Tip # 108 Helmets

                          4/08/14         Helmets

Occasionally we receive flak or really snotty comments from folks that notice some of our guests ride without helmets.  These people think it is appalling that we do not insist on helmets and some are very vocal and/or downright nasty about it.

Now, I am not stupid.  I am very aware of how dangerous horse riding can be and more often than not I wear a helmet.  I don't every time.  I also would prefer it that our guests wear helmets.

 BUT I am a strong believer in allowing adults to make their own decisions when it comes to helmets, safety vests, political affiliation, religious and political beliefs, sports participation, etc. As far as I am concerned we have way too much gov't interference and political correctness in our lives today. I can't stand it. And, I can't stand "well-meaning folks telling me what to do and I do not intend to be one of those obnoxious people to tell you what to do.    

with

without

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

#78 Giving Up

Horses are so used to humans giving up - and we do most of the time - which is often why it seems to take forever & forever to get your horse to do something.  They are positive they will outlast you.  And, you  know what, almost all of the time they do outlast you because we are impatient, in a hurry, frustrated and aggravated, and goal-oriented.

Folks think their horses are stupid, slow learners, obstinate, stubborn or just plain mean !

When we give up often, then our horse takes longer and longer to do something.  Why ?  He knows he will outlast you, that you will give in, and he therefore considers you a "dunce" - you are no leader and therefore you can't protect him.  This is not a good feeling for little darlings.

Most folks get very impatient and expect  whatever to be done within 5 minutes - that seems to  be our limit.   And, it is true, when working with your darling, that 5 minutes feels like 5 days sometimes.

It takes as long as it takes to get the job done.  It is senseless to wear a watch when working with horses - you are now on THEIR time - not yours - this is important to remember !

When your horse figures out that you don't give up or give in - pretty soon he does things and learns things faster - simply because he now knows you will outlast him - and he might as well just get this done and won ..

Lots and lots and lots and lots of time, time,  time,  and time,  lots of patience, patience, patience and patience  - this is truly what it takes from you.

- Your rewards will be HUGE.

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

#63 Playdough and Legos

#63  Playdough and Legos

Shaping the behavior - is a nice calming phrase to remember. It goes with the statement "reward the slightest try. " So when you are trying to teach your darling something and he only does real real tiny baby steps in the beginning - which is to be expected - that is his way of attempting to understand what it is you are asking. It is YOUR job to let him know he is in the process of getting the correct ANSWER and he has to know this UNEQUIVOCALLY.

 
To avoid frustration & impatience on your part - KEEP thinking of it as "shaping" like when you are making something out of playdough or legos - you start off and it is just a messy blob, then little by little by little it starts to take shape. That is what your horse is doing. So that he knows he is going in the right direction he needs acknowledgement from you that he is going in the right direction and this can take any form such as  a treat, or the release (just stop doing what you were doing), a gentle pat and short wait, etc. He is shaping the playdough or building the lego thingee which will eventually result in the act or behavior that you are asking of him.

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

#55 Just One Step

   #55  Just One Step
   Pix are not Dusty, but a different horse - Beau

You may get bored reading this and you may get bored doing this method but  read on anyway.  What the heck ? 


I want my horses to be brave and confident so I ask quite a bit of them.  This most recent quest was terrifying to Dusty, my Tennessee Walker (he's always been a very nervous nelly)

Our creeks are very rocky, and deep, and have about 2 to 5 inches of hard ice on top and snow on top of the ice. Our other horses cross them and are calm when the ice makes the cracking sound and they drop down into the dark, cold water and the ice cracks again with each step.  They just deal  with it.

.  Not Dusty, though - no way and no how. (actually I don't blame him !) 

Day 1     He just couldn't stop pooping when he realized what I was asking of him and he also got the shakes.  So, we were both happy IF we just faced the creek and took one step toward it and simply stayed there for a spell (the release or reward).  We did this about 4 times - not 4 steps  .  This  was no easy task at first.  (1/2 hour)

Day 2  Went back to same frozen creek - he was getting nervous & pooping just going there - and we did the same thing as Day 1 - didn't take long at all, we would just stay there little bit,  and then I asked for  "just one step" and then one more step and one more step, etc,  to get him to the EDGE of the creek.  We did this nice and slow with rests between each step - and, alas,  he finally got there at the edge and stood there. But, he sure wasn't going to go one inch farther.        (1 hour)

Day 3    A repeat of Day 1 and Day 2 - much, much easier and quicker than  
before and got to the EDGE of the creek relatively quickly.  He had his confidence up in himself and in me because I didn't push him over the cliff (didn't shove him into the water)  I tried the just one step, ain't happening, and I just knew it wasn't going to happen,  so we turn around and away, then approach again and just one step, nope, and again and again and again and nope nope nope (I was wanting him to get on the ice)

BUT, he lifted his foot out and over the ice. Great!  I gave him a treat and we went back home.  (45 minutes)

Day 4  By now, naturally, I think this is going to be many days to get the job done but I knew it and accepted it because I know my horse.  Geez, talk about patience!  So, the day was a simply a repeat.  He did go quickly to the edge of the creek and we just stayed there & when he picked up and stuck out his foot again, we just went home. I didn't ask any more from him.  (10 minutes)

Day 5  Back again doing the same thing, balancing on the edge of the creek  but this time we stayed even when he picked up his foot and stuck it out over the ice.  I did nothing and said nothing - just sat there.  So he did it again, then again, then again, and then put one foot on the ice !  I just sat there, didn't say a single word.  He put weight on it, took it away, did it again a few more times,then he put the other foot on it so now both feet are on the ice.  I said nothing  and did nothing.

Then the ice makes a noise and cracks, and his 2 feet go right down into the freezing water rushing among the rocks under the thick ice.  I said nothing and did nothing.   He just stayed there - didn't do a thing.!


  And, then, FINALLY, he crossed the freaking creek - ice breaking all over the place.    We then re-crossed the creek and rested, then did it 3 more times back and forth with no problem at all.  Then we found 2 other places and he crossed those with no hesitation.  He seemed quite proud of himself.
So we finally got the job done !!!!!!!!!!   (1/2 hour)


The reason for this blog is simply as a reminder about baby steps and  time and patience.
Rome didn't get built in a day & Dusty wasn't going to cross a creek in a day.                         

      *   The "time it takes and it will take less time"  - 4 days and tons of patience (more time) - he now goes thru

           any and everything with no hesitation whatsoever - even a frozen pond (less time)

• Trust - he knew I wouldn't force him to do it (push him over the cliff)
• Confidence - in me and in himself
• Patience - Omg, the patience !
• Baby Steps - reward the slightest try.
• Consistency - he always knew how the lesson was going to go and that it was lesson
• Persistence - I just didn't give up or get frustrated or impatient 

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

Tip #20: Be Careful Who You Ride With !

     This is a really BIG DEAL !!!     

      Be careful who you ride with.  

• the more horses that are together, the crazier they get
• the faster a horse goes, the crazier he gets
• a group of horses and going fast - "hold onto your horses!"
• if one person doesn't have good control of the little darling - there could easily be serious trouble if the horse acts up and the rider doesn't know what to do.  It'll spread to the rest of the herd - meaning you..
• other riders' horses hopefully are very well despooked and/or know how to handle fear without bolting, etc., ie, camera clicks & flashes, jackets coming off, a dog running out, something falling from a horse, well - you get the idea - or it will cause trouble for you and your horse.
• if you don't like going fast, be sure that no one in the group is going to go fast either and that they respect and understand your wishes. 
• if you are working on training your horse for trail riding, only ride with folks that understand this and that will be patient with you and your darling while crossing his first creek, bushwhacking, going over a bridge, etc. You don't want to be with those that are in a hurry and saying, just make him do it.
• SUMMARY - what those you are riding with do, can have a very direct effect on you and your horse and your safety.  So, careful with who you ride with !!!!!!!!!!!

Mary Dixon                  Adventure Horse Riding in NYS                   RideNYS.com