tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post4929281451776928346..comments2023-04-15T03:58:45.461-07:00Comments on It's a Really Long Way Down: You get what you expect - every time!verylargecolthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035418539530230889noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-67101498394418232502008-05-16T11:52:00.000-07:002008-05-16T11:52:00.000-07:00One of my favorite quotes that I tell my students ...One of my favorite quotes that I tell my students all the time is that...<BR/><BR/>"In training, there is a fine line between being aware that a problem is present and anticipating a problem so much that we actually create it"<BR/><BR/>I have stopped myself from creating a lot of grief just by saying that phrase in my head.yankeestyle2https://www.blogger.com/profile/04904760038886616706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-88382515456380626402008-05-16T05:43:00.000-07:002008-05-16T05:43:00.000-07:00>I am quite sure I am spookier than the horse!>Sam...><BR/>I am quite sure I am spookier than the horse!<BR/>><BR/><BR/>Same here. I'm always proactively looking for bears, hoping to spot them before the horse does.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12504881036553377547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-5232487350422851022008-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:002008-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00Hehe. You know, that reminds me of an episode that...Hehe. You know, that reminds me of an episode that happened at my barn (in Sweden, where I live) the other day. My friend has got three horses, one of which is mostly ridden by another friend - let's call her "M". On this particular day, M was asked to exercise another horse, my friend's thoroughbred. M said yes, and took the horse out for a short warm-up ride in the woods before doing the dressage exercises. She thought nothing of it. <BR/><BR/>Only the thing is, it is common knowledge at my barn that this particular thoroughbred CANNOT be ridden alone on trails. He usually spooks, bucks, bolts, and is generally very... uncooperative. Only when alone, but still.<BR/><BR/>M had no idea about this, and had a very pleasant 30 min in the forest, together with a happy and relaxed TB. <BR/><BR/>While my friend was completely freaking out back in the barn, cursing herself for forgetting to inform M about the horse's less than stellar record and preparing to call for an ambulance. :pvoldeobumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12133581676108354768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-12094151105732743212008-05-15T13:33:00.000-07:002008-05-15T13:33:00.000-07:00Oh, and I recently procured an ipod shuffle. Awes...Oh, and I recently procured an ipod shuffle. Awesome little thing. Just a clip and it's never in the way. I love to ride to music. It seems almost like the horses can hear the beat too, they get in the groove so to speak.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00977898784588176802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-37015019601648788782008-05-15T13:32:00.000-07:002008-05-15T13:32:00.000-07:00"you get what you expect - every time" Truer words..."you get what you expect - every time" <BR/><BR/>Truer words have never been spoken my bitch! Especially the every time. Too funny, 'cept when it's not funny, but it usually is later...Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00977898784588176802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-37507568603028559812008-05-15T11:52:00.000-07:002008-05-15T11:52:00.000-07:00For some reason, bucking/spooking/bolting is not s...For some reason, bucking/spooking/bolting is not scary if you think you are on an old coot who is f'ing with you, as opposed to an actual green horse..."<BR/><BR/>I feel this too, and I believe that is because with the old coot, ya figure that you could gather it all back in.... "ok, I'm grabbing leather here, haul my butt back into the saddle, pull up on reins, it'll all be over." <BR/><BR/>But with greenie, there is always the phobia that it will turn into a true, hell-for-leather, blind, runaway that NOBODY is gonna come out of alive.<BR/><BR/>In all the years, I have never had a horse that routinely spooked, and most I would call non-spookers. I think it is because I DON'T believe they will spook, I EXPECT them to just walk by the horse eating monsters for one of two reasons. 1) Trust me horse, I'm momma, and I will not put you into a bad situation. Failing that, 2) I'm the boss-hoss and you better decide which you are more scared of, the horse eating monster, or my disciplining your for your disobedience. I know that is against standard wisdom, but it has worked with A LOT of horses for me. I love my horses, and I believe that a well-disciplined horse, like a well-disciplined child is a joy to be around, and much easier to love.Smurfettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02025057533314547558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-59057122789026933902008-05-15T11:06:00.000-07:002008-05-15T11:06:00.000-07:00just wanted to say what I use on my wide withered ...just wanted to say what I use on my wide withered qh ... it's a bob marshall treeless endurance. it is also appealing to me "in case" we are not a fit down the road and this would work with many other horses.<BR/><BR/>I can feel my horses back muscles when (back when - lol) I rode him. It was very interesting!<BR/><BR/>I only do trail riding - so this has worked for me & my wide body. (excuse me - worked for Both of our wide bodies)ariemayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975639199124579803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-79446869793888627142008-05-15T09:23:00.000-07:002008-05-15T09:23:00.000-07:00Something that works for me in the realm of sports...Something that works for me in the realm of sports psychology is EFT <BR/><BR/>www.emofree.com<BR/><BR/>There is a lot of work being done on perfomance enhancement using this technique, and we have a good practitioner in town who can help me when I get "stuck", although it's easy enough to master on one's ownellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762077847614621317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-73046933289204169862008-05-15T08:19:00.000-07:002008-05-15T08:19:00.000-07:00Thanks for the saddle suggestions! You both make ...Thanks for the saddle suggestions! You both make good points. His back will change as he muscles up and I have no intention of dropping thousands on a "good" saddle at this point, but I need to get an english saddle that fits him because I just plain ride funny in the purple western saddle. The stirrups are too far back on it and he's built downhill so between those two things, I <I>know</I> why I am losing my balance forward. I'm toying with riding him bareback tonight just to be able to put my legs in the proper position! Might just do it - I'm pretty solid bareback. Actually, now that I think of it, I do not think I have ever come off bareback - just with a saddle. Hmmmmm. There must be a lesson there somewhere...I am guessing I ride sloppier with a saddle!fuglyhorseofthedayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14748297520774828265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-68614523888484564202008-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:002008-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:00So, what about using Sports Psychology to overcome...So, what about using Sports Psychology to overcome our butterflies? Here's a list of links that address being a more confident rider.<BR/><BR/>1) Self-Hypnosis. Always wondered if this would work. Anyone ever try it? <BR/><BR/>http://www.confident-rider.co.uk/self_hypnosis_audio_cds_for_the_nervous_horse_rider.html<BR/><BR/><BR/>2. Janet Edgette's book on Sport Psychology. I used to read her articles in Practical Horseman. Mostly, they didn't apply to me, but some of the stuff in her book looks relevant.<BR/><BR/>http://www.headsupsport.com/<BR/><BR/><BR/>3. And more Sport Psychology from someone I never heard of:<BR/><BR/>http://www.acreageequines.com/HorseBooks/FeaturedBooks/indexFHB13.htm<BR/><BR/>4. I know one of the authors of this book. I find it really interesting that he would be a co-author because he and his entire family don't seem to have one fear nerve in their bodies. Some of them are timber jumpers and the horrific injuries they've incurred -- and they're still riding! -- if I'd had the injury, I would have sold my horses and anything that reminded me of horses ! <BR/><BR/>http://www.horseinfo.com/cart/overcome.htmlflying_lowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288200044392274397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-22087891866296850552008-05-15T07:51:00.000-07:002008-05-15T07:51:00.000-07:00FYI: You can't put all your weight in one stirrup ...FYI: You can't put all your weight in one stirrup going around turns when you're riding bareback - you fall off if you try to do that.<BR/><BR/>I felt much better about my seat after I rode (an older, calmer horse) bareback yesterday.Lalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159862919843902835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-5541155091716182092008-05-15T07:29:00.000-07:002008-05-15T07:29:00.000-07:00Couple of thoughts,I love talking to horse people!...Couple of thoughts,<BR/>I love talking to horse people!<BR/>Wind...I always felt like horses love it! Of course I'm an eastern plains woman, so I have to justify it somehow.<BR/>Spooking...It seems to me that half the time the horse thinks it is fun to spook. (See Wind..) Can't you just hear them? "Watch guys, I'm going to make my owner jump at least six inches out of the saddle today."<BR/>Speaking of horse humor, have you ever noticed, when your horse dumps you and is trotting around proudly waving it's tail in the air, and flipping it's head around, all the other horses become wildly excited, running up to the fence, crowding each other out for the best view? <BR/>The same phenomena occur when one gets loose.<BR/>I swear, they're all yelling, "Run Forest, run!"<BR/>My best solution to all of this is many, many, miles. For horse and rider.<BR/>fuglyhorseoftheday said... <BR/>>>I was letting my gelding pretty much walk all over me, "because" he was abused, and thinks rearing/running backwards is the answer to everything. <<<BR/><BR/>My favorite preachy thing to harp on...There's always a reason, never an excuse. Fix it first, then worry about it.mugwumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00319060800328355056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-30696297112624465262008-05-15T07:10:00.000-07:002008-05-15T07:10:00.000-07:00You might also consider a Thorogood synthetic dres...You might also consider a Thorogood synthetic dressage saddle -- they have removable shims that are easier to deal with than the Wintec gullet system, and they have a VARIETY of size ranges within that system -- from pointy TB back to tabletop Widebody. As you know, VLC will go through major back shape changes as he matures and develops, so a less expensive saddle might be the thing for starters, at least until you are ready to show.<BR/><BR/>I gave up -- with all these hard to fit Morgans, I just use an Ansur, which has its own "issues" but at least can be made to fit everyone. Most of my Morgan dressage rider friends have been through several $3K saddles on their ONE horse, I cannot do it for my mob scene.ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762077847614621317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-29264236073162262342008-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:002008-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00fuglyhorseoftheday said... >>I was letting my geld...fuglyhorseoftheday said... <BR/>>>I was letting my gelding pretty much walk all over me, "because" he was abused, and thinks rearing/running backwards is the answer to everything.<<<BR/><BR/>Oh, that's almost it's own blog. Folks, just because bad things happened to a horse does NOT mean you can NEVER discipline it. I have seen this so much in rescue - people go "oh but she's traumatized." Um, no she's not. She forget being traumatized about three months after you got her. Now she's just being a piglet!<<<BR/><BR/>Ummm, yeah, tell me about it! We almost became the classic case of this. It only took the SOG about a week to mark me as a sucker, and another week of escalating horrid behaviour for me to catch on. (I think he's smarter than I am.) On the up side, six weeks into the game he's mostly a pleasure to be around. I'm done treating him like glass, and we're getting on quite nicely now.<BR/><BR/>Didn't someone post the other day about going to a rescue where all the horses were pushy and ill-mannered? I wonder how often this happens. Go ahead, Fugs, blog away - I might not have spent 2 miserable weeks wondering if I was a "bad horse mommy" if someone had clued me into what I was doing. I sure couldn't see that I was enabling him to be a total butt from where I was standing (or rather, being knocked over)!iceponyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10695036477598776443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-89354473958413588902008-05-15T04:12:00.000-07:002008-05-15T04:12:00.000-07:00SKU (Shoujo Kakumei Utena), also called Revolution...SKU (Shoujo Kakumei Utena), also called Revolutionary Girl Utena, is a Japanese cartoon from the late 1990's. It's got a lot of allegory for a cartoon.<BR/><BR/>Wikipedia has a reasonably comprehensive overview:<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Girl_Utenawhich_chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10944558109074440312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-20784948202867823822008-05-14T23:44:00.000-07:002008-05-14T23:44:00.000-07:00Cathy, you need to find a Wintec Dressage Pro (not...Cathy, you need to find a Wintec Dressage Pro (not the Dressage 500 or the Isabell). You should be able to get a used one pretty cheap. I think they now come with the Easy Change Gullet. However, the one I have was made before that innovation (which I've heard isn't all that great as it only changes the width at the wither...not truly the entire gullet); and it fits my big ol' fat QH just fine. As far as I know it's just a standard tree--not a wide.<BR/><BR/>There are several great things about the saddle:<BR/>1. It's very comfortable (which really surprised me because I just assumed synthetics wouldn't be).<BR/>2. It's very well built in terms of balance and allowing proper movement/position of both horse and rider.<BR/>3. It's "sticky"....and even more so if you ride in full seat breeches. Honestly, you'll get a great psychological boost from it. Also, it's not so sticky that you'll feel that you can't move in the saddle as appropriate.<BR/>4. It's synthetic!!! No guilt about dust/dirt (on the parts not touching the horse), it's lightweight, and it's cheap. I would be petrified to ride in a $3K saddle.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I think you'd find the Wintec Dressage Pro to be a good choice. You'll be able to maintain a good classical position (or even a bit of a forward seat) and not have to spend a fortune even if you buy one new. I personally think it's a good investment because you should be able to use the saddle on just about any horse except for one that's very narrow or very high-withered.<BR/><BR/>Sorry that I don't have one for sale, but maybe you'll be able to find one and try it out.<BR/><BR/>Good luck!At_X_Halthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07352780575198238275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-26260048234192371092008-05-14T22:55:00.000-07:002008-05-14T22:55:00.000-07:00>>I was letting my gelding pretty much walk all ov...>>I was letting my gelding pretty much walk all over me, "because" he was abused, and thinks rearing/running backwards is the answer to everything.<<<BR/><BR/>Oh, that's almost it's own blog. Folks, just because bad things happened to a horse does NOT mean you can NEVER discipline it. I have seen this so much in rescue - people go "oh but she's traumatized." Um, no she's not. She forget being traumatized about three months after you got her. Now she's just being a piglet!<BR/><BR/>Very, very few horses are truly traumatized for life, no matter what they have been through. Horses are amazingly resilient.fuglyhorseofthedayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14748297520774828265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-32199155587935204062008-05-14T20:44:00.001-07:002008-05-14T20:44:00.001-07:00Oh, and what's "SKU"?Oh, and what's "SKU"?Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930354692359971114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-56548447683276068302008-05-14T20:44:00.000-07:002008-05-14T20:44:00.000-07:00which_chick: it is that song, but in English... an...which_chick: it is that song, but in English... and I sing it at least an octave lower than it is being sung in this video!<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJGNGoPtrsJosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930354692359971114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-68538118181229363692008-05-14T20:31:00.000-07:002008-05-14T20:31:00.000-07:00shana, give yourself a break. You are a new rider,...shana, give yourself a break. You are a new rider, and spooking *is* scary, esp. when your balance isn't the best. Four months of riding isn't much. I've owned horses for 16 years, have ridden for say, 10 years more than that, and I consider myself to be an intermediate rider. If you can take some lessons on a confident school horse instead of your own horse, that will help your own confidence a lot, as well as giving you needed practice in learning to balance properly while you ride. This is one downside about having your own horse and riding it in lessons--you get used to one horse, whereas if you take lessons on many different horses, you experience different personalities, gaits, reactions to cues/aids, etc. I think riders learn so much more riding many different horses.<BR/><BR/>I'm really proud of you that you got back on, and didn't give up. That takes a lot of courage!!<BR/>There are some good books out there about overcoming fear w/ horses, or maybe you should have a few sessions w/ a counselor to help you over the fear.<BR/><BR/>This is a great topic! I'll probably try a few things when I ride the spooky rescue again. When he spooked the first ride (and I knew it would happen eventually; after all, he's an Arab!), I sat deep and said my usual sing-songy "You're fi-i-ine."<BR/><BR/>My little green pony (LGP?) likes to have me tilted slightly off to the left when I ride. My instructor pointed this out, and when I made a conscious effort to center myself (and I ride in a treeless saddle, which makes the whole thing more complicated, esp. when you're on a no-withered, round little pony), and this included stirrup-stepping to the right, he made the nicest turns he's done so far!robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01001532366083423219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-82835416923531485582008-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:002008-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01001532366083423219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-79400672942825519542008-05-14T19:47:00.000-07:002008-05-14T19:47:00.000-07:00You know, that happens to me sometimes, but one of...You know, that happens to me sometimes, but one of the primary things that riding has taught me is how to control my emotions. Completely. I'm not a very expressive person anyway, but this has really taught me how to keep complete and utter control of my mind, body language, and how the horse thinks I'm reacting. Even if something scares the crap out of me on a horse, I think "That doesn't scare me. I can keep riding because it doesn't matter." And in a few seconds, I relax my body and continue on. I don't care if I'm scared as long as the horse doesn't think I am.EFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546951023145546571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-48238827378351573792008-05-14T18:54:00.000-07:002008-05-14T18:54:00.000-07:00The first time I took my palomino on a trail ride ...The first time I took my palomino on a trail ride at a state park, I was freaked out. She was acting herd bound at the trailer and was just being a moron in general. So of course, that caused me to anticipate problems for the ride. So I over-reacted to everything she did. None of it was really bad, just the normal alertness that most horses have, and the occasional "stop and look." But, of course, I was scared, so I puller her head this way and that, trying to get her to carry her head perfectly. I created my own issues.<BR/>Once I finally relaxed and held the reins by the buckle, we had no more incidents, and we were both a lot happier.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887859946030234777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-86776708154269306962008-05-14T18:27:00.000-07:002008-05-14T18:27:00.000-07:00congratulations karen v, and best of everything to...congratulations karen v, and best of everything to you and your new special boy -- will look forward to the pictures.ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762077847614621317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8476030038561997950.post-80927690255456543532008-05-14T17:58:00.000-07:002008-05-14T17:58:00.000-07:00Ellen - Thanks for the vote of confidence. It to...Ellen - Thanks for the vote of confidence. It took me three weeks of mulling it over and your advice on an earlier thread sort of sealed it for me. <BR/><BR/>My husband voice the same opinion as you did, but left the decision up to me.<BR/><BR/>It was really hard, because I didn't want to give up on him. But when Bill Basham (he's the trainer) told me pretty much the same thing...well, I guess I always knew I needed to take him back, I just needed a little nudge.<BR/><BR/>So to console myself, I found an ad on Dreamhorse for a free 20 yr old TB, was a hunter/jumper, retired from jumping last fall, but still sound for trails and flat work. I pick him up on Friday. And he's a BEAUTIFUL bay! I'll be bragging (and posting the link to my photobucket account) for everyone to see this good looking guy! <BR/><BR/>What did VLC call it???? Attention Whore? (I guess that'll be me.)<BR/><BR/>Thanks again. It really means a lot!Karen Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03905570178257490375noreply@blogger.com