I really wish I knew what he sees when he stares into the deep, dark, unknown depths of the woods on the west side of our riding arena.
The way he acts you'd think he's spotted a pride of hungry lions or a family of boogeymen just waiting for him to get close enough so they can snatch him and turn him into dinner.
I spent Tuesday's ride on Gabe just getting him to go to and remain at that end of the arena. It was an evening of wide eyes, perked ears, loud blowing and snorting, and of course, my favorite, tucking the butt and bolting away from the ever-so-scary woods.
What a brat. Years ago I would have gotten frustrated and angry with him and probably gone to extremes to get him to get over it. Fortunately age and experience has taught me that's the LAST thing I want to do with a horse who has gotten it into his head that something is BAD BAD BAD! We did a lot of "do-overs." Bolt and run as we are walking away from the scary woods? Huh. DO OVER! Pop your shoulder and contort your body so you don't have to go to that end of the arena when requested? DO OVER! Bolt again as we are doing a circle near the scary end of the arena? DO OVER! Many deep breaths, do-overs and re-focuses later, we worked at the spooky end of the arena quietly without a bolt or evasion.
Then I got off and called it good. Always end on a good note, even if it's a very basic one, such as working near the woods.
And it only took half an hour! :P Through all this I have gotten very, very good at recognizing when he's gonna lose his everlovin' mind and bolt. I can really feel him tense up just a bit right before he thinks about it and if I recognize it for what it is in time, I low, loud NO!, a grumble or an ACK! from me refocuses him and pretty much prevents the bolt.
Some days, it feels like we are back at square one and he thinks he doesn't know a thing, especially the knowledge about going forward and turning. That is SO frustrating.
Other days, he's golden and he seems to anticipate my every request with effortless grace and forwardness. Those are the days I enjoy most.
Those other days? Those are the days I threaten him with a Frenchman's fork.
YES! What is it with the split personalities anyways?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have recently discovered it is possible to get Jasper tired. If I give him a really good workout for 3 days in a row, by the third day he seems to have his brain back. This worries me a little as I don't lunge before I ride and generally just "hop on" and go. I guess working with young TBs is a learning process.
Yep, I've got one of them too. I do a lot of growling, saying 'uh-UH' or 'Don't you dare" :-)
ReplyDeleteEnding on a good note is one of the bests tricks in the book. Some riders dont understand the concept.
ReplyDeletewow that coulda been written by me ! :) One minute's serenity seat is next second's train wreck.. .Sounds like you got 'r done
ReplyDeleteyour rock!!!
happy trails
gp
wow that coulda been written by me ! :) One minute's serenity seat is next second's train wreck.. .Sounds like you got 'r done
ReplyDeleteyour rock!!!
happy trails
gp
I think that's one of the mistakes a lot of people make when dealing with spooky horses: they get angry and punish. All that does is teach the horse that he did have something to be scared of after all. Riding it out calmly and just working through it like you do with Gabe is so much more effective. The best reaction to a spook is often a non-reaction.
ReplyDeleteAce spooked at some bunnies yesterday, and his reaction is to stop and drop. No biggee. Just sat there and let him calm down (it felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest under my saddle flap), and then he walked off like nothing had happened.
It certainly doesn't make for a very fun ride, but it does provide a great training ride!
Albigears...It's almost like some of them are a little bit schizophrenic...I've noticed the same thing with Gabe..and with nearly every TB I've ever been around or ridden. If you give them a couple of days off their brains fall out and you have to spend the next riding session or two picking their back up and stuffing them back in their silly heads!
ReplyDeleteLeah...when the predator growls, the prey better listen! :P
SMR...Absolutely. Even if you only rode for 15 min. and everything else went up the creek...you have to stop when things are going right. I've made the mistake to think I can go "just one more round" and it all went downhill from there. Better to just stop when you're ahead!
G.P...It's so good to know I'm not the only one with a horse with multiple personalities. :)
Jackie...I used to get angry (young and full of stupid) and it NEVER came out well. Now I have more patience with their antics than I probably should have.
There are a pair of bunnies who like to play in the arena when I ride. They aren't even scared of us. Gabe used to startle at them while they were running around being silly, now, he just ignores them. We've almost run over 'em a few times, silly bunnies!