I hope you like the new colour scheme - I was bored with the last one. Let me know what you think.
I could do with some help/feedback on another couple of things. I am after some cheap but good quality pony saddles to send out to Kenya. They need to be wide fit and no more than 16 or 16 and a half inches long. I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for them, nevertheless, the cheaper they are the more I can send.
Also, does anyone want to support the Masaii by buying a beaded browband like Chancer's (see older posts). They will be £10 each and ALL proceeds will go to the Masaii that make them. I have ordered 10 at the moment and will photograph them when they arrive - after that I hope to be able to offer a choice of colours and sizes. Ideal Christmas present?
I have done a couple of days work towards the end of this week (trying to keep my posture right at all times). On Friday it was off to see Rosie Grover and her splendid three year old Appaloosa Merlot. He's a beautifully marked horse with a fabulous temperament. Rosie's aim is to get it right first time and so we just went through to see if there were any obvious gaps in his education before concentrating on groundwork. Rosie has done a pretty fine job with this horse so far and so it was all very positive. Similarly, this morning I went off to work with a two year old Connemara pony called Tom. Another delightful pony - full of personality and curiosity. This afternoon it was off to work with a Czechoslovakian horse that has been a bit reluctant to load (and who can blame him after such a long journey) just to get him flowing on and off again. Once he's loaded he travels fine. All of these horses have only recently been purchased by their owners and I applaud them for not waiting until they have problems or I am the last resort.
E-mail from Rosie: Merlot has been doing well! Groundwork progressing, and just taking it slow. Thanks again for your help! Its really changed the way we work together : )
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
28th August, 2009 They said I had to go to rehab...
And I said yes. Wessex Rehabilitation Centre is more for the injured and achey than the drunk and the drugged (although there's an idea) and I have been sent there because I have chronic pain in my shoulders and neck. Spending so much time using inviting body language with a heavy riding hat on my head can't be helping but the hours on the computer are probably the main culprit. It's been brilliant and I find my self looking at the parallels with horses - the need for core stability, the need for pacing so that muscles are allowed to recover from micro-trauma, remembered pain and so on.
In the meantime, Chancer ended up at the veterinary hospital on Wednesday night having over-reached really badly and cut himself so deeply that looking at it made me feel peculiar. I went to see if Cello was alright without him the following morning and found Petra standing with leg off the ground. One vet visit later and she was wrapped up in bandages with instructions to hose or ice for twenty minutes twice a day and of course, box rest. Now, I am not a fan of box rest because of its isolating effect and tendency to send horses insane, and with two of them crocked and only one barn, I talked to the vet about pen rest. She was quite enthusiastic and so we are giving it a try. Petra is in the round pen with Jack outside to keep her company and Chancer is in a squarish pen with Cello to talk to.
In the meantime, Chancer ended up at the veterinary hospital on Wednesday night having over-reached really badly and cut himself so deeply that looking at it made me feel peculiar. I went to see if Cello was alright without him the following morning and found Petra standing with leg off the ground. One vet visit later and she was wrapped up in bandages with instructions to hose or ice for twenty minutes twice a day and of course, box rest. Now, I am not a fan of box rest because of its isolating effect and tendency to send horses insane, and with two of them crocked and only one barn, I talked to the vet about pen rest. She was quite enthusiastic and so we are giving it a try. Petra is in the round pen with Jack outside to keep her company and Chancer is in a squarish pen with Cello to talk to.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
23rd August, 2009 Britford Part II
I really enjoyed working with Vinny, a big coloured cob. There is a tendency to think that cobs are stubborn and unresponsive but it simply isn't true. After just a little groundwork, Vinny was really light. I understand that he has been difficult to load for a long time especially when his owners are under pressure to get somewhere. I got him going on and off to begin with before starting to unload him through the front door.
23rd August, 2009 Britford Demo
My second demo at Britford this week went very smoothly. I worked with five different horses and ponies in five hours and it was as if each of them had read a book on the subject. Little Bailey (top) showed how acknowledging the first offer to be caught can greatly increase your chances of catching a pony. Bailey was left tethered at the side of the road a few years ago and crowds of children used to vault onto his back and torment him. He has got over all of that and is much less wary of people than he used to be. He also enabled me to show clicker training for catching and amused everyone by walking up and asking me to put his headcollar on. I first met Gracie (third one down) about a year ago. This pony was found orphaned under a bush and was then fed sheep milk. When Josie got her, she was pretty malnourished but she had benefited from other pony company. Today I introduced her to long reining. The two Foresters, Forrester and Diplomat (second and fourth pictures) demonstrated groundwork and desensitisation techniques. These are both really nice ponies and great examples of the New Forest breed.
I have to confess to a sleepless night last night following the discovery that my "Madonna" headset had packed up. Fortunately David took over the commentary and I was able to have quite a restful day - for once I am not sick of the sound of my own voice!
Thank you so much for an excellent and informative demo. My two friends have both already tried out various things you suggested/demonstrated and have been amazed at the results! LB
Just a quickie to say that once again it worked! – A new pony arrived on our yard and everyone was patting – yes patting – him hanging on him etc! – poor 18 yr old boy Welsh/TB/Arab nice looking but a bit – where’s my mum gone? So I asked the girls to watch & showed them how you did it! – Walked up with hand palm down towards him, not making eye contact etc, he walked up sniffed my hand, I turned away he followed! Wouldn’t leave me alone then !! His new mum tried it & now he is more settled and seems happier with her, still nickers at me though!! LB
Saturday, August 22, 2009
22nd August, 2009 General Advice
Here it is:
General Advice as to How to Approach a Behavioural Problem
Step 1: Check the physical
If you want to work in an ethical way with your horse you need to rule out as far as possible whether there could be a physical cause for any behavioural problem. If in doubt, get a second opinion.
I am happy to come out and see whether I think your horse might have a physical problem. However, I am not a qualified back person or saddle fitter and can only spot the obvious.
Horses can only express their physical pain through body language and changes in gait/ performance. Back pain is a common cause for ridden problems and often coupled with a poorly fitting saddle. Gastric ulcers are common in horses that are stabled for a significant of the time. Teeth problems can be a cause for resistance or even rearing.
Who to contact
The vet is a good first port of call along with a Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist or McTimoney-Corley Practitioner for back problems. You might also want to consider contacting a good saddle fitter. Consider the vet or a qualified dental technician for teeth.
Step 2: Check your underlying relationship
Does your horse see you as his leader?
If your horse moves you around and you can’t move him around, it could be undermining your relationship. If your horse is bargey or takes you for walks, snatches at grass, bites, kicks or is otherwise aggressive then you could benefit from a groundwork session with me.
Horses need good leadership.
I specialise in helping people to establish leadership with their horse. Using non-violent methods I can help you with good groundwork exercises that do not involve a system or drilling.
Step 3: Is your horse frightened of anything?
Has your horse got confidence issues brought about by a fear of people or things?
If your horse is generally nervous or worried about specific things then you could benefit from learning about desensitisation techniques.
I can provide sessions addressing general or specific fear and show you how to continue with that work in a sensitive and logical way.
Step 4: Has your horse missed out on an important stage in his education?
There is a strong economic incentive to break horses in quickly so that they can be sold on or competed.
If your horse is struggling with confidence levels or fitness or you suspect that he has been pushed into an outline before he was ready then it might help if you were to go back and fill in any gaps in his education.
I can provide sessions covering long reining, confidence building and basic ridden work which are designed to be relaxing and fun for your horse.
Quirky problems
Do you find that you are having to cope with or manage problems on an everyday basis or avoid doing things because you know your horse will be difficult?
Many problems get worse over time if they are not addressed. For example, ear shyness, reluctance to have a bridle on, catching issues, difficulty worming, biting, bitting, aggression etc.
If your horse has any quirky problem that you would like to have addressed then I may well be able to help. Many problems can be resolved fairly simply once you are shown how and more complex problems can be addressed over time. Time and patience are very important with horses, but time, patience AND technique is the real key.
Wild ponies
Semi-feral, rescued or traumatised ponies have often had poor experiences with people in the past.
Semi-feral, rescue ponies or even the occasional domesticated pony may be difficult to get near, to catch or to lead.
I am considered to be an expert in handling and training semi-feral, rescue, traumatised and shy ponies and can provide one to one or group training in how to handle these ponies. I have also written a book, No Fear, No Force, detailing how to work with these ponies in a gentle and ethical way.
Specific problems: I cannot give detailed advice on how to deal with a specific problem with a specific horse without seeing the horse concerned. A typical visit would include a full assessment and to make a good start in the work needed in order to leave you in a position where you can continue. Further sessions might be necessary depending on the nature of the problem and the level of support that you need. All visits are followed by a detailed report of the work that we have done and the suggestions that I have made.
General Advice as to How to Approach a Behavioural Problem
Step 1: Check the physical
If you want to work in an ethical way with your horse you need to rule out as far as possible whether there could be a physical cause for any behavioural problem. If in doubt, get a second opinion.
I am happy to come out and see whether I think your horse might have a physical problem. However, I am not a qualified back person or saddle fitter and can only spot the obvious.
Horses can only express their physical pain through body language and changes in gait/ performance. Back pain is a common cause for ridden problems and often coupled with a poorly fitting saddle. Gastric ulcers are common in horses that are stabled for a significant of the time. Teeth problems can be a cause for resistance or even rearing.
Who to contact
The vet is a good first port of call along with a Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist or McTimoney-Corley Practitioner for back problems. You might also want to consider contacting a good saddle fitter. Consider the vet or a qualified dental technician for teeth.
Step 2: Check your underlying relationship
Does your horse see you as his leader?
If your horse moves you around and you can’t move him around, it could be undermining your relationship. If your horse is bargey or takes you for walks, snatches at grass, bites, kicks or is otherwise aggressive then you could benefit from a groundwork session with me.
Horses need good leadership.
I specialise in helping people to establish leadership with their horse. Using non-violent methods I can help you with good groundwork exercises that do not involve a system or drilling.
Step 3: Is your horse frightened of anything?
Has your horse got confidence issues brought about by a fear of people or things?
If your horse is generally nervous or worried about specific things then you could benefit from learning about desensitisation techniques.
I can provide sessions addressing general or specific fear and show you how to continue with that work in a sensitive and logical way.
Step 4: Has your horse missed out on an important stage in his education?
There is a strong economic incentive to break horses in quickly so that they can be sold on or competed.
If your horse is struggling with confidence levels or fitness or you suspect that he has been pushed into an outline before he was ready then it might help if you were to go back and fill in any gaps in his education.
I can provide sessions covering long reining, confidence building and basic ridden work which are designed to be relaxing and fun for your horse.
Quirky problems
Do you find that you are having to cope with or manage problems on an everyday basis or avoid doing things because you know your horse will be difficult?
Many problems get worse over time if they are not addressed. For example, ear shyness, reluctance to have a bridle on, catching issues, difficulty worming, biting, bitting, aggression etc.
If your horse has any quirky problem that you would like to have addressed then I may well be able to help. Many problems can be resolved fairly simply once you are shown how and more complex problems can be addressed over time. Time and patience are very important with horses, but time, patience AND technique is the real key.
Wild ponies
Semi-feral, rescued or traumatised ponies have often had poor experiences with people in the past.
Semi-feral, rescue ponies or even the occasional domesticated pony may be difficult to get near, to catch or to lead.
I am considered to be an expert in handling and training semi-feral, rescue, traumatised and shy ponies and can provide one to one or group training in how to handle these ponies. I have also written a book, No Fear, No Force, detailing how to work with these ponies in a gentle and ethical way.
Specific problems: I cannot give detailed advice on how to deal with a specific problem with a specific horse without seeing the horse concerned. A typical visit would include a full assessment and to make a good start in the work needed in order to leave you in a position where you can continue. Further sessions might be necessary depending on the nature of the problem and the level of support that you need. All visits are followed by a detailed report of the work that we have done and the suggestions that I have made.
22nd August, 2009 Give and take
Two more new and lovely customers towards the end of the week. Kelly has a delightful, steel grey, seven year old New Forest pony called Cassie who is sometimes a bit ambivalent about being caught. It was just a matter of honing Kelly's technique so that she could acknowledge Cassie's first offer to be caught. Yesterday saw me working on loading with a big Warmblood called Boris and his owner Maisie. He had taken to stepping backwards out of the trailer rather smartly whenever anyone approached from behind and we had to prove to him that we had no intention of doing anything horrid.
I've been keeping a bit of a note and worked out that I am giving at least 12 hours free advice per week often on the telephone in the evening when David is home and sometimes quite late or at weekends. This is the equivalent of working an extra day every week and much as I don't mind giving a bit of extra advice to current clients, the rest of it is going to have to stop or I will end up poor and single. Accordingly we would ask people to e-mail about their horse wherever they can and certainly not to phone after 8.30 p.m. I will put up some general advice, for free, on this and my main website http://www.logicalhorsemanship.co.uk In any event, it is really difficult to give specific advice about a specific horse without having met it, as there are so many variables to take into account. I would say that I can help with most horse problems and help to get it right first time and that it is always worth having a visit.
We have also been having at least six telephone calls a day from telemarketers and my original ploy of asking them for their home telephone number so that I could ring up and talk to them about their horse wasn't making me feel any better. As well as registering with the telephone preference service, I am now going to ask for the address of the complaints section of anyone that rings us and then threaten them with aprivate prosecution for behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Just call me Mrs Meldrew!!
I've been keeping a bit of a note and worked out that I am giving at least 12 hours free advice per week often on the telephone in the evening when David is home and sometimes quite late or at weekends. This is the equivalent of working an extra day every week and much as I don't mind giving a bit of extra advice to current clients, the rest of it is going to have to stop or I will end up poor and single. Accordingly we would ask people to e-mail about their horse wherever they can and certainly not to phone after 8.30 p.m. I will put up some general advice, for free, on this and my main website http://www.logicalhorsemanship.co.uk In any event, it is really difficult to give specific advice about a specific horse without having met it, as there are so many variables to take into account. I would say that I can help with most horse problems and help to get it right first time and that it is always worth having a visit.
We have also been having at least six telephone calls a day from telemarketers and my original ploy of asking them for their home telephone number so that I could ring up and talk to them about their horse wasn't making me feel any better. As well as registering with the telephone preference service, I am now going to ask for the address of the complaints section of anyone that rings us and then threaten them with aprivate prosecution for behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Just call me Mrs Meldrew!!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
20th August, 2009 Arresting experience
I've had a fun afternoon with the Wiltshire Police who came to Britford Livery Stables to gain some horse handling experience. The main aim was to talk to them about the horse's natural prey response in emergency situations and, if it were appropriate to approach the horse, how they might approach, catch and handle the horse from there on in. I was able to alert them to the Emergency Services Protocol which was drawn up initially by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in conjunction with organisations such as the British Equine Veterinary Association, the British Horse Society and DEFRA. The lovely horse is called Spoticus.
E-mail from Kerry (Police Officer) to Gale:
Thank you so much for arranging for the input from Sarah- we all gained a lot from her, she really has an amazing way with horses. We all thoroughly enjoyed the training and found it valuable. Thank you also for the loan of your ponies for the training, field and offer for more practice for the attendees. You have a lovely friendly yard and must feel extremely proud.
Thank you so much for arranging for the input from Sarah- we all gained a lot from her, she really has an amazing way with horses. We all thoroughly enjoyed the training and found it valuable. Thank you also for the loan of your ponies for the training, field and offer for more practice for the attendees. You have a lovely friendly yard and must feel extremely proud.
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