Due to the big snowstorm yesterday, I was able to leave work early and hit the trail with AhD in the afternoon. I was very happy to be out, but AhD was definitely not. He just could not believe that we were out in ANOTHER snowstorm, and that, yes, I DID want him to trudge through deep snow AGAIN. He was very pissy about the whole thing.
About a half mile into our stop-start zig-zag ride, we scared up a deer. Much different results than our last snowstorm ride, when we stopped stock still while I ooohed and aaahhed over the beautiful animal bounding away before us as I caressed AhD's shoulder. This time, it was US that who were bounding away, leaping and careening back up the trail (yep, you guessed it, in the direction of the barn). I attempted several one-reined stops to no avail, partially because I had to pull so hard on my cute lil' hell-bent horsie's head that that the o-ring broken snaffle bit just slid right through his gaping mouth. Did I mention before that he is no dummy? I will be re-thinking THAT bitting arrangement.
Well, anyway, thanks to God for the deep snow putting the slo-mo on my pony's gyrations, I was successful in keeping my seat and eventually regaining control. We turned in a few circles and slowly made our way back down past the scary deer area and into the woods.
During the balance of the ride, AhD continued to be keyed-up.
You 
may think that I'd be as cranky as my pony about this ride, but I'm not. Actually, it was a very successful ride. I kept my wits, kept my seat, and kept my horse on task. BEST OF ALL, I KEPT MY NERVE. Halleluiah! Can't wait to hit the trails again this weekend.
Susan, it sounds like you had a very eventful ride!! I think the biggest problem was the color of the saddle blanket, but I am not one to say anything.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the horses need a refresher course on bending the neck, five minutes of groundwork with the halter and lead rope and have him bring his nose around to his ribs would stop that in most emergencys.
Keep up your great inner strength and you will do just fine with your horse, the older he gets the better it gets. I know you don't want an old man's advice but you get it anyway
Harold with a chuckle seeing you go through the snow
Harold, I love to get advice from such an experienced horse person as you. I was attempting the nose to my knee, but the dang bit was sliding through his open mouth! Should I have kept at it? I switched sides at that point, and then back again, to avoid pointing him right towards a VERY steep downhill spot. I did eventually "round him up" but it took longer than it should have. I'm not exactly Hercules in the upper arms and my gloves weren't helping the situation any, either. I ditched them on the way home so I could be ready in case of another "event." Oh, I picked the saddle blanket to get your attention; I know you missed seeing it on my last ride.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I work with my horses often with ground work on the nose to knee so it becomes a second nature with them, kinda like power steering. They will learn to give their head for you with out any stregth to speak of most any emergency. You did well and a special pat on the back for a job well done by you, if that would have been my brother he would have bailed off right away. So well done lady!!!
ReplyDeleteHarold
Susan, congratulations on keeping your nerve!! What a butthead running away like that! Oh well, horses have their good days and bad days too and it sounds like he was letting you know early on that it wasn't a good day for him. :-) Their horsenalities make me smile...Sage definitely has good and bad days too.
ReplyDeleteAnd Harold I'm with you...Sage and I have practices horizontal flexion with tiny pieces of carrot since he was a baby. And as soon as I get on I check that we have lateral flexion to both sides. I know my confidence is still a bit shaky so I keep myself safe by not riding a horse unless we have that understanding. Susan, I'm glad you're rethinking the bitting arrangement, it doesn't sound like it was serving you well yesterday!
hmmm...I do lateral flexion with AhD every time I ride, because I give him tiny handfuls of grain right from the saddle when he is a good boy. For that, he has to bring his head right around to my leg, and I make sure to do it from both sides. HOWEVER, perhaps my error is that I don't PULL him around to get the grain, to GIVE to the pressure. I merely bend down to the side, and he's right there, cute as a button to get his reward. I will make sure to change my cue, so that he is giving to pressure to attain his reward. And, yes, I knew he was just very grouchy yesterday, anyway. This morning, he was just fine, nuzzling me and shoving his head into my hand for petting. Question: Can geldings get PMS? :)
ReplyDeleteI think a fullcheek snaffle does a good job assisting in a one rein stop. I have one myself, it's not fun pulling the bit through the horse's mouth @ such a exciting moment. I gotta agree about the pad color though. :-)
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Susan!!! Good for you for getting out in that winter wonderland...don't you just love it? I agree, when I have had rides like that it is always a success knowing you regained control, kept your head and it's really cool when you keep your seat! I can't see the bridle well, but I too would suggest a full cheek snaffle and/or a nose band. That way the bit can't side through AHD's mouth. All the other advice was also great. p.s. I love the pad...always have!
ReplyDeleteSusan, Do yourself a favor and don't use treats and just use the halter and lead rope and do both sides of the horse and stand beside him with one hand on the rump so he can't step on you and get him to bring his head around and touch his nose on his ribs. Do this till it becomes so easy you have power steering!!!!! NO TREATS until you are done.
ReplyDeleteThen get a cheap can of spray paint and change the color of the pad....HHEHEHEHE!!
Got it, Harold..no treats, halter and lead rope, practice until I have power steering, and buy a can of pink spray paint to cover up the turquoise on the saddle blanket. :)I will start working on it this evening if I get a chance. And, since I have a full cheek snaffle on his English bridle, that part will be an easy fix.
ReplyDelete>>buy a can of pink spray paint to cover up the turquoise on the saddle blanket. :)<<<
ReplyDeleteOh yeah...the more pink the better! LoL. Although it might make Harold's eyes water. Hee hee
LOVED your story Susan because it reminds me of my rides on Billy! It always feel so good when we come out of the ride successful (and staying on)! Can I give one bit of advice?? Nose to knee does not stop the horse alone...you have to disengage that hindquarters at the same time. I have had Billy go a 1/4 with his nose to my knee! No kidding! He is amazing at flexion! Billy went to training for a couple weeks and was taught to disengage with his one rein stop. He still tries to go when I do the nose to knee, but as soon as I put my leg on - he stops. I feel much more in control.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, love your stories and pictures and I love the looks of AhD. He is very handsome - even in a pink saddle pad.
To all those non-Denise people who don't like pink...I have heard "the clothes make the man" so maybe "the saddle blanket makes the gelding" HA HA! Love the saddle blanket discussion, FUN! Now to move on to the advice, THANK YOU ALL. You are all helping to gel my thoughts regarding this bolting episode. Laura, I agree totally on the disengagement. Obviously, AhD can travel quite a distance with his head to my foot, and I was watching some trainer (sorry, terrible with names) on RFD-TV last night, and his Western and English Arabs were doing a collected canter with their heads just about buried into their chests. I worked with AhD last night on the ground, and sure enough, he would put his head right to his side when I put pressure on the halter. (no treats!) Funny, I am a BIG no-treats person. All my doggie obedience friends use treats...I don't. This is my thought. Mount at the barn, bring his head to my knee (each side), then bring his head to my knee AND disengage the hindquarters. Practice off and on, no treats. What do you all think?
ReplyDeleteSusan, I think if you do that and keep up the courage you have you will not have any problems you cannot handle, I am sure if you would try a blue saddle blanket on a gelding you would have better luck.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of what all say it just takes time, a lot of time and TLC.
Harold
ok, ok, Harold, the blue blanket it will be. My cat Zoe is currently using it for a resting pad in this cold weather, so I will have to give it an inside/out turn because of all the cat hair she has deposited on it. Thank you very much for the compliment; I am not feeling scared of riding AhD at all, and I am staying positive that he will be in a better mood. Hey, we ALl have our off-moments. Also, I am looking into having him evaluated by a horse chiropractor because his intermittent crabbiness could be caused by a physical ailment.
ReplyDeleteNo I think it is caused from that pink blanket!!! Also Susan a horse will also at times push his or her pecking order. It is intersting the chiropracter here that I know uses a rubber hammer on the back bones. I have never used him but others have and swear by him and his results. All one can do is try and see. Good Luck
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