I started my session with Cole, last night, with lounging.  I am trying to teach him the verbal command for canter.  Last year, we avoided the canter because of all the bucking, bolting and rearing I was getting.  This year, I just really want to get him to canter.  Well, after all the bucking, bolting and rearing, he settled down enough to get clickable transitions.  I don’t think he is getting the word, quite yet, but we are doing better.  If he is in one of his power trots, he has a hard time with the transition.  I think that may be the problem we are having in our riding.  He is nearly always in a power trot.

 

At one point, he did such a lovely canter that I just had to click him for it.  Wow, was I torn.  I really just wanted him to keep going so I could just watch him.  I have to remind myself that if I click him for it it will be more likely to happen again.  it was just so pretty, though.

 

After 15 minutes, I took him back in, saddled him up and started the ride.  We worked more on corners and backing.  Both have improved dramatically, thanks to the clicker.  we still have a little trouble with one corner on counter clockwise, but it is getting better. 

 

I was about ready to quit, when a friend showed up.  I asked her if she wanted to take a spin.  She couldn’t resist.  (Most people refuse because they are intimidated by him.)  She loved the fact that he was little and she could easily mount from the ground.  (Hurray for ponies!)  After she walked a little, I told her she should try the trot.  Well, Cole heard me say “trot” so he did.  She responded the same way most people do when they first experience his trot.  She screamed and fell on his neck.  I have to give her credit, though, the first thing she said once she recovered was she could feel his distinct syncopated rhythm, and she could match it posting.  Her next attempt went much better, but to demonstrate how easy it is to stop him, I said “whoa” and he slammed on the breaks.  She screamed and fell on his neck, again.  (She was laughing, too.)  She didn’t ride much more that 10 minutes, but she had a lot of fun with him.  He’s just that kind of horse.

 

Unfortunately, she decided to lounge the horse she leases—during my ride with Cruiser.  I ended up being relegated to doing circles on one end of the arena.  I must say, since I have been working with Cole on the corners, Cruiser’s circles and corners have improved, too.  This proves that Cole was more confused by my sloppy aids than anything else.  Since he is a clicker horse, new aids mean doing something new—and he will try to figure it out.  Cruiser is a normal horse, who can’t have treats because he is insulin resistant.  If I am not exact with him, he just does what he always does—though not necessarily as nice.  Either way, I am best off improving my riding to improve my horses.  It is just more dramatic with Cole when I get it wrong. 

 

It was really cold, and even feeding 36 horses their hay after my rides didn’t warm me up.  I can’t wait for spring.

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Comment by Judi Daly on January 19, 2012 at 4:59pm

I'm kinda guessing, most of the time, but is working, so far.  He is a very enthusiastic student, and that makes it much more fun.  I also like the way I can see him learning.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on January 19, 2012 at 4:39pm

It is interesting how you combine the clicker training with training under saddle.

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