For those of us who love spending hours grooming and playing with our horses from the ground. For the people who love establishing a strong bond and a respect level instead of just hopping on for a ride.
Well 7 months have gone by and the little girl who was working Ryn....well they fell in love with each other. She's 12 yr.old and nuts about horses but not only that but has turned into a very gifted rider and horse trainer. She rides with me on a daily basis after school, rides the school bus to my place, works her horse, helps with chores and I take her home or her mom comes and gets her, they live 10 minutes away. Under her hand, Ryn is turning into a very confident and reliable horse. I have gifted the horse to her and she boards him here, on a 6 month trial. They live in a town setting and don't have room for a horse so boarding is necessary. I guess you could say she has become my "protage", after being with me for 3 years she is very capable of riding my other horses and doing some training.
I absolutely adore my Dollar and spend as much time as I can with him, whether I am grooming him, playing with him, or just talking to him (he loves to listen about my day). He likes to know where I am all the time...when grazing, he leans against me; if I walk away, he'll follow me no matter the distance. He is so used to my voice now, that when I had an emergency gallbladder surgery and was stuck in the hospital, he was throwing a temper tantrum and the trainer and groomer were afraid he would hurt himself. They had to get me on the cell phone and hold it up to his ear so he could hear my voice just to calm him down.
I know he is dependent on me, but I rescued this sweet guy from some terrible abuses and neglect. Now he's never left alone.
Here is an update of a post I added back in June about the girl who fell in love with my gelding Ryn. She is now riding him!!!!! They are doing wonderfully, still need lots of supervision and coaching, still in the arena no trails yet. He still hasn't accepted her enough to listen to her aids consistently. Her goal is to show him in a local grassroots show this year. She is a real keener.
Comment by Jenna Merkley on December 23, 2009 at 1:31pm
When I first started training my horse Diamond, I didnt use a bridle or saddle. I rode bareback with just a halter with lead lines attached. I found that really helped with her training and it definently did with her feelings towards me! She wasnt a big fan of tackwhen she was younger so she fell in love with me once I started jumping on her in the field and going for a ride!
Comment by Brenda Gordon on December 12, 2009 at 12:33pm
Hi,
This is refreshing stuff to read, your comments are making me smile. Must be that the groundwork and grooming is the where it all starts, love and caring and those hands that express it. Then the trust that follows is so sweet. therapy and excercise, its perfect.
Comment by Jennifer Lamm on November 9, 2009 at 11:41am
I really enjoyed watching Chris Irwin's video at Stateline tack about in hand..... I practiced with my horses with great results.... That is where I'll be for a bit... it's fun.... Jen.
Comment by Gail Morse on October 27, 2009 at 12:28pm
We had a big tack trade at our barn the other day and I came away with a Parelli rope halter and a 12' lead. I had a couple of coolers and saddle pads which turned out to be someone else's treasure and I got what I had been about to buy. Gail.
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