L3/4 Clinic with Terri Martinus

My first clinic this year was with Terri down in Sussex. Lots of nervous build up after last years antics having a scared right brain horse running about on the end of a rope, wondering at what point he was going straight over the top of me, and not to mention trying to get him into a little cage on wheels to get him there.

Well we got there with no stress, and when the snorting orange monster came out of the box, puffed up to ten foot high, it was seconds before he came off his adrenaline and listened to me and walked reasonably calmly to his stable.

I have to eat my thoughts. I underestimated jack and the progress we had made. He was so well behaved and responsive I felt proud of us both,and I certainly don't give credit to me easily! We were given tasks on the 45ft line, travelling circles, can you get your horse to back up 45ft to a cone, then do it sideways (at which point I was making a good impression of a flapping chicken to try and communicate down the line), and do a 180 degree turn with all the other horses in synch on a fence line. I liked that one!

We were then tasked to do follow the rail with two 22ft lines, driving from zone 5 behind. I have never used 2 lines before so just getting hold of them and then get me behind jack without getting all tangled was a mission at the start. Then I had to get him to move forward, but we have been doing a lot of backwards from zone 5 so he just kept reversing bless him. Terri helped me give a slightly different command and voice cue and finally he got it and we were off. Loved it, and jack took up contact and did everything beautifully, except eat grass. Well he probably ate grass beautifully, but he wasn't supposed to be munching and I had to develop a knack of getting his head up and moving him forward without getting the ropes stuck under his legs whilst standing behind him. Glad no one had a video camera!

Long reining on 22ft feather lines

In the afternoon we played at liberty. There is nothing like slipping off the ropes and knowing that your bond with your horse is so special he stays at your side. We are good at this at home and get very playful, but how about taking off the halter in a very large field with nine other horses and owners there?  I have to be honest jack is so nosey and social I figured that as soon as that halter came off he would be off to say hello to the other horses. What he did melted my heart. He stayed with me by my side. What an honour. Even with all those other distractions he stayed with me. He did some beautiful work in the round pen, and I could see no tension in him, working properly through his back and having amazing self carriage.

Circling close at Liberty

Stick to Me

Circling in the roundpen at Trot

Home time came all too quickly and I actually felt no worries about loading he was so chilled.   BUT as I approached the trailer a herd of cows appeared behind in the lane. Jack has never seen a cow before. He grew tall, snorted, grew taller. I tried to explain they were black and White horses, but no he wasn't having any of it. Then he had to move his feet. 100 miles an hour (ok, maybe 30 but you get the idea!), around me on my little rope. At one point he jerked my shoulder as he went to rear and he broke my rope. I quickly disengaged his hindquarters and got him to come to me, thank goodness for our relationship, and I tied him back on, then moved away quickly as he was not in the right frame of mind where you want to be standing right next to him. Thirty minutes later I got some element of calm. He was sweating tons and certainly not in the right frame of mind to get back in the trailer.

Terri came to my rescue.  I knew I would need help or have to get a tent out for the rest of the night.  My shoulder hurt, I was tired and the last thing I wanted to do was lose my patience after such a lovely day.  He was still hyped and took a while to get into the trailer, but she managed him very nicely.

Note to self - add to task list - introduce Jack to cows!

To Jack....a poem from me to you x

It was on a cold, misty December morn the lorry rattled down the lane,
I never realised on that day my life would never be the same.

A sorry sight came down the ramp, eyes black, coat dull, head low,
The bones and ribcage fully exposed, Why did they treat you so?

The first few weeks I could just stare, looking for hours over the door,
You started to accept me being there, you just needed to feel secure.

You were scared when I touched you, the corner your safe place,
A flinch if I did too much, fear etched on your face.

Winter turned into Spring, weight covered your bones,
Your beautiful eyes came back into life,
Your coat showed a myriad of orange tones.

You blossomed slowly before my eyes, cheeky and full of play,
Frustrating to lead, impossible to tie, and catching took hours a day.

Then one day I received a call, you were sick and I thought you would die,
The vet told me to expect the worst,
I stayed by you all night and just cried.

It had been the starvation and mistreatment before,
Your body just couldn’t cope,
But I had found you now, and I wouldn’t let you go,
I knew with my love there was hope.

You became my shadow, you grew strong and tall,
You no longer hid, you came to my call.

The riding we started, at the beginning it went well,
But you hit a trigger, you bolted, I fell.

You napped, reared and bronced,
You span and you ran,
I got professionals to help you,
I did what I can.

More than 3 years we struggled,
Injuries, hospitals and fear,
I just couldn’t control you,
BUT I HAD ALL THE GEAR!!!! :0)

I saw an advert one day,
‘Try Parelli’ it read,
Well nothing else worked,
said a voice in my head!

The rest is my journey of love and success,
Each day I work to get my better best.
The bad things all went, replaced with happiness and smiles,
We haven’t taken steps, we have travelled for miles.

You are my best friend, my teacher, each day we have fun,
You are my partner for life, We are two become one.

Jack I love you, even from the first day I knew you were special.

THE WORMING DILEMMA

Lisa Trowse said WORMING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A HISTORY Jack had mouth issues. Severe pain and had to have lots of dentistry when I got him. Result is that You don’t get near his mouth easily. Worming is one of the last taboos in Jacks stable. We don’t mention it. When the time comes round I dread it. I usually end up with injuries. I always wear a hat. And I Never do it alone. It is ugly, it is undignified and it ends with a fight with a scare half ton animal. It damages our trust and it takes days to get him to look at me again and instead of a neigh, he hides his head in the corner when he sees me.

REMEDY. As all Jacks other bad behaviours have been fixed, I have been left with the last but most difficult. It was time to make things right and stop avoiding and take the time it takes. Over the last few months I introduced a syringe and mouth play. It has taken a while. Lots of approach and retreat for him just to accept the syringe filled with molasses. First of all I just had to leave it on the side in the stable. Even that was enough to make him right brain. Then I held it in my hand away from him, and let him see me squirt molasses into my other hand. Stretch my arm away whilst he licked my hand. Slowly getting closer until I could put the syringe in my hand and let the molasses be licked off the end. You get the idea, until I could insert it into his mouth. This has taken months, but he has looking forward to the syringe which has been making an bi weekly appearance and he eagerly opens his mouth……….

THE REAL THING …..well guys all I can see is that if you have an extreme behaviour just remember Rome wasn’t built in a day! But with the work you will build an empire! HE KNEW!!! I don’t know how but he knew!! THAT I didn’t expect! I was too damned arrogant and thought I could just put the wormer in the syringe sandwiched between molasses, I would wander up as normal, pop it in his mouth and job done!! Typical predator thoughts. I sauntered up smiling, talked in my usual singsong voice, and didn’t even get to the stable door, when the hindquarters swung to the door with the hind foot in it’s defensive come in here and I will boot you, and he hid his head in the corner. My breathing, my heart rate, or something in my body language gave it away. My hopes fell into my boots.

Extreme RBI. I hate it. I don’t see it often. But this is how I hate to see Jack and why I hate worming so much. Reminiscent of his past when he was so so scared and I bring it back and it damages us (ooo getting a bit emotional writing this). How dare they damage such a beautiful creature so he is so scared. Anyway I digress. I put the syringe round the corner,and just waited by the door. And waited. Minutes ticked past. Finally the head lifted slightly and his ear twitched at me. Cue to talk to him and smile. Got a look, then he hid again More minutes. More looks. Feet starting shifting and he came round to the door. Picked the halter as I figured it was going to be needed. Hindquarters swung round. Another ten minutes for him to allow me to put it on. Forty minutes to get back in the stable. Picked up the syringe put it on the side. Gave lots of scratches and did lots of porcupine head down. Picked up the syringe. Head came up, retreated with it, porcupine head down. Closer and closer, with molasses all over my hands. Take a lick. Retreat. Head down. Finally syringe in the mouth corner. Retreat. In and out. In and out. Taste that strange concoction. Lots of faces pulled. Head down. In and out. Then it was time and I plunged the wormer in. Head came up, so I pushed it up. Made sure it went in, then let go. RBE time. Off his feet went. Round and round and round and round in circles, whilst I remained neutral in the centre as he moved his feet. When he came to rest he made me cry as he put his head right into my body and just came to rest there whilst I stroked him. We stood there for a few minutes and then when he moved away I retreated from the stable. The amazing thing was he had his head over the door, business as usual. It took just over an hour. It was really difficult. But Jack maintained his dignity. And we maintained our relationship, and next time it will be easier as he trusted me and i took that trust and held it tight so it didn’t break.

THE HORSENALITY CONUNDRUM

I think I have finally got to understand Jacks horsenality. It has only taken three years and lots of mind changes. Originally he was very RBE, but with Parelli training he was very LBE. So I figured he was innately LBE. Then when I went out and about he went very RBE and my PP figured he was RBE and I got a horsenality report which is based on when you first get your horse which came out strongly RBE, but with lots of LBE tendencies. So I figured he must be RBE innately but with lots of LBE thrown in and a bit of LBI. But back home I never see the RBEnow???? Brain hurt time.

Anyway my PP came over a couple of weeks ago, and also agreed he was probably innately LBE as he was very playful and curious, which is not a RBE trait. So she changed her mind. And also figured that a scared LBE going RB is more challenging as he won’t look to the human for leadership. Are you with me so far?

So, I have finally come to the conclusion that jack is innately a LBE. BUT when reacting to new places, people, changes and things, he will have an extreme RBEreaction so at those times I need to be a very very strong leader to get his attention and off his adrenalin. And as for the LBI part when that shows up I need to change my strategy again, and that is usually in the arena. 

So I NOW finally feel that I understand my horse…….that means so much to me and it has taken a really really long time, and lots and lots of confusion. Thanks jack for making it interesting:0)

Lesson with Terri

Great lesson with Terri but every bone in my body aches.  She took one look at me today and said that she was going to be particular...with me!  We set off to get Jack more responsive to his porcupine.  He tends to brace and fight pressure and push against it, and this needs to change.  We started off with some simple pressure and release on his face, and chest, and moved on to the more difficult areas like his chin and ears.  He needs to learn to follow a feel.  We progressed quite well and I was given techniques to get him more responsive.  Terri also showed me how to start Jack off with getting the lead by the tail backwards by threading the rope through his legs and using the rope pressure of a yoyo on his nose, whilst pulling him back.  He got a bit confused, but after hanging in there we managed to get a step.....and quit.  Now time for him to think it over and digest his learning, so tomorrow we get two steps.

Moved on to improving my draw, by using a slide and grip technique with using a stick and string slapped hard on the ground to increase the pressure. Terri expected Jack to get 'emotional' and he didn't disappoint but wasn't unmanageable, though I did take a little sand skiing trip!  I found this quite difficult. Definitely got some improvements but I need to think about my body position and my timing is not great.  Another porcupine area was the figure 8, falling leaf and 's' pattern.  Terri gave me a technique of crossing my arms putting the stick under the rope to disengage the hindquarters, and then following the feel through and across. ......difficult to describe.  It was awkward at first, but once I got it, it was great and Jack responded well.  With the figure 8 I need to push Jack out wider on a circle so he has room to move, and push him in zone 1/2, not 4/5 like I was doing.  Then as he comes into his figure 8, I need to move directly backwards and get him to follow the feel through and take up any slack in the rope so I don't allow him to drift.  All complicated stuff in higher gaits!

Moving onto my freestyle, I had my first carrot stick ride.  It all went quite dandy until I upped it into trot and Jack started to want to come off the rail.  The stick, reins, horse, and speed all seemed too much and I got in a muddle, then Jack started to lose his confidence and got faster, and then I started to lose my confidence.  But, that aside it all was fine, and in the lesson I pushed myself.  I can now go back to my comfort zone, now the learning has taken place and practice and refine.

A Day of Fun

Spent a lovely day with Josette and True.  He really is a funny pony.  So different from Jack.  I found I could really connect with him in play.  Got great stick to me, and then we played at liberty.  Got him snorting and really moving his feet with a new game, basically asking him to stop and go.  He loved it.  I also had a lovely ride getting him to canter round the school.  Got a lovely flying lead change in canter as we changed direction.  He is a poppet and a credit to Josette.

We are going to Parelli School

Something happened last week that I really wasn't expecting.  I had a plan in place, and I REALLY like being organised.  My plan was to work really hard this year and progress to the point where I would be ready to take the Fast Track course as a prerequisite to become a Parelli Professional in 2012.  The courses were full this year with a good waiting list, so chances were slim.  I could deal with that, and in the longer term plan shorter term goals.

But last week, I got a phone call from the Parelli office.  I was told that due to cancellation I could have a place on the Fast Track in June.....JUNE!!!  Like 10 weeks away and just round the corner.  So after my initial shock, I put my feet back on the ground,  and said....'Ha, no way will I get time off work and they like need an answer tomorrow, no chance'.  But figured, don't ask don't get and sent an e-mail to my boss with a leave request for a month off.  Guess what....oh yes, I got the time off!

I then had to consider the financial implication, but Ian, my poor suffering husband, said sod the money!  I didn't need to be told twice.  I have accepted the place, I have booked my accommodation for the month, just need to find a lorry to get Jack up there, and we are set!

I then had a lesson with Terri, my instructor, yesterday.  Realised how much work I have to do.  Every bone and muscle in my body ached after a 3 hour training session.  But I am going to work hard.  Go miles out of my comfort zone and do the best I can.  I know that if I am not good enough this year, I can still return next.  But hey, I will try!