Tonight i decided to walk Spice to a field about 15 minutes away from the yard and then hack her back (as it would be the first time in 6 months of hacking her out on my own) so i thought hacking her back would be a nice/easy transition. Luke, my partner gave me a leg up and filmed us from behind and as you can see from the video below she was absolutely amazing. It's a shame you can't hear my voice commands on the video as every time she stops she is responding to me asking her to via voice command and seat but because you can't hear me it kind of looks like she just stops. I was using my voice throughout the video saying 'and whoa' and 'walk on' and she was 100% responsive. I also tested her obedience quite a bit by turning her in circles (away from the direction of the yard) to see of she gave me any resistance and only 1 out of the 5 times i circled her did she attempt to protest but a quick correction put an end to this and i made sure i turned her in a circle again straight after to re-affirm my leadership.
You will notice that towards the end when two cars go past she attempts to take a step forward without me asking her to. So, i stop her and deliberately make her stand longer than i would do to make sure she understands i am in charge and only when i ask her to does she step forward. As soon as i let her know this you will see that her pace drops down to a very calm relaxed walk and when i circle her at the end (just before the yard) she obliges with no hesitance whatsoever. A brilliant end to a brilliant first hack on my own (well with luke trailing behind)
From start to finish, Spice was absolutely amazing. From catching her, to tacking her up, from lunging her to leading her out, to mounting her, to riding her back. Our best day so far in terms of obedience. I couldn't be happier.
And by the way the pot belly you see at the end of the video is the 10 week old baby growing inside me not fatness!
At approximetely 6.20 when Spice starts to make her protest at being turned in the opposite direction of the yard not only can you hear Mags (the other horse at the yard) calling to her but we were also just two minutes away from the yard so in view of this i can well understand why Spice protested. The fact that she backed down so quickly though was what i am most pleased about as ultimately she respected my request and did as i asked her to and that to me is a success.
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Monday 28 June 2010
168. It's the little things that really count...
Tonight i schooled Spice in the arena and now I'm absolutely buzzing! She was incredible in every way and i even had her working in an outline with a bitless bridle! Something i've never done before but she did it without me even asking her to! The barefoot treeless saddle that i'm using is 100% flexible in all ways and i think this is what is making the difference. Spice is completely free to move in anyway she likes without the restrictions of any rigid parts. Why more people don't use treeless saddles i'll never know ah yes it's that old age thing called 'tradition'. Boy are they missing out. After the initial 'wearing in period' with these saddles you can actually feel every single movement of your horse which is amazing. I even managed to sit to Spices canter properly for the first time too (which is something i have always struggled to do in a treed saddle.) I hardly had to use my legs because she understood my verbal cues (thanks to all the lunging i've been doing with her.) and i even got her to back up on a verbal cue!
Anyway i have titled this post 'It's the little things that count' because i have recently noticed a huge change in Spices overall demeanor. For example...
*Spice used to toss her head away every time i used to take off her head collar.
*Spice used to toss her head about as i used to tighten her bridle.
*Spice never used to stand still when i tried washing her after riding.
*Spice always walked at her own pace when led rather than at mine.
The list goes on...they were all small things in and of themselves but together they were all signs that Spice was not respecting my authority/leadership.
Julie Goodnight a natural horsemanship trainer said that often, it's better to give your horse one harsh correction than to keep nagging them and giving them small corrections.
I have really taken this idea on board and have seen a massive improvement in Spice.
For the first time i actually feel confident that i could ride Spice out on my own without any big arguments something that until very recently i never thought i'd be able to say.
I am so glad that i decided to go Barefoot with Spice because it has forced me to confront all the issues i had with her on the ground rather than on her back which is a far safer place if you are having issues! If you don't have respect from your horse on the ground you definitely wont have their respect on their back and they will continue to question your leadership. In my view, to attempt to improve your relationship with your horse without addressing the problems you have on the ground would be completely counterproductive.
Although I know that i still have a way to go with Spice I am so proud of what i have achieved so far and am so grateful to the internet...to be able to learn from some of the best trainers in the world for free has been incredible. I'd have been lost without it.
Anyway i have titled this post 'It's the little things that count' because i have recently noticed a huge change in Spices overall demeanor. For example...
*Spice used to toss her head away every time i used to take off her head collar.
*Spice used to toss her head about as i used to tighten her bridle.
*Spice never used to stand still when i tried washing her after riding.
*Spice always walked at her own pace when led rather than at mine.
The list goes on...they were all small things in and of themselves but together they were all signs that Spice was not respecting my authority/leadership.
Julie Goodnight a natural horsemanship trainer said that often, it's better to give your horse one harsh correction than to keep nagging them and giving them small corrections.
I have really taken this idea on board and have seen a massive improvement in Spice.
For the first time i actually feel confident that i could ride Spice out on my own without any big arguments something that until very recently i never thought i'd be able to say.
I am so glad that i decided to go Barefoot with Spice because it has forced me to confront all the issues i had with her on the ground rather than on her back which is a far safer place if you are having issues! If you don't have respect from your horse on the ground you definitely wont have their respect on their back and they will continue to question your leadership. In my view, to attempt to improve your relationship with your horse without addressing the problems you have on the ground would be completely counterproductive.
Although I know that i still have a way to go with Spice I am so proud of what i have achieved so far and am so grateful to the internet...to be able to learn from some of the best trainers in the world for free has been incredible. I'd have been lost without it.
Saturday 26 June 2010
167. Making Progress...
This evening i took Spice out for a walk as i hacked her out yesterday for the first time in weeks so didn't want to ride out twice in a row being that i have only just got back on her. She was brilliant on her hack yesterday and just as good if not better this evening. She started off a little unsure but soon relaxed and was 100% responsive to my cues. :) I was really pleased since it was the first time i'd been out with her on my own for weeks and we actually went for longest walk we've done so far. It's great seeing this kind of progress as it reassures me that i am doing the right thing. Her hooves are also looking great at the moment so fingers crossed they stay that way. :)
Friday 25 June 2010
166. Schooling Spice...
Yesterday, i schooled Spice in the arena for the first time in ages. We didn't do much - just a bit of trotting and a few transitions but it felt so nice to be finally riding again. She was so responsive, particularly to my verbal cues and was very calm throughout the ride.
I was surprised to find that i was able to do the sitting trot better than i've ever been able to do it both with and without stirrups but i think it has more to do with the treeless saddle i am using rather than my skill as a rider. The treeless saddle by Dream Team is sooo comfortable and allows you to feel every movement of your horse which i think is why it makes it easier to do the sitting trot as you can really move in sync with your horse. It also puts you in a very good position.
I can't wait to get back on her and although i know i still have far to go with Spice in terms of discipline if i can achieve half of what i've achieved on the ground with her i should be able to get her listening to my every cue. :)
I was surprised to find that i was able to do the sitting trot better than i've ever been able to do it both with and without stirrups but i think it has more to do with the treeless saddle i am using rather than my skill as a rider. The treeless saddle by Dream Team is sooo comfortable and allows you to feel every movement of your horse which i think is why it makes it easier to do the sitting trot as you can really move in sync with your horse. It also puts you in a very good position.
I can't wait to get back on her and although i know i still have far to go with Spice in terms of discipline if i can achieve half of what i've achieved on the ground with her i should be able to get her listening to my every cue. :)
Wednesday 23 June 2010
165. Spices 6th Barefoot Trim!
Today, Spice had her hooves trimmed for the 6th time and i am pleased to say that the barefoot trimmer said they are looking better than ever. It's been exactly 5 months now since i first took Spices shoes off so in 4 months she will have grown a whole new hoof since last being shod. Her frogs have almost doubled in size and she is starting to achieve more concavity. My barefoot trimmer even said that she didn't think Spice would need hoof boots for hacking out but after what happened last time with the abscess i would not be confident enough to let her go out unprotected (at least not until her soles have really thickened up.) So, at least in the short term i will use hoof boots. She was an absolute sweetheart having her hooves trimmed even with the flies landing on her every 2 seconds, i was very proud of her manners.
Monday 21 June 2010
Sunday 20 June 2010
163. Training at Liberty...
Recently i've been starting to do more and more training with Spice at liberty and i'm really enjoying it. Today i lunged her in the round pen with no lunge line and she responded better than she does with the lunge line. I really like the freedom it gives us and feel as though i am really using my body to communicate with her. I'm going to look on you tube for some more inspirational exercises i can do with her and hopefully i'll be able to post a video of what we've been doing on here soon.
162. Product Review for Easy Care Edge Boots...
Easy Care Edge Hoof Boots....
The Easy Care Edge Hoof Boots incorporate all the good things about the easy care glove boots, i.e the shock absorbing material and simpleness in design but have added the one thing the gloves should have had - a fastening feature at the front of the boot with three separate parts which allows you to tighten the boot around the hoof wall ensuring as snug a fit as possible. Get the right size and these boots are great...if i'm being picky my only reservation would be that they're by far the heaviest boot i have tried and once again like the renegades they are fairly thick around the front of the wall which may cause your horse to over reach but as i haven't had them on Spice more than a few minutes i don't know how much of a problem this is or isn't.
As soon as i have had more use out of the boots i will of course provide an update on the points raised.
161. Product review for Renegade Hoof Boots...
Renegades...
Once you work out how to fit the Renegades (it's simple once you know how) they're pretty easy to put on and seem to fit well. Their potential for rubbing is minimal since they have zero material around the heel region which is a major plus and providing you get the right size they seem to stay put once on. The only thing i would say i don't like about the Renegades is the material used to make them. Unlike the easy care range Renegades are made out of a hard plastic which does not provide quite as much shock absorption as the rubber used to make the easy cares. However, that said this material means they are lighter than the easy cares which is a plus point.
The only other niggle i have about the Renegades is that plastic surrounding the front of the hoof wall is quite thick which may cause your horse to over reach which isn't ideal but having only walked Spice in the boots for a few minutes i am yet to see whether or not this will be a problem.
The thing i love most about the Renegades is how the design really takes into account the mechanics of the hoof, the fastening feature around the front of the hoof allows the hoof to flex in all directions and the gap around the heel region allows the heel to act just as it would barefoot. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into the design of the Rengades and i have to admit i love the colour ranges although i was a tad dissappointed to see they didn't do them in pink!
160. Product Review for Easy Care Glove Boots...
Easy Care Glove Hoof Boots...
The Easy Care gloves are by far the easiest boot to apply...however, if it's the easiest boot to apply perhaps it's the easiest boot to come off...With no real fastenings around the hoof i am sceptical as to whether these boots would really stay on. It seems that unless the fit is 100% perfect (which lets face it would be pretty much impossible since during the trimming cycle the hooves can grow up to 10mm) these boots would fail to stay on. They also don't bother to take into consideration the angle of the hoof wall which in my opinion is vital when ensuring a tight fit. I like the idea of them, the simple design, the material used and their lightness but as far as fit goes i feel this is where they really fall down so i am sorry to say i am not a fan of the easy care glove boots.
Friday 18 June 2010
159. Join Up & Jumping...
Today, i decided to do some 'join up' with Spice - just to mix things up a bit but whilst we were doing it she chose to incorporate a 3 foot jump into the exercise! The jump was set up from the day before and it wasn't my aim to try and make her jump it especially as the ground is so dry and hard but as i sent her away from me she just broke into a canter and jumped it clear!
Aside from this i didn't really do much else with her apart from give her a nice groom and spray her with some fly spray as the flies have come back with a vengeance!
Aside from this i didn't really do much else with her apart from give her a nice groom and spray her with some fly spray as the flies have come back with a vengeance!
Thursday 17 June 2010
158. Training at Liberty...
After watching a video of Jean Francois Pignon - the master of training horses at liberty i decided to do some of my own liberty training with Spice and i am pleased to say she responded brilliantly. First of all, i played 'chase' where i ran away from her and she chased me then i played the same game but the other way round. Using 'whoa', 'walk', 'trot' 'canter' as voice commands. She completely knew what i wanted her to do which makes sense i guess since horses are excellent in understanding ones body language but i was blown away by just how effective i was able to be. I even got her to jump 100% at liberty - something i have never done before. I absolutely love playing these games with Spice and can't wait to do more.
I also rode her again today just for a couple of minutes around the arena and she was once again as good as gold. :)
Her hooves are looking the best they've looked in ages...although she does need them trimming as thanks to the dry weather she has had a couple of small cracks but nothing serious Her next trim is in 5 days time so hopefully my barefoot trimmer will confirm that all is good.
I also rode her again today just for a couple of minutes around the arena and she was once again as good as gold. :)
Her hooves are looking the best they've looked in ages...although she does need them trimming as thanks to the dry weather she has had a couple of small cracks but nothing serious Her next trim is in 5 days time so hopefully my barefoot trimmer will confirm that all is good.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Monday 14 June 2010
155. Getting back in the saddle....
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After almost 3 months out of the saddle due to re-occurring lameness i finally managed to get back on Spice today which was brilliant! I was pretty nervous as although i feel i have a good relationship with Spice on the ground i wasn't sure whether she'd be 'o.k' with me getting back on her back, there's always that thought in the back of your mind 'what if they buck me off'
But thankfully she was an angel about it. She stood lovely and still at the mounting block, didn't flinch an inch when i actually sat on her which was a great sign and was as good as gold as i walked her around the arena with loose reins even though it was blowing a gale!
In fact she looked completely 'unbothered' about the whole thing which was the best reaction i could have hoped for.
Below is a video of me coming back to the mounting block.
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/5deb9a7235b4c2fcf6db321c2c29e098/video/15136401
(courtesy of Alexandra)
Although the Barefoot saddle was more comfortable than i thought it would be i still prefer the Dream Team one as the seat on the Dream Team saddle just feels that little more deeper whereas on the Barefoot one you feel quite perched but maybe that's just me and the fact that it's new and therefore not yet moulded to the shape of Spices back but i can't help but wonder what a top of the range treeless saddle like the 'Ansur' or the 'Heather Moffett' would be like.
Ah! one of these days i will have a saddle, a bridle and hoof boots that all fit and all look and feel great! (Hopefully)!!!
Saturday 12 June 2010
154. Groundwork and why i love it!
Today i did much the same as i did yesterday with Spice, 5 minutes of groundwork, 10-15 minutes of lunging and 10 minutes of loose jumping which sounds like quite a bit to me but it doesn't seem to get Spice the least bit tired! Every time i go to the yard I keep thinking 'i'll give her a day off today' but she seems so willing that i find myself thinking maybe i'll give her tomorrow off instead. :)
She managed to clear 3ft today so is definitely making progress - no refusals and all clear. I find myself wondering why i didn't concentrate on doing this ages ago instead of obsessing about being able to hack out alone. I never thought working in the arena could be this much fun and i'm not even riding her at the minute!
There's something deeply bonding about doing groundwork with your horse...for one you're both on the ground, on neutral territory so automatically have an even footing.
Two, you're both free to express yourself using body language without any restraints meaning you can really communicate with one another.
And three you can see each other! which again enhances your ability to communicate with one another.
I see improvements in my relationship with Spice every day thanks to having concentrated on groundwork.
The video below demonstrates the success you can have with your horse when concentrating on groundwork.
She managed to clear 3ft today so is definitely making progress - no refusals and all clear. I find myself wondering why i didn't concentrate on doing this ages ago instead of obsessing about being able to hack out alone. I never thought working in the arena could be this much fun and i'm not even riding her at the minute!
There's something deeply bonding about doing groundwork with your horse...for one you're both on the ground, on neutral territory so automatically have an even footing.
Two, you're both free to express yourself using body language without any restraints meaning you can really communicate with one another.
And three you can see each other! which again enhances your ability to communicate with one another.
I see improvements in my relationship with Spice every day thanks to having concentrated on groundwork.
The video below demonstrates the success you can have with your horse when concentrating on groundwork.
Friday 11 June 2010
153. Jumping with ease...
Today i lunged Spice in her saddle for the first time in over 2 months and she was really good, she didn't blink an eyelid when i put the saddle on and didn't buck or do anything silly when i lunged her in it. She was slightly on the lazy side today but it was hot and she's been pigging out on the spring grass all day...
Below is a video of her jumping, it's only 2.5" but it's still early days. Tomorrow i'm going to try to incorporate two jumps in a row as i think she's starting to get a bit bored of doing the same jump over and over again - hence the lazy, can't be bothered attitude!!! :)
I might also increase the height to 3" as she jumps 2.5" like it's nothing. I think i could watch Spice jump all day long :)
Below is a video of her jumping, it's only 2.5" but it's still early days. Tomorrow i'm going to try to incorporate two jumps in a row as i think she's starting to get a bit bored of doing the same jump over and over again - hence the lazy, can't be bothered attitude!!! :)
I might also increase the height to 3" as she jumps 2.5" like it's nothing. I think i could watch Spice jump all day long :)
Thursday 10 June 2010
152.Bringing Spice back to work...
Had another brilliant day with Spice today, lunged her in a pessoa to help stretch out her topline, then cantered her around before doing some jumping. Her attitude to work was brilliant so all good signs that she is doing well. Her hooves are looking great and her level of fitness seems high. Am going to spend the rest of the week lunging her using two reins to help encourage her to work in an outline and mainly concentrate on cantering to improve her overall level of fitness.
Another 7 days and i think she'll be rideable. I am so happy to finally be able to do things with Spice again. I just hope that her hooves stay abscess free and that she remains sound.
Another 7 days and i think she'll be rideable. I am so happy to finally be able to do things with Spice again. I just hope that her hooves stay abscess free and that she remains sound.
Wednesday 9 June 2010
151. Barefoot Cherokee Saddle Review...
Today i basically repeated what i did with Spice the other day, 5 minutes of groundwork, 10 minutes or so of lunging and 10 minutes or so of jumping - she was brilliant as usual and tossed her head around with joy after each jump. :)
I also got my new Barefoot saddle today which i'd wanted to get in order to compare it to my DreamTeam Saddle and on the whole there's really not much difference between them...
However, i would say that the DreamTeam Saddle is definitely more comfy for the rider due to the seat being lined with sheepskin but as far as i am aware you can buy a sheepskin skin cover to go over the barefoot saddle so this could rule out this difference. Though this also highlights another difference between the DreamTeam Saddle and the Barefoot saddle - the price! The Barefoot saddle already retails for over £100's more than the DreamTeam saddle and the sheepskin liner costs around £85's so that would be almost £200's more for the pretty much the same saddle.
That said i do like the couple of extra features which have been incorporated into the Barefoot saddle in particular the VPS System and the V Shaped girth System - although how much these affect the comfort of the horse i am unsure.
Personally the only reason why i would want to keep the Barefoot Saddle over the DreamTeam saddle is due to the fact that the back of the seat on the DreamTeam saddle comes up so high that even the shortest length body protector hits the back of it and we all know how annoying that is!
But if this was not an issue i have to say i would definitely keep the DreamTeam Saddle.
I also think DreamTeams customer service is better - more efficient and more expert but i imagine this is because it is still a small company and is therefore able to offer you a more personal service.
I also got my new Barefoot saddle today which i'd wanted to get in order to compare it to my DreamTeam Saddle and on the whole there's really not much difference between them...
However, i would say that the DreamTeam Saddle is definitely more comfy for the rider due to the seat being lined with sheepskin but as far as i am aware you can buy a sheepskin skin cover to go over the barefoot saddle so this could rule out this difference. Though this also highlights another difference between the DreamTeam Saddle and the Barefoot saddle - the price! The Barefoot saddle already retails for over £100's more than the DreamTeam saddle and the sheepskin liner costs around £85's so that would be almost £200's more for the pretty much the same saddle.
That said i do like the couple of extra features which have been incorporated into the Barefoot saddle in particular the VPS System and the V Shaped girth System - although how much these affect the comfort of the horse i am unsure.
Personally the only reason why i would want to keep the Barefoot Saddle over the DreamTeam saddle is due to the fact that the back of the seat on the DreamTeam saddle comes up so high that even the shortest length body protector hits the back of it and we all know how annoying that is!
But if this was not an issue i have to say i would definitely keep the DreamTeam Saddle.
I also think DreamTeams customer service is better - more efficient and more expert but i imagine this is because it is still a small company and is therefore able to offer you a more personal service.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
150. And the jumps get higher...
Last night although feeling queesy thanks to the ever growing life inside me i managed to get to the field to lunge Spice and boy did we have fun!
I like to break everything up a bit so we started off with some basic groundwork for around 5 minutes and then did some lunging for about 10 minutes and followed by jumping for around 10 minutes. I've got Spice to the point where she trots along side me with me holding onto just her head collar and then about five metres before the jump i let her go and off she goes!
She cleared every jump beautifully and had no hesitation in her strides whatsoever. We only went up to 2.5" because i didn't want to push her too hard having only just started bringing her back into work but i think she could have carried on for another 20 minutes or so! she has so much energy and scope...
After each jump i allowed her to graze on grass while i adjusted the height so it was all very relaxed and a pleasant experience for both of us. I absolutely love watching her jump - it's lovely watching her do something she excels at and enjoys so much.
Today i really want to go see her but i've been feeling sick ALL day so not sure i'll be able to. :( - which is very upsetting. I'm still trying to decide what the point of morning sickness, afternoon sickness and evening sickness is!
I like to break everything up a bit so we started off with some basic groundwork for around 5 minutes and then did some lunging for about 10 minutes and followed by jumping for around 10 minutes. I've got Spice to the point where she trots along side me with me holding onto just her head collar and then about five metres before the jump i let her go and off she goes!
She cleared every jump beautifully and had no hesitation in her strides whatsoever. We only went up to 2.5" because i didn't want to push her too hard having only just started bringing her back into work but i think she could have carried on for another 20 minutes or so! she has so much energy and scope...
After each jump i allowed her to graze on grass while i adjusted the height so it was all very relaxed and a pleasant experience for both of us. I absolutely love watching her jump - it's lovely watching her do something she excels at and enjoys so much.
Today i really want to go see her but i've been feeling sick ALL day so not sure i'll be able to. :( - which is very upsetting. I'm still trying to decide what the point of morning sickness, afternoon sickness and evening sickness is!
Monday 7 June 2010
149. Having fun with your horse...
Yesterday after being away for two days i couldn't wait to see Spice and do something with her. So i decided to lunge her for a bit and then loose jump her. I'm really liking doing things with Spice that she is naturally good at and enjoys because for one it makes my job far easier and two it's also good for my confidence because i am starting to realise that a lot of what it comes down to is what your horse is naturally good at...I take no credit whatsoever for Spice being a good jumper, it's in her breeding and she just loves it...simple as.
So, i have decided to concentrate on schooling and jumping rather than making her the bold happy hacker that i so wanted her to be - because to be honest although i enjoy hacking out i actually really enjoy jumping her so why not concentrate on what she's good at?
So my plan for the rest of the week is to do some more loose jumping and concentrate on having fun with each other after all isn't that what it's supposed to be about?
So, i have decided to concentrate on schooling and jumping rather than making her the bold happy hacker that i so wanted her to be - because to be honest although i enjoy hacking out i actually really enjoy jumping her so why not concentrate on what she's good at?
So my plan for the rest of the week is to do some more loose jumping and concentrate on having fun with each other after all isn't that what it's supposed to be about?
Thursday 3 June 2010
148. Getting the right size hoof boot...
So, i finally got to try my hoof boots out on Spice and unfortunately think i'm definitely going to have to do a bit of exchanging...
The front hooves were easy to fit and both the renegades and the gloves fitted her fronts well. However, when it came to the back hooves i had problems... the Renegades completely slipped around so are definitely way to big and the gloves (even the smaller size) didn't fair much better either - although they were noticeably worse on the right hind hoof (which still has a chunk of heel missing thanks to the abscess crack) which could definitely be a contributing factor.
Whilst i would consider trying the Renegades in a smaller size the thought of having to send them back to america to then wait another two weeks for them to send out the correct size is not something i really want to do.
And functionality wise i have to say i think i prefer the Gloves for two reasons... one, for ease of use... they're incredibly easy to put on and two for the fact that they do not seem to cause any interference in Spices gait. Unlike the Renegades which i found did due to being far thicker at the toe and far bulkier at the heel.
That said it may be because i have the wrong size and that if i had gone smaller they wouldn't make any contact?!
I would say that more thought has gone into the design of the Renegades and that aesthetically speaking i think they look better but the gloves although 'highly simple' in their design just seem to 'hug' the hoof that bit better but once again this may well be a sizing issue rather than a technical issue.
In any case, before i get a perfect fit i think i definitely need to wait for Spices hoof to grow out so that the full structure of the hoof is reformed. Otherwise it's a bit like trying to fit shoes onto a child with a toe missing. :(
The front hooves were easy to fit and both the renegades and the gloves fitted her fronts well. However, when it came to the back hooves i had problems... the Renegades completely slipped around so are definitely way to big and the gloves (even the smaller size) didn't fair much better either - although they were noticeably worse on the right hind hoof (which still has a chunk of heel missing thanks to the abscess crack) which could definitely be a contributing factor.
Whilst i would consider trying the Renegades in a smaller size the thought of having to send them back to america to then wait another two weeks for them to send out the correct size is not something i really want to do.
And functionality wise i have to say i think i prefer the Gloves for two reasons... one, for ease of use... they're incredibly easy to put on and two for the fact that they do not seem to cause any interference in Spices gait. Unlike the Renegades which i found did due to being far thicker at the toe and far bulkier at the heel.
That said it may be because i have the wrong size and that if i had gone smaller they wouldn't make any contact?!
I would say that more thought has gone into the design of the Renegades and that aesthetically speaking i think they look better but the gloves although 'highly simple' in their design just seem to 'hug' the hoof that bit better but once again this may well be a sizing issue rather than a technical issue.
In any case, before i get a perfect fit i think i definitely need to wait for Spices hoof to grow out so that the full structure of the hoof is reformed. Otherwise it's a bit like trying to fit shoes onto a child with a toe missing. :(
Wednesday 2 June 2010
147. Hoof boots...
So my Renegade Hoof Boots finally arrived from America after a very reasonable two week wait so Spice now has 10 hoof boots to try on.
On first impressions i like the look of both the Easy care Glove boots and the Renegades so it will be up to Spice to decide which she prefers. :)
I really hope that out of 10 i get 4 which fit perfectly.
On first impressions i like the look of both the Easy care Glove boots and the Renegades so it will be up to Spice to decide which she prefers. :)
I really hope that out of 10 i get 4 which fit perfectly.
Tuesday 1 June 2010
146. The Dominance Game...
Recently i've been watching Spice display her dominance over other horses in the herd and she's really very good at it so i think i need to play her at her own game and re-assert my own dominance a little as although she is pretty respectful i still notice that there are times when she thinks about not being especially if she thinks there's a chance she could get some food as a result. So i read the following article and think that over the next couple of days as well as lunging i might try herding Spice....
http://horsemanship.typepad.com/horse_bliss/2005/09/becoming_a_lead.html
Does your horse ever bump its head into you? Has your horse ever pushed you out of its way with its body? Does your horse pin its ears when you approach it? How about tried to run right over you when you are leading it through a gate or when it gets spooked? If so, then it’s very likely that your horse doesn’t have enough respect for you and knows that it can dominate you.
To be a happy and successful horse owner you can take action to prevent these situations from occurring by showing your horse that you have the ability to be the alpha horse. By doing so you will gain your horses respect. The best way to do this is to be able to herd the horse. If you can herd your horse in the same fashion, as another more dominant horse would do, it will accept you as the leader and will willingly give you respect.
Horses constantly play the dominancy game with each other through herding. This creates hierarchy in the herd. The better a horse is at herding the more dominant they are. There is no single quality that determines if a horse is more dominant than another but rather a combination of abilities. A dominant horse proves to the herd that they can move quicker, reach out and make contact quicker, all with confidence. A horse that is good at herding will be able to do all these things effectively using the least amount of effort. By doing this, the dominant horse gains respect and does not get pushed around by the other horses. If you can show the horse/s that you have these qualities without being aggressive like a predator, they will view you as the alpha horse and will give you respect. They will also look to you for leadership, which will build confidence in them.
To be good at herding it is necessary to have the proper tools and know how to effectively use them. This takes practice so don’t be discouraged in the beginning.
The basic tools to use are ropes in different lengths and a horseman’s stick. These tools allow you to signal or touch the horse from a distance so they can see what you are asking without being scared of you. The tools allow you to prove to the horse that you have more speed than they do because you can move them around quickly and easily. This also allows you to keep a safe distance away from the horse.
When horses are establishing the pecking order in the herd they will attempt to herd each other so if you are herding a horse it might decide to herd back. By keeping a safe distance away you can fairly establish your hierarchy with the horse but also prevent from getting injured. If you allow the horse to have a fair chance at herding back they will feel on the same level and won’t be intimidated and will also show that you respect them. This is not implying to let the horse herd you but to give him the opportunity to challenge you for leadership and if he does decide to, you can quickly and confidently herd back and be more effective which will prove to him that you are a better leader and will gain his respect.
You also want to be aware of how you are applying the tool to the horse. To be fair to the horse when herding we need to first signal with the tool that it is coming and if the horse doesn’t respect that signal by getting out of the way, then we can be effective by touching the horse with it. Horses use this same signaling technique with each other when herding by pining their ears, swishing their tail or moving their body. If the other horse does not respect and yield to this signal they will follow through with a bite or kick. By touching a horse with a tool you are simulating a horse biting or kicking them. You never want to bite or kick the horse harder than another horse would do. Also, it is helpful to have your signals rhythmic. Do this by signaling to the horse with your tool, if they don’t yield then gently touch the horse with the tool, if they don’t move from this you can touch the horse deeper until they respond. It takes lots of practice to understand when, where and how to touch the horse properly with these tools. Once you are able to do this successfully the horse will respect and yield to your signals without you having to follow through with contact. It is necessary for the horse to understand that the tools are an extension of your body so you want to touch them and rub them with the tools so they are desensitized to them as an object. (Look for a future blog on how to desensitizing your horse!)
You can be extremely effective at herding a horse using a 45’ rope in a round corral. This will allow you to reach out and touch the horse with the rope anywhere they might be. You can also herd the horse by throwing the rope out in front of them or behind them. If you can herd the horse from the middle of the round corral using the rope it will show the horse that you have an extremely long reach and also that you have the ability to out maneuver them.
A horseman’s stick is also a great tool to use because it can extend your reach, which will allow you to drive and touch the horse without having to use your hands. If a horse is approaching you and invading your space you can use the stick for self-defense by herding them away with it. Be aware of how you handle the stick and what the horse perceives of it. You want to make sure the horse understands the difference between a neutral stick position and an active position. This will help give the horse a clear signal of what you are asking. Horseman sticks also show the horse that you are as big as them. You can extend your reach out towards their hind end to show you are just as long as they are, and you can also extend your reach directly upward to show that you can reach higher than they can. This way if a horse tries to show its dominant by lifting its head up overtop your head, you can extend the stick high enough to block them and show them that they cannot dominate you. When you want to move the horse’s head away, it is good to be able herd the horse’s nose away. A horse’s body follows the direction its nose is pointed to, so if you are able to control their nose you can be better at guiding the horse in the direction you desire. Their nose is also a sensitive area so you do not need to use as much energy to herd the horse’s front end if you are focused on the nose. When you are able to herd your horse’s nose away without them trying to avoid you by lifting it, you have gained confidence and respect in your horse.
Horses communicate to each other through body language so it is important to be aware of your body language when herding a horse. When a horse signals to another horse to back off, they straighten their neck, lower their head and pin their ears so we want to try and mimic this with our body language when herding and driving horses around. We want to project enough energy to send or drive a horse effectively but too much where we scare the horse.
Horses try to herd humans at times and can be quite successful at it if we let them. A big reason people allow their horse to herd them is because their size is intimidating. This is why it is important to use tools that make the horse think that we are just as big, if not bigger, than they are. To prevent a horse from dominating you, you need to change its perception of you. Eventually you want to be able to herd the horse from all directions and ultimately after you have become an effective herder, your horse will view you as the 2-legged alpha horse. This will take courage on your end but once you gain confidence in yourself and your ability to herd, the horses will gain trust and respect in you. Now, the next time you walk your horse through a gate, it will think twice about running over you.
Horses are always aware of where the alpha horse is. So you will receive many benefits of being the alpha horse. It will respect you by moving out of your way with little effort on your end. It will stand calm when you are relaxed. And will look to you for leadership, safety, confidence and comfort.
Just a little note: A good way to learn to communicate with a horse is to go out in a herd situation and observe horses during feeding time. You will see how horses communicate to each other from their settle expressions to thier full energy actions and everything in between. They will herd each other through body language and physical contact by biting and kicking. You'll learn how horses try to bluff and out maneuver each other. You will see horses yield and show respect and you will see the friendships.
ASK The dominant horse will swing its rear toward the non-yielding horse. This is a simple request “ I want you to move.”
TELL The dominant horse swings its hind end closer towards non-yielding horse, while pinning ears back at the same time. This has become “ MOVE NOW!”
DEMAND The dominant horse kicks at, or bares teeth and bites the non-yielding horse. Now the simplest translation would be “ WHEN I SAY MOVE, YOU MOVE!”
http://horsemanship.typepad.com/horse_bliss/2005/09/becoming_a_lead.html
Does your horse ever bump its head into you? Has your horse ever pushed you out of its way with its body? Does your horse pin its ears when you approach it? How about tried to run right over you when you are leading it through a gate or when it gets spooked? If so, then it’s very likely that your horse doesn’t have enough respect for you and knows that it can dominate you.
To be a happy and successful horse owner you can take action to prevent these situations from occurring by showing your horse that you have the ability to be the alpha horse. By doing so you will gain your horses respect. The best way to do this is to be able to herd the horse. If you can herd your horse in the same fashion, as another more dominant horse would do, it will accept you as the leader and will willingly give you respect.
Horses constantly play the dominancy game with each other through herding. This creates hierarchy in the herd. The better a horse is at herding the more dominant they are. There is no single quality that determines if a horse is more dominant than another but rather a combination of abilities. A dominant horse proves to the herd that they can move quicker, reach out and make contact quicker, all with confidence. A horse that is good at herding will be able to do all these things effectively using the least amount of effort. By doing this, the dominant horse gains respect and does not get pushed around by the other horses. If you can show the horse/s that you have these qualities without being aggressive like a predator, they will view you as the alpha horse and will give you respect. They will also look to you for leadership, which will build confidence in them.
To be good at herding it is necessary to have the proper tools and know how to effectively use them. This takes practice so don’t be discouraged in the beginning.
The basic tools to use are ropes in different lengths and a horseman’s stick. These tools allow you to signal or touch the horse from a distance so they can see what you are asking without being scared of you. The tools allow you to prove to the horse that you have more speed than they do because you can move them around quickly and easily. This also allows you to keep a safe distance away from the horse.
When horses are establishing the pecking order in the herd they will attempt to herd each other so if you are herding a horse it might decide to herd back. By keeping a safe distance away you can fairly establish your hierarchy with the horse but also prevent from getting injured. If you allow the horse to have a fair chance at herding back they will feel on the same level and won’t be intimidated and will also show that you respect them. This is not implying to let the horse herd you but to give him the opportunity to challenge you for leadership and if he does decide to, you can quickly and confidently herd back and be more effective which will prove to him that you are a better leader and will gain his respect.
You also want to be aware of how you are applying the tool to the horse. To be fair to the horse when herding we need to first signal with the tool that it is coming and if the horse doesn’t respect that signal by getting out of the way, then we can be effective by touching the horse with it. Horses use this same signaling technique with each other when herding by pining their ears, swishing their tail or moving their body. If the other horse does not respect and yield to this signal they will follow through with a bite or kick. By touching a horse with a tool you are simulating a horse biting or kicking them. You never want to bite or kick the horse harder than another horse would do. Also, it is helpful to have your signals rhythmic. Do this by signaling to the horse with your tool, if they don’t yield then gently touch the horse with the tool, if they don’t move from this you can touch the horse deeper until they respond. It takes lots of practice to understand when, where and how to touch the horse properly with these tools. Once you are able to do this successfully the horse will respect and yield to your signals without you having to follow through with contact. It is necessary for the horse to understand that the tools are an extension of your body so you want to touch them and rub them with the tools so they are desensitized to them as an object. (Look for a future blog on how to desensitizing your horse!)
You can be extremely effective at herding a horse using a 45’ rope in a round corral. This will allow you to reach out and touch the horse with the rope anywhere they might be. You can also herd the horse by throwing the rope out in front of them or behind them. If you can herd the horse from the middle of the round corral using the rope it will show the horse that you have an extremely long reach and also that you have the ability to out maneuver them.
A horseman’s stick is also a great tool to use because it can extend your reach, which will allow you to drive and touch the horse without having to use your hands. If a horse is approaching you and invading your space you can use the stick for self-defense by herding them away with it. Be aware of how you handle the stick and what the horse perceives of it. You want to make sure the horse understands the difference between a neutral stick position and an active position. This will help give the horse a clear signal of what you are asking. Horseman sticks also show the horse that you are as big as them. You can extend your reach out towards their hind end to show you are just as long as they are, and you can also extend your reach directly upward to show that you can reach higher than they can. This way if a horse tries to show its dominant by lifting its head up overtop your head, you can extend the stick high enough to block them and show them that they cannot dominate you. When you want to move the horse’s head away, it is good to be able herd the horse’s nose away. A horse’s body follows the direction its nose is pointed to, so if you are able to control their nose you can be better at guiding the horse in the direction you desire. Their nose is also a sensitive area so you do not need to use as much energy to herd the horse’s front end if you are focused on the nose. When you are able to herd your horse’s nose away without them trying to avoid you by lifting it, you have gained confidence and respect in your horse.
Horses communicate to each other through body language so it is important to be aware of your body language when herding a horse. When a horse signals to another horse to back off, they straighten their neck, lower their head and pin their ears so we want to try and mimic this with our body language when herding and driving horses around. We want to project enough energy to send or drive a horse effectively but too much where we scare the horse.
Horses try to herd humans at times and can be quite successful at it if we let them. A big reason people allow their horse to herd them is because their size is intimidating. This is why it is important to use tools that make the horse think that we are just as big, if not bigger, than they are. To prevent a horse from dominating you, you need to change its perception of you. Eventually you want to be able to herd the horse from all directions and ultimately after you have become an effective herder, your horse will view you as the 2-legged alpha horse. This will take courage on your end but once you gain confidence in yourself and your ability to herd, the horses will gain trust and respect in you. Now, the next time you walk your horse through a gate, it will think twice about running over you.
Horses are always aware of where the alpha horse is. So you will receive many benefits of being the alpha horse. It will respect you by moving out of your way with little effort on your end. It will stand calm when you are relaxed. And will look to you for leadership, safety, confidence and comfort.
Just a little note: A good way to learn to communicate with a horse is to go out in a herd situation and observe horses during feeding time. You will see how horses communicate to each other from their settle expressions to thier full energy actions and everything in between. They will herd each other through body language and physical contact by biting and kicking. You'll learn how horses try to bluff and out maneuver each other. You will see horses yield and show respect and you will see the friendships.
ASK The dominant horse will swing its rear toward the non-yielding horse. This is a simple request “ I want you to move.”
TELL The dominant horse swings its hind end closer towards non-yielding horse, while pinning ears back at the same time. This has become “ MOVE NOW!”
DEMAND The dominant horse kicks at, or bares teeth and bites the non-yielding horse. Now the simplest translation would be “ WHEN I SAY MOVE, YOU MOVE!”
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