Riding on wet trails

As the snow melts away please avoid riding on wet trails. Riding on wet trails can damage them. The hoof prints left behind collect water accelerate erosion. While we all can't wait for better weather and the chance to ride the trails again, a little consideration now will be appreciated by your fellow trail riders, hikers and the parks who work to maintain the trails. --Brian

Right now - even though the temps have been climbing into a comfortable range - there is snow pack - below the snow is ice (usually) and below the ice is mud....while the horses are totally capable of walking through this type of terrain, and the weather is tempting - please stay off the trails until the conditions improve - your fellow riders will thank you - as will those precious tendons on the bottom of your horses legs!

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Riding on wet trails

As the snow melts away please avoid riding on wet trails. Riding on wet trails can damage them. The hoof prints left behind collect water accelerate erosion. While we all can't wait for better weather and the chance to ride the trails again, a little consideration now will be appreciated by your fellow trail riders, hikers and the parks who work to maintain the trails. --Brian

Right now - even though the temps have been climbing into a comfortable range - there is snow pack - below the snow is ice (usually) and below the ice is mud....while the horses are totally capable of walking through this type of terrain, and the weather is tempting - please stay off the trails until the conditions improve - your fellow riders will thank you - as will those precious tendons on the bottom of your horses legs!

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

20/20 TSHIRTS!

I know some little girls that would LOVE a tshirt with Piero on it! Check it out at the link below. I can place one large order, let me know!

Custom T-shirt designed with CafePress Groups

bit.ly

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

20/20 TSHIRTS!

I know some little girls that would LOVE a tshirt with Piero on it! Check it out at the link below. I can place one large order, let me know!

Custom T-shirt designed with CafePress Groups

bit.ly

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

My Stall Door

On Saturday morning when I went out to the barn to prepare for my 10am lesson, this is what I found.

Stryker's looking down at the door like "Hmm, not sure, but I don't think the door should be like this. Scottie...."

The door was completely off the hinges and hanging by one little latch that I recently put on. Stryker was still in, that was the good news. He could have easily been tempted to hop over the dismantled door and perhaps would have injured himself in the process. So how can this happen you ask?

Ask Scottie. He was apparently trying to chew his way in and discovered that he could lift the door with his mouth. There are NO kick marks. I believe if Scottie kicked the door it would've been shattered. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person, the 17.2h draft cross is LARGE.

What was that I said? Chew his way in? Yep. He is not trying to let Stryker out. Oh, that's a nice thought. But it's not the right one. That was his stall. Every morning and evening like clockwork, at feeding time, he would go right in there. He would politely wait for his food, then stay a while. (If I didn't shut him in he would take the other's food.) So he would use that time alone to rest. To not be the herd leader. To decompress. You get the picture. With Stryker in there he does not get that down time. I know how you feel buddy, I need my alone time too. :)

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

My Stall Door

On Saturday morning when I went out to the barn to prepare for my 10am lesson, this is what I found.

Stryker's looking down at the door like "Hmm, not sure, but I don't think the door should be like this. Scottie...."

The door was completely off the hinges and hanging by one little latch that I recently put on. Stryker was still in, that was the good news. He could have easily been tempted to hop over the dismantled door and perhaps would have injured himself in the process. So how can this happen you ask?

Ask Scottie. He was apparently trying to chew his way in and discovered that he could lift the door with his mouth. There are NO kick marks. I believe if Scottie kicked the door it would've been shattered. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him in person, the 17.2h draft cross is LARGE.

What was that I said? Chew his way in? Yep. He is not trying to let Stryker out. Oh, that's a nice thought. But it's not the right one. That was his stall. Every morning and evening like clockwork, at feeding time, he would go right in there. He would politely wait for his food, then stay a while. (If I didn't shut him in he would take the other's food.) So he would use that time alone to rest. To not be the herd leader. To decompress. You get the picture. With Stryker in there he does not get that down time. I know how you feel buddy, I need my alone time too. :)

Loretta

the natural horseman
clear communication/visible results

Being the herd leader

I was talking to a client who owns a dominant mare that she is considering selling, for several reasons. One of which is the fact she is so dominant over her herd of 1 that he is constantly getting bitten. When I visited the farm I watched and waited. Sure enough it was not long before the nipping started. So, I took on the role of the herd leader, ousting the mare. I walked over to her in a very stern way and told her to move with my body. I did not speak a word. Horses are very quiet animals. We need not speak to communicate clearly. She was quite puzzled and it appeared she had never been treated like this by a human. She questioned me, and I reinforced to her, "Yes, I said move NOW." So, with pinned ears, back she went. Since she pinned her ears and that is slightly aggressive on her part, I decided to keep moving her for another few moments. And these really were just moments. For the rest of the time I was visiting she did NOT tell her herd mate to move-at all.

The owner's comment was, "Oh, I just yell at her." We talked about this for a while. If you have not been exposed to this type of training it may not be obvious. Once you understand it though, it will always be the best answer. I 'spoke' to the horse in her language. She was the boss and proved that by moving the other. I was the boss and proved that by moving her. In a herd, the one who controls the movement is the leader. Let's say that again, the one who controls the movement is the leader. You will find many behavior issues can be dealt with once you are aware of how the herd interacts, and how they perceive your actions.

Loretta


clear communication/visible results