Kathy's Posts - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-29T00:19:09ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2187903657?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=wvul2o6gxdni&xn_auth=noA Song and My Very Own Chestnut Maretag:www.barnmice.com,2012-01-15:1773158:BlogPost:5702232012-01-15T18:11:15.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2203038729?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2203038729?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a></p>
<p><span>When I first heard this song by <a href="http://marielynnhammond.com/" target="_blank" title="Marie-Lynn Hammond"><span>Marie-Lynn Hammond</span></a>, I found there was so much I could relate to that I contacted her to let her know how much I enjoyed the song. I have had my very own chestnut mare for 13 years now – and enjoyed every minute of…</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2203038729?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2203038729?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><span>When I first heard this song by <a title="Marie-Lynn Hammond" href="http://marielynnhammond.com/" target="_blank"><span>Marie-Lynn Hammond</span></a>, I found there was so much I could relate to that I contacted her to let her know how much I enjoyed the song. I have had my very own chestnut mare for 13 years now – and enjoyed every minute of it.</span></p>
<p><span>I would say that some of the myths about chestnut mares do hold true for Annahi. She is sensitive-skinned like they say. In fact, she is sensitive all around, and you can probably identify that through the fine muzzle and face that she has. But once I recognized that she is a “princess” in every sense of the term, and requires the dues that all dignitaries receive, we’ve been on the right track and never looked back. Over the years, she has taught me so much, and has given as much as any horse should and even more! </span></p>
<p><a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-sg" target="_blank">Read more here.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPbda4wCDbI" target="_blank">Watch the music video here.</a></p>
<p></p>How to Have Fun on the Trails in the Middle of Wintertag:www.barnmice.com,2011-12-26:1773158:BlogPost:5649592011-12-26T20:20:29.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p><em><span>Originally posted at: <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-lL">http://wp.me/pVRxl-lL</a></span></em></p>
<p><em><span><br></br></span></em></p>
<p><em><span>Hard, unforgiving ground,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>chilly winds and cloudy sky.</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>Slap on your winter woolies,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>throw on the saddle pad,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>tighten the girth</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>and head off into the beautiful trails with leafless trees and…</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>Originally posted at: <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-lL">http://wp.me/pVRxl-lL</a></span></em></p>
<p><em><span><br/></span></em></p>
<p><em><span>Hard, unforgiving ground,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>chilly winds and cloudy sky.</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>Slap on your winter woolies,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>throw on the saddle pad,</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>tighten the girth</span></em></p>
<p><em><span>and head off into the beautiful trails with leafless trees and strangely open fields!</span></em></p>
<p>How can you have fun with your favourite equine in the middle of winter? Just head off into the bush, with careful step and controlled feels-like-she’s-gonna-explode-any-second excitement. Take it easy at first – gently walk until you can get a good handle for the footing. Then take the first tentative steps into the trot – ahh.. the ground is good. Enjoy the bouncy pleasure and the exuberant snorts, but don’t let the young mare get past the point of no return (=start a bucking spree!). Let the energy out judiciously….</p>
<p>Now that she’s settled, and we have a slow and steady (but animated and still threatening to explode) trot, let’s start playing a game: shoulder-in left, haunches in left, renvers left, (very careful and short as there isn’t much room) half-pass left. Good girl! Now try the right – shoulder-in (keep the outside shoulder straight darling!), haunches in, renvers, and now three half-pass steps right. That’s it!</p>
<p>Do it again! And again! And AGAIN! What fun!</p>
<p>What? She wants to canter!</p>
<p>Well, only if she steps verrrry carefully over this hard ground. She’ll have to stay in a tight little ball, no real speed. But you can try…</p>
<p>No! She can’t buck! Didn’t she say she wanted to canter? You love her enthusiasm, though!</p>
<p>That’s it – careful, super-controlled three-beat. Right lead first? OK – just a few strides. Oh the snorts! That feels soooo good!</p>
<p>How about the left lead? That one’s a bit harder and stiffer… set up gently first – straighten the body, steady the trot, wait for it! Wait for it! OK now take a stride. And another – and another! What fun!</p>
<p>And finally, a long-stepping, muscle-releasing, casual walk up the hill and turn for home. Breathe in that super fresh air and take a look at the beauty of the foliage, that even in its shriveled, brown, winter form, has a charm that delights the mind and thrills the soul.</p>
<p>Get home before the cold really settles into the body.</p>
<p>And that is what winter fun is all about!</p>What Does Your Horse Want for Christmas?tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-12-24:1773158:BlogPost:5645642011-12-24T01:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/what-does-your-horse-want-for-christmas/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/what-does-your-horse-want-for-christmas/</a></p>
<p></p>
<h4>What would your horse like for Christmas?</h4>
<h4>This one is a no-brainer and it’s so mmm-mmm-mmm-good! (Even you might want to take a bite!)</h4>
<h4>You wouldn’t have to <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-o" target="_blank" title="It's All About Listening">listen</a> very hard to…</h4>
<p>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/what-does-your-horse-want-for-christmas/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/what-does-your-horse-want-for-christmas/</a></p>
<p></p>
<h4>What would your horse like for Christmas?</h4>
<h4>This one is a no-brainer and it’s so mmm-mmm-mmm-good! (Even you might want to take a bite!)</h4>
<h4>You wouldn’t have to <a title="It's All About Listening" href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-o" target="_blank">listen</a> very hard to know that your horse will deeply appreciate these homemade treats! Tried and tested, use them as gifts for all the horses in the barn… just wrap in cute Christmas cellophane or baggies, and share in the delight! Originally posted on: <a title="Homemade Horse Treats" href="http://www.greenhorn-horse-facts.com/homemade-horse-treats.html" target="_blank">Homemade Horse Treats </a></h4>
<p><span>Horse Cookies</span></p>
<p><span>1 cup grated carrot</span></p>
<p><span>1 apple, grated</span></p>
<p><span>2 Tbls Corn Oil</span></p>
<p><span>1/4 cup molasses</span></p>
<p><span>1 tsp salt</span></p>
<p><span>1 cup oats</span></p>
<p><span>1 cup flour</span></p>
<p>Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Mix carrot, apple, corn oil and molasses. Fold in salt, oats and flour. Mix well. Spread dough onto cookie sheet and score with a knife to make cookies easier to break apart after baking. Bake for 20 min. or until brown. Let cool, break apart and serve.</p>A Cautionary Horse Taletag:www.barnmice.com,2011-10-29:1773158:BlogPost:5445872011-10-29T19:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once you decide to ride horses, you put into place a domino effect of consequences, which will occur whether you are conscious of them or not. It is like a rule of nature – the results are the results regardless of your intentions, desires and motivations.</p>
<p>And so you proceed to put your weight on horse’s back, asking him to move in tandem with your (sometimes uncoordinated) instructions, changing the weight distribution on his back and legs and (quite) possibly…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once you decide to ride horses, you put into place a domino effect of consequences, which will occur whether you are conscious of them or not. It is like a rule of nature – the results are the results regardless of your intentions, desires and motivations.</p>
<p>And so you proceed to put your weight on horse’s back, asking him to move in tandem with your (sometimes uncoordinated) instructions, changing the weight distribution on his back and legs and (quite) possibly upsetting his balance. Most horses will proceed to do their best to support you even to their own physical detriment.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800000;"><em>It is therefore important to know that there is “no neutrality” in classical horsemanship. One is either contributing to the horse’s well-being by rehabilitation, restoration or gymnastic development, or one is breaking him down. There is never anything “in neutral” or on “hold” or ready to “just wait a minute.”</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800000;"><em>Horsemanship is always working with full commitment towards benefit or harm. *</em></span></p>
<p>This is where brain must meet brawn. At the intersection of movement and time, you find yourself in a constant state of disequilibrium and re-balancing. And the question begs to be asked: what can you do to not only avoid being the <em>source</em> of damage to the horse, but instead develop enough skill to become the active agent that develops, “rehabilitates”**, and even improves the horse from its natural state?</p>
<p>Learning how to ride so that you are not a burden to the horse takes time, knowledge, perseverance, self-discipline, at least a minimal amount of athleticism and yes, even sweat and tears. Making the commitment to stick through the learning curves (so many plateaus and even some steps backward before going forward again) seems to at times test you to the depths of your character – to the point that you think, “Was this my idea of <em>fun</em>?!”</p>
<p>But don’t despair – this is not a tale of doom and gloom. It is a hopeful tale, one that inspires rather than frustrates. For there are so many glorious experiences just waiting around the corner, if only you just stick to your daily work, and put in the (sometimes huge) effort into improving your skills. You will know when those moments occur, because<em> those</em> are the moments that keep you working so hard for more.</p>
<p>Regardless of where you are in your development as a rider, in the back of your mind you must always be seeking for the better way. This is the way that promotes confidence in both the yourself as the rider and the horse, the way that improves you to the point that you and your horse are of one mind and body, and most importantly, the way that allows your horse to develop positively mentally and physically, making him a happier, better adjusted, more settled, sounder horse for many years of partnership ahead.</p>
<p>And when that happens, relish the moment, and keep searching for more of the same!</p>
<p><em>* Excerpt from The Ethics and Passions of Dressage (1993), by Charles deKunffy, p. 81</em></p>
<p><em>** Charles deKunffy discusses the concept of “rehabilitation” of the horse </em>at length in all of his books. He contends that horses must undergo therapeutic development before they can begin to perform at the athletic level. Read any of his books for incredibly insightful and technical essays.<br/><br/>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/a-cautionary-horse-tale/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/a-cautionary-horse-tale/</a><br/><br/><br/></p>A Recipe for Livingtag:www.barnmice.com,2011-10-25:1773158:BlogPost:5434322011-10-25T03:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>You need:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_595"><p class="wp-caption-text">- one warm, gloriously bug-free fall evening</p>
</div>
<p>- one soft, almost soothing “fits-like-a-glove” saddle</p>
<p>- one enthusiastic, steady, energetic, perky-eared red-head mare swishing rhythmically through a sweet-smelling smorgasbord of dried, crispy leaves</p>
<p>- one clear and wide path lined with tall trees, glowing brilliantly with hues of yellow, red, orange and…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>You need:</p>
<div id="attachment_595" class="wp-caption alignleft"><p class="wp-caption-text">- one warm, gloriously bug-free fall evening</p>
</div>
<p>- one soft, almost soothing “fits-like-a-glove” saddle</p>
<p>- one enthusiastic, steady, energetic, perky-eared red-head mare swishing rhythmically through a sweet-smelling smorgasbord of dried, crispy leaves</p>
<p>- one clear and wide path lined with tall trees, glowing brilliantly with hues of yellow, red, orange and green broken by a background of deep blue evening sky</p>
<p>- one almost indistinguishable white-tailed deer – noticed only thanks to chestnut mare’s extra-sensory perception – flitting through the trees with nary a sound (how is that possible with all dried foliage on the ground?)</p>
<p>- one busy black-bodied squirrel darting zig-zag patterns underfoot in preparation for undoubtedly colder days ahead (shattering the stillness in grizzly-like fashion)</p>
<p>- several mounds of sweet, luscious grass beckoning the red-head mare for a leisure pause to quietly munch here and there</p>
<p>- an almost full moon gladly preparing to assume the sun’s duty by reflecting light on the earth</p>
<p>- one human (body, mind, heart and soul) ready to appreciate it all.</p>
<p>Just mix and enjoy!</p>
<p> <br/><br/>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/horse-recipe-living/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/horse-recipe-living/</a><br/><br/><br/></p>Muscle Memory Matters in Horse Ridingtag:www.barnmice.com,2011-09-23:1773158:BlogPost:5262692011-09-23T02:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Malcolm Gladwell put forth a theory in 2008, in his book, Outliers: The Story of Success that sounds to be entirely relevant to us horse riders. In it, he proposes that it takes 10,000 hours of practice in any task to become exceptionally good at something. That breaks down to approximately 3 hours per day over a course of ten years. He goes on to explain that it’s not just about having talent – less talented people can progress beyond their more talented counterparts…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Malcolm Gladwell put forth a theory in 2008, in his book, Outliers: The Story of Success that sounds to be entirely relevant to us horse riders. In it, he proposes that it takes 10,000 hours of practice in any task to become exceptionally good at something. That breaks down to approximately 3 hours per day over a course of ten years. He goes on to explain that it’s not just about having talent – less talented people can progress beyond their more talented counterparts through repeated, directed practice.</p>
<p>Another key component to his theory is that one must be in the right place, at the right time, in order to achieve one’s highest potential for success. In the horse sense, I have always thought of this as being influenced by the right people at the right time – preferably very early in your riding career so that the correct muscle memory can be created early on (we know how hard it is to undo bad habits – especially physical ones!).</p>
<p>Although not everyone agrees with Gladwell’s theory, and the criticism is that he makes broad generalizations based on a relatively small amount of data, I suspect there is something to be said about regular practice. It does not take a genius to recognize that repeating a skill tends to develop the skill.</p>
<p>This could be especially relevant to riding horses, as there are so many small muscle contractions that act within split-seconds in order for us to keep ourselves in the saddle and moving in tandem with the horse. Anyone who has ridden for even a short time can attest to the development of ‘muscle memory’, or blueprinting. Things just become easier with practice. Once upon a time you thought you’d never be able to perform a movement, but with regular determined repetition, one day you discover that it just happens. Somehow, you do not even have to think about the movement and your body just performs.</p>
<p>Yes, I imagine that if I could squeeze in three hours of riding a day, I would get to my goal of being efficient and effective in the saddle much quicker. This certainly holds true for riding, as well as anything in life, including success at our daily jobs.</p>
<p>On the horse side of the equation, I have one particularly expressive horse who has distinctly TOLD me that this theory stands true for horses as well. He is the one that thrives on daily <em>anything </em>(insert riding, grooming, tail brushing, lunging – you name it) and if it happens that he gets a day or two off, he emphatically denies that he has ever been ridden. He tells me his slow and fast twitch muscle fibers have absolutely no memory of ever having twitched that way before…!</p>
<p> <br/><br/>Originally posted at: <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-4N"></a><a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/on-muscle-memory/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/on-muscle-memory/</a></p>Quit to Perseveretag:www.barnmice.com,2011-09-18:1773158:BlogPost:5216262011-09-18T03:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Learning a new skill in riding can be pretty daunting. Not only do you need to coordinate your entire body (including the ever-pervasive ‘core’ of your body), but you also need to stay in balance <em>while moving, in time, </em>in partnership with the (much larger) horse that happens to be using his own feet while yours are dangling in mid-air! You get my drift….</p>
<p>So at best, it’s not easy. When other people tell you that riding is all about the horse and not about the…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Learning a new skill in riding can be pretty daunting. Not only do you need to coordinate your entire body (including the ever-pervasive ‘core’ of your body), but you also need to stay in balance <em>while moving, in time, </em>in partnership with the (much larger) horse that happens to be using his own feet while yours are dangling in mid-air! You get my drift….</p>
<p>So at best, it’s not easy. When other people tell you that riding is all about the horse and not about the rider, you can be fairly sure that they have never sat on a horse to know what it really feels like. Even with the best horse, at the very least, the rider has to “get out of the way” and to do THAT can be a feat in itself.</p>
<p>Assuming that you have the most willing horse, it may be that your own body simply cannot put all the tiny components together at the same time, at the <em>right</em> time, because unfortunately, it’s not only about the physical coordination of skill, it’s also about timing within the moment of stride that makes it easiest for the horse to respond. And so communication breaks down even with the best interests in mind.</p>
<p>One of the first ‘life lessons’ that all of us riders learn from our horses is to persevere. Our mantra is “try, try again.” “Keep at it.” If we give in to the doom and gloom of the moment, we’ll never accomplish anything. Maybe one of the repetitions will yield a wanted outcome. Maybe if you do it enough times, your horse will <em>finally</em> get it. Right?</p>
<p>Wrong.</p>
<div id="attachment_280" class="wp-caption alignnone"><br/><p class="wp-caption-text">Although repeating the aids and ‘sticking with the program’ is useful many times, there may come a day when you could repeat the exercise a thousand times to no avail – and end up frustrating both yourself and your horse.</p>
</div>
<p>So what are some alternatives?</p>
<p>- Change the topic. Go to something else, ‘let it go’, and come back to it later in the same riding session.</p>
<p>- Try again – just be sure to control your emotion on your second/third/fourth/etc. tries.</p>
<p>- Quit. Put it to rest. Be done with it. (Did I just say that??)</p>
<p>Yes – there is nothing wrong with ‘giving up’. In my many (not saying quite how many!) years of riding, one thing the horses have explained to me is that they have no problem with dropping the subject today and picking it up again tomorrow.</p>
<p>Just make sure that you finish the ride on a good note. You do NOT have to finish on a ‘perfect’ note in regards to the skill you were building – you just need to go to something that makes you both happy and confident – and finish.</p>
<p>Then come back to it the next day. You’ll find that your horse went and did his ‘homework’ and maybe, just maybe, your coordination (muscle memory) is a tiny bit better. Just keep at it – persevere not by drilling on and on, but by giving yourself permission to quit.</p>
<p> <br/><br/>Originally posted at: <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-4f">http://wp.me/pVRxl-4f</a></p>So Ya Think Ya Got Something to Prove?tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-09-11:1773158:BlogPost:5125152011-09-11T19:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then don’t go to the show. Seriously.</p>
<p>DON’T go if:</p>
<p>- you aren’t getting excellent rides at home, mentally and physically, both you and your horse.</p>
<p>- you haven’t taken your horse off-property in many months (go somewhere lower-key first).</p>
<p>- you haven’t done your “homework”: both you and your horse are fit, and riding AT LEAST one level (regardless of discipline of riding) higher than what you will be doing at the show.</p>
<p>- you are struggling…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then don’t go to the show. Seriously.</p>
<p>DON’T go if:</p>
<p>- you aren’t getting excellent rides at home, mentally and physically, both you and your horse.</p>
<p>- you haven’t taken your horse off-property in many months (go somewhere lower-key first).</p>
<p>- you haven’t done your “homework”: both you and your horse are fit, and riding AT LEAST one level (regardless of discipline of riding) higher than what you will be doing at the show.</p>
<p>- you are struggling with a component that you will need at the show.</p>
<p>- you absolutely HAVE TO take home the winning ribbon/prize/championship (well, ok, unless you are there to win thousands of dollars or the Olympics).</p>
<p>- you are unprepared in terms of tack/supplies.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Green light” checklist for the show:</p>
<p>- you can thank your horse for just getting the two of you to the show</p>
<p>- you have it pretty good at home and your horse is producing “winning” rides on a regular basis.</p>
<p>- you want to go and soak in the atmosphere of many other people dedicated to their horses and sport like you!</p>
<p>- you are prepared to put forth a strong attempt and receive feedback from the judge (and your horse!) with humility.</p>
<p>- you know deep down that there is a tomorrow and you take what you learn from this show and put it forward to the work you will do at home and at the next show.</p>
<p>- you know that even if you don’t win the class, you have a chance to watch others and learn from their efforts and experiences.</p>
<p>- you will celebrate any ribbons (accomplishments) with the joy that comes with a deep sense of knowing that everything came together at the right place at the right time</p>
<p>Every now and then, it is a super feeling to get out of your own backyard, hit the road with your horse friend that you’ve been working with for so long, and get out to “play” with other like-minded people. However, before you head off, set yourself some achievable goals for the day – both for your riding and for your horse – and be satisfied with your performances if you achieved your goals.</p>
<p>Sometimes, you might achieve your personal best out there in the ring, but on that day, it just isn’t good enough to receive a placing. And that should be as good an accomplishment as any.</p>
<p>And know that there is always the possibility that things don’t come together, and you might end up with a sub-par performance that day. In this case, know that there will be other days ahead when things will go right together.</p>
<p>Most important – listen to your horse, and see if the show was beneficial for him as well as you</p>
<p> <br/><br/>Originally published: <a href="http://wp.me/pVRxl-2C">http://wp.me/pVRxl-2C</a></p>The "99% Lucky" Ruletag:www.barnmice.com,2011-09-06:1773158:BlogPost:5063032011-09-06T01:53:26.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-99-lucky-rule/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-99-lucky-rule/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 99% Lucky rule is very simple – when you’re around horses, and particularly in dangerous situations, you are lucky 99% of the time. That is a good rule – unless it happens to be the 1% of the time that you might be ‘un’-lucky! Then, it’s no fun at all. Let me explain…</p>
<p>When you are around horses, safety must come…</p>
<p>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-99-lucky-rule/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-99-lucky-rule/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 99% Lucky rule is very simple – when you’re around horses, and particularly in dangerous situations, you are lucky 99% of the time. That is a good rule – unless it happens to be the 1% of the time that you might be ‘un’-lucky! Then, it’s no fun at all. Let me explain…</p>
<p>When you are around horses, safety must come first before anything else – your safety first, then the horse’s safety. Regardless of the horse-related activity you participate in, once the horse is involved, your safety ‘barometer’ has to be turned on and stay active the whole time. Awareness of your positioning in relation to the horse (even if you are on the ground), of the surroundings and the possible reactions of the horse, and knowing when to stop an activity are all key components of maintaining safety for both yourself and your horse, and staying within that 99% lucky time zone.</p>
<p>Most of the time, your luck will hold out in dangerous situations. Some of the craziest, most dangerous events go by unnoticed because just out of luck, your horse refrained from reacting as violently he could have, or the situation just didn’t present in the worst-case scenario. People then go along as usual, completely unaware that the reason they were not injured was purely thanks to luck….</p>
<p>One example: wrapping a lead rope around your hand while you walk the horse into the barn. Now, we all know that you should never wrap a lead rope around a hand, don’t we? And still we do it from time to time. And ‘most’ of the time, nothing happens at all. The horse obliges nicely and walks beside us as we walk in. 99 times out of 100, the scene proceeds as planned. However, once, there might be something that jumps out of the bush, or your horse sees something out of the corner of his eye, and he lunges forward/backward/sideways (take your pick) and very unfortunately, your hand must follow!</p>
<p>Work diligently to prevent that 1% unlucky! Make every effort to remain in the “safe zone” of whatever you do with the horse. You’ll be glad you did.</p>
<p> </p>Speaking “Horse” (a.k.a. “Pushing the Envelope”)tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-08-31:1773158:BlogPost:4994052011-08-31T02:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>You’ve seen it before (maybe you’ve been there yourself?) – the horse/human tug-of-war scenario:</p>
<h6>The person is trying desperately to keep the horse in a particular position</h6>
<h6>or</h6>
<h6>the person is leading the horse somewhere</h6>
<h6>and all the while,</h6>
<h6>the horse is moving, imposing, and once in a while, running over the doting human being!</h6>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Once you know how to listen to your horse, a whole…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>You’ve seen it before (maybe you’ve been there yourself?) – the horse/human tug-of-war scenario:</p>
<h6>The person is trying desperately to keep the horse in a particular position</h6>
<h6>or</h6>
<h6>the person is leading the horse somewhere</h6>
<h6>and all the while,</h6>
<h6>the horse is moving, imposing, and once in a while, running over the doting human being!</h6>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Once you know how to listen to your horse, a whole world of communication can open up for you. You will know how to interpret what the horse is saying – to the other horses, to you, and to the ‘world’. Horses send messages out as much as humans do. It’s just that we do it verbally (just think of what a gathering of people sounds like and you’ll know what I mean). Horses, on the other hand, do very little verbally (unless the horses belong to me - they’ve definitely learned to ‘voice’ their opinion!). Most of their communication lies in the non-verbal realm: you need to learn to ‘listen’ in a different sense, by carefully observing their body movements. Pretty much EVERY movement has a meaning and is ‘sent out’ with deliberate intention. The talent on your part is to interpret the body language accurately.</p>
<p>Point in fact – the horse’s social structure works on a basic hierarchical system. Lower-level horses always defer to the herd leader. In other words, if the herd leader moves into the direction of another horse, the lower horse is expected to move away – from the hay, from another horse friend, or simply from the herd leader himself. Neglecting to move away often results in a more aggressive movement from the herd leader – including the possibility of a swift kick in the lower-level horse’s direction! This submission developed over the millenia for good reason – the herd leader HAD to be the one who moved the herd around. In nature, without a good leader to tell the others what to do and where to go, the herd’s safety would be at risk.</p>
<p>How does this involve you, the human? Your reaction will dictate your current and future relationship with that horse. Here is a possible scenario: while you are leading the horse beside you, the horse steps into your direction, almost walking on top of you. Your possible responses:</p>
<p>- you think it’s cute that the horse wants to snuggle up to you, and you step back as the horse walks into you</p>
<p>- you see the horse coming in your direction and you push the horse on his shoulder so he doesn’t continue coming into your space</p>
<p>Each reaction on your part gives the horse a different message. The first reaction – stepping away – will tell the horse that he is the herd leader between the two of you, and that he should be the one to make decisions. Many times, this ‘herd dynamic’ works just fine for your interactions, because chances are that your horse is kind and generous and usually will not be inclined toward stepping on you or dragging the lead rope out of your hand. But unfortunately, the one time that he feels he must impose his authority on you (if he feels threatened by an unfamiliar object), you will not have a say in his decision-making. As the lower ranked member of your herd, you must obey – meaning, you’d better get out of his way as he tramples you to get away from the fear object!</p>
<p>If instead, you choose to not move away and push him back out of your space the moment you notice him stepping toward you, you impart a very different message. In this case, you are telling him that you are the herd leader, and he needs to respect your personal space. This is the preferable role for you as human, since you are likely more than six times smaller and lighter and at risk of being easily injured based on just the size difference itself.</p>
<p>As you learn to listen to your horse, you will realize that there is constant communication going back and forth between the two of you (whether you know it or not). So instead of assuming the subservient role, pay closer attention and work on asking your horse the questions. If you move into his space, will he move away from you? If you need him to stop moving his feet, will he stand still?</p>
<p>Make a habit of routinely asking him questions. If he answers “yes” to your questions, you can be thankful and reward him with a pat and a “good boy” vocal response, but your job is not quite complete. Just getting an affirmative is not enough – as soon as your horse gives you the ‘yes’, you need to ask him the next level of question. Maybe it could be something like: “Will you stand still and not dive for the grass while I lead you in the field with the yummiest grass?” The next level might be, “Will you stand still and not prance around while I lead you away from the barn and your herd members?”</p>
<p>Each time you get the ‘yes’, think of something that could be the next step. Pushing the envelope is one step in developing a trusting, confident relationship with your horse.</p>
<p>What are some questions you ask of your horse?<br/><br/>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/speaking-horse-a-k-a-pushing-the-envelope/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/speaking-horse-a-k-a-pushing-the-envelope/</a></p>
<p> </p>Ask 25 Horse People One Question...tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-08-26:1773158:BlogPost:4939102011-08-26T03:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p>… and you get 25 different answers!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This phenomenon is a well-known fact in the horse industry. Over the years, I’ve been approached time and again by people new to the horse world, in a mixed-up state of frustration and confusion. Who do they listen to? How can EVERYONE have a different way of doing something? Isn’t there a ‘standard’ method in the industry?</p>
<p>New horse owners go to look for a boarding barn and discover that every barn has a different feed…</p>
<p></p>
<p>… and you get 25 different answers!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This phenomenon is a well-known fact in the horse industry. Over the years, I’ve been approached time and again by people new to the horse world, in a mixed-up state of frustration and confusion. Who do they listen to? How can EVERYONE have a different way of doing something? Isn’t there a ‘standard’ method in the industry?</p>
<p>New horse owners go to look for a boarding barn and discover that every barn has a different feed program, turnout routine, barn rules, and so much more. Or, they take lessons from one instructor and then watch a clinic and discover that there are more ways than just one to train one movement. Turn the horses out 24/7 or leave them in most of the day? Ride with contact or go ‘on the buckle’? There are so many extremes to horse keeping and riding, and then there are all the gray areas in-between. Where is a newbie to start?</p>
<p>For example, look at the variety of disciplines found in the horse world. Although every horse has four legs, a head and a tail, you find such a huge variety of activities from riding (so many sub-classifications in just riding) to driving (almost as many possibilities as riding), vaulting, ski joring (look that one up!), line/breeding classes, trick training, and so much more.</p>
<p>And you can’t stop there. Feeding horses can be as varied and emotionally-laden as the discipline you choose. With the huge variety of ‘complete feeds’ as well as the old ‘tried-and-true’ grains, it can be hard to make a decision – especially when even in one barn, there may be as many different types of feed as there are horses!</p>
<p>After you get past the information overload, you will realize that the various points-of-view are in fact, often helpful and inspiring. However, you may not agree with everything everyone says, and you may find that you are attracted to certain ‘types’ of horse keeping and riding over others. Part of the appeal of the horse world can be in fact that you might find your own niche among a variety of options that matches your wants and needs.</p>
<p>The trick is to find a mentor, or instructor, who is willing to take you under their wing for your first few years of horse ownership. You should find this person to be knowledgeable, competent, honest, and most of all, interested in seeing you progress into becoming a self-sufficient horse owner. This person should be willing to explain his or her reasoning and teach you how to make an informed decision among the various options. S/he should be willing to listen to other opinions and then capably explain why they either accept or reject that opinion. Finally, your mentor should be interested in seeing you grow and meet your own goals.</p>
<p>Try to stay with that person for some time. Switching from coach to coach will only serve to confuse you and cause a disservice to your horse. Learn all you can before heading off to “greener pastures” because although it may be tempting to jump on the next (band)wagon, too many differing opinions too early in your understanding of the horse world will cause another well known syndrome: “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. Beware of thinking that because you learned the tip of the iceberg of some aspect, you understand the topic with any depth. Be sure that you stay with the person long enough to have a complete understanding, at least from their perspective.</p>
<p>There is another part that you must play too – you must read (books and magazines), watch videos, attend clinics and seminars, take courses, and find a good boarding barn and lesson situation that helps you develop the skill you need to be a responsible, educated horse owner. In essence, you need to ‘study’. No one else can do that for you.</p>
<p>And finally, we go back to the original question: what about the multitude of answers to that one (seemingly simple) question you asked? You have two points of reference to weigh the answer against. First, how does the answer balance with what you have learned to date (and ask your mentor for his or her opinion if you don’t know!). Second, just listen to your horse! He will always be honest!</p>
<p> <br/><br/></p>
<p>Originally posted at: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/ask-25-horse-people-one-question/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/ask-25-horse-people-one-question/</a></p>
<p> </p>To Lesson or Not To Lesson?tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-08-19:1773158:BlogPost:4867392011-08-19T03:00:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>That should not even be a question!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’ve met many people who are fascinated by horses enough to want to ‘get’ their own horse. Often, acquaintances or people I’ve met will ask me my opinion about buying a horse – where do they start?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I run through all the typical questions with them: Why do you want a horse? Are you aware of all the aspects of horse ownership? Have you budgeted for all the upkeep costs (and we go through the breakdown – the…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>That should not even be a question!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’ve met many people who are fascinated by horses enough to want to ‘get’ their own horse. Often, acquaintances or people I’ve met will ask me my opinion about buying a horse – where do they start?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I run through all the typical questions with them: Why do you want a horse? Are you aware of all the aspects of horse ownership? Have you budgeted for all the upkeep costs (and we go through the breakdown – the initial purchase price of the horse is dwarfed when compared to maintenance costs, never mind emergency vet bills should they happen). Why wouldn’t you want to lease a horse, part-board or take weekly (multiple?) lessons first, to see if you really are interested in all the associated responsibilities in the long run?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And then, after all these questions are articulated and clearly answered, I hit them with my final question: Are you willing to take lessons (yes, on your own horse!) long-term?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At times, this can become a contentious issue. Many people are not committed to taking lessons, especially if they are themselves, or know of, long-term horse owners. The argument: “Well, so-and-so has had horses forever and never took lessons. They learned from their horse, and they’re doing just fine!”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The world of lessons opens up a range of experiences that are not possible to achieve on your own:</p>
<p>- technical know-how (this should go without saying – you can’t possibly “know” how to do something if you’ve never been officially taught it in the first place!)</p>
<p>- help in resolving problem behaviour or finding the source of issues – riding or horsekeeping</p>
<p>- exchange of ideas and information (from a person who presumably knows something you deem valuable to hear from)</p>
<p>- goal setting advice from someone other than yourself (where are you now? what should be your next step?)</p>
<p>- encouragement when you need it, and a “push” when you equally need that</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I watch with wonder when some people get on and ride their horses with nary a lesson in years, while on the other hand, I see the “top riders” of our sport working tirelessly with their mentors/trainers even though they are at the peak of performance and technical ability. Of course we are not all heading for the Olympics, nor are we riding in that sort of capacity. But certainly some input can be useful for everyone at some point in time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for the final question: How do you know if you’ve found the right instructor?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The answer to that one is easy – just listen to your horse!<br/><br/><br/>Originally posted in: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/to-lesson-on-not-to-lesson/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/to-lesson-on-not-to-lesson/</a></p>On Enjoying the Pathtag:www.barnmice.com,2011-08-15:1773158:BlogPost:4840082011-08-15T21:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can hear you now – you’re groaning… the path?? How can “the path” be fulfilling?</p>
<p>You might ask: Doesn’t “the path” translate to tedious repetitions, lack of acknowledgement or recognition, stumbling blocks, frustrations, steps backward more than forward, and all the other associated negativities that occur when something is practiced day-to-day, week-to-week?</p>
<p>What about the glory of the goal, the clear, final call of reaching the destination, the accolades…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I can hear you now – you’re groaning… the path?? How can “the path” be fulfilling?</p>
<p>You might ask: Doesn’t “the path” translate to tedious repetitions, lack of acknowledgement or recognition, stumbling blocks, frustrations, steps backward more than forward, and all the other associated negativities that occur when something is practiced day-to-day, week-to-week?</p>
<p>What about the glory of the goal, the clear, final call of reaching the destination, the accolades and the photo finish? How about the sense of accomplishment, the personal gain, the reward of achievement?</p>
<p>Well, you’re right of course. Goal setting is paramount in all activities, especially if they are long-term and difficult to complete. Without a sense of where we want to go, there would be no ‘path’ to speak of. And we all require and crave (at some level) for a sense of recognition and a feeling of a job well done.</p>
<p>But in horse riding, the majority of the time is spent on the path itself. The achievement of goals are short and fleeting, maybe because the horse is a living and breathing entity unto himself, and he has opinions, desires and interests that may not match yours! It is well known that there is a horse somewhere, sometime, that will humble every person! And I would argue that the lessons learned from those horses might be the most meaningful of all.</p>
<p>Often, those lessons are not technical in nature. Rather, they teach us about our ability to persevere, to be patient, to set aside personal desires and ego, and so many other deep lessons that are essential in developing wholeness of being and strength of character. They develop our very human-ness and sense of place in the world.</p>
<p>And so, the next time you find yourself stuck on an exercise, struggling to achieve your next desire, and falling flat on your face (hopefully not literally!) despite all your effort and dedication, try to step back and see the whole picture. What path are you on? Where have you been and where are you now? How does your current place in the (horse) world fit with where you want to be? What can you do to take just one tiny step closer to the end goal?</p>
<p>And remember, as E. Joseph Cossman put it so well, ”The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” Sleep on it, and go at it again the next day.</p>
<p>And enjoy the path!</p>
<p> <br/><br/></p>
<p>Originally Posted:</p>
<p><a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/youd-better-enjoy-the-path/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/youd-better-enjoy-the-path/</a></p>It's All About Listening!tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-08-13:1773158:BlogPost:4810832011-08-13T15:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some time ago, the term “horse whisperer” came into being, not necessarily by the horse enthusiasts themselves, but largely by the people outside of the industry. The term claimed its fame thanks to Robert Redford who starred in the movie with the same title, while he posed as a rancher who developed a spine-tingling connection to an otherwise unmanageable horse. The romantic notion of being able to communicate with horses was propelled into the mainstream media and readily…</p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some time ago, the term “horse whisperer” came into being, not necessarily by the horse enthusiasts themselves, but largely by the people outside of the industry. The term claimed its fame thanks to Robert Redford who starred in the movie with the same title, while he posed as a rancher who developed a spine-tingling connection to an otherwise unmanageable horse. The romantic notion of being able to communicate with horses was propelled into the mainstream media and readily devoured by horse people and others far removed from equi-mania.</p>
<div>Long before the movie came out, and fairly early in my horse career, I had already started taking lessons in ‘natural horsemanship’. Not only could my friends and I already do what Robert did in the twinkling twilight (with the mysterious, hovering silhouette of the horse in the background), but we knew there was so much more to *communicating*. And it begged the question: if we weren’t whispering, what were we in fact doing?!</div>
<div>Along my path to becoming a more educated horse person, I learned a common-sense truth that follows me to this very day: the most effective way to whisper to a horse is in fact to LISTEN.</div>
<div>If you’re not a horse-person, you’d be amazed at how much horses communicate – to each other and even to humans. If you know how to listen, and how to interpret their body language, you would be an adequate interpreter of these amazing creatures. It’s not a secret other-wordly skill. Just be quiet enough and sensitive enough, learn the body language signs, and the world of horses will open up to you in a most organic manner.</div>
<div>So here we are in my first official entry of my blog entitled “Horse Listening”. My intention for the blog is not to necessarily expound upon incredible lessons, or pass on fantastic secrets and techniques, or even to tell you that I know anything of great significance. In this world of electronic communication, I want to stick to a timeless, ancient source of education: I just want to ramble! In a sense, I want to put forth a proposal, if you will, about a topic that has my attention at the moment. And then I just want to Listen.</div>
<div>I am hoping to open discussion about many and varied topics related to horses, riding, dressage and ultimately, life. Because if there is anything that the horses have taught me, it is that EVERYTHING about horses has a human parallel and every growth (and setback?) we gain through the horse world can be mirrored in our own lives. And the more we think we know about horses (and life), the more we discover that we in fact know so little. Each can be an ever-learning and developing process, and there’s stuff to be learned from everyone….</div>
<p> <br/><br/>Originally posted: <a href="http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/its-all-about-listening/">http://frwdnrnd.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/its-all-about-listening/</a></p>Christmas in the Barntag:www.barnmice.com,2008-12-25:1773158:BlogPost:509582008-12-25T04:30:00.000ZKathyhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/Kathy96
<p>(Author Unknown)<br></br> <br></br> It's the night before Christmas and I'm out in the barn<br></br> Blanketing my horses to keep them all warm.<br></br> They're eating their dinners, tucked cozy in stalls,<br></br> Not aware that it's Christmas, or any day special at all<br></br> They dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds.<br></br> No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads<br></br> .But we people are thinking of merry parties and such<br></br> Quickly doing our tasks so we don't miss too much.<br></br> This…</p>
<p>(Author Unknown)<br/> <br/> It's the night before Christmas and I'm out in the barn<br/> Blanketing my horses to keep them all warm.<br/> They're eating their dinners, tucked cozy in stalls,<br/> Not aware that it's Christmas, or any day special at all<br/> They dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds.<br/> No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads<br/> .But we people are thinking of merry parties and such<br/> Quickly doing our tasks so we don't miss too much.<br/> This season is special, but the horses don't know.<br/> They munch on their hay safe out of the snow<br/> I finish my chores and head on inside<br/> To get ready for dinner and my family's yuletide<br/> It's nearly midnight, the carols are sung.<br/> I remember a story told when I was young<br/> How at midnight on each Christmas Eve<br/> The barnyard creatures can speak to us with ease.<br/> I am called to the barn. I slosh through the snow.<br/> I can't really explain; I know I must go.<br/> I slide open the door, and stand there and smile<br/> Then slowly walk down the dimly lit aisle.<br/> A nicker from Cheyenne, a soft snort from Bandit,<br/> Sweet, gentle Tojo gives me a wink<br/> Little Pistol rustles his bedding, Paint comes into sight<br/> Even Whiskey gives a greeting as I walk through the night.<br/> I thought about parties bright lit and warm,<br/> The ones we don't go to cause we have the barn<br/> And vacations and holidays that we usually don't get<br/> Cause we have the animals and chores to be met.<br/> Walking all the way to the end of the aisle<br/> I stop to stroke Maggie and linger awhile<br/> She snuffles my face, hot breath on my skin<br/> And I look around at the others, my horses, my friends.<br/> I could be at parties with laughter and mirth<br/> But where I am right now is the best place on Earth.<br/> <br/> From Our Barn to Yours.......Merry Christmas....<br/><br/><br/></p>