Well first of all, we never stop learning.

This is a question I’m asked often, yet it is a hard question to answer.

Everyone learns in their own time.  Some people are naturals, and some take a little longer.

My normal comment is “Well, it all depends.”  Well that’s an answer for you.  But when you think about it, it’s the only thing you can respond with.

It depends on:

• How quickly you pick things up?
•  What type of learning process do you need.  For example – Do you learn by watching, reading, hands on, having things explained to you, and sometimes it’s a combination.
• How coordinated are you.  (Sometimes I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.  Hand to eye contact isn’t happening for me either.)
• What discipline are you interested in?  Walking around and sitting on a horse, being able to stop, start, and turn your horse while following others, or do you want something more?
• If you want to compete in a specific event, well that will take more time.

I had a student come to me, several years ago, at the beginning of her senior year in High School.  She explained to me, that for her senior project she wanted to become an Open Jumper.  She had to have video’s weekly of her progress, and be done by March.  She’d never been on a horse before.  Of course my eyes bulged, my jaw dropped, but I never discourage anyone from trying.  Was that a realistic goal, no way, but I’m always up for a challenge.  She worked really hard riding once a week, and by march she was going over foot and a half jumps safely.  She was happy with that, and I was thrilled.  She ended up with a fabulous grade.  She’s in her last year of college and has come back and ridden, but she’s moved on to Sky Diving.

So when someone asks me how long, I ask them what they are looking to accomplish?  Then I’ll tell them that it depends on how often, and how hard they work at it.  But this does come with a side comment, it all depends on your natural ability.  Some people are naturals, but most people struggle.  I, myself, struggled, but it didn’t stop me from learning and accomplishing everything I had hoped for.  It doesn’t stop you from becoming great at your goals, it just takes a little longer to get there.  Most people really have to work at it, very few are born to it.

You must always remember that you can accomplish your goal.  Unlike golf, the more you practice, the faster you will learn, and the better you will be.  Every one I know who has studied riding becomes proficient at it.  I watch people like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, and just shake my head.  These are people who practice eight hours a day, seven days a week, and still mess up.  If we rode eight hours a day, seven days a week, we’d be very good.  Yes, we are working with an animal who may have their own agenda, but until you’ve worked with a stupid little white ball, you haven’t tried anything.  I’ll take learning to ride, any day over learning how to play golf.  My golf instructor, God Bless Him, has more patience than anyone I know.  Remember me, can’t walk and chew gum?  Yup, I’m taking up golf, kind of.  There are so many variables, and my aging body just doesn’t have the flexibility that it needs, but as with riding, I’m not giving up.

So if someone asks you how long it will take to learn how to ride, just smile and nod, throw the ball back in their court and say, that will all depend on you.

Well I’ve looked over the posts that I have lined up to present to you, and none of them fit my mood or this day.

Some of them are very intense, I don’t feel intense.

It’s a New Year, and a new start.  We can make resolutions that we won’t keep.  We can start projects that we won’t finish.  But we can try.

We can try to make more time for our horses, and for ourselves.  We can make more time to spend with the people who mean the most to us.

I’ve intended to go see my friend who was in a hospital and rehab center, but I’ve been sick myself.  (I hate when people share their germs, and I refuse to do it.)  She fell off her horse a million times when we were hunting, but a step-ladder did her in.  Now today I found out that she passed away.  In a way I’m glad for her, because she was paralyzed and would never be able to enjoy the life she was used to living.  But in another way I’m sad, because she was planning on getting involved with handicapped riding.  She was not going to let this accident slow her down, and she was going to make this accident benefit others.

At this point I need to share a funny story about Pat, she was quite a character.  We were having our hunt tea after a hunt one evening.  They are usually a breakfast or dinner but we always refer to them as a tea.  Some people would put their horses in their trailers and some would leave them tied to the side of their trailers while they ate.  Well Pat had hers tied to the passenger side of the trailer so she could keep an eye on her.  When she left she walked up on the driver’s side, got in, and started driving slowly down the dirt road.  Elly, her horse, started walking at first along with the trailer.  We all started yelling and running after the trailer.  Then Elly started trotting to keep up.  We started running faster and yelling louder.  Pat finally stopped to see what all the fuss was about and we all laughed at the situation.  I don’t think Elly was that amused, but it is a nice memory of Pat and all the fun we had.  She wasn’t the only one who ever did this, but it was the funniest.

So even if you are a little hung over today, remember that life is way to short to put things off.  Enjoy your horse, your friends, and your family every chance you get.  Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone.

I know Pat is in heaven totally happy with all her friends, and the animals that went on before her.  I can hear the hunt horn blowing “Gone Away”, but we’re still here, let’s make the most of 2015.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

I guess this time of year tends to cause you to reflect on years gone by.  It does for me.

When I was young and stupid (now I’m just old and senile), I did some, not so smart things.  Imagine that.  But in my defense, I learned them from the people I grew up with.  They would bring their one pony into their house.  So one New Years Eve I decided I would bring my horse (the one I used for Ski Tow) into the party I was having.  Now she was 16 hands and about 1200 lbs., not quite a pony.  I was feeling the effects of the party, and thought it was a great idea, my mare questioned my sanity at that moment.  The other people had a nice wide stairway leading into their house with very few steps.  Mine had about the same number of steps but it was narrow with a severe drop off to the cellar below right next to it.  Lady came in and was going to go up the steps, looked at the drop, looked at me, and said   “I don’t think so.”  I asked a couple of times, and she didn’t think it was a good idea.  Knowing that she was always right, I brought her back to the barn.  Now this mare used to escape out of the pasture, at the barn she was originally kept, by climbing up the steps to the porch, walking around to the front and going off the other way, so steps were not the problem.  But my bad judgement was.  No one at the party was upset or surprised when I said I was going out to get my horse, and no one was surprised that the horse had enough brains not to do it.  They knew she hadn’t been drinking, although she loved a soda now and then.

If a horse questions what you are asking of them, go over it in your head first.  They just may be right, but if they are not, take the leadership attitude, and press on.

Have a wonderful, safe New Years, and keep those resolutions realistic, and within your actual reach.

Just wanted to add to last weeks post.  When you are putting the blanket on, fasten it front to back.  When you are taking the blanket off, unfasten it from back to front.  It’s a lot safer for the horse, you, and the blanket.

*****

In a way, winter is kind of sad for me, because when I was a teenager, a snowy Christmas meant horse-drawn sleigh rides, bells included.  So many horse owners have never had that opportunity.  Snow or no snow, you can still put bells on your horses.  When we were hunting in N.J., members of the Field did this,  staff did not.  No point looking for a Fox if you let him know you’re coming.  We did this so the hunters wouldn’t shoot us (especially if you are riding a Buckskin).  Here in Florida, we would wear neon vests.

I remember one Christmas when one of my friends got ski’s as a present.  Now here we were in Staten Island, no ski slopes there.  So what do horse friends do?  We tow people up hill with our horses, and let them ski down.  Now this wasn’t exactly safe.  We were doing this on a, somewhat, snow-covered busy street.  My horse had special shoes for traction.  It was going really well until my friend didn’t let go of the rope, and passed me going down the hill.  The rope wrapped around the backend of my horse and kind of took us with her.  Of course my horse had bells on, so we were cool, just sliding sideways.  She was a good safe, sane, mare.  Looking back, I think she was the only safe, sane, horse I had.  They were all wonderful, in their own way, but not necessarily safe, and sane.

Keep those wonderful memories tucked safely in your heart.  If my grandchildren went to do this now, I might discourage them, but I wouldn’t have missed those years for anything.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and hoping that Santa is very good to you this year.

My granddaughter once asked me if I still believed in Santa.  I said “Of Course!”, if I don’t believe in him, he might stop bringing me all those wonderful gifts.

The word this year seems to be “Believe”, please do.

Okay, so I went to see this filly.

When I went there, I was ready to see an angry filly with her ears flat back, showing me her teeth, and knowing how to use them, steam coming out of her ears, and fire out of her nostrils.  After all, she had tossed two people, knocked them down, putting her stamp of disapproval on their bodies.  Trust me, I have known horses from hell.  They are few and far between, but they do exist.  Usually caused by man-made problems, but there were a few that just seemed possessed.

I walked in the barn and saw her with her head over the stall door, ears forward, looking with excitement for someone to come visit her.  It was one of the coldest days we’ve had so far.  One red flag.  Six month old, who had been weaned the day she was brought into the stall, a month ago.  Three more red flags.  She’s kept in the barn with no other animal for company.  Red flag.  The question is – was she really interested in company, or her next victim.  As I walked closer I noticed she had bright kind eyes, with a happy excited expression.  Never once did her ears flick back.  I approached her sideways and let her sniff my shoulder, and then she moved up to my hair.  I kept a close watch on her, out of the corner of my eye.  She showed no signs of aggression, or fear.  I showed her my hand, and let her smell it, and then gently touched her.  She didn’t pull away, and seemed to invite more.  So I went into her stall, and let her check me out.  She was okay with that, so I started scratching her gently.  She told me what she felt was acceptable for now, and I was okay with that.  The more time I spent, the more she trusted me and allowed me to do.  She didn’t give her trust easily.  She made you take one step at a time.  She knew my girlfriend better, so I instructed her on how to work her way around this fillies body, rubbing, scratching, touching, and working her way down the legs until the filly allowed her to pick up her feet.  She agreed to allow us to rub her ears, eyes, and lift her lip.  She actually started to love the attention, and thought we could be her new best friends.

It seems that no one ever asked her permission to touch her.  They just came in and man-handled her.  I know sometimes vets are on a tight schedule, but it doesn’t take that long to rub her a little, and speak soft, kind words to her.

Let’s look at it from her perspective.  You’re a young child.  You’ve been brought into a hospital room, your mother has been removed from the room, and some strange man comes in.  He approaches your bed and starts grabbing your arms and legs, and starts injecting needles into your body.  He never calmly tells you who he is, or what he is planning to do.  More important he never tells you that everything will be alright, and that he is your friend.  You have pain and swelling, and he starts poking at the sore area.  You may cry, scream, or thrash around.  Sounds logical to me.

Now we are talking about a fight or flight animal.  If a child is going to kick and scream, why are we amazed when this foal behaves the same way.

By the time I was ready to leave, she was all over me.  Happy as a clam to find people who were kind, and were interested in who she was, and how she felt.  It was a simple case of asking permission.  Now some people will think “I don’t need permission, this is just nonsense”, but is it?

Horses are like woman, some women love the caveman type, but most want a gentle soul, who will to take the time to understand them, and reassure them that they will be safe in their care.  There was a country western song a few??? years back, that said “I want a man with a slow hand, I want a lover with an easy touch.”  Hello! so do horses.

Each case is different.  You must always be calm, assertive, and confident.   But you must also know when it’s the right time to be “touchy, feely.”

I’ve said this before; what works with one horse may not work with another.

I know some people who do not believe in the “Touchy Feely” approach.  That’s their opinion, and if it works for them, great.  They’re not interested in trying any other way but theirs.  Okay, whatever works for you.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but so am I.

I believe that you try different methods, and see what works with that particular horse.  Sometime you have to be aggressive, and sometimes “touchy feely”,  sometimes both, depends on where the horse is coming from, and what you are trying to accomplish.  Rules, boundaries, limitations, and consistency are a must no matter what approach you take.  You wouldn’t use a cast, if a band-aid would work, would you?

Drugs vs natural.  Both have their benefits, and drawbacks.  Anyone who has watched TV lately, has seen the drug commercials.  By the time they finished running the disclaimer, you wonder why anyone would take that drug to begin with.  I watched when my mother was alive, and now with my husband, the doctors just keep prescribing drugs.  One after another to counteract the side effects of the previous drug.  The amazing thing is that they never seem to remove them, when you don’t need them anymore.  There is just something wrong with all of this.  Don’t just accept this.  Ask questions, monitor the drugs effects (good and bad) and don’t be afraid to say NO!, what other options do I have?  This goes not only for you, but with your animals.  Read the side effects, and watch closely.  If you notice anything unusual, make that call immediately.

I have a friend who called me today saying “help!”  She works at a Thoroughbred breeding farm, and has a 6 month old Thoroughbred filly who has had major stifle issues.  She must be stall kept.  Red Flag!  When my Clydesdale was a baby she had leg and health issues, she had to be stall kept.  With the Clyde baby it was no big deal.  My Jack Russell and I would sit in the stall with her, and I would sing to her while she laid her head on my lap and napped.  Now we’re talking TB baby.  Whole different ball game.  After a month in the stall, she’s a time bomb waiting to go off.   She may not necessarily be a bad horse, just bad circumstances.  Not going to sit in a stall with this one.  From the conversation I’ve had with my friend, I’ve determined that she’s smart, bored, frustrated, and angry that she’s being confined.  Add colder weather and you’ve got quite a set up for excess energy.  She was never fond of people before, and certainly has not changed her opinion of them now.  She’s lashing out at anyone who tries to man-handle her.  Truthfully, seeing things from her perspective, I would too.

I’ve given her a few ideas on entertainment to work with until I get to go see her.  Big screen TV, Netflix, I phone, Skype, only kidding!  They’ve already started her on drugs.  I’m not totally for that.  Depends on what they are giving her, and how much.  Why do people feel the need to drug the horse instead of finding the basis of the problem, and fixing it?  At that age I’d rather do something more natural.  Some acupuncture, herbs, things to calm her mind, and body.  She just needs a program, to teach her things she can learn in the stall, that will help her when she gets her “Get Out Of Jail Free” card, something to get her thinking, and keep her busy.

Teach and reward may be an idea for now.   You can teach them a whole lot in small spaces.  But then again, this filly may not be in the mood to learn anything.  I’ll find out.

As for teaching some people new tricks, it’s like teaching pigs to sing – it just wastes your time, and annoys the pigs.  That IS cast in stone, end of discussion.

Or at least it’s not a good idea.

Amy tried it on the TV series Heartland, and it didn’t work out well for her either.

My girlfriend was a little crazed after watching it.  “What is the matter with the writers?  Don’t they know that it’s just pure craziness, and no one in their right mind would do that?  Amy should have quit after she got the one stallion in the stall.”  Well it’s TV and that’s what happened to work for the show.  But, not necessarily in real life.

I’m not going off on how to handle stallions.  Some people just shouldn’t have them, because they are not knowledgeable enough.  You need to be a responsible stallion owner, and some people aren’t even a responsible horse owner.  Some stallions are wonderful, and you wouldn’t even know they were stallions.  Some are just bad, and need to have some body parts removed, so the brain can return to its rightful place.

But this really isn’t about stallions at all.  It’s about using the right equipment for the right job, and learning how to use it properly.

When I was a kid I asked the woman, who owned the barn where I grew up, what a certain piece of equipment was used for.  I had seen it at one of the major tack stores in Manhattan.  Her words stay with me today.  “If you don’t know what it is, you don’t need it.”

So many times I see people rush out and purchase the latest contraption for their horses.  They have no idea how to use it properly, don’t know if their horse actually needs it, and can do more harm than good.  As I’ve said before, a simple snaffle can become abusive in the wrong hands.

If your horse is having a problem, seek professional help.  Get the right equipment, and learn how to use it the way it was meant to be used.  But mostly educate yourself, and your hands, to use any piece of equipment properly, to the best of its intended use.

Years ago as I was driving along a busy interstate, I saw a “cowboy” (a person who watched too many westerns when he was a kid, obviously not Gene, Roy or John Wayne) riding along the road.  It was a really bad situation, and my heart went out to the horse.  He had a severe bit with a curb chain, bad hands that were hauling on the horse’s mouth to hold him back, a very short tie-down with a brain chain, which the horse’s head was up to the limit, and rowel spurs that were constantly digging into the horse’s side.  I just stopped and yelled (I was young and stupid and nobody carried a Uzi back then) “if you would get your heels out of his side, and get off his mouth, you wouldn’t need all that garbage on your horse.”  He just kicked his horse, and ran off into the sunset.  I don’t yell anymore, I’m more into making suggestions like “let’s try this and see if it works.”  People do shoot people over road rage now.

Bottom line is, don’t go buying the latest fads.  Determine what may help your horse to be better, and borrow this “thing” before you buy it.  Learn what it’s supposed to do, and learn the proper way to use it.  If it doesn’t work, you’re not out any money.  If it does, by all means, go out and get yourself one.

If you don’t know – ask.

If you don’t know what it is – you don’t need it.  Thank you Adele Franzreb.

We have an American Bald Eagle nest right behind the barn.  They are beautiful, proud, magnificent creatures.  They have been great neighbors.  They have never bothered any of the small animals on my property.  I don’t know if it’s the male or female, but when I give a lesson, in the jump pasture, he/she sits on the branch of the pine tree, and watches the whole time.

My girlfriend gave me her Paint Horse Journal about a week ago, and as I was looking through it the other day, I noticed one thing that disturbed me.  So prepare, because I’m on my soap box.  I usually am when I write my posts.

Now this isn’t just about Paints, or Quarter Horses, but it seems prevalent in those horse show circles.  It’s the look in their eyes.  The look of eagles.  The brightness, the confidence, the presence of life.  It’s not there!  Yes, with some of the halter horses it is.  Their heads are up, proud as can be.  Their eyes are bright and alive.  They love showing themselves off.  They love saying “Hey, look at me.  I’m special.”  Now look at the pictures of the horses in Pleasure or Horsemanship.  Their eyes are sad, downcast and weak.  They have resigned themselves to what they are doing.  There is no life in them, no pleasure in their task.  Did anyone ever ask themselves why?

Why are they still traveling with their heads so low?  Yes, depending on the neck placement into the shoulders, some horses carry their heads lower than others, but most, these days, carry it that way because they were told they had to.  Don’t even get me started on how this is obtained.  These great Associations are supposed to better the breed, not destroy it.  They are not supposed to reward the cruelty of some trainers to obtain this “perfect head set.”  What is so perfect about a horse that is neck sore, and has lost all the life in its eyes.

Come on judges.  You are supposed to be the best of the best.  You can tell when a neck and head carriage is natural, and when it’s been forced.

Some forty years ago I showed a friends horse in Western Pleasure.  He was born with a neck that was placed high.  This is the way he carried it, whether he was in the pasture, or in the ring.  I’ve ridden three horses in my life time that just naturally floated when they cantered.  It wasn’t this man-made stilted gate they now call a canter or lope.  You could carry a champagne glass filled when you got on, and not a drop would spill through your whole ride.  He had a light mouth, a brain,  and was truly a pleasure to ride.  When we didn’t place I asked the judge, why?  He said his head was too high, even on a dropped rein.  I told the judge to get on this horse, ride him, and then tell me he wasn’t a pleasure to ride.  He can’t help it if he was born this way.

Now I know the original horse who created the perfect look of a pleasure horse was natural, and relaxed in his head carriage.  This became the example for all the horses, but not all the horses have that conformation.  This goes along with the relaxed tail set.  Hello?  The trainers started injecting the tails so they couldn’t move.  Horses also couldn’t swat flies.  The head and neck thing isn’t horsemanship or showmanship, this is outright cruelty.

Next time you look through a magazine, or are at a horse show, just look at the horses eyes and see if you see the look of eagles, or the look of resignation.

We pamper them and think they are happy, but are they really?  It’s just sad what people will do for a $3.00 ribbon and some points.

Look into their eyes, I mean really look.  What do you see reflected there.  It’s who you are, and what your priorities are.  How does it feel to suck the life out of something that you say you love.

What do you love more, your horse or the prestige of winning?  Is it the best for your horse, or your ego?

I know, you say you have to do this to compete, but why?  Why do you compromise your standards and principles?  Why not go out there and demand changes.  You’re the one paying the money.  You are ultimately the one in control.

Most people won’t “rock the boat.”  But who is the real loser here?  Unfortunately it’s the horse.  You do have a choice.