Friday, December 24, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: Happy Holidays, and here's to the best gift of all...
Rescuing Fiona: Happy Holidays, and here's to the best gift of all...: "I got an email from Samatha, who is riding Fiona this month. The email said that she rode Fiona AROUND THE STABLE PROPERTY!!! Apparently it ..."
Happy Holidays, and here's to the best gift of all
I got an email from Samatha, who is riding Fiona this month. The email said that she rode Fiona AROUND THE STABLE PROPERTY!!! Apparently it was wet at the stable. I am in NC for Christmas, so I had no idea it was raining in AZ. So instead of riding in the muddy roundpens or arena, Samantha rode Fiona around the property, through the barns and around other horses. She did GREAT!
I am so pleased that she is doing so well. I can't believe it! It's a Christmas miracle! We still have a ways to go on ground manners, but this is a huge milestone for her riding. I can't wait to get back and hopefully start riding her soon! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope you get a present as good as this one!
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
I am so pleased that she is doing so well. I can't believe it! It's a Christmas miracle! We still have a ways to go on ground manners, but this is a huge milestone for her riding. I can't wait to get back and hopefully start riding her soon! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope you get a present as good as this one!
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: Alright, I am just core dumping on this blog tonig...
Rescuing Fiona: Alright, I am just core dumping on this blog tonig...: "In software engineering terms, a core dump is the reporting of the current state of the software system when something catastrophic hap..."
Alright, I am just core dumping on this blog tonight
In software engineering terms, a core dump is the reporting of the current state of the software system when something catastrophic happens. Yes, something catastrophic almost happened tonight, but let's start with the good news
Fiona had her second ride today with Samantha, a lovely young lady at Red Mountain Stables. The riding has been going pretty well, but the saddling was a different story. Fiona has a definite aversion to being tied and saddled. She's always moved her feet a lot while saddling, but apparently being tied is just not on the menu right now.
I took some video of how the saddling started.
But once the saddling was complete, things went pretty well. Samantha had to do a lot of kicking to make her go and even some swats on the rear, but eventually she would start trotting again.
Now the core dump event, I came back to the stable tonight and took Fiona out and tied her by one of the tack rooms. She was GREAT. I brushed her, combed her mane and picked her hooves....she never moved an inch, it was wonderful.
Then I thought I would try to help her get over her cinching fear, but just putting a cinch strap through my girth and pulling it tight around her...no saddle, no saddle pad, just some pressure. Fiona was pretty antsy about this. So I just flopped it over her back a few times and left it until she got still, then I removed it once she was quiet.
Once this was done I locked the tack room and decided to let her stand there for awhile. She stretched the lead rope out until she could reach some grass in front of her on the ground (I swear she lives to eat). When she tried to lift her head up..the lead rope was over the top of her head and she BLEW UP!...while TIED UP!!!!! I rushed over and untied the knot as quickly as I could. She had her head bent sideways with her body stuck between her head and the tie-rail. Thank GOD she yielded to the pressure and stood still after I got over there. I untied her and she spun around to get her head free and then straightened up. That was the end of the panic, but as I was walking her back to her stall I noticed her mouth was bleeding. The bleeding stopped pretty quickly and the stable owner said she probably just bit her tongue. The little piglet was eating the instant she got back to her stall! OMG I was so scared. If she hadn't been trained for the last month I am certain she would have killed herself.
It's moments like this when it's SO hard to carry-on. I am filled with thoughts of self-doubt "What if she hadn't held still?" "What if she'd broken her neck?" "Should I give this horse up?" I REALLY, REALLY don't want to give up on her. She's come so far and the fact that she yielded to the pressure she was under means she *IS* learning. The minute I got up to be with her, she just stopped, she knew I was going to help her. She just had to wait and be patient, which is SO not this horse's style.
I am glad she is ok and we'll see how she does from here. I will probably go over again tomorrow night and just tie her in the same spot and start ove again just grooming her. I will make sure there's not as much slack in the damn LEAD ROPE this time. Sheesh.
Fiona had her second ride today with Samantha, a lovely young lady at Red Mountain Stables. The riding has been going pretty well, but the saddling was a different story. Fiona has a definite aversion to being tied and saddled. She's always moved her feet a lot while saddling, but apparently being tied is just not on the menu right now.
I took some video of how the saddling started.
But once the saddling was complete, things went pretty well. Samantha had to do a lot of kicking to make her go and even some swats on the rear, but eventually she would start trotting again.
Now the core dump event, I came back to the stable tonight and took Fiona out and tied her by one of the tack rooms. She was GREAT. I brushed her, combed her mane and picked her hooves....she never moved an inch, it was wonderful.
Then I thought I would try to help her get over her cinching fear, but just putting a cinch strap through my girth and pulling it tight around her...no saddle, no saddle pad, just some pressure. Fiona was pretty antsy about this. So I just flopped it over her back a few times and left it until she got still, then I removed it once she was quiet.
Once this was done I locked the tack room and decided to let her stand there for awhile. She stretched the lead rope out until she could reach some grass in front of her on the ground (I swear she lives to eat). When she tried to lift her head up..the lead rope was over the top of her head and she BLEW UP!...while TIED UP!!!!! I rushed over and untied the knot as quickly as I could. She had her head bent sideways with her body stuck between her head and the tie-rail. Thank GOD she yielded to the pressure and stood still after I got over there. I untied her and she spun around to get her head free and then straightened up. That was the end of the panic, but as I was walking her back to her stall I noticed her mouth was bleeding. The bleeding stopped pretty quickly and the stable owner said she probably just bit her tongue. The little piglet was eating the instant she got back to her stall! OMG I was so scared. If she hadn't been trained for the last month I am certain she would have killed herself.
It's moments like this when it's SO hard to carry-on. I am filled with thoughts of self-doubt "What if she hadn't held still?" "What if she'd broken her neck?" "Should I give this horse up?" I REALLY, REALLY don't want to give up on her. She's come so far and the fact that she yielded to the pressure she was under means she *IS* learning. The minute I got up to be with her, she just stopped, she knew I was going to help her. She just had to wait and be patient, which is SO not this horse's style.
I am glad she is ok and we'll see how she does from here. I will probably go over again tomorrow night and just tie her in the same spot and start ove again just grooming her. I will make sure there's not as much slack in the damn LEAD ROPE this time. Sheesh.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: Cantor, cantor, cantor....and more training notes
Rescuing Fiona: Cantor, cantor, cantor....and more training notes: "I am happy to report that I rode my 'practice' horse Cinnabar at a cantor today. He was quite the runner for a 20+ year old horse. I leverag..."
Cantor, cantor, cantor....and more training notes
I am happy to report that I rode my "practice" horse Cinnabar at a cantor today. He was quite the runner for a 20+ year old horse. I leveraged what I called a "bait horse". Cinny has a crush on the mare in the turnout next to him, she had just returned from a trail ride and was getting a bath at one end of the arena. I swear I could hear the song Dreamweaver playing in his head while he watched her. He is SO over the moon for this mare. All I had to do was turn his nose toward her and let him go...he went down there so fast one time that I got tossed forward and almost fell off. It was great and he was loving it, except when i turned him around when we got down there and made him do it again...that was not cool in his book. He did it though..about 8 times.
Then, we had our first spook. I still don't know what did it, but we both made it through the ordeal. He spun around and started prancing...it was actually pretty funny after the fact. He had so much energy, but he knew I wasn't going to let him just bolt off, so instead..he started dancing. It was hilarious.
I got some more notes from Don and there's some good news at the end of them.....
"Nov 21 - Let out in arena, worked until she had a good sweat - walked around property
Nov 28 - Let out in arena, worked up a sweat, worked in 2 roundpens - Rope around neck, working the rope on and off of her head. Tied up for an hour
Nov 29 - Worked in big arena, easy to catch - Canter circles - worked 2 smal arenas with rope.
Nov 30 - Worked in roundpens and big arena tied up for an hour, light day
Dec 1 - Small roundpen, 1/2 hour - rope 1/2 plastic bag, new experience.
Dec 2 - Worked in roundpen - tied up by tack room 8 hours - worked with blanket - worked out with white plastic bag
Dec 3 - Roundpen, plastic bag canter circles both ways. Trim feet - 1 hr am roundpen, canter circles, work with plastic bag, rubbed her face, touch her all over with plastic bag. Work rope all over her body making her stand and being calm 1 hr.
Dec 4 - Roundpen working rope over her head and rear, plastic bag 1 hr.
Dec 5 - Stephanie worked horse led her around property
Dec 6&7 off
Dec 8 - Worked mare 1.5 in roundpen rope and walked over blue tarp - GOOD!
Dec 9 - Worked in roundpen tarp, rope 1.5 ground drive - real comfortable going over tarp no problem
Dec 10 - Round pen tarp. Lunging both directions over tarp, Saddle, ground drive - 2 hours no problem wiht saddle ground drive. stop and turn real good with just a halter, tied up for an hour real quiet.
Dec 11 - Lunge mare saddle, ground drive, good stop - turns very well. Salle no problem - 1.5 PM lunge mare for half hour, throw rope above her head and ears ok. Plastic bag rub her all over, ok
Dec 12 - Lung - saddle - ground drive, very nice ground driving - stop turn right or left noce back - lines and halter. saddle blanket ok, saddle ok, cinch little bit of a problem watch her head and rear end. Nothing serious.
Mare is ready to ride needs to be handled nearly every day - No self confidence. Thank you Don Mutschler."
Don still doesn't think I should ride Fiona, but he is having someone else, named Samantha, ride her a few times to determine if I can handle her. I am supposed to meet with Samantha tomorrow morning. I am truly excited!
Then, we had our first spook. I still don't know what did it, but we both made it through the ordeal. He spun around and started prancing...it was actually pretty funny after the fact. He had so much energy, but he knew I wasn't going to let him just bolt off, so instead..he started dancing. It was hilarious.
I got some more notes from Don and there's some good news at the end of them.....
"Nov 21 - Let out in arena, worked until she had a good sweat - walked around property
Nov 28 - Let out in arena, worked up a sweat, worked in 2 roundpens - Rope around neck, working the rope on and off of her head. Tied up for an hour
Nov 29 - Worked in big arena, easy to catch - Canter circles - worked 2 smal arenas with rope.
Nov 30 - Worked in roundpens and big arena tied up for an hour, light day
Dec 1 - Small roundpen, 1/2 hour - rope 1/2 plastic bag, new experience.
Dec 2 - Worked in roundpen - tied up by tack room 8 hours - worked with blanket - worked out with white plastic bag
Dec 3 - Roundpen, plastic bag canter circles both ways. Trim feet - 1 hr am roundpen, canter circles, work with plastic bag, rubbed her face, touch her all over with plastic bag. Work rope all over her body making her stand and being calm 1 hr.
Dec 4 - Roundpen working rope over her head and rear, plastic bag 1 hr.
Dec 5 - Stephanie worked horse led her around property
Dec 6&7 off
Dec 8 - Worked mare 1.5 in roundpen rope and walked over blue tarp - GOOD!
Dec 9 - Worked in roundpen tarp, rope 1.5 ground drive - real comfortable going over tarp no problem
Dec 10 - Round pen tarp. Lunging both directions over tarp, Saddle, ground drive - 2 hours no problem wiht saddle ground drive. stop and turn real good with just a halter, tied up for an hour real quiet.
Dec 11 - Lunge mare saddle, ground drive, good stop - turns very well. Salle no problem - 1.5 PM lunge mare for half hour, throw rope above her head and ears ok. Plastic bag rub her all over, ok
Dec 12 - Lung - saddle - ground drive, very nice ground driving - stop turn right or left noce back - lines and halter. saddle blanket ok, saddle ok, cinch little bit of a problem watch her head and rear end. Nothing serious.
Mare is ready to ride needs to be handled nearly every day - No self confidence. Thank you Don Mutschler."
Don still doesn't think I should ride Fiona, but he is having someone else, named Samantha, ride her a few times to determine if I can handle her. I am supposed to meet with Samantha tomorrow morning. I am truly excited!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: I need to retire...this is too much fun
Rescuing Fiona: I need to retire...this is too much fun: "The more I play with my horse, the more I hate my job. :) I have so much to tell and no picture or video to back it up. Hmpf. I made it all ..."
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I need to retire...this is too much fun
The more I play with my horse, the more I hate my job. :) I have so much to tell and no picture or video to back it up. Hmpf. I made it all the way to the stable yesterday to realize that the camera didn't have a battery in it.
So, I am going to share Don's (Fiona's new trainer) notes from the first 2 weeks of work.
11/1 - Saddle- work in roundpen - ground drive, no turn or stop but would back up. Layed down, didn't go easily - kept her down first time for 25 mins before she relaxed. Layed down twice more. Horse bucked hard when saddled - skinned her knees - tied her for 5 hours (he means tying her to a post with access to water, this is not abuse so don't even start)
11/8 - Tied for 2.5 hours - bridle - roundpen 1/2 hour ground drive.
11/9 - Off
11/10 - Tied for 2 hours - Roundpen - rope. Tied her head down (not sure what this means) and left her in Roundpen for 3 hrs.
11/11 - 8cc wormer, bridle tied up for 6 hours, roundpen ground drive
11/12 - ground drive - tied up - lead around property. Mare getting much better. Calm. Touch her head (she enjoys this). Can't pony because she bites and tries to kick lead horse - very mean in one sense but no self confidence. Every thing and every day is a new experience. She trust me and when in fear comes to me for a companion!! Help me - written all over.
11/13 - Tied up in new area for 2.5 hours calmed down after about 15 mins. Ground drive - very nice!
11/14 - Worked in roundpen 1/2 hour in morning walked around property. Everything went well. Worked in roundpen again in the PM. Mare will stand at command and likes to be bruched and touched on forehead and ears.
11/15 - Worked in roundpen. Run both ways stops and comes to me when asked. Put a good sweat on - tied up for 4 hours - ground drive - good one rein stops, turns well - Pick up feet now easily - leads well.
11/16 - Work in roundpen - Brush - pick up feet - tied up 2 hours - ground drive - works well not afraid of ropes. stop - back up, turns, liked to have head rubbed.
11/17 - Roundpen - follows and leads well. Spook starting to go away. Tractors and cars, tied 3 hours by tack room - ground drive
11/18 - Roundpen 1 hr - rope on her head getting much better - tied up by my tack room - roping dummy beside her - a little nervous - but not overly. Mare like to run (lord help me, and that's not from Don's notes) starting to get control on voice commands.
11/?? - Set out in roundpen - worked only about 20 mins.
Those are all the notes I have so far, but here's the kicker...she MUCH better with her ground manners. The even BETTER news is, he desensitized her to PLASTIC BAGS! Now you have to understand, most horses are annoyed by plastic bags but they were a mortal enemy to Fiona. Last Sunday, I watch Don rub her stem to stern with a plastic bag and she barely moved a muscle. She wasn't thrilled about it, but she DIDN'T spook! It was amazing!
We walked her across the property and she was so calm I was actively LOOKING for ways to get her excited! I was unsuccessful, and VERY happy about it.
So the interesting part is that Don started out not thinking this mare was going to make it through her issues. I am still not sure he believes that *I* am going to make it past my fears and insecurities about riding her, but he is convinced the horse will be ok. I have got news for him, we are BOTH going to get through this and we will ride together.
I didn't come this far to not realize my dream. My dream is to take Fiona out to a wide open, flat area, lean down and whisper in her ear, "You remember all those years that you were locked in that stall, and you couldn't stretch your legs? Well I want you to let all that out." Then I give her a good squeeze in the sides and we take off at a full gallop. We just run it all out of her...all the fear, all the boredom and all the mean, nastiness of her past owner. We just run it all out of me, all the fear, all the boredom and all the mean, nastiness I have endured from doubters. Oh it's going to happen and I can't wait to share this accomplishment when the world. :)
So, I am going to share Don's (Fiona's new trainer) notes from the first 2 weeks of work.
11/1 - Saddle- work in roundpen - ground drive, no turn or stop but would back up. Layed down, didn't go easily - kept her down first time for 25 mins before she relaxed. Layed down twice more. Horse bucked hard when saddled - skinned her knees - tied her for 5 hours (he means tying her to a post with access to water, this is not abuse so don't even start)
11/8 - Tied for 2.5 hours - bridle - roundpen 1/2 hour ground drive.
11/9 - Off
11/10 - Tied for 2 hours - Roundpen - rope. Tied her head down (not sure what this means) and left her in Roundpen for 3 hrs.
11/11 - 8cc wormer, bridle tied up for 6 hours, roundpen ground drive
11/12 - ground drive - tied up - lead around property. Mare getting much better. Calm. Touch her head (she enjoys this). Can't pony because she bites and tries to kick lead horse - very mean in one sense but no self confidence. Every thing and every day is a new experience. She trust me and when in fear comes to me for a companion!! Help me - written all over.
11/13 - Tied up in new area for 2.5 hours calmed down after about 15 mins. Ground drive - very nice!
11/14 - Worked in roundpen 1/2 hour in morning walked around property. Everything went well. Worked in roundpen again in the PM. Mare will stand at command and likes to be bruched and touched on forehead and ears.
11/15 - Worked in roundpen. Run both ways stops and comes to me when asked. Put a good sweat on - tied up for 4 hours - ground drive - good one rein stops, turns well - Pick up feet now easily - leads well.
11/16 - Work in roundpen - Brush - pick up feet - tied up 2 hours - ground drive - works well not afraid of ropes. stop - back up, turns, liked to have head rubbed.
11/17 - Roundpen - follows and leads well. Spook starting to go away. Tractors and cars, tied 3 hours by tack room - ground drive
11/18 - Roundpen 1 hr - rope on her head getting much better - tied up by my tack room - roping dummy beside her - a little nervous - but not overly. Mare like to run (lord help me, and that's not from Don's notes) starting to get control on voice commands.
11/?? - Set out in roundpen - worked only about 20 mins.
Those are all the notes I have so far, but here's the kicker...she MUCH better with her ground manners. The even BETTER news is, he desensitized her to PLASTIC BAGS! Now you have to understand, most horses are annoyed by plastic bags but they were a mortal enemy to Fiona. Last Sunday, I watch Don rub her stem to stern with a plastic bag and she barely moved a muscle. She wasn't thrilled about it, but she DIDN'T spook! It was amazing!
We walked her across the property and she was so calm I was actively LOOKING for ways to get her excited! I was unsuccessful, and VERY happy about it.
So the interesting part is that Don started out not thinking this mare was going to make it through her issues. I am still not sure he believes that *I* am going to make it past my fears and insecurities about riding her, but he is convinced the horse will be ok. I have got news for him, we are BOTH going to get through this and we will ride together.
I didn't come this far to not realize my dream. My dream is to take Fiona out to a wide open, flat area, lean down and whisper in her ear, "You remember all those years that you were locked in that stall, and you couldn't stretch your legs? Well I want you to let all that out." Then I give her a good squeeze in the sides and we take off at a full gallop. We just run it all out of her...all the fear, all the boredom and all the mean, nastiness of her past owner. We just run it all out of me, all the fear, all the boredom and all the mean, nastiness I have endured from doubters. Oh it's going to happen and I can't wait to share this accomplishment when the world. :)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Rescuing Fiona: Quick update...more later
Rescuing Fiona: Quick update...more later: "So, first for a quick update. Fiona is doing great, she's gaining weight and training with Don is going well. She leads MUCH better. The oth..."
Quick update...more later
So, first for a quick update. Fiona is doing great, she's gaining weight and training with Don is going well. She leads MUCH better. The other day Don was leading her and I was walking with them. One of the dogs that lives at the stable barked at us from about 30 feet away. We are not talking a little warning bark, this was a "get away or I am going to rip your head off bark".
Fiona ran forward around Don and turned to see what the noise was, then she stopped! She calmed right down and kept walking. She was a little jittery after that, spooked at a truck behind us, spooked at my car parked in an odd spot. These were minor scares though. Several months ago, that dog barking would have caused her to drag Don halfway across the property.
The first saddling with Don didn't go well. Fiona bucked and fell down on her knees. I didn't see it, but apparently it was a pretty bad blow up. She also bit Don's Palomino gelding. I felt awful about that. She's usually very good around other horses. During a drill team event at Red Mountain last month, an arabian and a palomino were trying to go after each other...maybe it's a cultural thing? :)
On of Don's recommendations to me was to ride a horse every time I am at the stable. So, I have done exactly that. On nights that I don't have lessons, I ride other people's horses. My latest riding companion is Cinnabar (Sinny for short). He is...get this...a 22 year old Polish Arabian and he is FULL OF IT! He is all the things Fiona is, but oddly not dangerous. He is pushy, he had a mind of his own. He is ALWAYS checking things around him, ears in the air. He doesn't hold still to get on or to get saddled. He is the perfect horse for me to practice on! He is easy to ride, it's like once you are on him he is a different horse. He does spook sometimes, but very slightly and it doesn't cause him to jump sideways or bolt.
I found this picture on the Wildhorse web site a while back. I can't believe how different Fiona looks now. I will have some more pictures to post in the next few days. She looks like she loaths being touched in this picture and now she LOVES being rubbed and scratched. More soon.....
Fiona ran forward around Don and turned to see what the noise was, then she stopped! She calmed right down and kept walking. She was a little jittery after that, spooked at a truck behind us, spooked at my car parked in an odd spot. These were minor scares though. Several months ago, that dog barking would have caused her to drag Don halfway across the property.
The first saddling with Don didn't go well. Fiona bucked and fell down on her knees. I didn't see it, but apparently it was a pretty bad blow up. She also bit Don's Palomino gelding. I felt awful about that. She's usually very good around other horses. During a drill team event at Red Mountain last month, an arabian and a palomino were trying to go after each other...maybe it's a cultural thing? :)
On of Don's recommendations to me was to ride a horse every time I am at the stable. So, I have done exactly that. On nights that I don't have lessons, I ride other people's horses. My latest riding companion is Cinnabar (Sinny for short). He is...get this...a 22 year old Polish Arabian and he is FULL OF IT! He is all the things Fiona is, but oddly not dangerous. He is pushy, he had a mind of his own. He is ALWAYS checking things around him, ears in the air. He doesn't hold still to get on or to get saddled. He is the perfect horse for me to practice on! He is easy to ride, it's like once you are on him he is a different horse. He does spook sometimes, but very slightly and it doesn't cause him to jump sideways or bolt.
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| Sam and Fiona at Wildhorse Ranch Rescue |
Monday, November 1, 2010
Back in the saddle again
So tonight was me first riding lesson since my gallblader surgery and I am SOOORE! Holy Moly! There is some muscle, tendon, ligament..something that runs from the top of your foot, up the front of your leg and around your hip to your butt cheek and mine is KILLING ME!
The ride itself was great, we trotted almost the entire lesson. We worked on diagonals and steering with your legs. It was tough, even the invincible lesson horse Snowbell (who Deb calls Snowbelly, I love that) a 25 year old Arabian mare was feeling the pain. She's a worker though, she was huffing and puffing and still trying to push the pace faster than I was asking for. Gotta love those Arabians for stamina.
After the lesson I took Fiona out in the roundpen and we just walked around together. She followed me pretty much everywhere. The only time she wandered was when Deb brought grain for the other horses and who could blame her, right?
I couldn't believe how hooked on she was. I think I am going to start putting some "obstacles" in the roundpen to build her confidence. She needs to start learning that not everything is going to kill her. She saw a grill the other day and did a full-on, legs out to the sides, cartoon scare. Next a woman slammed her trunk right next to her, and that sent her running behind me. I swear it's like she tries to hide behind me when she spooks. It does no good to point out that she outweighs me by 600 lbs., I have tried.
Don is going to start working with her next week. I am pretty excited about that.
The ride itself was great, we trotted almost the entire lesson. We worked on diagonals and steering with your legs. It was tough, even the invincible lesson horse Snowbell (who Deb calls Snowbelly, I love that) a 25 year old Arabian mare was feeling the pain. She's a worker though, she was huffing and puffing and still trying to push the pace faster than I was asking for. Gotta love those Arabians for stamina.
After the lesson I took Fiona out in the roundpen and we just walked around together. She followed me pretty much everywhere. The only time she wandered was when Deb brought grain for the other horses and who could blame her, right?
I couldn't believe how hooked on she was. I think I am going to start putting some "obstacles" in the roundpen to build her confidence. She needs to start learning that not everything is going to kill her. She saw a grill the other day and did a full-on, legs out to the sides, cartoon scare. Next a woman slammed her trunk right next to her, and that sent her running behind me. I swear it's like she tries to hide behind me when she spooks. It does no good to point out that she outweighs me by 600 lbs., I have tried.
Don is going to start working with her next week. I am pretty excited about that.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Halloween treat!!
I took the first part of this video to show how Fiona looks today, so I can compare it to how she looks later and make sure the deworming is helping her.
The rest is her eating her halloween treat (a bit early but I couldn't resist). Enjoy and keep in mind I am NOT a professional narrator. :)
Enjoy the show!
Thanks to Moniteau Saddle Club for all their great ideas and specifically the one I used in this video.
The rest is her eating her halloween treat (a bit early but I couldn't resist). Enjoy and keep in mind I am NOT a professional narrator. :)
Enjoy the show!
Thanks to Moniteau Saddle Club for all their great ideas and specifically the one I used in this video.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This is why I have faith
One thing that this adopting a horse thing has taught me is; When you attempt to realize a dream that's bigger than you truly believe you can acheive, God fills in the gaps for you.
I have a vague idea of where I want this whole deal to go. It's stated in the headline of this blog. I even scaled it down a few weeks ago and took out the part about endurance riding. I thought that seemed a little too "pie in the sky". Every time I start to lose faith in how far I can get with this horse, God places someone right smack in front of me to help me get that confidence back. It hasn't failed, not once. Even if it hasn't been the same person each time, or the "right" person to carry me and Fiona all the way to the end of this journey, it's always been someone who can help.
So after getting the "it's ok to drive a little and go back to work" from the doctor on Thursday, I decided to go see Fiona and give her a little halloween treat (more on this in a later blog post). Once I arrived, I found out that a trainer I'd been looking forward to meeting was back in town and actually at the stables today! His name is Don (terrible I don't know his last name yet). Debbie (the owner of Red Mountain Stables and now my riding instructor) told me about Don and recommended that I start working with him when he got back in town from working with his brother on a ranch. I rode with Debbie over to the other end of the property to meet Don. It turns out, we'd already met, but I had forgotten! He was there when another trainer loaded my horse onto his trailer to take her to his place.
After a few minutes of talking about Fiona's history, we walked over to see her. Immediately, Don said she was wormy and needed Ivermax. I guess that call I made to the vet a couple of weeks ago, wasn't based on complete BS. He said it would be difficult to work with her if she was sick, so I left the stable immediately to get the dewormer. I brought it back and luckily Don was still there. He dewormed her and got some bran/alfalfa mush ready for her.
Don is a very calm, good spirited person and he is going to be great for Fiona and even better for me. He was VERY encouraging and dismissed all the "wrongs" I felt I had done with Fiona. He basically is ready to start from zero and work with both of us.
He did take Fiona out of her stall and worked with her on lunging a little bit. She was quick to pick up his lessons and he was kind and gave her a lot of positive reinforcement. Don said I could ride one of his horses to start if I wanted and I told him I can't ride for 2 weeks. I am still waiting to get cleared by my doctor for full activity. Don replied "Well then we will work with your horse for 2 weeks and you can riding her at the end of the 2 weeks". I have been told stuff like this before and I am a bit skeptical of short timeframes when it comes to this horse. I do feel like she is very close to being ready though! As for me being ready, that's a different story. I still remember ribs smacking against a roundpen.
After he put her back in her stall, we gave her the bran mush and left for the night. I will go back tomorrow and take on the lovely task of doing poop analysis. We need to see if there's any parasites that come out of her. Good times!
I will go take her the halloween treat tomorrow, and give it to her if she seems to be feeling ok. I can't wait, I think it's going to make for some funny video footage!
I have a vague idea of where I want this whole deal to go. It's stated in the headline of this blog. I even scaled it down a few weeks ago and took out the part about endurance riding. I thought that seemed a little too "pie in the sky". Every time I start to lose faith in how far I can get with this horse, God places someone right smack in front of me to help me get that confidence back. It hasn't failed, not once. Even if it hasn't been the same person each time, or the "right" person to carry me and Fiona all the way to the end of this journey, it's always been someone who can help.
So after getting the "it's ok to drive a little and go back to work" from the doctor on Thursday, I decided to go see Fiona and give her a little halloween treat (more on this in a later blog post). Once I arrived, I found out that a trainer I'd been looking forward to meeting was back in town and actually at the stables today! His name is Don (terrible I don't know his last name yet). Debbie (the owner of Red Mountain Stables and now my riding instructor) told me about Don and recommended that I start working with him when he got back in town from working with his brother on a ranch. I rode with Debbie over to the other end of the property to meet Don. It turns out, we'd already met, but I had forgotten! He was there when another trainer loaded my horse onto his trailer to take her to his place.
After a few minutes of talking about Fiona's history, we walked over to see her. Immediately, Don said she was wormy and needed Ivermax. I guess that call I made to the vet a couple of weeks ago, wasn't based on complete BS. He said it would be difficult to work with her if she was sick, so I left the stable immediately to get the dewormer. I brought it back and luckily Don was still there. He dewormed her and got some bran/alfalfa mush ready for her.
Don is a very calm, good spirited person and he is going to be great for Fiona and even better for me. He was VERY encouraging and dismissed all the "wrongs" I felt I had done with Fiona. He basically is ready to start from zero and work with both of us.
He did take Fiona out of her stall and worked with her on lunging a little bit. She was quick to pick up his lessons and he was kind and gave her a lot of positive reinforcement. Don said I could ride one of his horses to start if I wanted and I told him I can't ride for 2 weeks. I am still waiting to get cleared by my doctor for full activity. Don replied "Well then we will work with your horse for 2 weeks and you can riding her at the end of the 2 weeks". I have been told stuff like this before and I am a bit skeptical of short timeframes when it comes to this horse. I do feel like she is very close to being ready though! As for me being ready, that's a different story. I still remember ribs smacking against a roundpen.
After he put her back in her stall, we gave her the bran mush and left for the night. I will go back tomorrow and take on the lovely task of doing poop analysis. We need to see if there's any parasites that come out of her. Good times!
I will go take her the halloween treat tomorrow, and give it to her if she seems to be feeling ok. I can't wait, I think it's going to make for some funny video footage!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Way more than 2 steps backward...
So I had my first ride on Snowbell, with Debbie Anderson. The lesson was wonderful and Debbie was everything I wanted her to be as a riding instructor; calm, but firm and reassuring. This arrangement is going to work out just fine, as soon as my surgery scars heal. Yes, I said surgery. Can you believe the lousy luck?
We were coming home from dinner Monday night when I started to experience some abdominal pain. It got worse as the night went on and finally at about 11pm, I couldn't take it. I had to go the ER. It was my gallbladder, which thank God is a relatively minor. So the lovely doctors at Mountain Vista Medical Center took it out and stitched me back up..and sent me on my way.
I am feeling fine and will be back in fighting form in a week or so. This little experience makes me so happy that I stable my horse and that Fiona is not a complete maniac like she used to be. I called Debbie and asked her to keep an eye on her and turn her out a couple of times. Fiona even got vaccinated while I was in the hospital and the vet told Debbie that she is a totally different horse! Can you believe that?!?!?!
Anyway, all things consider, this siutation could have been a lot worse than it was. I am very lucky to be young, healthy and to have a great support system for myself and Fiona!
We were coming home from dinner Monday night when I started to experience some abdominal pain. It got worse as the night went on and finally at about 11pm, I couldn't take it. I had to go the ER. It was my gallbladder, which thank God is a relatively minor. So the lovely doctors at Mountain Vista Medical Center took it out and stitched me back up..and sent me on my way.
I am feeling fine and will be back in fighting form in a week or so. This little experience makes me so happy that I stable my horse and that Fiona is not a complete maniac like she used to be. I called Debbie and asked her to keep an eye on her and turn her out a couple of times. Fiona even got vaccinated while I was in the hospital and the vet told Debbie that she is a totally different horse! Can you believe that?!?!?!
Anyway, all things consider, this siutation could have been a lot worse than it was. I am very lucky to be young, healthy and to have a great support system for myself and Fiona!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
One step forward.....
It's very difficult not get frustrated with this entire process. There are days when Fiona is a perfect girl and her manners or good, then there are other days. She has walked away from me a few times in her stall when I go to halter her. She hasn't done this in months! I know it's not a major setback, but it's just frustrating.
I think I am just being too direct and agenda oriented.
I am starting lessons with Debbie Anderson, the owner of Red Mountain Stables, tomorrow. I have been looking forward to this day ALL WEEK! She knows Arabians, she knows my horse and she is going to be a very good teacher I am certain.
This will be my first ride on an Arabian (other than Fiona of course) and Deb said it's totally different than riding any other horse. I am VERY excited! I will post tomorrow and let everyone know how it goes!
YAY!!
I think I am just being too direct and agenda oriented.
I am starting lessons with Debbie Anderson, the owner of Red Mountain Stables, tomorrow. I have been looking forward to this day ALL WEEK! She knows Arabians, she knows my horse and she is going to be a very good teacher I am certain.
This will be my first ride on an Arabian (other than Fiona of course) and Deb said it's totally different than riding any other horse. I am VERY excited! I will post tomorrow and let everyone know how it goes!
YAY!!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Crooked still counts in tacking up
Well I got the saddle on Fiona tonight ALL BY MYSELF! Yes, she tried to nip me when I cinched her up and yes she did move her feet a little bit. IMHO, a little bit is WAY better than "get out of my way or I am going to run you over if you touch that cinch". The saddle was crooked when I was I done, but it was on her. I walked her around in her stall a bit and then took it back off. I probably should have lunged her, but I considered my lucky to have gotten the thing on her with so little a fuss I quit while I was ahead.
Actually I feel kind of stupid about all the worrying I have done leading up to this point. It's weird how much better she is. When she came back from the 30 days of riding at Charlie's, she was WOUND UP, that was in early August. Now it's like she just "straightened up".
A few weeks ago, she was due for her hoof trimming and I wanted to take her all the way across the property to the tack room where Charlie does his trimming (usually he drives over to her barn). So I staged a practice run the weekend before the trimming and ask a fellow horse owner at Red Mountain to help me. We walked over with 2 other horse/owner pairs. Fiona and I walked all the way across the property and she only circled around me once. I put her in a roundpen and she paced, but still ate some grain that I brought her. Afterwards, I put the halter back on and walked her back to the barn. She was GREAT!
On the day of the trimming, I walked her across the property again. She circled a couple more times and called out to other horses on the second trip. Charlie worked with me and her a bit. He tied a lead rope to both sides of the halter and we walked her together. That kept her going forward..instead of stepping into me or Charlie.
I have been taking care to only put a little pressure on her to get her to move her feet, even just in the stall that seems to be making a big different in her demeanor. She just pays more attention now and doesn't try to take over as much. I also make sure she moves her feet for me, instead of the other way around. If I need to get to the other side of her...I back her up and move her around me.
I am definitely enjoying the change...and I think she is too. :)
Actually I feel kind of stupid about all the worrying I have done leading up to this point. It's weird how much better she is. When she came back from the 30 days of riding at Charlie's, she was WOUND UP, that was in early August. Now it's like she just "straightened up".
A few weeks ago, she was due for her hoof trimming and I wanted to take her all the way across the property to the tack room where Charlie does his trimming (usually he drives over to her barn). So I staged a practice run the weekend before the trimming and ask a fellow horse owner at Red Mountain to help me. We walked over with 2 other horse/owner pairs. Fiona and I walked all the way across the property and she only circled around me once. I put her in a roundpen and she paced, but still ate some grain that I brought her. Afterwards, I put the halter back on and walked her back to the barn. She was GREAT!
On the day of the trimming, I walked her across the property again. She circled a couple more times and called out to other horses on the second trip. Charlie worked with me and her a bit. He tied a lead rope to both sides of the halter and we walked her together. That kept her going forward..instead of stepping into me or Charlie.
I have been taking care to only put a little pressure on her to get her to move her feet, even just in the stall that seems to be making a big different in her demeanor. She just pays more attention now and doesn't try to take over as much. I also make sure she moves her feet for me, instead of the other way around. If I need to get to the other side of her...I back her up and move her around me.
I am definitely enjoying the change...and I think she is too. :)
Monday, September 6, 2010
Let's get caught up...
So since my Facebook Note (which was originally posted in Dec, 2009 and reposted here in August, 2010) a whole lot has happened.
At the beginning of this year, I put Fiona through a Colt Starting Clinic. A vet, with all her dogged persistance, convinced me to take Fiona to this clinic. The clinician was so kind. He came and spent 11 hours! loading Fiona into a trailer. It was 1am when he got her loaded. I was the only one who stayed for the whole thing. It was amazing.
The clinic went pretty well and the clinician got a halter on Fiona for the first time. He also saddled her and I rode her twice. The first time was very short and she was on halter with one of her back feet roped. The second ride started out the same way, but then he took the halter off (or tied the lead rope to the saddle, I don't remember) and took the rope off of her back foot. She did ok until he brought the flag into the roundpen. She got moving a little too fast, so I went into the fetal position and got bucked off.
Here's some great video of the whole thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSNI3weybk
To answer everyone's question..."Yes it hurt!" I didn't break any ribs, which was amazing. I also didn't ride her again that weekend or the next (the clinic was 2 weekends long). The bottomline on this experience; I was too green, the horse was too green. The horse was too thin and fast, I was too fat and slow.
However, some good did come from my massive wipeout. I started taking riding lessons and got myself on a diet to lose weight. Fiona was moved from the rescue I got her from to Red Mountain Stables (http://redmountainstables.com/). She has her own stall now and there's plenty of room for me to work with her. She has put on weight;
Before:
After:
She's had her teeth floated, for the first time in 6 YEARS!!! She gets her hooves trimmed regularly. All good things.
We did have one setback in May of this year. I was trying to put on Fiona's flymask and she decided to fling her head into my face. The results was a spectacular shiner:
After seeing my resulting black eye, the same trainer I work with before offered to take Fiona to his new facility for a month of training. She got saddled and ridden pretty much every day in July and then was brought back to Red Mountain Stables at the beginning of August.
So here's a run down of where all this work has gotten her in terms of her behavioral changes. In October of last year here were her disguishing traits:
1) Had to be sedated to have hooves trimmed
2) Wouldn't allow a halter to be put on her and she had to be roped around the neck to move her anywhere.
3) She would bolt through gates or just plain refuse to go through them at all.
4) She would pace in her stall
5) She would walk away from pretty much any human who came near her and tried to touch her.
Now she has the following traits:
1) Stands still for trimming without sedation
2) Halters consistently, even after a good scare or if she's been pacing in the roundpen
3) Walks calmly through most gates.
4) Stands quietly in her stall or moves calmly in it.
5) She LOVES people. I can make kissing sounds in the roundpen and she will come right to me, without a halter/lead rope on. She actually get quite irritated if you don't pay attention to her.
She is much better about the flymask too, which is odd because I never worked with her on it after she almost knocked me out. When she came back from the month at the trainer's, one of the other horse owners at Red Mountain helped me put it on her...and she's never had an issue since. It's really wild.
I love this horse and I love watching her change from a scared, wild eyed creature into a curious and calm companion.
At the beginning of this year, I put Fiona through a Colt Starting Clinic. A vet, with all her dogged persistance, convinced me to take Fiona to this clinic. The clinician was so kind. He came and spent 11 hours! loading Fiona into a trailer. It was 1am when he got her loaded. I was the only one who stayed for the whole thing. It was amazing.
The clinic went pretty well and the clinician got a halter on Fiona for the first time. He also saddled her and I rode her twice. The first time was very short and she was on halter with one of her back feet roped. The second ride started out the same way, but then he took the halter off (or tied the lead rope to the saddle, I don't remember) and took the rope off of her back foot. She did ok until he brought the flag into the roundpen. She got moving a little too fast, so I went into the fetal position and got bucked off.
Here's some great video of the whole thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSNI3weybk
To answer everyone's question..."Yes it hurt!" I didn't break any ribs, which was amazing. I also didn't ride her again that weekend or the next (the clinic was 2 weekends long). The bottomline on this experience; I was too green, the horse was too green. The horse was too thin and fast, I was too fat and slow.
However, some good did come from my massive wipeout. I started taking riding lessons and got myself on a diet to lose weight. Fiona was moved from the rescue I got her from to Red Mountain Stables (http://redmountainstables.com/). She has her own stall now and there's plenty of room for me to work with her. She has put on weight;
Before:
After:
She's had her teeth floated, for the first time in 6 YEARS!!! She gets her hooves trimmed regularly. All good things.
We did have one setback in May of this year. I was trying to put on Fiona's flymask and she decided to fling her head into my face. The results was a spectacular shiner:
After seeing my resulting black eye, the same trainer I work with before offered to take Fiona to his new facility for a month of training. She got saddled and ridden pretty much every day in July and then was brought back to Red Mountain Stables at the beginning of August.
So here's a run down of where all this work has gotten her in terms of her behavioral changes. In October of last year here were her disguishing traits:
1) Had to be sedated to have hooves trimmed
2) Wouldn't allow a halter to be put on her and she had to be roped around the neck to move her anywhere.
3) She would bolt through gates or just plain refuse to go through them at all.
4) She would pace in her stall
5) She would walk away from pretty much any human who came near her and tried to touch her.
Now she has the following traits:
1) Stands still for trimming without sedation
2) Halters consistently, even after a good scare or if she's been pacing in the roundpen
3) Walks calmly through most gates.
4) Stands quietly in her stall or moves calmly in it.
5) She LOVES people. I can make kissing sounds in the roundpen and she will come right to me, without a halter/lead rope on. She actually get quite irritated if you don't pay attention to her.
She is much better about the flymask too, which is odd because I never worked with her on it after she almost knocked me out. When she came back from the month at the trainer's, one of the other horse owners at Red Mountain helped me put it on her...and she's never had an issue since. It's really wild.
I love this horse and I love watching her change from a scared, wild eyed creature into a curious and calm companion.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Fiona
This is from a note I posted on my Facebook page back in Dec, 2009. It tells the beginning of this journey, which has taken many twists and turns since then.
"Anyone who has been friends with me on Facebook for a while knows I talk about my horse Fiona all the time. I am sure for some, particularly those who are not animal lovers, I sound a little crazy (i.e. Getting excited about her progress in training and posting status for every little new "good" behavior she exhibits).
Let me explain her background and then perhaps my nuttiness will make more sense. Fiona was brought to Wildhorse Rescue Ranch almost 2 years ago now. The ranch got a call that Fiona was left on a property in Scottsdale, AZ. The caller was the renter of the property. As it turns out, Fiona had been left in the stall she was born in for 2 years.
Now, for folks that are not familiar with horses, it's important to note that horses NEED companionship. They are not meant to live alone. Though she had been fed enough to stay alive, leaving her in that stall was still VERY cruel.
The ranch had to sedate her, get her in a trailer and it took 3 days to do it. She was so frightened of people that she tried to CLIMB OUT OF HER STALL, when they even came near her. They got her to the ranch and worked with her to the point that she would go in a stall and eat. She was released with her own herd by the time I started volunteering in Feb 2009. The ranch had already done wonders with Fiona.
Over the last 10 months volunteering I have grown very fond of this horse. There are many horses at the ranch, but each horse connects to each volunteer differently. Fiona struck me for many reasons; She is small, only 14 hands. She's a Polish Arabian who is brimming with attitude. This horse KNOWS she is an Arabian. She even runs with the tail up and like she is floating on air, it's amazing to watch. What really hit my heart though, was the fact that she was so uncomfortable in her own skin.
She would go into a stall, eat her dinner, and then pace, and pace, and pace. She never stopped moving. It was so sad. I have seen a plastic bag blow into her stall and then watched her jump in fear.
I never really intended to adopt this horse, even though I wanted to with all my heart. I promised myself that I wouldn't do it until I could provide her with a great life. With encouragement from Kim, the ranch founder and Meta, my amazing wife, I adopted her in October and I have never looked back.
After just one month of training, she had already stopped pacing in her stall whe she is done eating. She also doesn't have as many cuts from being nipped at by other horses in her herd or from running into gates, fences and just about anything that's in her way when she gets scared.
She is also just starting to let us pick up her hooves, which is critical, because right now we have to put her under to clean and trim them. This sedation is not very good for her, though not directly harmful, it's comes with risks.
All I really want for this horse is for her to be a happy, safe horse. If I get far enough to ride her one day, I think my head might explode I will be so pleased!
I will continue to post pictures, and post goofy comments, which hopefully will make more sense now. "
There's much more to tell. I have ridden her and luckily my head did not explode. It did however fall off and hit a fence with my ribs. I have also been hit in the face with her head hard enough to give me a black eye....as I said much more to tell.
"Anyone who has been friends with me on Facebook for a while knows I talk about my horse Fiona all the time. I am sure for some, particularly those who are not animal lovers, I sound a little crazy (i.e. Getting excited about her progress in training and posting status for every little new "good" behavior she exhibits).
Let me explain her background and then perhaps my nuttiness will make more sense. Fiona was brought to Wildhorse Rescue Ranch almost 2 years ago now. The ranch got a call that Fiona was left on a property in Scottsdale, AZ. The caller was the renter of the property. As it turns out, Fiona had been left in the stall she was born in for 2 years.
Now, for folks that are not familiar with horses, it's important to note that horses NEED companionship. They are not meant to live alone. Though she had been fed enough to stay alive, leaving her in that stall was still VERY cruel.
The ranch had to sedate her, get her in a trailer and it took 3 days to do it. She was so frightened of people that she tried to CLIMB OUT OF HER STALL, when they even came near her. They got her to the ranch and worked with her to the point that she would go in a stall and eat. She was released with her own herd by the time I started volunteering in Feb 2009. The ranch had already done wonders with Fiona.
Over the last 10 months volunteering I have grown very fond of this horse. There are many horses at the ranch, but each horse connects to each volunteer differently. Fiona struck me for many reasons; She is small, only 14 hands. She's a Polish Arabian who is brimming with attitude. This horse KNOWS she is an Arabian. She even runs with the tail up and like she is floating on air, it's amazing to watch. What really hit my heart though, was the fact that she was so uncomfortable in her own skin.
She would go into a stall, eat her dinner, and then pace, and pace, and pace. She never stopped moving. It was so sad. I have seen a plastic bag blow into her stall and then watched her jump in fear.
I never really intended to adopt this horse, even though I wanted to with all my heart. I promised myself that I wouldn't do it until I could provide her with a great life. With encouragement from Kim, the ranch founder and Meta, my amazing wife, I adopted her in October and I have never looked back.
After just one month of training, she had already stopped pacing in her stall whe she is done eating. She also doesn't have as many cuts from being nipped at by other horses in her herd or from running into gates, fences and just about anything that's in her way when she gets scared.
She is also just starting to let us pick up her hooves, which is critical, because right now we have to put her under to clean and trim them. This sedation is not very good for her, though not directly harmful, it's comes with risks.
All I really want for this horse is for her to be a happy, safe horse. If I get far enough to ride her one day, I think my head might explode I will be so pleased!
I will continue to post pictures, and post goofy comments, which hopefully will make more sense now. "
There's much more to tell. I have ridden her and luckily my head did not explode. It did however fall off and hit a fence with my ribs. I have also been hit in the face with her head hard enough to give me a black eye....as I said much more to tell.
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