Caesar Millan & Pat Parelli

I watched a lot of episodes of the Dog Whisperer and found it to be very helpful. If not with training our dog, then at least with identifying what it was I was doing wrong to create and condone or enable bad behavior. Caesar believes in learning how to read and communicate with dogs to achieve or be successful in training them.

His saying is something along the lines of: 

1. Dog
2. Breed
3. Pet

When you acknowledge that a dog is a dog first, not a person you are already better off and at least can then recognize that two species communicate differently. Secondly, if you acknowledge the breed this will help identify the needs of that particular dog as different breeds have different needs. Lastly, if you accept your pet for the dog and breed it is you will have a better relationship. 

I believe this to be true with horses as well. I was fortunate enough to have caught an episode on the Dog Whisperer where Caesar Millan did a show with Pat Parelli, it was a very interesting show and you were able to see how Pat had a similar approach to horses and therefore was better able to communicate and understand them. 

Caesar Millan has a horse on his ranch with his dog's, his horses name is Conquistador, below I have included a couple of pictures.

photo from: www.dailymail.com.uk 

photo from: www.dailymail.com.uk

Here is a clip of the show: 

Now that I seen Pat Parelli on tv I am interested in learning more about him. I have come across what I believe is his website and a learning tool called 'Pat Parellis Seven Games' through reading the website and games I came across something that sounds about right for what Eli and I are experiencing  here it is: 

Too Much of A Good Thing? 

kindness without control spells disaster. There are many incidences where people pet and feed their horses, offer lots of kindness but get no respect from the horse. 

These horses have learned that people are not dangerous because they have had plenty of Friendly Game in their lives. So they try to dominate, push, nip, chase or drag people around because in horse society, the pecking order is very important. After helping your horse overcome his innate fears, if you don't show yourself to be the leader, then the horse will take his role. This is where games #2 through #7 of the Seven Games become valuable. 

Don't neglect the Friendly Game even if your horse seems gentle enough. Don't rush through it either, thinking that all you need to do is get your horse to stand still. The Friendly Game is the savvy secret that horsemen use to gain a horse's trust and to continually reinforce that trust and love. Once you earn the trust, you can begin to ask your horse to yield to pressure, bringing us to Game #2... the Porcupine Game. 

more can be learned by reading the website: Pat Parellis Seven Games

Or, you can visit his website by clicking the link: Pat Parelli Natural Horse Training

Here's some quotes from Caesar Millan where I will leave out 'Dog' leaving it open for interpretation: 

"Discipline isn't about showing an animal who's boss; it's about taking responsibility for a living creature you have brought into your world"

"Denial, they say, stands for "Don't even notice I am lying" Human beings are the only animals who are happily lied to by our own minds about what is actually happening around us" 

"Don't bother yelling at them, it's the energy and scent they pay attention to not your words"

"You cannot "love" an animal out of bad behaviour, just as you can't "love" a criminal into stopping crimes" 

"Mother Nature's ruthless to the weak, but isn't arbitrary cruel or negative. Mother Nature saves aggression for extreme situations and instead uses consistent leadership to help keep things running smoothly. Mother Nature doesn't rule by fear and anger, but by calm strength and assertiveness" 

"If you give only 80% leadership, your pet will give you 80% following. And the other 20% of the time will run the show. If you give your pet any opportunity for him to lead you,he will take it" 

Hot.To.Trot 1988 - party animals ( I like this moment )

In the Horse's Eye..

Am I a FOLLOWER, or am I a LEADER? am I a PASSENGER, or am I a RIDER?

Last Saturday's training has left me stumped. Thinking. A lot of thinking. Our focus was on Eli and although I was aware we were in need of some help with ground work and needed to catch up for lost time (3 months)  I didn't realize how bad it had gotten.

I feel responsible and am disappointed that I took things for granted. I am learning so many lesson's not just from instructor's and people with a good horse background or equine foundation but also from the horses themselves.

I had a dilemma recently with Ella as well, as to whether or not I should be riding her and when to stop and start again. I received some good advice and in that came to the conclusion that Ella will be able to answer more of my questions or concerns herself. Such as when I should stop riding her as she's uncomfortable and when would be an OK time to resume. Eli is now teaching me that even a well broke horse of 9 years old can get out of hand for a green rider/owner if not ridden consistently for 3 months. The biggest message was received this past Saturday when he was out of hand or disobedient for the instructor giving her a hard time and challenging everything. Knowing he is familiar with what is being asked of him and is well trained I know this is more about me and how I handle him then him.

In Eli's Eye I've become a passenger and lower on the totem pole or on the hierarchy chain. I should have known better, this was shown to me out at pasture when he started refusing to come in. I thought it was more about him being herd bound (wanting to stay with the herd) and less about him or I being the dominant one. Know I realize that regardless of whether or not he wants to stay with the herd, if I am the dominant one then he will come with me and feel safe and protected. If I am passive and submissive therefore lower on the totem pole he won't feel safe and protected, will want to stay with the herd and will tell me 'no way, I'm staying here thanks' being the dominant one.

I think that all of this has resulted from my inexperience and him being a naturally dominant horse. My idea was that I would gain knowledge, experience, training and progress to a level suitable to maintain his training but have quickly learned that I'm too slow and cannot wait anymore for my confidence to be built on my riding ability or training/experience. If my confidence is low and I'm not assertive then he is going to take the charge and a 1200 lb horse is hard to argue with and to it isn't safe.

If I can't do this, then I have to be honest and admit that I got in over my head as a Thoroughbred is a different breed and not recommended for a beginner. He is a great horse with an experienced person, someone to keep him fit and inline, but all my little mistakes or my inability to communicate are making for a challenge that no one should have to fix, or deal with from a horse that's had quite a few years of consistent riding and training.

Here is a quote from the  lesson's book I have from when I took riding lesson's at Copall Equestrian Centre back in Manitoba (book written in cooperation between Darlene Dolinski, Owner and Manager of Copall and Sadie Turko, Program Cooridnator and Head Instructor) I think the Training Manuals can be purchased by contacting D&S Publishers 1-204-878-2061, printed by Derksen Printers Ltd.

With regards to removing the horse from the herd, pasture or paddock "if it's the follower, it will be in its nature to test the leader to see if it can become the leader. The horse will test in little ways, much like a child will test the parents. If your answer to the horse is a firm one, then the horse will usually accept it and not query you on it again. If you are indecisive about your answer, if your answer is weak, or if you don't hear the question, the horse will continue to test and may conclude that you are the follower not the leader"

I have to become the leader, I have to stop being intimidated, afraid or nervous as all these traits make me weak in the horses eyes and lead to nervousness and being skiddish or dominance.


First step is to identify what I have been doing wrong, here is what I can identify: 

• being nervous
• hesitating
• not following through due to lack of confidence
• not correcting behavior like pulling, walking in front and not stopping

What am I going to change to correct this behavior:

• stop being nervous
• don't hesitate - be CONFIDENT
• follow through with authority, I am the leader not the follower, if need be - do so with trainer
• pulling, walking in front and not stopping will result in backing up and standing still 

What do I have to REMEMBER: 

• LEADERSHIP
• CONFIDENCE
• CONSISTENCY
• REPETITION 
• TIMING 
• PRESSURE SYSTEM (scale 1-10, release = reward, match the energy level) 
• Most importantly PATIENCE!!! 

No bull dozing, turn him around, stop him and back him up. Make him stand, don't let him be RUDE! These are the words running through my head now. 

My own thoughts, it is NOT a game, it is NOT cute when a 1200 lb horse is being RUDE and disrespectful and most of all it is NOT SAFE! 

It's not safe for humans and it is not safe for the horse. It is my job and responsibility to condition and maintain Eli and Ella. If I don't I have failed them in the end, I've seen this time and time again with Pit Bull dogs, why would I be any different? People breed them for whatever reason, then they (the cute little puppies) grow up to be strong dogs. It's not their fault their breed was bred to be muscular and strong and with little fear. They are energetic, athletic and require a lot of exercise and a dominant leader as their owner so they are trained and obedient. They are not little dogs and generally don't have passive or meek temperaments but are rather adventurous and brave. They are not a dog meant to be owned by someone who isn't familiar with their high energy level or strength and they require work or can be intimidating and dangerous when full grown if not handled properly and socialized. 

Just like the Pit Bull or any large breed dog Great Dane, Newfoundlander etc. Thoroughbreds were bred to be tall, long, muscular, fast and athletic and also with little fear. They too are not recommended for the inexperienced or green owners.

But I understand there is an exception to every rule and you can't stereotype based on breed, so I thought and people do the same thing I did with Eli - because you feel responsible, or bad based on what you've read and come to learn and you want to help. 

People adopt grown dogs to rescue them but sometimes their lack of knowledge makes things worse. That's how I feel in this case, I knew that ex-race horses were re-homed just like grey hounds and I knew that a lot of them went to the meat plant, I also thought that a lot of people wouldn't want them as they are a lot of work, but what I didn't know for sure is if I am capable of the work without the knowledge or the experience? And this I am learning I am not, not without help and giving my head a shake and stepping up. A Thoroughbred requires a owner who is confident and aware of their high energy and need for consistent exercise and routine. The confident part is the need to be the leader and exhibit authority when needed, this is were the work comes in. Imagine a 3 - 5 year old dog pent up in the house all day, left unattended and neglected, not taken out for a walk or job -  you can expect your couch to be eaten. Who's fault is that the dogs, or the owners?  

The LESSON'S horse certainly is teaching me some lessons. 

Patience, TIME WILL TELL, I am taking this seriously, but I am not giving up yet! 

Website

Creating a website, the blog will be linked under the blog tab on the web. Not sure if it will be easier than a blog or what the difference will be, but thought I would try it anyhow. It's basically under construction

Everything Equine

Longitudinal Stretch

Not too long ago Eli started lowering his head while lunging. He always kept it moderately low or at a respectful level, but as of late he's been dropping it right down to the ground where it appears he is sniffing the dirt. It even looks as though at times he can kick himself in the head with his front hoof if he's not careful. He does this more so when transitioning into a trot, at a trot he maintains this low to the ground head position for I would say 3 to 4 circles before bringing it back up and lowering it again.

Example of body position for Eli 

I wasn't sure what to think of it, being Green it doesn't come natural to me reading horses. My concern was that it was a sign of disrespect that I should be correcting (if so how to properly correct?) or if there was something wrong like a foot causing him pain etc.

So I asked our trainer Robyn, mentioned it to a few people and didn't really get a negative response or bad feed back. Our stable owner had suggested turning out Eli in the arena during the winter to allow him the opportunity to stretch and burn off steam, which we have done. Prior to this we mainly lunged or rode him, now we unclasp the lead line and let him go. Our Trainer's explanation was that he is stretching out his back.

Come to think of it, putting all the small changes together this is what I think. He's been taking Glucosamine for a little over two months now, I haven't heard his joints cranking and snapping the way they had, barely hear anything from them at all and on top of that he doesn't seem nearly as stiff as he had either. He's still a bit stocked up at times but even than has subsided a bit as well. With his acting out a bit lately, being hot and neighing a lot etc I spoke with our trainer and admitted that we have neglected him in our hopes to bring Ella up to speed in her training, this I think has also lead to a small or minimal amount of muscle wastage on his top line (across the top part of his back) he isn't nearly as even lined or muscular as he used to be.

So, when I started researching his head position while lunging I came across a lot of Dressage sites, aides, techniques, assistance and what not where the goal or aim was to have the horse perform this on the lunge line. According to what I read there is a particular stretch called the 'Longitudinal Stretch' where the goal is for the horse to drop it's head as low to the ground as possible. As quoted from the Happy Horse Training website (link below):

"The Longitudinal Stretch is the perpetual goal of all work in the lunge, because it is this that strengthens the horse in the right way to carry a rider" 

I attached some pictures I found via the web, Happy Horse Training being once resource and Google images being the other.

My conclusion is that what Eli is doing isn't disrespectful it is actually beneficial to his well being and seeing as how I am not keeping up my end by working him and maintaining his fitness, mainly throughout his back and top line he is taking it upon himself to stretch out the probably sore muscles that are slowing wasting without use and working on strengthening up his back. I am lucky that he is independently focused on this as I wasn't aware and apparently when asking a horse to do the Longitudinal Stretch it isn't an easy goal to achieve, especially without the assistance of tack made particularly for this purpose. Maybe Eli is interested in learning Dressage?

The Glucosamine has to be helping him feel better and coupled with the lack of exercise he has all this energy to burn off. It makes sense, he's been extra active when being turned out in the arena, doing laps at a gallop, turning, bucking bouncing and then rolling in the dirt. Thoroughbreds clearly are Very Athletic, Active Horses! 

If we focus more on Eli and help build up his topline again and strenghten and make bigger his back muscles his predominant wither won't be such an issue either.

Happy Horse Training web link

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Today's training. Eli's been a bit stressed lately and hot. Not sure exactly what the problem is but I have an idea. It could be a number of things, his feed, the weather, being in a paddock or being Ella's neighbor, perhaps she's pregnant and throwing off hormonal scents?!?

I'm guessing it's two things, one the fact that he's an ex-race horse thoroughbred and two that we have been neglecting him focussing on Ella's training to bring her up to speed. I haven't known Eli for years but what I do know of him is that he is a well broke horse who has an enormous heart and is gentle. So, to see him so worked up and anxious is unsettling. On the other hand this could be a sign that the glucosamine is working and he's feeling better with the dissipation of stiff joints and arthritis like symptoms. At times like these and with regards to Ella in foal I wish they could talk.

Our instructor Robyn is awesome. She met us in the barn while Eli was turned out in the arena burning off steam and walked threw with me the way to re-establish ground manners then proceeded to tack him up and hop on ( without lunging ) she pointed out how he was hot and wanted to go therefore took him into a controlled trot and noticed that when coming around a left turn she has to hold him back that is how strong racing is bred and trained into him. It's been years since he's been off the track, but the memories are still very present.

After their exercise we brought him back in and put his blanket on, he was a whole lot quieter! I know now he loves to work, strives on direction and structure and really needs a job to keep his mind occupied and focused. I wouldn't say he's a beginners horse, even if he was when we got him it goes to show that not being consistent in a routine will quickly lead to a need for a intermediate or advanced rider. I say that because he reverts back to wanting to race as opposed to reverting back to something like dressage or jumping ( maybe I'm wrong, just my opinion ) for that I am very thankful for Robyn and her training ability and riding skills/experience. She makes it seem so easy and builds confidence in the horse AND the rider! With Ella and the pressure system I would mostly work on a 1-3 scale, but as Eli is a completely different horse ( hot blooded, yet sensitive ) sometimes I need to meet his energy at a 5-7 scale, Robyn showed me how without having me skip to a 8-10 when I didn't need to ( if I were to guess on my own )

Obviously it's in my best interest to work through the scale from 1-10 on my own and determine the proper level of intensity needed, but doing that and being accurate on what you are doing to correct the behavior combined with the timing ( equally as important ) is easier said than done and to be honest most times I struggle with the what or how more than anything.

I have noticed a change in Eli since getting Ella, but I'm thinking it's more the shift in focus on who's being trained/ worked with than him changing ( situational ) so I have faith that with routine and consistency the old Eli will resurface. It's nice to see no matter what he's still the same with regards to communicating to us who makes him feel comfortable and who doesn't. I have no doubt he respects and appreciates Robyn which is too, equally as important. Ive seen him with people he doesn't know or trust. He doesn't want to be the dominant leader, but at times I struggle and when he feels he has to be he wants to leave the barn and becomes difficult whereas I become frustrated and it does not make for an interaction that will produce gratifying results for either of us. I need to do a lot more work myself. I want him to feel safe and therefore relaxed.

We tried Ella's saddle on and it seemed to fit. The 52" girth wasn't quite big enough ( that's Eli's size and he's still got some height on her, another sign she's pregnant perhaps? ) I am going to pick up an extension, should ad 6" or I can move up a size to a 54". Then I'll try it out sitting to make sure it fits and we should be ok.

Back out in the paddock we gave them their feed, some hay, mucked the paddocks a bit and spent some time hanging out. I noticed the two filly foals looking over the fence at Ella, not sure if they were interested in the feed or thinking there's a Momma lol. They certainly are cutie pies!!

Difference between the Thoroughbred and Standardbred:

Link: Thoroughbred & Standardbred Horse

Stable Visit. English Saddle & Manure buckets

Went to the stable today, lesson was rescheduled to tomorrow. I put together the English General Purpose saddle I have on loan. Attached the stirrup leathers and irons, or stirrups and the girth, didn't have a chance to try it on Ella yet, more than likely will tomorrow during training.

I've never put together an English saddle, looks like I did it right, was a bit trickier than I expected.

Also brought two storage containers for extra stuff, so we don't have it all laying around in the locker. When I was picking up cleaning supplies for the house at Walmart I came across two storage containers that looked identical to the Manure bucket I see at livestock or equine tack stores, they usually priced at $21 each, these were $8 each so I picked up two.