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!
Monday, August 30, 2010
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!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Quick Update
My friend worked her yesterday. Here's what he had to say:
"Worked with the daisy today. Basic leading /showmanship stuff. Working on her walking with instead of walking ahead/dragging, moving her feet to set-up, stopping when told,pivoting. she did well. she moves off of fingertip pressure pretty good. Backing is definately an area to work on. I picked up some flyspray for her. ***THANK YOU**** She stood quietly in the pasture with no lead or halter on while I brushed her off. and she stood while I sprayed her with the flyspray."
I have also seen a change when turning her out...she's less panicky when alone. Making progress!!!!
"Worked with the daisy today. Basic leading /showmanship stuff. Working on her walking with instead of walking ahead/dragging, moving her feet to set-up, stopping when told,pivoting. she did well. she moves off of fingertip pressure pretty good. Backing is definately an area to work on. I picked up some flyspray for her. ***THANK YOU**** She stood quietly in the pasture with no lead or halter on while I brushed her off. and she stood while I sprayed her with the flyspray."
I have also seen a change when turning her out...she's less panicky when alone. Making progress!!!!
Monday, August 23, 2010
What's Left is Not Right, But What Right is...Right!
So, tonight was Daisy only night. I decided to practice lunging as seen on the previous video...I had no idea of how she would act; I know my friend worked a little with her on Sunday, but I wasn't there.
First she walked in a circle in her favorite direction...to the left. I circled, then went straight down the side of my riding area, then circle at the other end, and walk straight. Did this twice. She was distracted at first...Starlette and mini-Cooper were out grazing right next to us, and the girl next door was riding her horse practicing jumping. But Daisy was really good, got her attention on me, and focused on what we were doing.
We (and I say "we" since I was next to her) then trotted....circle, straight, circle, straight. When I first started trotting next to her, she couldn't figure out what was going on, and broke into a canter. I got her back into a trot, and she figured out that I was not chasing her, or going to whip her, and did the pattern very nicely.
On to the canter...she did very well left lead circle, but when she went straight, hit the end of the lunge hard and stopped/spun/got ready to rear. I just got her faced in the right direction, and tried to figure out how not to have her hit the lunge hard at the turn...and found out if I said "easy" she slowed just enough to use the lunge to guide her.
She did so well, it was time for the right. Walking right, she got a bit hyper and started trotting, but I got her back to a walk and kept her walking until she was calmly going around the riding area. We then moved onto the trot, and she is so smart, she figured out what I wanted. Time for the canter....
I started her along the fence line...I decided that gave me the better advantage if she went to spin and rear...the fence would keep her straight. She went into a canter very nicely, but on the left lead. Suddenly she switched leads...and I could see her anticpate pain. Only it didn't hurt. She didn't know what to do, and she pulled, spun and popped up a little. I let her think about it for a moment, got her going in the correct direction again, asked her to canter, and she did the same thing...started left lead, switched to right lead, pull, spin and pop. I gave her a moment, then again, I asked her to canter...and she took the right lead and held it! I let her circle two times, and asked her to walk, praising her all the time.
After the break, I wanted her to use her right lead going straight, so again asked her to canter. We did the pattern....big circle, straight, big circle, straight...and she did it like she had been doing it all along. I quit at that point...I didn't want to get her sore from using muscles she was not used to using in the right way, and I wanted to end in a positive note.
She is really sweet...while I walked her out, she kept touching me with her nose as if it ask if she did good. Of course I told her what a good horse she is!
First she walked in a circle in her favorite direction...to the left. I circled, then went straight down the side of my riding area, then circle at the other end, and walk straight. Did this twice. She was distracted at first...Starlette and mini-Cooper were out grazing right next to us, and the girl next door was riding her horse practicing jumping. But Daisy was really good, got her attention on me, and focused on what we were doing.
We (and I say "we" since I was next to her) then trotted....circle, straight, circle, straight. When I first started trotting next to her, she couldn't figure out what was going on, and broke into a canter. I got her back into a trot, and she figured out that I was not chasing her, or going to whip her, and did the pattern very nicely.
On to the canter...she did very well left lead circle, but when she went straight, hit the end of the lunge hard and stopped/spun/got ready to rear. I just got her faced in the right direction, and tried to figure out how not to have her hit the lunge hard at the turn...and found out if I said "easy" she slowed just enough to use the lunge to guide her.
She did so well, it was time for the right. Walking right, she got a bit hyper and started trotting, but I got her back to a walk and kept her walking until she was calmly going around the riding area. We then moved onto the trot, and she is so smart, she figured out what I wanted. Time for the canter....
I started her along the fence line...I decided that gave me the better advantage if she went to spin and rear...the fence would keep her straight. She went into a canter very nicely, but on the left lead. Suddenly she switched leads...and I could see her anticpate pain. Only it didn't hurt. She didn't know what to do, and she pulled, spun and popped up a little. I let her think about it for a moment, got her going in the correct direction again, asked her to canter, and she did the same thing...started left lead, switched to right lead, pull, spin and pop. I gave her a moment, then again, I asked her to canter...and she took the right lead and held it! I let her circle two times, and asked her to walk, praising her all the time.
After the break, I wanted her to use her right lead going straight, so again asked her to canter. We did the pattern....big circle, straight, big circle, straight...and she did it like she had been doing it all along. I quit at that point...I didn't want to get her sore from using muscles she was not used to using in the right way, and I wanted to end in a positive note.
She is really sweet...while I walked her out, she kept touching me with her nose as if it ask if she did good. Of course I told her what a good horse she is!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
More Leading Lessons Redux
Daisy was much better tonight with her leading. I did notice that she turns her head into me when we halt; this could be part of her spine being out, or being yanked on to stop, or both. So I made sure my hand was centered under head when we halted and that she was squared up. I think this will also get her to stop swinging her hip out to face me.
Tomorrow...back to our regular training sessons!
Tomorrow...back to our regular training sessons!
A Day Without A Lesson? Not....
Yesterday was Daisy's day off since she had been adjusted the night before. However, with some horses, they never get a day off...
She is obviously feeling better! When I brought the horses in, and she is always last because she's in the far pasture (so she can get used to being along), last night she worked herself up into a frenzy galloping back and forth (yes, galloping!). I watched to see if she would take her right lead - unfortunately, no - and tried to catch her. She was so jazzed up that it took a good 5 minutes before she stood quietly enough for me to put on her halter.
Now, I would not put it on until she stood quietly. Thank you Cesar Milan/Dog Whisper and his training methods of calm submissive behavor before reward. I also have to practice patience when using this training method, but it's not only good for the horse, but good for me, too!
Once I had her haltered, first thing I do is wait a moment to see if she's focused on me or on the barn. Last night was totally barn. So I went to walk her around the pasture to get her attention, and she gave me a little pop-up. So we backed, and backed, and backed. Went to walk forward, and she swung herself around me instead of standing by my side. So we backed and backed. Good thing the chiro said she needed backing to help that hip! After about 10 minutes of rinse and repeat, she finally focused on me.
We did stop and wait several times walking back to the barn, but she got the idea and waited for me to go forward before moving herself. Of course, she was praised, and I could see her trying to figure it all out.
You never know when a lesson will happen!
She is obviously feeling better! When I brought the horses in, and she is always last because she's in the far pasture (so she can get used to being along), last night she worked herself up into a frenzy galloping back and forth (yes, galloping!). I watched to see if she would take her right lead - unfortunately, no - and tried to catch her. She was so jazzed up that it took a good 5 minutes before she stood quietly enough for me to put on her halter.
Now, I would not put it on until she stood quietly. Thank you Cesar Milan/Dog Whisper and his training methods of calm submissive behavor before reward. I also have to practice patience when using this training method, but it's not only good for the horse, but good for me, too!
Once I had her haltered, first thing I do is wait a moment to see if she's focused on me or on the barn. Last night was totally barn. So I went to walk her around the pasture to get her attention, and she gave me a little pop-up. So we backed, and backed, and backed. Went to walk forward, and she swung herself around me instead of standing by my side. So we backed and backed. Good thing the chiro said she needed backing to help that hip! After about 10 minutes of rinse and repeat, she finally focused on me.
We did stop and wait several times walking back to the barn, but she got the idea and waited for me to go forward before moving herself. Of course, she was praised, and I could see her trying to figure it all out.
You never know when a lesson will happen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)