horsie stuff
Oct. 1st, 2002 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreYesterday’s trip out to the stable was even more fun than usual. The kidlet’s trainer is teaching her one of the new methods of horse training, somewhat like what Monty Roberts and John Lyons do, if those names ring any bells (specifically, Clinton Anderson’s method). Kidlet has done a lot of work with Whisper on a longe line (long rope); yesterday was her first try at working in a round pen with Whisper loose.
The lesson began by simply encouraging Whisper to run in circles around the edge of the pen. Next, once she ran off a bit of energy, was asking her to turn, head in, to change directions. Most horses turn to the outside, but the longe line lessons paid off, Whisper immediately turned head in. So kidlet started working on lesson two-- asking Whisper to stop and then walk to her. The idea is to stand facing straight toward the oncoming horse (though not directly in front!) to make her stop, and then crouch and back away, inviting her to follow.
Of course, there’s no way to tell the horse “when I stand up straight, you’re supposed to stop” and so on. To some extent the signals are supposedly based on horse body language, but there’s still an experimentation process while the horse tries to figure out exactly what the Boss is asking for. Whisper figured out the “stop” part quickly, but couldn’t seem to catch on to the “follow me” signal. She would stop, but then turn (often head out, the ‘wrong’ way), or race past the kidlet. After about 15 tries, she finally took just a couple of steps toward the kidlet, who immediately rewarded her with praise and a rub on the neck. Then the next experiment began-- Whisper obviously knew what was expected, now, but wasn’t sure she wanted to do it. She would utterly ignore the kidlet, or stop and stare at her, all with her head high, ears laid back, but eye on the kidlet to watch her reaction. This went on until the kidlet had made her run so long she really wanted to be allowed to stop! Then she stopped on command, and walked right up to the kidlet like a puppy... with her head low, ears forward, and tongue licking her lips, the classic “whatever you say, Boss Mare” reaction.
I never tired of watching the trainer do these lessons.. but seeing my very own kidlet out there working with a spirited thoroughbred was an astonishing experience!
After all that, kidlet saddled up and we rewarded them both by letting Whisper jump for the first time since the lameness problems. She loves to jump, and popped over 21 inches in lovely form; no sign of lameness afterwards, so it looks like they are back in training for jumping again at last. We’d like to get to jumping 30 inches reliably this winter; that will make increasing to 36 inches next spring easy. Whisper has jumped as much as 5 feet, but 3’9” is the highest they can truly do in good form.
The lesson began by simply encouraging Whisper to run in circles around the edge of the pen. Next, once she ran off a bit of energy, was asking her to turn, head in, to change directions. Most horses turn to the outside, but the longe line lessons paid off, Whisper immediately turned head in. So kidlet started working on lesson two-- asking Whisper to stop and then walk to her. The idea is to stand facing straight toward the oncoming horse (though not directly in front!) to make her stop, and then crouch and back away, inviting her to follow.
Of course, there’s no way to tell the horse “when I stand up straight, you’re supposed to stop” and so on. To some extent the signals are supposedly based on horse body language, but there’s still an experimentation process while the horse tries to figure out exactly what the Boss is asking for. Whisper figured out the “stop” part quickly, but couldn’t seem to catch on to the “follow me” signal. She would stop, but then turn (often head out, the ‘wrong’ way), or race past the kidlet. After about 15 tries, she finally took just a couple of steps toward the kidlet, who immediately rewarded her with praise and a rub on the neck. Then the next experiment began-- Whisper obviously knew what was expected, now, but wasn’t sure she wanted to do it. She would utterly ignore the kidlet, or stop and stare at her, all with her head high, ears laid back, but eye on the kidlet to watch her reaction. This went on until the kidlet had made her run so long she really wanted to be allowed to stop! Then she stopped on command, and walked right up to the kidlet like a puppy... with her head low, ears forward, and tongue licking her lips, the classic “whatever you say, Boss Mare” reaction.
I never tired of watching the trainer do these lessons.. but seeing my very own kidlet out there working with a spirited thoroughbred was an astonishing experience!
After all that, kidlet saddled up and we rewarded them both by letting Whisper jump for the first time since the lameness problems. She loves to jump, and popped over 21 inches in lovely form; no sign of lameness afterwards, so it looks like they are back in training for jumping again at last. We’d like to get to jumping 30 inches reliably this winter; that will make increasing to 36 inches next spring easy. Whisper has jumped as much as 5 feet, but 3’9” is the highest they can truly do in good form.
