That is one stunning looking horse 
Wow! Your daughter is 3 now.. I remember when you were pregnant.
What a cutie
Wow! Your daughter is 3 now.. I remember when you were pregnant.
What a cutie
Minnie
- Thread starter KarinUS
- Start date
Thank you
We've been in a massive drought for the last few years so hay has become super expensive. I hate it when Bixby throws the hay out of the tubs and once it gets stepped on they won't eat it anymore.
So introducing... grazing boxes.
We just finished making a large one for the horses to share in front of the barn (also got smaller ones for inside the stalls.
DJ was the first to try them:
We've been in a massive drought for the last few years so hay has become super expensive. I hate it when Bixby throws the hay out of the tubs and once it gets stepped on they won't eat it anymore.
So introducing... grazing boxes.
We just finished making a large one for the horses to share in front of the barn (also got smaller ones for inside the stalls.
DJ was the first to try them:
hay on the ground around the box is old hay from when they threw it out of the tubs and no longer wanted to eat it. With the heavy grit on top of this one they can only get a little bit at a time rather that toss out a whole flake and waste it.
Karin...did I read correctly the other night that you were going to sell this gorgeous beast?! Wow Minnie has REALLY grown into herself and matured - she's hoooge!! Gorgeous girly
And is that Duncan?! NEVER!
And is that Duncan?! NEVER!
Thanks
I did! I had her advertised for several months.
Hay is so expensive and I hadn't been riding ANY of them.
Plus I still am not a good rider.
It seemed like the most reasonable thing to do.
But then another adult beginner was interested in buying her and it sort of kicked my behind into gear.
The thing is I am NOT a great rider and Minnie would deserve better but what I noticed with a lot of the people buying horses is that they don't seem to be concerned about their shortcomings at all. At least I am trying my best to work on mine. And I know that I have shortcomings rather than blame it on the horse.
So in the end I figured Minnie would still be better off with me. And I cried so much thinking about her leaving.
So I sold my large satlwater aquarium instead to raise funds for lessons, training and tack! lol
I did! I had her advertised for several months.
Hay is so expensive and I hadn't been riding ANY of them.
Plus I still am not a good rider.
It seemed like the most reasonable thing to do.
But then another adult beginner was interested in buying her and it sort of kicked my behind into gear.
The thing is I am NOT a great rider and Minnie would deserve better but what I noticed with a lot of the people buying horses is that they don't seem to be concerned about their shortcomings at all. At least I am trying my best to work on mine. And I know that I have shortcomings rather than blame it on the horse.
So in the end I figured Minnie would still be better off with me. And I cried so much thinking about her leaving.
So I sold my large satlwater aquarium instead to raise funds for lessons, training and tack! lol
I took her on the trails today! In hand of course. lol
I expected her to hesitate to leave the property (without her horse friends) but she didn't hesitate at all.
The scariest incidence was when we passed by a pasture with 2 grey arabians and one tiny super furry pony.
The horses started charging the fence and Minnie got nervous. She really freaked out when out of nowhere the tiny shaggy pony appeared! Honestly even I thought at first it was a DOG.
So there was snorting and dancing but nothing huge.
Only problem was the horses would stay behind and watch her walk along and then run back up behind us to keep up with us so of course every time they came running up Minnie wanted to run too.
I was just leading her with a regular halter and leadrope and in retrospect I figured I should have brought the bridle and gloves. But it wasn't bad at all.
When passing the ponies her contact with me was a little too close but otherwise she did fine.
(when I say too close I don't mean shoving me or anything but for some reason I couldn't stop her from keeping body contact. as soon as we passed the ponies she stepped away again. weird)
We have creek run through out trails and we even did our first creek crossing.
Okay all the 'clicker training is not horse language' people are going to frown now:
I brought the clicker, target and carrots with me.
I know, maybe it's not horse language. But is a language Minnie understands and in times when she's stressed like the first time on the trail, the first creek crossing, the first weird furry tiny pony creature I think having the familiar task object with her reminds her that the rules are still the same and gives her something to focus on.
So we crossed our first creek using the target. :blush:
But we did it! We were gone for quite awhile and towards the end she started calling a few times (either to DJ and Bixby at home or to her new pony friends?) but she led back home fine, closed the gate with me and just walked back into the pasture at home.
I wish she could tell me what she thought of that. I know it was scary but she also seemed curious about all the stuff to see out there.
I think we'll both sleep well tonight. That was a long hike on foot. lol
I expected her to hesitate to leave the property (without her horse friends) but she didn't hesitate at all.
The scariest incidence was when we passed by a pasture with 2 grey arabians and one tiny super furry pony.
The horses started charging the fence and Minnie got nervous. She really freaked out when out of nowhere the tiny shaggy pony appeared! Honestly even I thought at first it was a DOG.
So there was snorting and dancing but nothing huge.
Only problem was the horses would stay behind and watch her walk along and then run back up behind us to keep up with us so of course every time they came running up Minnie wanted to run too.
I was just leading her with a regular halter and leadrope and in retrospect I figured I should have brought the bridle and gloves. But it wasn't bad at all.
When passing the ponies her contact with me was a little too close but otherwise she did fine.
(when I say too close I don't mean shoving me or anything but for some reason I couldn't stop her from keeping body contact. as soon as we passed the ponies she stepped away again. weird)
We have creek run through out trails and we even did our first creek crossing.
Okay all the 'clicker training is not horse language' people are going to frown now:
I brought the clicker, target and carrots with me.
I know, maybe it's not horse language. But is a language Minnie understands and in times when she's stressed like the first time on the trail, the first creek crossing, the first weird furry tiny pony creature I think having the familiar task object with her reminds her that the rules are still the same and gives her something to focus on.
So we crossed our first creek using the target. :blush:
But we did it! We were gone for quite awhile and towards the end she started calling a few times (either to DJ and Bixby at home or to her new pony friends?) but she led back home fine, closed the gate with me and just walked back into the pasture at home.
I wish she could tell me what she thought of that. I know it was scary but she also seemed curious about all the stuff to see out there.
I think we'll both sleep well tonight. That was a long hike on foot. lol
That's progress! We still have problems sometimes with unfamiliar water crossings so if you can do things like that with her to build confidence it will help you both. And lots of horses get upset by others running around, at least being on the ground she probably had more confidence and sounds like she wanted to stay with you rather than run away, so well done both of you! :smile:
I think clicker training is a fantastic tool and I am a recent convert after training my MIL's new pup!
It sounds like Minnie has a lot of trust in your which is fantastic
It sounds like Minnie has a lot of trust in your which is fantastic
I am having a cranky day. It's so HARD to find stuff that fits Minnie.
I was trying to get her boots (like this: http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=fb78d72b-f22d-4ff9-964c-bfc4576c5a0b&gas=smb boots ) and was unsure about sizing because her legs are short but thick boned. I even called the manufacturer and was told go with the mediums not the large becuase they are so adjustable width wise - so NOT true. They don't fit around her ankles at all. So I am out the shipping there.
The draft size lunge caveson I ordered from somewhere else is too big of course but the horse size one I already have is too small.
The monogrammed special saddle pad I've been waiting for came today... with the monogram J! J!!!! I need M not J. The saddle I ordered on trial just seems to be cantle low/pommel high unless I put it on her butt.
I am just having a terrible horse shopping spree here...
I was trying to get her boots (like this: http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=fb78d72b-f22d-4ff9-964c-bfc4576c5a0b&gas=smb boots ) and was unsure about sizing because her legs are short but thick boned. I even called the manufacturer and was told go with the mediums not the large becuase they are so adjustable width wise - so NOT true. They don't fit around her ankles at all. So I am out the shipping there.
The draft size lunge caveson I ordered from somewhere else is too big of course but the horse size one I already have is too small.
The monogrammed special saddle pad I've been waiting for came today... with the monogram J! J!!!! I need M not J. The saddle I ordered on trial just seems to be cantle low/pommel high unless I put it on her butt.
I am just having a terrible horse shopping spree here...
Just catching up Great to hear you had such a successful long walk together. Her staying close rather than running off is a great sign of trust. Targeting to keep the attention on you/task at hand not the scary wide world sounds a great idea. A bit like dong lots of transitions, changes of direction, circles/serpentines to settle a horse when ridden I guess?
Great to hear you had such a successful long walk together. Her staying close rather than running off is a great sign of trust. Targeting to keep the attention on you/task at hand not the scary wide world sounds a great idea. A bit like dong lots of transitions, changes of direction, circles/serpentines to settle a horse when ridden I guess?Probably!
The trails can be kind of narrow so opportunities for serpentines or circles may be limited here.
In fact I just came back from another hike with Minnie.
Lots of people were burning brush in their yards so Minnie may have thought I was leading her into the inferno...
Worried look:
The beginning of the trail:
I am tired. Was struggling a bit with Minnie today and actually didn't even go out with her until after I came back from my lesson -which was great by the way!
I will be sad to miss next week's lesson
The trails can be kind of narrow so opportunities for serpentines or circles may be limited here.
In fact I just came back from another hike with Minnie.
Lots of people were burning brush in their yards so Minnie may have thought I was leading her into the inferno...
Worried look:
The beginning of the trail:
I am tired. Was struggling a bit with Minnie today and actually didn't even go out with her until after I came back from my lesson -which was great by the way!
I will be sad to miss next week's lesson
Thanks.
Well the initial saddle trying on was Thursday. Saddle seemed to fit great although for some reason the backend just appeared a bit crooked. Couldn't really put my finger on it.
But I struggled a bit to aline it back with her spine and the saddle pad.
Figured it must me me.
Then Saturday came and my trainer came out to ride her.
Weird thing is: the saddle seemed to veer to the right even more when ridden to the left. Looked less bad towards circles to the right. But the end result was always that the backend of the saddle veered to the right on her when she stood still and straight again.
Not sure what to do now.
I never noticed this on her with her other saddles (the first trial saddle or the treeless I ride her in)
Not sure what this comes from or what to do now.
I love the saddle in every other way.
If it's a saddle issue specific to this one maybe instead of taking the good deal on the demo saddle I could spring for the same saddle in new and hope I don't have the same backend problem?
Well the initial saddle trying on was Thursday. Saddle seemed to fit great although for some reason the backend just appeared a bit crooked. Couldn't really put my finger on it.
But I struggled a bit to aline it back with her spine and the saddle pad.
Figured it must me me.
Then Saturday came and my trainer came out to ride her.
Weird thing is: the saddle seemed to veer to the right even more when ridden to the left. Looked less bad towards circles to the right. But the end result was always that the backend of the saddle veered to the right on her when she stood still and straight again.
Not sure what to do now.
I never noticed this on her with her other saddles (the first trial saddle or the treeless I ride her in)
Not sure what this comes from or what to do now.
I love the saddle in every other way.
If it's a saddle issue specific to this one maybe instead of taking the good deal on the demo saddle I could spring for the same saddle in new and hope I don't have the same backend problem?
I AM an idiot!
If you buckle up a saddle with the billets all coming out of the same little nylon strip and you leave one hole looser not much seems to happen other than the girth is a bit looser in the back than the front.
But apparently when the billets come from different ends and you buckle the rear one one hole shorter on one side than on the other... THAT makes the rearend veer towards that side.
Tacked up this morning (even holes) and lunged her both directions and saddle did not veer (still a little bounce in the rear though).
If you buckle up a saddle with the billets all coming out of the same little nylon strip and you leave one hole looser not much seems to happen other than the girth is a bit looser in the back than the front.
But apparently when the billets come from different ends and you buckle the rear one one hole shorter on one side than on the other... THAT makes the rearend veer towards that side.
Tacked up this morning (even holes) and lunged her both directions and saddle did not veer (still a little bounce in the rear though).
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