Sometimes everyone wins when you finally let go

After 2 years of consideration I finally took the leap and placed my gorgeous gelding Charlie up for sale right before Halloween.

Thankfully he sold very quickly, and a few weeks later I was lucky enough to spend some time with him and his new owner.  While together she once again thanked me for letting him go and made the comment that it must hurt for me to see him with her but I instead honestly thanked her for taking him and giving him such a wonderful home.

You see, Charlie while an absolutely wonderful horse just really was not the right horse for me at this point in time.  He wanted to be my main ride but I already have my main girl with Pie.  He did not enjoy being second best when it was just the two, and now with the addition of 2 new babies last year (1 horse, and 1 human) he found himself way down on the priority list.  Coupled fact that it will be several years before my riding schedule will truly open up (especially since we have plans for more kids) it just didn't seem far to keep such a wonderful and giving horse waiting for so long.

I have seen them a few times since and every time I love the happy look I see on Charlie's face.  He is finally someone's number 1 and he absolutely loves it. He is going places and doing awesome things and I could not  be happier or prouder.

Looking back on the experience my only regret was that I did not choose to move him sooner.  Horses should be enjoyed but the enjoyed horses should also be happy.  And frankly through no fault of our own neither one of us were completely satisfied with our relationship and hadn't been for over a year.  He wanted all my time, and I didn't have enough to give which always left me feeling guilty.  Would we have worked in another time and place? Probably, But we did make it work for 4 wonderful years.  We learned a lot from each other, and are both better as a result of the time we spent together.

But at the end of the day he is happy with a dotting Mom who thinks the world of him, and I am able to once again enjoy my horse time without feeling guilty.  Sometimes every one wins when you decide to let go.      

 

Now instead of dogs imagine horses

I really could not have said it any better myself.  This is very much worth the read and is absolutely true of every equine relationship.  Who are you? Andy or Barney?

http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-would-andy-griffith-do.html

Joe Cool- The Perfect Horseman?

Joe Cool

Always cool, calm, and collected, with an air of 'don't give a s***' in every situation.

Horses respond that kind of attitude.

  

They like strong, fair, take charge kind of people, just like Joe Cool. 

 It makes them feel safe knowing that the people in charge know what they are doing, 

(or are good at acting like they know what they are doing.)

 So try it.  

Be Joe Cool.

You might be surprised at the results.

Why I train

 I train-

• To help horses, especially the misunderstood ones
• For the challenge
• For the breakthroughs no matter how small in both horses and humans.
• For the smiles of accomplishment and joy from a horse owner.
• For the thrill of helping a fearful horse to relax, understand, and listen.
• For the on top of the world feeling you get after a really great ride, especially after a few bad ones.
• Because of how much you love and care about your horses.
• For the joy of outlasting in a very stubborn horse with persistence and timing.
• For the proud parent feeling you get when horses and people you know do great things.
• The adrenalin rush you get on the first few rides.
• Because no matter how much you accomplish there is still more to explore and do.
• Because every horse I meet makes me a better person.

Too much of a good thing

 Who doesn't love horses, and of course the more the better as we say. But is there such thing as too much of a good thing?

I've been a one horse person most of my life. Owning multiple horses was never really been an option growing up due to pasture space and money. And until last year when I bought my gelding I had never actually given any thought on owning more than one horse. And I probably would have never given it any thought except that over the summer my little herd very unexpectedly grew to three as a result of the gift of a horse I had trained due to the previous owner no longer being able to afford him. That is when my perspective changed.

Owning more than one horse can be great. Growing up we each had a horse and at any given time we had 3-6 belonging to the family out in the pasture. An extra horse or two can be a lifesaver when you have an accident prone horse, it can offer kids, friends, and even spouses a chance to share your passion. Another horse can give you options in riding different sports, and also provide much needed companionship to your main ride. But over the summer I quickly learned that extra horses often cost more than just money.

I'm a very equal person when it comes to my horses, meaning that if you do it for one you have to do it for everyone. If I only have plans for working with one, I always make sure I budget enough time so the other at least gets some cookies and a good grooming. For nearly a year I had been happily doing double duty for my mare and gelding much to my enjoyment. Then number 3 joined my herd, and everything that was doubled now became tripled. For the first week things went pretty smoothly, but keeping everyone equal quickly went from being a joy to a down right chore. As the weeks went on I found myself in a perpetual assembly line of horsey chores always in a hurry. Due to the unplanned costs of #3 and the current economy I unhappily learned that I could not afford to care for everyone as I normally would, or do the riding events and activities I enjoy. I was forced to cut out any new activities, postpone my mare's yearly float for the first time because I couldn't afford it, and the surprise after hours visit for #3. My busy schedule forced me to squeeze 3 horses into a time slot made perfectly for two, and I soon found that something or someone was always left out. Due to training my mare for competition and training #3 so he would be ready for a new home my poor gelding was much to my and his dismay was pushed to the back burner. Thankfully there was a happy ending for everyone 3 months after #3 arrived when I was able to find him a wonderful home with awesome people. The next morning with #3 in his dream home we were all at such peace, I was able to relax again, and I swear I saw my gelding smiling.

I am sure that at some point in time I will have more than two but that will only be when I have kids needing horses. This experience taught me that my personal equine number of true enjoyment is 2 and no more. Though I was more than happy to help my good friend in placing #3 it was a great lesson in how 2's company, and 3's a crowd, and how more doesn't always mean more of the good stuff.   

Estate Planning

If something happens to you what will happen to your horses?

I never woke up that morning thinking that I would nearly die by 7pm.  It had been a regular day at college, I was not feeling great, but I never feel great so I did not think much of it.  After my classes I hop in my truck and drive the 10 miles to see my mare Pie.  I visit with her for about an hour before heading back home to my apartment.  I start the drive back without issue, but mid way through I get very light headed and nauseous.  I pull over and vomited what looked and tasted like blood. I only remember bits and pieces of how I made it back to my apartment.  I regained consciousness long enough to call my then boyfriend now husband, to tell him something was very wrong before I was sucked back into the darkness.  We rushed to hospital where I spent 3 days in the ICU for bleeding ulcers.  I later learned that I was lucky that I stayed conscious long enough to call my boyfriend, as I was so out of it that I never thought to call 911.  I was 21 years old at the time.

Every horse owner should seriously consider what would happen to their horses if they were to suddenly past away.


Horse Estate Planning

1.  Include your horses in your will no matter your age.

2.  If you are lucky enough to have other family members who are experienced in horses, talk with them about your feelings and plans for your horses and horse related property.

3.  If you are not lucky enough to have other horse wise people in your family ask one of your horse friends to help your family with the horse related decisions.

4.  Create a horse binder which carries all veterinary and registration information on all your horses.  If your horses are not papered provide their ages, breeds, and other relevant information. (can also be done for cats and dogs)

5. This day in age very few people have the money, time, and or property to keep one horse let alone 4 or 5 so you may also want to include money for care, well written sale ads, boarding information, and a list of professionals in your area who you would trust to help your family place your horses.

6.  Think about your horse related property and put it in your will.  Who gets the truck and trailer, your saddles, etc.  If you do not have friends or family who could use your horse related property consider making a donation to a local 4-h group or rescue.

While no one ever wants to think about the end, taking time to do so can greatly help your family and friends make the right decisions in regards to your horses. The same can be done for your dogs, cats, and other animals in your life.  

Consistency is Key

All you really need is Consistency

I never call a horse finished. To me you finish reading a book, or you finish the work week. I consider all horses to be works in progress, just like a nice lawn they have to constantly be maintained. Consistency is key in having a happy equine relationship. Horses see everything as absolute. So if you allow your horse to eat grass while on the halter, every time they see some grass they will be trying to eat it even when you don't want them too. Sometimes does not exist in the horse world, it is the same as always.

For example let's say that your Grandmother always keeps a full cookie jar, so every time you visit her you're going to go get a cookie. Now one day you go to visit and when you check the cookie jar you find crumbs instead of cookies. You have grown to expect cookies so even though they are none today the next time you go to visit you are going to check the cookie jar, and will probably check several more times afterwords until you are absolutely certain that there will be no more cookies.

Horses work they same way. The best trained horse in the world will turn rotten if allowed too, and the worst horse can become a joy to handle. For example if you are riding and you ask your horse to trot and then he breaks down to a walk and you allow him to walk for 15 steps before telling him to trot then the horse learned that they can stop trotting and walk for 14 steps before being corrected and he will probably try and do it again.

Horses learn through cause and effect. The horse touches the electric fence, the fence shocks him and the horse learns that touching the fence hurts. A colt gets too full of himself and bites the old mare, and old mare bites or kicks him, so the colt learns that you should not bite old mares.

A nippy colt can easily be fixed by lightly bopping him on the nose every time he tries to bite. Consistency in the horse world means every time without exception by all people who have contact with the horse no matter the situation. Don't worry if they keep testing you, as the more they have been allowed to do something like biting they longer they will continue to try to do it.

A foal spends the majority of it's life a horse so when dealing with young horses it is important to enforce the same rules that adult horses live by. Most young horses will try to bite, kick, rear, be pushy when leading, etc but all of these behaviors can be quickly put to bed by correcting it the moment that the horse acts out. If the first time a colt tries to bite a person he is met with a light bop on the nose, he will very quickly learn that you don't bite people. Training is consistently making the right behavior easy and the wrong behavior hard.

The sky is the limit as to what you teach your horse, you just have to remember that consistency is key.  

How to Blanket Safely- Part 2

After you can comfortably approach and touch your horse all over with the blanket you can now start the process of blanketing.

Only after my horse is completely comfortable with the blanket do I actually attach it to their bodies. A scared horse can spook and get away from even the most experienced horsemen, and I do not want my horses to injure themselves trying to get away from a scary half attached blanket that is chasing them. If I am not certain a horse can handle the blanket and blanketing process they stay in the barn and or do not get blanketed plain and simple.

Different blanket style require different techniques.

Open Front- Your standard horse blanket has buckles/closures in the front and straps for across the belly. Before I approach my horse with the blanket I am sure that I have it in reasonable order. I generally carry over my on my right arm half folded like the back of your horse with the front of the blanket towards my hand. This allows me gently place the blanket over the back. After it is placed I then attach my blanket in the front first.

Closed Front- These blankets require you to place it over your horse's head like a t-shirt to get it on. Personally I am not a fan of Closed Front Blankets because I find them very cumbersome with tall horses especially when you are short, and are they are hard place on head-shy/ear-shy horses. Not because I do not believe in teaching horses to handle/allow your hands in those areas, but because they do not allow you to release for good behavior when your horse allows you to handle those areas, which is not helpful in the retraining process. But if you do happen to own one you need to put it on your horse like you do your own t-shirts. You don't drag it all over your face and hair, you scrunch it up with the neck hole open and gently place it over your head. I can pretty much guarantee your horse will be better for blanketing if you use the t-shirt approach.

Belly Straps/Bands- Blankets can have up to 3 straps. If there is one strap you should attach it straight across. For two straps you cross them under your horse's belly, and if there are three straps you will cross the outer two and use the middle strap straight across to the other side. If my blanket has a belly band I attach it accordingly. Allow for a hand's width on all straps, they should not droop and hang far below their belly.

Leg Straps- If your blanket has leg straps they can be attached front to back on the same leg or crossed in the center to the other side. All legs straps should be well adjusted and not too loose.

From the beginning

 In the world the horses are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the horse owners, and the horse trainers who help them. These are their stories. 

I am not one for long introductions, I'd much rather just jump in, but it's hard to tell a story without a little background.

I am one of the lucky few who have always had the privilege of a life surrounded by horses.  I literally grew up on the back on a horse, and all my favorite memories involve horses.  I started training and teaching while in college and recently started dabbling in writing.  I'm the proud parent of two registered Quarter horses.  Charlie is a ten year old dun ranch gelding, and Pie is my 8 year old red dun once in a lifetime horse who I've owned since a weanling.  I live in Texas and am lucky enough to live with my horses.  Welcome to my world. - Pie