Maraschino's first 4 y/o play

Yes, Maraschino turned 4 last Monday and we hadn't really had any decent play time this week - so today was the day.

He was really good to halter, no resistance at all... and I picked out his feet (tick)... and off we went - the others came too into the middle paddock. We started with Figure 8 and he got a wee bit stuck 'at' each spool. He also ran out to my right when he had the chance too, even just the carrot stick coming a little bit of the ground for him is enough to 'send'.

He went a little introverted for a bit at one point after some 'sends' and practising carrot stick transitions..

I just waited...

From there we tested circle game and got two laps of trot with coming in, then we also did some over the pole on one side of the circle.

While we were at the pole we tried backing over the pole which he got on his third try I am happy to say, and the we worked on draw - I had to crouch down on the ground.

So - his drive is better than his draw right now... mental note...

We squeezed through the gap between the tire and the round pen which I thought was extra cool because the ground was still a bit soft and boggy in the gap.

He's still jumpy with the carrot stick so we played friendly with that for a while...

Then I sat on the outside of the round pen and played 'mount from the fence' but without the mounting - I probably spent 10 minutes just stroking him while he was up close and I was in Zone 3 alongside him. Sometimes he would move me back to Zone 2, so I would wait there a bit then move along the rail more. He eventually relaxed so much he looked like he was falling asleep.

After that some more more circle, some change of direction and we finished there. I was very pleased with him - it's probably the longest play session we've had so far (about 45 minutes all up).

Maraschino checking out an empty birds egg...

Bareback Walk

Another lovely sunny warm day today - so even though I spent all weekend washing and detailing my float, as it's for sale, I took Garbo out to Woodhill Sands again... it's a 5 min trailer ride away so really a fantastic place to ride... a natural sand area so the footing is better than any man made arena. Up until recently I have not wanted to ride there as it was not enclosed enough for me, but now I feel ready and today went really well.

Loading at both ends was fantastic... as was the unloading - 6/10 for both!

The walk from the float to the arena takes about 4 minutes I suppose so I have been driving from zone 5 during this time and making sure I am more particular and not letting him wander off to visit the horses or collect horse email... I think this will ultimately help with my leadership from the saddle too. So today I managed to get him to move back onto the track sideways from Zone 5 which was pretty cool.

Garbo - this bareback pad really doesn't suit me!

We didn't do alot on the ground, I could see he was relaxed and happy, head down, so I got on bareback (with bareback pad) and we walked all over the place - I kept my carrot stick with me this time. I think Garbo was actually ready to go exploring so we'll do that on Friday. We also did some nice sideways while walking forward too. I added in some transitions and we backed up into the Start Box just for a laugh.

After I got off, Bronwyn and Critey left to go wash her tail, and it was a good test for my leadership - because suddenly Garbo was 'without' horse backup. It took a strong send on a circle to get his focus back on me and we got some lovely canter - I was careful to stop after half a lap, and we worked on him arching in and not out - with me wiggling the rope each time he looks out.

Then we walked 'away' from Critey in the opposite direction and practised our sideways along a fence at the end of the 22ft. It's improving and I think Garbo is finding it easier now his hip is not sore.

This is Critey....

Then I drove hi, all the way back to the float from Zone 5, and all I can say is that he (and I) were so relaxed for the whole trip - it was just awesome. This being a place where he has been one super stressed horse in the past. A place with lots of scary spooky things going on. But not today. He was calm, sensible and listening to me. Wow. 3 years work has paid off. Of course we are not yet cantering here (that's my goal), and then of course to add other strange horses.... (one step at a time) and then to do that while a competition is on....

We came home and Maraschino had not moved a foot from where I left him - he had found a stalky weed we had pulled from the garden a week ago - so it was all woody - he's teething at the moment.... I threw it over the fence for him and he started chewing it as I loaded Garbo - he didn't even look up as we drove off. When I returned he didn't really look up - and didn't call out - he had about a foot left of the stalky trunk - he had spent two hours munching away... I'll have to find some more of those! It's was his birthday today!! (4)

Day 2 stepping it up

It absolutely hosed down from 4am to noon (35mm) so the whole place was very wet and soggy and when I got the boys in to feed them it was threatening to start peeing down again so I thought - errrrr - I'll just not do anything today with Mr Maraschino (not having an arena or anything).... but he wasn't eating his dinner very peacefully - kept looking out over in the far distance - head high. So once I had done all the chores I haltered him and we had a wee play.

I backed him into things... the wheelbarrow, over a pole (backwards no less!), into the yard rails, the hayshed door, then we did some more sideways - all this while the neighbours were fluffing around outside and making sudden noises.... and their dog crying....

We did some more - step over the pole and stop.... it's amazing how small my forward please ask has to be to get him to not go all the way over....and to counter act too much forwards I lift the rope and he backs up over it again.... sheeesh... very very small asks for everything for this boy.

We had a big wait and he started grazing. After a bit he 'snighed' - that's my new word... it's a sigh snort....big breath in (like he's been holding it) and a snort sigh out. He does it alot. Usually after the scary thing - not in reaction to it. So after he snighed we did some more sideways, some more backing into things, some more turn and face slooooowly, and then I thought he'd had enough for one day. So we backed through the gateway (gate only a horse width space open) and backed into his yard. He's calm now and snoozing in the sun.

Garbo's so snoozy he's leaning on the yard rail.

Boy racers

I read an article just recently about managing a small acreage with horses, and it said that horses are innately boy racers and that there is nothing better than a quick drag up the paddock, of course even better with a sliding stop at the end. Which is sooooo true!!

Today my boys were completely crazy about something - they kept looking down over the paper road toward the highway - about 10 metres away from the fence the land drops away quite steeply - George said he could see some cows down the bottom - but maybe one was having a calf or something!! Anyway - something was upsetting them, Garbo would drag in straight lines with big sliding stops - so much so as he turned a corner he slid over! Maraschino was happy doing circles round the tree with a bit of chase Coco in between and buck as well...

Garbo mostly stood looking in the direction of the hidden cows but every now and again he'd toss his head and jump in the air and then chase the others down the other end. Mud and grass flying!

So you can imagine after about 20 minutes of this how much grass I had left in the track - and just after Garbo slipped over I decided to put them in the yards for the rest of the day. Except Coco.

They were filthy by this stage so I decided to give them both a warm shower to get all the mud off and let them dry in the sun all afternoon. I locked Maraschino in Coco's yard (since he ran in there).. and haltered Garbo and washed him first - he wouldn't stand still while I tried to get the mud off (initially with the brush) so I bumped him a few times quite assertively - I had had enough! He wasn't seeing me as a leader and I decided to change that. I felt like my emotions were rising but I guess noticing that is the first step, then you can rectify it.

I hosed him down and was using the water scraper near his back legs when he lifted his left at me, so I instantly hit him with the towel on the leg, didn't hurt him of course, and I realised I did it in anger, but he improved his attitude somewhat after that.

I don't think they settled much even though they were fine (and yawning away) when I left - I went out for 4 hours and when I got back there were only two runny poos and no hay had been eaten - so I decided the time had come for some more Parelli (I did a wee bit putting them in the yards after the shower)...

Garbo had a turn first and we did the three mastery tasks so far on the DVD;

• Back up from Zone 3 and move FQ away at the same time to teach horse not to move HQ away while backing and to back straight.

• Sideways - walk like a monster then disengage the HQ, walk around the horse awy from rail so you end up on opp side and sideways back the other way

• Squeeze game - use flick fingers towards nose as you send past to keep them going out for further and away from you longer before turn and face.

All three went well - well the sideways was a bit hard in the wash bay - but I think Garbo figured out my monster walk! He licked and chewed anyway.

Then I got out the plastic bag - which I have been avoiding because Garbo hates it (unless it has food in it). One thing I have learnt with Russell's lessons is that sometimes you have to see the 'reaction' and deal with it, get through it without giving up. I am usually doing everything in my power to calm my horses and not rile them up - so I took a different approach. I started with the plastic bag in my hand and rubbed him all over, retreating back to his wither if he looked worried. But really - I have done this before and he'll stand there all day looking 'a little worried' and we simply don't progress. So I moved the bag up his neck and to his ears and between his ears - his head would go up and I kept going until his head came down - we did this about 4-6 times before he quickly learnt that putting his head down meant I would retreat back to the neck or wither.

After a few times I got the bag on his head between his ears (and moving) without a severe reaction. Then I did it all over from the other side.

Then I put the bag on the carrot stick (in for a penny, in for a pound).... and he freaked out a bit more - but I made a point of going beyond just a little uncomfortable and rubbed him in places like his sheath, between his legs (front and back) - retreating to his wither. He was licking and chewing alot. Then I moved the bag up his neck and his head went up, he froze and snorted and looked like he may either strike out or try to run so I slowed down and waited (still moving the bag) until he lowered his head - then I stopped. We did this a few more times, then surprisingly (well actually not so much) - he was better with it all over his body.

After that he yawned and yawned and shook his head for ages. Then I put him back in his yard and got Maraschino out!

The backing straight was pretty easy because I had the carrot stick by Zone 1 to back up - so he avoids touching that! He also backed with the rope under his neck from Zone 3 and his sideways (monster walk) was pretty cool - think I need to tone the monster down a bit though lol. We didn't do the plastic bag or squeeze game as it was nearly dark and I still had poos to pick up.

They all seem calm now - Coco came trotting up from the other side of the track when I whistled to say his dinner was ready.

Going to try and do the Plastic Bag every day for a bit with Garbo if weather prevails.

Lessons with Russell

It was a very foggy morning and I got up at 6.30am to be ready for the first lesson with Maraschino at 8am. I had to hook up the float, take covers off, etc, and have breakfast and coffee...

We only had a small area really (by the hay shed) to do stuff in as I didn't want my grass dug up. I asked Russell if we could work on Maraschino and picking up his feet - he picks them up but not for long. He said massaging the legs for ages is a really good way to do this. And that we would work on it a bit later. But first - he got my swinging the end of the rope like a poi, while standing at the driveline to test friendly (Maraschino was pretty good) and then to swing the rope under Maraschinos neck and catch the end with my other arm. Yeah right - have you seen how tall he is!!

The end result was the rope end under Maraschino's neck like the bottom of a tied savvy string would be round his neck - and lifting the rope up while standing at the drive line, and holding till he stepped back. He said to do this with Garbo too - great way to introduce feel for Maraschino and savvy string riding for Garbo. But OMG my triceps are so sore now from holding my arms up so high for so long!

Then we did some rope swinging round his legs, and Russell said my friendly was pretty good and that he thinks the problem with him not letting Jools pull his legs forward for trimming (last two times) is a bit of stiffness and a bit of lack of respect - he didn't think there was any fear there. Maraschino at one point while having a rope round his fetlock was more focussed on the cows next door. He would suddenly kick out at the rope firmness and give himself a fright when the rope slapped him back.... but he was pretty good by the end of it. Still a ways to go but much better.

2.5 hours later we finished and Garbo was loaded in a mad rush to get to Jools where Leigh was waiting.

It was the most gorgeous autumn day, and we warmed up online then swapped to the 12ft lines to practise Mount From a Fence. I had seen Linda's Savvy Club DVD on this but Russell elaborated a bit more. Make the fence side the calm happy place, and the driving side the busy side. So when they were standing calmly alongside you, pat them, rub them for ages.

Garbo got it pretty quick - the electric fence was on two (2nd wire up from my feet!!)

Such a pretty place to ride!
Jools place looked great with all the trees loosing their leaves. We were in the big big paddock (the old arena). Finally we got on (funny I should say that).

We started with the hackamore but not using the reins but the lead rope part for more counter turn practise. I need to practise it so much - I have realised I don't use my leg... you know eyes, bellybutton, leg, rein, carrot stick - well mine is eyes, belly-button, rein, carrot stick. Hmmmm I can't remember having to use leg - can you? If so please direct me to the appropriate DVD so I can review lol.

We practised riding along the rail then doing 180's without swapping rein sides, so one turn was direct the next a counter turn.

Russell explained why the direct rein was called that and why the indirect rein was called that and did a demo on the ground with us trying in the saddle, to see where our weight shifted to for each. For direct we look up and to the direction we want to turn, making our weight shift away from the same front leg (same as the direction of the turn), so it can move first.... but for the Indirect rein - to the right say - we look towards the hip making our weight come forward and off the opposite hind (which moves first) making it the indirect rein. It all makes sense now!

Then we did dome backing up - 4 steps then moved the FQ over 4 steps, then backing up 4 steps again - to get them off the forehand, the trick being to keep the neck straight by using the supporting rein. Oh we had two reins again by now.

I had to keep taking Garbo for some point to point or follow the rail as he got a bit bored with all the talking. That was fun - we even had a couple of canters.
Then lastly we worked on getting canter leads "the best way" according to Russell. Bending the horse's head and neck slightly in and leg yielding away then straightening up, and opening up into canter. It was surprisingly easy.

Three hours later we wrapped it up!