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Stuey's seventh week of training

Monday, July 17 (Cheryl, aka Food Lady)

Yes, it was voted that Stuey is Food Lady safe. I was going to ride him last week but just did not have the time. A friend came over to ride this morning and Ches works all day in town, so it was a good time for Stuey and I to bond. We tacked up in the barn just like any 20 year old horse would... he slept through the whole thing. I mount a little differently than the younger riders around here. I climb up on the horse trailer and bump the horse up to get on. As I start this Kelsy says Stuey is not good at that, and to make a liar out of her he is perfect. So off we go with Kelsy on Perry, a friend on her horse, and me on Stuey. When Stuey is near Perry he has more trouble focusing on his rider, so I knew the theme of my ride was going to be to keep his attention. We went over to ride on the neighbors 120 acres, as it is a great place to train horses. Me being the queen of bend, I started bending Stuey as we walked along. I was not over bending or bending him deep, I just wanted a small give at the poll as I picked up the rein. Stuey is very light to ride, but not always soft, and what I was looking for is the beginning of soft. Stuey was a little confused about my feel as he is used to Ches, but he worked hard to sort it out. Perry was in front of us, thus some of his attention was on her, but not too much. To the right he started to give a little in the bend, but on the left side he did not understand. We moved up to trot and kept bending, and again the right side was coming along, but the left side was stuck. Then I remembered a little thing that may help us out. On the left side what Stuey wanted to do was pull on the rein and put his head up. Each time he did this I lifted his head up with my rein and waited for him to find a way to get a release, which of course was to put your head down. We did this four or five times and Stuey figured out left bend. While moving I repeated the same by taking a feel of the left rein and if Stuey pulled up and out on the rein, I would take the rein up higher until he wanted to put his head down and in, and then I released. Soon our left bend was better than our right, so we did the same on the right side and before long Stuey and I had bend any time and any place, light and soft.

We then headed over to the elk trail. Perry moved up the trail first and then our friend, so Stuey and I were at the end with his sister leaving him behind. But he was great and we trotted on a long rein and never wanted to catch our sister (trotting up hills can do that for a guy). At the top of the hill we turned back down the hill, and at this time Kelsy and Perry headed home so that Kelsy could ride another horse. This is when most would think Stuey would have some trouble, but once again he was great just walking on a long rein. My friend and I headed out to the fields for more riding and soon Kelsy joined us on another horse. Stuey and I continued to ride and practice bending.

By the end of the ride Stuey was bending light and soft every time. It was fun to have a horse learn so quickly and be happy to do so. Stuey does not ride like he looks. At times when I watch him and Ches it looks like he does not know where his legs and feet are, but you never get that feeling from him while riding, I was very surprised. He was a balanced, forward and coordinated ride. Also, like on Perry, I felt totally safe. Not once did I get nervous or worried energy from him. He is green with a whole six weeks of training, but he is a very good-minded horse. With the right rider he will be a great companion to carry them many happy miles. I think in the long run Stuey will be an easier horse to deal with than Perry. He does not have that constantly busy mind that gets so many people in trouble with Haflingers.

Tuesday, July 18 (Chesna)

Honestly, I’m so far behind on these updates that I forgot what we did today! Obviously it was something really important and noteworthy. Probably monumental. Anyhow, all I know for sure is that we didn’t ride in the arena and we rode alone.

So instead of recapping the ride I don’t remember, I’ll take this space to discuss something more influential. At the end of the day the main ingredient in producing a “broke horse” through kidmanship is just the constant handling they get. Each horse is ridden at least five times a week but is also handled daily in some way on the ground. Even simply herding them in and out of the field is a time for them to understand how to respond respectfully with people. Whenever we lead the horses, whether it be with a halter, bridle, flymask or by their mane, they are expected to walk along nicely and respect our space bubble. If we drop their rope for them to stand, they should stand. At feeding time they need to have patience and happy expressions before they are fed. Sometimes we take them out and tie them on the highline, or leave them tied in the barn for a while to practice patience. When we put on their flymasks they are asked to lower their head and bend toward us. If we shoo them away in the pasture, we want them to step away politely. Remember that it is your day to day interaction with your horse that serves as the foundation of your relationship, and you don't have to be on their back to be communicating with them.

As of recently the two siblings have been transferred to the hill pasture with a different group of horses. The hill pasture is like horsey playground. There are two fields, a large hill full of trails, a patch of shady Christmas trees, an apple tree, and other horses. A very significant part of a young horse’s learning comes from interacting with other horses. With other horses they develop their character and they learn how to behave like a horse. As a horse handler or rider you can gain much understanding about a horse just by watching them engage with others of their species. So virtually every day at summer camp is a learning day for the youngsters, whether or not any person tacks them up for a ride.

.Wednesday, July 19 (Chesna)

Our friend Jessie was back today so we plopped her on Stuey bareback for a ride around the track and up the elk trails. On the track I asked Jessie to work on his right lead for me, and she did a fantastic job of getting him to pick it up. Her technique was to bend him deep left, and as he straightened out ask for the right lead. After some work in the fields we scooted over to the elk trails for some genuine bush whacking up the steep and brushy hills. We zig-zagged all through the woods and whenever I looked back Stuey and Jessie were sticking it out with smiles. On the way home Jessie tried to step Stuey sideways around something and they got left behind in the back. They eventually caught up after Jessie discussed waiting behind with patience, and she said he had reared his forequarters lowly off the ground a few times in impatience. On the way home she practiced stopping and standing at the back, and they seemed to have it all sorted out by the time we trotted up the driveway to home.
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Update:  Jessie has Stuey over the winter for ongoing riding and miles on trails.  He remains for sale and contact is with Chesna at mikeybuckaroo@hotmail.com