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Post by Sheryl on Aug 18, 2014 10:27:50 GMT -5
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Post by Sheryl on Aug 18, 2014 12:57:32 GMT -5
She was ready to dive right into a deeper hole, but i didn't want to take my saddle swimming. Thinking next time we need to take saddles off and go swimming!  |
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Post by Idaho Linda on Aug 18, 2014 14:25:28 GMT -5
I bet that cool water felt REALLY good!
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Post by Trailpal on Aug 18, 2014 21:44:23 GMT -5
Sounds like you are creating a monster!  |
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Post by Marci on Aug 19, 2014 3:28:51 GMT -5
LOVELY pictures!!! And wow you two look rockin as my little brother would say....
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Post by dl on Aug 19, 2014 6:49:32 GMT -5
That looks like great fun! I think it's REALLY EXCITING to get a horse to willingly do something that they have been reluctant to do before!
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Post by Sheryl on Aug 19, 2014 10:01:48 GMT -5
Reluctant does not adequately describe Mia's relationship with water crossings...haha. After considerable work I got her to the point where she was crossing small bodies of water pretty reliably - even if some of the leaps were epic. My friend mary told me I should consider how she might do at steeple chases since her leaps were of that scale...haha. Anyway, suddenly Mia started doing a thing where she would simply see water, off in the distance, and she would back up at about 100 MPH. Of course, my first thought was how did i traumatize her, do we need to start over again on the water issues etc... then it hit me. She wasn't that afraid, she had just figured out that if she went in reverse fast and long enough, some other horse would take the lead! (So, it helps to be as smart as the horse.) The solution was simply to not reward her for refusing. all it took was asking my friend to give me like 30 feet of room - water crossing ahead... there will be reverse before there is forward! We did like 2 of those and Mia was like..."oh, darn, that doesn't work anymore" and she started leading through water crossings again. She is a smart cookie. I had taken her to riverbanks before where she quite literally stood and shook with fear and worry. Some of them are scary because you have steep bank or something to deal with but this one is perfect, safe and calm. Going with the theme of.. be smarter than the horse... we did a hillclimb to the view point on a very hot day a few weeks ago. The usual little creeks had dried up so the horses worked up a thirst. As it was approaching 90... as we came down off the hillside, I thought to myself... I bet mia would like a drink. I bet the river has water! So, we went to the river and I never pushed her into it, but she followed my friends horse right in - that was a week ago. She drank up, cooled off and then tried to roll in the sand.  All very relaxed, the river had become her friend. The pictures from this weekend was actually a cooler day and she was able to drink elsewhere first so we didn't have that motivation, but she calmly led the way which was very exciting! This is the horse that a month or two ago would see a river and start panicking... she has come a long way! I do think she is ready to swim, she nearly launched us into a deep hole (I could see the bottom) and she didn't seem the least bit concerned that my boots were filling with water...haha. |
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Post by Sheryl on Aug 19, 2014 10:03:28 GMT -5
Thanks Marci - I am feeling a little self conscious in that picture because I gained 5# - apparently all in a belly roll...haha. Anyway, there is a simple solution which is to not wear skin tight tops!
It was a great day though and i am very pleased with Mia and us as a team too.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Aug 19, 2014 11:57:31 GMT -5
So often it seems like people create a monster by forcing a horse to do something. The horse then associates the "thing" with being punished. You were so much smarter than that "old school." You have taught Mia that water is her friend, not a place to get punished. Congratulations on a job well done!
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Post by Sheryl on Aug 20, 2014 0:06:04 GMT -5
Linda. .. I have learned a lifetime of horsewomanship at this very forum the last decade or so. I think it is a shame we have dropped so much in "family size" because the wisdom here is priceless!
I am loving Mia. Her "challenges" are right where I need to be right now. I am blessed, it was exactly like when I got Buster. .The exact horse I needed at the time.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Aug 20, 2014 0:19:51 GMT -5
Yes, I have learned a great deal as well. And some of you have become real friends.
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Post by Marci on Aug 26, 2014 3:13:32 GMT -5
We really are like a family here. Horse family, even if some of us no longer have horses.
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All very relaxed, the river had become her friend.