Wow...on my "To Do" list is to finish this blog story...but I did not realize it's been so long.
To make it short...a few days after writing this, my other horse broke my arm (stupid accident on the ground). Daisy went back to her owner, who then sold her to a wonderful horse person who worked with her and in turn, found her a perfect home with little boys that love Daisy, and can ride her with no more problems.
The End!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Another Daisy Update
Yesterday was trailer lesson day. My goal was to have her stand quietly at the ramp, and even put her feet on it, but not go in.
She did her usual rearing...but my two horses at the same time made it interesting by galloping around and snorting in the pasture! Daisy didn't know if she should pay attention to me or them. So I took advantage of the situation and we worked on paying attention to me and walking to the trailer without rearing. When she did rear, I lunged her.
She finally put it together, stood at the trailer, and I gave her a lot of praise, walked away from the trailer and let her graze to release the pressure. I think she would have gotten on the trailer, but that is not what I was working on.
She did her usual rearing...but my two horses at the same time made it interesting by galloping around and snorting in the pasture! Daisy didn't know if she should pay attention to me or them. So I took advantage of the situation and we worked on paying attention to me and walking to the trailer without rearing. When she did rear, I lunged her.
She finally put it together, stood at the trailer, and I gave her a lot of praise, walked away from the trailer and let her graze to release the pressure. I think she would have gotten on the trailer, but that is not what I was working on.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Windy Day, Re-Trailering Lesson #1
Yesterday we had gale force winds, so of course, I decide to work Daisy on her lunging (just lightly) and her first official "re-trailering" lesson.
I wanted to see how she was with the trailer, and chose my goal from there. She was okay grazing, but when I led her to the trailer, she started this series of rearing...more like "I don't want to go there" as opposed to "I am afraid to go there." My goal became "I want you to stand in front of the ramp until I say otherwise".
It took a while...there were several rearing episodes, but those were more feet in the air, land, see what I was going to do. I just yanked on the rope halter, backed her, and lead her to the trailer again. After about 3 or 4 of these, she would stand at the ramp and sniff it. The first few times she pulled away when she thought she was done. She finally, after rearing, walked to the trailer and stood. The last time she walked up to the ramp without rearing and stood there. We quit at that.
I did make sure that after she did what I asked, I released pressure on her by walking away from the trailer and letting her graze. I can almost see her processing...this morning, when I took her to her pasture, she pointedly stopped and looked at the trailer, as if she was thinking.
I wanted to see how she was with the trailer, and chose my goal from there. She was okay grazing, but when I led her to the trailer, she started this series of rearing...more like "I don't want to go there" as opposed to "I am afraid to go there." My goal became "I want you to stand in front of the ramp until I say otherwise".
It took a while...there were several rearing episodes, but those were more feet in the air, land, see what I was going to do. I just yanked on the rope halter, backed her, and lead her to the trailer again. After about 3 or 4 of these, she would stand at the ramp and sniff it. The first few times she pulled away when she thought she was done. She finally, after rearing, walked to the trailer and stood. The last time she walked up to the ramp without rearing and stood there. We quit at that.
I did make sure that after she did what I asked, I released pressure on her by walking away from the trailer and letting her graze. I can almost see her processing...this morning, when I took her to her pasture, she pointedly stopped and looked at the trailer, as if she was thinking.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Another Rainy Day
Yesterday was stormy here in west Michigan, but I did get to play around with seeing how Daisy reacted to a surcingle...and she was very good! I had the reins loose so there was no pressure on the bit (I use a snaffle). She did look at it funny when I put it on and had to sniff it.
I plan on riding her this weekend...hope the rain stays away!
I plan on riding her this weekend...hope the rain stays away!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Another Day...And A New Move For Daisy
Daisy did so well today with her lunging, and getting very good at walk/trot/canter transitions, that I decided to add walk/canter transitions. She needs more practice, but is getting it. It's quite obvious that this is new...at first she had to trot between walk/canter. I also wanted to get her walk/canter transitioning to get her to push with her hind legs more and strengthen her hip muscles.
I do like the way she tries so hard. It seems obvious to me that when she didn't understand, she was treated roughly, but the more I work with her and she realizes I'll give her the time to figure it out, she stops with her pulling away and focuses on me.
I do like the way she tries so hard. It seems obvious to me that when she didn't understand, she was treated roughly, but the more I work with her and she realizes I'll give her the time to figure it out, she stops with her pulling away and focuses on me.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Daisy's Trim
I have an incredible farrier who trimmed Daisy for the first time tonight. Her three feet (left front, two hinds) were okay. I had noticed, along with my friend and the equine adjuster, that her right front was not right. It looked too high on the heel, and starting to contract. What happens then is the toe starts to point down more sharply to the ground instead of more forward, causing pain.
My farrier showed me how you could tell if there was pain in the hoof by jiggling the brachiocephalicus muscle - if there is pain or discomfort, then the horse will step back. Daisy's left was okay, but when he jiggled her right brachiocephalicus muscle, she stepped back. You could also see from the front that her right foot looked a bit narrower than her left.
So he worked on that hoof for a bit and opened up the whole area; when he put her foot down, you could see the spread starting. He then jiggled her brachiocephalicus muscle, and she did not step back. I wish I had taken pictures...it was all very interesting, and I need to learn more!
From: http://www.naturalanimals.net/brachio/
"The brachiocephalicus muscle has an action on the cervical vertebrae, and it is has an action on the should joint of flexing laterally and extending the shoulder. It comes into play with sideways movement of the head.
Its origin is the wing of atlas and mastoid process, temporal bone and nucral crest. Its insertion point is the humerus - deltoid tuberosity and fascia on hte shoulder and foreleg. This muscle can affect gait of the horse. If the gait is not level in front and gets worse on circles and turns; or your horse is not going forwards or has choppy strides, this is one muscle you may need to address."
Very interesting...sounds a bit like Daisy to me!
He is also an equine dentist, and said that she has some points, not severe, but needing attention.
I am excited and hoping that by getting rid of all these "pain pockets" Daisy will finally be able to enjoy being ridden!
My farrier showed me how you could tell if there was pain in the hoof by jiggling the brachiocephalicus muscle - if there is pain or discomfort, then the horse will step back. Daisy's left was okay, but when he jiggled her right brachiocephalicus muscle, she stepped back. You could also see from the front that her right foot looked a bit narrower than her left.
So he worked on that hoof for a bit and opened up the whole area; when he put her foot down, you could see the spread starting. He then jiggled her brachiocephalicus muscle, and she did not step back. I wish I had taken pictures...it was all very interesting, and I need to learn more!
From: http://www.naturalanimals.net/brachio/
"The brachiocephalicus muscle has an action on the cervical vertebrae, and it is has an action on the should joint of flexing laterally and extending the shoulder. It comes into play with sideways movement of the head.
Its origin is the wing of atlas and mastoid process, temporal bone and nucral crest. Its insertion point is the humerus - deltoid tuberosity and fascia on hte shoulder and foreleg. This muscle can affect gait of the horse. If the gait is not level in front and gets worse on circles and turns; or your horse is not going forwards or has choppy strides, this is one muscle you may need to address."
Very interesting...sounds a bit like Daisy to me!
He is also an equine dentist, and said that she has some points, not severe, but needing attention.
I am excited and hoping that by getting rid of all these "pain pockets" Daisy will finally be able to enjoy being ridden!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Now that Daisy has the basics, it's fine tuning time with her groundwork. She knows what I want, and even though there are some times that she hesitates, I really think she's "got it".
Thursday was again lunging. She even focused on me when my mare, Starlette, and the gelding next door, Dakota, where having a lovefest at each other, only losing attention when Starlette squealed or Dakota strutted by with his wanker hanging out. And she consistantly gave me her right lead! I didn't push too hard as I want her hip to muscle up and not get sore.
Friday my friend again worked her. His report to me: "Worked with Daisy today. Lunged-Boy the right hind sure looks better! More basic leading. I left Cooper and Starlette out,when Starlette would walk into the barn and walk out Daisy did rear up on the crossties a couple times, only a foot-foot and a half,need to work with that but in the barn on the crossties isn't really the place. Aside from that she is doing better."
Saturday (today) I lunged her at dusk. She would keep looking into the barn where the horses were, but did really well. Again, a few hesitations and stopping and looking at me, but would then continue on in the direction I wanted. No rearing at all. Just undoing of old habits. The only problem I had with her was leading her around to cool her down...when I walked away from the barn, she pulled and started backing away. I was going to yank on the rope halter, then realized that is probably what people did to her before, so what I did was straighten her out, and when she pulled, I whipped the lead rope behind me and wacked her in the butt, which caused her to scoot forward. Only took two times, and she behaved herself.
Still trying to decide if I want to start riding her, or give her another week or so of groundwork. I really want a good foundation on her - this time!
Thursday was again lunging. She even focused on me when my mare, Starlette, and the gelding next door, Dakota, where having a lovefest at each other, only losing attention when Starlette squealed or Dakota strutted by with his wanker hanging out. And she consistantly gave me her right lead! I didn't push too hard as I want her hip to muscle up and not get sore.
Friday my friend again worked her. His report to me: "Worked with Daisy today. Lunged-Boy the right hind sure looks better! More basic leading. I left Cooper and Starlette out,when Starlette would walk into the barn and walk out Daisy did rear up on the crossties a couple times, only a foot-foot and a half,need to work with that but in the barn on the crossties isn't really the place. Aside from that she is doing better."
Saturday (today) I lunged her at dusk. She would keep looking into the barn where the horses were, but did really well. Again, a few hesitations and stopping and looking at me, but would then continue on in the direction I wanted. No rearing at all. Just undoing of old habits. The only problem I had with her was leading her around to cool her down...when I walked away from the barn, she pulled and started backing away. I was going to yank on the rope halter, then realized that is probably what people did to her before, so what I did was straighten her out, and when she pulled, I whipped the lead rope behind me and wacked her in the butt, which caused her to scoot forward. Only took two times, and she behaved herself.
Still trying to decide if I want to start riding her, or give her another week or so of groundwork. I really want a good foundation on her - this time!
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