cantering

Z has always been reluctant to canter. Even when she came to me at about 20 months old she didn’t canter much in the pastures, but preferred trotting. It’s interesting that Dear One and Big Guy much preferred cantering over trotting. Some horses just seem to have their preference and Z is clearly partial to trotting.

She is now the 4th Arabian I’ve worked with that has been reluctant to canter. This was an issue with Beautiful Boy but I chalked that up to training inexperience of his former owners and it was overcome through clicker training the reinforcement of the canter depart at liberty in the roundpen. Another Arab came to me for some training, and he was also reluctant to canter when at liberty in the roundpen. Then there is DH’s Arab, R, who she has never cantered in the years she has owned him (there seems to be an injury which inhibits his canter).

I’m not trying to say this is true of all Arabs. Certainly I’ve seen those that take all the gaits and canter beautifully. It is just puzzling and may or may not be linked to the breed.

As she got older that preference became more obvious and it seemed to be even painful for her to canter on one lead. Z’s reluctance to canter is why I scheduled her for many sessions with the chiro before she left for the trainer.

The first two sessions were traumatic for her and me – I ended up standing between her and the chiro so the chiro could bring her arm over mine and do the body mechanics, with me standing in the line of fire. Without me standing there – the only person Z at that time would not attack – I am sure the chiro would have ended up injured.

It was truly amazing to see the difference in her behavior the last time she saw the chiro – she was perfectly calm and okay with being touched all over her body. I’ve also seen that she is less ticklish (especially after coming back from the trainers) and lifts her back legs more easily.

Now I’m ready to advance her training a bit so the other day I started asking for canter at liberty in the roundpen. Oh boy – you would have thought someone asked her to become the bride of an older, ugly man with no money because she did some awesome bucks and kicks and just plain “I do not want to do this!” stubborn behavior. LOL!

Well we worked through all that and cantering will now be part of her regular program. I did some more today at liberty (after lunging but before saddle work) and she was better but still needs a lot of convincing. The best thing though is that I finally saw a NICE canter for about 3-4 strides before she broke down and went into a jolting, on the forehand, trot.

We’ll get there – slow and steady wins the race ;)

dropped the ball

Probably one of the most frustrating things about being a woman, mother, wife and horse owner, is that when juggling all of those balls, inevitably one falls.

In 24 hours, husband moves to his out-of-state job. My mind has been so completely focused on that, money, bills, and getting kids back into school (starts Monday) that I completely forgot my appt with the equine chiropractor this morning.

DAMITT!

Z’s big improvement

If you’ve read the blog for awhile, you may remember that Z has has a horrible time learning how to pick up her feet. Having her trimmed was an exhausting procedure for both myself and the trimmer.

I’m happy to report that she has become so much better that I no longer fear for my husband’s life when he trims her! That’s good news!

I really think this is due to the regular chiropractic appointments she has had for the last four months. I’ve noticed that she is far less sensitive to me touching her back and has been cantering more willingly at freedom.

I went back to clicker training and though I do not think this was the reason she is easier to deal with (as I sincerely believe she had pain issues in her back), it has reinforced to her what I want: lift your feet.

And yesterday she lifted her foot in anticipation as hubby leaned over to pick one up! woohooo!!!

Mad Cats, Mad Horses

Yesterday I did a lot of videotaping but unfortunately, I think most of it will be for naught. As usual when you are trying to capture a specific something, horses never cooperate! Today when I am without a video camera things went smoothly and well! ARGH!

I’m thinking this has to do about my absence these last two weeks from visiting the horses. If you have ever owned cats, you know that when you come back from a trip not to leave the suitcase you used out. If you do, a cat is sure to go mark and pee in it to show how you should never have left in the first place. Not to even mention the cold shoulder you will get in the affection department.

Yesterday, Z was obviously ignoring me big time. I wouldn’t go as far as calling it “sulking” it was more of like “hm well you are no longer on MY radar either!” Today, though she felt quite like her old self, and was upset that I worked all the other horses, leaving her too last.

I checked on Pandora (retired) and made sure she didn’t need a trim (did not), had no injuries or issues, and awarded her with her Christmas Carrots.

Big Guy (retired) got checked next as I wasn’t able to get to him yesterday. He is actually looking quite well, gaining back all the weight he lost in early fall due to lack of pasture and his mouth injury. However, somewhere he has disposed of some of the length of his tail!

Hooves checked – thrush seems to be clearing up slowly, and he got his Christmas Carrots with his stretches.

Dee came when called, (Z was busy in the loafing shed and turned to stare at me with hay falling out of her mouth – funny!) so I worked her next. I had gotten an email earlier that Dee and Z had been having racing sprints all day and Dee was obviously eager to go and do something!

I worked Dee with clicker training on a target (about my 3-4th session) and a lightbulb went off! Yeah! This means that she has finally connected the action of touching the end of the target with the click with the treat.

She is still very pushy about treats so I am reinforcing the no-mugging policy constantly. Unfortunately, I think at some time in her life she has intimidated someone in giving her a lot of treats and now she thinks that shoving into people and lipping me gets that – NOT GOING TO HAPPEN LADY!

We ended with a neighborhood walk and she needs a lot of lightening up to the lead rope before this becomes a truly pleasant activity and not a struggle to keep her light and easy. I see a lot more walking in our future.

Hubby walked over to get Z for me and he said that as soon as he got to the gate she looked up and came right over, eager to do stuff too! All of my horses are so eager to do stuff with me that it can be a handful to entertain them all with training…

Whereas yesterday she was moving slllloooooowwwlly and with much effort, today she was light and compliant. Go figure. We did some Trot-Slow-Go work as I’m trying to get her to listen more to my body language and to change her to an uphill posture and using the hindend more.

I have noticed a HUGE difference in how she is moving and behaving since the four chiro visits. For example, we did caveletti work today and no touching the pole which would happen in the past. She can now do all her carrot stretches easily (yes Christmas Carrots for everyone) whereas before certain positions were a struggle. She can back up more easily and I’m finally starting to convince her that yes she can do that without having her head high and back U-shaped.

We did a little bit of standing at the mounting block…

So by the end of the day, after shopping for the last bit of Christmas food and presents, and seeing all the horses, I’m pretty wiped out and ready to lay down for a bit. While my fever and chills has not come back, I have been more tired this week than usual, but getting stronger each day.

Z’s chiropractor

Z had her monthly chiro visit… MUCH better — only tried to bite me twice and kick me four times. Improvements and everything!

Seems she is finally holding the changes in her body. I did schedule her for December because I want to keep these improvements even though with Christmas it will be a tight squeeze financially. In January, hopefully, I can do her and Dee.

I also need to get Dee a winter blanket. Seems to need a 76″ so I will try T-man’s on her and if it fits, will order that size.