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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!

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!

The equine dentist worked on Leo on Saturday. Leo definitely had some sharp points rubbing on his cheeks and his canine teeth had to be shortened (they were really long!).

After researching the equine dentists available in this area, we decided on Performance Equine Dentistry. The dentist, Richard Vetter, D.V.M, and his wife, Kathy, rolled up right on time in their mobile dental clinic. The 24’ custom trailer has a special stall in it that helps support sedated horses that are being worked on. The front of the trailer is like a tiny classroom, with educational posters, a horse skull, and samples of horse teeth with various defects.

I guess they normally spend about 15 minutes walking people through what they’re looking for when they examine a horse and what they do. Me being the Curious George that I am took up nearly an hour of their time with questions. Kathy was wonderfully gracious and took the time to show me how a bit works in a horse’s mouth by using the horse skull and some bits I brought to show her (thanks for that tip Al). I had dozens of questions and she answered them all. I learned soooo much in that hour!

Then it was time for Leo to have his teeth examined. Richard introduced himself to Leo in the pasture and then had us load him into the trailer clinic. While he worked on Leo, Kathy cooed to Leo and kept a close eye on him to make sure he wasn’t panicky. Continue Reading »

Ever have one of those days when you feel like a total disaster? Yesterday was one of those days for me. Poor Leo. I’m lucky that he seems to like me a little. I was riding along, still experimenting with the spurs and pressure and feeling pretty good, like I might be getting the hang of it. Until, that is, I asked him to canter. My spurs somehow kept getting lodged in the back cinch. Leo is cantering around while I’m having panic attacks because my heels are getting periodically pinned in the saddle. After it happened a few times I asked him to please walk. Don’t feel bad; I was thinking the same thing—I’m a dork.

I’m pretty sure that I’m the only one who’s ever had this happen. There was just no walking away from that ride with any sort of dignity. My spurs got stuck in the back cinch! Jeez!

So last night, after walking the walk of shame back to the barn, I started to problem solve. How in the heck are me feet so far back at a canter that the spurs are getting caught in the cinch? I know he has a short body but that’s just not right. It’s got to be because I’m not sitting right. I’m not sitting back on my back pockets like Les Vogt says to do. I watched the part of his training video where he’s talking about canter departures. When he rides at a canter, his legs are pretty far forward, up by the shoulders almost.

Today, I got to go for another ride because it wasn’t raining (two whole days in a row, woo!). Leo was SO GOOD today. He was Leo Fantasicooooo! He made me feel so optimistic about our program and so proud of him. I hugged him over and over again (I know you’re supposed to pat them when they do well, but I sometimes get to that “beaming” stage of proud when I just have to hug his whole neck). Anyway, I concentrated on my seat at a canter and really tried to get it right. Spur problem officially eliminated. I’ll have to keep working on it, but at least I’ll know when I’m not doing it right—I’ll get trapped in my dang saddle.

Those are the spurs I’m wearing by the way. To me, the rowels seem don’t seem very severe. I hope I’m right.

I noticed recently that I was only using my hands with Leo in vertical flexion, so I’ve been working on using my legs as well and it was pretty frustrating for a while. Here’s the trouble I’m having at times. Say he’s at a trot and I want him to yield to the bit and drop his head. But when I bump with my legs and “jiggle” the bit, he thinks I mean to speed up and yield to the bit. So then I’d go back to just the bit.

I like that slow jog of his, but it virtually disappears into a bone jarring speed trot when I use my legs. I was about to throw in the towel, but the last few rides I’ve noticed that if I bump just a little with my legs he drops his head and keeps his slow pace. It doesn’t work all the time, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.

I got to ride on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we rode in the rain but today was just beautiful out. The spurs are really making a difference with his responsiveness on his left side. I actually went and picked up a pair of my own. I’ll post a picture sometime this week. They have a really flat clover rowel on them, which is probably best for a couple of beginners like us.

This weekend the equine dentist is coming to check out Leo’s teeth. I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t mentioned it to Leo. No need to make him stress all week about the consequences of cavities.

I just found out that Les Vogt will be having a clinic in March. First I went through the jumping around phase. Now I’m in the “oh-man-what-if-he-says-I’ve-ruined-Leo” phase. What if I get there and all the other riders are doing 20 foot slides and cyclone spins? What if he says I’m doing everything all wrong?

I’ve never been to a clinic before (well…there was that time in Hawaii when I stepped on a spiny sea urchin…). Then there’s that whole it’s THE Les Vogt thing I have to get over and try not to get so nervous that I can’t think. It’s really intimidating if you think about it though. I mean, he’s the master, he’s in the Hall of Fame, he’s won world, he’s the man, and he’s going to be watching me ride. Maybe I’ll blend. Or maybe I’ll be a disaster and he’ll shake his head. Maybe Leo will finally launch me into the fence. Or the other riders! Jim (Leo’s owner the Team Roper) got to rope with Trevor Brazile last summer and he said he goes through the same thing when he’s around the pro ropers. So I guess this freaking out thing is normal. Or maybe Jim and I just aren’t normal…that’s definitely a possibility.

I’m really looking forward to having him tell me what I need to work on and what I’m doing wrong and correctly. It’ll also be my very first reining lesson. How cool!!! Les Vogt is coming to town!!!

Leo and I have 2 ½ months to prepare. I’m just going to have to get some rain gear, quit being a wimp, and start riding in the rain. I want to be as prepared as I can be, so I can get as much out of the clinic as possible. Les Vogt’s coming! Woooohoooooo!

It finally stopped raining. I was in pretty good shape considering the New Year’s Eve shenanigans, so I saddled up Leo this afternoon. He was on his very best behavior—starting out the new year on the right hoof even.

Since I haven’t ridden him in a week, we went through the CowhorseU basics: neck, shoulder, ribs, hips exercises. Then I tested him at a trot and canter to see if he was relaxed (he sometimes gets chargey if I haven’t ridden him in awhile). After I was sure he was in a pretty calm mood, I decided to try out spurs for the first time.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, Leo is really dull on his left side and really sensitive on his right side. So, if I apply equal pressure on both sides to ask him to trot, he usually veers to his left before getting going, He also doesn’t seem to even feel pressure from the left. So…my first attempt with spurs.

I borrowed a pair that have a very small rowel. I had Jim watch my feet as I tested different angles by pointing my toes or dropping my heels. He let me know where the spurs were if I couldn’t see. Then Leo and I got going, and (out of common courtesy and for self-preservation purposes) I was really careful not to bump or press very hard. I think I got a feel for it pretty quickly.

Leo’s reaction was interesting. I think he just didn’t know what I wanted, not that he was being ornery when I was asking him to move away from my leg pressure. When I finally applied pressure with the left spur, it took him a minute to move away from it. I knew he was feeling the spur and still pushing toward it because of his ears moving when I pressed with the spur. Then it was if he thought about it for a second, it registered what I wanted, and then he moved away from it. I also like that I was gentle enough with the spur that he didn’t jump from it, but noticed it enough to react calmly to it. He got a lot of “good boys!” and got much quicker at responding for the rest of the ride.

I’ve read it many times, but this was such a great illustration for me that horses have to be taught on each side separately—how they can understand how to do something perfectly on one side, but not understand at all when asked on the other side.

Other ride highlights: Leo did a beautiful slow jog with his head pretty low. I had to keep checking him, but he’s getting the idea. He’s also progressing quickly with turn on the forehand and goes farther each time. Mostly, he was just a wonderful horse today in a wonderful mood. It was a great ride and a great start to the new year.

Happy New Year everyone!

It’s been dumping rain for weeks. That means no saddle time. Winters in western Washington can be a little bit of a downer. I opened up the trailer on Christmas and all the bridles (except Leo’s) were covered in gray fuzz. Mold—a lovely western Washington variety. I threw a handful of tack in my trunk to take home and clean up. Somehow, cleaning tack just isn’t as much fun as riding.

I’m trying to look on the bright side. Just because I’m stuck inside, doesn’t mean I have to stop learning, right? It’s probably good that I’m spending more time reading. Is it completely geeky that I’ve started making flash cards to use to memorize the different techniques and exercises that Les recommends? Probably very, but it is a lot to remember when I’m riding. I don’t have it all down yet.

Leo isn’t learning by standing around in the field though. What if he forgets everything? I hope the rain lightens up a little soon.

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 »