Herd Bound

It was time to try Brego again. I was elated that Ginger did so well- it gave me the confidence I needed! I tied Brego up  and prepared to get him ready to ride. He wasn’t happy. I could sense it and see it. While tied, he swung his hindquarters left and right….agitated. After the tack was on, I knew his frame of mind wasn’t where it should be. I wasn’t going to mount him yet. I walked him(in hand) down the road, about 1/4 of a mile. Upon departure, I could hear Ginger neighing; no help there. As we walked, I could see his face soften. I let him have a bit of grass here and there. When I reached the 1/4 mile mark, I found a place where I could mount. I am Waaaay too short to mount from the ground!  After being on him, I made him walk...

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Training

I am happy to report that Ginger did well locked up for the night!  In fact, when I went down in the morning and opened the door- she looked at all the snow, and turned around to go back in the barn!  It was like she was saying, “you were right!  it was a good idea to stay in!” After work that same day, I saw that Brego had a badly  scraped knee!  I don’t know if they got to “horsing” around in the snow during the day…but I locked them up one more night.  I know about a horse who must have been running and playing during the night and the next morning the owner found him dead with a broken neck!  How awful!  The sad part was that he was to be adopted out soon.  The horse, Razor, lived at Doxy’s Horse Recovery. ...

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Passive Leadership

I do not make a living working with horses.  I  don’t feel the need to compete or prove anything.  My self esteem isn’t wrapped up with having a special horse and being the best at any particular discipline.  I don’t think that makes me unmotivated.  That is just who I am.  Now, if I had the funds available, maybe I would like to learn to train a dressage horse!   But I wouldn’t want to sacrifice my horse’s happiness and and well -being for any of it. I do know however, that there are horses who actually enjoy learning and performing and even racing!  I don’t doubt that! I enjoy being with my horses.  They make me feel ‘balanced’.  Very hard to define, but I trust any horse-person would understand!  When I...

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Horse Training

I am excited to get going on this new project of writing on a blog!  Unfortunately my sister and I are going to Arizona to see our brother.  I’m told his health isn’t doing well and we are going to see what is going on and look at options he might have besides living alone. I am leaving my horses for 8 days.  Not only them, my dogs also.  I have never been gone from them for that amount of time!  My heart is sick; yet I feel I have got to do this trip.  Family is important.  I love my animals, but have to keep priorities straight. Yesterday was wonderful!  My sister-in-law, her husband, their daughter and granddaughter were over.  Amily is 5 and wanted to ride a horse.  I put her on Brego.  Her mom and I took turns leading her around.  He...

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