187. Spices new home!

Today i moved Spice to her new home since over the next few months i anticipate needing a bit of extra help what with having a baby on the way and all.

I was nervous about loading Spice into the trailer as i knew she had never travelled on her own before but much to my surprise she was brilliant. As soon as she clocked the trailer she hesitated but i made sure i kept a constant pressure on the lead rope and as soon as she took a step forward i released it and told her she was a good girl. All in all she hesitated 3 times but within seconds she was moving again and before we knew it she was stood in the trailer happily munching on apples and hay. We were a bit worried about leaving the trailer window open during the journey but figured that she might feel 'trapped' if she couldn't see out so decided to leave it open so we could at least keep an eye on her. :) However, we didn't hear a sound out of her for the duration of the journey until we were just about to arrive at her new home and almost as though she could sense it she started neighing. Upon arriving i was worried that she might barge out of the trailer but again much to my surprise she was surprisingly calm and well behaved.

We then put her in a separate paddock so she would have time to adjust to her new surroundings without the pressure of meeting the other horses and as soon as she went in she set about munching grass as though she had been there for years making me realise how simple a horses needs can be.

She was so good throughout the whole process...and made me feel very proud.

186. Lunging in an outline with no pessoa!

The last two times i've lunged Spice i've noticed that she's started to fall into a 'natural outline'. I have a pessoa which i have used on her a couple of times but i always worry that i might be 'forcing her into an outline' or 'over doing it' so i'm not overly confident using it (although i think if you know how they're a brilliant aid). But i'm beginning to think that i might not even need it because she's starting to come into an outline on her own accord not just in walk or trot but in all 3 gaits... I wasn't sure this was really possible but it seems it is! Must try to take a video of her next time.

185. Suggesting that your horse does something is so much better than having to tell them to do something...

I remember reading somewhere that if you want to get your horse to do something you must first suggest the idea to them, then (if no response) ask them and then (if still no response) tell them (which is sometimes easier said than done.) But having to tell your horse to do something is never quite as fulfilling as merely having to make a suggestion... I realised this whilst lunging Spice in the arena today, when i suggested that she jump over a cross jump and with immediate effect and more impulsion than i even asked her for she did it.

Spice really seems to come into her own when in an arena. It's almost as though she doesn't really need a teacher but merely a director - someone to guide her - she has all the skills needed, she just needs someone to suggest that she use them. I've read in many equine sales adverts the term 'push button horse' or the phrase 'you just need to point them at the jump' and from what i've seen so far i believe Spice is one of these horses and her potential truly excites me. Why she loves jumping so much is beyond me but you can actually see the excitement in her face when she realises a jump is coming up and her natural ability to work out striding, footing and pace truly amaze me. I was actually in awe of Spice today and so proud.

I had such a brilliant schooling session i was actually buzzing with excitement when i put her back in the paddock and i think she was too. I always know when Spice has enjoyed our sessions because i always ask her to 'canter' after i've put her back and often if i feel good about our session and she does too she canters off, tossing her head playfully in the air but if i ask her after what i feel has been a bad training session she often just walks off with her head down!

I think 2011 might be the year for Spice competition wise but for now all this is very good practice and bringing smiles to both of our faces. :)

183. Spices 8th Barefoot Trim!

Today, Spice had her 8th Barefoot Trim - 7 months since our barefoot journey began and as per usual the diagnosis is good, they haven't chipped one little bit this month and have kept their shape really nicely. My barefoot trimmer can now see a definite line showing the point at which the new hoof capsule started growing and she started trimming which is about 4cms above the ground so within the next 4 months the new hoof capsule will have grown down and her hooves will be in even better shape. I can't wait to see what they look like at the end of the transition process, i can now see that the end is near and that as long as her hooves hold up over the winter she will be able to remain barefoot for the rest of her life thanks to Sara Lentini - my barefoot trimmer.

After Spices trim, i lunged her in the arena for 15 minutes as her and the rest of the herd had managed to break into the corral and steal half a box of treats during the night so not wanting her to become a fatty i put her to work and as usual she was brilliant. In fact half way through i wondered whether i might be able to do it with my eyes closed! If there was a lunging competition i'm sure she'd come first. :)

182. How much does a riders personality affect a horses personality???

Yesterday, i was picking out Spices hooves when all of a sudden she spooked at something in the distance, and managed to stamp right on my foot. Boy did it hurt, it was on the top of my foot so i had little protection and now have a rather swollen right foot :(

Anyway, after five minutes of feeling sorry for myself and putting it in cold water the pain eased off and i decided to do what i set out to do with her - some schooling.

I love schooling Spice because she makes it so easy. I never have to ask twice, push her or reprimand her which makes the whole experience very enjoyable.

Not riding her in the school for a while and her being so good made me think about two things...How much affect does the rider really have on the horses overall temperament?

I think most horses have an ingrained personality just like humans and other animals and that each interaction they have with each other brings out slightly different dimensions of their personality. But deep down i believe they still have the same personality.

People often seem to think they would not encounter the same problems if they rode a horse that spooked because they are a 'better rider'. But i have watched the most confident of riders lose their temper, and have their heart beats raised when hacking Spice out because they encounter exactly the same behaviour as i do and worse so i know for a fact it's not all down to the rider.

I think it's definitely true to say that a nervous rider can exasperate a problem and a calm rider can dissipate a problem but i believe that problem will always manifest itself one way or another.

Some horses are naturally confident, some are not, some horses are naturally forward going, some are not. Of course a horse that isn't forward going can be encouraged to be more forward going with a crop or spurs just as a horse that isn't confident can be encouraged to go past a scary object but the truth is some wont ever need that crop or those spurs.

So i guess what i am saying is...a more confident horse does not necessarily mean a more confident rider and vice versa and that Spice would naturally excel at dressage not because of me or anyone else but because she has many of the natural traits needed for it.