What I Am Working On With My Horses

     October 2nd, '08

Although Natalie, my Paint, is mainly my working horse, she is injured at this time, so I am using Beau, my Arab.

I have ridden him quite a bit lately, at least every other day, if not every day. Mostly I work him in the arena English flat, and jumps, and western, plus on the trail.

With Beau, you must keep him on the bit, so to speak. He loves to run, but since he is about 30 years old, I must remind him he isn't 3. He acts like it, just through his spunkiness and love for racing, but otherwise, he's an absolute angel. My favorite horse, definately.

     June 13th, '08

Today I rode Nattie in my arena, western style.

Here are some things I worked on:

I firstly walked around twice, just to get her used to the surroundings, in case there was something new. Then I engaged into a jog, going around the arena once. Then a trot around the arena twice, on the third round turning a medium circle, comfortable for Nattie and me. After coming out to the outside, I went in a small circle, which Nattie had to bend into. She doesn't like bending far, so I work her around barrels, poles, and circles, to get her neck used to it. Then I did an x-tra big circle, that Nattie and I had to concentrate to get equal. I stopped, backed a few paces, Then engaged into a slow lope. Or tried to, Nattie hates being kicked, she actually respondes better to a click of the tonge or kissing noises. But she will not lope with just noises. So I have to kick her. That's something I'm working on right now: trying to get her to stop pinning her ears and crow-hopping when I kick her. I don't kick hard, or soft either, firm yet gentle. I loped faster, keeping my inside heel on her so she wouldn't cut across the arena. She has trouble keeping to the rail. Then I stopped abruptly, pivoted, and engaged into a faster lope. Once more, Nattie hates being kicked, so she fights it at first. Then I trot a few more circles, walk around once, and do some backing up, and pivot turns before I leave. I don't just hop off and leave. I remain on Nattie, walk up to the gate, then turn away from it, go and do a few more little things, and repeat at least once. If I do this, Nattie will not want to race for the gate, because she knows it means: "Yeah! I'm done with this work! Now I can go home and get my oats!" She knows she has to work for her privileges. I usually go for a short trail ride, or a gallop through the field before I head home, just so Nattie doesn't think she can go strait home, and become barn sour. Then I walk home, untack, brush her out, and reward with a bucket full of oats. Also, I always try to end on a good note. If she's being stubborn, I work with her until she behaves, and then we go home. That way we always end positively.

That was my work-out for the day!

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