Well of course, Carats is living up to his name (Orions Gold) this week and has been as good as gold. I have ridden a few times and he has been fantastic, lovely and forward (for him) and soft and responsive.
I have avoided the hack that upset him last time as I think the direct walk away from home and then directly back didn't help so instead we have gone that way but then turned back on ourselves, then turned again, then looped round etc. Not only does it mean he isn't going directly away then towards but also the changing of directions etc keeps him listening and thinking and he enjoys that oh so much more- I end up with a much jollier pony at the end of the hack. I love the fact that when we get back I can just hop off, drop his reins and he follows me back in.
My little boy (human version) is now on Easter holidays so riding will be much more difficult over the next four weeks but I am hoping to escape for the odd evening to take him for a spin and in the meantime he will have to be a lead rein pony for Ethan and any other children who might be around.
As with everything in life Carats had taken to becoming a kids pony quite happily. If it wasn't for the fact that he dives on every piece of grass he can find he would happily take them off lead rein too. He is such a kind boy and is such a happy, inquisitive character!
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Lovely Living
Carats continues to be loved and spoiled. We had a visit from a fantastic horse lady/ behaviourist Catherine http://www.equinemindandbody.co.uk to help teach us a little more about why they do what they do/ body language and where and how we can use clicker training and positive reinforcement.
I spoke to her about Carats pawing, door kicking and mugging. Firstly of course he hardly displayed the behaviour during the visit but I got some good information from it. The main thing is that it probably isn't a cognitive choice for him. He doesn't think- 'OI I want your attention'. More likely its a habitual behaviour that has sat with him over the years. We can look forward to help preventing this behaviour twofold. Firstly avoidance, so if its a time I know he will paw then distract him before the behaviour begins with something like scatter feeding or his treat ball etc. If the behaviour is happening then ignoring it totally is the best tactic plus paying him attention when he isn't pawing or kicking (extinction).
We also looked at the clicker work I was doing with him and Catherine picked up on some habits I have from training my dogs that are negatively affecting C with his frustration during the session/
after. Firstly I am holding food in my hand and its easier for him if I reward from a bumbag so I have changed this, secondly I was feeding super fast as I would with the dogs, she has suggested I slow this down as it will keep the session and learning less frantic, finally he needs a clearer visual cue as to when the session starts/ ends as he gets frustrated that he isn't sure when we are and aren't training and just wants to keep going. So I now make a bigger show of putting on the treat bag/ getting clicker etc. He is super bright though and picks up new behaviours very quickly!
Generally she was very happy with it all, she thinks the setup is superb and we have lots of new training ideas for the ponies. It was a superb session and I really feel like it has helped with my understanding of my wonderful Mr C :)
Heres to lots more fun training sessions ahead!
 |
| My boys fantastic stable/ courtyard |
We also looked at the clicker work I was doing with him and Catherine picked up on some habits I have from training my dogs that are negatively affecting C with his frustration during the session/
after. Firstly I am holding food in my hand and its easier for him if I reward from a bumbag so I have changed this, secondly I was feeding super fast as I would with the dogs, she has suggested I slow this down as it will keep the session and learning less frantic, finally he needs a clearer visual cue as to when the session starts/ ends as he gets frustrated that he isn't sure when we are and aren't training and just wants to keep going. So I now make a bigger show of putting on the treat bag/ getting clicker etc. He is super bright though and picks up new behaviours very quickly!
Generally she was very happy with it all, she thinks the setup is superb and we have lots of new training ideas for the ponies. It was a superb session and I really feel like it has helped with my understanding of my wonderful Mr C :)
Heres to lots more fun training sessions ahead!
Monday, 24 March 2014
Pretty Perfect Pony
After our rather exciting last hack I thought I would just crack on this week with a few more rides. It is Ethans last week, this week (before April holidays), so it's now or not for ages.
Carats was much happier today and had a lovely groom and was fab to be tacked up. He of course was brilliant to ride and was really soft and relaxed across his back, I am hoping thats a good sign that he is more willing to use himself properly and therefore maybe, just maybe feeling better in his back legs. I also think the Bowen treatment plus using the massage pad has helped him.
He is really enjoying his turnout and we have made sure there is plenty in the wood chip paddock for him to do. He has a big pile of hay on the floor plus a hay net at the other end of the paddock. He also has his treat ball at times, a field lick, toys etc. He still loves his stable and is always ready to come in but I think the paddock is better for him as it promotes more movement and therefore blood flow which is all good.
Fingers crossed for dry weather this week as would love to be able to ride him once or twice more this week :)
Carats was much happier today and had a lovely groom and was fab to be tacked up. He of course was brilliant to ride and was really soft and relaxed across his back, I am hoping thats a good sign that he is more willing to use himself properly and therefore maybe, just maybe feeling better in his back legs. I also think the Bowen treatment plus using the massage pad has helped him.
He is really enjoying his turnout and we have made sure there is plenty in the wood chip paddock for him to do. He has a big pile of hay on the floor plus a hay net at the other end of the paddock. He also has his treat ball at times, a field lick, toys etc. He still loves his stable and is always ready to come in but I think the paddock is better for him as it promotes more movement and therefore blood flow which is all good.
Fingers crossed for dry weather this week as would love to be able to ride him once or twice more this week :)
Friday, 21 March 2014
Rodeo Ponio
It's been a lovely few weeks with Carats he has been really happy and I am pleased with his progress.
My wonderful friend & YO Jo has finished off the wood chip paddock so he has been having a few hours turnout each day and we have been slowly upping it so we can aim for full days by next week.
On Monday we had our second hack ever (in our usual head collar and bareback pad) and he was angelic, I really felt connected to him and we had a lovely forward walk, some great halt transitions and a really brilliant time. I could 'whisper' at him, soft leg on- forwards etc.
He had some hand walking and a days rest and today I decided to hack him again in Louisa and Rambos company. He was quite unsettled today being groomed etc which is unlike him but I cracked on regardless, you know you sometimes think you should really listen better to your horse, well I didn't! I jumped on board (bareback pad & head collar). We were fine at first and then he got quite reluctant to go forward, I realised I had lost Louisa so we stopped for a graze, he happily shovelled grass down his gullet, we then turned around to head home and he was on a mission! As he is still rehabbing, I wouldn't let him trot so he got grumpier and grumpier until he ended up trying to keep jig jogging sideways with the grumpiest feelings ever. As we got closer to Louisa and Rambo he got more grouchy and as I still wouldn't let him trot, he had a total toddler tantrum! He stomped his feet, he swished his head around and bucked. This is the time I thank god they have manes to grab hold of as the bareback pad offers no support- so grab it I did, and sit up I did (thanks Jules C x). He soon got over himself and behaved impeccably for the last part of the ride, I don't think he was impressed with my laughing at him. Silly Pony!
Anyway, he is hilarious. It was not pain related, just silly spring behaviour I think, and as he was so amazing Monday I am not at all worried. Its very our of character for him to behave that way. He pulled towards every big grass field we passed so I think he had a yearning for a hoon and I felt sad I couldn't let him. He had giggles and a big pat as always when we got back even though I told him I was trading him in ;)
Today I am appreciating that horses, dogs etc are all living, breathing, thinking and feeling things and that they have their own thoughts, feelings and opinions. My ginger one makes me smile every day!
My wonderful friend & YO Jo has finished off the wood chip paddock so he has been having a few hours turnout each day and we have been slowly upping it so we can aim for full days by next week.
On Monday we had our second hack ever (in our usual head collar and bareback pad) and he was angelic, I really felt connected to him and we had a lovely forward walk, some great halt transitions and a really brilliant time. I could 'whisper' at him, soft leg on- forwards etc.
 |
| Carats and his buddy Rambo! |
Anyway, he is hilarious. It was not pain related, just silly spring behaviour I think, and as he was so amazing Monday I am not at all worried. Its very our of character for him to behave that way. He pulled towards every big grass field we passed so I think he had a yearning for a hoon and I felt sad I couldn't let him. He had giggles and a big pat as always when we got back even though I told him I was trading him in ;)
Today I am appreciating that horses, dogs etc are all living, breathing, thinking and feeling things and that they have their own thoughts, feelings and opinions. My ginger one makes me smile every day!
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Back on: Bareback
Today was an exciting day, I got back on Carats for the first time in nearly four months!
I have been slowly working him a little harder over the last few weeks, trying to build him back up without too much pressure or stress. He has been walking out in hand, some days with side reins or long reining etc. As part of his rehab I needed to get back on board and we decided to have a short hack up the track together.
Louisa was with me just in case, but of course it is Mr C- he is just the best! I honestly trust this horse totally so had no qualms about using basic tack. Kitted out in his bareback pad and a head collar we were ready to go. We don't have a mounting block at the yard so I just lined him up next to a flatbed trailer and hopped on- I think he was a little surprised at first that I was on him rather than leading him but he was so happy to be back in work.
He was fantastic, forward but totally and utterly as safe and dependable as ever. How many horses could have four months off with box rest and be completely sane to get straight back on with no gadgets or gizmos. He strode out with purpose and listened to everything I asked him to do. My goodness, when you dispose of all our little human gadgets like saddles, bridles and whips it does make you so much more aware you how you ride! It's fantastic practise for me using just my seat and legs to ride with and Carats loved every minute, especially the grazing stops en route!
We also continue to play with the clicker training which he really is immense at, he has learnt bow and targeting now. He is also getting some turnout each day which is just magic for him. The (correct) turnout is so imperative to his healing as the movement helps with the blood flow. At the moment we need to wait for some fencing to be repaired and then hopefully by next week we can up it to half a day out in the wood chip and then the week or so after that he can be out all day yippee!
Finally we have been using an Equilibrium massage pad on his back which really helps free and soften his whole back, its a great piece of kit and he adores wearing it.
The downside of getting back on him is that I miss him even more, I am hoping against hope that we can fix my ginger pony. Come on big red... x
I have been slowly working him a little harder over the last few weeks, trying to build him back up without too much pressure or stress. He has been walking out in hand, some days with side reins or long reining etc. As part of his rehab I needed to get back on board and we decided to have a short hack up the track together.
 |
| Hacking Out (The Natural Way) |
He was fantastic, forward but totally and utterly as safe and dependable as ever. How many horses could have four months off with box rest and be completely sane to get straight back on with no gadgets or gizmos. He strode out with purpose and listened to everything I asked him to do. My goodness, when you dispose of all our little human gadgets like saddles, bridles and whips it does make you so much more aware you how you ride! It's fantastic practise for me using just my seat and legs to ride with and Carats loved every minute, especially the grazing stops en route!
We also continue to play with the clicker training which he really is immense at, he has learnt bow and targeting now. He is also getting some turnout each day which is just magic for him. The (correct) turnout is so imperative to his healing as the movement helps with the blood flow. At the moment we need to wait for some fencing to be repaired and then hopefully by next week we can up it to half a day out in the wood chip and then the week or so after that he can be out all day yippee!
Finally we have been using an Equilibrium massage pad on his back which really helps free and soften his whole back, its a great piece of kit and he adores wearing it.
The downside of getting back on him is that I miss him even more, I am hoping against hope that we can fix my ginger pony. Come on big red... x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)