Natural Horsemanship with my Haflinger!

my plan to give giddy two days to take it all in, ended up being three as the weather here was unbelievable, torrential rain, high speed winds, not a day for riding

today was hugely interesting, left rein canter online was actually better which is odd, got a great bit of footage of what i am sure is the perfect demonstration of this task on this rein

going to the right, at one point she slipped, and then went a tad right brained, did a circuit and came in and was blowing and puffing really hard, proving to me that all the blowing she has been doing (but not in the last few sessions) is related to emotions and not fitness

my ridden work was not so hot today, didnt really have a clear plan, and boy does it make a difference to the results

I knew it would happen... today giddy didnt want to go on the trailer, she wasnt particularly obstreperous about it, just stood on the ramp looking at me, shame really as she has been going on with total perfection for some time now; but she has of course cottoned on that it means she is off to work

I tried explaining to her that we all have to go to work ;0))

anyway, didnt take long, and on she went, but I am mindful that i need to somehow make this programme at least marginally entertaining for her!

amazing how changes can happen so quickly, today she is offering that rocking horse canter on both reins on the 22ft, got two circuits both ways, often she is dropping to trot then back up without being asked, or with just a light lift of the rein; remarkable results in such a short time just from having a plan and a programme, being consistent, making some changes in myself, and being on a good surface

she is such a smart little mare, I think she has basically realised that the "dont change gait" principle does actually apply in canter too; so now she has accepted this, she has found herself a little canter that uses a lot less energy than life up and lots of bucks, slides etc, although that can be fun to be around when shes like that, but for sure it's not going to get that task passed!

now, I know at some point I am going to need more life, but its easier to get more energy from here, than to gain respect when she is going full blast; and I know Ali is right in what she says, she has to be able to canter with me in neutral for one or more laps if we are going to get the ridden canter

worked on ridden sideways today, and thats going a lot better

and as yesterday, worked on those millions of transitions

according to the weigh tape, she has lost a grand total of 12 kilos in the past 7 days, very, very nearly two stone! Amazing

giddy bless her heart is going to have a day off tomorrow

more improvements today

had a lovely section of canter on the right rein, not leaning on the halter, and looked really balanced; again, that very slow rocking horese canter we had yesterday; she did a full circuit straight from the send, and me not moving an inch (left rein not so hot, but better than it was yesterday)

I have totally underestimated the power of neutral I think, so really working on this, so if she's cantering, I am forcing myself to be really, really still and being prepared to move and tag her the instant she drops, this I think is a big part of the puzzle, so if shes cantering, I figure whatever sort of canter it is, it will do!

and then..........

walked some cloverleafs, trotted some cloverleafs, did stacks of transitions both reins.....

asked for a faster trot up the long side, and I felt her rock back and she cantered ;0))))

she only held a stride, but it was calm and balanced and she just offered it up; it wasn't even from one of those really manic trots she can do, just asked for a little energy, and she just did it

I got off at this point as it felt like a really big try on her part and I wasn't even looking for it

happy days ;0)

of my 7 day and 8 week programme

so tantalisingly close to being officially level 2 now, but then so far, the only way its going to happen is to get a serious programme in place, because time is running out until its all change on the 1st January; I like deadlines, so the motivation is on the rise!

left to assess: just the mounting task, as she needs to put herself in place more, ridden sideways, needs to move off leg more, the online canter task, and the dreaded ridden drop to trots

soooooooo, 8 weeks in which to get it done; so the first part of the plan is now in place, the sand school up the road is now mine to use unlimited between 12 and 3 during the week, they did me a fab deal of £25 per week, its hassle loading up every day, but its only 5 minutes away

it's just not fair on Giddy to expect her to do the canter task at home on the slippy grass, so this is making life so much easier

2 days in and she is being brilliant, not once has she got in a tizz, gone all bracey or dropped into that resistant mode

ali has set us a 7 day programme - set out for 10 laps of canter on the 22ft, doesnt matter if she canters, but she has to do 10 laps, and I am looking for as much canter as possible; sadly the footage of the canter task wasnt good enough, as although she was life up, I wasnt in neutral, and the other footage where I am, she doesnt maintain gait

genuinely, she is unfit, and she does get puffed, but I am now reading this as emotional, she will gallop full pelt in the field, up hills, at length, and not be as out of breath as 10 laps on a 22ft! but I am seeing some improvements; today, she was offering a really, really slow, rocking horse canter on one rein, dropping to trot, then next stride lifting herself back into canter; it is difficult to know if this is really enough of a try, but then again, I dont want to lose a canter that looks rideable, and looks like she could collect up from this position; certainly looks nicer than the flat out mad canter that she does for a lap before sliding to a stop!

so, here it is, my 8 week plan

5 days a week in the sand school, one or two hacks on a weekend / play day etc

get giddy and me fitter

I WILL return to my yoga and pilates to help with my position, which subsequently should help our ridden canter

perhaps a couple of lessons at the riding school to help my position in canter transitions on a horse thats not going to buck ;0)

there it is, in writing, no going back, official level 2 here we come, I am putting the view of "if Eddy Modde cant get her to canter, then neither will I be able to", firmly behind me, and its a brand new motivated me that believes we CAN do this!

Well, what a week it has been, new to the Family is The Englishman, also known as Soots, a 16.3 TBxID - a little different to a Haffie and a mini ;0). I am very lucky to have been offered him on loan, and hes here for a trial to make sure we are all happy

Picture here of their first meeting...

giddy of course is well in charge ;0), there was no squealing from her at all which i was most surprised at; she asserted herself in a very cool calm fashion and after they had all greeted, she led the herd down the field and the two boys followed her meekly

Lightning and soots however did a fair bit of squealing on the first night, and by day two, my two were bullying the great big horse something chronic. I took my stick and string down in the end and tried to support him in the herd by driving Lightning away who was the worse of the two; they have settled a little now, but it has been quite difficult watching soots discover the boundaries of his new herd.

Soots finally began to stand his ground on day 4, I suppose he just needed to build some confidence in his new surroundings, and get used to the equivalent of a terrier coming at him with the violence of a rotweiler; pretty strange to see a mini chasing a 16.3!

It has been very interesting to watch in terms of why Giddy is such a handful, she is incredibly dominant, but did very little to assert herself apart from a couple of double barrels, but then just made it clear she was in charge in a very passive way. Lightning is more defensive and attacking, and I think there is an element of him defending his mare

I have done very little with Soot so far, I figured a week was a good time to settle to ensure he was comfortable; I havent been able to resist however a few little touches on some games. I was a litle wary of him to start, he's so very big, and I know with absolute accuracy how Giddy reacts and responds, but Soots is an unknown quantity at the moment, and although I had lots of feedback on what a good boy is, I of course have to discover this for myself; so I was a little wary, and him a little reserved to start for a couple of days, but now am feeling much more connected with him

Already I can feel that difference between a horse that wants to try to connect and one that is constantly challenging for leadership; Giddy tests me every single moment I am with her, and I have to be totally on form to keep the connection, the minute I am out of place, or rush, or my phases or not gentle enough, then the relationship can break down rapidly and she takes control

With this very gentle old chap, I feel that he wants to connect and play even though its early days, just whilst getting to know him in the field, have tried things like backing him up a little at liberty, and its straight and soft, and sooooooooo different to the challenging little haffie

So interesting days ahead, I think maybe this horse has come to me for a reason as part of my parelli journey, and am hopeful he can also help me with Giddy on many levels. I certainly look forward to some riding that is not a battle of wills, negotiation and levels of patience that I dont always have. I dont suppose my leg muscles are looking forward to getting up there!

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well after a good start coming back into work, we have gone downhill a little, and she looks pretty stiff, seems that the more we do, the arthritis looks worse, but this is odd as it should be the other way around, maybe its a haflinger thing

despite this, gonna have a go at getting my Level 2 down on film, we cant currenty do the ridden canter task, but all else is OK (at least it is until the camera is turned on!)

on a good note, the weigh tape tells me she has lost 4 stone!

Three days, and some good progress ;0) Giddy looks to be moving much freerer than she was earlier in the year, whether the break, or the glucosamine is finally kicking in, I dont know, but I am over the moon to see her moving a little better; still not 100%, but she is happy to go on both reins, and looks pretty good

I set up a little game based around some hill therapy and the circling game, this certainly seems to have piqued her interest, and is doing her the world of good; took the car down and marked a nice track around my 22ft line tied to a cone, nice and flat now and easier for her to move on. Put cones in four places, equally around the circle, with poles on the inside of these, resting on the cone, and those little poly pod things on the inside, about 4 inches i suppose

Interestingly, she didnt want to walk them at first, prefering to trot (!), I am unsure if this is because she has to strech her back less in trot? So that kept us entertained, and have moved this on to thing's like can you go over all 4 without running around the outside, or coming inside, can you do all four with enthusiasm, can you walk to one, trot to the next, walk, trot, then canter; over three days she hasnt got bored with this, and has been happy to go, even offering jumps over the cones, and they are big ones, so i suppose 2.5ft!!

Today I also put her out on the 45ft line for some bigger circles, and got a full circle in canter both sides

Have also ridden three days in the row, with all going well, just doing a little and being careful not to do too much (both mentally and physically). I have been reading about the parelli cradle bridle, and the tongue relief makes sense to me, especially as shes so big in the jaw with a massive tongue ;0) Funds tight at the mo, so have been looking at second hand mylers on ebay; popped in the tack shop today and had a long chat with them; they suggested i try a straight bar, flexible rubber bit, and she actually seems to quite like this, and it certainly looks a better fit for her than the confidence snaffle, she offered some nice soft feel and was pretty still in the mouth; will see how we goes

we did have a bit of a battle yesterday when she got a little tired and didnt want to go forward on the left rein, and was just offering bacwards; I got a little frustrated; but today got on with a lot more purpose, and was working on getting some snappier sideways movement off my leg; have been reading some more traditional riding / training manuals of late, and finding that i am now able to put these in context of my parelli studies, and found it all really helped today

I know for sure I am way too "soft" when it comes to the riding with her in the quest to be natural and not to force her, but there is a need for absolute clarity and being firm when needed, keeping this in mind today, had some lovely results

I have ordered The Complete Training of Horse and Rider by Alois Podhajsky and The Art of Horsemanship by Xenophon, hopefully they will be here tomorrow

Well, as per normal, have fallen behind with this!

Anyway, after some good days, I fel inspired to do an update

We had a very tiny brush with laminitis, but it was very fleeting, pulse was up, and a tiny bit footy, pulled them both off the grass, had some bute, so as an emergency measure, used this and upped the magnesium, next day she looked completely fine, but pulse was going up and down for a few days, until, bingo, cant believe have never tried it before, but gave her some Zeolite after coming across this on the web from an american company; thankfully it's available here from Seventh Wave. Makes total sense really as it removes toxins, and within 12 hours her pulse was gone ;0))

so that was some time ago, since then, she is now on 100% soaked hay, and I am going the full hog and soaking for 12 - 24 hours; she seems more than happy to eat it thankfully, no suprise being a haffie i suppose; and for three days, we have been back into work, and they are going out for a few hours late at night. So far so good, both looking good, and Giddy has lost a massive 20 kilos (3 stone), well, thats according to the weigh tape anyway! She certainly looks really good, beautiful shiny coat and very happy in herself, so all being well, we can stay laminitis free for good now.

I have sadly injured my back very badly, so poor old giddy is being neglected terribly...

as a mare who tests me every day, this protracted period of not playing with her has meant that the respect levels have really dropped as I have been unable to do anything with her

for sure the rapport / respect ladder is not in a good place right now

:0((

hopefully I will be back on track soon