Product Review

 MDC Intelligent Stirrups

I don’t know if anyone else has done a product review on the MDC Intelligent Stirrups  but since I’ve just tried them I thought I would put in my two cents.  I have been riding in my Herm Sprenger (click on link for product review) stirrups for a few years now and I still like them, but there is one problem with them that is no fault of the company’s; while mounting, it is awkward for me to pick up my stirrup on the offside.  This is more than likely due to being unfit and from having knee replacement surgery in my right knee.  It is difficult for me to turn my leg/toe into position to pick up the stirrup easily; although once I achieve this circus feat everything is fine.  So my daughter, who has no patience for my spastic mounting block rituals, bought me these MDC Intelligent Stirrups (the Ultimate model) for my upcoming Mother’s Day gift.

These stirrups are every bit as comfortable to my knees/legs/hips as are my other stirrups. They have the flexible bottoms and the best part is I don’t have to fish around for the stirrup; my foot slides right into it.  So, even if Dusty is being less than stellar in her mounting duties (not standing still/ taking off/being a pain in general,) at least I have some control and safety because my foot is already in the stirrup and I’m not searching for it while she’s trotting off.  I keep them at the 90-degree angle and when I dismount I turn them back to the traditional angle.  I haven’t tried the 45-degree angle yet.  They say that is more for show jumping and eventers and we’re definitely not up to that yet.

If you’re at all interested in these stirrups, I suggest checking out the link.  They have lots of different models and for those of you who don’t like the flexible stirrups they make a more traditional model with the adjustable knob on top.  The site will give much more information than I could. There is a video and reviews that are helpful too. They are a little pricey but they are worth it. 

Until next time

Quote for Today
How to ride a horse:
Step One - Mount the horse.
Step Two - Stay mounted ...

Getting to “Ouch”

The Two-Point Position

 This past weekend it finally hit home that I’m not quite as balanced and fit as I should be.  It is very easy for me to believe that I am riding correctly because Dusty has such smooth even gaits there is no effort required to walk or post the trot.  I’ve never had a horse that was as comfortable as her and I have definitely gotten lazy about my leg strength, my core and my balance. Also, by simply riding Blue at a walk and trot it was easy to see that a horse with a stronger trot requires more leg and core strength, plus balance.  For riders to be secure and safe in the saddle these are the three absolutes that we can’t be without.

I came to these realizations during my ride on Dusty.  After some lovely trot work where she is really “getting it”, we started some shoulder – in exercises up the long side to start helping with her straightness issues. I wasn’t being particularly effective for more than a few strides here and there and so I had the proverbial light bulb moment: I had better stop the excuses about not being able to ride more than a few times a week and get on the ball. Not being effective while riding just isn’t going to get the job done for Dusty, Blue or me.

So, you may ask, what are you doing about getting back to your former skill level when you rode a few horses a day?  The answer isn’t easy or one I particularly wanted to hear.  From this point on I will be living in a two-point position because I feel this is the best single exercise to help you develop a secure, correct leg.  I don’t mean my patented lazy two-point either, where I would stand in the stirrups and ride around with a grin on my face looking for all the world like I had the perfect position in life.  No, I will be practicing the two-point correctly.

So to remind myself how to do this properly here is my mantra on two-point: Leg stability and position comes from balance - not from isolated gripping or pressure.  I’m guilty of gripping with just my knee at times but I’ve learned that gripping with any one part of your leg on the saddle rather than distributing the pressure between thigh, knee and calf will impair your position.

By dropping my leg gently around Dusty’s barrel I will allow my weight to sink through my knee, thigh and calf into my heel. By balancing with my knee and inner thigh and to do a good two-point position, you need to close your angles, so shortening stirrup leathers is usually a good place to start if you’re used to riding in a more “dressage-y” position.  Then I always have to remind myself that my knee needs to come forward and down, lower leg back to where my ankle is under my hip and my upper body can incline slightly forward.  All of this is done while resting the ball of my foot in my stirrups and allowing the weight to drop into my heel, rather than balancing on my stirrups or forcing my heel down, which pushes the leg forward and the seat back.  If I can work on this my leg should have the stability it needs in a few weeks time.

And let’s not forget the “look ma, no hands” aspect of a good two-point either.  By this I mean no pressing into the neck for balance (although it’s okay to grab mane if needed.)  I needed mane a few times; Dusty is built with a flat topline and I’m used to horses with a more upright neck.  This has been one of the hardest adjustments to get used to with her conformation.  It seems there is nothing in front of me but air.  

I did this exercise over the weekend and I can say that my inner thighs are a little ouchy. For some reason I find practicing this at the walk much harder than at the trot or canter. This position also helps get your abdomen or “core” in better shape.

Secondly, I am taking my stirrups away (though not while doing the two-point…yet.)  There will be no more relying on the stirrups to balance my position. I also tried this over the weekend and again “ouch.”  But really, it is one of the only ways to truly get a balanced seat.  It involves holding your leg in the position you would normally have with your stirrups and maintaining the correct position with inner thigh, knee and upper calf while sustaining a light seat.  It’s not as easy as it sounds and can be amusing to onlookers while my saddle is still in its non-broken-in slippery stage.  When done correctly after a while your seat will be balanced and you will feel more secure and safe. And that’s what I’m striving for …secure and safe.

Until next time

Quote for Today

Most persons do not ride; they are conveyed. 
    - M.F. McTaggart

" ROTTEN EGGS "

"HAPPY EASTER"

This, That and the Other

I guess I’m a bit late posting this week.  Seems updating posts is easier in the winter, now that spring has sprung there’s so much work to be done outdoors and indoors, the work load is doubled.  Last Friday was a gorgeous warm sunny day so I decided to drag the indoor and outdoor arenas and, even though it was nearing evening, I dragged one of the paddocks, too.

Saturday brought us horrendous weather that sounded like Armageddon was beating down the doors.  The wind was howling and the rain slashed the windows so violently it sounded like an ice storm. Watching the pine trees sway and tree limbs breaking off and flying through the air, it felt like a mini hurricane. Obviously, there was no riding or training on the agenda. I should have ridden the previous day, of course, but instead I did some much-needed work around the farm.  That’s the down-side of having your own farm, in my opinion.  Had I been boarding it wouldn’t be my problem if the rings or paddocks weren’t dragged. Then again, if I were boarding I’d probably find something I didn’t like happening at the facility. So it’s a double-edged sword; you give up some ride time to get peace of mind. I’ll take it any day over stressing about my horses’ care and being at the mercy or whims of a barn owner or manager.

Sunday we started Sami back to work again with some beginning clicker training and longeing. He did very well and remembered everything he’s been taught previously. It’s a shame we can’t ride him because he has lovely movement; he’d be the perfect talented horse for a small adult or young rider.  Nate also got his first taste of clicker.  It took him a little longer to know what was expected because he was distracted as usual.  Everyone knows his name Nate was modified from us saying, “he has the attention span of a gnat.”  This still holds true.  Grady was longed and looks like his soundness issues may be a thing of the past thanks to a capable farrier and slow correct reconditioning by my daughter.  Donnie did some advanced clicker work before he was longed. He will now follow the cone and touch it with his nose no matter where you put it in the arena.  The same holds true for Blue.  Blue searched the cone out no matter where I placed it in the arena and not only touched it with his nose but knocked it over and looked inside a few times.  I believe Blue is convinced the cone is the treat dispenser.  It’s hard to say who is the smarter pupil because Donnie and Blue are both superstars with clicker work so far. I’m going to take them a step further this week and see how it goes.

 Dusty was the only horse that was under tack this day and we managed a short ride.  It was a long day and she was last to be worked.  She doesn’t mind where she is in the rotation because she gets to hang out in the small grass paddock and keep and eye on the outdoor arena where everyone else was being worked. I find it interesting that the entire herd will wait for her (or any horse) in the opposite paddock before they head to the back field en mass. “One for all and all for one” seems to be the herd motto around here.

Dusty continues to be well behaved at the mounting block and walked away on a loose rein quietly.  After a turn or two around the arena for warm up I asked for a trot and got a few excited steps of canter which wasn’t acceptable at this point; we went back to trot and had a nice soft long and low ride to the right.  When we started to the left she felt a little off, nothing dramatic just not quite right.  So we walked, trotted again and, assessing the situation, decided not to continue. Her legs had no heat or swelling so we’re thinking it might be a muscle pull that will heal itself.

My eldest daughter stopped by with my granddaughters and the six-year old asked to ride Dusty.  With a few adjustments to tack and helmet my daughter led her around the ring.  This is the first time she’s ridden a horse at the farm. Mainly because of the illusion of stirrups, which were too long, and the saddle that was too large for her I was impressed with her balance. It always surprises me how youngsters have no fear: after the first time around she wanted to go over the row of cavelletti and did fine. She and Dusty shared a nice quiet time. Dusty was an angel (did I just say that?) with the little one on her back and kept looking over at me as if to say “You and I could get a long fine if we could ride like this all the time!”

Until next time

Quote for Today

A horse is an angel without wings

The Dreaded Mounting Block

" Do I look like I'm ready to work "

Ever since I’ve known Dusty she has had issues with the mounting block.  I foolishly thought we had conquered this particular problem…until this weekend.

As you can see from the above picture I had to wait for the princess to awaken from her beauty sleep before we could even think of beginning to get some work done.  Notice how she’s spread everyone’s hay around to make a cushy mattress for her nap.  The princess and the pebble?

When her highness deigned the time had come for her to stand and come to the gate, I got her groomed and tacked and headed to the arena.  Well apparently, Dusty has decided she does not want to work for a living but should perhaps be a halter or blanket model in catalogs or a pin-up centerfold for “Play Stallion Monthly.”  Regardless of what she thinks, I think she could work a few hours a week and be gracious about it.

After adjusting the girth we headed toward the mounting block, I positioned her, put my foot in the stirrup and she swung her hind end out.  This was one of her old tricks that I thought we had cured.  Granted, my daughter is usually there when I mount to hold her and she stands like a statue.  I’m guessing she had a flashback to her younger days when it was just she and I tackling the mounting block.  Obviously, she felt it was her right to refuse my attempts to mount.  Again, I disagreed.

We tried standing still, praise, petting and treats.  Should work right? Wrong. 

We tried stand, click, treat, and good girl.  No good.

Circling, repositioning etc., all this went on for about thirty minutes. Have I ever mentioned how frustrating Dusty can be?

--An excerpt from a previous post to show Dusty’s antics when mounting:

Horse People Are Funny

One more, uh, incident:  the time Dusty cantered off as I was mounting; of course, I landed in the dirt. When my head hit the frozen ground, I bit down hard on my tongue.  While I was still lying there in agony, she came over and stomped on my foot. Nice mare.  I thought she was trying to help me get up, sort of like stepping on the tines of a rake. With my swollen tongue and throbbing foot, it was not my best day. With the limp and the lisp everyone probably thought, “poor thing, she must have had a mild stroke.”

So as I sat on the mounting block holding the reins, staring at her and taking deep breaths before I lost my temper, I reassessed the situation and thought about what I could be doing wrong.  Obviously, I couldn’t let her get away with this behavior because it could easily escalate into a battle of wills and I didn’t want to lose ground after she was doing so well. 

There is a little trick my daughter taught me that she learned from riding so many rank horses over the years.  It may not make all the natural horsemanship people feel warm and fuzzy, but it works.  I’m conflicted about whether to put it down because if used incorrectly you can actually flip a horse over, and nobody wants that.  I should also add that no horses (Dusty) were harmed while using this method.

Take the right rein and pull it gently into position for an ‘indirect rein of opposition in front of the wither’ (keep the hand above the mane; don’t let it cross the neck - very important) to flex the horse’s head slightly to the inside of the arena while simultaneously shifting the shoulder toward the mounting block.  If the hindquarters shift away from the block, move the rein into an 'indirect rein of opposition behind the wither.'  Once in position and standing quietly, let go again.  Take both reins in the left hand before mounting and maintain a light contact to prevent unwanted forward and back movement.

From the ground we walked circles with me on the outside holding the reins as if I was in the saddle, positioning her to the inside of the arena while spiraling out until we came close to the mounting block.  Then, without letting up on the tension, and keeping her head flexed, I parallel parked her next to the mounting block using the loose left rein to lead her up.  When she stood quietly, I petted and praised her.  Once she remained in position without trying to shift away from the block, I mounted.  She took off before I had my stirrups; no big deal, but not what I wanted.  We whoa-ed in the center of the arena and I dismounted. Then we proceeded to do the exact same thing again, this time with me putting my weight in the stirrup and removing it, putting weight on the saddle and removing it, over and over until she stood still no matter how much I tested her.  I mounted, keeping the reins ready on her neck in case she walked off, but she stood quietly.  I rewarded her, she got a treat and lots of praise and pets and we walked off calmly.  We did this one more time, called it a successful lesson and she was turned out.

The following day I took up the reins in the same configuration and instead of spiraling in circles we walked directly to the mounting block.  She stood quietly while I mounted, she waited for the cue to go and we walked off softly on the first try.  Dusty offered me the best ride I have had with her to date.  She trotted long and low, tracking up with strides that were controlled and even.  We didn’t ride for long - a few times around in either direction at the trot.  A loose rein for relaxation as we walked around the arena a few laps and then over the cavelletti once in each direction.  I dismounted, praised her and gave her a treat and we called it another successful lesson.

My thoughts on this whole experience: once she knew she couldn’t get the best of me she gave in and maybe somewhere in the recesses of her crafty mind she respects me a little more for not letting her get her own way.  Not everyone will agree with the method I used, but sometimes with a horse like Dusty you have to take the upper hand and do whatever works.  

Until next time

Quote for Today

A hot horse and a hot head don't mix.

Beginning Clicker Training

" Donnie "

This weekend I started clicker training with Donnie, Blue and Dusty.

Donnie’s Report Card:

Day 1: After a total grooming with Donnie, I started his clicker training.  Since I didn’t have one of those little orange cones, I used a plastic pitcher.  After three tries he touched his nose to the pitcher and got his click and treat.  After that he got it every time no matter where I held the pitcher.  We then had a short but productive longeing session and called it a day.

Day 2:  We had a repeat of Day 1 with the only difference being that Donnie touched the object the first time around and even when I held it behind my back he searched it out.  Donnie is a smart little monkey and was puffed up with pride in doing his exercise correctly.  Of course, he had lots of praise and treats and I feel we are off to a good start.  I gave him the day off today to think things over and because I don’t want to overload his senses with too much at once.

" Blue "

 Blue’s Report Card:

Day 1: Blue got the gist of the clicker training game on the second try.  We also did some grooming and longeing and called it a day.  Blue is another smart guy.

He doesn’t show as much emotion as Donnie, but I’m sure he was proud of himself for figuring out how to get treats for doing practically nothing.

Day 2: Another repeat of Day 1 with the exception of seeking out the object and touching it the first time too.  After we were done with our longeing session, I unclipped the longe line and he beat feet it over to the pitcher lying on the ground by the fence to touch it with his nose, then looked at me like “where’s the treat, lady?”  What could I do but laugh, click and treat.  He may be too smart for me, and I can see he’ll be a good pupil even if in the back of his mind he thinks I’m not too bright.

" Dusty "

Dusty’s Report Card:

Day 1: Dusty also got the whole click treat scenario on the second try.  So this just proves that she is as smart as she thinks she is and has found the easy way to get treats. There’s none of that nasty working for a living involved in simply touching your nose to something and getting a treat.  I’m sure she’s thinking this is the way to go.

Day 2: No training with the clicker today we worked on her mounting block issues which is a post for another day.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well they all took to their first sessions of clicker training.  I’m usually skeptical about things like this, but I’m willing to give new training techniques a try.  My biggest fear with clicker training is that they’ll become even bigger treat-monsters than they already are.

I’ve also got some misgivings about turning them into a bunch of circus acts instead of using traditional training.  If nothing else, though, it will give Donnie a job that he can succeed at and boost his confidence in himself.  I may not continue with Blue and Dusty for very long, since they already have jobs.  But just giving them the basics couldn’t hurt and at least they’ll have that if I decide to continue.  For now I haven’t decided what I’ll do, but I’ll keep my options open and use the clicker as I think I need it.

Until next time

Quote for Today

In training there is always the tendency to proceed too rapidly, go slowly with careful, cautious steps. Make frequent demands; be content with little; be lavish in rewards.
    - General Faverot de Kerbrech

" Donnie "

' Donnie '

There is not much going on around the farm right now because of the weather, yet again.  The forecast is for rain every day this week.  So to pass the time I thought I would do a series on all of our horses beginning with how they came to be with us and ending with what they are doing now.  This first story is about Donnie.  I posted his story in 2009 and if you would like to check out Donnie’s beginnings and difficulties please click on these links:

http://greyhorsematters.blogspot.com/2009/01/donnies-story.html

http://greyhorsematters.blogspot.com/2009/01/donnies-story-part-ii.html

http://greyhorsematters.blogspot.com/2009/01/donnies-story-part-iii-conclusion.html

Most of the readers to my blog know Donnie’s history but for the few new people visiting the blog I’d like to introduce Donnie and his issues to those who haven’t met him yet.  Donnie is a unique individual and his distressing history is worth the read. We feel Donnie is making real progress towards becoming a “real” horse and for now I’ll be reporting on how well he is doing with his training.

We’ve been working sporadically with all the horses this winter and, as usually happens, the horses that aren’t being ridden don’t get the work they deserve or need.  Unfortunately, Donnie falls into this category.  But all that will be changing this week.  He’s going back to work/training.

Before the winter started he was doing very well on the longe even with a saddle and girth.  Personally, I think the Le Tixerant girth is helping by not constricting his rib cage but breathing with him.

My daughter was brave enough to try a short ride on him around the indoor, which he did very well with. To our disbelief, we accomplished this feat easily enough.  After longeing a short time under saddle, we took him to the mounting block.  My daughter tried her weight in the stirrup and across the saddle a few times.  Donnie stood like a rock and never moved.  We figured it was now or never and she swung her leg over and very gently sat in the saddle.  No reaction.   That was a good sign. We then literally took it a step further and I walked next to him feeding him treats while we circled the short end of the arena twice.  Then walked him into the center, praised him A LOT, and then she dismounted.  

That was the last time he was worked before the weather made it almost impossible to get anything done.  Do you think he remembers his good experience after these many months?  We’ll soon find out because Donnie will be starting his longeing again with and without saddle and, when he’s ready, my daughter will try walking under saddle again.  Some ponying with a steady horse might be in his future too, but that’s undecided as of now.

I’m also going to start some clicker training with him.  I’ve never done this with any horse but have read on some blogs how well it seems to work.  If nothing else, I think it might encourage him to have confidence in himself when he succeeds at easy tasks.  Donnie is one of the most interested horses in our herd.  He always comes when you call him by name.  He’s the first one to nicker when one of us walks in the barn and he loves interacting with us.  When we first met Donnie no one could touch his ears and, disgusting as this might sound, you can now put your fingers right in there for a good scratch.  I remember when he would give the farrier a hard time with his back feet, but that’s not a problem anymore.  Haltering is usually fine over his ears if you stand next to him and go slow.  When blanketing, he doesn’t bat an eye anymore.  So you can see he’s come far in accepting things that once terrified him. 

" Sweet Boy "

We believe every horse can be helped if only given the proper time and encouragement by building small successful links in the chain to their healing.  By not rushing or expecting too much of him, I think Donnie will one day be a happy, well-adjusted horse.  Donnie is too sweet and loving to give up on.  And he’s got loads of talent and some of the most beautiful gaits we’ve ever seen, so he’d be a fun horse to bring along. It would be a failure on our part not to try and help him through his issues.  We’ve also decided that if he never becomes a riding horse that’s okay too; he’s a permanent part of the herd and, not only is he fun to play with, but we can always count on him for a nicker and a hug.

Until next time

Quote for Today

The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood. 
    - Johannes Jensen

Sometimes I Wish

 Sometimes I wish I had a horse that was already well trained and behaving.  How many of you have wished for the same thing?  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind training my horses; in fact I really enjoy it.  When they succeed at a training task I’m happy and proud for them.  It’s just that at times I wish I had a horse that had been there, done that and knew it all.

In the past few years it seems with my horse-training schedule it’s one step ahead and two steps back.  I don’t have the time to work with my horses every day, so it comes down to two or three times a week if I’m lucky.  This time frame makes it seem like we get nowhere in a hurry and makes me long for the good old days.  Seems like back then I got in a lot more riding and lessons.  The horses I rode then had a better work ethic and knew their job.

Erik and I rode almost every day and, even though he wasn’t an easy ride by any stretch of the imagination, he was willing to do what was asked of him.  He knew the routine and didn’t have a problem with working.  He could always make me laugh with his big sighs and antics.  Except for his spookiness, he was basically a safe horse to ride. 

The same work ethic applied to Lifeguard who I also rode a few times a week.  No matter what you asked of him he did it without complaint.  He was very well trained by my daughter and knew his job.  Don’t get me wrong, he was a freethinker and in no way a push-button horse.  If the request sounded plausible to him he was game for anything.  It seemed if you thought it he would do it—he was that attuned to your every thought and slightest move.  Of course, the same was true if you made a mistake….

Lifeguard was the only horse I ever rode that never dumped me.  I actually think he and I did more jumping and shows than Erik and I did.  So having not ever fallen off demonstrates what a sensible talented horse he was; even when he spooked he somehow held you in place.  Don’t ask me how, that’s just the way it was.

With Spring just around the corner and hopefully more riding time in my future I was wishing/whining that if only I had a horse like Erik or Lifeguard there would be so many more activities my horses and I could be doing.  Not actually showing, but perhaps cantering around the fields and doing a little jumping here and there would be so enjoyable for a change of pace. 

Maybe this season Dusty will miraculously decide to behave herself and become my dream horse.  She’s certainly one of the safer horses I’ve ridden over the years.  Blue knows more than Dusty but in the field he’ll occasionally decide he’s having too much fun galloping around and not stop when asked.  He does the same thing when jumping; he just seems to zone out and forgets there is a rider on his back while he’s doing his own thing. Blue has a tendency to forget to balance himself and has been known to fall down simply because he’s not paying attention to where his feet are going.  There’s work to be done with him too. 

If it seems like I’m complaining about my current horses, I’m really not.  I do love them all and enjoy interacting with and training them to be the best they can be.  Working with them gives us all a sense of accomplishment and confidence in each other.  I suppose I was taking a wishful path down Nostalgia Lane remembering Lifeguard and Erik, or perhaps my younger high-spirited days.

Until next time

Quote for Today

No hour of life was lost spent in the saddle.