HHH - What a pretty day!

Whiskers

Yesterday packed up and went out to Horse Haven Hollow to get some training in and do some riding. Got there and the recent weeks of rain had gave us a muddy yucky mess to tramp through. Miss Whiskers was by the fence and so she volunteered to carry all the tack up to the round pen. She really hasnt been messed with too much. She is a 3 year old so she is ready. Putting a saddle on her is easy, she acts like she has been saddled a million times and she didn't object to playing the "pack mule" role. So up we go and when we get there I did a little lunge-line work and a little free lunge. She was keyed up because her buddies were outta site. She was a little disrespectful running around like a wild thing and invading my space showing me she was not pleased with the situation BUT she got over it. Last time I was out I saddled her up and got on and just sat there for a sec but I knew since that went well today I was getting on her and we were gonna move out...so I jump on and she like the others was just so ready to go not even one little issue from it!

 Traveler
 

Another round on Traveler and I am always super impressed with him. Yeah he is a little lazy...but he is just so dependable and so willing to be your buddy compiled with the fact that hey this is really only his 6th ride...uh yeah he is doing great. I cant help but hope he gets lucky and goes to a child who is going to really grow with him. I would put any of my own children on this pony at this point. Some horses just have "it" and little Traveler definitely has "it"...he is only 3 and look at how laid back he is about even "freaky" situations! He also did alot of his "TN Walking Strut" and I have to tell you this guy is awesome to ride...he is absolutely smooth at every gait. My butt never leaves the saddle...there is no chop or bump to anything he does...he walks, trots, and canters and you don't move...another reason why whoever does end up adopting him is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE riding him!

 Jasmine

So Jeanne went and got Jasmine while I was playing around standing on Travelers back :) and we saddled her up. She did amazing as usual, except for one small little buck in objection to me tapping her withers with the reigns to get her moving into a trot. She seems to buck out of fear. It wasn't explosive and vicious it was just kinda a "quit that" you've scared me buck. The other small little buck I have experienced with this horse was also related to a fear stimulus as I tapped her rear end with my boot on dismount and she shot off and bucked, luckily I had gotten back on before she did. Other than this quirk, which REALLY isn't that big of a deal, just something she is working through and doing great at, this horse is awesome. She has a sweet disposition, and she is lowering her head, relaxing her eyes, and accepting a rider. Yesterday was the first time I rode her with no buddies hanging out around the pen too - and beside the one little incident she did great. Next step with her is going out on trails which we plan on doing maybe next week weather permitting. She is going to experience some scary situations out there and she is going to have to be ok and not buck me off. I am volunteering my butt & noggin to teach her this lesson so hopefully she will start to relax and not react to fear in that way. It takes just staying on. So far I havent been dumped...hopefully that doesnt change in the future :)

  Kenzi


We finished up the day bu putting on a saddle on little Miss Kenzi and I got up there and we wandered around following Jeanne without a lead rope. When she finally got her "wobbly legs" fixed we ended it on a good note. Uhhh again she just kinda volunteered to be broke and it went so smooth I swear there is something magical out there in HHH's grass :) The camara had died at this point BUT next visit she will be back under saddle and starting her road to being another great horse available for adoption!






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Quill ,Traveler, Jasmine, Whiskers

Today I went out to Horse Haven Hollow again to work with the greenies :) We did alot so I will try to focus on the key points. Quill & Traveler are the most receptive to training of the unbroken 3 & 4 year olds at HHH. They are basicly moving along on the same schedule. Today both Quill & Traveler were on their 3rd time out with a rider. Last session they didn't feel confident enough to move out on their own so Jeanne helped out as we patiently followed her around while having me on their back. Today we stepped up the pace and they actually moved out quite freely with being asked from the saddle. Quill who has gained some confidence was actually alive and moving quite friskily! I have to say he is going to be an outstanding athletic horse. He was still quite the sweetheart even with his new found confidence :) Quill was responding not only to moving out, but also turning & whoaing today as well as being mounted directly from the ground rather than the mounting block.

But the definite star today was Traveler.  We had a great ride in the round pen, he too was moving out, turning, whoaing and allowing me to mount & dismount from the ground without issue at all. After working with him I rode Jasmine, and got up on Whiskers then we were gonna go on a trail ride and I was going to ride Molly but she ran off in disapproval of those plans and little Traveler was just standing there by the truck wondering why everyone was getting attention & saddles so I said I will just ride him. Tacked him up and lead him out of the pasture and down to the road, hopped on him and off we went with Jeanne on Kita & Michael on Willow. I am ASTOUNDED by this horse. This little fellow has had 3 riding sessions. He just started to learn turning & whoaing only an hour earlier and he was an absolute joy to ride. We were out riding trails...he went down steep hills, he went up steep muddy rocky hills, he crossed a little stream without batting an eye. He jumped over a fallen log like it was nothing. He got a little anxious about one log but he LISTENED to me and calmed right down. It was like he had done this a million times. By the time we were minutes into the ride, he was listening totally to me, obeying all my cues...it was AWESOME! He was slapped in the head by branches, poked in the sides by briars, we rode past oil riggings, old barrels, fallen logs & woodpiles, crossed over an old metal culvert and nothing bothered him. I don't know what else Jeanne wants this guy to learn. I dismounted & remounted a few times during the ride he stood COMPLETELY still...I am just shocked by his spectacular performance. And my honest opinion is he loves his new role in the human world. I think he really enjoyed today and I am excited for him to find a family that will take him on many many trail rides. If I didn't know personally the history of this horse and I just got on him to ride trails today I would NEVER have known that this guy is just now working on being broke. His spook factor is very low, he listens without qualm, when he did get excited about the one log it was a quick spook and he listened to me completely. I mean I have a well broke horse at home and this guy behaved himself BETTER than her on trails. Just am floored with the fact that he has had so little saddle time and just is such a natural at being broke.

Jasmine:
Ok today I got on Jasmine again and she was so responsive to me. She is starting to relax, starting to listen to leg cues. She is getting it! And so far she has shown no attitude with me. She is starting to accept the fact that people are yes going to get on her back and yes we are going to ask her to do stuff and yes she can do it! Really good time with her too. We did some figure 8's and kept working on turning and giving in to cues and she listened like a champ. Jeanne got the video of her trotting with me later on so if I can get that I will post it later!

Whiskers:
So today we pulled Whiskers in the pen and I laid across her with the saddle. I stepped up in the stirrup. I sat on her back and she didn't show any disapproval to the idea someone was up there so looks like we have a new volunteer at HHH to get their little butt broke ASAP :) Didn't spend very long with her but I can already tell she is ready to get started. I put some snap on reins on the rope halter and climbed up and sat there for a second. She kinda moved in reverse a bit but nothing that showed she was gonna blow up or really cared to much for my presence on her back. I think she will be just fine.

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Pictures Of Quills First Ride :) Yay!

I usually always have a camera with me to record training sessions BUT I left it in my purse the day I went out and got on Quill & Traveler for the first time :( Thank God Jeanne caught a few shots...I am soooooo in love with this horse. He is just absolutely going to be a great one! Now granted just because they were good one day doesn't mean its going to be like the next time BUT I have to trust my gut on this one....I think all I am going to have to teach him is to give his head and whoa on cue. I don't think I will ever get a buck outta this boy. I think he is the rare "born broke" kind. He is only 3! He has the personality of a follower & a pleaser. I think this willing nature is going to prove that Quill (named for the feather like blaze & ink drop on his nose) will excel at anything someone puts him too. I think he would look beautiful in English Tack and as soon as I am sure he is willing & complacent as I am betting him to be I want to tack him up in English...I bet he is going to look very handsome & refined :)

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Buttons & Boo Boo

Button & Boo Boo

Went down to a friends house today and met with him and his dad to play with his horses - Button & Boo Boo. Both were kept stallions and just now being clipped they are starting training as brand new geldings. Button I believe is 6 and I think I was told Boo Boo is 3. Both beautiful horses. First I worked Boo Boo on the lunge and he did great...one or two fits...one or two corrections...and things ran smoothly. He had some issue with invading your space but putting the whip in between he and me helped him to understand to stay out of that area. He was down in weight for a few reasons and they wanted to wait till he put it back on to start working him again...and as he gets it back so returns his spirit. But thats OK - starving a horse to make it more docile so it is easier to train is not only CRUEL but also self defeating. Unless you are going to keep it starved for all of its life...well one day when it gets its weight on it will throw some thunder. They were also started with a hackmore at the previous place and again I have no idea the reasoning behind that either :( Today I also got up on Button for the first time. Granted I do NOT like the fact he is at liberty during this. I like having the round pen...let me say that one more time...I like having the round pen...hint hint hint :) to contain the situation should it get ugly. Horses that are not broke do one of two things in most situations - buck or bolt...in either of those situations it is great to be in a space that helps you stay in control if the poo hits the fan. I got up on him sat on him for a few rubbed his neck reassured him. When I asked him to move he went backwards. I asked Mike Sr. to grab him and walk with him. Now Button did great he is a high steppin. fast paced horse and is going to be a really pleasurable ride. We did that for just a little while and ended it on a good note. Mike Jr. got on and did the same and Button did fine again. We used a full cheek snaffle and a western saddle. Since we didn't have a lot of time either I did not lunge him beforehand because I only had enough time to get him fired up not wearing him out. But it was a good call - he did fine.

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Jethro, Jasmine, Quill & Traveler

 Jethro

First off I have to say that I always have such a pleasant experience out at Horse Haven. Yesterday was just another shining example of getting to know the horses even better. First off we grabbed Jethro from the front yard and saddled him up like a pack mule to carry the saddle and other tack up to the round pen for me. The round pen is quite a distance from the driveway so it makes since to utilize his strength :) What did I know about Jethro - nothing. I knew we had helped Jeanne load him up to be cut about a month ago. At that time Jeanne told me we would evaluate him once the sting of being cut passed. She also said she had a feeling his was broke already but that is a crap shoot. Just because a horse has good ground manners doesn't mean it is going to let you hop on. He is very pleasant on the ground - this is very true. So we take Mr. Jethro into the main herds pasture and walk him up to the round pen. Yeah all the other horses came to see the new intruder some meeting him with penned ears and little kicks in the air, he still didn't get to excited :) Which is a good thing! Make it to the pen and get him settled in while a large group of the herd watched us from the outside of the pen. So even in the midst of all the new faces, all the glares and contention, all the calling out to his girls in the yard, he let me climb right up there after a few "checks" like laying across the saddle. I hopped on and he just did great. Thank God! You never know what is going to happen when you have no idea whether the horse is broke or not. He did great...we even trotted a bit. So you tell me...here he is after being dumped along a highway as a stallion, had just the normal everyday handling for over a year, in the midst of what most horses would consider a pissing match with new horses, missing his buddies he can no longer see or smell, and just coming off being cut and not ONE infraction of respect and he listened like a dream...now is Jethro a good horse...UH YEAH!

Oh yeah I forgot, we also had help in the pen from everyones favorite little Boogersnot - Amigo. And he is terrifying ya know :)

Jasmine
Took my second spin on Jasmine. The herd was still up ther keeping us company and she was still very good. Sometimes the best thing you can do with a horse is make sure you have a really positive experience all the way around. I road her for about 20 minutes total so it wasn't a long ride, but it was very nice, very calm, and she is started to relax a little better. All positive steps towards being trained. Keep in mind this is only her 4th time with someone up on her back and she is turning, whoaing, and responding to leg pressure really well...We just have to keep that positive energy flowing with her!

Quill & Traveler
Ok I could kick myself for not setting up the camera for their big day. I got on both of them and there was no issue at all. I think Quill is going to be EXTREMELY easy to train and the same with Traveler. Both have been handled so well by Jeanne they have little issue accepting a rider at all. They are truly gentled and eager to please. At one point I think Quill fell asleep...ok on several occasions Quill fell asleep :) But I got up on both of them. Quill let me kinda meander around a little on my own, but Jeanne came in and helped him move at first...his little wobbly baby steps...I also just let him meander around without her leading him without issue. So fingers crossed that both of them are gonna go easy and smooth...because I can't wait to see them start a life with new owners.
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Milo, Quill, Cheyenne, Traveler

 Yesterday I spent most of my day out at HHH. I pulled 3 of the new starts out Milo, Quill & Traveler to get them under saddle, bridled, lunging, and I laid across their backs. They have a ways to go but they are on their way to being broke. I was impressed with each one. They are going to make some fine riding horses. They are all so friendly and enjoyable. I also worked with Cheyenne (not knowing she is completely broke) I lunged her and tacked her up just like the greenies. If I would have known she is completely broke I would have ridden her.

Video's from the day at Horse Haven Hollow

 

Traveler

 

Quill

 

Milo

 

Cheyenne

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Dallas & Jasmine

 Dallas

Last night I had two wonderful experiences on these horses! First I rode Dallas in the arena at a walk mostly, I did get him to trot for a bit on my own but Jeannie had to come in and put pressure on him from the center of the pen...he is just REALLY lazy in the round pen. He is a very bumpy trot. Later I left the pen and went to to the pasture with him since all his buddies were off in a different pasture. I hopped on and he started to go towards the gait to the buddies pasture and Glen quickly shut it...he paced up and down the gate I turned him around and we went for a nice gallop along the fence. And just when I though it was his all...he showed me he can move even faster...but guess what it was like sitting still...it was the smoothest gallop I have ever ridden...he does NOT respond to well to the snaffle bit, probably used to the more popular western style bits of tomb thumbs,curbs, or something with shanks. But all in all it went fine. And guess what NO BUCKING at any gait...it was nice!

Jasmine

So then we decide that went well so why not catch Miss Jasmine and take a try at her. A little background on this horse. Well first off she is a sweetie :) Second off she is not broke. Last year Jeannie started to work her and she bucked her a couple times, and the last bucking fit left poor Jeannie unconcious and then training was suspended...so Jeannie snatches her from the pasture and she goes into the round pen. She is a little afraid, jumps a bit at the rope, so I take a moment to just calm her down. I precede to just saddle her up like it has been done everyday for the past year or so and she does great. Same goes for bridling her. I can tell she is nervous a tad but nothing out of the ordinary so I decide to just go with her energy. I don't do any groundwork as far as free lunge because I don't want to build up her anxiety level. Some horses are best just left calm and relaxed. She didn't show any disrespect towards me, she was just a little nervous. So I jump up there and just sit for a moment and reassure her and then instead of kicking her or squeezing her I rock to kinda knock her off balance and make her move...she starts out and I give her a few minutes to realize I am up there before asking her to turn and she does great! I went to dismount and I think I must have hit her rump with my foot as I was coming off and she jumped forward out of fear but I quickly regained my seat and she did do one attempt at a buck...I pulled her head up with my trusty leadrope attached to her halter and then it was over and off we went again. Nothing more bad happened...in fact it was a very enjoyable pleasant ride. Her bucking is out of fear, nothing more...so as long as her little rides remain calm, pleasant and enjoyable her confidence in the situation will increase and her fear will disappear. I think she is going to be fairly easy to break...

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First Ride On Dallas

Last night we went out to HHH to ride Dallas. He was in a lovely mood when caught and seemed rather perturbed by the inconvenience of having to deal with us rather than graze with his herd mates. Thats just typical horse behavior though. He is a strapping young man, bulked up, with a neck like a body builder. He is tough stuff. Got him the round pen and did some free lunging. He is rather laid back. Once his buddies moved off into the distant pasture he was more "giving" in his efforts and a little less distracted. Again just typical "I am horse who hasn't been messed with much lately" behavior. So the moment of truth finally presented itself as I swung up on him from the mounting block. He stood like a champ and didn't move off. I gave him a moment to collect his thoughts and understand I was up there and then asked him to move off. I am not from the school of "kicking" a horse. I do not believe you have to kick a horse for it to understand the cue to move. I gave him some squeezes, rocked my bottom and asked with a kiss. Eventually we rolled out at a very slow lazy pace. Being this was the first time I was on him he was a gentleman, a lazy gentlemen, BUT I will take that over a fired up fruit loop any day. We used a full cheek snaffle on him and at first he had some difficulty in giving into it as it is probably a lot gentler than what he is used to if he has had prior training. They lack the squeezing leverage pressure of say a curb or worse a tom thumb. He does need to loosen up his neck and gain some flexion. His body is stiff and rigid. He does understand the move cue, he did get into a trot for a short spurt with the added pressure of Jeannie working him from the center of the pen. We unsaddled him and I got up on him bareback and he followed his leader "Jeannie" around not caring to much at all I was up there. All in all it was a pretty easy session.

So here is my critique of this horse:
Disposition: Quiet & complacent. He may be big & bulky but he has a soft demeanor.
Behavior Issues: None to note thus far. He is a little lazy which can be a sign of him dominating his rider but in this case I think t is more just a horse that has grown to like not working. Again that is very typical. I walked behind him, no kicking. No biting, he respected my space and followed willingly.
Riding Skill : He has a very comfortable walk, trot is a little bumpy, and haven't made it to canter yet. It is still a little early to call this horse a beginners horse BUT if nothing changes he would be excellent for anyone who just wants to meander around on trails or have a nice horse to saddle up and enjoy for the afternoon.
Game Plan: Since last night was kinda like an "orientation" it stayed at a relaxed pace. It was more for observation purposes and to see how much he already knows. Wednesday I will go back out and on that day it will be more about pushing his buttons a little and making him do stuff he may not feel like doing. Once I start pushing those buttons we will know for sure how complacent & broke he is. He kinda got to run the show last night but on Wednesday he is going to be asked to listen and do some basic things like walk, trot, canter, whoa, in both directions.

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Dallas & Molly From HHH

Sunday evening I went out to Horse Haven Hollow and got the pleasure of working with two horses. The night started off with the big ol' boy Dallas...free lunged for a little bit did great...showed no disrespect...was really quiet and had a willing nature that was relaxed & peaceful...the entire thing went so well we decided to just see how far ol Dallas would let us push him...saddled him up and after a few times laying across the saddle and riding around on his side while standing in the stirrup I threw my leg across, he sat there like this was all old business to him...Jeanne who had been helping some adopters returned and lead me around the ring in both directions...not an issue for him at all...so next visit Dallas will be bridled and this time I will hop on and hopefully see what he has to offer :) hopefully it's all nice stuff...

I didn't really "work" with Molly but I did ride her first and take some of the spunk off before her new adopter Ashley could take a spin. What a nice riding little mare. She hadn't been ridden in a year so the first few minutes was just her running around blowing off some steam but she calmed down and acted like a horse that had been ridden everyday for the last year. She has a "let's go" attitude which is so nice versus laziness...she responds great to direction and let Miss Ashley have a good time. I am just so impressed with the level of gentling these horses have had. You would think they would be basket cases coming out of some of the situations they have been exposed too but they all seem so calm, complacent and act just like "normal" horses...all in all it was another good evening working with the horses at HHH.
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Ice Cream The Whoa is Me Story In Progress

Well this morning I returned to work with Ice Cream after about a week hiatus. I was a little worried that I would find her back to her old ways having such a big break in training. She wasn't as bad as I thought. Her owner told me she had worked her in the round pen and was pleased with Miss Ice Creams join up and she is showing more respect but she refused to "whoa" for her. I worked her on free lunge and could get her to stop on "whoa" and cues from my body language. I am not letting her face me as of yet due to her little "charging episode" the last session we had. I worked her for awhile and then proceeded to mount and she is standing still and moving out on cue almost perfectly BUT yet again she walks right on through a whoa. I tried doing the one rein stop and yes she did eventually twirl to a stop...so tomorrow I will return to ride her some more and work on the "whoa" issue...this time I am going to make her go, go, go until she is begging for a "whoa". I want her to be looking forward to stopping tomorrow. Other than that little thing, she is turning much better, standing great for mounting and dismounting, she is moving off on just a cluck/kiss...her progress is GREAT! I will update tomorrow and see if the new approach works out...hopefully it does and we are VERY close to just doing a lot of riding and working out the wrinkles.
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Join Up With Rain - It's A Beautiful Thing!

I spent only a little over a half hour to get her to Join Up with me. Which is pretty freaking amazing :) She is a skitterish little thing. And at times she is a bull headed bucking bronc ask her last trainer who thought this little lady broke his back from one of the most vicious bucking sessions he has had to date. She may just be more of a "ladies" horse. I rode her in the Alumni Parade and had only one little spook when the crowd started to clap for the band...she whirled around and almost caused mass panic amongst the horses. They were all saying "oh no! something bad is happening" and were about to bolt as well BUT she calmed down and we preceeded to finish the parade without incident. She has bucked my son several times...as for me not really...she does get a little stubborn and try to get her head down between those knees at times...BUT so far she hasn't bucked me yet...but now that I typed it...will probably do it! This is one of my favorite excercises to do with a horse to get a bond they understand established. It isn't a "save all" but it does help a few things click in their horsey heads. All in all it went very well. You notice I never strike the horse with the whip, I will crack it and strike the ground...that's all that is needed to get most horses ear on you and their legs a moving.
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First Day At HHH

Well it was a typical first day on the job :) I got to work with two wonderful horses - Mick & Milo. Both came from the same deplorable conditions and were seizures. Well they are complete polar opposites on the scale. Mick is timid and flighty, Milo confident & steadfast to stay put. Did a little round penning with both here are the details from the day:

Milo : (3 year old sorrel Quarter Horse) Caught fairly easy, walks on a lead fairly easy, a little drag behind in his efforts. Got him in the round pen and was going to attempt doing some round pen work of free lunging him for possible join up and he spent the entire time running around the pen pushing into the rails trying to find a weak spot to push over...when that didn't work he decided to just jump over the gate and say "bye bye"...

Mick: (4 year old bay Quarter Horse) Went down to were they were all hanging out & and Jeanne actually caught Mick as he is very cautious to new people...also recaught Mr. Milo and we all walked up to the round pen. Mick went in the pen & Milo got tied up outside. Slipped Micks halter off to replace it with a rope haulter and he did a little running around at liberty without a halter. I caught him with some issues and put on the rope halter. Did a little leading and he did great. He lowered his head and relaxed with me a bit...his left side is much stronger than his right...and we got rolling on some free lunge and he did great. He is a little nervous to things like rope, ect. Rubbed the rope all over him and he seemed to calm down. Could change directions with him easily but he too tried to jump the gate and escape. So I put him on the lunge and got him to stop and face me just a couple times. Got him to also turn in towards me a couple times on free lunge but when I offered to join up he would have no part of it and would take off again....thats ok...today was kinda a day to introduce ourselves and get comfortable...a kinda orientation if you will. He displays an almost natural "collection" to his stride and will make a great "western pleasure" or even english prospect as his strides are very balanced and quite animated...really gorgeous animal. Although he is timid that is only to be expected...I predict he is going to be very responsive under saddle and as long as we teach him that no boogey man is coming to eat him up...he will be just fine...took him out of the round pen and set him free...was able to remove halter without him giving any anxious issues to be free...stood quite still and when released calmly walked away (no parting shots).

Milo again...Milo is VERY confident...not like the overly confident jerk type...he just seems to be like a horse that wouldn't move if firecrackers were going off around him while a marching band was going by. He just doesn't care about to much or doesn' seem to get to excited about much. His left side too is much stronger than the right. Ok so after our first round in the pen and Milo clearly can jump right out of the round pen with no problem I attached him to a lunge line and proceeded to try...and I stress TRY...to lunge him...lol...I have NEVER seen a 4 year old horse that is "unbroke" so dead broke to stimulus! I cracked the whip...again and again...I beat the ground...I ran around like a crazy lady...NOTHING even made him flinch...he just stood there relaxed as could be...back leg cocked in relaxation looking at me like I was an absolute idiot...Jeanne took over as she has more experience with Mr. Milo...and she used the stiff part of the lunge whip to tap him on the rump while motioning him forward with lots of slack so he had room to move off the pressure...guess what he moved for her...he wouldn't move in a circle...but he did move so baby steps are better than no steps...she told me to take over and again he was a mule for me...got some movement out of him but my habit is to try to turn them in a circle and I just couldn't keep behind his drive line...we could move forward but the slightest hint of a circle and all momentum stopped. He would turn and turn and turn his hind quarters like a champ and around and around we went :) Next we brought in the riding block to see if maybe being as steadfast about stimulus he would just accept weight on his back. So Jeanne held him while I laid across his back...at first he started to fidget a little and I patted his opposite side I slowly released my weight onto his back and guess what...he didn't care for it and moved :) Not exactly what we wished would happen but at least we found something that agitates him enough to get him moving a bit...We went back to something he can do well leading (although he does drag behind) and then ended the little session on a positive note. He is going to be a wonderful level headed mount for someone because he just has no "spook" factor. Sounds, movement, ropes, whips, crazy women, nothing bothers him...he is going to be well suited for a trail horse or even maybe a competition horse.

These horses are available for adoption at Horse Haven Hollow here in Pleasants County WV...for more information on adoption or other available horses please visit http://www.horsehavenhollow.org/

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Training Checklist - What Every Horse Should Know!

Ok I am taking on a BIG project. I am going to be assisting Jeanne at Horse Haven Hollow with retraining, and starting a whole lotta horses...We are talking a HUGE project but it is going to be so worthwhile to know that in the end horses that are unadoptable are going to go on to live out nice lives being cared for one on one by a human being who will appreciate the foundation we lay down over the upcoming weeks...soooooo...I thought it would be a good time to get organized because organization is going to be key in keeping track of progress in each horse AND looking at the big picture so we can plan out a time efficient strategy  to get them done in the "right" way with out skipping over key spots in training just to get them adopted...we are in a way determining their future just as our teachers in school did for us.

So in my head I know what a horse needs to know to be well mannered and a pleasure to be around and easy to enjoy. That is the real key in a horse surviving and thriving in the human world. They need to be pleasant and enjoyable to be around. The better "get along" they have the more options they will have at surviving and not ending up on the dinner plate somewhere in Europe or being neglected because their owner fears them...so here goes the list of every skill each and every horse should have...and each skill should apply to both sides of the horse (saving myself some time by not having to type it saying right & left)

GROUND MANNERS & HANDLING
1. Should be pleasant to be around in general and display no aggression towards people entering it's areas..(ex.pasture,barn stall, it's own personal space)
2. Catches easily: If you have to run after a horse everyday it makes it hard to enjoy it at all.
3. Can be haltered with ease.
4. Can be lead like air floating alongside you almost like a shadow. Noone enjoys being jerked around or feeling like they are connected to a powderkeg about to explode.
5. Can be handled easily for daily tasks like grooming.
6.Can be tied without fidgeting around or pawing, jerking, or circling.
7.Can be bathed without fear.
8.Can be sprayed with flyspray or other necessary horse maintenance articles.
9.Can have all 4 feet picked up easily and worked on without threat of bodily injury or herking jerking fits.
10. Can stand quietly when asked to do so.
11.Halts smoothly and easily.
12. Respects your space and does not push itself into yours.
13. Can move backwards as easily as frontwards.
14. Can be lunged at a walk, trot, & canter.
15. Can be halted on the lunge without coming in.
16. Can reverse on the lunge easily.
17. Stands quiety while saddle & blankets are applied.
18. Lowers head for bridle.
19.Stands quietly for mounting. Displays no forward or backward movement.
20.Moves out on cue.Moves at a walk/trot/canter easily on cue.
21.Stops on cue.
22.Turns left/right with only gentle pressure.

That pretty much is the basics every horse should know when "finished" enough to be a pleasure to be around. There are of course a HUGE list of things that a horse can go onto to be finished to the fullest...neck reigning, dressage work, collection, all kinds of higher levels of training. But these are a good start to having a horse people can ride & enjoy. Of course this little list is no small task. And along the way I will get NONE of the things listed above without trust and respect...so those two things are the beginning to getting everything accomplished. Since I am going to be working with animals that have been exposed to the absolute worst examples of human beings in the world, my task becomes even harder. Tonight walking around the pasture there were so many scars and old wounds on these horses that stand as a reminder that these horses have had a pretty rough start on life and their experiences have been nothing less than horrific. So that's first priority gain their trust and earn their respect.






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You Take The good, You Take The Bad and There Ya Have Horses!

Ahhhh the joy of a good day with a horse can so quickly be forgotten when a bad day comes up. Ice Cream tried me for the first time today on two occassions. She snaked up on me and thought very hard about charging me. I knew she did it to other people but I thought I had gained enough ground on respect that she wouldn't try me with it but she did. Lesson learned with her...don't forget she has that in her. I have had so much easy going progress with her, for her to show such disobedience and downright nastiness towards me I was a little heartbroken, felt like betrayal from her in a sorts. When she came at me the first time I sent her off out onto the rail to think about what a mistake it was to try me. Then after a little while she decided she would have a second go at charging me and this time she thought she would up the force and actually started to come at me. The first time I checked it as soon as I started to see what she was thinking with her head up like a viper and ears all pinned back. The second time she puffed herself up and started to come out at me but I grabbed the whip and ran at her like a crazy person thrashing the ground and she retreated. Later on that day I did get some of the best join up I have had so far...she was even running along with me, weaving as I weaved, stopping on a dime for me. This episode just goes to show how opportunistic some horses are, and just how wise it is to be paying attention to what they are sending you in body language. If I wasn't paying attention and didn't react as quickly as I did, she probably would have got me.
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Ice Cream Learning to Stand Still & Move Foreward On Cue

 Day 2 Under Saddle: 
Learning to stand still for mounting and also learning to move forward on cue.

What a day with miss Ice Cream. After a few objections to riding today...a few little swipes with the back legs and mini bucks in the rear end ...Ice Cream calmed down and listened to what I asked her to do. She actually got it! At first I just get on and let her roam around at free will. Letting her feel me in the saddle and move forward which is something she refused to do before. You could get on her BUT then she would stand completely still which is a sign of a horse that is not broke to ride. So today I start out by getting on and she just started moving without being cued. I let her do this for a little while to show her moving with someone on her back isn't that bad or scary after all. I then kinda went in reverse and taught her to stand still till cued to move forward. On a couple of occassions during her wondering around she would stop and show reluctance to move again. I first asked with a verbal cue, then I added the pressure from my legs, she didn't really get that concept...so I did the old secret "Miss Piggy" trick. You take the reins in your hand and just flop the excess back and forth on the withers until the horse moves and you immediately stop flopping and let the horse move around for about 40 feet encouraging the horse with your seat to keep moving till you ask it to "whoa". Then you ask it to start moving forward again by using the "Miss Piggy" trick again...the times you flop back and forth becomes less and less. You must also make sure that you give a verbal cue right before you do the "Miss Piggy" trick. Before long the horse is moving on the verbal cue. So anyways I got her to move forward on cue AND she learned to stand still for the mount...Mission Accomplished!

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Thoughts On Horse Slaughter

 Foals In The Kill Pen Awaiting Transport To Slaughter

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls we would all be vegetarians"

-Linda McCartney

 I just can't get the images I have been viewing today online about horse slaughter in Canada & Mexico out of my head.. I was like most people I guess. I knew that when horses were sent to auctions there were buyers there called "killers". I knew that some of the horses sent were destined to end up in dogfood or on the plates of wealthy Europeans. I was under the impression that this was a necessary evil in a sense. That there are far to many horses and not enough quality homes and that the sick, the lame, the unwanted filtered through and found a final resting place at a slaughterhouse in a humane manner. Not that I was ok with it, it was just the end of the line to trim off the excess population a fact of horse life. I tried not to think about it too hard...and then I did some research on starving and neglected horses and as the Interent often does I found my self clicking through links that eventually brought me to a profound realization...horse slaughter is absolutely the most insanely inhumane thing I have ever had the misfortune of revealing to myself and if we live in a society that has this as a necessary evil...we have to be the most disgusting wretched form of life to ever crawl across the face of the planet.

These horses are kept in the most disgusting of conditions. They are starved, dehydrated, maimed, and treated so abusively I can't fathom how this is legal. I saw horses lying on the floor, legs cut off with hacksaws still clinging to life. I saw horses with half their faces blown off from botched shootings. Horses missing ears, missing eyes, horses with infected eye sockets, horses with holes on their sides oozing green puss. Horses so starved and so weak they fall down and can't even muster the energy to get up and if they survive without being trampled to death they are drug across the floor and shot. New born foals alongside their placenta waiting to be butchered. The "killers" outbid families and scoop up healthy robust beautiful animals with so much life left to give. They crowd them on transport trucks to drop them off at facilities that rarely abide by humane slaughter guidelines. I saw horses being stunned up to 17 times. I saw horses being shot 5 times sometimes several minutes passed between each bullet. I saw little ponies being crammed two at at a time into the kill shoot watching each other die. And for ANYONE that knows anything about horses, their herd instinct is so strong this must be HORRIFYING to be trapped and watch as your herdmates are being shot so brutally. One by one they are fed into those shoots only to end their service to mankind in such a
HORRIBLE painful way.

Our Sugarcreek Survivors

So now I am just sad and am thinking of what part can I do to make a difference. First off I have two horses here that have SugarCreek histories. One our little Sunshine was bought at the infamous SugarCreek auction house in Ohio by my cousin and I have since taken her on as mine. So she very easily could have ended up on the slughterhouse floor. I think of how much fun my sons have had with her I wonder why on earth she was ever sent there in the first place. She is only 3 and she is sooooo pretty! She is teaching them so much about being good horsemen. I can't imagine that little pony being crammed into one of those shoots and so brutally shot in the head. In mexico they don't even use bullets, sometimes it is nails or bolts loaded into a gun and sometimes it takes hours for the horse to die I can't imagine her enduring that pain and lucky for her she is a survivor of Sugarcreek and will have a forever home with our family. When the boys out grow her she will hang out and wait for some grandkids to come along and start riding.

Star's Story Saved From Sugarcreek Sale

And then there is Star a beautiful 13 year old Quarter horse who was bought days before she was to be sent to Sugarcreek. She has turned out to be a dream come true for my neice, who tries to ride every pretty day. She takes Star to horseshows and loves her dearly. Star was on her way until she was scooped up and she was spared the horror of the processing plants. Both Star & Sunshine got lucky and thier tags were passed on to other horses who were not as lucky.



Info & Links:
Here is a link to the USHS fact sheet on horse slaughter .There is a link on the page that I will provide to you as well to video footage of a horse being killed at a slaughterhouse in the kill shoot. I couldn't watch the video in it's entirety I closed the browser when the horse is shown and the man prepares to shoot it. Maybe you can stomach it I just can't:
Horse Being Killed In Canada Video 1 of 3

Video From Sugarcreek Auction House

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A Tribute Video To My Equine Friends

Here is a tribute video I made to capture how I feel about horses, what horses do for the inside of me, and what I hope I can do with them...CONNECT...ahhhh they never cease to totally amaze me with thier gentle and wonderful ways! I love horses!
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First Ride On Ice Cream

Again today I went out to work with Ice Cream and she did a GREAT job. She is showing a lot more respect towards people and I mounted her without any issues. I trotted & walked today...worked on turning...it will be a long road till I can call this horse "broke". She has spent most of her life in a pasture not being asked to do much and has developed bad behaviors towards people - she would knock you down, invade your space to the point of trampling on you, strike you with her front legs, offer to kick from the side, use her head to push you around, not listen when being handled...basicly just a brat. Her owner loves her and wants to see her have a more "useful" life and so I am trying to teach her to respect humans while being handled, accept a rider and move when asked in the way you ask...so far so good...things seem to be moving along quite smoothly!
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New Blog Feature

I am going to be adding an update to all the horses I am currently working with. Lots of pictures, videos & free how to info. ASAP!
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