Diligent Horse

Third View

2012-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

I watched him cross the field, his stride even, steady and sure. The sun was bright, the sky was clear and the warmth of the day enveloped my skin. For some reason, I turned and stopped, while making my way towards my initial destination. I observed quietly from a distance, just watching. Taking in the moment and realizing there was so much that could be explained without any words. My eyes wondered to the right, noticing then that I wasn't the only one observing him.

The dark horse stood silently. Still as a windless summers day. I watched his gaze stay right on him. He inched closer, thinking of walking towards him, but instead, stopped and just waited. Who's to say what was going on in the dark horses head. I'm not sure, but I think it had something to do what was going on in mine.

Horses are honest. It is one of the first exciting things that I came across when I owned my first horse and later owned my first ex-racehorse. There is just something about that experience that went above and beyond my expectations. I was excited to be confronted with myself. I wanted to be confronted. To really learn and experience everything for everything it was, I needed to be. And when I was confronted, I learned truly what honesty meant and truly what facing yourself really meant. I learned to be open with myself. To look in before looking out. Many people say I can be quiet. Well, at times I am. I observe. I watch, listen and pay attention to every single detail as I'm sub-consciously sizing someone up. Exactly what my horses have done to me. And it's all what I experience during that process that determines where I go from there.

What Ink had done for me later was hone my listening skills. I paid attention to myself and paid attention to him. I learned to listen to small details. I applied this, without even knowing it as times, to people. I began to become more insightful.

Before Ink came along, I remember a particular day. No rain but there was sun. It was Winter, but tailing close to Spring. I was nervous, had butterflies in my stomach, but felt like it was right. I had never experienced this type of feeling, although I had first dates before. Everything moved in a very certain rhythm. I was comfortable and I immediately trusted this person.

**

Steady, sure and balanced. Reason looked at him with absolute trust and respect. It was mutual. It had always been. There was honesty and there always had been. I've watched this person learn and take in new ideas, new ways of thinking and experience some of the things I have when owning horses. He now reads books, he writes with desire, he's compassionate and insightful, he's learned to listen more closely and he's learned to observe. Even though there have been many great things about him, he's grown even more in great ways. Horses had something to do with that. Just as they have with me.

Watching Reason and how he interacts with this person and vice versa, has given me a different view. A new perspective. I've always been the one interacting, but now I'm an observer from afar but yet up close. Maybe this is something I've been needing to learn and experience. Everything happens for a Reason. That is for sure. And whatever reason that may be, I'm here to take it in.

Semi-Wordless, Thursday.

2012-03-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

It's not Wednesday, but I am somewhat wordless. Nothing much going on due to rain. Reason did get himself into some sort of trouble recently and acquired some ugly wounds, but thankfully it appears nothing other than superficial. No known fencing monsters to be found, so I'm left theorizing about what happened. Although I can't really formulate a theory not finding any clues and such..

I took this photo today of Reason as the stormy clouds began to part and fade away. Our day was spent cleaning and treating the wounds and me getting a good laugh out of his impeccable table manners - Eating scoops of grain out of the large spoon I use to stir the grain mash with. When I'd turn away he'd be standing behind me and would toss his head up and down until I turned around to "feed" him. Spoon-fed Thoroughbred. One of his many life pleasures and talents ;).

Red Light, Green Light, TB Style.

2012-02-23T19:18:00.001-08:00

Reason today after ground-work and a nice hose-down.

I'll have to get you all a video of this so you can see what exactly is happening for your own eyes.

When I first got Reason the process of graining was simple. I'd walk in, set the bowl down and walk out. Later, when he lived in his stall with an attached paddock, I'd walk in, put the bucket on the hook and walk out. But as time progressed, so did Reason's expectations that when I'd walk in, the bucket would be set and he'd get to eat. He'd get chummy. The fact that I didn't take action before he got "chummy" is a bad thing. I should have seen it coming. I didn't. But to be frank it was just a regular routine and I grained a whole barn full of horses in the process. I also didn't put forth my previously acquired knowledge that Ink, my food aggressive OTTB, gave to me - the routine, the diligence within the routine to maintain clear boundaries and rules at all times, is especially important, most importantly with OTTB's who seem to flourish in clear routines with clear boundaries. Ink's food aggression disappeared once things where simple and boundaries were set in place.

My reaction with Reason was to send him outside of the stall. He'd have to wait out in his paddock before he could come in to eat. I grained him last, after I was finished working, so I could spend as much time needed to begin developing those boundaries and rules. So it worked. Reason would go outside, stand and stare in, waiting for the signal that he could come in. Once he received the signal, usually me looking at him saying, "ok," and then I'd turn, walk out and leave him be. His reward was the grain and his private time to enjoy it. He knew the rules and when he abided by them, he knew what to expect. Simple. Same thing every time, always predictable. The issue of "chummy" flowed out the door.

Once Reason moved to his new home, a pasture space to share with his "woman" (aka my 27 year old mare who also accompanied Ink during his life with me, most notably during his chill time after the track), we had to address the graining process again. A new place, new environment, new routine. There is 2 acres of pasture to roam and I had to make sure we created new rules to accompany that. - No paddock to stand in while I set up the grain in the stall.

In the beginning I'd walk his bucket of grain out, set it out in the field, usually over a pile of hay and wait until he stood somewhere patiently, but a comfortable distance away. He couldn't come up to the bucket until I signaled him. The problem was Reason would get anxious; trot, or canter about wanting to run up to the bucket. He wouldn't come to the bucket, however I wanted to develop a secure and clear routine that yielded much better results. I wanted a routine that gave Reason's mind and thus body a place to be, so no matter what, he knew where he had to be at all times. All new boundaries for our all new routine. With that, I began incorporating signals. With the use of my body and hands, I'd teach him, "red light, green light" (and the signal for back up just in case).

Once Reason was calm, standing still, I'd signal him to walk towards me. I'd put my left arm out, waving him towards me. I also used a high & low whistle, that was used specifically as a signal for, "come." Depending on how far he was from me, usually 100feet (guesstimate), I'd ask him to stop periodically. I'd put my right hand up, lowering my left, similar to what crossing guards do with their hands with signaling traffic to "stop." I'd also use "ho" in addition, because I knew he knew what that meant already. Slowly, patiently, he'd walk up to me, stopping and starting a couple times at my request. If he didn't stop when I asked, he'd have to step back as many steps that he over-did. Calm, relaxed and respectful, all the time. Once he was about 10 feet from the bucket, I'd ask him to stop. I'd walk up to him, give him a pat and a "good-boy." I used that time to make sure he was with me. (You know how you release the inside rein, or reins, to check if the horse is truly collected, not leaning, bracing etc? Similar concept.) He'd have to stand there - I'd know if he was really "there" or not. Lasting only a couple seconds, if he showed me his respect through his willingness to stand patiently, I'd walk away, signaling his moment to go to his grain.

And with that, the TB version of "red light, green light" began! It's a predictable routine, with clear commands, obvious results and Reason really enjoys it. I apply the concept to other areas now, including lunging. I use my hands to "push" (energy) on the hind-quarters if I want him to move his haunches over (at the end of the line, I raise my hand at chest height, position my hand parallel to the haunches and push through my energy), or "push" on his shoulders to move those over. He's getting the idea very easy and is getting more and more responsive as time goes on.

Opening Doors, Long & Low.

2012-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

Before the rain came, inevitably making the pasture too soft for riding or any ground work to commence, Reason and I were doing exceptionally well both on the ground and under saddle. He was beginning to relax and I could ask for the canter (and receive) without much fuss. A peaceful silence; just Reason and I crossing the ground, his hooves making soft rhythmic steps as we made our way over the grassy footing. He would get a little stuck when I'd ask for the canter. Occasionally throwing some hops, head tossing (though, not bad) in there like he wanted to go off in a full gallop where he'd feel most comfortable but felt contained by his understanding that I wanted just a canter, nothing more. I like that he was willing to stay with me, I like that he understood my request, despite his certain ability to take my butt wherever he wanted.

I try to keep my rein contact as light as possible, sometimes non-existent, to encourage forwardness as much as possible. Reason does get stuck at times at all gaits. He's learning about the gaits and how to actually work in them. Galloping isn't the only way of travel. Occasionally, I may have light contact with the mouth to secure a working connection when I ride (especially to develop a working relationship before I just ride without contact) but Reason, surprisingly (I thought he'd prefer some contact), likes little to no contact during the rides. I plan to keep it that way and slowly bring in the hands as we venture into collected work later down the road.

I began riding him in western split reins, as I was able to really move my hands where I wanted, to seriously encourage openess and welcome forward. I could have bought longer english reins, but I didn't want the extra material to manage. I wanted to have short reins that could go longer through the use of my arms. Plus, when we eventually got into long and low work, there was less material he could get caught up in. Simply put, it just made it easier for me as the rider to get to business and not worry about all the extra length.

I remember watching a western rider break some colts and watched how he would set his hands forward slightly higher and wider than where'd you normally see them. On a loose rein the rider would do this to "open the door" to go forward. The legs sit exsistant on the sides, light but there asking with some pressure to move towards that open door. Reminding the horse that right nor left, is a door which is closed as well. The reins further encourage the horse forward by creating yet another aid; by extending the arm a little further out, and wider, the reins are acting as another closed door, to furthermore tell the horse, to go towards the opening. During our rides in the beginning I did this quite a lot where Reason would get sticky. I did it to not only help him to know where to travel, but to set clear boundaries where he couldn't go, to get his mind focusing on me and not what might be going on over at the other side of the pasture, or with the cows herding back to the barn (he intently watches the herd of cows move steadily back to the barn during feeding time and prefers not to be disturbed during this very interesting phenomenon).

As Reason has progressed in a better understanding on forward and would do so without issue, I began adding in long and low. We only touched on it in the past and when we did, he'd get fidgety. Many times, striking with his front legs. Maybe it was uncomfortable, as his body was exploring areas it may have never explored before? So slowly I began to re-introduce it to him, only this time around, he immediately shouted his love and approval through his enthusiasm to stretch out. I sponged my fingers between the reins, widening them and lowering them to ask him to stretch down. I could feel his stride become more engaged. He lightly balanced himself in a rhythmic motion and proceeded to truly enjoy the relaxation benefits of this work. Effortlessly, without much encouragement from me, he carried himself around the pasture, nearly dragging his nose on the ground. It's a moment when you get such a good feeling, the moment of accomplishment as your horse travels happily in all sense of the word. Ah, moments like that, are what riding and training is all about!

During EVERY ride, when I worked with Ink and now Reason, I begin, break and finish with long and low. The mind and the body get a truly relaxing stretch that is perfect for beginning and ending a ride. Not to mention a perfect stretch for in between your ride when your horse needs that break. A horse that can enjoy long and low, is a happy horse!

The Year is 2012.

2012-01-23T16:28:00.000-08:00

2011 was not the best year. I think in general it was rather bleak. It wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't really exciting. When I say exciting, I don't mean exciting like winning the lottery, for example. I mean organically exciting. The kind of exciting when you experience the moment you take a peaceful sigh of accomplishment knowing everything has fallen into place, through your hard work and dedication. For me anyway, 2011 was a sort of retrospective stomping ground.

I felt as though 2011 was a time of looking back, sifting through past experiences, examining change and learning from all of this. The mistakes, no matter how bitter or painful - this was a time to experience them for what they were, make peace and carry on. As I was experiencing those experiences, I was also experiencing new experiences cultivated from versions of past experiences. That's a lot of experiences. So even though 2011, as with all years is full of experiences, held many new challenges and feats both brought through from the past or present, I still felt as though everything was in retrospect.

Going back to 2009, Ink and I had a truly great year (definitely the first half) where we spent time at a great new barn, both of us continued to become better in all aspects. Ink was coming into a truly well-rounded horse. I essentially watched my evolving philosophy with horses blossom right in front of me. Giving me more confidence and trust in myself to actually see something through to such a rewarding degree. Now I'm not saying 2009 didn't come with it's challenges, all of what I mention, welcomes challenge and certainly without challenge it wouldn't have been as great as it was. In 2010, things changed and I knew a journey was soon to be ending. I watched Ink spend his last few weeks on the earth, running and grazing in the hills. I still remember how good it felt to see him be able to move and adjust to the changing terrain on those hills and how I really believed it was a great, sweet last experience in his life. Perhaps while I was watching Ink during those last few weeks, was a sign that I would have to do the same, adjustment and maneuver through the terrain that life would present to me not too far in the future.

After Ink passed away, I knew I needed to bring another horse into my life to help offset the pain and fill the void I felt. I never viewed Reason as Ink, nor as a replacement of being, but I know how easy it would be to assume that. People assumed I was treating Reason as Ink not trying to acknowledge my ability, actual practice and desire to experience them differently and respect that difference. I have fallen down many times after running into a wall with Reason, not because I couldn't treat him as the horse he was, but because I was still torn inside, wishing to return to my previous state of comfort, confidence, trust and happiness. Instead of flowing through the experience, adjusting to what may come and ultimately focusing on the betterment of myself and this horse, I wanted to get to that previous state without allowing myself to fall into that very personal experience. Even though Reason and Ink are different in many ways, the journey traveled is similar. To me, it has been hard to revisit.

Though hard, a journey with a horse that requires certain prerequisites in order to continue through the journey, is the greatest teacher. It has been a long road to understand this and live this. I cannot move from the spot I'm in without first addressing myself and along the way continue to do so openly acknowledging the parts of myself that require change to truly be happy in this life.

“Like Tom Dorrance said, ‘It boiled down to one thing: observe, remember, and compare.’ Do something, observe what you did, remember what you did, compare it to what you were doing before, and adjust.” - Buck Brannaman

Body Translations

2011-11-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

I walked into my chiropractors office this afternoon. I always get a little nervous going simply because I get a little grossed out by the idea of getting my body worked on, specifically my neck. But, I'm always quickly convinced when he begins working, that it's more enjoyable than it sounds. As I sat down to wait to go into the room, the nice lady at the front desk comments on how long it's been since my last visit. I was thinking two years, it really hasn't felt long. But then she says that the last time I was in was in the year 2007. Wow, really that long? My mind became flooded with images from my life at that time. I can recall with vivid detail on most importantly, how I felt. 2007 was a good year for Ink and I remember what the feeling was like when we began to have those great rides and how awesome everything was becoming. I cared more about what I ate, drank and was truly happy, becoming confident and excited about life.

Nearly 5 years since my last chiropractor visit is pretty good, in the sense of the work my chiropractor had done, transforming my body and allowing me to not have to visit again much at all, but it was over-due. I felt good for a long time but became hesitant to go in the most recent year as I didn't have a means to pay for the visit. That's quite irresponsible. I would put down $140 of scrapped up cash to have Ink adjusted, but wouldn't give myself the same respect towards my own body. Shame.

My chiropractor does cranial work and he does this bit at the end of a session where you relax on a massage table and listen to very soothing meditative music and he begins to assess and work on your jaw and further deepen the adjustments. My jaw was extremely tight. Terribly tight. He explained humans natural defense postures when they become threatened and how this was effecting my jaw.

Working with Reason has made me self aware as all horses do, but my body has been stuck in this tense, crooked position and defense posture, that I am almost un-aware and un-able to make necessary changes on my own. I can imagine how crazy I appear to Reason. My body is appearing tense, alert and ready to fight or flight. This makes the horse think they have reason to be on-alert as well. Mirroring our physical and mental presence. It will prove interesting today, as I visit Reason and see how he responds to my adjusted and already more relaxed body and posture - I feel like I have taken back my body again!

Flowing into Winter.

2011-11-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

Reason on a cool October evening.

As the theme in my life lately, I'm not sure where to go, what to do (education, career, life), but I have a desire to experience everything. That is something I do know and I know that is something to hold onto. It has carried me through the wrath of the storms and through the confusion. The beauty all the world has to offer is a constant provoking thought in my busy mind.

Since I was young, whether good or bad, I've questioned everything and everyone around me. Seeking a more in-depth understanding and detailed analysis of the inner-workings of each person I encounter and each thing; a person, place, experience I may come across in this life. So many excellent articles have began to flow towards me lately, I'm usually adrift in many of them throughout the day. I'm constantly in a state of peace and comfort reading. Although I'm not in school at the moment, I'm always educating myself through all types of literature. My mind wraps around various subjects of interest and I begin to open doors to new ideas and thinking that I had yet to experience. It's such a lifting and lightening feeling to get that, "ahah" moment when you know you've learned something new.

Perhaps you're wondering what this has to do with horses? I've learned through various ideas and thought, that horses (as well as all animals) are the honest creatures we all, whether on a conscious or sub-conscious level, desire to be. Honest and possibly the endearing meaning of, "one with nature." Moving and shifting to the vibrations of the earth. To tie into my own experience with this, I've been dissecting my relationship with Reason, who is without a doubt, a clear measure of my own quest to become the person I want to be. Good, confident, honest, loving..

Reason and I

Reason was brought into my life to teach me some great things. From a sad situation, losing Ink, I was given this horse who is now opening other doors in my life. I have yet to discover them exactly, but I have began to see the light coming through those doors who are slowly manifesting and one day I may open one.

As the air becomes cool, the sun sets earlier and the winter storms of the season peek around the corner, I have been enjoying simple things with the horses.. The feeling of their soft muzzles, the warmth from their nostrils, the smell of pure horse (we equestrians know this well) and the noises they make; calling to their herd members, the release of air from their mouths, the chewing of hay, the stomping of the hooves as they attempt to keep the last flies of the season at bay and the most comforting thunder as the hooves cross the ground in a fleeting but excitable trot, canter or gallop. Although it's cold and nose nipping outside, when you're around horses, the warmth can feel like a good fire, in a cozy house or cabin, cuddled up with a fuzzy blanket and maybe a good book. Maybe some cocoa too..

Reason last week

Let Me Teach You Something...

2011-10-24T16:22:00.000-07:00


Reason and Matt today after our ride.

No matter which way I look at it, Reason isn't going anywhere, period, without my full and utter commitment. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time. It's a lesson straight from the horses mouth (or back). Don't mount up unless you're committed!

It's a really important reflection and lesson in horsemanship and tests the key skill of riding, the mental aspect. Most equestrians will tell you, riding is mostly mental, despite being apparently very physical. I have yet to master the mental part. I just, for some reason which somewhat (who am I kidding, not somewhat, ALL) has to do with confidence (where did it go?), I cannot bring myself to understand why I just can't buck up and get the job done.

Because my first thought is Reason's body and maybe something hurting him, making him uncomfortable etc. I have Matt hop on. If Matt gets the same reaction (we've tested Reason this way quite frequently lately) then I know it may be Reason. But if he gets a different reaction, I know it's me.

I watch on as Reason goes forward without hesitance, walking, trotting eagerly and cantering. Huh?! I mean Reason and Matt have always gotten along, but up there in the saddle Matt isn't as secure as me. Like physically secure, to be clear. He bounces around trying to post the trot and manages to put together some balance to ride Reason's canter. You would think Reason wouldn't care for that type of riding... But apparently, it doesn't matter what it physically looks like, just what it mentally looks like. It look's so easy! Reason pricks his ears forward and away they go, rocking along, no cares in the world.

After Matt's nice short little ride, I mount up again. Time to put on the big girl breeches and ride. As the moments go on, while I'm trying again to work with Reason, I realize I need to step up to the plate EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT. no matter how big or little (I've always knew this, but have had a problem executing this lately). If Reason slows when not asked, I have to be there without hesitance, fully committed, knowing exactly what I want, breathing confidence and selling my ability to Reason like the greatest equestrian sales man. So I begin to get a little bit of a testy horse. Matt says we look good, but I need to ask for more. I get some head shaking and a little bit of brakes, so I do it. I take my crop and crack him on his tush. I get two huge bucks and then after the moment of "whoa buddy" wears off for Reason and I, we keep going. The score is even.

We trot and canter around well after that. But the moment I'm not confident, the moment I'm not committed to what I want, the moment I don't step up, the balance shifts and the score changes. I have to find my confidence again. I'm not sure if I'll get anywhere without having it consistently, with Reason. But I'm darned determined to get myself there. I'm really in a state of limbo, wondering what I can do and wondering what I need to change to ride the best I can mentally. Matt says I need to know what I want and mean business (confidence). But part of me doesn't want to demand, but ask and get a positive answer... Maybe Reason is just shedding light on my weaknesses and is making me face them head on. That's a good thing. Maybe I need to deal with what's in front of me without wishing it was different.. I love Reason, I always want to do right by him. I think doing right will be from change, from me.

Two Good Things in Two Good Days.

2011-10-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Out for a canter

I spoke too soon. My last post was basically my thoughts and feelings on the lack of my riding. I do think technically I can be a good rider. I've conquered some of my body and am able to ride without some of those limitations (those independent components; hand, seat etc) that take time to get away from, but mentally if you aren't in the game, your body isn't either. My mind has been out and about for a little while. Hey, when did riding become so much work? Remember when you were little and rode and bounced around without a care in the world? Some part of me misses that. I don't miss bouncing around or sometimes even the no fear consciousness, but the carefree. It's healthy to have some fear perspective.. Right?

It just so happened that after I wrote my post on Thursday, I had a great ride that evening. I mentioned cantering in the field. Matt said go ahead, do it. Like seriously, you're having to think about it? So I did. Reason and I cantered in the field. It was easy, carefree and relaxed. Reason has such a lovely canter. It's smooth, floaty and has multiple speeds. His default speed is a lovely cadenced canter that makes you wish there was a nice jump right ahead. And it makes you see the potential for Dressage and doing collected work. A couple laps of trotting and some cantering around the field and Reason was already sweating. Oy. Well to give him the benefit of the doubt, he does have his winter coat and it was warm and sunny out. Conditioning and fitting both of us up will be fun. I'm out of shape too. I don't have the control over my body like I used to when I rode a lot. I lack a strong core, for sure.

On Friday I went to go walking at a park with Matt, my mom and my mom's Lab puppy Triskit. This was the same park Reason was to have his first trail ride at. The trail (there is only one for horses) is wide, flat and definitely beginner friendly. Since it was a weekday, it was quieter. A few walkers but nothing else. I wanted to go for a ride on Saturday, but the day was spent at home doing yard work. On Sunday we headed out for an evening ride.

We arrived about 4:30 and the weather was perfect. The sun was shinning, the sky only held a few minor remnants of past clouds and the temperature was short-sleeve worthy. Reason came off the trailer sweaty. Although he was riding with his faithful companion Errika, I think overall he's a nervous traveler. I let him have the whole back area of the trailer, but I think next time I may buckle him in the center between the dividers as that may make him feel more secure and safe. He unloaded like a champ and once at location, he was calm, but curious. I walked Reason around before tying him to try to help him cool down. I waited and spent a little more time grooming to let him dry. Once he was cooled down and had dried some, I began tacking up. We headed to the trail and I opted to stay on foot and lead him down the road to the actual trail. He was still calm, but curious. Errika was a great, great help for Reason as she doesn't normally bat an eyelash at anything. She helped him understand that the weird new sights, sounds and smells are nothing to be worried about. Just a casual walk in the park. I mounted up on the trail, after offering the horses some water at the trough.

The first real interesting encounter happened at this point. A couple people were at the lake's edge (the trail goes around a lovely small lake). Reason could hear them, but barely make out them through the trees and brush. His head went up and he went on alert trying to make sense of the noises. He didn't spook, but did a small but quick turn and looked on again. It took him a couple more looks before he was prepared to move on. I mounted up and off we went.

Our next encounter was a child. Reason is not too sure about kids, at a distance. This particular little kid was fumbling on behind his mom, who was holding another child. Reason thought that was weird, but we continued on and once we got closer, he relaxed a bit, although still intrigued. The next site was only about 5 minutes later. We came across a man pushing a stroller. Strollers are especially interesting. We asked the nice man if he could stop so we could pass. I find it's always best to make some verbal contact with the non-horsey public on the trail because they simply do not always know what to do or even know what they are doing could be scary to a horse. The man seemed to wonder why he needed to stop at first. But once Matt, explained we have a young horse or isn't sure about strollers, he happily obliged. Reason kept his ears on the stroller after we passed, wondering if at any point it might come sneaking back up behind him, but realized it was again, not threatening and proceeded on.

The trail was beautiful and serene.

On the last part of the trail we came across yet another little kid, who could have been no more than 2. He was running towards us, picking up a stick and throwing it, with his mom tailing behind trying to herd him back towards the stroller. Reason actually wasn't worried about this. I guess he had decided kids weren't so bad after all. We got up to where the little kid and his parents were. The little boy wanted to pet the horses, so we stopped and he got to say hi to Errika. The little boy cried out to the horses as we said our goodbye's and headed back towards the trailer.

Once back at the trailer both horses enjoyed some treats and kisses before loading up and heading home. Reason had second thoughts about leaving the park, hopped on the trailer quickly thereafter. Once in it was a smooth ride home.

I have to say that Reason was a really good guy throughout the whole day. It's a lot to ask a horse who's never been out to deal with all the events that go along with it. He handled everything really well. On top of that I felt it really helped his confidence and to just enjoy being ridden.

He's A Good Horse.

2011-10-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Reason on Tuesday

Everything Reason is and is not presently, is a reflection of me. It's true. I'm lacking in my ability as a rider right now. Well maybe just maybe because I worry about Reason going back to the unhappy place he was only a few months ago. I just do too much worrying. Now going off shortly to a very relevant but different direction here... Matt (my fiance) is the yin to my yang and the yang to my yin. He told me last night, I'm not committing to what I want. I'm not giving Reason the right direction. Thank you amateur, doesn't-even-really-ride, Yoda. He is the best at pointing things out and giving me a really good perspective that sometimes I lack. I knew that I'm holding back. Because if I wasn't I'd already be cantering Reason around the pasture... But he points things out that makes you remember riding is supposed to be fun and it's really not that hard to do.

On Tuesday evening, I had a mediocre ride on Reason. It depends on how you look at it though. Reason was really good, he carried me around as we quietly walked on the buckle. A small, simple but really nice thing! But the trot work, well that's what made it mediocre. I'm not committing. I don't give Reason enough direction as of late. And just as with the lunging to the right, I have to find my hidden confidence and the rider I used to be..

Yesterday evening I got on Reason and when we warmed up and got to trotting, I did have some good stuff in there. At times Reason was in front of my leg, instead of being really behind it. But still... The whole focus will be and IS on getting him in front of my leg and I will not stop until he willingly, happily, confidently travels in front of my leg consistently, by default. Matt, believe it or not, coached me through some off my sticky times. Times where I lacked Reason's respect and he dictated speed. Times where Reason tested me and I needed help to rise up to the test.
Horses ARE our greatest teachers. If I can get through this, we will be going great.

The up-side was that Reason and I did get somewhere. And we did have a lovely time riding under the full moon.


Tuesday Post Ride

Fitting Together

2011-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

The rain came on Monday as well as Tuesday. The horses were spotted most of the day eating and hanging out in the shelter. Probably Reason's idea I'm sure. He is not a fan of the rain. Errika however would much rather be getting soaking, sopping wet, if it meant to graze and meander through the pasture, only occasionally stopping and positioning to protect herself from a sudden gust of windy rain.

Reason is enjoying the elements without a blanket for now. I really get more concerned if there is a chance that the sun comes out and shines between the storm and heats up a horse under a blanket, than if the horse must weather some rain. And it seems that Reason knows where he'd like to be during a storm and that is tucked under his shelter. It's actually pretty interesting watching Reason handle more of being a natural horse. He's a bit concerned at times, especially when he's out in the rain and it's dropping on him. It must be a weird feeling considering his dislike for a single fly disturbing him in the summer. Though, he seems so happy.

Reason on Monday

On Monday as it rained and I prepared for feeding time, Reason was having a ball. He was trotting everywhere like he was dancing. A passage here, oh maybe a little piaffe here, lovely extended trot there, it was quite a show. Thankfully the dancing was kept to a trot, except for when Errika did her usual casual, "I'm going to trot off to mess with the young guy and humans," and left Reason to go wander off to the other side of the pasture. Reason went to catch up with her and threw some good bucks before making it to her side. Oh Errika you do not need to do that. She is such a little trickster.

On Tuesday Reason proceeded again with showing off his fancy side. This time Errika saved her antics and there were no moments of scaring their mom in an attempted flee across the pasture. Reason was also a little more experienced and understanding of the rain and I decided that a lunge in it was appropriate. The ground was perfect, just soft enough atop the old grass, but not muddy or slick. At first Reason was gently surging forward on the lunge and insisting that a canter was the only gait to work in. I let him canter because I'm not going to discourage any forward movement on his terms right now, but at the same time he had to do it within my limits. There is to be no pulling of course, we must work where I choose. Reason stuck to his good manners on the line and once I thought it was the right time, I asked for a down-ward transition to a trot and eventually a walk. We did walk to trot transitions when we were parallel from the gate and where Errika was standing, as he wanted to speed up there, and then trot to walk transitions as we were heading directly towards the gate. This seemed to get Reason's mind more in the game and also understand that under my direction I would be determining the pace now.

Reason was doing pretty well and so I moved on to try something else. I walked him to the back side of the pasture, out of eye-shot from where Errika was and had him walk on the lunge there. I want to get him more comfortable without Errika's presence. He needs to be confident in himself and also me, that we don't need Errika as a crutch or comfort when it's time to work. He's attached to her quite well. I've ridden him out of eye-shot, but for short durations and I always ride him back towards where she is so he knows nothing is going to happen and she's not leaving. I want him to be more comfortable and trusting of me. But I have yet to be initiated as that role in his life or in his herd for that matter. So by small bits at a time, hopefully I can help in changing that. Reason did great on the lunge at the other side of the pasture. At times he would try to cut in on the circle as he would be going in the direction of where Errika was, but never did anything else. After a little bit of trotting thrown in there, I called it a day. I was very pleased with the results. Before I was done I wanted to give Reason a nice facial massage.

At first Reason kept his head in the more alert position, waiting, though ever so patiently, for when we were going to walk back. Once I began rubbing his face he began to relax. His head slowly began to lower. I felt this was a great step. He was showing his comfort and trust in me... I began to massage and slide my hands over his eyes and you could see the change in expression. He was off alert so much and just enjoying himself. I spent a good while standing with him there. The rain bounced off my ball-cap and made a soft, relaxing sound as it hit the dry grass. It was quiet and truly a really nice moment.

On Wednesday evening I lunged Reason again, hoping that this time I would be able to take a ride. He was good on the lunge. So I quickly tacked up and hopped on. The sun was setting fast. I walked and trotted Reason around in the center of the field. The sun had set and the moon shined through the clear, starry sky. It was a good feeling to ride Reason under the nights dark blanket, on the buckle. Everything was relaxing. Now to have gone from what was happening a couple months ago, to this, is very very happy to see and feel. These moments are very important and special.

Lunging as the Sun Sets.

2011-09-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Reason in winter/spring 2010. Showing off his fanciness.

I forgot to mention, following up to this post where I wrote we might go on a trail ride, over last weekend. Well, we didn't end up going. The weekends are so busy and full of things to do. Matt comes home on the weekends and it's usually go,go,go until he leaves Sunday evening. It just didn't fit in there. I'm crossing my fingers that sometime this weekend we will go on Reason's first trail ride. The weather is supposed to be much milder, in the mid 70's and sunny. Perfect trail riding weather if you ask me. Oddly enough this dramatic cool-down, after the 100 degree weather yesterday, is the welcoming to rain, Monday through Wednesday, supposedly. I guess summer had to give it's final kick before it walked out for the year..

In addition to a possibly trail adventure, we have to start and finish the expansion project of the horse's shelter, aka the pony cottage. We are making it twice as big, closing it in on 3 sides, adding rock under the entire thing and mats. They will have a nice place to escape the rain, wind and cold while also have a good place to eat. It will also double as a spot for grooming in the rain, with cross-ties.

Now about yesterday. I need to get an update shot of Reason. Can you say, hunk? He's looking so good! He's gained some weight and muscle and just looks lovely. I can't wait to see the top-line built up.. I think we've hit the sweet spot as far as weight goes though.

I lunged Reason over some poles and cavaletti last night. I debated on that, or a ride. I chose lunging because the thought of getting into those breeches, just didn't seems too appealing. And also because I wanted to see Reason move. Again I enjoy so much watching Reason navigate his way through poles and cavaletti. He's so pretty and careful. To see him use his body in the ways that these exercises would like, is such a sight. He's exuberant, but smart. The engagement from the hind end was super last night.

Poles and cavaletti are so much fun for Reason. He just looks for them and sets himself up to go over them and does it with a sense of pride and sass. Sometimes if we're doing cantering exercises, he'll throw a little post buck and proceed on to do it again with a big sense of accomplishment and excitement. Yesterday evening when we were warming-up on the lunge, he was dragging. It was HOT yesterday, so he was probably a little drained from that. But once we started pole work, he lit up! It's like someone hit the ON button. Suddenly he had energy.

I can't wait to start jumping him. Next year is my plan. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. That is if he gets his flat-work going well.. He's getting the prep-work for now, which seems to suit him fine. Confidence building 101 too. I guess my challenge will be how many ways can you set-up cavaletti and pole exercises..

Here we Are.

2011-09-27T22:24:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my new blog, Diligent Horse. (I moved all Reason's past posts from The Equus Ink, over to here.) This is now Reason's blog home.

If you know me, you know I'm not a fan of the heat. Oh heat and I are not good friends. But today was different. It was hot, but I determined that I'd have to get over that in order to ride. What was more surprising was that it was a choice to ride in the heat. Normally I wouldn't pass up the calmer, cooler evening time to take a ride, especially over the heat of the day, but not today. Today was different.

I slipped on my breeches, pulled on my boots, grabbed my helmet and tacked up Reason. Despite the heat, today was promising. Not because I thought Reason was going to be good, no, I knew he was going to be good. But the reason why it was promising was simply because I knew I'd be taking a good ride regardless. Heat or no heat. I walked Reason around the pasture. His first trip all by himself. Then we trotted. A couple things came to mind.

One of the things I thought about was how more confident Reason is. Our lunging work has paid off. Not only that, but because Reason has had Errika to snuggle up to when things get scary or boss around when he's feeling cheeky and particularly cocky, has proved to raise his confidence to new levels. He believes in himself and has confidence in leading his herd of one, protecting his mare. He can gallop across uneven terrain (scaring his mom although) with freedom of space, time, movement and ease. He can graze as he pleases and is never bored as it seems. He feels the chill of the fog, the heat of the sun and can determine his own way of dealing with this (how horses choose their 'spaces' is a study all it's own), mostly without the use of the shelter. He observes and now manages his own space, including welcoming the then very scary cows, as part of his environment and generally just part of the scenery. But most importantly, he now trusts me. He now greets me everyday at the gate, walks with me to the other gate and welcomes me as part of his herd.

In the heat I'm riding and begin trotting down the long side. We cross terrain with confidence, we ease and understanding. I ride without a whip, without spurs, without gloves I let my bare hands and fingers hold onto the reins gently and allow them to rest between my fingers sans any real contact. It feels good.

To ride a horse is a privilege, not a right. Thanks Reason.

Cruise Control...Works!

2011-09-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

I was able to ride Reason for the first time last Saturday, in a couple months. We had plans to attend a horse event locally (not Reason. My mom, Matt and I) but opted against it. Instead we spent the evening riding! Reason was a total trooper without second thought carried me around as we walked and trotted in and out of our "arena." Reason seems much happier living this new life and I think having no constraints of riding/lunging in an actual arena and riding in his own pasture has proved more comfortable for him. Obviously that will be changing as we will be trailering out to a local barn for arena use soon, but I think it's been a great way to re-introduce him to riding.

I've been continuing lunging over poles and introducing different cavaletti exercises as well, which I think has helped Reason's confidence. Going right for him has been sticky, but with the use of poles as a guide and slowly introducing other elements has opened that side up.

Now this weekend, may be Reason's first trail ride, ever. I've decided on a quiet, large, flat trail at a local park to take him to, but that is if there is enough time within this weekend to encompass that and also if I feel Reason is ready. I know he is, but I do not want to over face him, especially with all the confidence he has built and trust in me.

In other news, I chopped Reason's mane off, leaving a tasteful mohawk. I think it looks great on him!

Moments Captured

2011-09-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Reason and I on Friday evening after a great groundwork/lunging session. This photo kind of sums up the positive and great time we've been having. A growing understanding and also the growth of trust.

Reason has never been so loving, as the moments like these seen in the photo. I know he's telling me, "kid, you're on the right path." or simply, "thanks."

Even though I feel as though Reason is my little boy who is under my wing, I know I'm also under his.

Let the New Month In!

2011-09-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

Someday, maybe, Reason and I will be cantering about, jumping and sharing some great rides. I go to sleep at night hoping that this dream I have, will come true. I think about it during the day and imagine. Ah, how nice it would be to share that relationship with a horse again..

Reason is so athletic and hot.. But mostly athletic. He shows off his quick and handiness potential as he swoops along at the end of the lunge line. He's ever so gentle with the lunge line and respectful of my wishes. He gets worried when he's unsure and his reaction is to go up and throw himself around. Whenever he does this, I send him forward and on he goes with a new idea of how to handle himself. The confidence and understanding is growing.

Reason's right side is a bit locked up and he has more resistance on this side. The lack of confidence is most apparent on this side, where he has no idea what to do with. When I first started lunging him right, it was a difficult task, he'd get very nervous and react by going, up. But through quiet requests and trust, he's opening up and allowing me to explore the "dark side."

Tonight when I lunged Reason, going right, he tried to evade me requests. I have a small batch of tools that I use to get around this. But no matter what, he must, must, go forward. By the end of the evening, he was going right, quietly, much more comfortably, confidently and was beginning to open up.

Only Reason will let me know when it's time to ride. I think I may try this weekend. Of course on the lunge, just at the walk. But we'll have to see if it will be time for that.

No City Slicker

2011-08-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while.. It's been almost 2 months since Reason went from "city slicker" to country boy! Errika is happy as can be and quite likes showing Reason the ropes. Reason is enjoying the country life and ultimately I think it's the best option for him. He's still a bit intrigued when it comes to the nearby cows that emerge frequently while being rotated from different fields, but life is good. The neighbors feed the horses apples and carrots from their garden when they venture to that area of the pasture. They have a nice dirt bath rolling spot at that end too, which makes it extra appealing.

I found a nice flat and footing friendly (well as friendly as you can get without being in an arena) to mark out as my "arena." It's perfect for occasional lunging and riding, until I begin to trailer out.
I'm loving the peaceful relaxation of having my very own space and being able to feed whatever I want without restrictions. The horses aren't allowed to get too fat..but they do munch a lot and enjoy a plentiful dose of grass hay. I can't wait until the winter comes and the grass begins to sprout...The horses will love that and it will keep them busy all day.

I started working Reason again. He got a good 4 weeks off while I was gone for school. I've began lunging mostly, with ground-work mixed in, but little ground-work is needed. Our latest ground-work education has been with ground tying, which Reason has a good understanding about already. Lunging has been pretty interesting with Reason. He would hardly allow me to approach his right side during the process. I've been taking my time getting him used to moving out to the right by walking him on the right side, which Reason finds really odd.. Today I tried a new method of pressure-release to approach the right at his pace, without any force, but still on the line. Ground tying came in handy here... Reason stood in the center of the "arena" and I walked slowly backwards, asking him to stay still. Once I got towards the last 5 feet of the line, I stopped and began walking, creating a half-circle around Reason, to the left. Once I got to the left, I walked back and began towards the right. I would look ahead, avoiding looking directly at Reason, watching him from the corner of my eye so I knew when he was getting uncomfortable. If he showed signs of discomfort, I'd pause, sometimes retreat a couple steps back the other way, or proceed forward. This method worked the first time. Once I got in position diagonally behind his bum, still at 5 feet from the end of the line, I'd ask him to move forward. It would quite well!

To make the whole lunging experience more fun, I incorporated poles. I had used poles to mark out each side of the "arena" and then used those to send him over. Reason just LOVES this! Point him in the vicinity of the pole and he'll make all the changes necessary to get over it. It helps Reason find a focus when things are a little concerning with the right side. I'll switch back to going left and do some more poles to get his mind back in the game and then go back to the right.

I'm not sure how long it will take until Reason is going right confidently, but that will be when the next goal is made. I'd like to introduce the bridle or saddle when he's at that point. I couldn't be more pleased with the progress :).

A Change for us All

2011-06-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ah, this post. It's been coming.

After bad ride, after bad ride and knowing horses, knowing my own horse well enough, I have decided to stop Reason's training (or lack thereof) and get him out of boarding life, for a deserved break. I do not want to re-home him or anything like that. I'm committed to my horses. I took on the un-known and possibilities, whatever may come, when I adopted him, just like with my Ink. Reason has a good home with me forever, or until he can pursue greater and better things with someone else. I can provide him a great home and can provide him an opportunity to be a horse and to feel good. I am willing to give up riding etc, to give him a chance.

I don't know exactly what's going on with Reason. It could be a multitude of things, including ulcers, including body issues. He'll get what he needs and we'll be exploring all avenues within my abilities to get him feeling better. But, what I truly believe he needs right now is a break, mentally and physically. Reason will be living with Errika in a big 2 acre pasture where they can graze and hang out together all day. He'll get groomed, loved and become my beautiful pasture ornament until we can get him on the right track. I think this will do wonders for him and I think it's definitely worth a shot. I think he'll like it.

I want to make a galloping track around the perimeter of the pasture to pony Reason and stuff of that nature. But everything is up in the air and I will know a plan of attack once I get him there.

I love Reason. It breaks my heart to see all his handsome, cute moving goodness not being utilized and to see him not excelling. I know he has potential. I want to see him progress. If he never can be ridden again, I will understand. If he can only be a trail mount, then that's what he'll be. All I want is him happy and to share good rides.

I'm also going to school in a couple weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to commit to a third horse once I do get my career on track. I'm excited. A horse habit comes at a hefty price tag and I want to be able to provide my horses with all the best and to get my riding going again too. Matt is also leaving for school, but he will be going for 2 years and relocating. It's going to be a change but it's going to be great for our futures!

More posts will be coming..

One Hand

2011-06-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Reason has been relatively moody and grumpy lately. I've changed his routine whereas he no longer gets turnout in the day or evening. He has a stall with attached paddock which is good enough. The day turnout is no bigger in comparison to his attached paddock anyway. The reason for this? Limiting the hands on Reason.

Yesterday was a fine example of why my horse needs only me handling him at this time..
I had turned Reason out in the outdoor to stretch his legs and also create some dialogue. He hadn't been out for a couple days and because of the weird behavior I thought some re-establishment was in order. I didn't want to force the issue, but I did want to do some constructive work. Out in the arena he went. Not wild, not full of himself, but had energy to burn and needed to get some of it out. We weren't really achieving much in the outdoor, but enough for me. I was expecting him to want to come to me and join with me, instead he was just out of reach. He wanted to, but not. He was neutral in attitude, no grumpy out there at all, but also not giddy with excitement or happiness. After a little while I caught him and took him to the adjoining outdoor round pen while I went to work around the ranch. I'd check on Reason here and there and he was relatively quiet and peaceful out there. Normally the outdoor round pen is not his most favorite place to be..

After I got done with work, I went to go get him. Instead of just haltering him and walking out, I wanted him to want to come to me to be haltered. I pushed him around a bit, going through the paces. He made a quick approach shortly after we began. I sent him back out until I thought he was ready, which the times he did approach, he was not. After about 5 times of doing this, he came to me, I haltered him and proceeded to walk out. As soon as we got to the outdoor he started acting up. He turned around quickly and tried to nip me as I tried to get him to stop. I spent a good little while getting him to relax and listen to me. He threatened to rear twice as he escalated in response to my corrections. I pushed his haunches over in a circle around me. My aim was to get him soft and responsive. He started to come back down while I kept assertive but calm. After we got through that, I was leading him on a long, loose lead, as he trailed behind with his head low. Just exactly the response I wanted. It took me reacting in an efficient, clear but also at the same time neutral way to get him to come down. I don't expect anyone to have to do this with my horse, but that is what he needs. He needs someone who can de-activate his defense buttons and not hurry through the situation. He also needs someone who is not afraid, but also not aggressive. As his owner and mom, I love him, I know him very well and I am the one who should be working him through this. If someone tries to correct him, he could escalate to what he did with me and him not knowing or trusting the handler, could cause a situation that is neither good for Reason or the handler and therefore create an on-going problem. I have to work him through his problems and find a common ground of understanding so he will be easier to manage for other people.

I wouldn't say Reason's bad. He's not. He's just a little more demanding of his handlers than other horses if you allow him. I have to make him into the horse I want. I know that horse is in there, I've seen it and experienced it. It's just me who has to find it and mold it verses other people with less understanding and knowledge of my horse. He needs clarity and that will come with only one person, one solid method and less variables.

Could it Be...Ulcers? - Update.

2011-05-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

It's only been three days since I began Reason on his new, what I like to call the "tummy love," diet for what may be ulcers. I'm happy to report, so far so good! There has been notable difference in girth area and lower abdomen sensitivity and even a change in mood! Reason's been more willing and happier from the times I've spent with him since Friday. Yay, maybe this is going to help.

On Friday I turned Reason out in the outdoor arena for a little free-lunging. I like to do this at least once a week because it just seems nice for him to get out and stretch his legs. I am careful to boot him up and I do think about the tendon all the time, but it's really not something I worry about more am conscious about at all times. I think the turnout/free lunge in the large arena, is ideal and good for Reason both body and mind.

During Reason's free lunging in the outdoor on Friday, he was trotting down the long side, head and tail high when he realized the barn owners dog was running with him. Quickly he spooked, half passed, not very gracefully, sideways and kicked out, knocking down a lower rail board and also taking off a small patch of hair/skin of the inside of his left leg at the fetlock joint. I'm doctoring that now, which is nothing bad just needs to be kept clean and medicated. So no riding has been happening since Thursday. It looks fine, some swelling but nothing more than what is to be expected.

Could It Be...Ulcers?

2011-05-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Monday sucked. To put it bluntly. Tuesday was much better with roundpenning. Wednesday was...OK.

Wednesday my mom came to watch. Bareback again, I rode Reason and got a couple attempts to get me off. Nothing bad, just attempts because I clearly wasn't listening to his hints... I was listening but trying to work him through them through really quick responses from my crop (he'd be unresponsive to the leg or just not paying attention and I'd really quickly give him a click behind my leg) and just staying neutral. It worked, but still Wednesday was my opinionated horse :). Then yesterday, Friday, I had a pretty awesome ride. I let Reason munch on his dinner while I finished some barn work and then got on him bareback. We cruised around the property, not around the path, but around the immediate property and then I went to the arena. I go into it just focusing soley on forward. Nothing else, just getting a willing, forward horse. Reason was proving to be willing and forward so we moved onto doing something else. I asked for long and low here and there and got some mixed ideas. Reason wasn't settling into the idea of long and low, simply because he's still learning how and what is being asked. I kept clear in my mind that the only way to train him to know what I was asking for, was to make sure I was quick to release once he attempted to do it. In no time, he was traveling beautifully! Not only did it feel great it also was great to feel him going, "Ahhhh." It must feel good to stretch out like that and feel your body, engage the hind end and begin to feel what lifting the back might feel like! I was quick to end the ride on that great note.

The idea of ulcers... Well, Reason's not skinny, he's in great physical shape, he does have an appetite, isn't a picky eater and his coat is pretty darn lovely. He doesn't look what you'd view as typically, "ulcery." But he is sensitive around his girth and lower abdomen which may suggest something. He gets resistant and grumpy under saddle. It could be. Considering a large percentage of racehorses develop ulcers, it certainly is a possibility. He's a sensitive horse and I couldn't imagine him on the track. So maybe, just maybe, this may explain in more depth what is actually going on. I'm not going the scoping route as of yet. I did however buy some Aloe Vera juice, Slippery Elm (herb), alfalfa cubes and probios to add to his rice bran. Maybe it will make a difference? I hope so. I'm trying to come up with an idea of how to allow him to have access to 24/7 hay as I know that's key. I think I may have come up with something...

For now, the things I can do without waiting for results is ride him after he's had some hay, no sugary treats and maybe let him enjoy a bannana or some yogurt per-ride also..

Well, lets hope everything goes well!

A Glass Wall Went Up.

2011-05-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

On Monday I got to Reason, having not seen him over the weekend and he was a different horse. I've been having such a great time with him, not just bareback riding but all around. He's been happy and comfortable. In little (and big) ways we were making such great strides. He was not holding tension, apprehension or anticipation towards anything. He was happy! I know my horse, I know the horse he really is and I know the horse I was experiencing on Monday was not my horse, for whatever reason, I don't know.
When I went in to get Reason, he was immediately wanting to get away from me. Consistently he's been actually wanting me to get him, coming to me and following me. It used to be that he'd stop and not move, that was his biggest problem when I'd go to catch him. So it came across weird that he was like trying to get away. I approached him and got a sour look. Between his ears and his eyes, he was sending a clear message. But he allowed me to halter him once I talked to him and slowly put the halter over his head. He wouldn't move. I went to go get my crop that I usually just have to carry and he'll move. I'm well aware that the clear message was there with Reason, that he didn't want to come out, but I needed to explore it further to know why. Reason began to follow me but with resistance and once in the stall, wanted to dart back out and get away. Again, it sounds like he just didn't want to come out, but it wasn't that simple. I tried to approach him to just get him calm and he threw his head up and wouldn't let me touch him, kept trying to get away and even began to threaten to rear when he couldn't get away. I couldn't even get near his face or body without him getting freaky\and trying to nip. At the same time he was acting afraid of me. I wasn't in fear of my safety, I was more worried why this was happening.

I ended up unclipping the lead and letting him go about his business after a suggestion from a friend.

Yesterday, I knew we needed to re-establish our relationship and trust. Why though? I felt like trust was lost, somewhere. I don't know why. I don't know what happened for him to act that way. Maybe because I wasn't there over the weekend and he got out of routine??? I don't know. It's weird.

In the round pen yesterday, Reason was more sensitive then ever. As much as sensitive is good, it's only good when it comes from an equally good place of willingness, not fear. There was fear lingering in the air and confusion. I felt like Reason wasn't sure what was going to happen. We were just getting places in our relationship too. Sigh... I know by the end of the week, things will be better. But, things were rolling along consistently well. This has nothing to do with "two steps forward, one step back." One step back lately would had been a day were Reason's mind was wandering, he was fresh and we had to work him through it or something of that nature, not suddenly my horse flipping a lid for no explainable reason. He's not that type of horse that would flip without a reason. This I know. I trust him. I know him. He's sensible. Although he is sensitive and picky at times, he is also very sensible and easy-going if he is allowed to be.

Yesterday in the round pen proved the above point. I still saw the same horse that was doing well last week and the week before, but hindered. It was like he was lost somewhere but still present. He wasn't sure where to be because he was worried and confused for whatever reason.

Maybe I just worry and care too much about my horse? Well that is true, but it doesn't mean that overrides my ability to appropriately view him or me and therefore truly evaluate the situation for what it is. I have the ability to see the situation without altering my perception just to satisfy myself.

Today will be better. I got places yesterday and today we'll go back to our regular routine most likely. If not, we'll keep working to rebuild whatever was lost.

It Continues..

2011-05-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

My bareback riding escapades have continued. Each ride has been good and positive. Like I said before, no longer does this tension hang in the air. No longer is there a wall, so to speak, up between Reason and I. Wow, all this from a girth and possibly a saddle.. I knew that ill-fitting tack could clearly cause pain and therefore various degrees of reaction, but to experience it and live it, is new to me and now I actually do understand.

On Wednesday (I think), it was a little chilly and windy out. There was some cloud cover, welcoming the following weekend rain. I got on Reason bareback to spend a day out of the arena, exploring the ranch more-so than I've ever done on his back. There is a perimeter path around the property and although I've hand walked Reason on this path, we've never done the whole thing riding. There have been a couple of reasons that the past week was finally the first under saddle day around this path.. Due to Reason's tendon injury and rehab since last year, I wanted to stay off hills for obvious reasons. The path is not the best footing-wise and has some hilly parts and one nice slope. When I first started bringing Reason back, I hand-walked him up and down the small hills that lead to the arena to start. Then, I began walking him to and from the arena under saddle. Then I took him on the path up that larger hill in hand. The path also has a notoriously spooky section. The path goes up a hill to a bushy area on the left that hides some spooky farm equipment in a large shed, that occasionally people are starting and moving around. The horses can hear but not see it happening. Then, as soon as you past that, you go para ell to the large outdoor round pen and through a grove of tall eucalyptus trees. These trees are almost always moving, making creaky noises. Although the stretch isn't long, it presents itself as an interesting cumulative of spooky possible experiences.

The day, to some probably wouldn't had been the best choice for this. But it felt right, so off we went. I took him around without an issue. Reason isn't used to going around this path much at all, so there were definitive new sights and sounds, including some footing questions. He took it all in stride. I've found when we come across an interesting sight, which could possibly be scary, Reason likes to stop, observe and then move on. In his time of observance I am constantly trying to help him remain confident through the experience so to not make it a big deal. Reason is sensible, but he is young and at times hot. He looks for guidance 80% of the time and the situation will escalate if the guidance is not there. If I give him a confident basis, he probably will not worry and we will move on without another thought. Whether its a big issue or not.

Although it's not a big accomplishment, walking around that path, it's a great step in the right direction. It felt nice to go through those areas of question along the path and feel like we had a good working understanding. He was listening to me and not worried about the creepy noises or swaying tree tops.

On Friday my mom joined me on an even colder, windier day. The day before the storm was to start. On our way out to mount up, I heard my mom, who was then already mounted on Errika outside the barn, yell out "loose horse!" and I, holding Reason in the isle-way, turned to look out a stall door to the parking-lot, where I briefly saw a galloping horse sweep past in what seemed like a flash. The next thing I knew, the same horse, moments later, was coming up the back of the barn isle-way running towards Reason and I. He had a lost look in his eyes and was in survival mode. In a moment of seconds, Reason stood at my side, wondering just as much as I, what in the world, but remained calm. I stomped my feet and the horse slowed down and quickly slowed in front of us and darted into an open stall. Reason was such a good horse through all of this. Like a foal at my side, he never strayed in any sense of the word. After the horse was calmed in the stall and another boarder came to it's aid, I took Reason away and we proceeded to mount up. Reason was a little fired up but nothing I knew we couldn't work through. I'd much rather get on him when he's fired up because I know I can get his mind working and get him to a calmer more relaxed place from atop his back.

The ride was a little challenging. I knew I had to spend some time just getting Reason's mind to the place I wanted it to be, because he was a bit "out there." I wanted a relaxed horse, listening to me. We had a couple opinions from Reason. I couldn't do anything except just put him through the basic paces and find a quiet but effective way of getting him to want to work with me. Our ride lasted about 45mins. By the end, I was getting a good horse and called it quits on a good note.

Here is a photo from one of our rides last week in the outdoor. It has a downhill slope to it, which is why the gait looks weird. It's hard for most horses, let alone a young one to balance down it. I do think Reason does a good job at managing though. One of the other things I don't like, is Reason's upside down looking neck here.. It's really not that bad... I DO like this photo because I believe it captures a moment of focus and listening on both our parts.

Feeling Good.

2011-05-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

I think I managed to figure out why Reason won't go forward. As usual, a large part of me certainly believed that it was related to pain somewhere. Although the first and easiest mind you, place to point as the culprit was the feet (he is barefoot) and the saddle which isn't horribly ill-fitting. But, I wasn't sold on those alone. Reason's vet checked his back for pain and found none. After explaining that my jump saddle is a bit tight at the shoulder, she also noted that in fact his shoulder wasn't showing signs of pain. Instead, his girth area was sensitive and painful. The poor boy :(. We talked about different girths and girth placement. I am not a novice, I do know where a girth goes, but apparently it needs to go further back and I need to find a wider one with a belly plate possibly to accommodate him. My vet also noted that it's important to buy a girth with elastic at both ends because the horse gets some expansion on one side but not the other with your traditional girth with elastic at only one end.

My Dressage saddle's girth is too large for Reason. I remember someone on another blog, an eventer, noted that longer billets on a jump saddle were needed for their side sensitive horse to accommodate a shorter girth. Is it true that a shorter girth is more comfortable for the horse? It seems like it would be to me. Anyway my Dressage girth is too long, meaning I have to fasten it up higher on the billets, meaning it covers almost the entire girth area leaving little room for natural movement and expansion.

I decided to ditch the saddles altogether and see what kind of ride I could get. Well, much better if I do say so! The whole experience was altogether better. I felt like the tense nature of the air when I would ride Reason, was gone and we were actually just enjoying our ride! Because of that, I felt so much more relaxed and able to communicate with him. Yay!!!

Reason had the weekend off, so yesterday was our first ride since Friday. I hopped on and off we went and he was a perfect gentlemen. Of course he still demands perfection in how you ask and apply aids and of course he still gets opinionated, but it's no longer coming from a place of pain and frustration but rather a place of light-hearted, cheeky, young horse-land. I'm learning to be more aware of my body doing this bareback thing as well. I'm trying to practice staying centered and light. Wow, does it ever feel good to be riding like this again! This is the horse I knew was in there. I no longer get evasions, I no longer get dropping of the shoulder and refusing to go forward. I get a happy, willing horse who is actually quite with it and responsive. Ahhhh!

Granted I still want to probably put shoes or buy boots for Reason. I do feel that he is hesitant to really relax and come into his body and move out freely. There is some resistance in his gaits that I believe is related to his feet. I do want to buy a new (well used probably) saddle that fits both of us better and most importantly a really nice comfy girth. I'm hoping all this will help solve our problems. Until then, I'm staying bareback. Well, until I get a new girth at least. Even then I think the girth area needs time to heal from whatever pain it has been dealt with due to the girth or whatever else could have caused it. I want to just get Reason comfortable moving forward and try to open him up, get the girth area healed in some way and then go back to a saddle (with new girth of course.)

Where to Start...

2011-04-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

There is so much to write about, but instead, I'll explain my ride yesterday.

It was drizzly and miserable outside yesterday. It wasn't cold, but there seemed to be a moist type nip in the air.
I do enjoy riding in weather like this, but I also have been craving the sunny, beautiful days and always seem to plan my rides on the days where the clouds or cold or fog is out. I'm looking outside right now and think how I was planning on giving Reason today off, potentially another beautiful day lost. Back to yesterday.. I'm still getting to know the ever complex, sensitive Reason and constantly trying to figure out a routine that works best for him. Have you ever heard of horses that their owners exclaim that have to have a certain routine or way of doing things or the horse just flips? I mean sometimes I wonder if the owner is just too afraid for whatever reason, to try something new but now I am finding there is some truth to it because I think I have a horse like that..

I tried lunging before riding, to somehow set a more positive tone for the following ride and get Reason warmed up mentally and physically. Did it help? At first, I thought yes. I could get through to Reason better on the ground and it appeared to help him when we got to the riding part. Then I decided that Reason was just too lazy sometimes during our rides. I fought back and forth between the idea that he just was just testing how I would get him to go forward and try to get away with not, or if he was actually lazy OR if he wasn't going forward due to other reasons such as pain etc. The jury is still out. I decided ok, I'll stop the lunging before the rides and just get on and work with whatever I have and hopefully he'll be a bit more willing to go forward due to being fresher. I never lunged him to get the bucks out, I always lunged him for the sole purpose of just setting the tone, I guess you would say. Now I've been riding him without the lunging. And it's true the last two rides; Monday and yesterday, were both a bit fresher. Monday was superb. Monday Reason was holding a nice pace and willing. I rode him in Ink's old figure 8 bridle for the first time and in the jump saddle. Yesterday was quite different, but not out of ordinary. For whatever reason, my horse is moody. I have no idea how to get through to him and make him want to work. I'm leaning towards a pain thing and I know saddle fit could be a large part of it.. But some days I get the horse I got on Monday and some days I get a teen tantrum. Reason refuses to go forward, will even stop and resents any of my efforts. There is no quick fix with him. But I do know this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and as long as I keep looking and keep trying and keep listening, the rides will always end positively. Yesterday was proof of this.

On occasion those rides where Reason is just not willing, just not into it are truly testing of my ability to turn negative into positive. To not give up, but see a solution through. The ride started like a brick wall. There was a vibe of, "I'm already over this," before it even began. First, it was close to feeding time. That could explain some of the behavior, but oh well, I have to find a way to work him through that and make him go well and willing. But also, Reason doesn't like the rain. As soon as I mounted to go walk him down to the indoor he was already over the drizzling rain hitting his ears and face. He gave me a frustrated head shake when I went to ask him to walk off. On our way down to the indoor he was making a noise that seems to be fairly unique to him. It's an "eeeee" type of whine noise. He does this when he's excited, nervous or irritated. He was doing that on our walk down. 'Oh goody,' I thought. He kept wanting to stop and turn around. Oh, even better. Once we got into the arena he was a fresh, easily spooked, looky-loo. I can work with this, but instead of being fresh and going forward, he was fresh and going backwards. It was a disaster waiting to happen. I'm sure a good rider, different than myself, could give him a crack on the rump and he'd probably dart forward, but then again, his mind was pretty lost, so it could have been pretty bad if it was handled that way. You never know how he could react to a different rider, different approach, but I know for him and I, at that moment, no way jose and I believe there is a reason I have yet to handle it like that.. I just don't think there was anywhere to go at that point, then to back off and find a different way to manage. I'm obsessed in a way with discovering the missing piece. There is a piece I am missing regarding how to not get in this situation of anti-forward, NO. But one thing I've learned is not giving up and if I try and if I'm honest, I can find a way to turn these rides around.

I decided enough was enough. I got some trot steps, which were nice. I got some walking, but Reason was out of the building. He was starting to get irritated and annoyed, like before he reared that one ride he threw me off. I took him to the round-pen, maybe to salvage what horse I had left. It worked. I got him thinking about me, I got him relaxing a bit and then I took him back out and mounted up again. This time we went to the outdoor arena instead. There was some distractions in the indoor and he was being weird, so I thought, lets start fresh in a new area which to me, might be more inviting. It worked. At first Reason was still a bit 'no,' but he was much better and was actually paying some attention. I could put my leg on a actually get him to go. Once I got him walking nicely, we went up to the trot. In the beginning there was still some resistance, but then he settled and gave me a good, forward, pace. I felt like he was actually in front of my leg instead of far, far, behind it. Once I felt like he was with me, instead of where-ever else he was meandering, I finished the ride.

I have no idea what I could be doing wrong to possibly create the initial no reaction with Reason. I'm desperate to explore all options and see what could be rider/trainer error. But a part of me also thinks pain. I do however, think that it could be a number of things as it usually is with Reason. He needs front shoes, new saddle.. When the rides are good with Reason, they are good. But nearly everyday, I'm not sure what horse I'm going to get. I love riding him though and find it almost a driving obsession to figure him out.

Here is a video a couple weeks ago in our lesson. I'm not touching his face much, at this time it's just about getting him forward..

Ride #20? - What We've Learned.

2011-03-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Ex-race horses are excellent teachers of soft hands and soft seats. They aren't usually tolerant of anything different from my experience and from what others say. There is nothing better than you can do, than stay off your horses face during the first stages of training, from what I've learned too. Does your car go anywhere when you hit the gas and brake? I've been teaching Reason the "go" aid from the beginning. Looking back, those first 3 real rides make an awful lot of sense now. My horse was confused when I asked for go and in his own nice way he said, "hey, I don't know what you mean, you keep asking and it's kinda making me a little irritated and nervous.." When I spent the first couple rides after he was off during his head injury (or whatever it was) I stayed outside of the arena and practiced what 'go' was, there. It made more sense to do it in a place where he naturally wanted to walk out. I never touched his face, to make sure he could easily associate the leg with go and because well, who needs the face anyway at this point? I had to learn how to ride him confidently and surrender any control I thought I needed in order to make it work the way it needed to. Ink was my first real teacher of an independent seat or atleast some understanding of it and the unnecessarity of the hand if the seat was doing it's job properly, albeit quietly..

My consistent rides on Reason the last 2 weeks+ have been great successes. All I want to do is; #1 be able to ride with my leg off him while #2, be able to simply touch him for my upward transitions.. I want to be as subtle and quiet as possible while getting an enthusiastic, forward, yet relaxed response. That's my goal, that's the kind of ride I want.

After Reason got the upward aid, I have been able to begin to fine tune it, which then started with the introduction of the crop. Carrying the crop, Reason was keener off my leg. But it also allowed him to further-more associate my subtle leg aid with the forward reaction. I want it to get lighter and softer, but don't expect that yet, but it's gotten good already.

Now, I've found, I can ride with some contact. It's a soft contact and Reason has found a willingness and comfort it in being there. He asks where and I say here. He hasn't figured out yet to stretch down and begin the beginnings of traveling long and low. Perhaps he's still not strong enough or doesn't believe he is to do that? I'm not sure. I ask here and there to see if he wants to try and for the most part he's right there ready to go where asked but hasn't quite managed to figure it out.. But I like the feeling in my hand of connection, no pull, no take, just there.

Since Reason has also been going forward nicely, I've also been adding in asking for down-ward transitions. Keep in mind, we have no began canter work and I don't plan to until I feel he's traveling strongly and balanced at the trot. He gets a bit rushy going towards the exit. I like him rushing than I do sucking back, but I do want him to stay with me instead. So I've been adding in walk to trot (vice versa) transitions to get him with me more and lighter on my aids so he still is allowed to move forward, but is asked to come back as well.

And then, because transitions have been going well, forward has been going well, I thought I'd ask for a more forward trot. And I made the mistake of asking for a bigger trot, then smaller trot every 6 or so strides. I shouldn't do that yet, I don't think, because he needs to get forward down all-together before I do the shortening of the steps. I'm not sure, but I believe that's right?

I joke that Reason will be able to do piaffe in no time! He's so incredibly smart. Of course I have no idea how to train movements like that, heck I'm just trying to get W, T, C down properly ;)!

Yesterday I had my mom come watch us, since the last time she had seen us riding it was still when I was just sitting on him and walking. So, weird thing happening is that when Reason has people he knows watching (aka treat givers) he gets focused on them and not on me when we're riding. When Matt watches us, Reason is watching him the entire time and I have to spend time just trying to get Reason to be with me. This brings on a cool challenge however. It makes me ask myself and question what I am and am not doing to make Reason want to be with me more than the people watching. Clearly, if I master that, it will open some many windows in our relationship. So, how exactly do I do this? My first idea is to praise A LOT more. I've found myself a lot picker and not as praising as I normally am. I call Reason out a lot when he's being silly but I'm not praising him when he's trying. My first, very first, thing I must do. Today, when I go ride, my goal is to be silent, quiet, just sit, ask, proceed and praise when it's due. I must not correct him on his naughtyness, yet ride him forward and move on. He's not "naughty", he's being very good, so I should be just smiling and riding forward. The 'try' is enough :).

I'm so happy with Reason.

Reasons Good Progress

2011-02-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've written on this trusty blog.

Most recently, I rode Reason on Tuesday when it was gusting good outside. The wind whipped through the barn with force. But I wasn't about ready to let that stop me. One part of me figured that I'd have to find out what horse I was going to have in these weather conditions and the other just said that as long as I was cool with it, Reason would probably be too. I determined early on that I was going to stay out of the indoor arena and strictly just walk and trot around the roads at the barn. Well, Reason was awfully good. He did as asked without a second thought that me, his rider, felt that a couple times the wind was going to pull me out of the saddle!

The following day, yesterday, I decided that I was going to stay inside the indoor arena. The rain (and some hail) was going well enough that being inside was exactly what the day ordered. There were a couple other riders getting their horses tacked up and another rider in the arena when I got there. Between the rain, cold and some wind not to mention some rather interesting sights and sounds from workers and chickens next door, I didn't know what the day was going to hold. Maybe it was going to only be a day of getting him used to and over "scary" stuff? I didn't know for sure. I was determined however, that today was going to be just fine if I wanted it to be and by golly I wanted it to be a good ride and good time for both of us.

Not too long after I began riding a boarder was going to have a jump lesson. The jumps came out and I figured that this was going to be a good time for Reason to see and hear a horse jumping. It sounds silly, but Reason is somewhat reactive. Well he was taught to run after horses I guess, so that might explain that and also his age and, well you get it.. I had Reason stand, as mostly I didn't want to get in the rider's way. The indoor is a somewhat small space. I also wanted Reason to just stand there and watch. It sounded like a better way to make the experience more positive.. The weekend before he (feeling a little fresh) decided that as we were walking away from a horse who was behind us that jumped and rubbed a rail, was pretty frightening.

Reason and I watched the lesson. He was so good, just stood still and watched the horse jump right in front of us. Then afterwards I continued riding and Reason got to watch and experience what it means to work around and with horses that were doing their thing. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but some OTTB owners can appreciate what it means when your horse can ride around and be ridden around by other horses without getting, worried, excited etc..

What a good boy Reason was!

I've been continually working Reason on the ground. We've been practicing changes gears within the paces. I've been mostly trying to work on his walk and a little bit with the trot (collected to extended). He's doing so well. Much less reactive than the last time I wrote about it.

Today Reason and I went on a walk around the barn and down the driveway. I'm currently working/riding him 4 days a week. We are trotting now, but short intervals.

Ride #10 & #11 - The Happy Walk

2011-01-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

Before I start this post, I'd like to send my thoughts to all my family. My Grandpa O. passed away yesterday afternoon. He was an amazing man who was determined to make it to age 100. He was 97. I still can't believe you're gone.

----
I have so much to write about! So much has happened since my last post. Things are going well now. Monday and yesterday I had two really nice rides on Reason. This time I used my jump saddle instead of my Dressage which, to me, feels better to ride in (on Reason that is) than my Dressage. There was lots of commotion going on with rock moving and tractor work happening around us, but Reason didn't flinch. I wasn't expecting him too as loud and noisy heavy equipment has never bothered him. Thank You racetrack :). It was fabulous to be riding amongst all that action because I couldn't help but smile that all I had beneath me was a relaxed horse who walked happily on a loose rein.

I've been riding Reason around some of the property instead of just going right into the arena, which he seems to enjoy. But the arena has to be just as inviting and relaxing to him as hacking out because eventually the arena will be our main source of exercise.. My goal is to have the same horse inside the arena, as I have outside. There is just a bit of nervousness when he's inside of the arena. But not much, so it won't take long.

More later...

Better & Better

2011-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Last night was probably the best roundpen session Reason and I've had. He was being very good and most importantly moving pretty relaxed and happy. I thought it would be a good idea to practice his upward and downward transitions through the walk and trot. It went really well and the voice commands are nearly doing all the work.

I feel that mentally Reason is welcoming towards me getting on his back again, but physically I am still holding out. His body isn't quite when I want it to be yet, but I know I can do helpful work from the tack as well, so I'm just waiting until it really feels right to get back up there. At times I know I would be better off in the tack, but I have to pay attention to the ground work. I realize it's importance by far, but I'm more comfortable in the tack and feel I can work on things better. Not only that but I don't want to do too much roundpenning. I kind of feel Reason is getting slightly bored of it. I also feel that with the tendon that this is not something I want to be doing for much longer. Straight lines are more appealing to me....

Pressing On

2011-01-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

I just have to start this post with... To learn, we must first make mistakes.

Reason has been enjoying his new stall with attached paddock. He seems very happy and more at ease there. I couldn't be more pleased with how he's doing there. The only thing is that the new stall is clearly where he wants to be as I have a hard time getting him out! Silly bugger.

I am happy to report that Reason's level of relaxation and resistance (in reference to both some mental but mostly physical resistance) during our roundpen sessions is consistently improving. Before, Reason could not move forward more than a couple steps at the walk (and as in move forward I mean an over-track) without tossing his head and reacting. Now he's consistently over-tracking at the walk with a happier expression and no resistance/reaction. I am only assuming this is a positive sign. The trot is getting better too. I can see all the gaits opening up more.

I have started bringing tack into the picture, with the addition of the bridle recently. I want all the tack to associate with positivity. He's carrying around the bridle and bit comfortably, which leads me to believe that whatever caused such a strong reaction while the halter was even on, is now no longer a problem. Yesterday I added the saddle for the first time. I secured the stirrups, but they still made noise which made him react in a similar way when I started adding the bridle in. I noticed his back seems tight, which I believe is pretty directly attributed to how he carries his head high. Reason is getting the idea that lower is in fact better so there is definite light at the end of the tunnel that this all will change in just a matter of time.

I'm doing pretty light sessions with tack, to make it simple, quick and easy, as to not overwhelm Reason. Adding time as we go and hopefully I will be in the tack again soon. My idea is to get him going comfortably in all tack and even very short sessions in the side reins. (I'm not a huge fan of side reins on young horses, but I think it will help him get a better idea of a better place to put his head.) Once he's doing well, I'll add myself into the picture and do short walk sessions at the end of our roundpen time. Slowly building onto that.

To look into the more detailed breakdown...:

1. Add saddle +bridle 3x's/week, 5-10 minutes each time

2. 2x's/week Roundpen no tack

3. Add 2-5 minutes each day 3x's/week every week w/ tack.

4. Build up to 15 mins of full tack work where horse is moving consistently relaxed.

5. 1-2x's/week for 2 weeks add in 2-5mins per week of under saddle at walk.

6. Week 3, up to 3x's/week under saddle at walk, adding 5mins to each sessions each week.

7. Once up to 25 mins of walk under saddle, add in trot, at 2 mins each week.

That's a basic idea. We'll see how it goes!

This New Direction..

2010-12-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

I watched Reason go around and around, in the roundpen and I suddenly felt the unsure, insecure me looking directly into it's mirror image. I saw myself, standing there watching my horse go around in an almost frantic manner and felt exactly what he was doing. I almost felt lost standing there, in the middle of the big round pen. Helpless and as if we weren't there but out someone else facing up to our inner demons, or something like that. It was weird, so weird. I have never felt like that before. My heart began beating and my mind began racing as I watched Reason go around and could not have recognized more.

Yes, Reason got to go into the big round pen for the first time, ever, 2 weeks ago when the vet came out.

Lets start from the somewhat beginning. Four weeks ago (maybe a bit more) I began taking Reason into the indoor roundpen to have him walk out so I could see how he was moving, after the trim that made him foot sore. Three weeks ago, I took him into the roundpen and began asking for a little more of him in terms of walking and trotting if he wanted as he was feeling better. Then, I decide he's ready to go back into under saddle work again and he's good but tries to get me off once each day of the two days I ride him. At first, you might recall my post about this, I thought Reason was just being a rehabbing, young ottb and testing me. But the following day when I go to first move him in hand before mounting, he's clearly distressed. He nips at me for the first time ever. He's going a bit bonkers about something. I take him into the roundpen so he can move at liberty and I can get a better idea of what might be going on. He starts pawing frantically, then rolling frantically, then constantly shaking his head, throwing his front legs up and acting like something is clearly bothering him. I've had this horse since May and this was the first time I've ever seen him like this. Some chalk it up to him rehabbing and probably having pent up energy or that he's going back into work. But that's not completely true, he's been saddled, bridled, ridden bareback and ridden tacked many times and worked with on the ground, even around other horses, including a galloping horse and horses bucking on the lunge line etc. He's never acted like this before, ever.

At first I was wondering what in the world was going on. The following day I took him out again and he did the same thing. He even shied away from being haltered when I went to fetch him from his paddock and made some funny noises when I tried to get the halter on. I had Matt with me that time and asked him to watch Reason to see if he saw anything or what his opinion was. Matt has a pretty black and white approach and even though he's not the most knowledgeable in horses, he is pretty good at helping me and he is the next best person when it comes to knowing my horse. It was pretty clear to Matt too that there was something weird going on. When we both tried to approach Reason and touch his head for further examination, he shied away as if something was bugging him. This made us wonder if what was going on was related to his head. We began feeling around and Matt came across swelling behind Reason's left ear. It clear this was either the source or at least A source. He did not wanting us touching it, but Matt began massaging the area which Reason seemed to like. But each time we would try to approach him he would shy. He would even try to nip. Yes, clearly this was a behavior as a result of pain. This was his way of saying, "no, it hurts, don't touch."

When we turned Reason out in the roundpen, he would do the same thing; frantically roll, paw, paw, toss his head, shake his head and throw his front legs about and duck his hind end under himself like something was going after him. When we would leave his halter on it seemed to make whatever was bugging him, worse. So we thought that the crow of the halter was exacerbating the swelling on his head.

The vet came out just over a week later and noted there was still swelling but also noted some other things which could have caused or a result of whatever happened to his head. I thought he hit his head on something and it was only worsened by the bridle and he was getting migraines, which the vet also speculated in regards to the odd behavior. It was progressively getting better, the pain/behavior, in conjunction with the swelling, although reason why I believed all this was related to the cause of and the swelling.

The vet found a knot (muscle) in Reasons left cheek and pain through his neck into his back. Could it all be related to whatever happened to his head? Very possible, probably more than likely and even more so, made whatever else was going on his body to do compensation from the bowed tendon, demands on the body of a young horse etc, worse. To make matters worse, Reason wasn't moving. His paddock got pretty mucky after the constant rain and he refused to move (which is both a good and bad thing) and also refused to roll in there.

Now, I am moving Reason to a stall with an attached paddock for the winter, which has good footing and very good drainage, in hopes he'll move. It's small enough he can't get too silly, but enough room he can move. He'll also be next to other horses and be able to socialize and be almost like a real horse ;).

Things are getting better. No more weird behavior, although Reason is still reactive to his kind of stiff body, tight muscles etc.

So you might be wondering why I'm round-penning him? Cardinal sin? Well, the bowed tendon is the least of our worries now and the vet explained that it was ok. At this point I really have no choice. I can't turn him out, that could be way worse, I can't ride him until his body makes some progress and until I know he's OK obviously. The only way I can move him right now is at liberty and I can do that in a pretty controlled manner via the indoor roundpen. It's our only place of use right now. I've been working on asking Reason to walk out, some trotting and even small bits of canter if he feels like it, these last two weeks. He's getting better and moving more freely and relaxed. So I'm going to be continuing this until he's ready for the next step, which would be incorporating riding into the program and then hopefully wean him off the roundpenning as the core source of exercise and work.

Here is his most recent video from the roundpen..

I have more, but I'll save that for tomorrow!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

More than a Mirror.

2010-12-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have a real blog post coming soon. There is just so much, that as usual, I need to sit down and actually make sense of all the stuff in my head that has been building up. :) It makes sense to me, but I presume that if I just blabbed it all down, it would appear as a confusing mess to you readers.

Things are well but going in a different direction. More soon :).

The Downside of an Upside Process.

2010-12-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

My 22nd Birthday is tomorrow. Despite it being my birthday, I only wish my poor horse was in a better, happier position. There is nothing as depressing and frustrating than seeing your horse in an unhappy place. It's all in the territory. As a friend said to me, "two steps forward, two steps back."

Last week, I rode Reason twice, once Wednesday and once Thursday. He tried to get me off once during each ride, in a kind, yet direct manner. Looking back, it seemed not like he was trying to let out some steam and want to play and toss his rider around, but instead it seemed that he was trying to let me know he'd like me off because something wasn't right. Friday, Reason was pretty distraught. He was doing pretty unusual behavior when I took him into the indoor round pen to access him. Shaking his head constantly, pawing, striking out and then rolling. When he's handled on the ground, for grooming and walking, he's fine. Although he has been nippy when you try to get near his face. Not in an aggressive manner, but in a, "hey don't touch this area please." I'm as a loss. It has been suggested this behavior is him just trying to find a way to release his energy. But from the beginning, I've suspected pain. Obviously I stopped all "work" with him and have been trying to explore the source of this behavior. The rides last week was not the start to this behavior, but rather the peak.

A new problem arose as of Wednesday. Reason was stocked up on a ll four legs. The bowed leg was inconsistent with the other legs; the fetlock joint and pastern to coronet band was filled. No heat, not lame. Cold hosing and walking helped diminish the fill.

Right now things are kind of messed up. I'm trying to re-work his living arrangements to see if he might be happier in a different area such as a stall with attached paddock so he can visit closely with other horses and still have some room to move. The only thing is I do like the fact that he has room to play in his turnout, but not too much where I worry about him hurting himself. Hmm..

Also contemplating some other things as well. But for now it's all in limbo.

The vet will be out early next week to help me figure this out.

Move His Feet, Move His Mind.

2010-12-01T11:08:00.000-08:00


Errika and I last Friday on a trail ride.

Within a matter of days the hooves beneath Reason were feeling better and better. So much so that he began bouncing around with that spark in his eye again.. Little things would make him excited or frisky - I knew he was feeling better. I knew my horse was back.

But as it happens, there was a learning curve just ahead. Because of the recent holiday, Thanksgiving and the events surrounding it; dinner with familie(s), work right after and just the overall busyness that surrounds such times, I was unable to really hang with Reason or do much of anything with him. I could tell he was getting a little 'hot' for his own good. The day after Thanksgiving, I finished working the evening shift at the barn, went and fetched Reason, to do something with him, finally. He was good, a little hot, but good. Each day there-after, got worse and worse, in regards to the hotness. I can appreciate a hot horse, but there can't be much good that comes from a hot AND rehabbing horse.

Each night I took him out... There is where I went wrong. Nights are bad right now. Nights are time for warm stalls and yummy grain. NOT for working. This is what Reason seems to think. In his never to be humble opinion, he lets me know just that.

Each night his attitude grows, little by little. He's throwing baby horse tantrums. I know that a good go in the round pen would help us come to a good meeting ground. But he's rehabbing. Round-pens and lunging are places we should not be exploring. (Although I am, just not in the typical sense.) So, I just do in-hand work, within the indoor round pen. I remember someone saying that a horse doesn't care if you can move its head, but if you can move its body and feet, that's where truth lies. Something like that. I figured since round-penning (at more than just a walk) was and will be out of the question for some time, if not almost ever, I have to be creative. I decided in-hand work, moving his feet, experimenting with lighter and softer amounts of pressure, would be a good option. Move his feet, move his mind.

That seemed to work, pretty well. I mean I was not completely satisfied, like if I could have actually round-penned him. But it did enough and I know it will get better.

The simple culprit to this new found; naughty, no-not-listening, I-don't-wanna, horse? Grain. Oh so simple, but oh so trouble-some.. Reason gets rice bran at night. I usually like to wait to bring him in until I bring all the other horses in at night. He knows what awaits him once I do finally get him. But when I crash the dark horses parade and want to work him instead, well that just doesn't agree with him. I need to work Reason mostly during the day and if I do work him at night I should probably let him eat first..

Despite being, not the easiest to be around these nights, Reason is doing really well. I'm very pleased that he's feeling better and in turn that makes me feel better. I love seeing him everyday and wake-up to the excitement of the future ahead. Even if it's something small, like going on a walk around the property or the idea of where we're going to be a year from now. Whatever it is, I'm excited. I love learning and have learned so much thanks to my four-hooved animals.

Before I end this post, I would like to give some updates on Errika. She is doing really well, to put it simply! She's looking better all the time and is developing muscle again thanks to our weekly trail riding! Yes, my horse trailer was finally finished and now Errika and I do what we love to do together and that's hit the trails. Shes such a good horse. I can just sit up there and she'll safely take us up and over rocks, hills and across creeks. I love her.

These Times Make You Wonder...

2010-11-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

Reason has been foot sore for a week and one day now. I feel helpless and it's been hard not to mope around while my horse sits in discomfort. The good thing is, that Reason is steadily getting better. The first couple of days he stayed in his paddock, 24/7. I could tell he wanted to come out but would rather not.. He became a little stocked up behind because he wasn't moving. After the first critical days, I began to take him on the short walk to his stall at night. It makes sense that the hooves need circulation (movement) to help the hoof adjust and grow, but at the same time I didn't want to hurt him.

Now I'm taking Reason into the round-pen and where he is asked to free walk, slowly more and more each time. He seems to like this and finds comfort in the idea of being in there and "playing." His expression is becoming happier and less depressed. Poor Reasy :(.

So this of course means that little walks and hoof rehab are our life right now. I think he'll be fine within a couple more weeks, but I hope there is now long-term hoof (and therefore other) issues related to the trim that caused him this discomfort.. My farrier (barefoot trimmer resource), who I've had a relationship with for over 5 years, has never caused my horses to be uncomfortable before. He worked on Ink and worked on Errika for quite some time. TB feet are known for their lack of strength and stability. Having had two OTTB's now that went barefoot post track, the transition is slow and not always easy. Their feet have been under pretty big demands at a young age, along with being shod the entire time they were on the track, that to me it sounds normal for a horse in a transition stage to be "sensitive" during the process and after a fresh trim as well in the transition stage. But sore like this, is not normal. Ah, sigh :/.

I can't wait to get back to riding and working with him....but I have to say these times when things are temporarily going in a different direction, make you appreciate the little things. If anything, just hanging out with the pretty dark horse, makes me learn more things about him and love him and feel even more confident about the way things are going and will be going when we do get back to work.

Ride #6 - Its A Good Place To Be

2010-11-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

On Friday was the sixth ride. It was good from start to finish.

Thursday, however, Reason was acting a little weird. He was being kind of a brat, to put it simply. I was doing some ground stuff before I was going to get on and to my disappointment, but understanding, Reason was just not into it. I kind of felt discouraged. It was just one of those days. Instead of pressing the issue, and this had nothing to do with any insecurities about riding him, I thought it was good to stop and call it a night. No mind, no ride.

Friday though, Reason was being really good. In all honesty I was almost concerned about how quiet he was being. Nothing else gave me any indication that things weren't right. Matt chalked it up as Reason being "sorry" for yesterday, hehe. It was just nice to me that we came out from a less than good day, the day before, to Friday being a nice clean slate.

Reason has this thing about the cross-ties. No, I don't think cross-ties are a safe place to put a horse in general. They can be dangerous. Of course almost everything can be dangerous if you think about it... But, Reason is smart in the cross-ties. He knows to move into pressure. Nothing I honestly taught him, just proof he has a good head. So I don't worry about him getting himself into trouble in them. But what Reason does is walk backwards while I try to get to his sides to brush or put the saddle on. He's not being evasive. He seems to want to follow me. He backs up and gets to the end of the cross-ties (cringe) and then stops and I ask him to move forward. So finally, on Friday I figured out how to fix the issue. I think about him standing still and walk to his side, if he moves I apply pressure behind and the minute he either steps forward I stop. It worked well and I was able to go about grooming and tacking with a very quiet horse :).

The ride was good. I mounted on my nice horse and we walked around. It was dark outside but Reason was being very good.

Before and after a ride I have to ice his leg and I took up the opportunity on Friday to just hang with him which was nice. No purpose, just hangin'!

I'm instructed to ride him 3-5 times a week, doing a forward walk for 10 minutes, the first week.

I planned on riding today to officially begin our first week of structured rehab work, but unfortunately it didn't work out....

Reason had his feet trimmed today (they look great) but he's pretty ouchy behind. So I guess we'll have to wait it out and see what happens. A couple days off and he'll have to stay in his paddock so not to hurt the feet by walking out on the hard ground and rocks :(.

The Results Are In : The Bowed Tendon Status!

2010-11-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, a page was turned and a new has been revealed. The bowed tendon is healed! Simply put, Reason's vet could not find the exact place of injury through ultra sound because of how it's healed. Which is obviously good but also gives us only an idea of location and no concrete answers. But, that aside, we now have our rehab program to bring him back into work or into his new career!

I was so relieved. I am so relieved. I'm very happy and excited! I didn't doubt the outcome of the overall picture regarding the tendon, but it's nice to know speculation and feeling is reality!

Reason also got his sheath cleaned and teeth done. He had a little baby tooth that was extracted. It was waiting for me :). Now I have Reason's last baby tooth...lol. The teeth need a little work to get them back on track (no pun intended). Reason was good the whole time and I was so proud of him. I just love him to bits and am so excited. I thank Ink and my lucky stars and Felicia for sending me this horse.

Let the games begin! More later :).

Ride #4 & #5 - Reason is it Getting Together..

2010-11-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

I forgot to write about Reason's fourth and fifth ride. Both of which were successes!

Ride 4, was to be deemed the first time he was to wear the Dressage saddle. An official tack up and ride out. It just so happened that the conditions to take another, small but good step, in the right direction, was not ideal. It was a cold and dreary day. It had rained the day before and I believe earlier. I arrived late and was tacking up while the sun went down.

In my previous observations, the night is not the best time to ride. Sure, the arena is scary for some horses when it's night. There are shadows and riders are usually more uneasy due to the noises in the distance, sometimes the horses in the fields below that suddenly (to the eye that can't see them in the darkness) break into mad gallops across the field. It's not the most ideal time to ride if you or your horse are not used to it. Reason is less concerned about the obvious, even the horses when they gallop in the distance, but he expresses his opinion that the food waiting in the barn or in his paddock, is way more appealing. This makes me want to work him at night, so we can establish that riding at night is good and food can actually wait. Once I can jump-start his work ethic with things that are actually fun and challenging, I think we can achieve that. But for now, riding at night isn't the best thing.

I tested the buttons before mounting, along with Reason's new learning's of the very beginnings of the Spanish walk. (He's very smart and sensitive and this is coming fast. Passage is in his very near future hehe...). All was good and I thought that it was time to mount. Mounting didn't come easy, unfortunately. The work with the mounting block needs to be finished with more solo work. He stands quiet and willing now but only if I have a handler. I thought for a second about why he didn't want to stand still. Maybe he's trying to tell me something? Yes, he was. It was him saying, "food isn't here, lets leave, no riding." I repeatedly told him "No," and the only way I knew how to do this was treat him when he stood at the mounting block and move his feet any which way when he didn't want to be there. It worked, because in some 5 minutes, I was able to mount up on my still and willing horse.

Reason still protested here and there about wanting to go back to the barn. He was willing to walk us both back up there. But I made him keep moving along, practicing halting and leg cues as usual. Once as we were heading away from the arena exit, he so wanted to use, he hopped up and tossed his head in opposition. Although I had no clear indication, besides his obvious but kind way of telling me he wanted to go eat, I didn't feel unsafe or worried. I'm not listening to his ideas and in a last ditch effort, he tried to explain that he wanted to leave. That was the only time he offered that reaction. But the whole ride, I felt like he was in and out. I took it for what it was, a ride with repetition of the things learned the last ride, but no real discussion or real communication going on. It was good for what it was and that's good to me!

Ride #5 was better and another breakthrough was made.

I tacked up again, this time during the later afternoon. Everything was good. It was a little crisp outside and Reason appeared a little fresh-y, not bad, but enough so that I wondered slightly what kind of horse I would encounter. He saw the cows again in the pasture that can be seen from the arena and looked on with his head high in the sky. But, and this is what was good, much quicker than last time, Reason was OK with it and observed without appearing worried, more intrigued than anything. I don't think he's going to be the kind of horse that will be the type that spooks at the same boulder on the trail every time, despite going past it a million times.

I mounted on a horse that was happy to be there. My dad and his friend, who likes horses, were there as I just had gotten up. I walked Reason around, practicing the brakes, steering and even some lateral flexion. Then we stopped at the rail so Reason, who was so into socializing with the human spectators and desperately wanted to go see them, eagerly smelled and visited with his new found friend.

We got walking again, but Reason kept wanting to go back to my Dad's friend.

I was so proud... I've been toying with asking Reason to back up under saddle, which he knows well on the ground and is quickly understanding the verbal cue "back," and he did it!! Without hesitation and as if he'd done it a million times before, he stood staring and wanted to visit and graciously backed up for me! Ok, that was a successful ride for me!

As my dad and his friend left, about 5-10 minutes later, Reason looked on like a sad little kid watching his friend from the back seat of his parents car, heading into the distance, another play-date comes to an end. It was the cutest thing! Even as they were up above the arena, walking back to the truck, Reason kept looking on.

We walked a little more, Reason followed my mom on foot. And then, for the first real time, I asked for a very baby, very simple, leg yield. I got it! It wasn't much, but the right reaction was there. That was the end of the ride. I couldn't be more happier.'

Here's to #6!

The OTTB - The Horse I See, The Horse Some Don't - Part TWO & A HALF...

2010-11-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

I began writing this to a play list I created, a compiled of songs that reminded me of Ink. The horse that started it all. I type in rythm to songs such as, "Fields of Gold," by Eva Cassidy, "Stairway To Heaven," and "No Regrets," by Gary Allan. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't truly feel blessed for knowing Ink. There was nothing like sharing my life with him.  There was and never will be nothing like him. It's because of Ink, that I have nothing but countless amounts of energy towards trying to give people a glimpse into something and a special horse, once revered for it's heart and courage in the world of international sport, that has sadly been forgotten... The mis-informed, of the greatness which is the Thoroughbred. The uniqueness which is owning and retraining an Off Track Thoroughbred.

I went back and fourth, looked up and down, to make sense of the feeling I had. How could I write it all down, in a way that expressed, how much sense the opposite of what people saw, really made?

Lets go back to that clinic. If you haven't, read Part ONE to this story before you continue reading this.

I kept looking at the horse's eyes. The bay OTTB who was 2 months off the track. Everyone always says that a horses eyes at the window into the soul. I believe it. It was almost mesmerizing to a degree, there was nothing more important than watching him through his eyes.. I watched the horse countless times, travel by me, as I sat observing. I was less concerned about the rider or clinician, as I was with the horse. The horse would answer the questions I wanted to know. I was completely reminded of why Thoroughbreds are so special, of why OTTB's are so neat.  As the bay horse passed by me, time after time, his eyes almost spilled out.. the heart, the mind, the depth to his intense desire to please his rider, all these things are so amazing to have together in a horse.  Who cares about anything else? There is so much you can do with all of that.  The horse could have done anything and it wouldn't had mattered anymore. The answer to most peoples questions, was answered. You can trust this horse. He's willing to give you his all.  Wow.

So imagine as I sat there and suddenly the words, "ruined" were threw out.  In the moment, I was a little offended. I worked so hard, put my all into Ink. The tough, OTTB that many people didn't believe in. But I did. He never was "ruined" to me, no matter what he seemed to anyone else. What is "ruined" anyway? Is a horse really ruined? If so, it must be from human influence.  How could a "horse lover" so quickly write off a horse as "ruined?" Why are people so gosh darn quick to write off OTTB's in general as some "crazy" horses? I want to scream..

Sure, I was thinking this all in my head. I quickly had lots of questions. I asked myself what about this horse we were watching, the bay OTTB, would come across as "ruined?" People sometimes say that horses off the track are ruined, possibly because of the strenuous demands their bodies are put under during an early age or the mental stresses that accompany the track life for some horses. Some can handle it, others not so much. Some are destined to a life of aches and pains because of their career on the racetrack. But does that dictate them as ruined?

Given the situation, the horse and what was going on, I knew that the assessment given by fellow auditor, was simply because the horse exhibited things, some horse people don't understand. No fault of their own. But, you know how they say to never judge a book by it's cover....

Ride 3 - Don't Turn Away

2010-10-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, I had my third, walking ride on Reason.

My first lesson was that I should not turn away a ride, just because Reason gets excited or frisky due to surrounding events. I've been going off a "feel good" or "not so good," system of determining if Reason is up for a ride. Part of me doesn't want to get dumped but the other part is clearly aware how sensitive his young little mind is. I have to take my time and he has to want to be there, to make a ride positive and therefore worth it.

On Wednesday, it was looking 50/50 when I took Reason down, bridle and helmet in tow, to the indoor arena. The air was crisp, just enough so that you could either have a nice ride or a rodeo. One of those days. The horses next door were playing off and on, the horse I was sharing the arena with at the time, was frisky, the cows were grazing close by. Reason hopped about, trying to focus on the scary, weird, cows and at the same time listen to the horse that was having a ball just behind.

Reason was less worried about the cows, more relaxed this time around. But, due to everything that was going on, I wasn't sure if he'd want to be or be focused on what his rider was doing.

As the moments passed, I was reminded about something. If Ink was ever unsure, scared or nervous, I felt much more comfortable to navigate him, on his back. He liked having me up there and he liked when we'd move forward through problems or challenges, whatever they may have been. I'm not sure why this is. Maybe because when he raced, it was a chance to run into comfort, freedom, whereas at the barn, he couldn't get away? I don't know?

I had a light-bulb moment. Each ride I've had on Reason, despite only being two solo ones, I already knew he followed along those same lines. A rider on the back was good. This meant that he would be asked to do something and he liked being asked.

I got on, minutes later, to find myself on top of a horse who asked me to be there and who truly was ready for whatever may come, with me above. Relaxed and less worried about whatever was around us. What a good feeling that was and is! My horse wants to be there, as much as I do. That is surely a GREAT start.

I got a good, forward walk. Reason is already responding to basic seat aids. His steering is already better, brakes are getting better. He's moving away from leg aids so well. I'm so impressed and excited!

Walking is so much fun! I never thought I'd say that. But it is and by just focusing on walking, I think we can do a lot. Next ride, I'm adding the saddle to the mix.

Ride #2 - Another Look Forward

2010-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

More and more, I'm feeling the push to move forward. Part of me always has Reason's injury at the forefront of any decision I make, including getting on and walking, worrying. But part of me thinks, is pretty certain, that getting on and taking more steps in that direction (riding), is the place to be heading. Reason is mentally, getting to the point of asking for this. Hand-walking has it's place and it's been part of our relationship from the beginning and will be for many months to come, but riding, is slowly creeping up as the main source of movement..

Reason is getting increasingly bored with hand-walking. The footing around the property isn't all comfortable to me to use right now, after the amount of rain we got over the weekend, so that's off the list for the time being, of stuff we can do and hand-walking in the arena is almost a chore because Reason is not stimulated. I don't want to ride more than 2-3 times a week, at just a walk, 10 minutes at a time, but I feel that this is the right direction to be heading in.

I'm hoping for an ultrasound this week or next (cross your fingers) of Reason's [bowed] tendon. It's looking good and feeling tight. I want to shave his legs because this winter hair growth has me freaking out. I think the tendon looks bigger and then I go down to palpate it and have a sigh of relief. It's my mind playing tricks on me! It's been 7 almost 8 months since the injury. I think for the fairly mild bow it is and given that all we've done for that time is rest and hand-walking, I think it's time to move forward. Although I toyed with the idea of not getting on his back or anything for a full 12 months, I think that would be awfully boring for Reason, considering how active he is and the environment he lives in. Mentally he does not need that long for decompressing either.

Yesterday I had a second ride on Reason. Bareback is my method of choice. A fellow barn buddy asked me if I "break all my horses like that." Lol. Well, first I don't know if retraining an OTTB constitutes as "breaking" at this stage, I don't know. And second, just like with some average horses, the approach to legging up can vary depending on the horse and situation. Reason's very smart. And like most OTTB's he anticipates what I want, based on what he already knows. So if the bridle or saddle came out in the earlier stages (where I just hand-walked him with different pieces of tack) you could tell he was ready for what he thought we were going to do. I liked that attitude, but because of his "associations" with things, I had to try something that would almost make him wonder and wait instead of anticipate. Halter and bareback was the method of choice! Simply because he had no idea about this.. He listened to me and I trusted him enough to feel comfortable doing it this way. Now, I started introducing the bridle to our routine and although he anticipates, he still asks for direction because the overall feel of the situation (and environment) is different. Once I got him to the point where he was asking, it opened the door to retraining!

So yesterday I focused more on forwardness. It's all about forward to me. But at times, in what seemed like confusion, Reason would stop, almost asking to reiterate what I just did. I cluck first to cue forward, back it up with a light touch from my heel. At times this didn't work, not sure why. So I brought up the crop (not something I was sure was appropriate at the time) but backed up my leg with a touch from that if all else failed. The less aids the better. Leg, seat and hand should be the only three, but sometimes artificial aids are needed. I guess because I have done a lot of ground work and pressurizing with the whips presence, Reason understands that more than the leg right now. That's what I chalk it up too. I suppose I keep doing what I'm doing and eventually he'll understand the leg itself. Not bad at all for the second ride!

The steering isn't bad at all. He's actually pretty straight and responsive. I was amazed that when I would ask him to halt and practice the steering aids, he understood them really fast, which quickly carried over when we got moving. The brakes need work, only because the brakes are wired so weird (compared to English and western riding) right now. He's smart, so I know this will come in time. But at this point, I'm focusing more on the verbal aid of "halt" with a little hand to back it up so he can connect the two later on. I can tell he's trying to understand and I give Reason credit for that alone.

All in all he's a good ride, happy and comfortable with a rider on his back. But make no mistake, he can be a little opinionated about what he wants to do. Basically, he will evade my aids here and there to try to get me to let him walk somewhere else than where I want. As his leader, I can't let him dictate. But he can do what he wants, so long as he stays within my aids.

I got off yesterday, after about 10minutes feeling happy and good about everything. Reason was so good and he's so happy. Ah, that is enough for me! I love it.

Carl Hester - The Relaxed, Supple, Positive Horse

2010-10-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

It seems like a good time to talk about one of Great Britain's best in the world of Dressage. Why? In my series; The OTTB - The Horse I See, The Horse Some Don't, I wanted to bring up some of the mis-guided, mis-conceptions people have regarding the unique experience, which is owning and retraining an off track Thoroughbred. Carl Hester, is one of my most favorite in the world of Dressage. Anywhere you read, it is clear how down to earth and positive he is as a person and as a rider and trainer of Dressage. This is personally, very respectful, to me. But not only that, I feel that his approach to training, could very well be a place in which off track Thoroughbreds could flourish. On the second part of my OTTB series, I'll chime you in on why I think Mr. Hester's approach works and why. But for now, lets take a look at this exceptional horsemen!

If you've been reading here for a while or are on my Facebook friends list, you will probably note that on the occasion that I mention a Dressage trainer or rider, it's usually none other than Carl Hester. But, why do I like him so much? What is all the fuss about?

I watched Carl Hester demonstrate his training style and way of bringing along the young horse through this exact video (shown below, at Your Horse Live, 2007) on the TV three years ago. At that time, I was only into owning Ink for a year and this man really inspired me. One of the other things I quite liked was his start in the world of horses. His website reads;

The first equine to be subjected to Carl’s skill was a donkey that Carl would ride to the village shop. Always eager on the way there for the chance of a carrot he stubbornly refused to leave for the journey home. Carl would get on board, then be handed the shopping and with a flap of the carrier bags that frightened the donkey they set off home at a spanking gallop. - Carl Hester Website

One of my other "likes" towards Mr. Hester was with this interview (fast forward to 4:30ish);

Why do I like Carl Hester? Lets observe...

Check out this video.

"What we're trying to achieve is an athletic horse. What we're trying to train is something to be an athlete and to be supple."

"If you find Dressage boring how do you think they find it?"

"I want him [Bling, 5y/o stallion] to be playful about it [moving forward]. I don't want him to feel like Dressage is so hard work and a real grind for him. She [Charlotte his assistant] really has to let him go forward and not pull on the reins at all, so he feels totally free."

"We've shown you his [Bling] stretching. 10, 15 minutes of stretching, now we do work up on the bit."

"We do walk, trot transitions to test his [Bling] sensitivity and just make sure he's on her leg."

"It must be light. I mean she [Charlotte] has to have like feather light legs with him. Because if you think about it, it's not squeezing. If you squeeze, you will literally end up with no energy left. You don't squeeze the horse, you touch the horse."

"You have to remember that the trot, because if you look at this horse you think, "what a beautiful trot he's got," but remember the most important pace is the walk and the canter because they're the most difficult paces to change."

"We changed his [trot] by, A) getting him in front of the leg, so he really started to go and B) just make some shorter steps by just teaching him that when he comes back to her, he has to collect a little bit."

"Her [Charlotte] outside leg comes off, comes on, canter. That's it, quite simple."

In a 2006 Horse & Pony Magazine (NZ) interview, Carl Hester has a few things to say that I particularly liked..

Carl warns that it’s easy to be tricked when looking at young horses – if they’re brought out of the stable and the buyer is flashing them about, waving whips or plastic bags, they’re bound to look much more amazing than they actually are. Instead, it’s important to assess the young horse’s nat-ural movement, and to see how they move when they get tired.
The best dressage horses tend to be hotter types: “If you’re thinking about a horse to take to Grand Prix, then you want a horse with a big engine – not one that’s a very good mover with no heart,” explains Carl. He always tries to assess the sensitivity, simply by touching the horses with the whip and observing their reaction. Putting the hind legs underneath more or bucking and running away are all signs to be rewarded, whereas the horse who barely flicks an ear when slapped with the whip is not one Carl would choose for himself.

Each time I watch Carl work or watch the horses he's trained, I am always thinking a couple key things; relaxed, soft, physically attentive, mentally attentive, positive and expressive. There is always a clear, welcome, joining between the horses' mental state and physical response. The horses are expressive and appear to be happily taking direction from the rider. There is no resistance and a clear mutual respect happening. I love this combination.

In learning about Reason, it became clear to me that there was one big factor that jumped out at me. He's a sensitive horse, but I am always thinking, freedom, expression, space when I approach his training. I'm always looking for his ideas and learning or re-learning ways to approach him without compromising his sensitivity. Reason is clearly a sensitive horse and I want it to stay that way. If he wants to buck, play, hop about, I want him too. I'm learning how to encourage this behavior, at the same time directing times of stress or angst on his part with moments where he can feel free in his reaction and find leadership in me to have "fun" with the idea of scary things and situations. I like this learning process.

It's the idea of expression that brings me to my next big thought about off track Thoroughbreds and a misconception people have..

Stay tuned.

The OTTB - The Horse I See, The Horse Some Don't. - Part ONE

2010-10-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

This will be part of a 3 part series I'll be writing, about OTTB's, the negative stigma that seems to surround them and some other observations..

As I sat shivering and cold yesterday, soaked from meandering throughout the property at the barn - First, walking Errika and her fellow cougar mare friend, KC, down to shelter and then helping another boarder with her horse - I was determined to stay and watch the future events unfold. In front of me, a 7 year old Thoroughbred, 2 months off the track was being brought into the arena by it's rider, ready and eager to participate in the clinic.

I was curious how the trainer/clinician, who I had never seen work, would approach this situation. First and foremost, my feeling was that this clinician was pretty brave and was open to jump into whatever horse or rider came his/her way. I liked that.  I'm not going to go into talking much at all about what the clinician did. Tid bits here and there that stuck with me that either I'm re-thinking and re-playing or things that I felt good about overall. But, I was more concerned with what the horse was doing and what it wasn't doing. I wanted to learn from the horse. It's reaction from the things that the rider and clinician were doing and what worked and what didn't and why. I have never had a chance to watch a fairly, fresh off track Thoroughbred be worked and trained from a spectators perspective.

When the horse first came in, I studied the conformation, I studied it's apparent disposition and most importantly it's eye. I had an up-close, personal, yet in-personal opportunity to watch a horse who I was not connected with, move, respond and work.

Instantly, I liked the horse. I didn't like it's way of going or essentially how it was put together. However, I was aware that, in time, much of what I didn't like, would change. Not the conformation, obviously, but it's way of going to a degree. So I discarded that thought. But I did like the horse. At seven, this horse had been further around the block than most OTTB's. I wasn't expecting the horse to jump through the rafters, [unlike] to the surprise that some exhibited (and were probably thinking) when the the horse traveled willingly around.

The rider takes the horse to the mounting block and it's apparent that he [the horse] hasn't been introduced to the idea of standing at this mounting contraption. It's hard to teach an OTTB that sometimes, because they are so used to doing things quick and on the move, including mounting. But the horse did a couple things that made me instantly appreciate and respect him.  Standing, was beside the point. The horse was kind but prepared. He was already anticipating the riders presence on his back, ready for the next step. He shouted, "I want to please!" to me. I don't know if anyone else saw that or not, but I did.

Let me talk about the owner/rider for a moment.. I talked to this lady a couple times. In her fifties, a mother and fairly new to owning horses again (I say again because she said she had one when she was growing up, but is just getting back into owning and riding for the second time in a while) I was impressed with her go-get-it attitude. She was open-minded, sweet and so happy to be doing what she was doing with her horses. I liked that.  She rode well, despite not knowing much. I respected that. Nothing else mattered or matters to me. But others felt different. It was a little disappointing that we as horse people can so quickly cast judgement on others. In a way I felt bad for the lady. She was so eager and seemed almost innocent to the horse world, just beyond her smiling face, that can be unforgiving and judgemental. Nothing is perfect. No rider, no horse.  But to me, someone who takes a positive approach, wanting to learn for all the better of herself and the horse, is definitely respectable. The rest comes in time.

What more do horse people want? What more do you need to, be happy for someone who is traveling a similar path that we ALL once did, at some point?

I am very much turned off right now, with the disappointment and frustrations I feel for the horse world that hovers over, jealousy, strife and narrow-mindedness.

The Cows, Oh the Cows..

2010-10-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Cows, the three letter, C-Word that almost every Thoroughbred fears.

When Ink first encountered a cow, it was part, "oh my gosh, it's a fire breathing, horse eating, monster!" Combined with, complete confusion and fascination. He didn't want to get close, but he stood there like a dog, head cocked to the side, wondering.

I didn't know that this cow fear, was pretty common with Thoroughbreds. But after Ink's first encounter, I told the barn owner at the time and she told me that, "It's a TB thing." I hate to sound stereotypical, but it's looking that way to me too. However, I know of other breeds who have an innate fear of cows as well.

Knowing this and knowing that the barn I call home now, has cows in close eye proximity to the indoor arena, it would be only a matter of time before Reason had his first, true, encounter. We've been lucky to have been able to avoid the cows up until now. Whenever we'd be in the indoor or walking down the path that parallels the cow pasture, we've always seemed to miss them.

Yesterday was the first day. Hello cows.

Reason was being a good boy yesterday, calm and inquisitive. I decided that, if all went as planned, I'd mount up again. My plans were de-railed, as I was hand-walking Reason down in the indoor, feeling him out before moving forward with mounting etc. The cows began herding together, over the hill and down to the corner of their pasture which is diagonal from the corner of the indoor arena. Reason saw these crazy, weird, creatures coming and started to fear the worst. His head went up, his eyes got big, his wheels began turning and his chest began moving as his heart started pounding. I call this, the cow reaction.

I let Reason look. Every part of him was on those cows. Ready for fight or flight. But a part of him remained curious, interested and confused. Just like Ink was. A couple times he swung around me, tail and head up. But for the most part, he stood still. There seemed to be a direct tunnel leading from him straight to the cows and he could see or pay no attention to anything outside of the tunnel. A couple of times I asked him to back up so his attention would come back to me. He respected my presence and willingly did what I asked, but he still remained focused of those things across the way.

A little while later, Reason seemed to calm down, but for safety measures and still confusion, his mind remained on the cows. It was a good time to open another window of trust. Each new situation or object, can be an excellent way to do more training and more trusting.

I remember a horsemen saying this about when introducing a horse to something new and "scary."

He said (and I wish I could remember who exactly it was. The fact is, I remember things they say and not always their faces..) that you should not make a horse face the thing that is making them shy away. You should move with the horse, as the leader, but also as the horse would in a herd. So instead of walking a horse directly up to the scary thing and forcing it to look or stay close (doesn't sound like a good idea anyway..) you should leg yield them away, as you walk by. Following the horses instinct to normally move, sideways from whatever they are shying from. Therefore you do a couple things;

1) As leader, you ask the horse before it reacts. Being able to remain light and focused.
2) By asking the horse to leg yield away, you are simulating what would happen as the alpha mare would shift her herd, guiding them safely away from a potential predator.
3) In a training environment we are building the horses trust in our guidance and confidence in our ability as a leader.

I slowly began to ask Reason to back away from the sight of the cows. I still wanted him to be able to look at them, because not being able to see them poses more of a threat, but I wanted to get him at a more safer, comfortable distance. This seemed to help.

Once we stood for a little bit longer, I tried do something different. I had him walk around that end of the arena (opposite of the cows) around and around. Moving away and coming back. Each time you could tell Reason was getting less concerned about what the cows were doing, or not doing. Eventually, he started acting more curious and silly, than worried. Tossing his head, jumping about but never trying to stray from me. At the point where I thought that Reason was good with the cows, I decided that this was a good place to stop. But Reason, curious as he is, wanted to go see them. Egging me towards that direction. I admire his enthusiasm, but perhaps this time, mama knows best. This was a good place to stop, next time we'll get closer.

First Ride on Reason!

2010-10-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had my first, solo, ride on Reason!

It didn't start off great. Not the ride, the before part.

First of all, as soon as I took Reason out of his paddock I instantly knew that today was a good day to get up there. It was instantaneous. I put his polo's on, grabbed the bridle and my helmet and off we went. I started off with walking him in hand to get a better feel of the situation. There were people riding in the arena and I wanted to make sure Reason was still cool with the idea. As I tried to walk this big dark horse around, he would do his stopping thing and would refuse to move. I knew exactly what he was doing. Being stubborn. There are little bits of grass around the arena and he knows this, so when we'd get close to that part, he'd stop. Pushing him forward wasn't working, he was pretty insistent. Right then and there, when I felt my frustrations and embarrassment that I couldn't get him moving consistently, I knew it was time to get on.

In one of my earlier posts about Reason's stopping, I talked about...

In this case, I attribute it to just being lazy or stubborn. Un-interested. This is my fault no less. It's obvious by this stopping reaction that moving forward is just unappealing and therefore baby Reason is telling me, "let's do something else."

He was most certainly telling me, besides grass is more interesting, that either I get on and do something new, or else we aren't going to go much further, literally and figuratively speaking. I took that idea and ran with it. I convinced Reason to follow me to the cross-ties where I bridled him. Thoughts were running through my head. For example, Matt, my lovely assistant, was not there. If you recall, Reason was getting a little angsty at the mounting block, which required Matt and I to work together to help him associate with a positive thing and therefore remain relaxed and not move. So, I began thinking (all in the 10 seconds it took to walk to the mounting block), what if he doesn't stay still again? The reason why it brought up some concern was, with just me there, how would re-iterating the idea of still and relaxed at the block, work if I had to go back to that? It wouldn't be the best idea to work on it successfully alone.

But something said (possibly Reason hehe) that this is what I need to be doing. It's as if someone put me on a path and pushed me, guiding me to this decision without a second thought. As I kept thinking of logical scenarios and how to deal with them, this thing kept pushing; everything will work out fine, just do it. Now.

By the time I knew it, I was at that mounting block. I grabbed the reins in my hands. Reason stood oh so still and relaxed. I kindly, slide up there. Back to my comfort spot!! All alone, the halter over the bridle, I had the lead rope attached and looped like reins to I could use that for halting if necessary (since he knows that well). There I was. Up, fully piloting with the dark horse. I was happy, but excited was not the word. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a great step, but I was more comfortable and truly pleased that we just opened that door. A big, peaceful, bright door. It may not seem like that big of feat. But, it's such a positive step in building trust and understanding, that that alone, makes it important. I guess the idea was exciting to me. But being up there, felt natural and where I was supposed to be all along, so it wasn't exciting in the way you'd think.

I was proud of Reason. We watched as horses traveled around us. Not once was he anything but good. He wanted to socialize with the other horses in the arena and a couple times decided he'd walk us, but that was all he did. I used my voice commands to ask him to halt and walk, with good success. I am just proud of how smart he is and all the heart he wants to give.

I'm just going to continue on and let things come as they may. With no real goal or schedule for "riding" right now. Just sitting and some walking here and there, whenever it feels right. Slowly bringing him around mind and body. It feels right.

Welcome to the new Equus Ink!

2010-10-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I'd like to introduce you to the new Equus Ink blog.

I decided to swtich blogging platforms (blogger, wordpress, etc) because I was becoming unhappy with my last platform. Although advanced, it was still had limited capabilities when it came to things I wanted. It also came at a price and it's nice to know I can save that monthly fee I was paying for something more important. The cost simply, was not worth it for me.

The other reason I decided to switch was because of something I would rarely conform too.. I originally began blogging in 2006 at Wordpress. I switched from WP to my last platform because I wanted more control and noticed a shift in reader base. My blog became distant, over a period of time, for some reason. Most blogs are presumably hosted by Blogger. It has some great networking-esque tools and capabilities that WP doesn't completely offer and essentially my last platform did not have at all. So this, is what I found to being the pitfall of my blog. I was losing connectivity with my readers.

Although I am not technologically challenged, I found Blogger to be more user-friendly than Wordpress. It is simple and pretty straight forward. Some may disagree. I spent some time getting to know WP and Blogger alike. It simply came down to comfort and here I am, now blogging with Blogger!

I am still tweaking with the design, but wanted to get everything up and running to some degree, so I didn't loose blogging time during the switch!

Now, previously two separate blogs (inkeq blog and reason's blog) are together and you'll no longer have to worry about reading or missing out on one or the other.

I've added some new widgets and fun things which will hopefully make you all feel more at home here. :)

So, what do you think?

Half a Year

2010-10-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

Half a year already. My sweet angel there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss you. There isn't a moment that doesn't pass where I ponder where your galloping today, the heavens that were so lucky to have you. There isn't a thought, a dream that doesn't involve you or my undying heart that wants to do everythi...ng to give back to you. I love you my handsome boy. I will never forget.

Heart in my Hands.

2010-10-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

I wrote out this great post yesterday, went to hit publish and in an instant, it oddly, but sadly, disappeared. I guess this is my second try, so we'll see how this one turns out!

I have been waiting until Reason was going well with mounting, sitting and some walking before I introduced the bridle into the mix but after a comment from A*, who said I should go ahead and do it after observing how good Reason was being the other day, I thought it probably would be a good time. The couple times I did put on the bridle, I still felt Reason needed time to adjust to a new association with it. He would chomp on it and looked almost half out of it. (You know how boxers and cage fighters pump themselves up before a match? It seemed like that.) Even putting it on, walking for ten minutes and taking it off would be a good idea. I felt that he had a, in all good respects, confident idea that when the bridle came on, work was only just around the corner. Which is obviously true, but it's the work itself that is changed and therefore, his idea of the bridle would need to change. The bridle almost posed as a road block. The bridle would stimulate a mental idea that was strong and trained into him. Thoroughbreds have such work ethics and desires to please. This "road block" was a positive one nevertheless, but it had to be moved to allow us to move forward. So, I guess by spending that time, bridling him, walking and taking it off, allowed for a shift in idea to happen.

Reason is a sensitive horse. Much more sensitive than Ink was. Reason is not only physically sensitive but also mentally. Ink was more laid back but was openly naughty. There was no second guessing with Ink, he was an honest horse almost all of the time. Reason has to be handled with care, in a couple respects, although he has a great disposition. Reason is the kind of horse that you can show something once and he gets it from there on out. But it's how you show him, that matters and will ultimately define his idea of whatever new thing he's being presented too. You can't overwhelm him. Although he learns extremely fast, introductions should be taken slowly.

Yesterday evening, I went to find the dark bay horse calmly waiting for dinner in his paddock. He was relaxed, probably a little worn out from the heat of the day, but he still came over to me with an optimistic look on his face. This set the tone for the rest of the night. I was so happy to see Reason. Each day is exciting and fun seeing him and there isn't a moment that doesn't pass where I'm feeling positive about his future.

Reason and I headed down to the indoor arena, where the sun was quickly setting. The bridle was on but he remained pretty relaxed and willing to hear what I had to say about what exactly we were going to do. At the same time though, I was listening to Reason. He seemed happy and open to whatever may come. After walking him in hand for a little while, I had my lovely assistant Matt, come to the mounting block. In my efforts to make mounting easy and comfortable for everyone, I waited for any signs of angst or excitability. The last thing I want is a horse who finds mounting, or the mounting block annoying. Reason swished his tail, but I asked him to stand still. Once he did that, I walked him away from the mounting block as a reward. I did this two more times, as each time Matt would lean over the dark horses back and then get off. The final time Reason stood still with a relaxed focus on what we were doing. Exactly how I wanted him to be. This pointed towards positive for whatever came next in whatever we asked him. With Matt mounted and Reason patiently waiting, I asked them to move forward and off we went on a nice walk.

Around the arena we went. At the end of the lead, I had a horse who was listening and happy. At times he would want to move out more than just the lowly walk we had going, but he tried nothing more. Next, it was my turn to mount up. Back to the mounting block, where I swung my leg over and off we went.

The was the first time I had Reason's mouth in my hands. There is something to be said, for the first time to are able to connect with a horse physically. To feel the connection from mouth to fingertips. A shutter of excitement ran up those reins. For an instant I could see us traveling this very arena, months later and seeing Reason coming along. As I sat there, I felt comfort. Reason's back soft yet supportive. I draped my legs on each side and let me body relax. He wondered what I was going to ask. I could sense a difference in his way of going than with me on him, instead of Matt. It was in this very moment, I could tell that Reason and I had a pretty good trust in each other, a good relationship and quite possibly a bright future ahead.

The sensation in my hands was perfect. I felt at home atop this race horse. It makes me think back to Ink. Everything seems to point back to him. I know he brought Reason and I together and I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. On the back of a race horse, who deserved a go at a second career that I think he's going to be quite successful at. I said the same thing last night. Matt and I agreed, this is going to be...great. I asked him to lead Reason to the arena fence, so I could knock on wood.

Reason displayed his heart and work ethic last night. Trying to do what he thought I'd ask. Leaning on my hands from time to time, he asked, "this is what we're doing right?" When I replied "No," I instinctually did something I don't even know is right, but it worked and felt right. I raised my hands slightly up and Reason seemed to understand that. He released the drag on my hands and I released too. From then on, he'd ask wondering as if to say, "are you sure we aren't doing this..." I liked how when I replied "No," the dark horse got more and more confident in my piloting.

I toyed with lateral flexion. Wiggling the reins between my fingers to ask for him to bring his head around on one side. Not completely around, but bring it in that direction. Our conversation about my piloting skills paid off as Reason replied with, "This, right?" And boom, I had a horse already giving to pressure, inside and out. Wow. It sounds silly, but it's quite possible that the heart of a Thoroughbred rests in the hands of the rider.

With that, I ended my ride. It was a perfect time to end it. I had the best feeling dismounting ever. Part of me said, "this is too awesome to stop," but my more sensible side said "this is the right time." And it was. Perfect.

Clearly, Visionary.

2010-10-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took Reason out for a walk. First around the property again, which was really nice. Then into the outdoor arena (where we have spent little time).

The outdoor arena houses jumps. There happened to be ground poles set out, so I walked Reason over those. Yay, fun! Hehe. Then there was a little cross-rail, so I walked over it and Reason followed. He looked at it once, wondering what exactly it was, appeared to shrug his shoulders and went over. Each time we returned to that side of the arena, he wanted to go over to the jump.

The good, good, part came when Matt arrived and I enlisted him for assistance services. I walked Reason to the mounting block, where he proceeded to get antsy (wow, he already associates the mounting block...) and then of course, this invited our first "training" sessions of the day.

The mounting block, seems to become some sort of pressure object. I walked Reason to it, let him stand and then I'd either back out or walk out and repeat. I wasn't worried about how long his quietly stood there, I just rewarded him when I honestly felt he was honestly being quiet.

Next, I had Matt step up the mounting block, get down and Reason and I'd walk away or back out and then repeat. Each time he was getting quieter and quieter. So, finally, after he was consistently being quiet, Matt mounted up and then dismounted and we walked away. The next time, he actually mounted and stayed there and then we proceeded to walk around. What a good boy Reason was!!!

While Matt was up there, we worked more on our halting and walking cues. Starting with the voice and backing it up with a tiny bit of leg pressure if needed. I was impressed with how awesome Reason was. The only time he actually required a leg aid, was when he was looking off to the other horses.

What a good boy Reason was.

On Sunday, Matt, my mom and I drove down to Woodside at the crack of dawn (lol, not that early) to watch the 3day event. It was cross country day! Fellow barn mates were there competing and another there spectating too. It was fun!!! The last time I went and watched an event was years ago. It was as much fun as I remembered.

Everyone was nice. Everyone supported everyone, as we stood at the last fence. Each rider and horse got a good cheer! The horses were also pretty special. I can't remember what division it was that I was watching, possibly training, but most the horses were on their game. Not only that but you could tell that their heart was in it. They were getting just as much adrenaline rush as their rider. Eventing is unique and challenging in it's own right. The environment was a mixture of relaxed, focused, exciting, fun and friendly.

I enjoyed photographing the warm-up ring especially. To see the horses different ways of going and personalities before they got on course. You could tell that the horses knew what was coming. They were on their riders' aids and ready to prep for the run out on cross country.

It was exhilarating to see all this unfold and it really makes me want to strive to achieve that kind of horse-rider relationship with Reason. Then maybe one day, we can be out there too!

Getting in Deeper.

2010-10-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Recapping through the past week, has me at this new point in getting to know Reason.

The thoughts run through my head constantly. How comfortable, relaxed and always positive it is whenever I am around Reason. There are no frustrations, there are no regrets. A bowed tendon is far from a setback. His bowed tendon, as Reason's second mom (F*, who brought Reason into my life ;)) would tell me, it will give me a chance to really get to know him and spend the time with him that will only make our relationship that much better when we do get to riding. I have/had no doubts in F*'s wise words of wisdom. But I am seeing them come near full circle.

Last night, as the sun was set and the darkness filled all around us, Reason and I "discussed" his problem of not wanting to move forward. (Am I worried about this crossing over to under saddle? No. Not just because all he knows "under saddle" is to run, but because he wants to go forward. Just not always in the way I want him to.) Part of my learning experience is to let Reason be my teacher. There is always a broad means of communication tools to teach a horse, but each horse requires sometimes, detailed differences in which "tools" and how these tools are used. That's when the horse comes into play. For the most part I'm listening, doing, listening, doing, evaluating, observing, etc.

Last night I played on Reason's knowledge of how to dis-engage his haunches. (Requiring little pressure, most of the time just pointing at, or in the direction of his haunches gets the job done). As I used pressure to push his haunches, I cued him forward using the lead rope, guiding him straight in the direction I desired his feet to go. If he stepped one hoof forward I stopped everything and rewarded him. And with that, he was getting the point of moving forward!! I was able to point the crop to the back of his haunch, and he'd step forward.

The Triangle Idea... I was walking in a triangle once he began to move consistently forward later on. I held the rope, which made up one large side of the triangle and positioned the crop in the direction of the haunches, making up the other half of the triangle. I of course was the point and Reason was the base. Secure, connected, direct, lines of communication!

This Reminds Me.. It made me think, the idea of the triangle. Years ago I remember hearing about the "pyramid of pressure" if you will. I can't remember who I heard this from. Basically you always want to start with the lightest pressure possible. We want our horses to always be soft and sensitive to our requests. Slowly, we increase the pressure (from base of the triangle, the broadest point, lightest pressure, to the top, the most directed point, the highest degree of pressure) until we get the desired response.

My thought is that you should always seek the lightest, softest means of communicating. Loud, abrasive cues will only dull the horse and therefore make them almost unresponsive to cues in the end and distant to the rider/handler.

Tonight I spent a quiet, relaxed while brushing Reason and a feeling of security swept over me. A feeling of goodness. I am becoming so trusting of Reason (and he seems very trusting of me as well) that I think the possibilities will be endless. I am excited to keep going. These little (or big) rays of light are truly special and what it's all about!!

No Go, Oh No.

2010-10-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Reason's new problem is moving forward. On the ground when I'm leading him, sometimes he'll stop, plant his feet and refuse to move forward. After observing him, I can say that it sometimes could be attributed to his sensitive feet on the hard, sometimes rocky ground that we must travel to make it to the arena. However other times, he moves forward through this terrain without hesitation.

In the arena though, when I'm handwalking him, this continues. In this case, I attribute it to just being lazy or stubborn. Un-interested. This is my fault no less. It's obvious by this stopping reaction that moving forward is just unappealing and therefore baby Reason is telling me, "let's do something else."

For example, I took him on his first walk around half the property. Following distantly behind another rider who was using the perimeter path to warm-up their horse. I thought this would make Reason more enthusiastic, if he had another horse to follow. It did. On we went. He was excited about this new walk. He was on the alert, excited for what was next, but at no point did he try to rush forward or break from me. He was on my aids. I allowed him to do what he wanted, so long as he was still with me. A little pacing here and there when a pasture horse came trotting up to the fence, but he still did not ignore my presence. I was so pleased!

With Reason's excitement and positive energy towards exploring this new space of the property, I had my answer. However, I can't let him get away with deciding when we do and don't do something in the moment.

First there is immediate reaction, then there is long term. Basically, in the moment, he says "no." I say "OK, but we must continue." He says, "OK." We move on and then I re-evaluate to change to approach or program based on his reaction. He is my teacher too! - This is my goal.

But, I'm stuck. How do you teach a horse to move forward on the ground, that doesn't and doesn't know the driving aids?

I've looked into how you correct this and it is to simulate the leg aid with a crop. Stand facing their shoulder with a crop in your right hand, lead rope in left. Tap, tap at the side. Horse walks forward, release and then proceed to back up said horse and do it again.

I can't lunge Reason. I can't put him in a round pen to start teaching him to move away from the pressure. So how do I go about this?

This is the newest question in retraining baby R.

Otherwise, I'm very happy with Reason's progress. I love his playfulness, spirit. It's all contained with his level head. What a riding horse I think he'll be...

The Story of Ink - Part 2, Hello You.

2010-09-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

The Story of Ink - Part 1, Putting a Face to the Image.

I had put a face to the image of "Ink Spot." I finally met him. The journey very much began that very day, possibly even before. I was excited to get to know my new horse and was ready for this challenge. I stepped onto the new, yet un-paved path..

When Ink came home, I put him into a stall with an attached paddock. Similar to the size he was in at Joe's. I wanted the big bay to be outside, but I wanted to get to know him and make sure he wasn't going to hurt himself before I turned him out with my other horse in the pasture. The pasture was the goal. I wanted him to experience life out there. To relax and unwind in the presence of a horse I knew would help him do that. Even though Ink appeared tough and strong, I could sense he was a velvet fist in a iron glove.

My first interactions with Ink, happened in between visiting my other horse and riding her. I would rest my head on the pipe panels at his paddock and just stare at him. He was quiet and very observant. He wasn't in to me very much in the beginning. I was just another person in his way. But I knew, Ink needed time and space. So I gave it to him. Slowly I began to go into the paddock to give him a treat or a pat. He was not into physical contact. He was not scared, he just was a macho horse with a huge wall up. As a person, it was disheartening because I cared for him so much and he didn't care for me.

One of Ink's issues was during feeding time. He would pin his ears as you'd open the manger and put the hay in. Once the hay was in, he would become very aggressive and agitated, if you didn't quickly walk away. I had many people telling me different ways to deal with this, which would have been logical with a different horse, but Ink needed understanding. So, I would simply ignore his reaction for now.

I dreamed of grooming the big bay into a gleaming shine. But that was easier said than done. For a reason I will never surely know, Ink did not like the grooming process. It could be perhaps, that at the track grooming is minimal. It could be he just simply didn't like it. Thoroughbreds are known to be thinned skinned. I wasn't going to bother too much with grooming in the beginning, because it was unnecessary while he was still settling in and getting used to his new life.

A month or so later, Ink was turned out with my other horse. A sweet, older mare who I knew would show him the ropes. She was tough and was known to demand attention. Once they met, Ink was able to go out into the pasture with her, where, sure enough she put him right in his place. I had already had a chance to develop a basic trust with Ink before I simply turned him out, which allowed me to determine if he would be good with another horse. My instinct was, that the horse I saw inside, would be one that Errika (my mare) would bring outside. That's just what she did!

Ink's social skills involved abruptly nosing up to other horses. "Like me, me, me!" He seemed to say. He appeared to have little to no understanding of personal space. But it was good to see him so kind, loving and willing to be with his fellow animal. Although I knew inside he was just a big softy, I had little actual external proof to base my facts on.

Ink wasn't the easiest horse to be around. I quickly learned about his unique quirks. He did have a more "fight" reaction than flight. He preferred to show you how it was, rather than the other way around. But as quickly as I learned about his quirks; kicking, nipping and wind-sucking, I also learned about what made him react the way he did and then why. Learning the reason behind the reaction was my one of my first challenges with him. I knew that this was my first step into getting to know the big bay and eventually how I would communicate to him that certain reactions were not acceptable.

I spent the first months getting to know Ink by taking him on walks. I wasn't comfortable with him, because of the reactions he offered, to jump into anything. But, even if I was comfortable, I knew the best course of action was to move slowly. The hand-walks, started in short durations, gradually increasing time and distance traveled. My next goal was to be able to walk Ink from the pasture to the barn. Within the walks, that's where we really learned about each other. I became more understanding of who he was and more trusting of him. Eventually the walk to the barn was not so exciting or scary.

Our next adventure began in the roundpen, where I was able to get to know Ink in a different way. The roundpen created more of a meeting ground for us. A mutal place where I would have the direct line to dial his buttons and vice versa. To start the long, tedious process to disassemble the very strong wall he had placed up.

This was going to be special. It was going to be the first chance at a look inside the mind of a very wise horse.

The Story of Ink - Part 1, Putting a Face to the Image.

2010-09-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

I'm writing out the story of Ink and Reason for my friend Ashley, who is doing research on the horse racing industry. I thought I'd share what I'm writing for her, with you all too. Enjoy! :)

I was 17 years old when I first decided to adopt my first OTTB (off track Thoroughbred). I spent about a year researching information on them and what exactly was involved with giving them a home after their track days were over. There are so many things to think about when getting an OTTB. They are athletes, no short of the word. Very fit animals, used to living in a predictable daily routine. They know their job and most of them live for it. They need time to let their minds and bodies relax and heal from the high demands put on their young bodies.

I went about adopting my first OTTB in a way which was probably questionable to some (I jumped in with both feet. Although nothing would have stopped me from adopting Ink, a pre-purchase exam would have been a good idea. I don't regret anything and a vet exam wouldn't have changed my mind. But, it's always a good idea!). I saw, who was going to be my first OTTB, through a photograph on the internet. I was immediately drawn to him for whatever reason. He sure was handsome. I was never so sure of anything in my life. I quickly called my mom over to the computer, where I pointed to the screen and said, "That's him. That's the one!" She agreed, he was quite the good looking horse.

A couple days later, both my mom and I were on the way to Woodland, CA. The home of TBFriends. A place for OTTB's to go and find new homes. I remember who hot it was. Insanely hot. The thought of getting out of the air conditioned car was ludicrous. But I could care less about the heat. I was so excited to meet the horse in the photo. As we pulled in the drive-way at TBFriends, we were greeted by Joe Shelton and his wife, Kathy. Both were kind and welcoming. Little did anyone know, but my calm appearing self, was jumping up and down inside. Internally, I felt like a little kid!

I remember Joe pulling out various horses for me to look at. I enjoyed looking at a couple mares he showed me, which were sweet and you could tell would sit with you all day, pouring their hearts out. But, even though I liked the mares, I kept peeking around as Joe put one away after another for the big bay gelding I was absolutely dying to see. I heard some noise next to one of the barns in the back, where a tall bay gelding stood. I couldn't see him that well, but something told it was him. I told Joe I wanted to see the gelding, "Ink Spot," who was on his website. When Joe came back, he came leading a big bay horse. The moment came like slow motion. The horse had serious presence. It was in that moment, right there, that I knew. What I was feeling and what I was thinking was walking towards me.

"Ink Spot" walked towards me like he was going out to run the Kentucky Derby. His head held high, very serious, intense. You could tell what he lived for. You could tell he was a bit conceited. I don't know if Ink noticed me, but I sure noticed him. Joe handed over the lead rope and for the first time, I was leading my first OTTB. I remember walking him thinking inside, "Oh my god. He's amazing."

There was no doubt, I adopted him that day. The next week, he was home.

This was my first challenge. It was time to get to know this horse.

Having a Sit.

2010-09-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday, I planned to spend some time with Reason, doing what at the time, I wasn't sure. He was notably quiet and relaxed. Taking on a curious yet lazy persona throughout the time we were hanging out in the arena. Just the exposure alone, to other horses, horses working, the overall commotion is good for him. A tractor scraping and clunking about, in close proximity is nothing scary to Reason and to most ex-racehorses it seems, but a horse being worked in the same space, is a cause for alert. Not "scared" alert obviously, but interest, excitement and usually reaction of some sort type of alert (lets go racin'!).

Ink and I worked solo, as in his early days we were at a privately owned, backyard barn, where there was no commotion (no other horses being worked in the same space at the same time for the most part). Not only that, but I had months of time to do stuff such as round-penning etc, to work through this new found enviornment. When it came to riding amongst other horses and the concern of him reverting to race mode, it was just that, nothing to be concerned about.

My thoughts are that, if I can develop aids, vocal commands, as well as a herd fixture with Reason, I can take him through exposure in a way where he can react and observe as he wishes but will respond and come to me for answers as to what I want from him in that moment. "You can look, but you can't touch," idea. That way, when we get under saddle, we have established lines of communication to build upon, that will further-more develop a safe, comfortable, enjoyable space for us to exist in.

I have this sense of "space, openess" with Reason. I know he's young, but I feel as though I need to allow him to feel like he can be himself. And this doesn't go for just reactions etc. I also firmly believe that this also will be the key to developing him physically. First off, I don't think, in any way, you should restrict a horse off the track. They need time to decompress their minds AND bodies. Light, relaxed and kind (yet direct) should be the keys to approaching them. And that should also be how you approach them when you begin riding. Light hands, light seat. Too much stimuli too soon can create a hollow, resistant horse I believe and one that is not comfortable or relaxed in space or mind.

I am far from perfect, but I want to learn, and a majority of the time I'm analyzing everything, usually sub-consciously. I trying to be more self-aware of what I'm doing and when. One of my latest challenges is staying calm and present. I'm not timid, I find myself pretty relaxed generally, but I want to get better. (Not worrying about how object A might make my horse spook, for example. For each new experience, object etc, can be a positive learning experience if you allow it.) I'm constantly trying to keep myself out of that "vicious cycle." You know, when your horse reacts, you react, he reacts to you, you react to him, kind of thing. So my horse can react, but I remain calm and therefore, he calms, cycle ended. Lets move on.

My long-term goal is to have a very happy horse who is comfortable in their environment. I think Reason is on the right track!

Yesterday, after hand-walking and pressure exercises, I thought, why not have a sit up on the dark horse. Reason was being so good and he seemed to welcome the idea. He stood calmly at the mounting block as I tied the lead to make reins and climbed aboard. First of course, I laid over his back, off and on, testing the buttons and then swooped on. I swiftly and gently climbed aboard and before I realized it, I was looking down from above! This was my first time sitting up there without Matt on the ground. Uneventful but at the same time, so eventful. Reason stood still as we watched A* work a horse around the arena. Slowly, Reason asked, inch by inch to walk towards the fence where another horse was in the cross-ties. He was so curious about the other horse and wanting to meet him, I couldn't help but smile. OTTB's are social butterflies!

The Leg Improvements.

2010-09-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't written about Reason's tendon lately, which is over-due. The healing process has been great. Although I have no experience with tendon injuries, let alone a bow, it's obvious that Reason's bow is a good looking one. Reason had his feet done yesterday by Stanley*. An experienced horsemen with knowledge of bows, so I can't tell you how good it felt hearing his positive remarks on the tendon. How nicely it's healing, how fast it's healing and how little scar tissue is evident.

To the uneducated eye, the tendon looks almost normal.

The farrier appointment went great. Reason was a sweet and quiet fellow throughout. Was I expecting different? No. I knew he was going to behave, but it was nice to see what I thought would happen, actually happen.

All things point positive. He's a happy guy who loves people, is curious and interested in everything around him, learns really fast (which can be hard for me, lol), has a good mind, has a great conformation which is working in his favor regarding the bow (Stanley*'s words), is an easy keeper and who's tendon is healing beautifully!

Reason has an ultrasound appointment coming up soon. I'm nervous only because I like him so much that I don't want anything to show up that could put us behind. A ultrasound is really going to tell us what we can't see and there is unnerving. Hopefully the vet will give us a good prognosis and a long-term rehab program that will allow us to do more than just hand-walking. I'm not in a rush to get a leg up. But if that would be the next step (or within the next couple steps/months) for the better of the horse, that would be exciting.

Reason is still barefoot as well and will remain barefoot until he needs shoes. I'm not sure what "needing" shoes means as of yet. I don't want to say it would be all for comfort, but possibly for support of the tendon once he's in work?

That is all for now. Yay for Reason!

A Glimpse of "Home."

2010-09-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

Riding. The feel of the reins in your hands, the rhythm beneath your seat, the wind in your face, the power and kindness within you, all comes out to play, when we ride. A place that is so close, yet so far away, the saddle. The softness and communication within your hands, the reins. The distance, closer to heaven, closer to peace, horses. Riding is like nothing else in existence. Horses and like nothing else in existence. When we pair the two together, they can truly make life brighter, a smile larger and happiness, greater.

I began riding a horse at the barn. It has helped me get back into the art and science of riding. I have missed it so much. As soon as I ride, I think of one thing... Ink. I remember rides and experiences we had as I travel through the arena. As I make my way down the arena and around, I see him and I again, right there in the same spot. The flashbacks keep coming, flowing strongly like a river, an endless journey. It is in these moments, that I know Ink is with me and I appreciate what we had and what he did for me. Itmakes me want to keep going. It is what makes me want to keep loving horses and always respect, appreciate and enjoy riding.

Ink made me a more confident, understanding, horsemen and rider. Thank You my handsome boy.

I Love the Long Shot.

2010-09-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

I went to see my first concert ever this week. I saw Gary Allan, possibly my most favorite-ever, male artist. That's a big statement, there are a bazillion male artists out there. I grew up listening to Gary Allan. His music has transpired over the years and he's still producing great music. From country with a cowboy hat, to country with an edgy rock-like tone. I like it a lot.

What am I trying to say? Listening to Gary Allan, seeing him sing, was awesome. When you hear the music on the radio, you might relate to it and love it, but seeing the artist up-close and personal belting out the words to the songs, really makes you relate and understand where the passion is behind the music you hear over the radio. It's a great experience to feel the passion flow across the room.

Watching someone who is a well-known human being, a celebrity share their journey, through their music was something else. I have to do that again.

Gary Allan's new song, "Get off on the Pain" really hit me as relative.

My life recently has been so different. The things that have happened, have changed me. Right now, I'm struggling through these changes and inner demons. But I know I'll get through it. As long as I feel the sting, acknowledge the pain and look forward, I'll come out for the better.

But let me say this.. I have not been able to have a ready-trained horse and have not been able to go forward with my riding on made horses. I used to think that this was a bad thing. Ya, maybe sometimes, in some cases I wish I could go places with my riding. Sometimes I wish I could be conquering my fears and flying across the cross country course, maneuvering a course or performing a tedious Dressage test. But then I look back.

I see Ink and I remember that I put everything into him. I put blood, sweat and tears into him. And in return he allowed me to sit center stage, watching his concert. There is more to see, than what we see from the back of a horse.

I have to admit... I do love the long shots, the left out lost causes, hanging out on the back of the pack with the dark horses.

I will never forget what Ink taught me and what I was lucky to experience with him. I love ex racehorses.

Uncovering The Reason

2010-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

One neat thing about race horses is un-covering their past. It's exciting to learn who your horse actually is and what they did (or didn't) do during their career at the track.

I haven't done any research into Reason's past. I was told his registered name, but just had no real desire to look into it until now. For some reason I thought that finding this information out would cost $50 through the JC. (I did this deluxe research package with Ink through them.) But, I happened to forget that EquineLine offers this free service to look at their pedigree and simple stats like races finished etc. It also lists the breeders name, DOB and a couple other stats which are interesting.

Upon looking up Reason's name "Good Folks," I came across his pedigree which shares some similarity with Ink's.

Here it is:

I thought it was pretty neat. "Bold Reasoning, Reason to Earn, Hail to Reason." I never knew about the relation in his pedigree to his name, when I decided to call him "Reason." I think it's pretty neat and I like how each name within his pedigree describes something about him or this journey!

"Event of the Year," Reason's sire is a beautiful horse, which baby Reason shares some resemblence with. That little tail, color, resembling conformation.

So now I have some idea of who exactly "Good Folks" is and it appears he didn't have a successful race career to say the least ;), which could very well mean his is cut out for a different career as a sport horse!

Behind a Little.

2010-09-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

I'm behind on posting a little bit. When exciting stuff is actually happening, I am procrastinating.

I sat on Reason last Tuesday night. It was exceptionally beautiful out. A real summer night, no fog. For some reason I thought that sitting on him was a good idea. Matt and I went down to the arena where I proceeded to mount up onto the big dark horse for the second time ever. He was bareback and in his halter, which I would much prefer over being tacked as it appears tack sends a message of work (work=running..). Not going there yet.. Anyway, so I mounted up and sat. It was very comfy and Reason was very calm about it and more interested as to why the "treat giver" was up there and how was he supposed to get those treats!?

We did a couple walking steps. This was obviously nothing new or exciting to Reason. It was more of new and exciting to me. I barely gave him any leg pressure as Matt would try to lead him on and then stop where Reason would get a treat and a pat etc.

After about 5+ minutes of this, I dismounted with of course, a smile. :)

Moving forward, I decided that the next day, I would go to the barn during the day. It was pretty toasty out so I decided a good bath for Reason would be a good idea. He got his first real day of pampering. I cleaned up his tail to a nice, shiney, fluffy thing, docked it and then did his mane. It's a relatively thin mane, so instead of pulling it, I did the method that instead pulling, you edge the hair with scissors. It turned out pretty good.

Afterwards (I was winging it so I did things backwards), I took him down to the arena to try something new. I wanted to teach him a more advanced means of moving away from pressure, while asking him to move on a square. I actively moved with him. It was more on the concept of long-lining than lunging. Reasy was very responsive and a good chap during this new concept. I was proud of how quickly he caught on..

http://www.facebook.com/v/426718526838

The following Friday, I decided to try doing this new long-lining/lunging thing again, which proved interesting. It was later in the evening, dark out. Everything started out good, Reason wanted to play, but got down to business once he saw me just stay calm and consistent in asking for what I wanted. What I wanted was a nice calm walk, nothing more. I got that pretty quickly and his head began to lower down.

I asked for a couple laps and then switched directions. I find it much easier to ask for one direction until they solidly understand the whole idea, what I'm asking for etc, before I invite a direction which they have never done anything on. Going left is easy peasy, but going right poses questions. Reason was a good guy about it though and caught on. It took a little longer, but he got there. I asked to go back left and we did for a lap..

To be Continued..

Suddenly, I Noticed..

2010-08-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

After my post yesterday, it has become clear to me how much things have changed. I'm going through a tranistioning period. I'm growing up, I've been through some changes, loved and lost. I've always had riding there to help me feel better and get away from it all. It makes me feel so much better when things are down or helps me appreciate and cherish when things are good. Riding creates a balanced life. So, since last December, when I took one of my last, good rides on Ink, I have been in a balance shifting state, which has notably gotten worse considering it's been over half a year since I've had a real riding program there!

I have to coach myself. "Riding is not there like you want it to be...so get over it! Be patient."

Yesterday, I thought that I would take a breather, something I have not been doing unknowingly. I went up to see Reason in his paddock and, as odd as it may sound, I told him in the only way I knew, what was going on with me. The rest of the day was great!

I brought him down where Reason enjoyed his treats and goodness in his stall before I took him on a walk. We took a walk down to the arena where we hung out solo. He stood at the mounting block where I draped over his back, touched his "oh-so-sensitive" ears and did other things. Those other things consisted of me laying my sweater over his neck, face, eyes and ears. He didn't care on bit, except, there were no treats to be found!

http://www.facebook.com/v/424241031838

As we were walking out of the arena, A* was trotting a horse in-hand and this caught Reason's immediate attention. I remained soft, relaxed and a calm attitude and sure enough this translated to him and although still really interested in what was going on, the dark bay dude stayed with me! As a reward for his good behavior, I took him to graze.

Overall, I have to say Reason was so good yesterday and I felt much better afterwards. When I was letting him graze, I noticed something suddenly. How much he's filled out - wow! He's losing that race-horse appearance and starting to look like a very handsome guy.

Inside Loops.

2010-08-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

I miss riding so much, ok there, I said it. I'm not looking for pitty, I'm just saying.

Riding was so good for me mentally and physically. I'm trying to keep myself occupied without the riding factor, but man, going to the barn everyday really is straight to the heart. That's the worst place to be when what you want to do is ride..

I'm constantly remembering some awesome rides Ink and I had. It is pretty much everyday when I see something that reminds me of him and I think back and all I can do is miss him and our rides. Everything was clear to me when Ink passed, but my emotions are still messed up. It's almost like he's not gone. I can't even say if I truly even understand what I'm feeling. It's so weird.

Reason is my future and I have to stay focused on that, or else I won't move forward. I don't know if it's me or what, but I feel as though I'm not letting myself get close to him. I'm not sure if those are the right words or not, but I just feel this block up and I'm not sure what it is or why it's there. In the present, I'm very much feeling bland and disconnected, even though I'm staying positive for the future.

Hard-Core, those Race Horses.

2010-08-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was not cool. I guess I could say that yesterday was a low point with Reason. Ah, it happens. My main question for myself though, is why? Mis-communication happens for a reason, we are well aware. But why? Where did it go wrong and where do you begin?

Enter retraining Thoroughbred racehorse. They know what the bridle means. Connect A and B here: bridle (a) equals work (b). Work of course means running. All these things that we don't think about come into play with an exracehorse. When you break your average horse in regards to the bridle, you are first teaching them to like and/or accept the bit and bridle. It means nothing to them, as this would be the first introduction. It is up to us to create a happy connection with the bridle and horse, teaching them that it's a positive experience. Racehorses are already well aware of the bit and bridle. They know exactly what it means.

Racehorses are intense creatures, unique to their kind. They are bred, born and trained to do something that many absolutely live for and love. Some are more hard-core than others. Some are not open to anything but this life they love making retraining a very fine balance. You cannot use fire against fire. For even the most naughty of race horses need a very kind and forgiving hand before they look your way. Ink was very much that hard-core racehorse. He was tall and statuesque, so to speak, with his personality and view on the world. Each piece of him had to be neaurtured and he only allowed this to happen once you understood him. I never wanted to break the racehorse mind out of Ink. I wanted to take the good it had to offer and apply it to his new life.

Back to the bridling. These horses are well aware of who and what they are. Bridling is part of the window to their ingrained job and life. You can't just shut the window and expect the horse to ditch it's past. You have to look through the window, you have to let the light in from your side and allow the light in from their's. Bridling, as well as so many other aspects, large and small, are part of your observations through the window. You have to understand what exactly the bridle stands for them. It's not a big deal mind you, it's just what they know.

As much as I know the easy observation of a horse who happens to be an ex-racehorse, being "frisky..." cough-cough, Reason, could very well be blamed on crisp, cold air, limited exercise (none, except hand-walking and his own play-time in his paddock), there is that ever-apparent, one very important factor that is over-looked. The bridle. Just as we teach our horses to respond to our aids, leg, seat etc, the bridle seems to trigger a response all in itself as it's own artificial aid to a racehorse.

Reason was a frisky, impatient boy yesterday. I bridled him up, because I was thinking (to re-wire the bridle response) was to begin hand-walking him with it on. This, I thought, would disconnect the bridle to the idea of running. Once the cycle was broke, Reason would then revert to me to get answers, instead of assuming the racetrack was coming - yippe! (I don't want to bridle him up during every hand-walk as that would be over-kill and almost defeat the point. Randomly would be best.) Yesterday I did just that, bridled him. He stood patient and was almost insisting for the bit. But once we began on our walk down to th arena (which I'm thinking is another fault of my own) his head was up, he was ON and ready! "Noo..no...no racing Reason!" I thought in my head.

Sure enough he was ON. The bridle pushed that button inside his head. You'd be surprised the difference from halter to bridle when in the same exact situation. The damage was done. Once he's in this mind-set, there is not a lot to do other than to be understanding and ask for unusual things bits at a time to try to collect his mind back. Reason was pretty disconnected from me. The only other thing I could do was correct him when he was getting frisky, which could escalate to a safety issue if not corrected. But it's such a balance, so much finesse! I had to find the less invasive, attention-grabbing, respectful way to get Reason's attention. But my corrections did little help the situation. (Backing, turning on haunches etc). His mind, later, was not fried per sey, but he was defiantly closed off from any ideas at all.

As I was walking him back to the barn, he was still being disrespectful of me. I didn't back down, but he didn't care. Again he was so ON that anything was going to set him off. I finally thought that I just had to let him rest mentally, because as this point there was no getting him back. (Unless of course we could use a roundpen or something, which we can't due to his injury.) I lead him over to a patch of grass, where he was crazily insisting to take him. I did, thinking this might help him come back down. I should have let him retreat there for more time, but I didn't. I tried picking up his head, more concerned about getting the bridle off and tying him back up where he is most agreeable and calm. I tried picking up his head from the grass (which normally only take a little tug) and he struck out in disapprovement. He was not being mean but he was clearly distressed and resorted to that tactic to get me off of him, to say.

This was an unacceptable behavior, but I couldn't correct Reason without adding to the situation. I had to handle him delicately. I ignored him as if I had my angel back on the end of the lead and led him to the tie pole. It was fairly close. He was still on the muscle. Once tied, he sifted around like he was ready to trot on a hot walker, but quickly calmed down. I left him tied for quite a while, bridle still on, on top of the halter, in hopes he could relax in peace to think and come back down. A while later, about 30+ mins, still standing calmly, I was certain his episode was over. I was a little wrong. He was still on the muscle. Now at this point I could blame weather, the fact that it was past feed time, on his continuous friskyness. But he was less intense and frustrated. I walked him back to his paddock with the bridle on and despite his insisting to go to his feed bin, I made him wait and then took the bridle off. He was calm enough at this point that I thought it was appropriate to expect the manners.

I left him to eat and that was that.

It was difficult and frustrating situation, but it's making me think and learn more. None of which was Reason's fault. I just have to learn how to handle the situation and react appropriately to not allow him to continue being ON.

Today will be a better day.

Before I leave the post, I do have to say, Ink was much the same in the beginning. I also think that Reason is going to be something else when he gets to riding. I tink he's going to be very talented. I'll write more about that later!

Surprise, Surprise!

2010-08-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

On Friday, it was another cool, brisk, foggy evening at the barn. Perfect conditions for me to enjoy a ride. But, no riding, which means I get to enjoy to fresh horse, Reason...handwalking. Oh poo, not fun! I wish I could enjoy him under saddle, the prefer way to enjoy 'fresh.'

I was surprised however, Reason was not fresh, frisky, wild etc. (Ok, exagerating on the 'wild') He was quiet, calm, inquistitive. We arrived to find barn owner and two boarders down at the lower arena. All of which were at the ending of their rides. We were shortly left down there solo. I walked Reason for a little bit around the arena and then proceeded to practice moving the haunches and walking around me.

I contemplated sitting up on him. I have done that once already. To my, not surprise, he was fine. But so confused as to why treat giver was up there and not on the ground. Friday however, I decided not too, for whatever reason. He was being so good with only a couple baby silly moments :).

On a side note though, I am so happy to report that my new T-Sport wraps arrived!! Yippee!! No more fleece polos!

The T-Sport Wraps: Reasons Fav.

2010-08-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

I love, love the EquiFit T-Sport wraps! Recently however my pair, that I prefer over any other polos or wraps, started acting funky. When I went to remove them, the material that lays on the leg, would become sticky and pull hair along with it - ouch! It was acting like a band-aid. Then when I'd go to hose them off after use, they would dry and the material would stick to itself. When I'd go to roll them up, once dry, I'd have to peel them apart from one another and material would get peeled off.

I sent an email to the company regarding this problem to see if there was anything they could do. I got a prompt reply the very next day requesting that I send them in for a new pair. That was easy and on top of that, the lady I worked with was friendly!

I sent them in on the 29th of August and now am awaiting my new pair!

I love these polos because when you un-wrap them, you await a cooler, tighter leg than what you'd get from your average polo. I want to get a second pair, but they are expensive at nearly $90 for two. But, I have to say, they are worth their price!

The only problem I've encountered, is that you must take care with application. Unlike a normal polo, these are easier to wrap. They contour to the leg so nicely. But, if you apply with too much pressure, these stretchy wraps can become too tight.

I'm patiently awaiting the arrival....

You can read more on the t-sports here.

Errika's Many Adventures.

2010-08-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Errika and I are busy adventuring. Things are changing, she's getting older and I feel like we've missed out some. Her days in the arena are pretty much over and all I want to do is take her on trail rides and to various places, anywhere. Anywhere, even riding down to the local drive-thru for a shake.

It takes a special horse to do these things with. That is safe in traffic, with excited kids who insist on yelling, "HORSE!" at the top of their lungs and with all the scary stuff normal horses are afriad of. I wouldn't do this with any horse. But I love Errika, know her very well and we trust eachother. She's such a champ, with an active mind. She's not a dead-broke, lully-gaging horse. She's curious, happy and loves to explore as much as I do. Up and down hills, through creeks, down neighborhood roads, to the local 7-eleven...hehe.

If she was younger, I'd consider a trip across the U.S. She would have been an absolute perfect mount of such a thing. Being Arab she's always had energy to spare and is hardy as...an ox. I can't do that, but I can do mini trips through the hills and down the roads. :)

Errika and I have had 7 years together. I love her with all my heart!

We took a short trip to the beach on Saturday. What a nice time it was. Kind of lonely, but nice. Errika was a wild thing throughout the whole stay on the sand. I asked for one good gallop, but held her back quite a bit because we haven't been doing much lately. What a trooper she was.

I'm Starting to Like That...

2010-08-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

When I first got Reason he was very sensitive to the touch around his ears and upper neck. Over time, of patting him down, from hind end to front, I slowly began to work up the neck. I rubbed his head, less conerned regarding that but still not sure about. Once he became OK with that and accepting of it, I started to scratch around the ears because I could tell he secretly liked that! Now he lets me play with his ears and pat up his neck! We hit the milestone of acceptance the other day. Excited of this, I had to get a vid clip ;). And here it is... He was much better than what I caught on video, but you can get the idea.

http://www.facebook.com/v/418774871838

Then here's a little added bonus... Last week or so, I got to the barn very hungry so I sat down and had some of my chinese take-out. I thought what better way to eat than with Reason. I sat on his feeder while he bugged and bugged me for some! I finally gave in and held out a noddle (which I figured he would put his nose up to). Reason took it from the palm of my hand, played with it and eventually dropped it only to return to trying to stick his nose in the little carton. Silly! :)

http://www.facebook.com/v/418776156838

Little Moments Count.

2010-07-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was having a not so great, day. It happens to us all. I had little time to spend with Reason or Errika, a quick hello and giving their yum's was the extent of my visit. I first went to say hi to Reason. He knew why I was there and he knew what I had in my hands; the bag of his favorite, rice bran. It was cold, he was frisky. His initial reaction was to come up to me and bury his nose into the rice bran. Well, no he can't do that and he's not allowed to do that. He has to wait. It took about 5 minutes of correction before he went and stood patiently at his feeder.

I first started by asking him to move away, at a safe, acceptable distance. If he moved a hoof forward, he was asked to move it back. I'm not at all concerned with if he moves sideways, back or even acts excited right now. But he cannot move towards me at all. That's the first rule and it's a rather basic one that is fair enough to ask a young ex-racehorse in my opinion. Once he stood still, his reward was to be allowed to go to the feeder. He stood there waiting and I rewarded him with finally, his rice bran.

I spent some time petting Reason and it was a nice reminder of the things to be thankful for. Each day I am lucky enough to see him and have him in my life. A simple pet seems something to be thankful for in itself. On the journey to goals, it's these little things that remind us why we do what we do and how lucky we are to have horses in our lives.

Today, will be a better one.

Testing, Testing...1,2,3

2010-07-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of horses, well almost all of them, like to revert to the flight mode when they see a fellow horse kicking up it's heels. They want to take part and at times mirror the reaction of their fellow equine that is playing or misbehaving via the opposite side of the arena. It's acceptable for a horse to be a horse, nonetheless. We should encourage them to be expressive and comfortable in their own mind and body, not forced into what we think they should or shouldn't be doing. But, we must allow them to be expressive in a safe, appropriate manner. Which means, the horse should stay with it's rider/handler, coming back quickly to their aids or cues.

Yesterday, I had a test of this with Reason. A fellow boarder was taking a lovely gallop down the path that ends up parallel to the arena. I was given a heads up to her coming, so I prepared myself in the best position possible. Before the warning came, Reason was already on alert, his ears up and focused in the direction of the galloping horse, although he could not see it yet.

This was to be a test of Reason's respect towards the handlers aids and overall presence. I was anticipating this, I was unsure of what his reaction was to be. But, I stayed calm. There were two fellow horses in the arena, which I wasn't concerned about in regards to their reaction. I actually thought that having other horses in the arena which would probably remain relatively calm during this encounter, would keep Reason's own flight reaction to a less than exuberant adventure. I can't tell you if it really did just that, without doing multiple field tests, but I think it helped.

As the horse quickly came into view, Reason's head, already up, became even more alert. His tail went up, he did a quick turn and snorted. That wasn't bad at all! He was a bit fired up thereafter, but I was pleased and this was an all acceptable reaction to this encounter. The trouble though, followed.

Although the encounter of the galloping horse, was very exciting for Reason and he exuded a sane reaction, he had little patience to stand there and not do something. His lack of patience, escalated to needing something to hold in his mouth. Naughty pony! He went for the rope, he went for anything close to him. This was enough stimuli for one day, he was good, but now he was a ticking time-bomb. As I exited the arena, I wasn't short of correcting his naughtiness. Mouthy ness is not a form of expression... My corrections, did little to relax him altogether. Sometimes you have to correct and move on. I did, paying no attention to him as I walked focused to the tie-rack. Once there, he was more relaxed and once tied, back to normal. He stood their quiet.

I didn't want to have to get tough on him regarding this new encounter and how well he did with it, but unacceptable behavior is well, unacceptable. I'm very much taking a more direct route, trying to be as clear as possible with what I expect out of Reason.

Now that that's over, we move forward.

I've been doing a lot of case studies, which I document in my head (not very precise I know) regarding Dressage horses and riders.

My aim for Reason once the day comes; A nice loose, relaxed, happy, enthusiastic ride/horse. I so admire Carl Hester and the work he does with his horses. I've found a fascination with the training behind the horse, the training that created the horse you see in the show ring and Carl Hester is for sure one rider and trainer that is exempts what Dressage is.

Growth Comes Full Circle.

2010-07-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

I've wrote about the process of growth in horses. But, without a doubt, it also means that we grow along with them. In the end, if we are open to it, we become better horsemen & women. This idea of growth as a circle is really neat and special. It's another way horses can change and touch our lives.

I've found that part of the growth process and learning, comes with lots of humbling. A good horse will do that to you! It's a love, hate relationship. It's not always fun in the moment to be humbled, but in the end it proves to be another piece of the puzzle! If you are open to it however, you will learn way more than someone who either refuses to be put in that position or refuses to believe in the idea of "horse humbling."

Part of my personal growth process is observation. I am not an outspoken person. I am not going to openly express my point of view, opinion or thought with someone. For the most part, I don't because the person is usually not open to it. And simply, what is the point? I refuse to converse much with people like that. But I will observe them and learn from what I see. Everyone has something to teach and sometimes you learn from things that they don't actually realize they're doing!

If you want to be a better horse person, if you want to be a better rider, you have to seek out what you want with honest intent. I've toyed with the idea of taking riding lessons again on school horses to continue my riding, but I think this break is needed for me, oddly enough. I know, weird. I may begin riding with an event rider who works with off-track TB's, which would be a great learning experience and great way to jump-start my riding again. It would after all get my mind off of riding Reason. However, as much as I want to ride him, I am smart enough and care enough to know exactly why I'm not riding and therefore I don't have the desire to actually ride. In the very least. I have future, wishful thinkings, but not current temptation. If I can't respect time off, what kind of horse person AM I!? Luckily, I don't have to figure that out, it's just, common sense.

Ok so, I guess maybe, I'm quiet for a reason, I'm an observer. But, is that always a good thing? If someone asks what I think, I'll converse of course. I'm not that quiet..lol. I love learning, asking questions and listening to individual perspectives.

In regards to Reason.. I have to say, I'm a much more confident person. I'm not going to spend time being concerned or afraid. I'm just going to go about my business and invite him to come with me and when he comes, we can learn together. But until he does that, we aren't going to get anywhere. He's tested me, not as to extreme like Ink, but he has and he continues to do so. Each time, I have to break down and build-up as strong, as confident as possible to give him a reason to trust me. Only then will he respect my judgement and therefore allow me to be the leader.

I have to say, I see people who think they are in that position as the leader, but are not. Their horse my submit on some things, listen occasionally, but in reality, they don't really understand nor respect their role. And then again, I see people who take the leader role in the wrong way. "Leading" a horse does not mean you make them do what you want. But rather an open relationship where there is a constant exchange of communication between handler/rider and horse. They have to know you'll listen and vice versa before any good communication can be established.

I learned a lot of this understanding with Ink. He taught me to listen. There was no way I could ever get through to him, or help him merge into a happier horse, without learning to listen first. Correction came second with him. I had to figure out why he did the things he did, why he reacted the way he did and understand my own reactions to get any type of grasp on what was going on.

A Different, "L" Word?

2010-07-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

The "L" word scare last week, was over soon after it started..thank goodness!

There has been no sign of lameness since. He's sore stepping on the rocks throughout the pathways to various parts of the ranch, but that can be expected at this point. Once he's being started under saddle, we'll rock the front shoes. Unless of course, he could go without shoes altogether. I'm not sure of that though. We'll see what happens when that day comes.

If you've never worked with an ottb, one thing that is usually distinct about them, is their lack of understanding regarding proper social skills. Yes, they don't have many. At least from my experience.

Both Ink and Reason are friendly, very interested horses (both in humans and horses alike). Ink was notorious for barging into another horses space without any consideration as to what the other horse thought. "You like me, ya, ya!?" Is what seemed to be going on. Although I do have to admit even Ink was a little reserved in how forward he was with other horses. Reason takes it to another level.

Errika is quickly becoming the god-mother of ex-racehorses. She's staying at the ranch for a week and I've been riding her or doing stuff throughout her stay. I usually bring Reason into his stall for his rice bran to avoid dealing with correcting him in his paddock (he wants the rice bran so bad he cannot contain himself! Although he has to, no exception.) I put Errika in the cross-ties next to his stall. He cannot get enough of it! Oh how amazing it is to touch another horse! But Errika, as usual is not amused. She stands, sometimes acknowledging him but for the most part Reason is nothing exciting. She stares ahead playing hard to get. Reason persists, reaching to touch her shoulder, anything he possibly can. Errika stands still, allowing him to smell her, but she is quick to let him know when enough is enough. Reason is seriously beside himself in joy! Bouncing his head obnoxiously up and down, trying to get Errika's attention. What a show off ;). Secretly, Errika likes Reason. I've known Errika long enough to know that when she plays hard to get, it's a sign of lasting devotion. I know that if I was to take him out of his stall and back to his paddock, she'd crumble.

Reason is becoming the fixture in my life. He's the future and I'm excited for that. Sometimes it's not easy to watch all your barn mates riding and progressing, while you stand on the side line wishing that could be you. But, for that moment of desire and wishful thinking, I have millions of knowing that when the day comes, that will be Reason and I. It is and will be worth waiting for.

There is nothing more true than the whole point behind this dark horses name. "Everything Happens for a Reason." I know he came into my life for a purpose, I know I have a horse with an side-lining injury for a reason. I know now, but I can't quite put it into words. It will all makes sense later.

As moments happen, it's very much like a puzzle. A piece here, a piece there. It doesn't look right all the time, it doesn't even look like the picture on the box at times, but slowly and surely, piece by piece, it begins to come together. One by one as each falls into place, you start seeing the glimpse of the finished product. And as those pieces form into one image, the excitement grows. The long period of not knowing molds together forming into the simple answers to those complicated questions. The past within the picture and all questions are now answered. The key to building this puzzle, is that no matter what you never lose sight of the picture. You treat each piece with understanding in it's placement. You devote yourself to the little things that create the final product. When the final product is gleaming in front of you, a sense of accomplishment and amazing growth in personal understanding begins to fold all into one.

Horses are our puzzles. We must treat each piece with care and attention while we never lose sight of the finished image.

The "L" Word.

2010-07-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, I went to take Reason out and noticed he was lame. The first time he's been lame since I've had him. No! Uncertain, but pretty much convinced I just wasn't seeing things when he walked over to me, with some three legs, I took him out to see what he looked like on hard ground. There was a noticable nod at the walk when the leg would bare weight, the left front, bowed leg. Hmmm, not good. I took him to the arena to check it out, still noticing something. It was less consistant, but there. Sometimes worse, sometimes not as noticable. Obviously, I should have went with the hoof first and worked my way up the leg for any possible placement of what could be going on, but I didn;t and forgot to pick the feet. I went from 0 - 60 on concern, forgetting something as simple as picking the feet. A rock could easily be causing his paper thin hoof to be in pain.

I picked out some bark and there appeared to be a rock lodged down in the left side of the frog on the left front hoof. After that, I walked him down the barn isle-way to see if anything appeared different. It did. He was walking on four legs again, with no head nod and baring weight on the front legt again. HUGE sigh of relief. I'm still on high alert, but seeing the not slight, but significant difference in gait after the hoof picking (oh, my, gosh) I was a little relieved. I cold hosed both front legs and put him away. His feet are not in the best of shape besides. The pathways leading from his paddock, to the barn, to the arena are all compacted road base and loose rocks. It's the nemisis for these poor TB feet.

I have to remain very concious of the idea of bute. He already feels good, but if I give him some bute, like I might for another horse, I could run into more problems. If he's not feeling so great, he won't want to play or be silly like he would otherwise, therefore a less likely chance to cause further damage to an already injured tendon. So I'm holding off on the bute. There appeared to be no swelling to the area or change in the bow itself. There was little heat.

He's going to have a couple days off from walks and since it takes a walk to get to the wash-rack for cold hosing, I suppose I'll do icing instead. If this lameness reappears within the next 2-3 days, the vet will need to be called. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it was simply a rock. Or possibly a hoof abscess.

Three Months. The Lost Past.

2010-07-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

One day, I will sit down and write a book. My life, over the last four years has been surrounded by my passion and love for horses. But most importantly, my passion for Ink and Errika.

Three months ago, today, I lost one of the most important things in my life. I feel as though that part of my life is gone, left me the day I lost Ink. Errika has been my closest thing to that part of my 'past' life and to Ink. Sharing this life with her, without Ink has been weird. Even when they were separated by barns for that brief period, or even by living situations within the barns we've boarded at, they were never apart. Always connected to each other someway, somehow. They would always love seeing each other when they'd come together for a ride or when I'd work both of them together. I always knew and believed they were best friends and loved each other as much as I loved them, but I never knew how much until Ink was no longer around.

When I go to the barn to see Reason, I don't feel that void. I feel sad and I think a lot about Ink because everything there reminds me of him. Reason has his old paddock, stall and all my tack and equipment was most likely purchased over the span I had Ink. But in some ways, it's comforting to know this was Ink's last resting place. Sometimes I still feel he is there, looking on and watching Reason and I on a familiar path.

When I see Errika, every time, a part of my heart sinks. I don't think this will ever go away. I don't know if I'm feeling what she is, or if seeing her automatically brings up so many memories, mostly of the two of them. Errika impacted Ink's life so dramatically, yet perfectly. She was gentle and kind to Ink, but quick to turn away when she needed to. He was always quick to follow. Even when he was naughty or pushy with her, she would walk away and he'd chase after he begging for forgiveness. But when she needed his defense or protection for what may lurk around the corner, he always wanted to protect her. She stood confident for them both, while he was learning what confidence was. It was funny to see Ink prance ahead like a stallion, snorting and ready to take on what may come, but once he was truly faced with whatever was threatening, he would run and hide aside Errika. She'd remain calm and secure, teaching Ink about all the world. To watch this alone unfold, was truly special. I give Errika a lot of the credit for being Ink's first teacher.

What Errika gave to Ink most, was companionship. A thing that even I couldn't replace. To have Ink socialize and connect with a fellow horse, who was everything he needed in a companion, was priceless. It was a great time for him while he was coming down off the track. It was a great start to his new life.

When Ink passed away, the first place I wanted to be was with Errika. I knew she knew what had happened. For weeks thereafter, Errika was not quite herself. I was honestly a little concerned about her. She was mopey and wouldn't be at her stall door waiting for breakfast when I'd go to feed, her normal routine. Seeing her made all what had happened, more real. It was heartbreaking to know that they weren't going to see each other anymore. And it sealed the closing of Inks' amazing life and story.

Ink was more like a person than a horse. In some ways. He was so amazingly insightful. He was so wise. There are countless times where I'd stare at him and wonder who he was and how I was so lucky to have him in my life. You know how they say that a horse's eyes are the window to the soul? This was so true for Ink, but even then some. There was so much life behind his eyes. So much understanding of the world that I could not comprehend. He amazed me everyday.

You know how it feels like when you can trust a horse, when you connect with it and know that no matter what they will take care of you? I dreamed and worked each day to have this with Ink. There is nothing more I wanted than that.

I spent the first year of owning Ink, afraid of his wild, full-boar kicking habit, biting and overall intimidating stature. There are some days where I spent hours on end trying to figure out how to get through to him. Countless days where I'd come home in the beginning, not with doubt in my own head, but that from others around me. In the end, I trusted him the way I always wanted to. I learned to understand him and most importantly he taught me to stay true to what you believe in.

Ink came so far. He was amazing. I can only think of the things we would be doing now. And to think of what he was like when he arrived home. It makes me so proud to have experienced that last four years of his life with him. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Sometimes I feel lost without him. Sometimes I dream of him running along Errika and I. Sometimes I dream of that day when I sat on him bareback without a halter, the thoughts of him from day one, month one, running through my head. I love him so much.

Nothing seems the same anymore. But change happens and sometimes it's good.

Thoughts over Bridles.

2010-07-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today, I bridled Reason for the first time. I was curious, not knowing much about his past, what this experience would be like. I know that Reason is sensitive near his ears and upper neck, so how could this effect his willingness to accept a bridle without any issues? Again, just as with the saddle, just as with leaning over his back, I wasn't worried about it. My gut told me that this was a racehorse after all. Bridled, haltered almost all day, he had to accept it. Not only because it was important in general, but because it was needed for the purpose to get everything done fast. Haste makes waste at the track, from what I hear.

But, nothing. Reason actually willingly wanted to be bridled, lowering his head to have the bit slide into his mouth and the headstall to slide over his ears.

The next thought of logic, was, how would having a bridle effect him? Mentally, that is. Would this make him think TRACK. Would his behavior while on a walk to the arena for a hang-out and short stroll, change because of this piece of tack that is so fundamentally related to racing? I just wasn't sure what to expect.

But, again, nothing. He chewed on the bit, in a way of comfort. He seemed more interested with what I was asking, or about to ask, because the bit was there and the bridle was on. Because there was no reaction at all, in a negative sense to the bridling, I was quickly wondering what would be the next appropriate thing to do? I took Reason to his familiar sight in the arena, the mounting block. He's always so interested in it. Perhaps because I put treats on the mounting block when I was introducing him to it? He had no idea what in the world this mounting block was, nor what it could do to him. A little friendly invite from treats, quickly made him fall in love with it's exsistance!

So, I climbed onto this mounting block, as Reason stood quietly parallel to it. I took the reins in both hands, leaning over onto him and asked him to give to a little rein pressure. It started slow, obviously, I wasn't expecting much, but I knew he was going to quickly catch on. And he did. A little wiggle of my ring finger and he was yielding. No it was't pretty and yes, he was correcting me by lowering his head and bracing, but I asked and listened. I respect his knowledge and quick reminders of his training and it's a good thing. He has an unmistakably willingness to learn.

Within Reason - Sunday Photos

2010-07-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

More details tomorrow, and a surprise!

For now, enjoy!

Not A Race Track...

2010-07-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

Everything has been going well with Reason. Nothing much else to report other than our daily discussions and hang-outs.

Yesterday Reason was a frisky boy. On a little walk to the arena to hang-out and observe other horses being worked, Reason thought this was pretty cool and wanted to get in there and 'play' too. I don't want to not encourage this playful side. It will be interesting to see what kind of horse I'll get under saddle. Will he be a "down to business" type, much like Ink, a "playful pony" or the nervous and timid type. Hmmm, I'm guessing it's not the later. I think he'll be playful, but up to the challenge of work. I also think that he has a great work ethic, which in an indirect, yet direct way (if that makes sense), shows up during those short walks down to the arena.

Each time we start on a walk, leaving his paddock, he's usually very good, quiet and relaxed. Ho-hum is his attitude, another walk in the park! But, as we make our way to the covered arena down below, he's wheels start turning. First he scans the arena for any horses. If he doesn't see a horse or horses, he lowers his head back down in disappointment. But if there is a horse in there, he's very curious as to what they're doing. No, he doesn't rush the walk down and no he doesn't get all amped like it's RACE TIME! But you can see the thoughts and curiosity about just what is going on in there.

This evening the barn owner was working a horse in the covered arena when Reason and I went down there. After a short chat, I turned around and began to walk back down the isle-way to exit the covered arena. As soon as Reason and I reached the entrance to the arena, he casually yielded, while still facing me, into the arena and stopped. I looked back to see his haunches in the arena, staring at me with this, 'I do NOT want to leave' look on his face! It took some coaxing to get him to come out and when we finally did, he wasn't impressed. I think it's awesome that he likes it enough down there that he wants to stay, which will be great later on. I like to let him think for himself but if mom says not now, I expect him to listen..lol. I guess I'm not convincing that leaving is the best option..Lately, I've been avoiding actually going into the arena and walking around. I just take Reason down there to hang, work on manners and ground stuff. But the minute he becomes a little antsy, I leave. I do this because; 1) I don't want him to injure or re-injure himself because he suddenly became fired up, 2) cause any disruption to the other riders and horses but most importantly 3) to not associate the arena with the TRACK. I want him to be calm, quiet and listening to me. He's young, so I don't want to push him or his little attention span (compared to a mature horse that is). I also want him to associate the arena with something else than RACE TRACK, for when we do begin actually working in there. I think it really throws Reason off when we approach the arena (aka RACE TRACK in Reasy's brain) and then leave without actually doing anything, especially "racing" lol.

Today Reason was much more relaxed. But the barn owner told me that he was having a hooting good time spinning doughnuts in his paddock while he watched another horse being worked in the outdoor arena. He gets front row seating for that! He's fine, no harm done. Just being a silly, young horse.

This evening, I did the typical. He stood tied at the tie rack for a while, then went into his stall for his good stuff (rice bran) and then we went on a walk. All was good, but he did think it was ok to nip at mommy (playfully) while I was 'drumming' from his hind end up his neck. I promptly corrected him and he looked a little discouraged, but I think the point was made. He didn't try it again the rest of the evening.

Each day I love going to have Reason time. He's a nice horse to be with and I feel relaxed when I'm with him. I'm learning to embrace 'baby moments' and understand them. I've never worked with a horse of my own that was this young. You have to approach things much more consistently but slowly, if that makes sense. You don't want to over-face them or scare them, but you want to encourage bravery and consistency in exposure. It's a balance. I'm enjoying the process of learning about it.

Tomorrow is Friday, which marks a busy weekend ahead. Normally, Reason gets the weekends to chill and be a horse. I'm not sure what I'll be doing with him tomorrow. I think I might begin saddling and walking to the arena, a breif stay and walking back and un-tacking. That would probably really confuse him (: !

They Are Horses, Afterall.

2010-06-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

It's true, horses are accidents waiting to happen. I mean, they are a danger to themselves sometimes. The evolution of horses as domesticated creatures, is on-going. Leave it to a horse to find even the most seemingly harmless object, to suddenly become frighteningly precarious. Oh horses!

Part of owning horses is acknowledging what could be harmful in the eyes of the horse. There are obvious things to stay away from. Anything sharp, that's for sure. But, sometimes horses can't even contain themselves, quite literally. Even safe fencing, can't always hold up to their moments of....intelligence lapse.

Yesterday Reason found himself in a predicament. I wasn't there, but the staff at the barn found him quickly. Cast in his paddock no less. He broke a board as he tried to free himself. Reason has help in the, 'anti-casting' department. He has hot-wire running the perimeter of his paddock, which makes him very respectful of the fence. It is this hot wire that helps him stay smart about where to roll and where not to. Apparently the hot-wire was off that day and the previous. I'm not sure how Reason allowed himself to discover if it was off, but somehow he did. This apparently made him want to roll close to the fence. Well, I know it was probably not a move he strategically planned out on purpose...But it happened, silly boy.

I received "that call" from the barn owner letting me know about what happened. She took good care of my boy and found nothing but a couple small, superficial cuts and burns. Other than that he seems fine, but we're keeping an eye on his bowed leg and the others for signs that something else could have happened. After seeing Reason yesterday, gooping him up with swat, I wasn't too worried, as I didn't see anything alarming. I think he's just fine. But Reason, seriously dude? Was it really necessary to roll so close to the fence when you have a bunch of other perfectly acceptable, sandy places to roll? Gosh.

The picture above is a little blurry, but that burn you see with swat on it, was pretty much the extent of the self-inflicted wounds. Phew.

Besides that, later in the evening we took a walk down to the indoor, where Reason and I hung out observing the many horses and riders hangin in the arena. This has been the first time Reason has seen this amount of horses in one place that could look similar to a race-track warm-up ring. He was good though. I'm proud of his manners. He's a true gentlemen. He's still young and will try to sneek things here and there, but what else could you expect?

When I Grow Up.

2010-06-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

Recent photos of Reason. I have so many more, I need to update the photo gallery here. If you're on my FB friends list, you can view the album, Within Reason.

Reason's new rope halter I bought at the WSHE. Disco, woo!

Reason and I. I'm standing on a large log. I'm really not that tall lol.

The Double Whorl Wonder.

2010-06-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about whorl patterns on horses and how they are said to reflect the horses personality? Interesting subject. I first learned about it from S* . He mentioned Ink had a whorl directly between his eyes. Supposedly this was an ideal position reflecting a horse with an even-temperament. The further up the whirl, the more intelligent, yet difficult the horse is. The further down, the calmer it is. And from what I've read, the horses with the higher whirls sometimes make talented show horses verses horses with lower whirls. Hmm, innteressting, indeed.

Look at the statistics here, where there was a study done on 423 horses, 290 of which were CA Thoroughbred race horses.

From this study, only 6% had "rare" whirl patterns which the study described as, "Abnormal whorls were defined as 3 or more on the forehead, or 2 whorls vertically placed on the facial area. Two horses had 3 whorls, one had 4, and the remaining (24 hd) had vertical placement."

I also found this article on whorls; Around the Whorl.

In that article though, it states that the lower the whorl the more intelligent.

So what does Reason have? He has two whorls, parallel to each other, not too far up his forehead. I could relate to double whorls being more difficult and hotter, as he is those things, but not completely. They aren't too high up, so maybe that indicates lesser of those things?

A* told me that double whorls indicate a mixed personality. A good, willing side and also a naughty, difficult side.

Yesterday was quite nice with Reason. He was a bit fresh though as the fog was coming in, a little cool nip in the air and the wind was blowing a little. I knew, as soon as I stepped out of the truck, what this kind of evening meant. I was planning on having Matt clean up and rasp a little of Reason's hooves. But I wasn't sure if that was going to be the final plan pending Reason's, 'freshness.' With an injury, I didn't want to risk it, create a stressful situation or risk Matt's safety. If it was Ink, I would have known he would be just fine regardless of if he was having a rodeo in his paddock.

I went immediately up to get Reason from his paddock, get an idea what he was going to be like and bring him down to the barn. Yes, he was fresh. He wanted to play. But, with the prospect of hoof work going on, I though this wasn't the best idea, so he stayed up there through feeding time. After he had a chance to eat, I went back up to see how he was. He seemed more relaxed and willing. 'Ok then', I thought, 'I guess we'll try this out.'

Down we walked to the barn. Reason was understandably a little on the muscle, but that lasted for only a couple steps and then he began to lower his head and walk like a calm little foal behind me. Once arriving down at the barn, I prepared his mash of ricebran. He stayed in his stall to enjoy that while I finished other things and waited for Matt to be ready for hoof work.

I did a little manners session with Reason to check his "buttons" and overall attitude before moving forward to the hooves. He was just as relaxed as any other day.

Racehorses' work ethic not only appears in their under-saddle routine, but also in general, day to day, handling. As soon as I get Reason out, he's on and ready for work, training, exposure etc. And it's this mind-set that somehow makes them click-over from bronc horse in the paddock, to prepared work horses as soon as you halter them up. Gotta love that!

As I was waiting for Matt and Reason was standing in the barn isle way like a gentlemen, there was a tracor scraping and moving around just outside the barn doors. Reason never batted an eyelash. I wasn't expecting him too, but boy, that tractor was sure making loud and noises that I would have found scary! However, A*'s kids were having a game of tag or something up by the house, just in eyes distance out of the other barn entrance. Reason, turned around and looked in utter concern. Ink would have done the same thing, playing and yelling kids are so interesting to them! But Reason didn't offer a spook, he just wanted to watch and figure out what was going on. All the while, scary tractor was now behind him making additional scary noises. I love racehorses!

Matt was able to do Reason's hooves as he stood there calmly and very curious. He tried to rest his muzzle on Matt's back and head. Much to Matt's dismay because Reason was covered in goopy ricebran. It makes me wonder, having two ex-racehorses who just relax and love farrier-time, is this seriously comparable to a human relaxing and enjoying getting a pedicure?

Reason says HI!

It's Rather Boring, But...

2010-06-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

It's know it appears rather boring. All Reason and I seem to be doing is going on short walks, hanging out, doing carrot stretches and overall slow, steady stuff. There isn't much "training" going on. Except, ground manners, things like that. The fastest thing we do, is a steady walk down to the barn or arena for a stroll. Not too exciting.

I have to admit and say, yes, I can't wait to now get on Reason's back. Having experienced Ink, I am a much more confident person in the saddle. Odd, I know. Reason might change that, but I'm up to the challenge. However, I am having fun doing this slow, seemingly boring, stuff!!! It's neat just to see a horse grow in any way. Under saddle, or on the ground. It's fascinating to say the least. I for one, thank my lucky stars I have an oppurtunity to watch and share this unfolding and learning experience. If there is something to be thankful for it is to be able to help a horse and learn at the same time.

One of my fondest memories, was recently, in March when Ink galloped through the fields at the barn in the hills. He was so happy! I am SO thankful he could experience what a real horse is all about. Because now, when I think of Ink, I think of him running through the green, grassy fields of heavens above, bucking, playing, grazing and having a good ole' time like he did when at the barn. It makes me tear up thinking of it. One day, I will be able to see him again and we'll gallop all through the fields. Gosh I miss you my special boy.

I have found myself a little reservest when it's come to Reason. He's kind, sweet, very curious, very smart, sensitive, attuned, athletic, beautiful, yet, I am not falling head over heels in a deep bond with him as of yet. I know that sounds sad, but it's not. I've thought about it a lot and I've come to the conclusion that, I'm still grieving, I'm not ready to let go yet. I'm hesistant to just let myself jump in because, I just can't right now. I'm growing closer, fonder and yes, slowly starting to love Reason, but it's coming slower than it would have without having lost Ink. So, even though I was torn as to why I am not and have not been completely IN LOVE with this horse like I was right off the get go with Ink, I know it's for a reason (no pun intended lol) and everything will work out and come as it should :).

Reasoning.

2010-06-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

On June 12th, I headed to the 2010 Western States Horse Expo with Matt and my mom. My mom, although I haven't written or said anything about this, had been away during Ink's passing. My mom, one of my rocks, wasn't there when I lost one of the most important things in my life, Ink. It was extremely difficult not to have her support, although I knew she was there, if even miles away. My Grandpa (my mom's dad) became ill suddenly. He's in his mid 90's, but before this sudden onset has been as healthy, both mentally and physically, as an ox. (He's truly an inspiration in determination, strength and character.) It was quite a shock, so my mom went up to where he lives (counties away) to be with him. She was there for about 2 months until a recent visit back home as my younger brother was graduating high school. Anyway, during my mom's short return home, we decided to go to the Horse Expo. Stephen Bradley was there again to do his jumping demo, which I believe was the same format as last year when Ink and I took part.

I was planning on stopping to say hello to Mr. Bradley after his demo, if he wasn't already busy. But alas, as I was scanning through a tack booth, and there he was! I stopped over the re-introduce myself and say hello. He asked me how Ink was and I told him what had happened. He had asked if I had gotten a new prospect, which I told him I did and he said that if he returns next year, hopefully I could ride again with him! I was excited to hear that. I think Reason and I might be ready, given how he progresses. I don't want to over-face him. The crowds and, oh gosh those deathly strollers, are quite the subject of nerves with the horses.

I was happy to see Mr. Bradley again. C*, my riding partner from last year at the expo, told me I should go train under him in Virginia. That would be exciting! I look back at that expo experience and hold it dear to me. Ink and I returned home with a new confidence. It was something that I enjoyed so much.

---

Reason is doing well. I haven't yet noted this on the blog, but Reason is uber sensitive around his ears and upper neck, near his ears. I've been trying to desensitize him to touch in general, but paying special attention to those areas. He's becoming better already. Oddly enough, Reason takes the fly mask like a pro and has no problem with a halter either. To me, if a horse is sensitive around his ears, a fly mask seems like a question to the horse.

There could be pain or stiffness going on causing this reaction though, possibly. I do carrot stretches (asking Reason to stretch his neck while standing on each side). He's a little stiffer on the right side, going about half-way down his side, however on the left he could almost stretch to his flanks!

Today, as I was going about business at the barn, Reason begins to run in disarray in his paddock. He doesn't act like he's playing, no something appears to have set him off. Similar to what happened last Tuesday. This time, I waited, watching from the barn, to see what exactly was going on before I went to his rescue. After a very short bit I walked to his paddock. He noticed I was coming, but was in flight mode, unable to ease himself. Although I was somewhat, literally, walking into an unknown horsey battle-field, I knew I could calm him down. I walked in and began to apply light pressure and verbal assurance to let him know I was here and he could come to me. Suddenly, he became quieter, a light bulb went off, he seemed to step out of flight and back into reality. Mommy to the rescue! He walked to me, unsure, a little on the muscle, ready to jump back into flight mode, if this plan failed.

As soon as I reassured him that everything was cool, he calmed right down. I haltered him and stood at his feeder bin, where he was before the commotion started. He relaxed, began eating again and once he was back to normal, I took him down the barn. He was calm, normal and happy for the remainder of the evening.

In The Know.

2010-06-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Just so everyone knows, I'm not taking the blog down nor am I switching domains, hosts etc. If you're un-aware, I created a new blog for Reason (my new ottb). If you weren't there in the beginning to follow Ink and I, step in because now's the time to get all the low-down from the start with this new project.

I'll still blog about Errika and continue to write things about Ink, because there is still so much left to say. But, I might be moving Reason's blog to appear fore-front.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy reading about Reason!

Are you my Mother?

2010-06-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

Had a little photo bit with Reason yesterday. Although I was not at all dressed for any such thing. But I did get some good photos of him.

Yesterday was another day of walking. This time we explored more and I think we've crossed the assurance path, figuratively speaking. What I mean by this, because I'm not sure if assurance is the perfect word to use, is that Reason and I are bonded closer now. Approaching new situations and objects, is a breeze. Now Reason asks me and takes confidence in my ability to maneuver us through anything that he's afraid of and therefore, he is following my leadership and growing so quickly in his own confidence. Which in turn, has brought us closer and a more mutual understanding. This has been a great coming. It's our first real big step into the future.

This new coming, has all been surrounded by Reason's desire to have a "mother". He's kind of like a lost, helpless little boy. He's grown up on the 'streets' and has some great 'street smarts' but isn't exactly educated or experienced in LIFE and relationships. Unsure of 'adults/parent figures' because he's had none. He's been on the fast track (quite literally). This pretty much sums up Reason right now.

Reason follows me around like a puppy dog. But he's not exactly be-fitting into the 'in your pocket' horse-initially. He's shy, observant and although he wants to be with you, he's not always quick to jump in your lap. He has an opinion, will share it occasionally and likes to hear feed-back but can easily be intimidated.

I felt like, in the beginning with Ink, I was standing beneath the shadow of a great power. He mesmerized me and most of the time, I felt like he was my leader. Now, I feel like Reason is under my wing. I must lead him.

I got Reason a name-tag yesterday for his halter...

Reason and I

Saddling up for fun.

Leading & Manners. Oh and Tying.

2010-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my main goal was to tie Reason for the first time. Does he tie? Is he patient at the tie rack? Does he have any vices while tying? These are all basic questions I asked myself. It's important to know if he ties and if he does so calmly. Some horses may tie willingly without a second thought, others might pull back or be nervous nellies. After knowing Reason, I figured he was not one of those pull-backers. But I wasn't sure how he would react to being tied in general.

After a nice walk down to the barn, I slipped the rope through the tie-ring at the tie rack. No reaction. So I tightened my hold on the rope (in case of having the pull back problem, I just slipped the rope through the ring, not tying it so I could allow it to slip through and give slack). There was still no reaction, so after a little pull, release action a couple of times, I tied a quick-release knot and sat down at the picnic bench only a couple feet away. At first he walked in a circle, as if he was on a hot walker. Not nervously, just like he thought that was what he was supposed to do. The tie post is like this; concrete pad, ring attached to the top of the post which is on a swivel. So as Reason moved, the thing would swivel, inviting him to follow. After my talking to him (whoa) and walking over to ask him to stand, he did.

Ok so, tying isn't an issue.

Next was ground manners. I decided to take Reason up and down in front of the barn, inside the barn (a notoriously 'scary' place to be for him) and work on his reponse and focus on me. That was a success. I like to lead Reason on a long, loose lead to encourage him to relax and yesterday was one of the first times he actually walked quietly with his head down behind me. Most of the time he walks next to me on alert. And this happened in the barn isle-way! It was nice to see that he was more at ease in there.

The low, loose following Reason, continued as we walked back up the path-way to his paddock. I couldn't ask for better of him, so I decided to put him away and give him his yummies up there instead of in his stall that night. When we arrived at the paddock, he walked to the opposite side of his paddock, where I ask him to wait until he's invited to the feeder to eat the yums. Suddenly Reason became freaked (it wasn't a sudden flip-out, but quickly escalated) and began running towards me. I thought he was challenging me and being silly after something sparked him. There was a horse that had just walked past, another young horse got silly in the arena not too far away, dogs barking etc. I immediately reacted by making him stay at that end of the paddock. Re-enforcing my position. But he kept being rowdy. There were a couple times where he wanted so badly to come up to me. I didn't understand it at that moment, but reviewing what happened, it made sense that he was scared and wanted to be with me. Reason wasn't challenging or being silly, he was genuinely scared about something and wanted to hang with his 'lead mare,' me for protection. Matt came in after I tried to stop him (still thinking he was testing) to help calm the boy down and we stood with him for a while once we caught him. He calmed right down once he was with us.

It was a mis-understanding on my part. I felt bad because it would have been a great time to gain his trust more and help his confidence. It was my mistake. After being around Ink, it would have been like him to rush me, using the moment of spook, turn it into 'time to be silly! Yeehaw!' and he'd then try to run me out of the area so he could get to his grain. I'm learning Reason is much less manipulative lol, but for the last 4 years, I was used to a much different OTTB. Reason is much more innocent, he's much more human-oriented than Ink was. Ink was the intimidator, give an inch, he'd take a foot. Reason is also MUCH MUCH more sensitive, possibly the polar opposite of Ink. He responds to the lightest touch and learns SO quickly. He's also much more attuned to his handler.

Oh I should mention, Reason hasn't been INTO the wash-rack yet. But on our way back to his paddock, I introduced him to the scary bathing box (he was shying from the manure bucket by it). I stood inside, and he walked right in. I turned the hose on and began spraying the floor to see what his reactio would be. He stood paralell to the water, looking at it, curious. But he kind of kept his head behind me, like a little kid. It was cute.

It was another learning moment for me. But I really felt positive about the rest of the time. This evening, I'll be doing much the same, with a little more exposure to the wash rack.

Sights From The Stall

2010-06-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

Here is Reason himself enjoying this evening's short stay in his snazzy digs...um, stall.

Another evening complete of the routine.

I can sense him getting into this whole idea already and he now knows once he's done with the rice bran and stuff, it's time to go back to his paddock.

He's very smart. This will be challenging!

Hello Stall, An Introduction.

2010-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

In the beginning of owning Ink, he stayed in a stall with a decent sized attached paddock. Then he enjoyed pasture living. But when I moved him to a nice, new barn (the one I'm at now) Ink was to have a stall with a separate, private paddock for all day turn-out. When I first introduced him to the stall, he wasn't happy. He called and shuffled in there. It was a tense, un-happy dwelling. But who could blame him? He most-likely spent almost his entire life in a box.

I'm pretty diligent when it comes to biting bad habits. You know what I mean? Let's say you have a horse who your friend owns. You go to visit said friend and her horse. Horse is amazing, a dream, he's pure beauty, but when you ask your friend more about the horse, curious about history and personality, you learn that this horse hates baths or maybe the horse hates to be caught. To me, those things are things that could be fixed through training and time. I am the first to say that Ink was in the end, just the way he was. Things about him, were either never going to change or would take additional years to fully get through. But isn't it annoying when a horse has a fixable habit but yet the owner refuses to do anything to fix it?

In a way, these habits in-directly effect the horse's willingness and attitude under saddle or while being handled. So when Ink showed signs of stress and discomfort in the stalling department, I took it up as an opportunity to get to know him better and possibly eliminate this stress factor. I realize that a quick fix would be to just avoid the stall all-together. I mean who really needs a stall besides a horse requiring one for rehab? Plus, he'd been in one for most of his life, was it really necessary to even try to deal with this issue? Afterall, I would feel the same way about a box too... But think about it. What happens if your horse does get injured and needs to be on stall rest? Or what happens when you go to an overnight show or clinic that only offers box stalls? In both scenarios it would be detrimental to a rebabbing horse to be stressed in a stall and how stressful would a show be if you have a horse would would freak at the thought of being inside one? All these things and more are possible. So with Ink, I re-introduced him to a stall and made it a happy place. Anything he enjoyed, including graining, grooming or hanging out after a ride reciving carrots and treats re-enforced the idea that this place was actually GOOD. So eventually, Ink became a happy camper inside and that was one less thing on his negative list. My goal; to abolish the list!

Reason, I'm approaching the same way. And on that note, I changed my program. Instead of going to the wash-rack, I began taking him to the barn, next to the wash-rack, to graze and walk inside. Yesterday, he spent his first little bit inside his stall munching on his rice bran and alfalfa pellets. I left him in there, (he was a little confused, but calm) while I turned in his neighbors and finished some things. He was quiet. It was an easy experience. I'll be repeating this every evening or day, leaving him in there a little longer at a time. And eventually he'll be on a turn-in schedule 2 nights a week for now. Because he's injured, I don't want him pent up inside, but I do want to introduce him to a more solid, comfortable, routine.

A new outlook.

2010-06-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

I'm still tweaking the blog. But here is the new look!

I've also vowed to take more photos from my Canon, not from my iphone because I'm picky about the quality..

More soon!

First, Uneventful, Saddle.

2010-06-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

On Friday, in addition to our daily walk, I thought it was time to introduce something new to Reason's realm. Ok, it's not like he's never been saddled, it's not like he's ever been ridden. I mean we aren't exactly dealing with an unbroke horse here! But... Like I've said before, making sure he's comfortable, solidifying the basics, is so important. For all I know, Reason could have greatly dis-liked being saddled. I highly doubted that I'd get any other reaction that what I did, but you never know. He had no reservations about the saddling process.

First, I rubbed the saddle pad over his entire body, including his head towards the end. Unfazed, yay! Then, I making dragging it off and flopping it onto his back. No reaction. Then, I placed the saddle up there. Still nothing. And finally, girthed him up without any reaction. No tail swishing, no un-sure looks etc.

Next, I lowered the stirrups pretty considerably so they touched his sides and walked him around like that. Again, no reaction.

After that, I removed the saddle, gave him treats and we ventured out for our daily short, grazing, walk. He was a very good boy.

I'm going to start taking Reason to the wash-rack and maybe, since the weather is nice, consider the beginning of the bathing process. Depending of course on how he is.

Three Times A Charm.

2010-06-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Reason has settled in so well to his paddock. It's been a week and one day since he moved up to that space. Transitions and exposure to new things seem to be easy for him, so this will hopefully carry over to further, advanced ground-work and eventually under-saddle. I'm interested to see what his work ethic is like and how he'll be under-saddle. I'm actually not itching too much to ride him. I think it's because I know what he needs, mainly, obviously time off, but also just time to be a horse. Even if he wasn't injured, I still would give him all the time I thought he needed to be ready for that next step. He deserves it, as well as any other OTTB. And it's a win-win. Better time off means better, happier horse and that can only be good for everything else!

I take Reason out, usually after I do a little re-fresher ground-work bit and walk him up and down the path. He gets to graze as we slowly meander. I've learned that he is afraid of the harvest bins (feeders) inside the paddocks that we walk by. He eats out of one himself, so I guess from behind a fence and because maybe the fact that all the paddocks sit below the path, it makes the feeders look abnormal and scary? Who knows lol.. But he has a natural curiosity towards the new and unusual. I always give him his space and freedom of movement, so I won't make him more nervous by boxing him in per sey. I use my voice and very light pressure reminders when we encounter something new. And it doesn't help to have grass right by a scary object to make him feel more at ease! ;). After a slow, mostly grazing walk, once up and once down, I do a final slow walk to make sure he's OK with everything before I put him away. Three times a charm!

So Sweet, So Lucky.

2010-06-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

First off, a quick disclaimer. I am wearing no helmet which I normally always do wether in the arena or on the trail. I believe it's dangerous not to wear one while mounted and I would strongly suggest anyone to wear one.

Although I feel completely safe on my near bomb-proof 27 year old, it's still no excuse for me not to have one on. I forgot it at the barn :(. I know, no excuses..

Errika spent the weekend, from Friday to Wednesday having a "sleep-over" at the barn (WCS, where Reason is and Ink was boarded and the horses were boarded last year). Errika's barn mates at the barn in the hills, left for a rodeo and I didn't want to leave Errika up there alone.

Errika was a great girl on the tow over and when she arrived, she stepped off the trailer with an ease of familiarity on her face. She stayed in a grazing paddock that runs the length of the bottom of the upper paddocks. She stayed with her old paddock-mate KC, who is an older cougar mare herself ;).

As soon as I put Errika into the paddock, her and KC greeted each-other, as if they'd been together all the time and walked off and ate grass. The sight of those two remebering each-other and were completely at ease, was so sweet to see!

Errika enjoyed a quiet day grazing before that evening's, Full Moon Rider's Club, at the barn. It was lots of fun! Errika was being a little wild when I went to go actually ride her in the arena, but she was understandably un-interested in doing any such thing in there.

The next day I rode her bareback around the property. But I think she truly enjoyed just being a pasture pet, getting a grass belly with her friend, lol.

Yesterday, it was time for Errika to return to the barn in the hills. And I figured, since it was on our way, we would stop at my house to take a short ride around the neighborhood. Ever since I've owned Errika, I have ALWAYS wanted to do this! I wish we could have went on a longer ride and hung out longer, but it was still LOTS of fun!

Errika is a very herd-bound horse, but since Ink and her were seperated, I've noticed a change in her. I clung pretty close to her after Ink's passing and being with her helped me move forward. I really wanted to develop a closer bond with her again. Since she's been with Ink and when I was riding him a lot, Errika and I haven't been as close as we used to be. So I think that after Ink's passing, it was really a blessing and a great time to re-kindle (lol) our relationship.

So when I un-loaded Errika at my house, I was delightfully pleased to see how calm and curious she was. Such a good girl! I mounted up bareback and took a spin around the block. She was so good!! I have loved doing all these fun and different things with her and I know she does too.

This weekend, A* & I are going to take the horses on another adventure. We haven't decided what exactly, but it's going to be something new & fun. (:

I'm so thankful to have Errika.

Reason - The Beginning.

2010-06-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Reason came into my life about 3 weeks ago. A dark bay, 4 y/o, OTTB gelding. He came of the track with a mild bowed tendon. He's sweet, sensitive and quickly becoming quite the gentlemen.

The first couple days with Reason (named after, "everything happens for a reason") were spent just getting to know him on his level. Feeling him out, letting him get to know me. No pressure. I wanted him to get to know me as just someone wanting to say, hi. No big presence.

Reason was being kept in the guest barn for a qurantine period to make sure he wasn't carrying anything. He was to be there for two weeks. You have to remember that Reason is an off track Thoroughbred. Hyped up on life, or so it seems.. He had a couple weeks at another barn which he came to directly from the track, which was his re-homing barn, so he did have some idea of what barn life outside of the track was like for at least a short period. But other than that, his exposure to this new lifestyle is slim to none. New place, new people, whole new life essentially.

For those almost 2 weeks, Reason was really great in his quarantine space. I visited him daily, would bring him out for short walks, hand grazing. But nothing more than that. To make matters a little trickier, he's injured, so he has to stay as quiet as possible. And I couldn't just toss him into turn-out, letting him blow off what steam he had. But Reason's an excellent patient considering the circumstances. He's been staying quiet and agreeable.

Now, he was moved up to his paddock space, where he's been hanging since Thursday. This was Ink's old paddock. It's a nice location for a horse needing exposure, but at a comforting distance. He has prime eye on the back of the main barn, hay barn and some of the parking lot. Ink loved it here for that reason. I'd usually find him hanging out, looking on, watching all the action. It also has nice sandy footing, mostly for perfect rolling conditions :).

After those first couple days of simply saying hi, I began a regular grooming practice which consisted of it's own training opportunities. Teaching Reason to stand, un-tied. There is no place to tie in the paddock nor was there in his little paddock in the guest barn, so I taught him the beginnings of standing quietly. He learned this very quickly. As I said above, Reason is a sensitive horse, very responsive. So just a simple giggle with the lead rope, was all that was really needed. Repeat, repeat and ALWAYS release. I have no idea what he learned, or knows from his race days, but I have to assume nothing and explore the area as if it was his first time. It will only solidify the basics and leave nothing for speculation.

Oh I should also mention why exactly I didn't take him to the barn to cross-tie or use a tie post. Well in the beginning, I had to keep Reason down in the guest barn vicinity for the same reason he was down there in the first place. But my main reason was a couple of things. First off, I wanted him to be able to get familiar with his very current surroundings, expose only as his confidence was solidified, step by step. Because mainly; he's still fresh, injured, everything is new and he's sensitive. I thought baby steps were key to his development. Nothing needs to be rushed besides, but I don't want to overwhelm the horse. I also wanted him to get to know me first, before anything else. Once he knows me, I know him, we are able to approach each step with the trust in each other.

The first problem I ran into was the other evening. I have been giving Reason ricebran and some alfalfa pellets. I opted to do this in the beginning verses the staff at the barn only because I wanted to put down the rules with Reason. He is not to ASK for the yummy stuff, but to be INVITED. Meaning he has to wait patiently to be cued to come (My first cue is to walk away). He was getting this very well. But, he challenged me the other night. I came in with the bowl, to put into his feeder, asking him to move away before I came in. He did, a little, but was very fussy, tossing his head, striking out as he danced around. But he stood still for a bit at the opposite end of the paddock. I walked in, put the bowl in his feeder and waited. He became increasingly impatient and challenged me. I was unsure of what to do. This is tricky, again because he's injured. I don't want him moving at all like this. I stood firmly, asked him to "HO." But he kept challenging. I could have walked away and just not given it to him as a simple correction I supposed. In hind-sight that probably would have been the best option given the circumstances. I made him stand for only a little bit, after allowing him to come in and eat. But he was on edge a bit and it wasn't how I wanted to end it. The next evening, I took hold of the situation before I was going to bring the bowl in. I was clear and direct with Reason. I asked for a walk, then a stand, walk then stand, while I stood at the other end of the paddock. He still challenged me, but I stood clear. We kind of did a couple mini-join-ups. And after this, I followed me to the feeder, waited with all his thoughts on me. And was very patient and waiting until I invited him to eat. I think I defined the role between herd member and herd leader there :).

I have to remember that horses are un-predictable and plans should be flexible to accomodate a growing horse or just a horse in training. But all the while, those basics and the structure of whatever training scale or way of training you use, needs to constantly in play, clear and direct. And I need to be "on" at all times. But I will say that my next steps, just to validate what I'm thinking is;

5 days of walking/hand-grazing down the upper-path (right outside his paddock)

3 more days of the above adding in beginning to walk to the wash-rack.

2-4 days of adding standing at wash rack with a couple minutes or less of water time.

2-4 days of adding standing inside of wash-rack.

First bath?

That is my plan so far. Things might go much faster than predicted above. I know race horses get bathed on a daily basis, but it's not so much the premise of the bath as it is the surroundings that Reason will be exposed to. I want and HAVE to do it in a slow manner for his safety sake (injury) as well as for his mental well-being. I want everything he gets exposed to, something he wants to return to time & again! Creating lots of "happy places."

Everything Happens For A Reason. Lets Begin!

2010-06-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Reason has his own blog space here on INKEQ.COM. You can find it by going to the navigation bar just above and clicking Reason's Blog or go to http://www.inkeq.com/reasons-blog/

Well I did come up with a new name for the new horse; Reason! I was thinking about the phrase, or saying, "everything happens for a reason." It seemed the to fit my life, what happened and what is happening. I've always believed in that saying. My Grandma O. believed very much in it too. I had to come up with something very meaningful afterall. I had to do Ink proud. And I think I did. Originally I had come up with the Italian version of "Reason." Ragione. I'm not sure if I'll stick with it or not, but for now, I'm just calling him Reason.

The first couple days of owning Reason, I have to admit were personally very difficult. Everything smeed so familiar. Everything about Reason's track-ness reminded me so much of what I had experienced with Ink. And even though Reason is much more innocent, approachable and sweet, than Ink was in the beginning, I was constantly being reminded of those first, un-predictable, un-known days with Ink. I started the blog about Ink about a month + after I owned him and I made the mistake of not documenting out those first 40 or so days. (Although I am a little behind with Reason's progress, I plan on being more thorough through these first few months.)

I was so confident, so sure of what I knew Ink was. But he had a lot of scars and bruises visible on the outside. It took a lot of convincing and much time to get people to even believe in me. And in the beginning I was very much alone in what I felt and believed in. I knew the amazing horse beneath the front. Ink was not an easy horse to get to know. It took a lot of letting him be him while encouraging him to let me in before he would even care much about who or what I was about. He was defiantly an independent horse. He had a rough, tough, don't care attitude, much like a troubled teen I supposed. I had to open myself to see his way, before I could attempt to be welcomed. Once that happened, things fell smoothly into place. He tested to high heaven, pushed me outside of my comfort zone and made me work for everything and for all of him, but in the end, nearly 4 years later, I truly felt we made it. I understood him, he understood me. He went from an intimidating, independent horse to the horse I could trust to carry me and be with and even do things that four years ago were just out of the question. He was so special and he is proof in the great things that can happen when you do believe. I am beyond thankful, that we were able to get to that place before he passed.

Each day I feel Ink with me. Silently I confide in him to carry me forward with my new horse. I remember things that I experienced with Ink and it gives me strength to push myself and be the best I can be for Reason. I see so much of the same spirit in Reason.

I've been thinking about the blog. It will stay at inkeq.com but I think I might start a separate blog within the site to write about Reason. So then it will begin a new archive but still be all located in one location.

I'll let you all know soon. And regular posts about Reason are coming! :)

A Month Past.

2010-05-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since Ink passed away. It feels like so long ago, but then again, it feels like yesterday.

I've missed Ink more than anything. My horse who had my heart and soul, who was my life. Loss is never easy, it never will be. I'd give anything just to see his face again. I feel empty and I feel as if I have been lead off of one path and onto another, the transition has been good, but is not at all easy and I find myself more sensitive and upset than I have been since I lost Ink. To go on without this part of me, is just crushing me inside.

I made a new friend, un-expectedly on Sunday. Four years ago when I knew I wanted an OTTB, I had the support and guidance to a source from a friend. This friend, lead me to TBFriends, where I then fell in love with Ink, through a photograph over the TBFriends website. Now, almost the same time of year, four years later, I saw this friend again as I went into her tack shop to buy Errika a new bit. I told her what had happened to Ink. She then went on to show me a photograph of a big, dark bay gelding, a friend of her's had up for adoption locally. Matt was with me and his first word was "Wow" and mine was mutual. My friend gave me the ladies number and I called later that day. I had a feeling I wanted to or was going to see a horse that day. And when I got ahold of the owner, I was out looking at the horse under an hour later.

As Matt and I pulled up to the driveway of the barn where this horse was kept, I saw him. He was tall, proud and struck something in me. Quite quickly, I knew that this was the horse I was lead to find. Things fell into place really well, including the fact that the owner knew Matt's family and that Matt had done work through his employer at this very exact barn only weeks prior.

The next day, this big, dark bay gelding was at the barn, home. That fast it happened.

To give a little insight on this horse,( I have no idea what to name him as of yet!).. He's only 3 weeks off the track and came off with a mild bowed tendon on the left front. He's 4 years old, 16.3hh and overall just a big horse. He has an innocent, sweet disposition with personality.

I was expecting an OTTB to come into my life really. If it did it was supposed to happen, but I was not exactly out there looking at off track horses, especially this fresh.

My aunt, who I share many similarities with, found out I had gotten a new horse. She asked my mom about it and as my mom starts to show her a photo and explain, my aunt is shocked. My mom told me that my aunt dreamed about my new horse being a dark bay with the white markings on the face, almost identical to what the horse looks like. Talk about way cool and crazy!

I also want to update on Errika, who's been my rock of a horse for 7+ years now. I am thankful and lucky to have her through everything and I am so happy to be enjoying a little fun with her. - We are going to a play-day/schooling show this weekend! I have no idea what we're going to do, but I'm excited. She's looking great, feeling great and I'm just so happy to have her! Love you my girl.

Picture of the new horse. More to come, I couldn't upload the rest for some reason?

Nothing Gold Can Stay

2010-05-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you to K*, who sent me a nice card, amongst other things you'll see soon, wrote down this poem by Robert Frost, titled, Nothing Gold Can Stay. It was perfect. It reads at the end of the video below.

I made Ink a memorial video. It was hard to put together. I am glad I was home alone, because tears fell like they hadn't since the days after his passing. The music is Fields of Gold sung by the beautiful, harmonious voice of Eva Cassidy. I picked this song because I felt that it was just right for Ink. He took me through fields of gold. And it just so happened to come together perfectly with the poem. I couldn't make a longer video because it was hard enough just doing 5 minutes. I wanted to make it very personal and I hope you enjoy this added glimpse into Ink's life.