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I had a great weekend. It was opening day of the Summer Series at the ranch–let the team roping commence! Even though Leo isn’t trained for roping yet, Jim likes to take him out there so he can get used to all the activity.

I was hoping Leo would be on his best behavior, and he was! Although, he had a hard time concentrating because of the new setting. We worked in the arena before most of the ropers got there, but there were plenty of steer, horses, and strange newness everywhere to keep his ears perked up the whole time.

My friend Monica took that picture of us. He was just as good as he could be. Last month Leo was getting really ornery with the snaffle I was using (D-ring, slow-twist). So when I went to the Les Vogt clinic, I picked up an Elevator bit. It’s a strange looking bit to be sure, but so far, a wonderful training bit. It’s cool because it also kind of acts like a full-cheek snaffle, which seems to help with training in lateral movements. Les says that you give a horse a new bit when he asks for one. I think it finally sank in that Leo was asking for one. He was getting pretty brave with his rearing up and being generally disrespectful.

Last week, first day in the new bit, like clockwork, he had a tantrum and came off the ground with both front hoofs. When he was on his way up to classic Trigger position, I bopped him once (quick jerk on the bit with one rein), he grunted in surprise (and no small amount of discomfort I’m sure) and replanted both hoofs firmly on the ground. I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do, but for the rest of the ride, he was a perfect gentleman. We had two more arguments like that in the days followed, and then he just quit behaving badly. There are no ornery tantrums.

SO! This is what we have so far in terms on the “five easy pieces.” Leo knows how to independently move his head, his shoulders, and his hips on both sides (Yay! Finally turning on the forehand in both directions). He’s great two-tracking to the left, but falls apart on the right, so that’s what we’re working on now.

Back to Saturday at the roping; it was great! Leo was so good. I didn’t work with him long because he was behaving so well and trying so hard. So we hung up the gear, he had a carrot, I had a Cliff bar, and we kicked back and watched Jim catch!

With the equine dentist’s visit come and gone, I was ready to see if it really was Leo’s teeth. I gave him a few days after the visit before going for a ride. I switched out the Billy Allen shank bit to a D-ring “slow twist” snaffle. Here’s a link to one so you can see what it looks like (this one looks more severe than the one I have in his mouth): Slow Twist Snaffle

His behavior with a snaffle before the dentist’s visit wasn’t good. He would aggressively toss his head up and down when I applied any pressure to the bit. After being able to feel the sharp spikes on the sides of his teeth before the dentist worked on them, I imagine that the snaffle was pressing the skin on his cheeks into those spikes. Ouch!

His behavior with the snaffle after the visit was completely changed. It WAS his teeth! No more head tossing. Pretty amazing really, it’s as though he has that old shank bit in his mouth—he’s just as responsive.

He did do one little “head whip” the first two rides with the snaffle, but that was it. It’s a huge difference from the incessant head tossing up and down. What do I mean by “head whip?” I know you’ve seen it. When a horse is in the field and it’s feeling frisky, so it whips its nose down and around in a big “U?” It made me nervous because in the field, that’s generally followed by a playful buck. He didn’t do that part though, whew!

I got four rides in last week. All with the snaffle! He’s being great. We’re still getting used to it, but I’m feeling a lot more confident about his behavior. I think next week, I’ll take the slow twist bit out and change it to a regular, smooth, D-ring snaffle.

This experience has really got me thinking about horse behavior. Had I not had more knowledgeable people around, I may have interpreted his head tossing as a sign of aggressive behavior and meanness on his part. I wonder how often that happens to horses—they’re trying to express pain or discomfort and instead are disciplined for “bad behavior.”

The moral of this story? If your horse acts ornery with a bit, have his teeth checked!

Al, I don’t think I deserve that pat on the back now. And Amanda, I’m not longer feeling snafflerific. What seemed so great yesterday, fell apart today. I’m trying to remind myself that there were a lot of negative factors: Leo loaths puddles and the arena was full of them; Leo wanted to go to his “magnet corner” since we were next door to home; and he had a new bit in for only the second day.

BUT, Les makes everything look so easy! I did a lot of reading in his workbook last night and got frustrated with myself because it’s all right there and I don’t remember it all when I’m riding. For instance, I haven’t been using hands AND legs consistently when working on vertical flexion. I get absorbed in just ONE element and forget all of the other stuff I should be doing. So, tonight I was really concentrating on the hands and legs and vertical flexion. I thought since Sunday went so great, I’d really be able to focus on vertical flexion and collection. Here’s what happened.

He was not yielding. He was ok when we were walking away, but if we were headed toward his magnet corner of the arena he would ignore my requests until I was almost pulling on him to stop. I think he did so well yesterday because he was in a new place and wasn’t focused on going home. With the shank bit, he’s soooo good at doing a counter arc. But he was either confused or was just flat out refusing to do it today. Also he started tossing his head again. He doesn’t toss his head in the Billy Allen bit, but he seems to do it in a snaffle. Is it possible that he just isn’t comfortable in a snaffle? Or maybe he was just irritated and confused.

I’m going to call the barn owner tomorrow and see if she’ll help me. She’s an incredible English riding instructor. I suppose, if you’re going to talk about snaffles, who better to go to than an English riding instructor? She knows a lot about horses, so I’m hoping she’ll take a peek at him.

Something really great did happen today though. Guess what…he did almost a half circle of turn around the forehand. I almost jumped off and danced a jig. He’s getting it!

Today was an adventure for Leo and I. Jim drove us to an arena for the first time. The weather has been so bad that it’s been impossible to ride outside—constant rain has turned the outdoor arena into one big mud puddle.

I had a few goals for the ride and some concern. Leo was a pretty nervous horse last summer at the team roping events. I was concerned that he would revert back to his old ways and express his frustration and nervousness in a unconstructive way. When we arrived, Jim and I took him inside with just a halter and lead rope. The big beautiful gloriously-dry arena was empty! Woo hoo! We did have an audience though, as soon as we slid open the door, a row of stabled horses popped their heads out of their stalls to see who the new kid was. Leo ignored them and snuck a bite of their hay on the way by (bad horse).

I walked him around the arena, and he seemed fine. He was checking things out, but wasn’t jumpy. So we saddled him up, and I went for a ride. I started him out slow, and once I realized he was fine, we started working on our Les Vogt moves: zones one, two, three, and four. We’re working hard on getting those down. Although I feel like we have a long way to go, I’m so proud of Leo. His behavior was wonderful. He was relaxed and listening. He seemed perfectly comfortable. I like that he was curious of his new surroundings, but still paying attention to me. Continue Reading »

I’m back. A little stuffy, but the worst of that plague-like cold is over. Tonight when I got to the barn, Jim (Leo’s owner) had Leo saddled up for me (pretty nice). By the time I hoisted myself up into the saddle, it was 30 degrees and pitch dark out. Leo is getting more comfortable in the dark. Thank goodness for that outdoor arena lighting next door though!

I had a great ride. Leo was really trying. We worked on flexion for awhile and then I “let” him canter around. I think I sometimes confuse his being “chargey” with his apparently sincere desire to run. People say, “he’s a lot of horse.” I’m a believer. I know how powerful he, how agile he is, and that he’s hurt a few people who scared and possibly hurt him. So I have a healthy respect for what he can do. However, this “healthy respect” sometimes turns into fear. I think that might be causing me to choose the wrong bit for him. Continue Reading »