Trail Riding at Adventure Horse Riding in NYS

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#74 Patterns & Routines & Little Darlings

The little darlings love, love, love patterns.  You can see it in the pasture where they all follow the same little foot trail they have made going to and fro, they love eating at the same time, going into the barn in pretty much same order, following fence lines, using the same trails, etc.

So, use it to your advantage.

We don't feed our guys at the same time so they don't get stressed out - meaning if we feed them at 3 in the afternoon, and tomorrow, it is at 7 they simply adjust to it instead of fretting - honestly, the kids can tell time.  We used to send them into different stalls so they could adjust to change more easily - we don't do it anymore because we got lazy with 10 of the so now they each have their own stall - which, of course, they just love.  The point is, you can do it either way.

Usually say usually, never say never and don't always say always BUT most like to use the same trails - over and over and over again - we don't do that - we make new trails and constantly go in a different direction than they anticipate - to keep the kids on their toes, to make life more interesting and challenging for them, and to get the to be more adaptable.

Horses are a bit like husbands - they aren't always too keen on change - and would rather just do the same thing over and over - so it helps to mix things up a bit to keep their heads going and their minds developing.

When doing the same thing is a BIG asset is when you are trying to teach the something new and/or training them or doing tricks, etc. - it helps their learning curve more quckly if your body stays in the same position, and your hands and your other movements - they learn the fastest this way so you have set you and your darling up for success.

So, figure out when to change things up and when to keep things in a routine - listen to them and figure out what is best for them in the confidence game.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#73 More Time

#73  MORE TIME !!!

If you want that darling of yours to learn something in a specified amount of time - forget it - you have a goal and that horse can read you like a book.

I've had write-in's about the time blog -so here is a run-down for you - and you will see it depends on each horse, his owner, and/or the behavior you are asking for.

We measure everything by hours - not by days, or rides, etc.  

GINGER - to stand still for her bridle 90 hours, to stand still for her saddling 106 hours - she is now perfect - it just took her quite a bit longer to "get it".

JOSE - to walk, not jig, back to barn - 125 hours and huge patience - he is perfect now, to sidepass 5 hours, to be the perfect horse that he is now- 250 hours (most difficult horse ever but just superb now), spanish march 10 hours

DUSTY to learn crossing his legs - half an hour, to look to the left and to the right - 3 hours, to park out 20 minutes, to walk from the barn to the house - 1 year !!!, to be able to RUN around a curve in the trail - 2 years, to jump 1/2 hour, to go out alone 10 minutes.  spanish march 2 hours

MISSY - not to bolt 30 hours, to stay behind calmly 10 hours, to go out alone 15 minutes, to stay in control in her gaits 10 hours, to go into the side door of the horse trailer 15 min, to come toward me sideways 30 minutes

HENRY - to walk, not jump, thru mud 20 hours, to walk and not run downhill - 2 hours, to go out alone 1/2 hour, to stand still for mounting 1 hour, to ground tie 1/2 hour, to stay behind the herd and not go crazy - 10 minutes to send to the left and right 9 hours

DAKOTA - to not run downhill - 4 to 5 hours, to not eat grass on the trail and have a temper tantrum when asked to quit  30 hours !!!  To run in the lead - still working on it - several years now !, to not take shortcuts for home 3 hours, to send to the left and to the right 2 hours

TIFFANY - lead mare - to not attack other horses on the trail - always ongoing but she is pretty good now - 30 hours

BLESSED JOY - pretty much perfect at the git-go in everything -really easy and laid back.

Jose, Blessed Joy, Dusty, Pozo

These are just a very few examples - the purpose of this is to simply show how the time varies with each horse.  It does not mean the darling is slow or stupid or smart and quick - 

it is just what he is and how you are able to communicate.

So, PATIENCE is the key here - you just are not going to rush anything until your horse is confident enough and just plain ready. 

Take the time it takes, and it will take less time...

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#64 Horseplay - & we ride these darlings ???

    #54 Horseplay -and we ride these darlings ???

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

#52 Horns, Horses, & Hangups

#52  Horns, Horses, & Hangups

Well, I am still trying to settle down.  A very exciting, nerve wracking ride I had today - to be sure !!!


I have thousands of hours under my butt when it comes to riding the darlings.  I've been snagged on horns and my girlfriend has been snagged on horns from her hood on branches. No huge deals but enough to be conscious of the danger of getting hung up.


But, never have I had such a terrifying experience as I did today.


I know all about horns - I know when I am training an unbroke horse, riding a horse I don't know well, or working with an outlaw horse, to always keep my jacket open - never, ever closed - and I follow this rule of mine religiously with no exceptions whatever.


But, on my own guys, I just don't think about it.  Duh, duh and duh !!!


I rode Dusty today, my tall Tennesee Walker, and decided to switch saddles.  After riding for about 15 minutes, I went to get off him to adjust my stirrups.  And I got hung up.  My jacket caught on the horn, he is tall, and apparently I was on a bit of a decline, and I am very  short.


I am on tiptoes.  There is so much tension on my jacket that there is no way in heck I can unzip it.  So I tried to pull it over my head.  No go.  Thank the Lord Dusty just stood there


I carry an army utility knife but I was hanging so much that I couldn't even get the knife out.  So, then I thought I'd better give my husband a call because there didn't seem to be anything else left to do and I was afraid Dusty would be getting restless.  I'd been hanging there for quite spell by then.


 I don't really know if I could have even reached my phone, but nonetheless I didn't even try, since, though Dusty was superb I wasn't sure if a 4 wheeler would have disturbed him and  if he even simply started to walk, I was going to be dragged.


Since I couldn't undo myself, I finally asked Dusty to move down the tiny incline just one step - I was scared to death because if he took two steps I was in even more trouble than I already was.  Well, great fella that he is, he did just as I had asked.  Then I asked him for one more step - he did it , and bit by bit by bit, I was able to pull the zipper down an inch at a time and finally was able to fully open the jacket.


Thank heavens, Dusty knows that whoa means whoa with no if's, and's or but's.


And, would you believe, only about 1 month ago I had my husband saw off the horn on my beautiful Circle Y saddle.


So, as aware as I am about horns - things still got screwed up.  I wrote this just to let you know.

This  is Dusty - I owe this boy forever for being so good during the hangup !!!



Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)                                       www.RideNYS.com

#51 When you did what you did !

#51  When You Did What You Did !!!

Your horse will do what he did the last time you released the pressure.

Don't forget it !!!

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com