It Simply Takes the Time It Takes !

Going down a steep step.

This is one of the better lessons in horse riding that I have learned.  The actual quote goes as follows:  it takes the time it takes and it will take less time

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The translation of this is that every single horse is different.  What may take one little darling only 5 minutes to learn, it may just as easily take another horse 5 days or 3 weeks or whatever to learn the same darn thing. 

So, it can be frustrating.  And aggravating.  It is  really Important to remember that when you are teaching or training your horse, it is NOT about the GOAL – it is about the partnership.

Once we adults get that darn GOAL THING in our heads when it comes to horses we get stressed out, crappy, impatient and all kinds of bad things.

We got into horses because we love them and to relax and have fun.  Once we start doing the stupid goal thing we’ve negated all the reasons we got into horses in the first place

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So, spend the time needed with your horses – take breaks – you don’t need to do “drill” sessions that is bothersome to  you and your darling.  Try to make it a game.

Each session generally, though not always, gets better.  And takes less time.

When you stick with it for however long you need to do it, it will go from maybe 3 hours to do something to just 5 minutes, then pretty soon, it takes no time whatsoever.

Sacking Out.

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

The Living Patience Pole !

My hot Paso Fino has a really tough time standing still – especially on her way back to or simply facing the barn.

 I request her to stand still – she can stop but when wound up  she jigs around – then I ask again – she jigs again – then I ask again. 

Well, you get the picture.

Clinicians use what they call a patience pole to teach their horses to stand still and learn to be patient.  They stand there for hours at a time.

I, instead, have become the living patience pole.  When, eventually and finally she stands still, we just sit there and wait – and wait – and wait – for 5 minutes or 10 minutes which feels like an eternity – can you say boring?

We do this over and over and over and over again at various places where she gets jiggy.  It takes bunches of repetition but it works.  She is getting it.  Sometimes.

HINT:  You do not want to be crabby when doing this – and you can just spend 10 or 15 minutes at a time on it –however much you can stand without going crazy.

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

BACK AGAIN to the Walk-Stop Exercise - and Hanging in There !!!

On Jan 13 thereabouts I was talking about the importance of the walk stop exercise – 2.5 months ago -  walk 3 or 5 steps, then a complete stop, then again.   The exercise teaches them to listen to you.  It is good for the go go go horse and for the slow slow slow horse.

 

I learned this from John Lyons years ago and have always used it in training or retraining one of my darlings.  It has always worked.

BUT, my goodness, it takes PATIENCE, but sure worth it in the end.

Back to my crazy little high speed 18 year old Paso Fino that I bought this fall.  I now have 32 hours on her.  I do get a tad discouraged and a bit frustrated in teaching her to slow down.  So, a while back, and it did take forever, she would be able to get to the 60 steps in just walking but no more and not consistently

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So,  weather permitting – it has been a bear with snow, ice and cold in upstate NY , I just kept working on it when I could .  Can you say boring ?  and frustrating, etc. ?

Well, today we broke the 200 walk step and complete and wait stops – twice !

This may not sound like a BIG DEAL with a lot of folks – but it shows you the patience and repetition and consistency you need when it comes to working with the little darlings.  You just can’t give up.

My Jose was similar to Cassie – and he was my greatest & most difficult  partner ever – and I got it done with Jose and I have no doubt I can get it done with Cassie.

Cassie and Mary

So, I guess, as I blather on and on, my advice to you is just hang in there.  It will happen, even with a heck of a hot horse.

This is the stuff  I breathe,  love and live for.  

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

Consistency is the Key for Your Little Darling !

When it comes to working with horses, consistency is the key ...  " Consistency is your greatest ally and inconsistency is your worst enemy".

This is one of the best lessons I have ever learned and it makes a HUGE difference in the interaction between you and your little darling.  Why?  Because he is not confused and "gets it" - you gave him the real opportunity to understanding a behavior that you want from him.

A few simple examples:

If you expect him to always drop his head for haltering then that is what you need toalways insist on.
If you allow him sometimes get away with raising his head in the air and you still halter him and then other times you expect the head to be lowered, you are inconsistent and confusing to your horse.

It really does mess him up because he then thinks both actions are just fine.

If you sometimes let him rush out of his stall and other times require him to wait for you.

If you allow him to jig back to the barn and other times require that he quietly walks back.

If you allow him to stomp his feet for feeding and you feed him and other times you  insist that he is mannerly or allow him to head dive in the feed bucket and later don't allow it.

If you allow him to move when you get up on the saddle and climb up there anyways and other times you require him to stand still.

When you ask your horse to stop and allow him to leak forward or move out on his own instead of doing what you have asked him to do.

And the list goes on and on and on ....

You are always training your horse and too often it is easy to forget that.  They are aware of nearly everything you do when you are around them.

So, to help your little darling always be good and well-mannered, be aware of what you are doing and BE CONSISTENT.

                                                  

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

The Power of the Walk/Stop Exercise and 10 Hours of Riding

I have a new horse, a Paso Fino, and can you say hot, and crazy as a bedbug !  Oh my goodness, spin, and way, way too fast.  The action "walk" just was not in her vocabulary.  Not since my beloved Jose have I had a horse as scared and wacko as this little girl.

So after 5 days just riding her in the playground (my work area) and forever and ever and ever teaching her how to do walk/stop she finally learned to listen.  We did not get to her to being able to walk 4 steps, she could only do 3 steps before she sped way up again, but she finally did catch on to  the "stop" and the "release".

Once Cassie caught on to walk 3 steps, stop, 3 steps, stop and wait for me I then took her out onto the trail.  Needless to say, the first ride scared the bejesus out of me.  BUT, she would actually stop when I asked her too - every single 3 steps before we would start up again.  Did that for 2 hours on the trail, then next day 3 hours, then next day 2 hours, and I have to admit the first 2 days were pretty awful, but my goodness, the third, fourth and fifth days - what a HUGE improvement.

Her head finally dropped and we ACTUALLY COULD WALK quite a distance, and yesterday I started taking her down hills which I would have never, ever dreamed possible.

So, we are now in a partnership - she trusts me and I trust her - more work needs to be done, she is not perfect but I am no longer afraid of her nor is she afraid of me.

I had forgotten how well this works - ALWAYS - I have done it with many outlaw horses through the years but it has been a spell since I have had a new horse. 

Try it and you will be impressed with the outcome.

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


The best to you.

Cassie, Paso Fino

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

Tip: Horse Ears

Horses are only as tall as the tip of their ears.  Teach your horse to lower his head by lightly pressing on his poll (the bump between his ears) or by pulling his head down on the lead .


As soon as his head dips just a tiny bit, take away your hand from the poll and/or release the line.  Doing this lets your darling now that he won the game and got the right answer.


  Do this until he knows for sure what you are asking for,  (It'll only take a few minutes or less) Then ask him (don't release) to keep his head down a bit longer.  then a bit longer.  then a bit longer.


 A good horseman should not need to stand on a chair or stool for ear trimming, or have to tiptoe to put the bridle on.  A really good horseman is able to bridle his horse while sitting in a chair or while kneeling and/or trim his ears with no reaching at all.

It takes a little practice and time but not very much.  


Also, when the horse lowers his head he generally calms down and it shows he trusts you.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS ......www.RideNYS.com