Well , the dancing lessons have paid off wonderfully for Hoof and I proved it tonight. As I was cleaning stalls tonight , Hoof had one pile of poop in his stall and he was standing on it eating his hay. I could not move him against the wall because it would not have been far enough, so I very gently tapped the back of his off front leg with my stall fork and I "Felt" him understand what I was asking for. He gently moved his leg forward. He did not walk with all his legs just moved the one. Thats how I knew he "got it". Cool.
I have not been keeping up with my blog. Bad Mommy. I've been to busy to sit down and really chill out to write. I hope to keep up with it better soon. Still have to write about the carrot hunting!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
breakthrough!
I am SOOO happy! This was a night to remember. It all started when I went out early. Not thinking of training because our last session was so bad, I"ve been afraid to try again. Anyway, I did my cleaning and chores, and just felt like being with the boys tonight so i sat with them in between some other stuff.
Hoof was on me constantly. His chest was itching from some bug bites and he stood almost on top of me to get me to scratch him. With Hoof a little scratching is never enough. You have to scratch till either his skin is about to scratch off or your fingers one of the two. Finally I was like WOAH! I went into the house and got some would balm , came back out and promptly applied it to his chest and his nether region which was gettin eaten up by gnats. Hershey needed it too. Hershey is such a good boy i'm gonna blog on him soon. He's the man!
So anyway even after this Hoof would not leave me alone. Practically sitting on my lap.. I"m not kidding. I"m on my steps and he is literally walking up the steps to get closer to me!. THEN he will wrap his neck around my neck like he's hugging me but then tries to nip me. He's never really suceeded and he does'nt mean anything by it, I think he's trying to return the favor by "grooming" me, but there again he doesn't know his size. Still, i've always been afraid to really shoo him away for doing it when I really believe he just wants to make me feel good too! Problem is, he would hurt! LOL
Anyway, I finally went and got the carrot stick so i could get some distance if i needed it, and he proceeded to play with the carrot stick. I just took it away from him and gently swung it over his back and neck . He stood like a little angel for that as i just sat there. It's supposed to feel like his mothers tail swishing him when he was a little guy cause it has a rope attached to it.. He really enjoyed it.
Anyway , he finally walked away bored. So it was fly predator night. Thats the night I Get to put my darlin little fly predator wasps in the piles of horse poop and the manure pile. I started walking around and alls Hoof saw was a bag. MUST BE TREATS! Lucky i had the carrot stick and I walked along shaking it up and down behind me like it was my tail . He followed but kept a distance.
Then he did something he's NEVER done before. Only seen him do it with Hershey. As I walked further down into the field he had stopped and just stood watching me , then he whinnied for me. REAL LOUD. I was quite flattered. He did'nt like me going away from him. It was so sweet!
I did what i had to do and then came back and sat down. He stood about 50 feet just looking at me. So I motioned with my hand and smiled for him to come to me AND HE DID!
I pet him some more and finally he walked into the barn to eat some hay. So I started thinking. Thinking all about how 10 years ago when I got horses again as an adult, I had dreams of riding like I did as a kid. Just hopping on bareback and riding around the neighborhood. It never worked out that way this time. There was always a problem. I dont want to do any kind of showing, or rodeo or anything like that. Heck after what happened to Hoofs father Fool, I'll probably never leave our pasture. But to be outside at dusk on a warm summer evening and just hop on my boy and take a ride through the field with no fear. Thats my dream. Last time I rode through my field like that bareback was 10 years ago and it was'nt on Hoof. The horse I was on felt something around his fetlocks and froze. I calmed him for a minute and then BANG he bolted to the back of the field. Here I was holding on for dear life. Cant believe I rode it as long as i did. He ran to the back and then turned somewhere . Last thing I remember was going up the hill and seeing the dirt very close. I could not pull myself up so i had to let go. Knocked me unconscious. Thank GOD I had a helmet on. Later I examined the helmet and it was cracked up the back! Had to go to the emergency room, I was pretty banged up. Had a bruise on my butt the size of my butt and thats no small thing let me tell ya. Although it was a bit smaller then.
Anyway, that kind of made me terrified of that field. Took Hoofs dad back there once with a trainer, but I was terrified so i've never gotten over that. I dont think there is anything as scary as being run off with like that. If I had a saddle on I could have gotten the horse under control, but I had not ridden in probably 20 years at that point and had no control bareback like I did as a kid.
I want so much to overcome this fear, but thats what makes Hoof being green so scary because that horse that i was on that night was green too and easily scared. He had been abused I think where Hoof hasn't so at least i've got that going for me.
Anyway, all i want to do is be relaxed and ride my little guy around the pasture and maybe a canter back to the barn. BUT...............I've got to work for it. SOOOO. I thought OK, he's obviously bored as heck tonight so i'm gonna see what kind of reaction I get if i get his halter out.
I walked out of the shed and instead of walking right up to him, I kind of walked away from him then I turned around half facing him and motioned for him to come to me, AND HE DID. He lowered his head and I put the halter on him . He was sooooo good!
Next I did the halter hold and immediately he dropped his head for me. I told him to wait and i walked around him not holding him. Next I thought you know im just gonna walk till i get scared. The cat was on top the hill so we walked to her. Gave us something to think about. He did perfect. We walked to the cat and then came back to the barn. Hershey came out to see what was up and I did'nt worry. I just thought , you know if anything happens I can step away and let go if I have to. Next we walked up the other side of the field where the dogs were. Buddy barked but Hoof did'nt mind. It was very relaxed time on a nice warm summer evening. We stopped and practiced our dance next. That went well, but he kept trying to put the lead in his mouth like he always does, but this time I did'nt let it get ot me. I just kept taking it out of his mouth and even did some mouth work with him, ( but it did'nt help) LOL. I noticed when I tried to bring his back leg forward, I am supposed to pull him forward by the halter at the same time I tap his back leg and I cant reach. I need to ask carrie what to do about that. So I did the best i could and instead of getting frustrated, I laughed!
He was so good besides the mouthing. Next I Took hm back to the barn. I decided to end on a good note and I took his halter off of him. I did give him a treat , but OH WELL! It went so well I had to show him what a good boy he was. And of course Hershey got a treat for being such a good audience. I am very happy . I will do this more now. Just a stroll around the field not too far. as far as comfortable . Late in the evening. I dont like to make the horses do anything when it's too hot and the bugs are around. Thats not fair I think.
I know I could do some kind of trainng where I could BREAK my horse or rather have someone BREAK my horse and then smack him around and "show him who's boss" but I WONT! NEVER. I want Hoof to want to be with me. I thougth that was kinda a silly dream till tonight . We were a team!! a TTEAM! YAY!!!
Hoof was on me constantly. His chest was itching from some bug bites and he stood almost on top of me to get me to scratch him. With Hoof a little scratching is never enough. You have to scratch till either his skin is about to scratch off or your fingers one of the two. Finally I was like WOAH! I went into the house and got some would balm , came back out and promptly applied it to his chest and his nether region which was gettin eaten up by gnats. Hershey needed it too. Hershey is such a good boy i'm gonna blog on him soon. He's the man!
So anyway even after this Hoof would not leave me alone. Practically sitting on my lap.. I"m not kidding. I"m on my steps and he is literally walking up the steps to get closer to me!. THEN he will wrap his neck around my neck like he's hugging me but then tries to nip me. He's never really suceeded and he does'nt mean anything by it, I think he's trying to return the favor by "grooming" me, but there again he doesn't know his size. Still, i've always been afraid to really shoo him away for doing it when I really believe he just wants to make me feel good too! Problem is, he would hurt! LOL
Anyway, I finally went and got the carrot stick so i could get some distance if i needed it, and he proceeded to play with the carrot stick. I just took it away from him and gently swung it over his back and neck . He stood like a little angel for that as i just sat there. It's supposed to feel like his mothers tail swishing him when he was a little guy cause it has a rope attached to it.. He really enjoyed it.
Anyway , he finally walked away bored. So it was fly predator night. Thats the night I Get to put my darlin little fly predator wasps in the piles of horse poop and the manure pile. I started walking around and alls Hoof saw was a bag. MUST BE TREATS! Lucky i had the carrot stick and I walked along shaking it up and down behind me like it was my tail . He followed but kept a distance.
Then he did something he's NEVER done before. Only seen him do it with Hershey. As I walked further down into the field he had stopped and just stood watching me , then he whinnied for me. REAL LOUD. I was quite flattered. He did'nt like me going away from him. It was so sweet!
I did what i had to do and then came back and sat down. He stood about 50 feet just looking at me. So I motioned with my hand and smiled for him to come to me AND HE DID!
I pet him some more and finally he walked into the barn to eat some hay. So I started thinking. Thinking all about how 10 years ago when I got horses again as an adult, I had dreams of riding like I did as a kid. Just hopping on bareback and riding around the neighborhood. It never worked out that way this time. There was always a problem. I dont want to do any kind of showing, or rodeo or anything like that. Heck after what happened to Hoofs father Fool, I'll probably never leave our pasture. But to be outside at dusk on a warm summer evening and just hop on my boy and take a ride through the field with no fear. Thats my dream. Last time I rode through my field like that bareback was 10 years ago and it was'nt on Hoof. The horse I was on felt something around his fetlocks and froze. I calmed him for a minute and then BANG he bolted to the back of the field. Here I was holding on for dear life. Cant believe I rode it as long as i did. He ran to the back and then turned somewhere . Last thing I remember was going up the hill and seeing the dirt very close. I could not pull myself up so i had to let go. Knocked me unconscious. Thank GOD I had a helmet on. Later I examined the helmet and it was cracked up the back! Had to go to the emergency room, I was pretty banged up. Had a bruise on my butt the size of my butt and thats no small thing let me tell ya. Although it was a bit smaller then.
Anyway, that kind of made me terrified of that field. Took Hoofs dad back there once with a trainer, but I was terrified so i've never gotten over that. I dont think there is anything as scary as being run off with like that. If I had a saddle on I could have gotten the horse under control, but I had not ridden in probably 20 years at that point and had no control bareback like I did as a kid.
I want so much to overcome this fear, but thats what makes Hoof being green so scary because that horse that i was on that night was green too and easily scared. He had been abused I think where Hoof hasn't so at least i've got that going for me.
Anyway, all i want to do is be relaxed and ride my little guy around the pasture and maybe a canter back to the barn. BUT...............I've got to work for it. SOOOO. I thought OK, he's obviously bored as heck tonight so i'm gonna see what kind of reaction I get if i get his halter out.
I walked out of the shed and instead of walking right up to him, I kind of walked away from him then I turned around half facing him and motioned for him to come to me, AND HE DID. He lowered his head and I put the halter on him . He was sooooo good!
Next I did the halter hold and immediately he dropped his head for me. I told him to wait and i walked around him not holding him. Next I thought you know im just gonna walk till i get scared. The cat was on top the hill so we walked to her. Gave us something to think about. He did perfect. We walked to the cat and then came back to the barn. Hershey came out to see what was up and I did'nt worry. I just thought , you know if anything happens I can step away and let go if I have to. Next we walked up the other side of the field where the dogs were. Buddy barked but Hoof did'nt mind. It was very relaxed time on a nice warm summer evening. We stopped and practiced our dance next. That went well, but he kept trying to put the lead in his mouth like he always does, but this time I did'nt let it get ot me. I just kept taking it out of his mouth and even did some mouth work with him, ( but it did'nt help) LOL. I noticed when I tried to bring his back leg forward, I am supposed to pull him forward by the halter at the same time I tap his back leg and I cant reach. I need to ask carrie what to do about that. So I did the best i could and instead of getting frustrated, I laughed!
He was so good besides the mouthing. Next I Took hm back to the barn. I decided to end on a good note and I took his halter off of him. I did give him a treat , but OH WELL! It went so well I had to show him what a good boy he was. And of course Hershey got a treat for being such a good audience. I am very happy . I will do this more now. Just a stroll around the field not too far. as far as comfortable . Late in the evening. I dont like to make the horses do anything when it's too hot and the bugs are around. Thats not fair I think.
I know I could do some kind of trainng where I could BREAK my horse or rather have someone BREAK my horse and then smack him around and "show him who's boss" but I WONT! NEVER. I want Hoof to want to be with me. I thougth that was kinda a silly dream till tonight . We were a team!! a TTEAM! YAY!!!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Hoof notes
Just had to come and journal some quick thoughts I had this morning during my horse chores.
Hoof is really quite sweet. He's kind of like that charming guy that your drawn to, and he makes you laugh and has kind of an impish innocence but you can NEVER trust him.
Not because he doesn't mean well, but because he is irresponsible and doesnt understand the consequences of his actions. Kind of emotionally immature. Hoof does not know how big he is. He may run me down because i'm in his way or because he is running to me for protection. He doesnt know the difference. I remember once when the neighbor was setting off fireworks. It scared him and I was out in the field keeping an eye on the horses just in case they ran the fence or something. Well, he hears a firework and runs straight at me. Luckily I had the carrot stick(parelli folks know what I mean ) it's a directional tool. Anyway, I shooed him away with it. I am convinced he was running to me to hide behind me. Like I said he doesn't know how big he is.
This morning after I fed , I realized the fans were not pointed downward as much as they could be. It would be a help to the horses to keep the flies off their legs while eating their hay.
I decided to adjust them. I went to the shed to get the step ladder. Hoof saw that and got so scared. He ran out of the barn. My other horse Hershey just went right on eating his hay barely noticing me. Hoof stayed out of the barn till I was done.
I think Hoof is a very scared horse. Scared of everything but what fools you is that he's also very cocky and seems like he's such a cool dude. He has a sunken eye on one side of his face and it might make his eyesight not quite right which probably contributes to his fears.
I understand fears. I am afraid of life in general. Maybe Hoof is too. But I understand the feeling of being a prey animal. Always looking over your shoulder for the next threat. It's not a fun place to be. That does make it hard for me to keep him out of my space because I feel sorry for him or want to mother him and nurture him , even though I know that if I show him real leadership he will feel safer being with me. I guess this is a block i have to overcome, but part of me doesn't want to. I still want to baby him. But thats not fair to him is it? He loves to have his ears scratched and his chin scratched, and sometimes he just kind of leans against me like AWE mama. I love you. Maybe i'm afraid he wont love me anymore if I am firm with him. Also I dont seem to have enough self confidence to be sure that i'm being a fair in my judgements. For instance if i'm firm with him, I will always , a few minutes later second guess myself and say, oh what if i was too quick or too firm . I did the same thing with my poor daughter. I would try to discipline and then I would second guess the discipline and undo the punishment. OOO KKKK. I'll put the phone back in your room Tash, but DONT be on it after 10 pm! Then of course it would happen again because , well she was a teenager.
Hoof is really quite sweet. He's kind of like that charming guy that your drawn to, and he makes you laugh and has kind of an impish innocence but you can NEVER trust him.
Not because he doesn't mean well, but because he is irresponsible and doesnt understand the consequences of his actions. Kind of emotionally immature. Hoof does not know how big he is. He may run me down because i'm in his way or because he is running to me for protection. He doesnt know the difference. I remember once when the neighbor was setting off fireworks. It scared him and I was out in the field keeping an eye on the horses just in case they ran the fence or something. Well, he hears a firework and runs straight at me. Luckily I had the carrot stick(parelli folks know what I mean ) it's a directional tool. Anyway, I shooed him away with it. I am convinced he was running to me to hide behind me. Like I said he doesn't know how big he is.
This morning after I fed , I realized the fans were not pointed downward as much as they could be. It would be a help to the horses to keep the flies off their legs while eating their hay.
I decided to adjust them. I went to the shed to get the step ladder. Hoof saw that and got so scared. He ran out of the barn. My other horse Hershey just went right on eating his hay barely noticing me. Hoof stayed out of the barn till I was done.
I think Hoof is a very scared horse. Scared of everything but what fools you is that he's also very cocky and seems like he's such a cool dude. He has a sunken eye on one side of his face and it might make his eyesight not quite right which probably contributes to his fears.
I understand fears. I am afraid of life in general. Maybe Hoof is too. But I understand the feeling of being a prey animal. Always looking over your shoulder for the next threat. It's not a fun place to be. That does make it hard for me to keep him out of my space because I feel sorry for him or want to mother him and nurture him , even though I know that if I show him real leadership he will feel safer being with me. I guess this is a block i have to overcome, but part of me doesn't want to. I still want to baby him. But thats not fair to him is it? He loves to have his ears scratched and his chin scratched, and sometimes he just kind of leans against me like AWE mama. I love you. Maybe i'm afraid he wont love me anymore if I am firm with him. Also I dont seem to have enough self confidence to be sure that i'm being a fair in my judgements. For instance if i'm firm with him, I will always , a few minutes later second guess myself and say, oh what if i was too quick or too firm . I did the same thing with my poor daughter. I would try to discipline and then I would second guess the discipline and undo the punishment. OOO KKKK. I'll put the phone back in your room Tash, but DONT be on it after 10 pm! Then of course it would happen again because , well she was a teenager.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
why am i doing this
I am trying hard to train my little horsie Hoof. He's a brat. Thats him in the picture. Spoiled ROTTEN.
But it's my fault. I cant help it. He's so cute and I cant push him out of my space for crowding and trying to be in my pocket.
So i've got a brat. Last week , I had just finished feeding him and I felt him walking up behind me. He took his head and headbutted me in the butt. Well that did it i turned around , fly mask in hand and SHOOED him with it. He looked at me like WHAT????? But he backed up. I guess my energy was sufficient this time to warrant a slight show of respect.
Here's the reason I'm starting this blog. First of all. I live alone, so i have tons of thoughts and feelings and noone to express them to but my animals and my poor dear assistant at my pet grooming shop. Her name is Jess, and you'll hear alot about her on this blog, because she is the poor unfortunate who i spend most of my time with. I do have some very dear friends and a full grown daughter too , but I am trying to not monopolize conversations with my own selfish interests so that leaves ALOT of stuff to write.
She suggested I do this blog and said she thought my stories were interesting enough that others might want to hear them. Be warned though, my facebook friends kinda ignore me I think. Does anyone else ever feel like that? I can put up the best animal videos on the web, and get maybe 2 likes or comments. Other people have tons of responses. I wonder if people have me blocked. OF COURSE NOT. Thats just stinkin thinkin right?
So anyway, my new trainer Carrie, wants me to try EFT. Thats emotional freedom technique to help me to get through some of my training blocks with Hoof. For instance , I am afraid he will run over me. When he was younger , i would be leading him around the field and suddenly for NO reason he would stand up on two legs, come down to earth and BOLT. AHHH scary. Off he would go like Secretariat at the belmont , me standing there with my heart in my throat, thinking what did I do???
If you've ever had a horse with no respect standing above you on two legs with you at the other end of the lead line, let me tell you it's scary. I guess if i had alot of experience with a green horse I would not be scared, but I dont.
Some of you may ask , why do you keep a horse like that. Well it's because I love him. Maybe it's a codependant addiction. Not sure , but i love him regardless. I've had him since he was 3 and he's now 10 years old . I can count the times i've been on his back on two hands.
Most times. he lays his ears back and lifts his butt. I then proceed to get off of him quick. I"m not afraid to get hurt necessarily, I'm afraid NOT to work!!. I"m the only one we've got to pay the bills and buy the hay and 50 million nutritional supplements it apparently takes to keep this farmette functioning.
So back to Carrie (the trainer). She wants me to tap away my fears and blocks. This is interesting stuff this EFT. I've tried it before for various other fears I have, like getting my mail, hearing the phone ring, people knocking on my door. YESSS. I'm a nut, and a hermit but i'm functional and quite harmless.
Anyway, I've tried it before and it did'nt really work, well Carrie tells me it's because you need to bring up the fear when you do it. In other words imagine the worst happening and then tap tap tap it away. Well I'm very very good at imagining the worst to happen, so this should be a breeze. Carrie wants me to journal about Hoof. I am not good at even keeping track of a notebook or a piece of paper. I"m one of those people who writes everything on the back of envelopes and then loses them in the pile of mail.
So I figured , with Jess's help I would put everything on this here blog. And while i'm at it. I will express myself. That way you can choose to read it or ignore me like the people do on facebook, but either way I will be progressing with Hoofs new training regimine and maybe taking the load off of Jess. Lonely women make good bloggers..........I hope!
One more thing, I will not be too worried about spelling and punctuation. You get what i'm saying and life is too short for that. LAAAAZZZZYYY I know.
But it's my fault. I cant help it. He's so cute and I cant push him out of my space for crowding and trying to be in my pocket.
So i've got a brat. Last week , I had just finished feeding him and I felt him walking up behind me. He took his head and headbutted me in the butt. Well that did it i turned around , fly mask in hand and SHOOED him with it. He looked at me like WHAT????? But he backed up. I guess my energy was sufficient this time to warrant a slight show of respect.
Here's the reason I'm starting this blog. First of all. I live alone, so i have tons of thoughts and feelings and noone to express them to but my animals and my poor dear assistant at my pet grooming shop. Her name is Jess, and you'll hear alot about her on this blog, because she is the poor unfortunate who i spend most of my time with. I do have some very dear friends and a full grown daughter too , but I am trying to not monopolize conversations with my own selfish interests so that leaves ALOT of stuff to write.
She suggested I do this blog and said she thought my stories were interesting enough that others might want to hear them. Be warned though, my facebook friends kinda ignore me I think. Does anyone else ever feel like that? I can put up the best animal videos on the web, and get maybe 2 likes or comments. Other people have tons of responses. I wonder if people have me blocked. OF COURSE NOT. Thats just stinkin thinkin right?
So anyway, my new trainer Carrie, wants me to try EFT. Thats emotional freedom technique to help me to get through some of my training blocks with Hoof. For instance , I am afraid he will run over me. When he was younger , i would be leading him around the field and suddenly for NO reason he would stand up on two legs, come down to earth and BOLT. AHHH scary. Off he would go like Secretariat at the belmont , me standing there with my heart in my throat, thinking what did I do???
If you've ever had a horse with no respect standing above you on two legs with you at the other end of the lead line, let me tell you it's scary. I guess if i had alot of experience with a green horse I would not be scared, but I dont.
Some of you may ask , why do you keep a horse like that. Well it's because I love him. Maybe it's a codependant addiction. Not sure , but i love him regardless. I've had him since he was 3 and he's now 10 years old . I can count the times i've been on his back on two hands.
Most times. he lays his ears back and lifts his butt. I then proceed to get off of him quick. I"m not afraid to get hurt necessarily, I'm afraid NOT to work!!. I"m the only one we've got to pay the bills and buy the hay and 50 million nutritional supplements it apparently takes to keep this farmette functioning.
So back to Carrie (the trainer). She wants me to tap away my fears and blocks. This is interesting stuff this EFT. I've tried it before for various other fears I have, like getting my mail, hearing the phone ring, people knocking on my door. YESSS. I'm a nut, and a hermit but i'm functional and quite harmless.
Anyway, I've tried it before and it did'nt really work, well Carrie tells me it's because you need to bring up the fear when you do it. In other words imagine the worst happening and then tap tap tap it away. Well I'm very very good at imagining the worst to happen, so this should be a breeze. Carrie wants me to journal about Hoof. I am not good at even keeping track of a notebook or a piece of paper. I"m one of those people who writes everything on the back of envelopes and then loses them in the pile of mail.
So I figured , with Jess's help I would put everything on this here blog. And while i'm at it. I will express myself. That way you can choose to read it or ignore me like the people do on facebook, but either way I will be progressing with Hoofs new training regimine and maybe taking the load off of Jess. Lonely women make good bloggers..........I hope!
One more thing, I will not be too worried about spelling and punctuation. You get what i'm saying and life is too short for that. LAAAAZZZZYYY I know.
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