I decided last week with Tracy that I was going to do 3 days a week training with Brandi for a month. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So last night was our first night - I go to get Brandi and we notice that she's walking a little funny. I swore I had been noticing a limp the last two weeks, and we chalked it up to her being ouchy from her trim. Tracy had given me a pair of EZ Boots to use and that seemed to help some, although she was still stumbly.
So I tack her up, walk her up to the arena, and she's pretty slow the whole way. I decide to put her in a circle to watch to see how she's moving, and there's a definite limp with some stumbling as she goes to the left. So there was no way I would be riding her. :( Tracy took a look at her foot, and asked if I wanted to try to treat it myself as an abscess first, then if it didn't improve I would need to call the vet. So, Kenzie and I ran to Fleet to get supplies, and Tracy showed me how to wrap it up. Should take about 3-4 days, then we'll check it to see if it opens up and drains out.
And before we discovered all of this, Tracy asked if I wanted to go riding with her and Moriah at the lakefront on Saturday. Sha! So I think I may ask Tracy if it would be ok if I rode Solita. I know she's a good trail horse and that way I could still go. :) As for Brandi, I'll keep watch on that foot and see how she does. Maybe next week we can start our training.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
"Take everything you've learned and throw it out the window!"
So we horseback rode as an outing for work yesterday at Appy Orse Acres in Fredonia. Oh we had a good time alright, with lots of laughs. I thought it was pretty funny that me, being the only horse rider in the group, got on first and got yelled at!! I made Benji move before I was supposed to, then wasn't signaling him properly to move to the right... then I didn't have my reins on the correct side of the horse... sheesh! My friend Carol snuck over and quietly told me to forget everything I'd ever learned. :) While I had a ton of fun with them, I truly enjoy riding Brandi much more. She's so smooth and light on the bit, and I love riding direct rein. I guess neck rein is probably better, but I'm so used to direct rein now... I'll have to ask Tracy about that whole thing. :)
Benji was pretty good - he was a tad bit worried about the ginormous tent that was put up for the first time that day and that of course made me a little uneasy. But out on the trail he was good. I just wish I could get over the anxiety I feel sometimes. I need to remember to pray and know that God is with me and will never forsake me. There's really no reason to be afraid. If I think back on it, for every time I was ever afraid - the number of times I really actually had something to be afraid of is slim to none. Wow. That really is something to meditate on. Don't make a situation out to be more than it really is. (Um, hello? Mom and Grandma?) Brandi has never freaked out with me on her - maybe a spook or a tiny fit, but I have to remember that I know how to diffuse those things. And that I CAN'T STOP - I have to put her in to work afterwards so she knows it's no fun to be in those situations.
Woah, just read this:
Benji was pretty good - he was a tad bit worried about the ginormous tent that was put up for the first time that day and that of course made me a little uneasy. But out on the trail he was good. I just wish I could get over the anxiety I feel sometimes. I need to remember to pray and know that God is with me and will never forsake me. There's really no reason to be afraid. If I think back on it, for every time I was ever afraid - the number of times I really actually had something to be afraid of is slim to none. Wow. That really is something to meditate on. Don't make a situation out to be more than it really is. (Um, hello? Mom and Grandma?) Brandi has never freaked out with me on her - maybe a spook or a tiny fit, but I have to remember that I know how to diffuse those things. And that I CAN'T STOP - I have to put her in to work afterwards so she knows it's no fun to be in those situations.
Woah, just read this:
Thursday, September 8, 2011
I got a new attituuuude!!!!
Tonight I had my second lesson of the week. We worked on the same things we worked on Tuesday, but today was better. Better because Brandi was in a mellow state of mind, and better because I prayed and decided to let go and let God guide me. I prayed that I let go of my own thoughts and worries - and not let the enemy crud my mind up with scary things - and to listen and obey. It was challenging not to let my own feelings dictate, but I worked at it and in the end it paid off!
We worked on getting Brandi to move away from me at the shoulder. I need to remember to position myself better - at her nose - and to ask, ask, tell... and to STAY AFTER HER UNTIL SHE DOES IT. I sometimes give up too fast or confuse any movement with compliance. I need to work on that. We lunged, sending her away with the stick and the rope, then stopped her with the rope and our energy, praising her by rubbing her with the stick. She is SO CRABBY when that stick is near her! Tracy and I both think someone at some point must have misused one on her and that's why she despises it so much. But as time went on, she was less crabby, and we needed less stick. Tracy suggests that I work on those things a little bit each time I come out. I agree.
I ended the lesson IN SADDLE, which always feels so good to me. When I get to that point, I find myself not wanting to get OUT of the saddle! :) But it was getting dark and Brandi was ready. She did a really good job and I am quite proud of her. She showed bravery today, and I, of all people, understand that whole-heartedly. It's not easy to be brave sometimes - so I'm hoping we will learn to be brave together. Moriah once told me that sometimes she and Sadie are unsure of something, but together they trust each other and go through it together. That is the kind of relationship I am going to strive for with Brandi Jo. She's worth every bit of it.
Tracy also suggested that I ride out with someone as much as possible. Brandi does really good with another horse, so use those good experiences. I think I'm going to ask Tracy to do 30 days of training, but this time instead of on Brandi, 30 days on me WITH Brandi. :) We did so well when we worked every day together, and she really, really enjoyed it. I want to commit - I'm going to talk to Tracy about it on Saturday.
And, Moriah and I are doing trade-out for senior pics, so I am going to ask her to ride Brandi out alone and help me desensitize her. This is gonna be awesome!! That little horse is gonna be a gem I tell you. She already is in her own way. She let me love on her after our ride today. I really enjoyed her calmness, and hugging her warm neck and snuggling in to her mane. One year ago that would NOT have happened! She would have been in a fit, pushing and running me over! Aw, heck. She's a good horse - and I want to look back on this post after a ride on Brandi 10 years from now and laugh at the struggles I think are so rough... look back and laugh at how green I was and how green Brandi was, and remember just how glad I am that I didn't give up, on myself or on Brandi.
We worked on getting Brandi to move away from me at the shoulder. I need to remember to position myself better - at her nose - and to ask, ask, tell... and to STAY AFTER HER UNTIL SHE DOES IT. I sometimes give up too fast or confuse any movement with compliance. I need to work on that. We lunged, sending her away with the stick and the rope, then stopped her with the rope and our energy, praising her by rubbing her with the stick. She is SO CRABBY when that stick is near her! Tracy and I both think someone at some point must have misused one on her and that's why she despises it so much. But as time went on, she was less crabby, and we needed less stick. Tracy suggests that I work on those things a little bit each time I come out. I agree.
I ended the lesson IN SADDLE, which always feels so good to me. When I get to that point, I find myself not wanting to get OUT of the saddle! :) But it was getting dark and Brandi was ready. She did a really good job and I am quite proud of her. She showed bravery today, and I, of all people, understand that whole-heartedly. It's not easy to be brave sometimes - so I'm hoping we will learn to be brave together. Moriah once told me that sometimes she and Sadie are unsure of something, but together they trust each other and go through it together. That is the kind of relationship I am going to strive for with Brandi Jo. She's worth every bit of it.
Tracy also suggested that I ride out with someone as much as possible. Brandi does really good with another horse, so use those good experiences. I think I'm going to ask Tracy to do 30 days of training, but this time instead of on Brandi, 30 days on me WITH Brandi. :) We did so well when we worked every day together, and she really, really enjoyed it. I want to commit - I'm going to talk to Tracy about it on Saturday.
And, Moriah and I are doing trade-out for senior pics, so I am going to ask her to ride Brandi out alone and help me desensitize her. This is gonna be awesome!! That little horse is gonna be a gem I tell you. She already is in her own way. She let me love on her after our ride today. I really enjoyed her calmness, and hugging her warm neck and snuggling in to her mane. One year ago that would NOT have happened! She would have been in a fit, pushing and running me over! Aw, heck. She's a good horse - and I want to look back on this post after a ride on Brandi 10 years from now and laugh at the struggles I think are so rough... look back and laugh at how green I was and how green Brandi was, and remember just how glad I am that I didn't give up, on myself or on Brandi.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sweet as candy.
The cutest thing last night - Kenzie grabbed a handful of sweet feed and fed it to Brandi. Brandi was in Heaven!! That little Kenzie is such a cool kid - well, really young lady. Hopefully I'll make time to bring her over here to scrapbook with me this winter! :)
We've come a long way, baby!
This morning on my ride in to work, I was thinking about how far Brandi and I have come together. There was a time when she would not stand still for anything. Running me over was the norm. To get a bit in her mouth? Sha. Wasn't happening. Oh, and trying to pick up her feet... not my favorite job to begin with, but she would make it into a fight. Then I think about lunging her - she would pin her ears at me and kick at me! Scary stuff, I tell you.
I came close to throwing in the towel. More than once. She scared me and I didn't think I would ever be able to handle her. But Tracy always encouraged me, and reminded me that there was in fact progress being made. She said to me on more than one occasion, "If you improve just 1% each time you do something, after doing it 100 times, you've improved 100%!" And that helped keep me going. As did a conversation I had with Tracy's daughter, Moriah, who at the time just turned 17. After Brandi threw a fit, broke away from my grip and ran out of the arena, Moriah caught her for me and asked me if I'd like to know what she would do in such a situation. I welcomed that more than she could know. So, she took Brandi in to the arena, and they went on for about 20 minutes or so ... Brandi rearing and pinning her ears, Moriah backing her up, and backing and backing, and lunging and lunging. It terrified me. In my mind, I would NEVER be strong like Tracy and Moriah and be unafraid when handling what seemed like such a handful of a horse. After Brandi finally settled down some, Moriah and I were chatting and I told her sometimes I felt like I may have bit off more than I can chew with Brandi. I half wanted sympathy and agreement, and to tell me that I should sell her and get a new horse. But instead, she looked me square in the eye and said "I don't believe that. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. There is a good horse in there somewhere... you just have to bring it out." I was stunned. Stunned and impressed, humbled and embarrassed.
I've worked at things with Brandi, with great results. At challenging times, it's sometimes difficult to look back on accomplishments and remember that those, too, were once a challenge.
I'm happy to say that I rethought many things this morning, and was glad in the progress Brandi and I have made together. I helped her learn patience. I taught her that no matter what, I wasn't giving up on putting that bit in her mouth. I taught her that it's easier to do the right thing than it is to be naughty - well, most of the time. :) So, a year from now, in September of 2012, I'll be anxious to look back on this and see how far we've come since this day. Maybe we'll even be riding in a Labor Day parade somewhere!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Why is everyone so jumpy!?
I just took a drink out of my plastic water bottle, and it made the crackle noise which sent Daisy just about flying! Sheesh! Ironic? Yes. Because I just came back from a lesson with Brandi where we were working on her spookiness (or jumpiness). But Brandi jumping can be a lot more dangerous than Daisy - so that soo needs to get fixed.
'Twas a good lesson. I, once again, found myself wanting to watch Tracy do everything rather than do it myself. I felt safer that way, and I know Tracy knows what she's doing and won't get hurt. But seriously, what good does that do me? So when she called me over to take the reins (haha!) while Brandi was spooking and being jumpy, for a split second I froze, then reminded myself that I. HAD. TO. DO. IT. If I didn't, how would it ever get better? Stepping right through my comfort zone, I walked over and grabbed those reins. Albeit I had the training stick just about horizontal and in her face to make sure she didn't even THINK about running me over. :) Hey, it worked in that moment, and no one got hurt.
So a few things happened. Brandi spooked in the outdoor when we got near a cluster of bushes. She was quite unsure about what might be in there, or what might come out of there. Add to that two large Dobermans playing quite roughly, and we had a slightly nervous horse on our hands. Not horrible by any means - even I, in my sheltered experiences, have seen a horse act way worse than she was. She was nervous, yes, but all I needed to do was KEEP HER OFF OF ME. That's it! Dang, that's pretty simple, hey? Well, yes!
Funny thing - things seem so scary and complicated, until you learn the right thing to do and see just how easy it is to do it. It just takes some practice, some confidence, and remembering to pray. And remembering that I need to do it, then do it again, and do it again, and do it again, and do it again. CONSISTENCY IS KEY.
I am going to do two lessons a week for a spell, and one day by myself. Things to remember that Tracy has taught me: Set myself up for SUCCESS. Do what I'm comfortable with. When I succeed at that, move forward but don't feel like I have to do everything in a hurry. DON'T PUSH, and REWARD when she gives me a try.
Brandi is a great little horse. We've bonded, and I am starting to see her heart - she's letting me in. She gives me good honest tries... she really does. I mean, we have done that whole obstacle course numerous times - not everyone can do that! She still tries to be a little pushy, but we are both getting better at that whole situation. :) She's special, and with time, I do believe we will be a great parntership... God willing.
'Twas a good lesson. I, once again, found myself wanting to watch Tracy do everything rather than do it myself. I felt safer that way, and I know Tracy knows what she's doing and won't get hurt. But seriously, what good does that do me? So when she called me over to take the reins (haha!) while Brandi was spooking and being jumpy, for a split second I froze, then reminded myself that I. HAD. TO. DO. IT. If I didn't, how would it ever get better? Stepping right through my comfort zone, I walked over and grabbed those reins. Albeit I had the training stick just about horizontal and in her face to make sure she didn't even THINK about running me over. :) Hey, it worked in that moment, and no one got hurt.
So a few things happened. Brandi spooked in the outdoor when we got near a cluster of bushes. She was quite unsure about what might be in there, or what might come out of there. Add to that two large Dobermans playing quite roughly, and we had a slightly nervous horse on our hands. Not horrible by any means - even I, in my sheltered experiences, have seen a horse act way worse than she was. She was nervous, yes, but all I needed to do was KEEP HER OFF OF ME. That's it! Dang, that's pretty simple, hey? Well, yes!
Funny thing - things seem so scary and complicated, until you learn the right thing to do and see just how easy it is to do it. It just takes some practice, some confidence, and remembering to pray. And remembering that I need to do it, then do it again, and do it again, and do it again, and do it again. CONSISTENCY IS KEY.
I am going to do two lessons a week for a spell, and one day by myself. Things to remember that Tracy has taught me: Set myself up for SUCCESS. Do what I'm comfortable with. When I succeed at that, move forward but don't feel like I have to do everything in a hurry. DON'T PUSH, and REWARD when she gives me a try.
Brandi is a great little horse. We've bonded, and I am starting to see her heart - she's letting me in. She gives me good honest tries... she really does. I mean, we have done that whole obstacle course numerous times - not everyone can do that! She still tries to be a little pushy, but we are both getting better at that whole situation. :) She's special, and with time, I do believe we will be a great parntership... God willing.
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