horse training stuff, I might as well sit down again and give you the update
on the young'uns first lesson in longeing/cavesson/grown up work, as the
general predecessor to long-lining, which I feel has far more value. I
don't over longe any of my stock, and especially young stock. It is easier
to teach beginning 'forward movement on command' with one line than with two,
however... Isn't there a saying about that? A line on the horse is worth
two in the barn?
It was well worth the investment in a good cavesson, as I realized that it
certainly gives much more precise control over the front end of any horse
wearing it. I got this jingling, noisy flappy thing on Booger no problem (
This is an extra-holed full horse-sized cavesson, incidentally...I think he
will grow into his head and feet, yessiree Bub..) except for his trying to
eat the longe line. Anything not normally seen in the pasture is fair game
to eat, you know. The general consensus seemed to be that it tasted better
than it looked. Then, time to sniff the longe whip with it's short lash,
( Hmmmm....what are you-....-hey- that is MY bottom you are touching with
that thing, mom...Okay...no reason to get upset I GUESS. Oh, a carrot bite?
For meeeee?! Are you feeling okay, Dragon Lady?) Then, I asked for
forward straight movement with a gentle tap. Can we say "Stood there like a
rock"? I went back to asking him to lead beside me in a large circle and
then gradually feeding a short amount of line to let him begin to circle me
at a (occasionally) walk. And canter. And rapid trot. And short buck. And
walk again while mom rushes him a carrot bit, air express, trying to
reinforce that a relaxed walk gets you where you want to go fast. I just
wanted both boys ( 1.5 and nearly 2 years) to get the idea that I was asking
for movement and controlling direction from a short distance today. Boog
would walk nicely around for a moment, and then stop and try to slither/crash
over in what one would loosely define as their own space. ( I can dream,
right?) Reassurance and control of the comfort zone probably were the
motivation for this. I got some nice responses and a few not as nice
responses....(You want me to GO? Like, you mean, real fast to my buddy over
there? No??! I am SO sorry, can't imagine what got into me..) but I did
establish some very good ground basics, and could see the little wheels
turning. Boogie is so stinking smart that he requires me to be smart, too.
My poor brain. I did notice that he is so calm and gentle that his fear
could easily be expressed by temper as there is so little flight instinct, so
I tried to keep our session especially easy and pleasant, ( Oh, you took a
step! Good boy have a cookie..) while still insisting on him actually
moving off at my asking. It was productive, definitely, though he was
somewhat reluctant to relinquish control. I will go back out tomorrow for
another short session, and I anticipate that he will follow the same pattern
he has in the past, and stun me with his intelligence and ability, as well
as inventing a very creative test or two of my patience on the spot. He
wants to know 'why', I think, but that translates well to making a really
talented performance horse.
It is fun when a youngster gets to this point in their life, where you can
start on the "thinking" part. I firmly believe that most horses have to
learn how to learn, and making that both positive and effective is my main
goal with the boys to start with. I plan on writing a book "Overcoming
A.D.D. in young horses". Should be a best seller, no?
Vinnie's turn, now.
Go and get him, watching for fear response to loud headstall janglings and
extra straps, etc. as cavesson is applied to head. Nothing at all, par for
the course with this breed so far. Walk fo-..... Okay, Vinnie. You have to
walk WITH me, or else this doesn't work. Ahem. Walk forward and try to
remember where I left the darned line and whip.....Ahhhh. Of course. Booger
has both items halfway digested.... Shoo, ratboy, you in da wayAHHHHH NOT
RIGHT BY ME you little twit! (Fun game, huh Vinnie?!) I think we have to
re-establish that it is bad manners as well as plain old dumb to try to get
your buddy to play when mom is working in the pasture with you. Booger was
sent to his room , where he proceeded to indulge himself in a royal sulk.
Where were we, Vinnie? Oh. Yes.
Vinnie, this is Mr. Longe whip, I am sure you remember him? He taps us on
the nether regions and you move forward.....Yes...just like that, angel boy.
Vinnie has had a tad more experience walking forward from a whip/hip
pressure cue, and remembers this, so off he goes in a lovely nearly-circle,
walking calmly and stopping on command as well as throwing in a couple of
nifty volunteer brake tests to be sure I knew that they were in fine working
order. I can hear Booger from his stall, gritting his teeth and threatening
Vinnie with a big ouchie noogie for making him look bad.
We worked on both sides, Vinnie staying calm and only balking a little now
and then. Willing to trot, but we worked on calm, relaxed first. I nobly
resisted the temptation to work him harder than I needed to, stopped him and
gave him a good 5 minute scrub on his neck, oh-so-casually leaning over him
as I had with Booger, just happening to rest most of my weight on their back
repeatedly, for a second or two, as I reach their itchy spots. Subterfuge
and bribery, my two favorite training aids.
Then, time for Vinnie to stand still and lower head just like Boogie had to,
( It's not fair!) while I de-buckle and de-snap and de-tangle all of that
long forelock. ( I swear I am gonna cut that thing off !!!) Another petting
session before I go let Joe Cool out of his room to beat up on his pasture
mate, Goodie-Two-Shoes.
It is days like today that make owning horses like these a real thrill.
Can I go to bed yet?