No matter how you choose to train your horse, the most important thing is consistency. The last three years have been lacking in that for me as I help to raise our grandson.
In stepped Katie, and our plan for her to ride T on days that I can’t.
Today was our first day testing the plan. I hauled both horse and grandson to the park to meet Katie.
She rode Tweed in the arena, obstacle course, and then the trail.
While she was gone, Cam and I went for a hike to find Cowgirl’s hair and place wildflowers in it.
After about 1.5 hours, we met back up.
Katie and Tweed ran into a little issue at the obstacle bridge. Rain the previous night created a puddle on the dismount side, and Tweed wanted nothing to do with it, thus, the extra half hour of training.
That kind of resistance is worth addressing because the work it takes to get past it sets him / them up for success on the trail. She said he went through every puddle on the trail and did great on the downhills. He thought about going around puddles or rushing down hills, but a simple check fixed it.
She said he even saw a coyote that was about 15-20’ from them in the grass, and didn’t care, except to look.
It was a success and will be our new plan: on days I babysit, she will ride. On days I don’t babysit, I will ride. And, when we get Tweed going well, she’ll haul her horse down to ride with us and get us going good as a team.
Sounds like a great plan! Our trainer always trail rides with the owner of younger horses she trains. Very helpful to have coaching when sticky spots show up.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Cowgirls hair is still where you tied it. Beautiful wild flower additions <3
We used to ride with our colt starter, too. Unfortunately, she is now 2 hours away. It is the best way to do it. It’s really not good for friendships when you’re starting a horse and expecting them to always go at your speed. Not to mention the unsolicited advice you’re bound to get. When it’s your trainer, someone who has ridden your horse and knows what you’re dealing with, it’s more accurate and productive advice.
DeleteI love seeing Cowgirl’s hair out there. I’m going to place some more of it this year. I’ll take some of Cowboy’s too. Maybe today.
It's great that you've found a way to supply Tweed with consistency in a way that works with your life. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel super lucky!! She rides him like I do, so it is seamless.
DeleteShe just shared a video of them chasing after that coyote yesterday. I didn’t even know they’d done that, but how smart of her to turn him towards it and let him be the champion aggressor. She builds his confidence! I love it!!
When I had agressive barking dogs harrassing us on a trail ride I always chased them off with my horse, yelling at them to Git! Keeps the horse from fearing them when they see that they can make them move. Similar to working cows, they love to boss them.
DeleteThat’s smart, Shirley. The more aggressive you ride them at them the better. In Katie’s video they were loping through brush and really pushing the coyote off. It’s good for the coyote, too. They need to steer clear of the horses and hikers. A woman last year told me she came upon what appeared a mama defending her den, and that coyote got very aggressive. Come to think of it, though, I think she was riding with her loose dog. That is probably why the coyote felt threatened. They don’t visually care about horses.
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DeleteWe always turn our horses toward dogs and let them "chase" them off, like Shirley does. It makes all the difference in their confidence.
DeleteThat sounds like an excellent plan! What a great time spent with your grandson as well. I'm always hoping to create core memories with mine, that he can look back on fondly.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was pregnant with Cam at the same time her horse Cowgirl was pregnant with Epona. He knows Epona is his horse and that’s all he talks about. He wants to ride Epona. We keep telling him he has to learn first on Foxy, but he doesn’t want anything to do with that. He wants “his horse.” Lol.
DeleteWell, who can blame him? He's probably a bit too young yet to understand that riding many different horses makes for a better seat/rider.
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