenario. You are excited and anticipating a fun ride with your best (equine) friend. It's the first really nice day and the ground is pretty dry. You go to catch your horse and he runs off when he sees you coming with the halter. You finally catch him and are feeling a bit annoyed by this. While grooming he can't seem to keep still. He is very antsy and startling at almost anything. Since you are so excited to ride, you continue getting him ready.

I'll stop there because that usually only goes from bad to worse. You can get lucky. Maybe nothing will happen. So next time, you behave the same way. But I can assure you, one day will come when something unfortunate WILL happen while you are on that horses' back. The actions highlighted in red are clear warning signs. You can choose to ignore them or to heed their advice. It takes longer, but it is worth it.

Doing a pre-ride check can:

• Alert you to the state of your horse's mind
• Give you a chance to reclaim his mind
• Allow you to get to know him better
• Help form a closer bond

A wise horseman I know says, "It takes the time it takes". Sometimes that might not fit into our schedule. But our horses don't run on our schedule. Trust me, you are better off physically and mentally to take that time. You will benefit in the long run, even if you don't 'see' it on a daily basis.

Happy trails,

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

My Stall Door

On Saturday morning when I went out to the barn to prepare for my 10am lesson, this is what I found.

Stryker's looking down at the door like "Hmm, not sure, but I don't think the door should be like this. Scottie...."

The door was completely off the hinges and hanging by one little latch that I recently put on. Stryker was still in, that was the good news. He could have easily been tempted to hop over the dismantled door and perhaps would have injured himself in the process. So how can this happen you ask?

Ask Scottie. He was apparently trying to chew his way in and discovered that he could lift the door with his mouth. There are NO kick marks. I believe if Scottie kicked the door it would've been shattered. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person, the 17.2h draft cross is LARGE.

What was that I said? Chew his way in? Yep. He is not trying to let Stryker out. Oh, that's a nice thought. But it's not the right one. That was his stall. Every morning and evening like clockwork, at feeding time, he would go right in there. He would politely wait for his food, then stay a while. (If I didn't shut him in he would take the other's food.) So he would use that time alone to rest. To not be the herd leader. To decompress. You get the picture. With Stryker in there he does not get that down time. I know how you feel buddy, I need my alone time too. :)

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results