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| Dusty & Nate |
When She
Was Good …
She
was very, very good and when she was bad she was horrid. Yesterday Dusty was so good I was considering
starting canter training with her today.
That didn’t happen. Apparently,
since last weekend she seems to have forgotten her mounting block manners. Today I positioned her and got as far as the
second step before she decided to swing her butt out. The longe line was handy
as always and today she had her halter on over her bridle. I’m glad she did
because we really needed it for longeing purposes. After insulting her
sensibilities with a few minutes at the trot on the longe she stood like an
angel.
I
know this is my fault because the last few times I trusted her and left her
halter off. Mistakenly thinking as long as she was standing still she didn’t
need it. Yesterday she took one little
step and after I mounted stood there flipping her head up and down. Okay, benefit of the doubt. Could have been a fly causing the step. The
head flipping is unacceptable but I also made excuses for that bad behavior.
After almost a week off I thought she was raring to go and I was holding her in
place. My miscalculation. I should have dismounted and longed her right
then and there.
Once
we started work in the saddle, to the right she was a super star. Kept the pace and bend. Most likely because she still had the longe
line nudging her memory. To the left…
not so much. Her pace was erratic,
speeding up and slowing down, popping her shoulder. We worked on the turning seat, indirect rein
and lots of long and low. When she
finally gave in and relaxed keeping the pace and bend a few times around we
stopped with that.
Dusty
is a very smart mare and she is never done testing the boundaries. I only wish she would put her brainpower to
use for good instead of having an attitude about everything. She certainly makes my riding life interesting
if not frustrating.
Until
next time
Quote for Today
|
If, however, you reward him with kindness after he has done as you
wish, and punish him when he disobeys, he will be most likely to learn to
obey as he ought.
- Xenophon - The Art of Horsemanship |
It seems that's the price of beauty and intelligence. Dusty has both. They can outwit us more often than naught.
ReplyDeleteDusty is the master of outwitting me more often than not. She's not just another pretty face there's a lot going on in that brain of hers.
DeleteGiving the benefit of the doubt is a trap I fall into as well, with the dogs as well as the horses. Honestly, I don't want to "be all over" my animals all the time - sometimes, I just want to relax with them.
ReplyDeleteIs it a bad thing? Inconsistent? Maybe... but I also think it's nice for everyone to have a bit of leeway every now and then.
Love the quote from Xenophon - so simple, so true.
Martine,
DeleteYou're so right I just want to relax and trust her. We'll have a few good weeks while she lures me into a false sense of security and then she'll revert back to her old antics. One day I'm hoping she decides it's not worth it and behaves all the time.
If only they would use their powers for good and not evil...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a productive weekend in the saddle!!
The weekend was productive but frustrating. It seems every time I have a plan of action it doesn't work out. I guess the saying "work with the horse you have that day" comes into play with her a lot.
DeleteThis sounds so much like the pony who lives here. :) Never stops trying to push the boundaries, just in case it suddenly works that he can push right on up to be the absolute boss of everything.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about him is that it does not work to give him time off. Or leeway. If everything is consistent, and he gets work every day, and he feels like he has his "partner" with him, he transforms into a wonderful pony. One that will wait at the gate with his eyes on the back door while the girl goes to the bathroom. But if you notch back the consistency or the regularity of work, it's a given that every day you DO ride, you will have to start at the beginning of earning his trust.
I really think sometimes he would be happiest if he lived on a working ranch where he could go out with his girl and herd cattle every day. Hard work, but he loves bossing things, and I think rounding up cattle would use up some of that energy.
Meanwhile, right now, he is good with me because of the clicker training. But I'm not riding him so we don't have to work that part of the equation out together.
billie,
ReplyDeleteYour pony and Dusty seem to have the same sort of personality.
I agree that Dusty would benefit from consistent work. Right now I don't have the time to ride her more than two or three times a week though. It would be nice to be a lady of leisure and have all the time in the world to do what I wanted instead of what needs doing. In any case she will have to work with me and my new policy of getting no leeway from now on. No more benefit of the doubt for her. I know it might sound a little harsh but I believe that given an inch she'll take the mile.
Rosie used to be that way and I did a lot of the same work you're doing. Weeks went by and that is all we did, completely saddled and bridled, lined up to the block. Step up, wiggle saddle, pat butt, step up, step down, walk away. Sometimes I went all the way up and sat - always kept her guessing as to what I was going to do. Now, rock solid and completely loose rein every single time.
ReplyDeleteThink now I'm going to teach her to hind to me when I'm on various objects.
Hi Jeni,
DeleteSounds like you did a lot of great work with Rosie. I find it hard to believe she was ever anything but wonderful ;) I love your Rosie. She's very special and beautiful.
Oh My! Rosie was HORRIBLE on the ground when I first got her. Mounting had to be the worst though. She would plow right over top of the block, swing away, circle around or just plain walk off dragging me along. I can't even begin to tell you how many times she knocked me clean off the mounting block. Nothing fun about it and very embarassing when you are at shows or clinics.
DeleteThank you for the kind complements. She's turning into that once in a lifetime dream horse that's for sure.
I would never have thought Rosie would do that. Guess you had your work cut out for you back then, but she's so good now. I can only hope Dusty will have a change of attitude and start behaving all the time.
DeleteShe's gotten much better than she was as a five year old when I first got her. Back then she managed to rear up and flip herself over backwards once and took off at a canter with me half way on/off. I fell off of course in front of a huge group of riders, already mounted, waiting for me. Now she just does the butt swing and side stepping. She's almost there and the longeing does help. Fingers crossed she changes her attitude about me getting on.
Oh my! Naughty Dusty! Good for you or not letting her get away with it. Sounds like she requires strict consistency and discipline.I was going to add 'routine', too, but she seems like the smart kind of mare that will take advantage when she knows what to expect and when she is bored. She likes to mix things up a bit, too, to keep her humans on the ball. lol!
ReplyDeleteDusty seems a lot like my mare Baby Doll. She was super smart and not very cooperative or willing. I was too laid back for her and she would take advantage all the time.
Often times I think to myself that I wish I would have started out with her instead of Baby Doll, but after dealing with a more difficult, challenging horse, I am very appreciative of the horse I have now.
~Lisa
Lisa,
DeleteDusty does need consistency and a gentle but firm hand. If given a chance she will always take advantage. Baby Doll was a nice horse but she may not have been what you needed at the time. Apache is worth her weight in gold in my book. She's so special and such a great trail horse. I'm glad you have her now.
Some of us naughty nags never, ever give up testing of our boundaries do we?? Oh, Dusty I can sooo relate!! :)
ReplyDeleteI never knew you were a naughty nag testing boundaries! ;) More power to you.
DeleteDusty! Be good to your Momma!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely interesting, but I still think she owes you a break now and then. You have worked so diligently to change both your habits.
Val,
DeleteI'll pass what you said along to her. I also agree she needs to cut me a break once in a while.
Dusty is a smart mare but you are always a step, and a lunge line, ahead of her. It would be nice to relax now and then though, wouldn't it?
ReplyDeleted.j.,
ReplyDeleteIt sure would be nice to relax now and then and not have to worry what she's going to pull next.
Constantly testing boundaries -- sounds like a chapter heading for dealing with children *lol*
ReplyDeleteIts great being in the company of smart animals, but I agree with you, it would be even greater to be able to relax with them sometimes and just go with the flow instead of having to constantly second-guess.
I sometimes find that dealing with children and horses seems to be the same regarding testing boundaries. I'm thankful my children are grown and stopped this particular behavior but I don't think the horses ever will. You've really got to be on your toes with them all the time.
DeleteIt kinda sounds like she stiffened up over the weekend- what with her being so bad to the left. Maybe she acts badly at the mounting block when her body doesn't feel good and it takes a bit of moving around to loosen her up.
ReplyDeleteHi smazourek,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your input but I don't think that's the case with her. I generally turn her and Blue out together for at least an hour or more before I ride to let them walk around and loosen up. Once I am finally able to get on I walk her in both directions for a while too.
I love your quote at the end of the post - so fitting!
ReplyDeleteThey are cheeky, testing characters aren't they? But once we work out how to ask for what we want, I think it better prepares us as horse people :)
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DeleteSmart horses are often the hardest to train. When you have one that's "with you" and wants to please, it's absolute heaven. When you have one that has a strong sense of "self" it's a whole other experience. My Tucker is very much "into himself" and trying to win him over to my side is a challenge.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, those little lessons you can repeat over and over, such as the lunging exercise before mounting, tend to work really well...and very quickly as a refresher. Glad Dusty remembered the lungeing as well as she did. Now all she needs to remember is that you are far more determined than she is. *s*
Hi jean,
DeleteI'd rather have a smart horse that works with me instead of a smart horse who works against me any day. That's for sure.
It seems that right now there is a clash of wills going on. I am confident that I will eventually get her to come over to my side. I really have to if I want to be able to mount safely. There's no other option.
some horses just always keep you on your toes : )
ReplyDeleteand sometimes it's a good reminder for us not to take them for granted! i tend to lull into that sometimes...
- The Equestrian Vagabond
Hi Merri,
DeleteIt is good to always be aware and not take our horses for granted. I got lulled into that with Blue. Riding around on the safest horse in the barn and not paying attention all the time landed me right on my butt.
I think she's too darn smart for her own britches! Silly Dusty! I guess that's her way of keeping it interesting. I think that may be a sign of a happy horse, she's just playin'.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. The truth is that our whole herd are a happy bunch. She is very smart and knows how to push my buttons, that's for sure.
ReplyDelete