Trailer loading take 3....
My compromise was I was going to bring more "grain" to the trailer, but I was not going to open up that front door completely. Just the top half. And it worked: ) (Did I get lucky?)
Mag and I hung out in the trailer, him happily looking out the window, chewing. Wish I had a photo of us, cuz I had my arms crossed on the front ramp as I looked out, and he was peering out too beside me. It's a huge front door.
Then I backed him out and we went to visit the school horses. Then back in, have a bite of grain while I lean on the sisal-padded ramp, and before he had a chance to think about leaving, I backed him out, using BACK BACK BACK strong vocal cues. Then a visit to the henhouse, my first time. Mag snorted at the chickens. I wish I understood chicken speak. I know the "let us out of this hutch" whining sound cuz it's right outside our window every morning before dawn. I think bokbokbokbokbok B-OCK means I laid an egg, acknowledge! So annoying, so ridiculous this sound. These chickens were keening at us, no idea.
I know it's important to break up time in the trailer with a walk around. Back in, I wondered how long he could stay relaxed.
Then came the moment he decided he'd rather not be in the trailer, and he took two steps backwards. I put the lightest pressure on the line and said, "Come here Mag" and he CHANGED HIS MIND! Woo! So happy, he wanted to leave, but let me talk him into staying a bit longer. Huge success! Have another mouthful and then BACK I asked him out again.
I looked at my watch, we'd been at it for 45 minutes. Go in, hang out, eat, back out when asked, take a walk, start again. I'm thrilled about how easily goes in, and I will continue to go slow with this to make it easy for him. We have to replace some bad memories and I suppose it might take more than 3 days: )
I am going to buy Christina a bag of that grain-free grain as a thank you.
***
Hanging out at the barn with my horse totally alone, hrmph, but today is the last day of school so I can use the car whenever I want so I'll be there when actual other people are there, geez, it's such a waste of our money to be there and not be able to continue with riding because I'm not ready to ride alone at a farm devoid of anyone. I don't necessarily need someone at Mag's head, but I certainly want someone else on the property!
I made myself coffee and ate my lunch in the kitchen and read a Western horse magazine and thought I spend more time at the barn than the barn owner does!
Jasmin and Birgit arrived and walked Wolke around - she's lame and must walk 10 minutes a day in the arena. Mag lost his mind for a moment when she arrived during our ground work session. MY 3RD FAVORITE GIRLFRIEND!
*sigh*
He flipped up his tail and started prancing and I kept him aimed at the ground poles and suddenly I swear I could see him think, "Why am I working so hard for so little reason? I'm gonna slow down now." and I laughed at him.
Wolke rolled and rolled on entering and I lay the lunge whip across Mag's back as a warning, "Don't even think about it!" I'm sure he was though...
Cuz when I first brought him into the arena today, he went down to his knees to roll before we were even properly in the arena! He gives no warning. He doesn't look down, he doesn't sniff, he doesn't paw, he just drops. I attacked him with the whip and he jumped right up. Sorry to surprise you Mag but you have to learn that you cannot just drop to the ground when you like! Oh, poor Mag, I'm sure it seemed unfair because in the past I have let him roll in the arena. He has to learn when it's OK. Not exactly sure how I'll show him, perhaps the same signal as "Go ahead and graze" - what do you think?
Birgit kissed Mag on the nose and told him how fine he looks in his new-to-him white bridle. I can count on two fingers how often I've kissed Mag.
But today he breathed on my face, a huge sign of affection for him, and I stopped what I was doing, "If you do that, I'll always stop what I'm doing."
I told Birgit I will start supplementing his hay with beet pulp and she agreed. I said, "He eats soooo much hay I cannot believe how thin he is, with proper worming and good teeth!" She said, "I agree. But since you don't have any yet, can I give him a mash?" How nice is that. She made him a steaming hot hay pellet mash. And she stood by him the entire time he ate it, "You deserve that you good horse!" she said.
Earlier in the arena Birgit called to her daughter, "Look at Mag, Jasmin, as he sees something in the distance, how beautiful he is!" Birgit may be his biggest fan. I'll have to take a photo of them together. I have my camera every day hanging on the stall wall, but I never think to keep it in my pocket.
She said she'd feed fill his hay nets tomorrow if I'm not there (my house is in desperate need of vacuuming and I have no more clean clothes).
My lunging cavesson arrived in the mail today but my husband said I may not open the box til Christmas. Drat! I want I want...
Tomorrow I'll try to arrive late at the barn and actually get on my horse if someone would please be in the arena at that time!? It's so nice and cozy in there, I'm amazed at how few people go in and use it.
So much to be thankful for tonight. Mag sharing his breath with me, above all.
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5 comments:
I know what you mean about horse breath. "Breath in my face, and I'll follow you anywhere!"
Have you taught Mag to soften at the poll with the bit? This will help tremendously in your communication with him. This can be done from the ground, standing at the side of the horse, taking each side of the bit in your hands. Using one or more fingers (in a quidk release sort of hold), gently apply pressure until the horse yields, even a teensy bit, and then you release. At first they resist a lot, even try to back up, but if you apply the pressure a little more down instead of back at first, they will get it. You can take their nose all the way down this way, applying pressure and releasing. Then you can do it with the reins, first under the horse's neck, using very short reins, then putting one arm over the horse and gradually moving backwards until you are at the horse's withers.
Then when you are on the horse, ask the horse to bend at the poll before you bring his head to your knee. When you go to stop, use little squeezing motions with your hand as you use your seat ask him to stop. (Remember "leg, seat, hands.") Don't be afraid to be firm if he resists at first. When you warm up, you can do it on a loose rein and gradually take up the reins as you do walk halt transitions.
I think training any horse to yield to the bit, to go on the bit, is important but especially with Arabians. Most of them are built for it. When Khanalee was fritzed about something, I'd get him to go on the bit. That way, his head was lower, and it actually became his secure place to go.
Something I did a lot too was bridge my reins if a situation felt unsure or starting out on a horse I was training. This is a wonderful thing, even if you are in the indoor. Don't feel guilty about doing it for a long time. I'm so glad I learned this. https://equineink.com/2008/12/19/bridging-your-reins-gives-you-and-your-horse-security/
BTW, with bridged reins, you don't have to be on a strong contact to do this. Just hold your reins firmly, and it makes it harder for the horse to snatch them from your hands.
It feels so good when they do that doesn't it?
KB, already done, it was one of the first things I taught Mag, to drop his head, then to give to the side, from the ground and now under saddle. Oh, and on the lunge too! We're getting good! I remember learning to bridge my reins but I don't know where and my dressage trainer laughed at me when I told her I do it, saying I really don't need to. But in some circumstances, I want my bridge. It keeps you from getting thrown forward in some spooks. Mag halts when I exhale, in fact, he's too quick to stop (lazy). I keep surprising myself by calling Mag Baasha.
Aarene, Camryn I'm sorry I hit delete instead of publish on your comments. First time I've done that; (
Teresa, it doesn't happen very often but I'm always honored. It happened when I first met him and was a sign that he was the one.
Yay he shared his breath with you!!!!
I totally agree with you on the not letting him roll unexpectedly like that. It is scary when they do that under saddle with no warning. Good idea to teach him not to unless you allow it.
All of the boarders sound so sweet. I love that they offer to help and made him a mash and everything. :D
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