A "Bita Lightning": Playing in the Deep End...

DAY 4: A training day in two parts. First part was a visit to the round pen. Footing was a tiny bit better than yesterday. We reviewed the lessons from yesterday from Establishing a Direction (he nailed it), Establishing a Change Of Direction (better going to the left than to the right), Locking On (he got that part really well) and basic Desensitizing. He was smoother and more willing now that he understands the concepts. More round pen sessions will be in his future which will help him get less sticky about stopping and giving me two eyes when going to the right. Reviewed the Round pen DVD and I had hoped to be able to speed him up before I asked for the direction change but the footing was too slippery for anything more than a trot. Hopefully tomorrow’s adventure to Lockford, California (and a covered round pen and arena) will allow us to work on this. Flexing was better on the left side and improved on the right side above yesterday’s performance. We introduced Backing Method 1 (Tap the Air) yesterday. We reviewed it today. It was better but he felt confused by the stick moving in the air. For a goof we tried Steady Pressure (seem he knows that one) which leads us to believe he was exposed to certain exercises found in the Method but he was not shown them in the order we follow. No worries. We can fix that. We ended the round pen session with some successes followed by a brushing, a snack and 30 minutes on the Tree of Knowledge.

            Later in the afternoon we loaded up the horses and headed over to Pioneer Park in Somerset, California. The footing was soggy in the large arena so we worked in the smaller one just to be safe. We worked on Lunging for Respect Stage 1 and 2, Backing, Yielding the Hindquarters Stage 1 and Stage 2 and basic Desensitizing. While working on Tap the Air I dropped the stick. For a goof I just waved the popper at the end of the rope…and he responded with some energy! So we did that a few times, moved on to Desensitizing with the Stick/String and then went back to Tap the Air (with the stick). Concept learned! We were walking around the pen and it became apparent that some where in his history “Brodie” learned to Lead Beside. We tried it. It was rusty but it was not bad. It is going to be a unique process as we progress through the Method as some exercises are brand new and some are known and need to be refined. Then we saddled up. The Frisbee golf gang was doing their thing (which fascinated Brodie) and the neighboring horses in the adjacent property were quite chatty. Laurie took the first ride and it went well. Nice Cruising lesson at the walk and trot plus some one rein stops. Then I got on and did more of the same along with Backing and some various rein cues. It is all about establishing those starting points. Agent and Laurie also had some fun while getting things refined. All in all, even though it was damp and cold outside the session was productive and fun. Had some “flashbacks: and had to cowboy up/get over some confidence issues but Brodie took care of me and let me know through his willingness to do as I asked that all was well. Seems we’re working on the trust as well as the respect aspect of the partnership. Tomorrow morning we’re taking a field trip and meeting up with other Nor Cal Downunder Brumbie members for a “spur of the moment” gathering. The site has a covered arena and round pen and there will be a few horses around so…we’ll see how it goes!

DAY 5: This entry is a recap and a “thank you note” for making the December “Spur of the Moment” gathering such a great training experience!

            As the morning fog began to lift and blue skies began to appear through the clouds eleven (11) horse and humans gathered together in Lockford, California for a Brumbies “spur of the moment” session. Experiences ranged from “just getting back into horses” to “professional trainer! This mix was energizing! The facility was surrounded by lush vineyards and green cattle pastures. We had Brumbies haul in from as far away and Benicia (thank you Valerie)! We got to met some new folks and strengthen old friendships. It was a very good day. After everyone introduced themselves and their horses we got started in the (covered) round pen doing a “strengths and challenges drill” in which the basics of round penning “Clinton style” were demonstrated by each team and then reviewed for areas of strength and areas that needed work (challenges). For some of us it was only our second time in the pen with our horses and for other it was a REALLY long time since these skills were reviewed. By the end of this portion of the session we had seen some awesome wins and real improvements. The support and positive feedback got everyone motivated to improve and refine their communication with their horses. That motivation showed itself later in the session. After a quick snack break we were back at it, working our way through many of the Fundamental ground work exercises from backing to circle driving. For some of our horses these exercises were new and for others it was a chance to refine their understanding of them. The changes noted as the horses got into the work and the refinements/improvements that happened were really something to witness. We then kicked it up a notch and introduced tarps, plastic bags, large shaving bags (a different type of horse eating monster) and even water crossings! The horses did great! We then took a short break to grab drinks and tack up the horses. We used the entire area –covered round pen, covered arena, the pasture outside the arena and even the vineyard across the street to work our horses under saddle. We focused on getting the responses and cooperation we all wanted and worked on “socializing”: the horses at the same time. Everyone got along great (horses and humans-grin). We celebrated the MANY wins throughout the day. Seeing connections established and growth/improvement occurring in real time set the bar high for us and everyone was up for the challenge.

            As the sun began to set (yes, it was a long day that passed too quickly) the horses were loaded without issue and folks began to head home. It was to experience days like today that the Brumbies was formed and why it has persevered through the growth and challenges it has faced. A BIG “thank you” to Nancy, Shelly and Tom for hosting our little horse-party and for providing such a lovely setting. We want to thank everyone who came out and shared the day with us! The weather was great, the fellowship was fantastic, the stored share were priceless and as always the horses were inspirational! We look forward to visiting this loving site again in February! As for "Brody" it is safe to say that is sedentary lifestyle on a small plot of lad is SO over! He seems to like it so far!

A Bita Lightning: New Adventures In Horsemanship

INTRODUCTION: With Roscoe, the Rescued Quarter Horse trained up and safely delivered to his new forever family in Wilton, California it was now our quest to find another noble equine to work with. Having such success in the past we started with the local rescue organizations first. We wanted to work with a gelding between 4 and 15 years of age who was already “broke to ride” and who had a decent mind and a willing attitude. Because Michael was going to be the “primary” handler/rider we wanted a horse that could handle his 220 pound frame. Good legs, a solid frame and good feet were a must. Sadly the local rescue organization lacked what we were looking for. So we thn moved onto CraigsList. We wanted to work with a seller who cared about their horse but for whatever reason could no longer afford the required upkeep or who was downsizing their stable. We met several horses during our search. Some were exactly as described by the sellers and some were WAY off! Being followers of the Downunder Horsemanship Method we always wanted to do ground work first before getting on the back of an “unknown” horse. We would always dialogue with the sellers first and let them know what we were looking for and how we approached new horses. We really wanted to see the horse “fresh” and not saddled. Some of the folks got that and some folks had their horses saddled up and ridden before we got there (always a negative sign in our minds).

It finally came down to the top two candidates.

One was a 4 year old Quarter Horse gelding who had about 90 days of “training” on him. Nicely put together colt with a charming personality. He was green but willing under saddle and really needed concentrated training, long rides and wet saddle pads to refine the handle on him. He was a bit pushy with space and it took some effort to get him to focus. He would be a long term project that had amazing potential His sellers were downsizing their project horse herd.

The other was a 13 year old Appendix Quarter Horse who had a varied and unique history. His family had followed some of the natural horsemanship principles we followed and the horse, although almost 200 pounds underweight, was still being worked with and loved by his family. Financial matters really cramped their feed budget and the gelding, while being fed, was on a low cost/low calorie feed. Combined with the small space he was exercised in it was easy to see how he could be thin. He was easy to work with on the ground and under saddle. He really tried to please and to “take care” of the person in the saddle. He really seemed to “click” with Michael and was soon following him around the small pasture. In the end it was his willingness to bond that put him in the lead.

Three days later AQHA Appendix Quarter Horse gelding A Bita Lightning came home to live with us.

Michael, Laurie and “Ole”: First Meeting/Ride

DAY 0: Christmas Eve Day 2012 saw us traveling to drop Roscoe off to his amazing new home and loving family. It was sad to see him go but the family was amazing! They were so impressed with what the Method had done for Roscoe they became No Worries Club Members! After a brief stop for lunch we headed up to El Dorado Hills, California to get “Ole” (Oh-Lee). The gelding saw Michael and nickered to him. Seems that he remembers the man who brought him carrots! The seller said she had not seen this horse warm to someone so quickly. It didn’t seem like a sales pitch as we were already buying the horse.

Some basic groundwork was done to get the gelding ready to listen, papers signed and then we headed to the trailer. This is always one of the scariest things to do with a horse…you are asking them to step into a tin box with only one exit. Well, Ole didn’t disappoint us at all. He followed Michael into the trailer and then moved his hind quarters out of the way so the divider in the slant load could be secured. He traveled pretty well all things considered and settled down nicely. Once we got him home we gave him a quick brushing, did some ground work to get him settled, put his blanket on (it was starting to cloud up and rain was coming) and then introduced him to Argent. There was some sniffing and a squeal or two but soon they were hanging out calmly and even ate of of the same pile of feed. The rains came and we headed inside while Ole explored his new digs and Argent showed him around. Christmas Day was more rain so working outside was out of the question…plus we had a house full of folks! When the rain backed off some of our guests went out to see the horses with apple slices in hand. Both Argent and Ole were social and enjoyed the treat. Michael walked out a little after our guests did and Ole walked up, nickered a little and accepted rubs and treats from him. Not a bad first day.

DAY 3: Round Pen time! Ole came up to the gate and was rewarded with a vigorous brushing of coat, mane and tale (and some baby carrots) along with the usual maintenance. The goal today was to simply introduce the concepts of how to communicate using the round pen. Ole had not seen a round pen for at least six years so who knew how he would react. Michael led him in and then allowed for some exploration time to occur. When things felt right they began to establish a direction using the “point, cluck, spank” method. It became very clear that a simple point with authority and a cluck was all that Ole needed to get the hint and move his feet. Then they moved smoothly into maintaining the direction and gait. We hit some snags on turning in (two eyes not two heels) to change directions and after one human slip-n-fall in the mud (the horse laughed…really) the body language was made a bit more expansive and slower and the cue was understood better. So with the concept of direction changes put forth, it was time to mellow out and introduce the rope and the stick-n-string as tools to be respected but not feared. Much soft rope tossing and flogging with kindness occurred until Ole took a big breath, licked his lips and cocked a hip. Flexing was introduced as was backing. It was a good session with lots of wins and starting points established. Then it was time to contemplate the lesson on the Tree of Knowledge. During this down time we fit Ole’s new bridle to him and adjust the breast collar on the saddle to fit him better. He then got to stand tied for 30 minutes or so followed by a mid day snack, a brushing and then released back out to the pasture. Lots of wins happened. No spooking or over reacting at all. Nice way to end the day!

 Not sure he liked the muddy footing.

Roscoe's New Journey and a New DUH Convert!

DAY 110: The weather has made training very difficult. Lots of groundwork when its isn’t raining or snowing. We have gotten is some saddle time too. Still it doesn’t feel like enough. Roscoe has gotten circle driving learned now and is really reading the subtle body cues so much better. His personality is one of calm acceptance and genuine willingness to show what he knows and to try new things. He really understands that he has a place in the relationship and that we will always ask as gently as possible first. As his confidence has grown so has ours. We ride all over the place on a loose rein. We can use seat cues and balanced equitation. His gait transitions are really nice and getting better and better. We still have some work to do in the Fundamentals, especially under saddle but the foundation of trust and respect is really solid and each new exercise and experience just builds on that. With the winter forcing long periods of “no work” we have to make the most of every session and do our best to remember that every time we touch our horses we are training them. Being creative and setting the expectation at achievable levels is the hardest part. It has been one heck of a ride and Roscoe has proven to be one great little horse.

DAY 115-120: We had a goal to get Roscoe ready for his forever home. We wanted to challenge our horsemanship skills a bit, pay it forward and be part of something that gave back. We placed a simple ad on our local Craiglist page featuring Roscoe. We had some folks contact us, make noises about wanting to see him and then flake or simply not be a good fit. We were VERY clear about who he was, what his current skill set was, what we knew of his history and what we have done together. Some folks read the copy and some folks just looked at the pictures. It is a frustrating process and we have no idea how the professionals do it. Still, the pay it forward attitude pays off. We had an appointment with a person who wanted to meet Roscoe. The lady seemed to have read our post and the discussion made us think her family would be a good fit. We were going to travel and meet closer to her location. As we were loading up we got a call (which was nice) and we were told that for several reasons she had to back out at the last minute and wanted to reschedule. Well since we were just about to load up we figured that we should take advantage of the sort-of dry day (but it was chilly and windy out)and go to the local arena. As we were shifting gears we got a call from a gentleman who wanted to meet Roscoe and he was hoping to do it today. Hmmmn. Okay. So we made plans to met a little later in the day at our local arena. We arrived about fifteen minutes before our scheduled time and so did he. Good sign! We got busy grooming the horses and he jumped in to help. Then we went through our groundwork exercises. The fellow was impressed and asked lots of questions about what we were doing and why we were doing it. Again, this is a good sign. Then we saddled up Roscoe and I took him through is skill set. He was a rock star. Smooth transitions, nice stop and easy steering. As we were working under saddle and just having a good time together Laurie answered questions and talked about our approach, our history and so on. Then the rain started…just some tiny drops at first. So I did a little more with Roscoe and then asked if he wanted to take hi for a test drive. He answered that he hurt is back recently and need a few more days to heal up…but that he was really impressed with what he saw. So, figuring he was just looking/shopping I turned and took Roscoe for some cool down laps. I see the fellow smiling and Laurie is smiling too. We finish our cool down and I suggest that the fellow walk Roscoe a bit and just handle him some more. He does so and Laurie says to me “Roscoe is sold. You need to take the ad down.” Boom, just like that! We make arrangement to deliver Roscoe on December 24^th, 2012 and to give a lesson on our use of the Method to he and his granddaughters. A couple of days later we get a call that he has purchased the Rope Halter, Lead Rope, Stick/String and the Fundamentals kit! He even joined the No Worries Club! We were blown away! Roscoe is going to a great home with people who will continue his journey in the Method. He will have a pony for a pasture mate who is also going to get a new attitude as he learns the Method from exercise one!

It just goes to show you that a pay it forward attitude and the Method can do amazing things! Creating those relationships that are based on safety, respect and trust is one the effects of training as we all do. It creates a horse that stands out in the marketplace and speaks volumes without saying a word. Roscoe’s future is so bright he gotta wear shades!

While he will be greatly missed we know that his journey is far from over and that this forever home will be awesome for him!

Roscoe's Fall/Winter (Day 75-100)

DAY 75: This entry is basically a recap of the last 2012 practice for the Nor-Cal Downunder Brumbies. Roscoe participated in the day up until he tripped several times (after being used as the class model for the mini class on hoof trims). Not wanting to push him until he got more comfortable, he got to sit out oart of the day and reap all the petting a treats for folks observing the day. Sunday morning, it was rainy and chilly…frankly we were expecting a small turnout… but by 9:30am we had quite a sizeable group of folks gearing up for what would be a great practice! We started with 11 horses and riders and before we were finished with introductions all around for the benefit of the new people (3 horse/rider teams!) we had 15 horse/rider teams!  And that isn't counting the observers - 6 total, if memory serves.  This may have been the best attended practice so far!  It was a little challenging at first since we couldn't spread out like we normally do because we were sharing the arena with a pony club (in the early part of the day) and a pole bending/barrel race group near the end of the day, but they were finished before we had gone through our groundwork so it worked out ok.

After some warm up exercises from the Fundamental series, Randy M. led us in some groundwork exercises such as Lunging for Respect 1 & 2, the Backing methods, Yielding the Forequarters (just to name a few)and gave us some tips to "turn up the heat" to get the "yes sir" responses from our horses that CA likes to see.  He also shared some tips to try at home in the round pen: adding a 4th level of speed and getting the "shot-out-of-a-cannon" response. The refinements and focuses on what makes an A grade were instructional and inspirational! Then most folks saddled up for some riding.  Randy led the group in some quick cruising lesson then shared some suppling exercises with the group - yield hind quarters under saddle and the transition to yield forequarters, side tracking, beginning collection (getting the nose to drop).  Lots of trotting and cantering for most of the group.  As mentioned, during the riding portion of the day, we shared the arena with some ladies working on pole bending and barrels which was a good de-sensitizing exercise for the horses not used to a busy arena.  A rain shower part way through the day added some more interesting noises for the horses to get used to under the cover of the arena .  Most of the group headed from the arena outside to ride “Clinton-style”  some of the trails around the park.  Everyone came back with big smiles and sweaty horses! We grabbed some much needed lunch and enjoyed some fine fellowship! We even got a mini class on hoof trims and nutrition and a trailer loading demonstration, before we all hit the road for home (thank you Sally and Tara)!

It was great to meet the new folks - Lisa, Kathy, Janice - and we look forward to seeing them again soon.  And we welcome our youngest member, Kaia (did I spell that right?) who is Tara's daughter from way up in Quincy.

What an awesome way to spend a rainy day! What an AWESOME way to wrap up our 2012 practice season! Thanks for everyone who came to play and especially to those who drove several hours to share in the experience! This is really what the Nor-Cal Downunder Brumbies is all about!

DAYS 80-100: Between work, the “Holiday Season” demands, school and the weather it has been a juggling act. Every dry day we get out and work with the horses. We try are hardest to get groundwork and saddle time in each session. The arena in Somerset has been our go-to spot but we have had opportunities to travel to other places as well. For Roscoe the big focus was to refine the skills he knows and to introduce new exercises into the mix. His gas pedal is really coming along nice. A simple squeeze with the legs and seat and he walks on with a nice energy. Another squeeze with a little cluck and we’re trotting on. His stamina and awareness are greatly improved from the first ride that it really blows the mind!. His lope is smoothing out too! We’ve been working on developing his balance through elevation of the shoulders and basic collection. Lots of riding of circles and serpentine patterns in our regiment to be sure. We visited our friend and Brumbie member Gale at Cedar Springs Livery and Stable recently and spent a wonderful morning working on ground skills and skills under saddle. Gale’s horse Janie was being quite the sassy girl so we switched horses. She worked Roscoe and was able to focus on her body language, position, intent and energy. Roscoe was a willing and forgiving partner for Gale. Together they got the human more aware of the non-verbal communication needed to get the message across to the horse. Janie and Michael spent about 30-45 minutes fixing the attitude and getting Janie to respect space, give two eyes and move with control. There was a great deal of Lunging for Respect 1 and 2, Backing, Hindquarter Yields and Flexing. Gale said the next day Janie was a “new horse.” which was very encouraging. We were working outside in a small dressage arena with the borders marked in log and hot tape on three sides. While warming up under saddle the “open” side of the arena got Roscoe curious and he felt the need to inspect the tractor and mounting logs before we resumed course. The slight incline of the arena encourage faster movement downhill and some basic collection up hill. We did the Cruising Lesson, Follow the Fence, Diagonal and other fun exercises. In short he was feeling soft and willing with an increase in stamina and energy that was good to experience.

            We have done some “leadership walks” along the irrigation trail behind the house and really put the ground skills to the test. Log, rocks, hills, and other obstacles present themselves and we get as creative as we can with them. Roscoe and Argent like the mental stimulation. These walks really build that trust and respect. We also set up a mini challenge course at the arena which helped to change up our routine a bit. Cones, logs and other visual elements wee laid out and the horses had to move through the course at various gaits. Roscoe seems to adapt well to the demands placed on him. As we have progressed in his training we notice that the importance of the rider’s equitation becomes more important to Roscoe’s performance and willingness to work. We do lots of riding on a loose rein which he appreciates. When the rein is used (mostly direct and indirect) in conjunction with the leg and seat cues he responds smoothly. We’ve worked on introducing neck reining and he is starting to get the concept. His backing is greatly improved too! Under saddle the human just needs to sit deep, lean back and bump the reins and Roscoe backs up. To increase his speed on the backing we simply cluck or tap his shoulders with our toes. The improvements made during this season have been solid and at times emotional. Roscoe really tries to give 100% even when he is tired. You can’t ask for more than that really. We’ve got some activities planned later in December and will be traveling to some new places. It should be an adventure for all of us!

Sneaking In Saddle Time (Roscoe: Day 71-73)

DAY 71: Review and refine was the goal today. We were going to spend the session in the round pen. After yesterday’s performance it seemed to be a great time to go back and kick up the refinement and speed a notch or two. We did the Fundamental round pen exercises at the trot and lope…lots of loping. Direction changes were dynamic and Roscoe really worked up a sweat. He is slowly building up muscles along his top-line and his legs are looking better. He is moving out smoother too. Another balance/trim or two and good nutrition and we should be well on the road to having a balanced horse. Flexing was really nice and pretty light as were the hindquarter yields. We did some Sending inside and out side the round pen as well as Backing. Yielding the Forequarters is getting there. We have work to do in this exercise but Roscoe’s confidence and understanding is improving. The plastic bag, the stick-n-string and the rope were the tool used in the desensitizing exercises. He was mellow for all of them. We finished the session with some Leading Beside and relaxing (tied to our Tree of Knowledge) for an hour. Snack time (supplements) and pasture play time followed. Over the winter months session like this will happen at least twice a week (weather permitting) as well as trail walks where we’ll take the exercises to a new level and get creative with them Review is always a good thing and it is wise to remember that review days are not a bad thing. It cements the skills in the horse’s brain, changes up the pace and keeps things interesting.

DAY 73: The weather has been better but our schedules have been crazy! Training happens as often as we can make it happen but with the light fading so fast (it was dark by 5:30pm) getting enough time to get results is hard. We were able to sneak in some horse training/saddle time this evening. We loaded up the horses about 3:00pm. Argent is starting t play the “come chase me” game. He thinks its fun. We don’t. It took two of us about 20 minutes to catch him. He knew he was in trouble when we both got into the pasture and gave up the game pretty quick. We have a plan to show him the errors of his ways. Over the hill we went to the arena in Somerset, California (which is about 20 minutes from the house). Other folks had the same idea it seems so it was busier than usual. The footing was not great but not horrible. The other horses and humans seemed pleasant. We had some questions about the groundwork exercises we were doing (it always seems to happen) and the ladies who were asking said questions were very impressed that Roscoe was behaving so well given his history. Roscoe was being respectful and responsive to my groundwork cues. He had a nice level of energy in his feet and body. Argent always gets attention as he is a very striking Kiger mustang! Tonight's session had many "wins" and it really felt like all the efforts put into Roscoe began to pay off. The gas pedal, breaks and steering were all MUCH improved! He still needs to get in better shape (he still fatigues within 45-60 minutes) as he tires out quickly...but even that is getting better. We are trotting more, walking less and occasionally loping for a short time or distance. It’s all about those baby steps. Roscoe’s mind is improving faster than his body at this point but it was expected. We did our groundwork fairly quickly as the light was fading. Sadly there was no time to add another exercise to the mix but what we worked on went very well. Under saddle we began with Follow the Fence and One Rein Stops at the walk and trot to warm up. Then it was time to work on the steering wheel! We worked with cones in a zig-zag pattern and really got some nice turns, leg yields and circles around the cones. Trotting the zig-zag patterns was a "win" too! Trot-lope transitions were much improved too. Still a long way to go but we have to honor the improvements! Our hope is to get at least one more session in at the arena before the Nor-Cal Downunder Brumbies practice this Sunday. In between it may be round pen and ground work. Every little bit helps! The November practice is our last one for 2012 and then we take a break for the holidays. December and January are real challenges up here in the Sierra Foothills as rain and snow abound! We’re going to have to suck it up and buy a pass to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds to be able to use their covered arena. Horses…money goes in the front and out the back! I think I am going to feel today's session tomorrow!

Fun At Wendy's Ranch! (Roscoe: Day 70)

DAY 70: The weather has brought a fair amount of rain and snow to our little part of the world so training time has been very limited this week. We did get to spend the day at a friend’s ranch who is also a member of the Nor-Cal Downunder Brumbies doing what we call a spur of the moment ride. We had two “guests” as well. We all started off in the round pen and work on speed control and good body position. It was nice to have feedback in order to refine our techniques. Roscoe will be dong more loping in the days to come and refining his round pen work as we refine ours. Then we all headed to the arena to work on groundwork. Roscoe was worked by our friend Angela on Lunging for Respect 1 and 2 and several forms of Backing. We did some Sending through the pool noodle obstacle and over a teeter-totter (he was not sure about walking on said teeter-totter but he would jump over it just fine). Progress was made during the review and Roscoe actually worked up a little sweat! Then we moved to saddle work. I put Roscoe through his paces with Follow the Fence at the trot (we did lots of trotting), riding through the pool noodle obstacle, around the pedestals and doing lots of direction changes, flexing and circles. We even had one of the longest canters since we started this journey! It was pretty nice. Once I felt like Roscoe was using the thinking side of his brain I dismounted and gave lots of rubs and cookies. We then put Angela up on Roscoe and she did lots of walking, direction changes and circles. She had a decent seat but rides a bit tense. Still the two did well together. Roscoe is a patient fellow and forgive his rider quite a bit.

We broke for lunch (pizza) and gave the horses a break for about an hour.

After lunch we did some more ground work to ensure all the equines were in the game and then we saddled up. I did some checks with Roscoe and then gave Angela’s husband Sean a lead line lesson. We worked on his seat, balance and cues. Once he felt confident we let him ride “solo” while I was on the ground. When Roscoe’s fit would get a little sticky I would catch his eye and walk away so he would follow. At one point I jogged away to get more room between us and Roscoe jogged after me (mush to Sean’s surprise). Both did really well and seemed relaxed by the end of the ride.

I got back on to do a final check and end on some wins…got some nice gait transitions, quicker responses and really nice stops from the faster gaits.

Everyone was tired when we ended the session but the day was amazing! We hope to do it again soon!

Changing It Up (Roscoe: Day 65)

DAY 65: Change of pace for Roscoe today. One of the hardest things to do when following a training program (especially when time is limited) is keeping it fun for the horses! We are lucky to have an irrigation canal and maintenance trail behind our house. It is horse accessible for about a mile (one way). We often walk it almost all the way to our mailbox and back (making it a two mile walk). There are some slopes and obstacles, tight turns and narrow walkways on the trail. So, today we took a walk-Clinton style! We set out and went up and down, forwards and backwards over the many slopes along the trail. We sent Roscoe over logs and around boulders, through bushes and other fun obstacles during the walk. We practices leading beside and following from behind. Lots of backing up, starts, stops and C-Patterns occurred and we tried to get as creative as we could. We jogged a bit and we kept up a brisk walking pace all the way to the mail box. If our calculations are correct the horses do about two miles of movement on a one mile trail. We got to our mail box, grabbed our posts and headed back home doing the same thing. The goal was to use every exercise Roscoe knew and make it a challenge for him by added other stimuli that he would encounter on the trail. We achieved the goal. Roscoe was a little unsure about walking down the trail so far from his pasture at first because in his mind it was almost dinner time but he quickly figured out that if you walk quickly and do what is asked of you…cookies happen! It was a good experience and one we will be adding to our program at least once per week. Hopefully next time we will bring the camera and snap some pictures!

A Full Weekend (Roscoe Day 62-64)

DAY 62-64: It was a full weekend. We had a retreat weekend at our place. About 12 of our friends came out to have a quiet and relaxing country weekend with good food, good beverages and fine fellowship. Has it will happen around here a mini Horse 101 class spontaneously happened. Laurie and I were both off on Friday so we headed over to the arena. The footing was not stellar after the days of rain we had so we had to be careful. Groundwork (as always) occurred after a little run-around-and-kick-up-your-hooves time. Love that part. We laid out four cones about 15 feet apart in a straight line and set to PVC “logs” out at a diagonal to create some obstacles for us to play with. After we did some Follow the Fence at the walk and trot along with some one rein stops we took to the cones and got creative. Roscoe was a bit stubborn at first because of the increased level of work and difficulty but we got through it and had some nice laps through the course. He was yielding his hind quarters better from under saddle than in previous sessions and his cues felt lighter too. We even loped several times for short distances! He still needed to be in better condition and balance for that gait to be maintained for any length of time but it is a start! On Saturday after breakfast I wanted to have some quiet horsey time with Roscoe in the round pen. We groomed and then hauled tools/tack to the round pen. Folks came out, coffee mugs in hand to see what I was working on. One thing led to another and I started talking through the training process and let folks try their hand at some of the groundwork exercises. Then we tacked up (demonstrated this) and worked under saddle a bit. We focused on our steering wheel and gas pedal. Spoke about and demonstrated the squeeze, cluck, spank method (just had to touch the spanker) and then let folks try a few laps with Roscoe. He was a rock star! He really took care of folks and listened to me when on the line. We had a person who had NEVER been o a horse before and Roscoe walled and trotted (on the line) like a champ. It was a great time for everyone. On Sunday after breakfast I went out to get Roscoe for a quick groundwork review. It morphed into a regular training session and ended up with Roscoe taking a 5 year old and a 3 year old for a pony ride. He did well but got bored with it by the end of the session. I then hopped on and did some mental exercises which made him feel better. Lots of treats and brushing ended the session. Our trail walk will have t be put off until Monday I think (grin). It was a great weekend!

 

It Is A Team Effort (Roscoe Day 60)

DAY 60: Sometimes the demands of life get in the way of our fun and are wants. Had a work emergency yesterday that stopped me for working with Roscoe. Thank goodness for Laurie! She was able to take Roscoe to visit with our friends and Nor-Cal Brumbies members (Gale & Kim) at Cedar Springs Arena and Livery in Shingle Springs, California, for a nice evening with the horses. Gale was working through some of the Fundamental exercises and was looking for a second pair of eyes. Body language and training tool coordination was the focus for the humans while getting better energy from the horses was the equine focus. Laurie does not often work with Roscoe (that’s my job) but today she felt up to the challenge. As always groundwork started the session. According to Laurie that all went well, including the dreaded Yielding the Forequarters!

Roscoe seemed to develop a slight crush on Gale’s horse Janie (a very cute mare by the way).and at times was distracted but quickly came back to focus on the training. Under saddle they did the Cruising Lesson (walk trot) and Follow the Fence which seems to have gone well. Some really basic pattern work and one rein stops were worked in too.

It is getting time to move on to the next set of Fundamental riding exercises and working in more loping into his training. Also we are going to start to add cones and other obstacles into the mix. Need to keep him guessing. If the weather holds out we’ll try some tomorrow. Also the plan over the weekend is a trail walk along the irrigation trail behind the house. Lots of trees, rocks and slopes to move over and around, which is good for mind, body and soul. With the later fall/winter weather the big challenge is to get in training time and be creative with it as well.

One Of Those Days (Roscoe Day 58)

DAY 58: Work and weather kept us from doing much in the way of training. Short groundwork sessions were the standard over the last three days. Today however the weather and work schedules (sort of) allowed for some real training time. The sun was beginning to set by the time we got to the arena. A few good laps around the small arena to warm up and a 15 minute review of our ground work exercises happened first. Roscoe seemed in good spirits and was willing to “work” during the session. The time off showed in his understanding however and he was not a smooth/good as he was last week.

I too felt “off” and could not get my timing or rhythm right. So, in all fairness it was 90% my fault and 10% his fault (grin). We saddled up and did some nice walk/trot transitions along the fence and some one rein stops. A little sluggish but he really tried. However I felt like a monkey trying to ride a greased watermelon! Everything felt wrong. Seat, leg position, balance, rein coordination…everything just felt off. We got through this weirdness in my head/body/hands and ended up having a nice session. We even did some loping (which is still a little weird for him physically with a rider of my size on his back) which was very cool. I was happy that Roscoe was VERY patient with me during this time of ugliness. I was happy to note that, because of the cruising lessons Roscoe waits for the loose reign to move forward and drops his head nicely when it is given. The positive take-a-ways of the session is that Roscoe has learned patience with stupid humans, he will try when asked…even if his answer is not quite right and that he is getting stronger and healthier as we move forward. More of his personality is coming out too. He seems to really want some cuddle time before and after he works. He performs better if he gets a little longer grooming time and rubs during the training session. Its like he desires the positive reinforcement of praise/love and not just the release of pressure.

Good to know!

A Rescued Horse's Tale: We've Come A Long Way (Day 56)!

DAY 56: Right after our visit to Mokelumne River Ranch, the first real rain of the season hit. We had three days of heavy rain. Since we currently do not have access to a covered arena (we are purchasing a pass to the fairgrounds arena, which is covered, this week) we didn’t get any training in. Grrrr. Today the sun poked out and we got to do some work. While Argent was having his hooves trimmed Roscoe and I took to the round pen. We reviewed our previous exercises in quick succession and then moved onto Yielding the Forequarters and Sending. On Yielding the Forequarters, Roscoe was able to get three to four steps on each side. Some minor confusion happens on his right side (he sometimes backs or moves forward before remembering to side step) and on his left side he was a champ. We them formally introduced Sending. Because of the previous ground work we have done Sending came easy during the concept lesson. That is why the Method works so well. It builds on the confidence and experience the horse gains through the previous exercise. It was a short (30 minutes) session but we had some wins so we quit as the plan was to go to the local arena later in the day.

            Arena time! The footing in both arenas was pretty bad. Bog-like in areas and just plan soft/slick in others. Using the rail was pretty much out so the middle was our island.

Ground work review (as always) and…of course…more Yielding Forequarters and Sending. During the Sending I asked for more hustle in Roscoe’s feet when his tail passed my belt buckle. A tap on the butt a time or two convinced him of my intent and he caught on quickly. Rubs and cookies make the lesson easier to swallow (grin). Then we rode. With the foot being so bad, we mostly walked and worked on our steering. It was not quite as good as Sunday but with three days off along with the chilly weather I was not expecting great things at first. It got better as the saddle part of the session went on. We got some walk-trot transitions in the mix, which were okay. Had to use the spanker a couple of times early in the session and then never had to touch it again. Roscoe’s backing was a bit sticky so we worked on that and introduced Yielding the Hindquarters under saddle. He flexed nicely until the leg/seat cue got into his brain and he moved his back feet. It is really cool seeing the thinking side of the brain of a horse work. You can see and feel them working on a solution. The sun was set and the moon was rising by the time we left the arena. All in all it was a nice session.

            We snapped some images of Roscoe to compare them to his first few days with us. A real change is happening. The exercise, training and nutrition have really helped! We have more muscle to add but that is going to take time and conditioning. Roscoe is a very social horse and having the consistent attention seems to be doing great things for his mind and demeanor. It should be neat to see what the winter and spring bring to our journey.

Roscoe's First "Outside" Ride (Day 53)

DAY 53: We traveled to a new place today! Mokelumne River Ranch in Thornton, California hosted the Nor-cal Downunder Brumbies October practice. It has a nice covered arena and an OBSTACLE COURSE so our October theme was to de-spook (desensitize) our horses! Prior to today’s adventure, On Day 52 (a light work day) Roscoe got some round pen time at home. Covered what we have been working on including the Dread Exercise 6 (Yield the Forequarters)! Our round-pen does not have the most level footing but we still managed two (2) steps, four (4) times on each side without any fuss (a little confusion at first but hey, it’s only day two with that exercise). Then it was bath and snack time. Early morning on Day 53 we loaded up and headed down to Thornton, California. It is about 1.5 hours from Placerville but well worth the drive. Mokelumne River Ranch is a beautiful facility. Nice round pen, a great covered arena, lots of places to sit and watch beautiful horses (we had a nice picnic lunch) and then there is obstacle course! Wow! The obstacles range from fairly easy to difficult in nature. They were formed to look like they were part of a trail, but with good footing and lots of space. The also have a half-mile “track” with great footing that you can walk, trot or lope your horse on and a levy trail! In short it was a thing of beauty.

There was a group of ten at the session. We did our traditional club warm up of Lunge for Respect 1 and 2, Backing, Yielding Hindquarters 1 & 2, and Flexing. Then we broke up into Fundamental and Intermediate groups and worked on skills we were challenged by or needed help with. The spirit of fellowship and camaraderie is always good at our practices but today it felt even better. The group has come a really long way in a year. Roscoe got some tweaking on Yielding Forequarters and increasing his “energy” on his backing. We formally introduced Sending as an exercise but with all othe other ground work we have done this was simply a combination of exercises he already knew so the process was simple. Nice “wins” in those areas. Groundwork took about an hour and then we had a short break to tack up. Some of the group had time constraints so they hit the obstacle course under saddle. Those of us without said constraints rode in the covered arena first. Roscoe worked on the Cruising lesson, One Reign Stops (I need to do more of those now) and Follow the Fence. He was a little distracted by Annie, a very pretty Quarter Horse mare own by Randy. Still, he did a good job for me. W had a nice mix of walks and trots and I never needed to use the spanker ( I did make a motion towards it twice when Roscoe was looking at Annie and that got his attention). We got some points from Dave and Randy about leg cues and positions that might help refine Roscoe’s steering. We used those pointers to test his understanding and create a starting point for improvement. This is always a god thing! We wrapped this up and then walked the horses to the obstacle course!

Because this was Roscoe’s first “outside ride” and because it was a group setting I thought it wise to walk him with a lead line through the obstacles first. Laurie and Argent did the same. It was good preparatory work and gave Roscoe some real confidence. Some of the obstacles were of a level that were a little too hard for Roscoe in his current physical condition by we examined all of them. Then we saddled up and rode the ones we felt he could do (several times each), we played in the “barrel/pole arena” which had four barrels (lots of circles around the barrels) and then we “serpentined” around the poles. There was a fair amount of trotting between stations and on the flat track, some nice breaks and even a little loping before he tired out. We had one mini-spook at a large bird in the bushes but that was it. It was a great experience for us both and our group plans to make this an annual (or bi-annual) experience! It was great to be able to work our horses outside the arena while applying all the skills of the Method our horses knew. A day of mental, physical and even spiritual exercise that everyone enjoyed! Have to love a day full of “wins!

 

Yielding the Forquarters - The 10th Level of Hell

DAY 51: Of the twenty-seven (27) exercises in the Fundamentals level of the Downunder Horsemanship Method, it seems to be a common consensus that Yielding the Forequarters is “of the devil” and one of the hardest to get your horse to want to do willingly. Because horses “dominate” one another with their head, neck and shoulders, getting them to move it from the slightest pressure is difficult. This is the exercise that brings out the frustration, the tears, the swearing and the desire to quite horses all together. Yes, today was one of those days! But let me back up…

            Today we did some groundwork outside of the arena. We did some Leading Beside, Sending, Backing, Flexing Yielding the Hindquarters (1 & 2) and Lunging for Respect 1 & 2. We used the trees, the hills, the paths…anything we could find to get Roscoe thinking. It went well. We even got more energy in his feet. Good times and good results! Then we saddled up and worked on One Rein Stops, more Flexing with the Bridle, Follow the Fence along with circles and serpentine patterns to help with is muscle building. All these went well…a solid C to B in grade. Because Day 50 had LOTS of trotting we split the saddle work up 60/40…with the 40 being trotting. We loped a tiny bit. I could felling both willingness and fatigue in Roscoe so we ended on a win, dismounted and took a break to watch Laurie and Argent make significant strides in both skill and confidence (Laurie shut down one of Argent’s little crow-hop fits and moved his feet with energy. He was a gem after that.).

            Now, on to the Dread Exercise 6! On Day 50 it was introduce on Roscoe’s left side. Today he seemed to get it at a high D low C grade…but he tried with out fuss. It was like watching someone move in new shoes. It was cute and entertaining to be sure. He was rewarded for the slightest try and slowing pushed to a new level of understanding. Then me moved to the right side. Wow! He TOTALLY checked out, freaked out and lost his brain! He firmly believed that this exercises would eat his face off! We kept at it and had a couple of “almost there” moments…and then he got aggressive with his head. Well, that was a mistake. There was LOTS of moving of the feet and changing directions with a HIGH level of energy. Yes, he bumped into the handy stick a time or two as well. In short he saw the error of his choices and calmed down. As long as he tried to figure out what he was being asked in a respectful way the pressure stayed low and every effort was rewarded. We actually got four solid attempts (in a row) in a calm/respectful manner. We ended there, got brushed off and he was treated to some apple slices and baby carrots (his two current favorites). Whew! Hard work but we had a break through. We’ll do just that exercise tomorrow and if we get two solid tries each side we’ll call it a win. Baby steps.

A Rescued Horse's Tale: Roscoe's Progress (Day 50)

DAY 50: Yielding the Forequarters is probably the most frustrating groundwork exercise in the Fundamental level of the Method. Yet it is one of the most important too! The goal was to properly introduce this exercise after a warm-up and review of the other five exercises. We ended up warming up in the large arena and did our warm up and ground work on the line as other folks were riding in the arena. The small warm-up arena at Pioneer Park was being used by a lady and her very green horse. She was sort of doing a weird mix of Parelli and Clinton style exercises. Watching her (and the horse) briefly really illustrated how ineffective the naggy mother attitude and the need for good timing. Not sure how her ride went because Roscoe was the focus. She did come down and watch the work we were doing and asked how long I had Roscoe. Her jaw hit the dirt when I told her. It was an “interesting” moment to be sure as I politely advised her to find an approach that works for her, REALLY learn it and REALLY apply it.

            With the Arena Mates in firmly in hand and the tips given to us by Professional Clinician Shana Terry of Downunder Horsemanship (DUH paid us a visit in August. The Brumbies had a blast!) we were ready to really try to Yield the Forequarters. The biggest elements to covey this exercise to the horse seems to be body placement, stick placement and staying with the horse. Lined my navel with Roscoe’s eye, had the tip of the handy stick pointed toward his ears and the handle to his shoulders (remove the string) and then tap the air with rhythm. Roscoe’s first reaction was to back up. We got past that by popping the halter downwards and resuming the pressure. You could see the gears turning in his head. A couple of taps on his shoulder and a couple taps in front of his ears and he figured out that it was easier to move the front end instead of the rear end to get away from the pressure. Of course he had to go through his entire menu of reactions before he got to this point. All the human can do is laugh and be patient (not easy). It was a process! Once we got ONE good step each side twice we quit the exercise. It was a win and the sun was beginning to set so we wanted to get in some saddle time.

            Saddle time! Roscoe has figured out that when you lift up on the reins he should back up a step or two. Good boy, right? Still it does make it tough to mount up. So we worked on standing still while mounting.  Mount. Stand. Dismount. Repeat. We got it worked out. Because the light was fading the goal was to simple Follow the Fence and maybe some direction changes or circles. Because of Roscoe’s hooves and condition we have been mostly working at the walk. Today he felts a little bit more energetic and transitioned into a trot without much squeeze. In fact the first time he totted off I hadn’t yet asked for it. Now that he got my attention we started to trot down the long sides of the arena and walk down the short/curved sides of the arena. We did this about four times in each direction. It because obvious he was rethinking his actions (grin). Then we did a couple full laps in each direction. This was the longest (it is a BIG arena) duration of trotting he has done while in our care. He was a bit sweaty at the end. Because is trot is not yet as smooth as it could be there was a bit of posting on a loose reign. It is a work out to be sure and one I am sure both horse and human will feel later. It was a solid training session that had both challenges and wins. Progress and improvement happened and that is the real goal. Our challenge on the human side is to keep improving while pacing how much to push Roscoe. We don’t want him to be bored but we also want to keep him healthy. It is a balancing act to say the least.

A Rescued Horse's Tale: Roscoe's Journey (Day 45-48)

Day 45: The horses had two days off. Today we squeezed in a training session before the rain hit. We did about 15-20 minutes of groundwork review and then saddled up. Our focus was the cruising Lesson, One-Reign Stops and Follow the Fence for a majority of the session with some Backing and Circles worked in the mix. Roscoe is a sensitive guy and reads the energy of his human better than expected. Trying to be “stress free” as the weather was changing was a little tough but singing quietly to the horse (and myself) helped. We had some wins for the most part. Some resistance going to the right in a circle but it may be caused by the unevenness in Roscoe muscle development. Still he did try and was much lighter compared to three rides ago. After 30-45 minutes the rain started so we leaded up and headed home. A good, albeit rushed session. Sadly “life” is going to get in the way and the horses will bet three days off. On the plus side we found a farrier who can do body balancing work. Roscoe is going in for a trim/balance on Saturday. Lets hope it makes him more comfortable and level.

Day 48: Roscoe had a rather extensive hoof trimming which helped to balance his hips and shoulders. The session leveled his shoulders and his hips really nicely and even allowed for a greater range of motion and energy. He did some light ground work on Day 47 but was still figuring out how to move normally (we call it drunk pony syndrome) instead of being a little wobbly. His hooves were really bad when we got him and he learned to walk/compensate for this. Now, after his second trim/adjustment where he REALLY got leveled and balanced for his conformation and stride he is relearning to move again. Its like having a limb in a cast for a long time and then having to rehabilitate the muscles and joint for that limb. It takes time. Another comment was about his nutrition and how it may have effected his development (he is a little croup high). With the evidence noted at the corona band of MUCH better nutrition Roscoe may actually grow a little more! He is already filled out and is looking much healthier! It does take time though.

            Off we go to the arena. The local drill team seems to have beat us there so the big arena is filled. We take the smaller (60 x120) arena and start doing ground work. Being conscious of Roscoe’s hooves and being off balance/sore a bit we did some work on the line for 10-15 minutes. Roscoe likes people and it seems we have bonded a bit. He was really looking to come into my space after each exercise. Truthfully, being away from him for three days was tough and I had to stand my ground emotionally and well as physically. When I did let him in he got LOTS of rubs and even some treats. Yes, I am a softie I admit it. Roscoe gave me a solid effort every time I asked for something. His flexing was a solid B. His Yielding Hindquarters to the left was really nice. To the right…well he was off so it was not as pretty. In short he really tried for me and communicated areas of discomfort in a very respectful manner. It was really nice working together like that. The bit issue seems to be gone. He just opens his moth for it and we move on.  Whew! We saddled up with a goal of just doing a few laps and being done. Nope! Roscoe wanted to work! Most of the time it was just a squeeze and we moved out nicely. Clucking happened a few times when his feet got a little sticky or when he became a little distracted by the drill team. I touched the spanker once…just reached for it to adjust it and got a “yes, sir” response. He actually wanted to trot so we did until I felt him begin tire out a little. His backing was not as smooth but I cut him some slack on this because of his slight soreness. His circles were really nice. There have been some major improvements in the last week or so. It comes down to working the Method, being clear and being a leader combined with being a loving owner. We have a long way to go but we are finding a joy in the partnership and a solid work ethic. We need to own a couple of more Fundamental ground and saddle exercises and then I think some work outside the arena is going to happen. Should be an adventure!