Be Honest with Yourself!

Over the last few years I have done everything I know how to become a better person and trainer to my horses. I am obviously no expect or professional. However, I have learned a thing or two along the way. And one of the biggest things I have learned is how important it is to pay attention to what your horse thinks about your time together and training.

So how does one find out if their horse is truly with them and enjoying the time together. Well I might suggest taking off all equipment. Go to an open area like an arena, not round pen, and let them go. Let them do what they want, they may stay or go explore,but then ask something of them. Give them cues and use the same amount of pressure you would use if they were on line. See what your outcome is. If they leave it tells you they don't enjoy what you are doing. Be honest with yourself if you have to make them stay with you by making leaving unpleasant you aren't making them like you or your actions any more. All you are doing is making them choose the lesser of two evils. Please don't kid yourself and say "but they are making the choice to be with me". No, they are not. They are making to choice to avoid something more unpleasant. Frankly, I would chose to stand next to someone I hated if my other option was being chased around. However, just because I made that choice doesn't mean I like that person now, it just means I do what I have to in order to stop running!


Start looking for little signs too. How does he/she do in everyday situations with you. Are they just tolerating it or are they enjoying their time with you. Does your horse offer you behaviors or are they scared to try new things. After you start paying attention to them pay attention to how you address the behaviors. Are you teaching your horse learned helplessness? Where they just give up? Ask yourself and be HONEST with your answer. What choice are you giving your horse? Are you using the method of making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard? I do believe you should make the right thing easy, I don't believe you should make an underlining threat too.

Are you going to find the answer you like? I don't know. I haven't always gotten the answer I was looking for, but it was the hard answers that made me face the truth! I know some people are NOT concerned with how their horse feels about the situation and that is their choice. But others do love their horses and want what is best for them they just don't know any better.


 Am I perfect? No, I am far from. Are my horses perfect? Nope! But do I try to listen to them as much as I can? You bet I do. My goal for 2015 is to be a better listener to Pixie while under saddle. She has started rushing home while on rides and I want to get to the bottom of why! Actually I know why, it is because she is not enjoying being out. It is that that I have to figure out. Is it because I am asking to much of her physically or something else???

For a Brief Second...

With winter here and my time being limited at the barn I had a thought go through my head. Maybe I should consider sending Navi off to be trained under saddle this next year. After it crossed my mind it quickly left and then I thought "how could you even think that". All of a sudden I had guilt for not being more consistent with her, but then it dawned on me that we have plenty of time. Then I got to play with her and her behavior reassured me that I was making the right choice by taking things slow. See no matter how hard you try to leave old the old ways behind sometimes they creep back in without you realizing it. Besides I don't even have anyone to send her too. There isn't anyone in my area I would trust to train her. Now if I lived closer to one of the amazing Clicker Trainers that I follow,  I would send her in a heart beat, because I would love love love to take some lessons with them. Maybe some day I will come into a lot of money and get to travel to some clinics across the country :)  Until then Navi and I will work together to get her ready for trail riding. It may take us two years, but we will get there.

My Growth

Many times I have talked about how the horses have progressed and what they have taught me in the process. I think it is about time I talk about how I have changed. I started out as a very traditional trainer. When I was 16 it was all about dominance over the horse. They do what you want and when you want it! All bad behaviors where punished in some way. Then I grew up and got Pixie. And well we all know where Pixie and I started from and how she changed me. But did she change me completely...the answer is no. As much as I would like to say she did, I found it so easy to fall back into old habits. Maybe not with her, but with other horses that would tolerate it. I never beat them, but I also didn't look for a different way at the time. I was that crossover trainer that hadn't yet committed. I didn't want to use force and pressure, but yet I hadn't given up bits, whips, or spurs yet. It wasn't until 2014 when I decided absolutely no more bits, sticks/strings or spurs to get what I wanted. I have Navi to thank for that. She showed me that no matter how nice you think you are being when using Negative Reinforcement you are still not being nice. You are still using threats to get what you want. It has been a long road for me, one that isn't at the end yet. I am still trying to better myself.  Heck it is 2015 now and you will still find headstalls with bits hanging next to my saddles. Why if I don't want to use them?? Well that is a good question and one I can't answer. Maybe that will be my 2015 goal...get rid of my bits. 

Taking off the Leadrope...

Yesterday was a big day for Navi and I. We had our first free lunge session in the indoor arena. And she nailed it!! She left a few times to go check out the barrels or when my other half came inside. But she came back after a couple of minutes and was ready to play again. She went both directions on cue and stayed a perfect distance away from me while she circled around. Her stops where fantastic too! Of course we just stuck with walk/trot because I feel canter is too much right now. After moving a bit my partner got out the ball and played with her for a while.

 I think I have finally managed to get across to Navi that regardless of what she chooses she will not be in trouble. I will not up the pressure to get what I want. I had to undo what I did. I made her who she was/is. Having her to start from the ground up has taught me so much. Mainly because I have to take responsibility for all her behaviors, good and bad. She came to me at  1 1/2 so her attitude towards training directly reflects on me, and me alone.

Enjoying the Beauty of Winter

I went out on a ride yesterday with some ladies from the barn. We wanted to enjoy this beautiful winter day and it was the perfect day to get out and see the ranch covered in fresh snow.

The first ride of 2015

Riding in winter brings certain challenges, but the view is breathtaking. This was the first ride out in the hay fields for Pixie and I since I left in November. She wasn't perfect, but it went well overall :) One of my 2015 goals with Pixie is to better our communication when riding out on the trails. I have to use more pressure and release than I would like. All my fault and I will find a way to fix it.

 Before the ride we had an amazing liberty session. I was able to ask her to target my hand and side step towards the mounting block! Success!

Playing in the fresh snow in the outdoor arena

Navi and I had a wonderful training session also. I haven't worked with her for 5 weeks now! I wasn't sure what our session would bring after that much time off. However, she surprised me and was the best she has ever been. Maybe a little vacation was just what she needed! She was light, responsive, and tried her heart out! I think maybe she is growing up a little, lol. We kept it short. Just reviewed what she already knows. We did finish with the mounting block where she lined right up and I got on and off a few times. :) I can't believe it has been two years since we bought her at the auction.
What a great start to 2015!

Looking Back at 2014

Wow, Once again another year has gone! 2014 was a good year that brought us some new adventures :)

In January we started off the year super busy. Once again we were at a cross roads with the barn where my horses stayed. My trainer was leaving and we were asked to stay on and help run the boarding side of things. It was a good learning experience, but we found we couldn't work for free (yes, it was supposed to be paid) so by the end of February we made the decision to leave.

February also brought the loss of my Duel. He was 10 1/2 and had lived a long healthy life. We lost him quickly and unexpected, but he didn't suffer. I still miss him, but I am blessed to have his sister Dakota still :)


My Duel

By mid March we were in the throws of trying to move barns. Not an easy task when you have 5 horses! However, we were super lucky and our new barn came to pick up all of them at once. One of the hardest choices about moving barns would be the horses would be 30 minutes away. That is the farthest they had ever been! But with the distance came great things such as their own big pasture, 20,000 acres to ride on, and being back to full care.  As of March 26 we were members at Beartooth Ranch :)

As winter faded away and spring was upon us we spent most of our time riding and playing with the horses. Spring brought Navi's and I first ride! It was uneventful as we had hoped :) Throughout spring I put a few more rides on her, but then gave her the summer off to grow.

Before we knew it Summer was in full swing. I was busy busy at work. Most weeks I found myself working overtime. I found myself teaching grooming academy again and soon discovered I would be doing a lot more teaching this year!

Summer was shaping up to be busy at work and at home. In July we found ourselves at the vet with Devan a lot due to the fact she was losing weight and was fading away before our eyes. The 4 + weeks before we got our diagnoses of EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic insuffiency ) were heartbreaking. Finally we found the answer and we started treatment. She started slowly improving and we once again had hope :)

By September Devan was doing much better and I was underway with my 2nd Grooming Academy of the year. One day before work we decided to take Laurel and Devan to Tractor Supply to see their old foster family. Well we ended up coming home with a little skinny puppy, lol. He was 6 weeks old and weighed 5lbs,he won Sarah's heart and Henry joined the family.

The holidays were fast approaching and before we knew it Halloween was here. This year we went over to a friends house and ate dinner and watched movies. Why is that a big deal you say, well because we never leave the house on Halloween, lol.

Mid November we had a scary incident with Laurel and the icy partially frozen Yellowstone River. It was okay in the end, but it certainly taught me a lesson about icy rivers and ice rescue!

By November 23rd I was on the road north. I stayed in Kalispell, MT teaching my  3rd Grooming Academy for the year until December 20th.

The end of 2014 is here and I am happy to say we are all healthy and happy. Devan is continuing to  maintain weight, Laurel and Henry are active and drive me crazy. Dakota, Riley, and Tigger are older so they are content to lay around the house watching over the young puppies. The horses are extremely happy in their new home. We love all the riding opportunities and the fact that all the horses are fat and happy! Oh and yes, the cats are well also :)

Here is to a great 2015! I look forward to what it will bring! Wishing everyone the best for the rest of 2014 and all of 2015.

Merry Christmas!

We are alive and well! I just got back from being gone for a month so hopefully I can do an actual update tomorrow.