Lily and My Progress

[bindi]

Well, I can't give major leap forward data but after reading LOTS of websites on natural horsemanship I think we are moving ahead again.

On Sunday we spent a few hours together in the paddock, me picking up poops and her following trying to knock them off the shovel.. *L*.. funniest thing to watch. She has discoved sugar cubes which is fanastic, I tell you the way to this girls head is thru her tummy - we have so much in common!

I also tied her up to groom her in the pen, got up on a haybale to lean all over her. She relax with this after a while but was funny when I scratched her wither on the opposite side to where I was.

Last night I managed to take her cover off in the paddock and put it back on without her being haltered. I had to tell her to stand a couple of times but it wasn't a big drama. AND I even got a whinny when she saw me coming. Up until now she hasn't been too interested in me when I come down but now it is up to the gate to meet me. Great feeling, even if it is all food generated it is cool.

I am still being harrassed by folks to just get on her... take a whip and let her know who is boss. I am not comfy with this as I think that she may end up being boss of this situation.. *L*... and I will end up sitting on my butt in the grass.

Have any of you folks worked with their horses in this manner. I do feel a bit whoosie but love the small steps we have made.

[Luci]

I don't know about that boss mare stuff, and I'm too "nice" to my horse at times that I should get after him. Vat ve need ees decipline.

However, it seems to me that every horse has it's own timeline and so do we.

Why is it again that they think whipping her and getting into a big fight will fix everything? Does she have issues that are beyond just green horse?

[Christina]

Just ignore people that give "advice" like that. It tends to be an ego thing for them. Grrrr...
I lean towards the natural horsemanship stuff too, and believe that there's nothing wrong with training with respect. Considering that a lot of those trainers get AMAZING performances out of their horses, and the horses ENJOY what they're doing, I think they have something there.

[niaru]

No whoosie thought here! Do NOT listen to those "harassing" people, do what you feel is right!

I love just being with my horse, without demanding anything. I sat with Charm in the round pen, just talking to her, making her used to me. She usually ends up following me around.

I think that you can achieve MUCHO from the ground, you don't have to get on her! Just make her understand that what you say goes (and food can be a great motivator LOL). You don't need a whip for that. You just need to be consistant.

What you just described is great! Sounds like you are on the right track!

[Vida]

You're doing a great job. If it's any consolation, I do the same thing when I bring a new guy home. I wait until they're interested in me before doing much of anything with them. Never listen to others, only your gut and your horse. That way you'll stay safer and have a happier relationship.

[relativecolor]

I have the same type of situation at my barn. No one seems to understand what I do with Zane. But he is only a baby and I don't want to push him to far too fast, no telling what that could do to him. I would rather him have everything down and be bored then have a mental breakdown.

And sometimes I don't get why people always refer you to the whip to teach your horse a lesson. I rode an Arab who if you tapped his butt with the whip, he went crazy. Maybe he thought something was sneaking up on him and biting him in the rear. But I just dropped the whip, it wasn't helping anything.

I do the same thing you do. Take him into the roundpen, groom him and work with him a little bit. Then just let him roam around and do his own thing. He is such a sweet horse that I do not want to ruin his attitude. Taking things slow is the best option.

[bindi]

thanks folks.. I am enjoying doing what I am with Lily, she is becoming so attentive and enjoying my company. I am not in a hurry to ride so I will continue, I have a horse person coming up from Taupo in the next few weeks who is into the horse psyhcology thing so will be good to spend a few hours with someone thinking along the same lines.

thanks again, I know what to do just nice to have folks backing me up. ;D

Luci - there isn't any issues that I know about besides being green and very very clever... she is one wily little girl and that is what I need to work with.

[ZenRider]

Agree with everyone here. Ignore them other people, take your time, move up when you and your horse are ready. No sense in making it a battle, you are looking for a partner, not a fearful follower. Best of luck on the first ride, may it be uneventful.

[Skye Pilot]

Bindi, you are doing the right thing.... a horse never learns from a whipping (punishment). I bought Red and Diego in the fall of 1999. With Diego, I was trail riding him in 2 weeks, but last year was the first year I could ride Red.... two and a half years of ground training, along with five months with the best trainer in the area (I am bias, best trainer ever! ;D ) and me finally being able to ride him in the last year and we just made headway this winter with Red .... He finally knows we can depend on each other (also I can depend on him) ...... each horse is different.

The more ground training you do with Lily the more solid your training is going to be. My previous trainer calls it "zero to one" training... he's says that a lot of horse are trained at level 4 to 5 on a scale of 10 (10 being the best), but there are many horse where their "zero to one" training has been skipped and that is where your horse really needs it. You skip the basics and it will show up in the training later.......zero to one is where you dot your "i" and cross your "t" You find all the holes in your horses training and you fix them on the ground before you get on their back.