Equestrienne – Take Two

Comments

• Companions in the journey!

  Carolyn,
  
  Thanks for sharing your own experiences with me...you're right, Apple and Reina sound very much like Chuy and Travis, and you are so right about the baby steps. I've done more ground work than saddle work over the past year, and it's paid off in spades...now that we are back to having me on their backs, it's a whole different ball game, especially with Chuy.
  
  And it's so true...it seems like the moment I give up my desire to achieve a particular outcome, it happens!! I've seen this over and over again with the boys...so much that I am thinking there must be some nonverbal cue from me that takes off pressure and gives them the space to do what I was asking. Now if I could just bottle it! Laugh!!!
  
  Thanks again for taking the time to share with me! I look forward to "talking" horses more in the future!!

  Posted by Trish Lambert June 26, 2011 13:41:51

• gaining trust

  Wonderful article! I've been going through a similar process with my two rescues. My off-the-track thoroughbred, Apple, sounds more like Chuy - it's taken more than a year to get past her acting out (in fear) and then direct Alpha mare challenges (disrespect as she tested my leadership cababilities and determination). Even harder was overcoming her disinterest in training (emotional disengagement) and I was almost convinced she would never be 'willing" but eventually a lot of love and rewarding even her smallest successes with over-the-top enthusiasm (maybe combined with a little competitiveness as I began working with a new rescue and not so mcuh with her) has finally begun to create a crack in her armor. I'm not sure she trusts me as fully as my long time Paso mare does, but Apple is begining to show a willingness to partner with me.
  
  My newest rescue, Reina, a saddlebred who was shown in halter, sounds more like your Travis. She's more interested in people, even though they haven't always treated her well (she was very underweight, with painfully overgrown hooves). But she was extremely anxious and tended to go on 'auto-pilot' even with ground work (that 'going thru the motions' you observed in Travis). She was so anxious to please she would start into her show paces and if I tried to correct her she would stop and take her 'park' stance. Like she couldn't hear/understand what I was asking because she was so anxious, and she was just hoping this would please. I didn't have the heart not to reward or praise her, but we weren't making much progress. She was also very skittish about her head, ears and mouth, she pulled back when tied and it became a struggle to even get a bit on her (not helped by the high-headed stance she'd been taught and she's over 16 hands). What finally worked with her was a break -- grooming everyday with a lot of love and attention, but no training or riding. Then when we started training again it was with a total change of tack --a soft rope halter at first, on the ground and bareback, then a combination hackamore + snaffle bit with a soft rope noseband. Avoiding anything that was even similar to her show equipment reduced her past 'triggers', sparked some curiousity, and showed her that we really are on a new path. Baby steps, but she too is expressing more delight in our training.
  
  These days I tack up Apple and Reina at the same time, and take turns working with them. They both watch with great interest and seem pretty pleased with themselves (punctuated by some snorting and nickering) when they get back to their stall and get their extra reward (a carrot once the bit is off).
  
  Sounds like you are on the right path, so hang in there. As I said, just about the time I am ready to give up, thats when I finally see get a breakthrough. I'm looking forward to hearing more about yours!

  Posted by Carolyn L. Krall June 22, 2011 01:55:26

• trust article

  really well written-much truth to your write!

  Posted by karen vanderlaan June 19, 2011 07:19:19