The website is where I'll record the information I've collected. Here is the link if you want to check it out click --> Everything Equine
A Blog to track and share everything equine.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Website
Updating the website I decided to make, will still use the blog, but more for thought and updates etc.
The website is where I'll record the information I've collected. Here is the link if you want to check it out click --> Everything Equine
The website is where I'll record the information I've collected. Here is the link if you want to check it out click --> Everything Equine
Ella Bella
Went out to see Eli and Ella.. Tacked Ella up and walked her around the arena, get saddle slid back a bit, bug either she's winter fat and needs a diet or she's got a foal in her belly...
Back to Basics ~ Post 1
It's been years since I've taken lessons and although we've had Eli and now Ella for quite some time (Eli anyway) I haven't had a lot riding time. Whether it be due to moving him from stables and giving him time to settle, to bad feet and removing his shoes or him having a bite mark and bruising on his back therefore unable to be saddle ~ it's been a while and inconsistent.
I've been doing a lot of reading, but reading and retaining what you've read is a different story. I am surprised at how much I forgot, not only that but how - even if I remember the instructions, it is easier read (or said) than done.
So going back to the basics I have started re-reading all over again, this time instead of moving forward in the chapters I am going to actually practice what I've read, follow through with the instructors advice during our lesson and only after I've practiced enough and feel comfortable will I move forward in the chapters.
My goal is not only to be able to accomplish the basic commands, but understand why I am accomplishing them and what the signals mean to the horse ~ working towards communication.
Here are some of the things I am going to practice. Picture 1 shows you the three different types of pressure used: No Pressure, Indirect Pressure and Direct Pressure.
Picture 2 shows how a rider uses the three different types of pressure:
The next two pictures show the open rein turn and you might notice only one aid is being used, the hand. The last pictures show an example of using all three aids, Hand, Seat and Leg as well as the three different pressure, No pressure, Indirect Pressure and Direct Pressure.
What I struggle with the most right now is the direct and indirect pressure. I believe the last picture helps assist the horse in curving it's body through it's ribs on it's top-line from poll to tail. I am not sure and is this only when walking a circle, or is this while walking along the arena wall as well. What I am not sure about is when doing a circle I remember applying Direct Pressure (constant) with one leg and Indirect Pressure (pulsing) with the other - this was to form a curve while doing a circle (if I'm not mistaken) and in order to do the circle I would be applying indirect pressure using my hand in the direction I wish to go - so If I want the horse to hug the arena wall, if I am reading and interpreting correctly then I would apply Direct Pressure with the outside leg (closes to the wall) and Indirect Pressure with my inside leg while not apply pressure with my hands at all as we are moving forward in a straight line.
I remember being taught basics and communication in theory class and how a horses natural instincts are to move away from pressure, but if unable to move away to lean into the pressure as if to squish or rub it off like a bug etc.
As a rider, from what I understand, whether it be hand, seat or leg pressure a horse will:
I find this to be very important information as it is easy to mix up if you don't quite understand why the horse does what it does or what it wants to do. for example, wanting a horse to move close to the arena wall to increase the size of the circle, or to move away from the wall and decrease the circle etc.
Remembering what it's instincts are will help understand what it will want to do and hopefully avoid confusion or asking the opposite of what you are intending to do.
I have a feeling though I have this backwards, the reason being is recently someone pointed out to me that while the horse is tied and I am preparing to tack-up to have the horse move over, if it doesn't respond to 'over' and clucking I would press and release on its side while encouraging 'over with cluck' and I was told that to move the horse over and if pressure is needed to press and hold until the horse moves away from the pressure (which I understand would be the rewarding part for the horse) and that this will get the horse used to leg pressure (which I'm thinking at that moment then means the horse will move away from Direct Pressure).
This makes sense, when you want your horse to stop you pull back on the reins and apply pressure until it halts whereas then you release the pressure. If you want your horse to back up you apply pressure on the bit while encouraging the horse to move in a backwards motion (this is Direct Pressure/Constant) but it is not going forward against the pressure. I'm sure you can see where I am getting mixed up and confusing myself.
After studying more I found the section in my workbook that says while riding and doing a circle putting pressure on the outside leg is the wall and that the horse will lean into the pressure while applying indirect/pulsing pressure on the inside leg that the horse will move away from creates a nice curve. So, if this is the case then - when asking the horse to move over while tied would I push and release and not put direct/constant pressure as the horse would move into that?
As you can tell, I have a lot to learn and ' re-learn' back to studying!!
I've been doing a lot of reading, but reading and retaining what you've read is a different story. I am surprised at how much I forgot, not only that but how - even if I remember the instructions, it is easier read (or said) than done.
So going back to the basics I have started re-reading all over again, this time instead of moving forward in the chapters I am going to actually practice what I've read, follow through with the instructors advice during our lesson and only after I've practiced enough and feel comfortable will I move forward in the chapters.
My goal is not only to be able to accomplish the basic commands, but understand why I am accomplishing them and what the signals mean to the horse ~ working towards communication.
Here are some of the things I am going to practice. Picture 1 shows you the three different types of pressure used: No Pressure, Indirect Pressure and Direct Pressure.
Picture 2 shows how a rider uses the three different types of pressure:
- Hand Aid
- Leg Aid
- Seat Aid
 |
| Picture 1 |
 |
| Picture 2 |
 |
| Open Rein Right Turn |
 |
| Open Rein Left Turn |
 |
| Direct Rein Right & Left Turn |
 |
| Moving forward & slowing down |
What I struggle with the most right now is the direct and indirect pressure. I believe the last picture helps assist the horse in curving it's body through it's ribs on it's top-line from poll to tail. I am not sure and is this only when walking a circle, or is this while walking along the arena wall as well. What I am not sure about is when doing a circle I remember applying Direct Pressure (constant) with one leg and Indirect Pressure (pulsing) with the other - this was to form a curve while doing a circle (if I'm not mistaken) and in order to do the circle I would be applying indirect pressure using my hand in the direction I wish to go - so If I want the horse to hug the arena wall, if I am reading and interpreting correctly then I would apply Direct Pressure with the outside leg (closes to the wall) and Indirect Pressure with my inside leg while not apply pressure with my hands at all as we are moving forward in a straight line.
I remember being taught basics and communication in theory class and how a horses natural instincts are to move away from pressure, but if unable to move away to lean into the pressure as if to squish or rub it off like a bug etc.
As a rider, from what I understand, whether it be hand, seat or leg pressure a horse will:
- Move away from indirect/pulsing pressure
- Move or lean into direct/constant pressure
I find this to be very important information as it is easy to mix up if you don't quite understand why the horse does what it does or what it wants to do. for example, wanting a horse to move close to the arena wall to increase the size of the circle, or to move away from the wall and decrease the circle etc.
Remembering what it's instincts are will help understand what it will want to do and hopefully avoid confusion or asking the opposite of what you are intending to do.
I have a feeling though I have this backwards, the reason being is recently someone pointed out to me that while the horse is tied and I am preparing to tack-up to have the horse move over, if it doesn't respond to 'over' and clucking I would press and release on its side while encouraging 'over with cluck' and I was told that to move the horse over and if pressure is needed to press and hold until the horse moves away from the pressure (which I understand would be the rewarding part for the horse) and that this will get the horse used to leg pressure (which I'm thinking at that moment then means the horse will move away from Direct Pressure).
This makes sense, when you want your horse to stop you pull back on the reins and apply pressure until it halts whereas then you release the pressure. If you want your horse to back up you apply pressure on the bit while encouraging the horse to move in a backwards motion (this is Direct Pressure/Constant) but it is not going forward against the pressure. I'm sure you can see where I am getting mixed up and confusing myself.
As you can tell, I have a lot to learn and ' re-learn' back to studying!!
Monday, 21 January 2013
Sunday, 20 January 2013
The importance of grazing
It is a known fact that horses graze throughout the majority of the day, anywhere up to 18 hours are spent eating low-grade grasses. What I didn't know is that there is an metal factor associated with grazing. In the book 'Horses for Dummies' it is said that the equine brain is designed for grazing and doing so is the equivalent to us working, watching tv or reading.
If horses aren't able to graze they may develop stable vices out of boredom.
Re-reading this reminds me of the slow feeder hay nets and thinking about the EcoNet.
Ground Manners & Road Rage
As him and I work on our ground manners and I realize how much of it is up to me and will determine how he behaves I am happy to know now that I have been more focused on guidance and discipline and am seeing some great results. He's being much more polite, much like he was on a more consistent basis. I suppose this is why they call the different styles of riding 'disciplines' because it takes work and consistency for both horse and rider.
So, after a nice lesson, cleaning up, doing chores and getting back in the vehicle to head home I hit the highway and start driving. I'm paying attention to the road, in a more relaxed stat and start thinking about the similarities of riding a horse to driving a car. Obviously the car is not a living, breathing being with a mind of its own, but I did come up with a few similarities regardless.
For example, I took two years off driving and although I technically knew how to drive and had a license I was out of practice and rusty. Since then I've become more comfortable and confident in my abilities, this came with practice. But, the latest challenge is highway driving - whether it be at night or on windy days. I realize you drive the same you would in the city, but you do have to compensate for limited visibility and gusts of wind that can push the vehicle. What made me feel comfortable is just getting out there and driving. The more I drove the better I got and the less I had to think about it, the more miles I put behind the wheel, the less I had to think about what I was doing and the more it became a habit or an instinct.
Today, like many other days there were a lot of not so great drivers on the road, this is the exact point where I started to think about horses. I see it all the time, drivers rushing, speeding and crowding. Road Rage, tempers flair because there is no respect for other drivers space (bubbles) and if you get two or three cars with similar drivers together it is a recipe for disaster. When I see this I pass when safe (typically those drivers not paying attention to the road) or reduce my speed and increase the distance between myself and them while giving myself more control over the vehicle. Driving fast you have less time to react. My ability to read other drivers and predict (not always, but sometimes) whether they are going to jet out in front of me cutting me off without a signal, peel out from behind me or just plain hit their brakes because they are not paying attention came with experience.
So with that realization I can apply this to horse back riding. I won't get better or progress if I don't get on the horse and ride, the more miles I put on the horse the better the horse and I will be, the more experience I obtain the better able I will be to read a horse or somewhat predict what it may do and lastly, I need experience and confidence to transition from a walk to trot and trot to canter as the same rule applies - the faster the speed the less reaction time and harder the control will be.
I don't want Eli to be rude on the ground, or under saddle and I certainly am not a driver that doesn't give space or rush and speed.
Lesson's learned in both: patience, take your time, be calm and relaxed and most importantly (this has to do with reaction times and the ability to think clearly) should the unexpected happen, try your absolute best not to panic. Panic causes accidents because you freeze up and stop thinking. Panicking can also be detrimental riding because your body tenses up and you become stiff and ridged increasing your chances of bouncing off as opposed to being loose and relaxed therefore somewhat going with the motion.
Further more to my challenges with Eli, I realized today that although he is a TB and a little more challenging then some other horses he does push me to learn and keeps me on my toes. He certainly doesn't stand idle or allow for me to get into a rut where I am not forced to think and be completely in the moment. Letting your mind wonder, taking things for granted and becoming too comfortable can lead to an accident as well. I trust him, but respect his size and power and I think people need to start doing the same with their vehicles, accidents do happen.. slow down, stay out of peoples bubbles and be respectful - its not only our responsibility, but the safe thing to do for each other and ourselves.
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