You Herd Right

I like the day where nothing bad happens.

Today I took the new Maggie mare out with Dewey the wonder horse. It's only our fourth time together out on our little close trail, and 3rd time ponying.

Reading and using ideas on training has really helped, especially with being patient. Today she did really well, she's settled into knowing her job. She still likes to stop a few times on the way out, I'd say maybe 6 times today. But now I stop Dewey and tug on her halter and she starts back up. I'd like to figure a way to start her back up that will translate better to when I'm in the saddle, so I chirped to her at the same time as tugging a few of the times. I think turning Dewey and going back for her would help, but I don't really want to turn around the Dewey barge, it's hard enough just to figure out how to stay on him while leading her.

Luckily I practiced stopping a few times, just to get that cue in, and rested and had them learn to just stand and relax, listening to the nature sounds. It gave me time to see that her halter had half pulled off over her ear (yikes) so I got to fix that and disaster averted. Hey, it's like I'm learning and thinking. And taking time to stop is actually a good thing. What is the rush, dude.

I'm also happy to learn how to hold my body differently - since I'm riding one-handed, I have to give with my Dewey hand or he lifts his head like ouch stop pulling my face. So I'm realizing I can use my legs a lot more, to move him over to the side, to anchor myself. My right hand is all focused on the mare, and making sure she stays with us. Using the whole body is crazy, it makes me see how I usually carry my entire self up in my throat. A nice fear and tension party up there, and all of me is invited.

Anything that helps me slow down, melt back down into my body, breathe and try and relax and even enjoy the (harrowing) process is good. It's the newness that is scary - not knowing her well yet, and being scared that she'll do something I can't handle, or cause a chain reaction in Dewey...But today I was thinking as I rode, that horses just want to go forward, at a relaxed pace. They are not in a rush. They will be just as happy as me to have an uneventful ride. Me being the boss mare doesn't mean pre-worrying about things. I sit deep, trust my horse, look out for danger, and trust my horse. And feel peace!

Luckily, I have worked with Dewey for 4 yrs straight, until we were so sick and bored of each other that it was finally time for the right young mare to come into our lives. So she has a spot, and Dewey gets to be the older brother, not perfect, but he's comfortable with the trail, he knows it, I don't ask him to do too much. I figure the more simple we keep it, the better the chance for all of us to get used to going out together, and already she's more respectful on the lead, and will learn to not stop! And I get to use my Dewey skills, more leg, trust, more rein, trust. He's happy to just amble along, and their paddock is so muddy right now, it's much better out on the trial, moving their bodies without slopping through the mud.

Once I get Maggie used to the close trail and the long trail, I'll bring Becky back out with us, and our trail team will be complete. Becky can't come til I have another butt in the saddle and I don't have to pony the mare.

I'm glad she had a good start, with people who handled her right. She came to us not afraid of things, and generally loved. She got out maybe once a month with them. Here she gets brushed at least once a day, worked with once a day, lots of attention, and a buddy horse who is happy to have her.

She's not as worried when he's out of her sight anymore - yesterday we were ground driving right here in the driveway, and I even started going out front on the gravel road, just to get them used to being worked separately. Have to do it in small lessons, since they are definitely attached and call to each other. But the one being worked is always happier than the one being left behind. Tomorrow I'll do more ground driving, or maybe get her under saddle a bit in the arena. I'm doing ground work/arena/turnout, individual work in driveway and then walks on trail, every other day. Variety. She also has a snotty nose and cough, so keeping an eye on it. But she is perky and happy to go out. A very mellow and kind girl, her energy is good for Dewey. She's a lot like him. She's not worried about much.

I can't imagine it yet, since I'm in the kindergarten area with her still, but I'm putting in the work to make her a quiet, listening horse, who is happy to take relaxing rides with me and my kids. I'm putting in the turn signals, and the brakes, and showing her the surroundings, and eventually it'll be me and one of my kids out there, enjoying the trail like she was born this way none of this work ever happened.

I am happy that Travis the sheep has been here a year, and helped Dewey have company until we got Maggie in. He belongs to the barnyard, and Dewey loves him, but now that he has Maggie he's less anxious about Travis. I think a horse likes his own kind, and likes a small herd to belong to. Lifelong process, this learning animal behavior, riding, manners, being a bossy leader, all of it.