reinersblog.com

First ride back from Alaska, Leo and I forgot everything. There are just loads of issues: staying between the reins, picking up the right lead and not dropping the shoulder, stopping while keeping the head down and on and on. But, since we had such a great ride today, I’m going to stress about all that tomorrow.

We spent an hour in the arena and then went on a two-hour trail ride in the mountains with friends. It was beautiful out—green ferns everywhere, moss spilling off branches, creeks trickling, birds chirping. I think it’s great to get him out of the arena once in awhile. It’s sure a nice workout. We were both pretty beat when the ride was over.

Yesterday I went and saw my first reining show. I only made it toward the end, but saw three competitors and a few schoolers. One of the riders who was schooling his horse just walked his horse up to the judges, stood there, then got off his horse and walked out. We all hooted and hollered like it was the best performance ever. Everyone was laughing. I’m glad I went. Now the idea of participating in a show doesn’t seem as scary or intimidating.

There was a cutting afterward, which was also fun to watch. It was a cutter that invited me. He introduced me to some people, so I had a lot of company in the stands. They were all extremely nice people. The neatest thing about it is I think I found an instructor. He said he knew all about Les Vogt’s program, so I’m hoping that if I take lessons, I can still apply the principles I’m learning with CowHorse U.

I didn’t think I’d be able to find a reining instructor in this area and really couldn’t believe it when he said he was only 20 minutes from where Leo is. I saw him riding in the arena and he had his horse moving sooooo nicely. He did some spins and lead changes—all seemingly perfect to my amateur peepers. I was introduced to him and he said he was accepting students. Yay!

I’m in Alaska for a week. No horses to ride. They’re all inside with sweaters on staying warm by the fire. I’m doing the same. Brrr!

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!

I know this is off topic as it has nothing to do with reining. But I’m on vacation, so I might as well. I finally found some real live (as opposed to bronze or marble) horses in Denmark. We spotted them during the changing of the guard at the queen’s royal palace, Amalienborg. They were beautiful Oldenburgs owned and ridden by Copenhagen’s Finest, the mounted police. The two officers we met told us about the training they go through with the horses.

The police horses are tested once a week for their calmness (bombproofedness?). Guns and chainsaws are a few of the things used to make loud noises for this testing. They are taught to actually push crowds back with their bodies. They also practice jumping once a week. Busy horses! Continue Reading »

Amanda, pictured at a clinic on the left, gave me a great review of her experiences at Clinton Anderson clinics. I’ve never been to one, but if you have and would like to leave some feedback, click the Trainer Reviews page (on the navigation menu at the top or to the right on the screen), click Clinton Anderson, and then in the text box under Leave a Reply, leave your feedback, and click Submit Comment. Thanks Amanda!

I was in five clinics with Clinton; it’s been a couple years. Now looking back, I kick myself for not keeping a journal or something to remember easier. My first was a three-day was in December (had to be in ‘02). Basically you learn how to soften up your horse from the ground (lateral flexion), do a bunch of different ground work exercises in the morning, then after lunch you ride, starting out doing a lot of softening exercises under saddle.

Then it was kind of crazy, there was about 14 or 15 riders in a 100×200 indoor arena, and when we began riding he had us hang onto the center of our reins with one hand and trot our horses around, then canter without steering! He said only do a one-rein stop “if you felt your life was in danger.” He said horses don’t run into each other in their spare time. There were some close calls though, lots of ear pinning and cow kicks! He also made everyone post…it is a perfect way for someone to learn balance and develop an independent seat. I remember being so tired at the end of the day in the first clinic. I wasn’t used to working so hard! Continue Reading »

I had the best ride tonight. I just realized that Leo, the horse with anger management issues, no longer has anger management issues. It’s hard to believe that he’s the same horse. I’m not say he’s a trained reining horse. I know that we have a long way to go. In fact, we’re still pretty early in the Les Vogt program because I’ve been taking it really slow wanting to get each thing right before moving on. But the exercises that we’ve been doing (the circles, the flexion, more circles, testing the very beginnings of turn arounds, more circles) seem to have made something click in Leo’s head. He no longer refuses to go forward, or tosses his head up and down impatiently, or pins his ears back to warn me that he might just start bucking. He seems very very serious about his lessons now and completely engaged in what we’re doing (except for sometimes when we get to that one spot in the arena that leads home).

Honestly, I used to be very careful about asking him to too much for too long. His bad behavior would increase, and I knew he was very good at getting rid of riders. I just have no fear of him at all now. He’s pretty sure that I’m not going to hurt him and now I’m pretty sure he’s done thinkin’ he might have to hurt me. Tonight we worked for an hour and a half. He gave it his best effort and was so relaxed and (dare I say it?) sweet.

Areas we’ve improved: The circles in a canter. This time I focused on myself. I kept my eyes forward and focused on my balance and how I was sitting. Was I leaning on my legs at all? Was I catching myself leaning to the inside to double check that lead? I don’t know how that worked, but it seemed to work. He wasn’t dropping his shoulder and was going pretty steady. This was such a big difference. I even got a few compliments from some other riders who’ve noticed our improvement. Also, I think I’m finally getting the hang of those long reins.

This all has me feeling like I’m on the right track. I’m certain that if a professional trainer had Leo for the same amount of time, he’d be a lot further along. But the idea that he is improving because of my efforts has me feeling pretty hopeful and optimistic. We may not get there fast, but we’re going to get there.

I know Les says that you should let horses make mistakes because that’s how they learn, but what if they just keep making the same mistake? We’ve done so many circles, we might be permanently dizzy now. We’re great at a walk, good at a trot, but everything falls apart at a canter. Leo just wants to drop that inside shoulder and cut into that circle until we wind down to a stop.

I spend my time trying to correct Leo the only way I know how, which is to pull up on that inside rein, just so, so he has to straighten out. But it only lasts for a second. As soon as I release, he rushes right out from between those reins and heads for the center of the circle like we’re suddenly caught in an arena maelstrom. I think I need to really need to chant this Les Vogt quote a few times before I start every ride, “Remember that 90 percent of the time, a problem that a horse is giving you is just a reflection of your own riding, so work 90 percent on yourself and 10 percent on your horse.”

So really, this is all my doing. But what is it that I’m doing? Am I leaning to the inside? Am I tagging him with my outside leg and I don’t know it?