It has been a busy spring, but that's not my excuse for lack of posts. My excuse is that I'm in the thick of things with Tumbleweed, and I don't know how to properly reflect on it from day to day. I'm trying to get a broader perspective of where we've been, where we are, and where we want to go.
I can say this, and I think it's a big win, when I go out to get him in the pasture each day, he walks to me to be haltered. He wants the relationship, even if he doesn't always love the work.
There have been some wonderful moments, some scary ones, too, and I will tell you about them all very soon.
I'm enjoying reading all your blogs, and love catching up. Happy Trails!
Good to hear from you and that things are mostly going well with Tweed! As for reflection, there is a lot of thought processing & high/low emotions that come from working with young horses. It is hard to fit everything in this time of year. I look forward to reading more, whenever the time to share feels right :)
ReplyDeleteHi Aurora. Yes, there are so many emotions and questions. My goal since the last post was to figure out a way to help him enjoy work and build pride and confidence in his abilities. Sometimes I’ve fallen short, pushed him too far, and shut him down. I always step back at those moments and change it up. This week I’ve had a big breakthrough about what motivates him, and how to say, GOOD JOB, Tweed, in a way that he feels he did a good job and got a good reward. That has been an interesting journey to discovery, and I’ve met some strangers along the way who helped me.
DeleteWe just got back from 3 hours together. As usual. I learned a lot.
This is such a creative process, a bit of a blind journey, with a lot at stake.
Give Hope a hug for me.
Owning a young horse has really been a journey for you. They change so much over the years until they are mentally and physically mature. I hope you find just the thing that you both enjoy doing. I find they enjoy having a purpose in their rides, whether it's exploring trails, chasing cows, or doing obstacles- but its just as important that you are riding with purpose even if it's just checking fence or seeing what's around the next bend on the trail. Focus is everything.
ReplyDeletePart of our issue is lack of consistency. I get going with him and then have to take a bunch of time off. The pasture is very lush and green right now, and wouldn’t you know it, he’d like to be out there eating, rather than working.
DeleteThe days are getting longer for him, too. He does great for a couple of hours, but then he kind of hits a threshold. But again, it’s consistency and building in increments. There have been days I pushed him too far for too long, and he gives me a big, he’ll no. The next day, he will often be completely different.
I am not a fan of arena work, and I can’t wait until he finds joy on the trails. We’re doing a lot to get there, so hopefully a light will go on soon. I have made friends down at the park who have volunteered to help me with some light rides, and riding away from each other, etc basically, trail training. Their horses need it, too. It has been a lot of fun.
I also like to take some time to reflect before writing it down. One thing Nikki said in my clinic was that horses have a way of making us doubt ourselves. I find this to be so true.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is always a humbling experience, and we’re constantly searching, growing, learning, and re-learning. At its core, I think it’s about trust. Earning our horses trust on the ground and then in saddle. That is not as easy as one would think.
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