Monday July 25 RIDE 6

It was a quiet Sunday for Honey as I had to do some errands. I did manage a visit and turn out. Today we had a nice ride- trotting steering etc. We did more circles and walked over a blue tarp -While I was mounted and took a spin around the ranch.
I also worked on her side pass , which will be fun and progress rapidly I have no doubt.  Tomorrow- perhaps I will take her out on the trail! Maybe.

Saturday July 23 Trotting nicely Ride 5

I gave Honey a day off Friday and rode Ruby at Dru Barner park with my friens Sheri.  I was going to pony Willy but he lost a shoe (a very rare thing).

SO today we did a lot!!! Oh my goodness!! I asked Stan to take some videos. I really wanted to see how she was going. This is the second time at a trot with out the lunge line.  PLEASE notice- all you non-horsey people, the quality of the forward movement- how nice her circles are. wow is all I have to say!

At the end there- did you see her lick her lips and be soo happy with herself?? nice stop too!

After that wonderful little spin I took her outside the arena (first time without following a person.

Then the best!! I don't think my horses back over poles this well!! This is the first time we backed over the pole-she's too good!

THEN this was the 2nd time after "bad pony" day we worked on trailer stuff.- Yesterday-I used her treat bucket to lure her in and today I did too and here is the video- Next time I'll see if I can gert her in by just walking in. THEN we'll need to work on backing out..

Ride 4, Thursday July 21

 Sorry no pics

Today- I rode with no one helping. Honey thankfully, has the whoa down. Maybe it was because she had no one to look at on the ground- she still turned to the center when I said "Whoa". Oh well- we'll fix that later-she is so sweet.   She trotted in nice circles! Steering is still noodley- this was ride 4 ! :) She moves right out at the trot- I really wish I had it videoed- I'll have Stan do it for us. Oh the new thing today was- LIME Green leg wraps! darn I should've taken pics.
THEN when we were done; of course all week I have had her tied to the trailer while I groom and Tack up- so today I got her feed/treat bucket going  and went in the trailer- she was reluctant- I came back out (left the bucket in) asked her again and she went right in- did it 3 times :)

 she happily ate her stuff in there- I will do that again each day with and without food.

I think its time for a trail ride!

Ride 3 Wednesday July 20

Honey seems very pleased with herself! What a great day for us!! Oh My!! Nora came by as planned. She knows how to lunge so I had her lunge Honey in both Directions, just to get to know each other  a bit.
Then I mounted up and Nora led us around.  She then lunged us on a circle similar to yesterday.  Then we reversed several times by me turning her head and using leg. Nora just pointed and moved in position just so Honey "got the idea".  Then Nora un -hooked the rope and we walked around a while.
I had Nora hook us back up and off we went walking back on the circle AND THEN (drum roll..)  the trot-
BEAUTIFUL! she moved out and went great in both directions! NICE. we just did a few circles then ended it-the trot session.  We walked on our own over the poles and  around. Then we followed Nora out on the trail a little and back. TA DAH. Another sweet victory!
Tomorrow I hope to ride with out a person on the ground- Stop (whoa) was lacking so we'll work some on that.

Tuesday July 19-Wheee ride number 2

Today I asked Stan to come to the arena and help me get Honey moving under saddle. Tomorrow Nora comes at 2pm to help. I had lunged and free lunged Honey before Stan arrived.

I mounted up and Stan just walked us around. We followed, and I steered a little. She's just going in the halter with some side attachments so I can get her head going. I'll take better pictures.

After of few time of us riding in a circle around Stan using the fence corner as a guide, we were going very nice!

We reversed several times with Stan pointing and me steering. 

Then the big moment...(drum roll...) I had Stan take the rope off, while he stayed in the center of our circle.

I reversed several times and Stan pointed in the direction to go (cuz Honey kept looking for direction) And when I said whoa- she stopped and faced Stan. Ha ha shes so cute.

I had him walk to the other side of the arena and sit on the mounting block.  And I got her to walk around and even go over the pole. We ended there. It was a good ride!

Monday July 18

Another pleasant day. We did the usual grooming and saddled up. There was no one around so I lunged and worked on backing some more. Since I don't always have some one at the arena I guess I'll ask Stan to start coming so we can progress her along with the saddle work.

Sunday July 17-Not Feeling well

Uh-Oh not feeling very well because of the shots. Felt well enough to have a swim in the pond with her pasture mate. See the "pond" in the back? I had Stan go and halter her and bring her out, I had him groom her too, so she can get some "man" time. We let her eat grass and put her back.
The shots, especially when she got so many at one time will make them feel out of sorts. Now she can be on a schedule and have them space apart. We'll see how she is tomorrow.

Saturday July 16-Good Pony

Waiting for saddle and arena work

Compare this photo of Honey, compared to the one on the title!
Another wonderful day! Warm  with a cool breeze. I was able to get squeezed in by Loomis Basin at 4:30 to have the vet come and get Honey caught up on her shots. Her last set was July last year and they really should have spring and fall, so we'll have her on a schedule.

I was worried- but like all the rest of her experiences for the most part- SHE WAS A CHAMP! Since I work for a vet and have been around many barn clinics-I have seen many well trained horses act a WHOLE lot worse- she never even flinched-she even had her (probably first in her life) intra nasal Strangles. Good girl!

Today we worked more on backing over poles, I took her around the ranch and found a little ditch to back over and she did well- it was scary at first- But after a few times she was carefully backing over the ditch.

Russ was having a lesson and he was riding Miriah- Honey's pasture mate- and another woman was mounted in the arena. I decided even though I had no one at her head-I would at least mount her and sit in the arena and watch via horse back. I mounted fine. She didn't want to move. So I decided with people in the arena I wouldn't push her. I did get her to disengage her rear end once in each direction. I was also able to have her give her head each way. -
A good day.

Friday- July 15

Another nice day. I groomed Honey and we played in the arena. I then saddled her up and l went back to the arena and lunged her.

Todays goal was to work over the poles. She does very well, trotting and walking over them. So with the thought of having (at some point in time) she will need to back out of the trailer, I will work on her backing over the poles. This was not an easy task-her backing over the poles. It takes a while for them to figure out how to lift the leg and back up.

I now see her when she has to much pressure and how she reacts. But with some firmness and some chill and collect our cool time, she figured it out.- YEAY she figured it out! and was very proud of herself. I took her for a walk by hand out the gate and down the trail.

Under pressure she  (halfheartedly I must say-but I believe she would escalate if handled too rough) she purses her lips tight and will try and get out/away from it/you. BUT if you reprimand that behaviour  and ask her to stop and chill- she'll give it a nice quiet try. Sweet. Then when you verbally make a big deal and tell her what  a good girl she is - she licks her lips and puts her head in your chest low for a pet and a hug.

I was reluctant to mount her when no one is around and I may get over that real soon-cuz its an arena- and at least we'll be in there, even if I conk my head!

Bad Pony- July 14

Today was a wonderful day temperature wise. I have no pictures for today. The project today, was trailer training, although I should've stayed with the mounting and riding. Oh well tomorrow.
The truck was hooked up so I trailered my horses to Cool Hills . I rode and worked Will and Ruby, then focused on Honey. By the time I started to work on trailer loading -it was horsey dinner time. I don't like to start hard work at that time of day. Next time it will be after breakfast.
I had already started so of course I had to finish it.  Honey kept pawing the trailer-like she wanted to come in but just could not get all the way in. She was front half in about 6 times. We worked for about 30-60 minutes, she was getting pouty.

 The third time I went to drive her , instead of me being in the trailer, she decided to rear and strike. BAD pony idea. I spanked her shoulder and reprimanded her by shanking her back hard. We stopped and I told her we/she DID NOT want to go there. We chilled for a bit-all the while facing the trailer of course.  After a few seconds she walked up to me and put her forehead on my chest. Amazing.

 So Cristine came and stood behind her to add some pressure. Honey was very sensitive by that so Cristine kept her distance and Honey got in. We took her in and out about 3 times-all very slowly. Honey did not willing go in those last time-so we'll try more earlier in the day soon.
Honey was pinning her ears the last few times (kind of funny-like a bad 2 year old child) I would just tell her "NO" and she'd prick her ears up.
We'll try again. Tomorrow will be a ride day, maybe trailer too. I did/do want to see where her pressure points are and how she handles it. That will shed light on how her training progresses.

I'm glad she has access to the people at the ranch, and I was glad I had Stan go get her and will do more of that. I had this new man Steve at the ranch at the end of her lunge line too. We just traded horse for a bit in the arena. The introduction of many handlers is important to me and  I recently was emailed this article from a Newsletter I received. It reiterates this very subject!....

..."At first, a horse that appears very wary of all people (i.e., head shy and "turn butt" fearful) often reaches a point where he clearly transitions from fear responses to behavior that can be described as "relief," where the horse is suddenly very friendly and cooperative. In the barn here we refer to it as the "Where have you been all my life?" shift in attitude. It's a welcomed stage in rehabilitation, and it often starts with the horse's one main caretaker--the person who brings the feed and hay and dependably takes the horse in and out for turnout and exercise. At that point we try to gradually expose the horse to not just the one or two new regular caretakers, but to many different people, with the hope of having the horse generalize the "relief" attitude to all, or at least most, people. We do this carefully and slowly, initially trying to have people remain consistent, but eventually trying to build in more realistic variation in handling style and behavior. We really don't think it fair to reinforce the one-person horse....

Read Full article here by Sue McDonnell, PHD ,AAB

D-Day July 12 First Ride

(For more super photos- go to the dedicated page on the side bar!)
Todays' the day! I do the daily with Honey. All is going well so I call Christine to come down to the arena because I want to get on Honey. Well- don't you know- her daughters come, Stan comes and we have an audience! Honey likes Christine, (she feeds) and they handle her too. SOOO
it all went well!! It is very very exciting! Sorry no video- but here are the pics!

I'm on the mounting block

Everything is going well!

Me-leaning over

Here I am leaning over to say "Hi- I'm on this side too"

TA DA !!!

I dismounted -that went well too. Sometimes a horse can freak out on a dismount-but she did well- as I jumped off, did not use the block to dismount. After the initial ride I ponied her around the arena off of Willy- and I ponied her around the ranch! Next chapter we'll pony on the trail!! 

Sunday July 10

just got saddled hanging out for the work session

I continue the daily routine. Last week I had to intro sessions with Willy and Ruby-preparing for the PONY days. Thursday 7/7-she ponied off Ruby and all went well.  Today I'll be working on giving her head side to side....

I have her backed up to the rail because, when I ask her with the reins she would back up. The rail eliminates that option, so she has a chance to "get it".  And of Course she did!
a little video of follow..

The Trim- July 9

L-r   Jason, Honey and me

As luck would have it on Saturday, July 9 the trimmer, Jason Mirise  was coming to the ranch to do some horses. He had his limit of horses. I called him and pleaded my case with Honey. Her feet were really long. Its now July and I do not know when those rears were done. Bless his heart-he was super and did a bang up job. AND Honey was a trooper! didn't bat and eye!
She gets handled and groomed everyday! Christine (the owner of CHR and her daughters) are able to walk out halter Honey and move her from pasture to pasture. I even had my friend Stan go get her halter her and bring her out. the more different kinds of people go and get her the better!

Then The News and move- July 2

Elke called and said to me-" I have my daughters horse coming in and I need the space. Honey will have to go back to El Dorado Hills too AAE. You could work with her there. "
Uh-Oh- now I have to make a decision. I have been using the arena over at Cool Hills Ranch.  The pic is of the main barn.

So I made the big leap to take her there. On July 2 - I worked alone in getting her in the trailer -after about an hour Elke came down and helped me get her in. Wendt DiGiorno came to follow me to the Ranch. Wendy is the owner and founder of AAE. So technically she is the owner and I am the foster. I like to think of myself as the Godmother.
We arrived at the ranch and Honey was quite frothy from sweat. Although she didn't appear to be stressed too much. She got off-took a deep breath and started eating. Horses were being ridden and all seemed well.
Don't you think a horse can sense the difference between a calm peaceful place and a slaughter yard full of emaciated moms worrying about their babies? She seemed VERY happy!
Sunday,Honey was stalled next to her new Girlfriend Miriah. She seemed please to have a horse buddy. Its a doubled edged sword, cuz they want to revert to herd mentality.

She and Miriah WENT swimming in the pond! It doesn't look like much but when it a 100 degrees out its enough!

The new outside digs

The next day she messed up her leg cuz she cast herself in the stall. No worries-we moved her outside with her pal.

The Rest of June

I spent the rest of June lunging in Elke's large arena. Some days I would free lunge her-Play with her. She was getting into playing! She trot into me and then "cut" like a cow horse and trot off. Fun. I was thinking OK- time to mount up.

The saddle- June 8

It was a cool several weeks. I went out EVERY day to see honey. I'm no dummy and each time I tied her to the wash rack-she was double tied. so the first couple times she did pull back HARD- Oh well- I just ignored it and kept up with the daily routine of grooming, cleaning all 4 feet ,working in the round pen, grooming and eating treats out of a bucket. In that order. I had my friend Nora come out and brush and clean her feet out-when I felt she wasn't going to kick. So she xould get used to many other people- cuz she semed REAL bonded to me.
I did a lot of work desensitizing her in the round pen. She seemed to have an idea about the work and later I found out she had 30 days training/work at Mont Roberts place in Saugus, CA. Anyway I sacked her out, had her walking on the beach towel I was using and fling the lunge whip all around her Via Clinton Anderson stlye- she won't be afraid of my tools. I did jumping jacks around her too. So i puth the saddle on and off her. Then saddled her up-that was about a weeks worth of work. So don't think I just "did it"

The Meeting-May 20

May was cool and drizzly. I had volunteered to help at my fiends B&B, because she was hosting a Garden Tour. You can read about that at my other blog, (June Buzz)  Honey was alone in the paddock/pasture with a rope dangling from her halter. I thought she looked interested and curious. Elke said-"She's one of the foster horses, I can't catch her so I left the rope on."
The next day I asked Elke if I could work with her. I felt I could teach her to come, or at least catch her. Elke said sure.(read post at other blog listed above.) So on Friday May 20 I met with Elke to get the details on Honey and what exactly Elke had done with her. Elke said she could groom her, and get her to go on a lunge line in her pasture.
Here is a picture of Honey from Aug 2009 when she arrived at All About Equine Rescue (AAE)

She had a foal at side and they estimated her age at about 4. You should go to the AAE site and see her son now! he is a yearling and his name is Sunny. They are all looking for homes-including Honey. IF I CAN let her go.
I said I could work with her but her feet needed trimming- the farrier came. he trimmed the fronts and he got kicked when he tried to do the rear. So I got after her and he said when I could wrap my leg around hers -he would come back. He was very nice and I did not want to see anyone hurt.