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 #107 Your Self-image & the Little Darlings

Many horse folks really beat themselves up and they are merciless with themselves.  I receive bunches of emails and letters stating how they love horses and yet can't train their horses or ride the darlings. 

The majority of people that  come here actually have the fear thing but they keep it a secret.  Often they don't mention it until later on the first day once they get comfortable with us.  Some never even say it out loud until the very last ride of the last day.  People don't want to talk about it because they are so embarrassed about it.

 The person has no confidence in himself and calls himself a loser, a fool, an old fool,  a gutless wonder, stupid, worthless, spineless - you just can't believe the adjectives they use on themselves.  I think it is really sad that something, ie the little darlings, that is supposed to give you so much happiness, instead ends up giving you sorrow and negativity.

Your self image is incredibly important.   Just because you are terrified of riding your horse does not mean you are a worthless fool and shouldn't be fit to live.  Honest, that is really true - get that into your noggin.  It is not a character flaw.

It simply is what it is.  Period.  End of statement.  You don't even have to know why or what it is you are so afraid. of.  It just is.  It is okay to be afraid.  Being terrified of riding though you love your horse does not mean you are bad or immoral person.

You have no idea how many horse folks are out there that are scared to death of the animal that they love so much.  I would not be surprised if there were more folks out there that are scared than are not.  I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me one iota.

The fear thing is a bitch - an absolute bitch.  I know about it.  It can immobilize you.  I've been there.  And, once you get it, you will never get rid of it - it is in the very core of your  being.  Very famous Olympic snow boarder and X games winner Shawn White is struggling over fear and confidence big time - like this entire summer and he has to perform in Sochi.  He was so afraid that he almost didn't even make it to the trials as a finalist...  It has just about brought him to his knees like it brings you to your knees and it has brought me to my knees..

You simply learn how to handle it - sometimes you handle it quite well and other times you do a lousy job of it and just let that fear get the better of you.   You know what though - you are just fine and your little darling is just fine and you are both incredibly lucky to have each other.  And, you will get through this - it is simply going to take as long as it takes because, really, except in your little noggin, there is no big rush.  Is there ?

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

#61 Riding Alone - How I Finally Did it

#61 Riding Alone - How I Finally Did It !   

 by Sue McGuigan (she is 43)

My good friend, Sue, wrote this for me - I had asked her to write what her experiences were to get to the point of solo riding.

I hope this is okay.   I am not a writer like yourself so if you need to tweek it feel free.  I am so sorry for this being so long

Riding alone was so scary for me I couldn't think straight.  My hands would start sweating and my nerves would make me shake, literally.  I woke up one day and asked everyone I knew if they wanted to go for a ride and everyone had other plans.  The first thing I did was start making excuses for myself and thought of Raine doing something  like jigging or spooking went right in my brain but it was just too nice out not to go. So the next thing I know I am texting Mary and saying I am taking Raine out by myself today and I am scared @#*^less and will text her when I got back to let her know how I did.  The next thing I knew she called me.  Mary gave me pointers on what would help me during my ride and told me it was okay to be scared and even if I went a little ways that it was okay just to go away from the barn even if it was a couple of feet.

As I saddled up my horse I was shaking thinking of all the things that could happen out there.  So I started singing to myself.  Stuff like saddling I am putting the saddle on now, I am going to do this then just saying stupid things really peanut butter and jelly yes that is right singing about the sandwich.  Of course songs I love would just not register to my brain. 

I did what I always do before I go out on the trail making sure I could move her feet backwards, forwards, left and right and the most important is walking forward calmly and stopping when asked.  So there I am one step away from the barn by myself with my horse.  Going away from the barn was easier then I thought it could of been I didnt think of where I was going to end up but what I was doing at that time one step at a time and singing about peanut butter and jelly.  I did alot of walk, stop. walk three steps then stop.  I counted out loud and needless to say had to walk more then three steps because Raine appartenly knows how to count and right after I would say three she would stop.  Too funny when I think about that now. 

 The next thing I know I am away from the barn about 300 feet and no problems but believe me when I realize this I start thinking bad things like oh god what happens if I meet a deer or something could come out from the tree up ahead or just anything stupid so I starting singing about yes you said it Peanut Butter and Jelly.  I dont have woods to ride in but I do have fields and one of the things that always scared me about that is open fields, not good she could take off with me at any time so I did alot of walk stop again and circling keeping my mind on my tasks and nothing else I would say okay we are going to the right or going to the left or walk, stop, walk stop, okay turning to the left again no I think to the right this time saying these things as I did them.  The one thing that mary said to me was if you need to stop do not face her to the barn so when I did stop her or even circle I would always face away and even let her graze a little.

Sue & Raine

 I didnt go really far that day but I did go away from the barn and the horses to where neither of us could see them and that was worth a million dollars to me.  That day I found my courage, confidence and a closeness to my horse that just makes my heart soar and the feeling that I was one step to going out by myself and not making excuses that are so easy to make and never waiting around for days on end for someone else to ride with me. 

I did this 3 days in a row by myself and everyday got easier for me I still get nervous but not half as bad as the first time.  When things creep in my mind I start circling and talking out loud or singing about peatnut butter and jelly and doing alot of walk stop exercises.   I am lucky to have a special bond with my horse that has now gone to the next level and when I get nervous I know what to do and it helps alot.  I am able to walk and trot and as spring is approaching and the fields start drying up my next step is to canter and yes I will try even if it is just a couple strides.

I wrote Sue's age because so many folks think they are just too old to do any of this !  NOT ! !!   

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

#60 Alone

#60  Alone

Lots of folks don't ride alone because they are simply terrified at even the thought of it.  If you are one of these, you are truly missing out on a lot.

It is a skill, like any other, that you kind of have to teach yourself.  What it boils down is a confidence thing.  Confidence in that you may often just not do things alone, or confidence regarding trusting your horse, or trusting that you will find your way out of the woods, or thinking that you will get hurt, or just lacking confidence in yourself.

So those are the things that you will need to tackle, a bit at a time, to go and ride alone.  The time you spend with you and your little darling in attempting to accomplish this is time incredibly well spent.  

Once you start doing this, you no longer have to wait around for some one to go with or put together a schedule, and you can pretty much go riding just on the fly,  and the partnership between you and your buddy will increase triple-fold.

The rewards are simply huge.

Next blog - (if your horse isn't used to going out alone - we'll explain how to get the both of you doing this)

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

Tip #27:.... I Ain't Movin'

This has come up twice now so let's address it :  your horse just won't move forward under saddle.

And, first, let me tell you that this is a really tough problem to fix.

Make sure your saddle and pad are right for your horse. (I know, I know, it's like saying consult with your doctor before doing any exercise or taking a medicine)

If your darling is pulling this - he is telling you he is not have a good time and he could give a hoot about you.  On the good side, he is not bucking you off - always look at the good side !

So you really need to work on the mental connection with each other since this is a mental problem and not a physical problem.


But this doesn't help diddly-squat while you are out on the trail. You can turn him in circles or back him up - make him work - until he figures out it is easier to walk on than just stand there.  However, and I have been there,  if he won't move one iota, and you can't turn him or back him or move him at all, you can get off, get your long lead line which you have on your saddle, and work his tail off.  Then get on and walk.  If it is still  a no-go, do it again,

It'll take a spell for him to figure this out but he will figure it out.  The negative side of this is that it is exhausting and you have to keep mounting and dismounting - very tiring.  These are all the nice ways of working out the problem.

When you work with a darling, it's "as gentle as possible, as firm as necessary" and how firm is too firm??? whatever it takes to get the job done because you have to get the job done.  Period.

And most of you aren't going to like this one little bit, but here goes:

You are the leader in this partnership and your lives depend on each other.  If he won't move for you, there is no respect and something needs to be done.  A really solid whack on the side of the neck will almost absolutely get the job done.  And you won't have that ever problem again.

I know, I know - some of you wouldn't dream of smacking your horse - you think it's brutality.  Well, there are just times you need to take extreme measures and this is one of those times.  Since you don't have the mental connection with him (or he wouldn't do this) and he doesn't respect you (or he wouldn't do this).

You are on this magnificiently strong creature whose survival depends on YOUR  leadership - he's a mess without it - and a whack is not going to hurt him.  You want to do a really firm whack - and only one whack that really gets the message across loud and clear -   You will get his attention and his respect.  And that is what he desperately wants.  

So, even though you're are going to have fits about a good solid whack - just do it - do your horse tremendous favor and show him that you are without a doubt the leader and that he can trust you.

Remember, all you asked was for him to walk.  You gave him the best deal possible - walk - and he chose not to take that deal.  So you offered him several other deals and he didn't take those either.  Well, here is another deal for your immovable darling and that deal is the single solid whack.  So be it.

If you allow this behavior of not moving forward to continue, your horse has lost any confidence he ever had in you..   That is a real pity.

Mary Dixon               Adventure Horse Riding in NYS                     RideNYS.com

Tip #19: Horse riding is not for the feint of heart .

Horse riding is not for the feint of heart, is it?  No doubt you've had moments when you've been scared to death or even terrified.  Sometimes, it is really, really hard to get back up on a horse after an incident - regardless of how mild or serious that incident was.  It makes no never-mind.

It affected you mentally and emotionally and probably physically.    If this has happened to you or to your friend, it's really important that you know you aren't the only one struggling with the aftermath.

Why we don't talk about it I'll never know but we don't.  Our attitude seems to be "just suck it up", "step up to the plate", "don't be such a baby" and get on and let's go.  We don't have all year.

So, whether it's you or your buddy,  go easy on yourself ;  you're not a chicken and you're not a baby.  If it takes some time for you to get back up in the saddle, well, it's just going to take that time.  You're not going to rush it.  You don't have a thing to prove to anybody - no way and no how.  You just have to dig way down inside you and do a bit at a time to get your confidence back.  You'll do just fine then.

It simply takes the time it takes.  I know - I have been there more than once, and so has my husband.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS                RideNYS.com