Good clinic

In January I did a rather "stupid" thing (who hasn't?). The BO's
bought an 18 month old QH stud. There was never any intention of
keeping him a stud but up here no vet will geld in the winter months.

I KNEW there was no one to handle him. THe BO's had 37 horse to keep
up with (no, please don't ask why they bought him!).

So yup, I offered to mess with him. Just general ground training/
manners type thing. I had some success with Sox in this regard and
have a pet peeve about horse stepping on me!

Sox is back to full schooling and myself to weekly lessons. Cree is
now two and I am more than willing to have someone else take over. I
don't have time for two horses (full-time job, part-time job, single
parent, shyte).

I DID agree to take him (expenses paid by the BO's) in the first of
the two clinics held here yearly. The clinician was out-of province
with a good rep.

I did learn a LOT. Cree is polar opposite of Sox. Where Sox is high-
strung, Cree is low-key. Nothing fazes him. Nothing!

3 weeks before the clinic he was gelded. FINALLY he was put out with
one other two year old, a three year old and and older gelding. More
than anything that represented a BIG change in Cree.

I had been battling "stealth biting" for a month at least. No biting
while I was paying attention cause he knew better! But he couldn't be
trusted around others who passed too close to his paddock or stall.

He presented with a bloody nose the first morning after his turn-out
with the "herd". The vet was called, no major damage done but boy was
he a subdued guy!!!

So the clinic: First of all Cree is a lazy "western moving" (yes I am
ducking) guy compared to Sox. The clinician was adamant that you
teach the "go forward" cue from the ground. GOOD STUFF!!!

Then we worked on disengaging the hindquarters (again from the
ground). We met some resistance. That's when the clinician explained
to me that although Cree is a placid guy he has his own way of coping
with being overwhelmed. He shuts down. Where I would be peeling Sox
off the ceiling, Cree shuts down to ALL outside stimuli. SO I have to
be JUST as careful NOT to overwhelm him.

We worked on disengaging the forehand (much easier with Cree).

Bottom line "don't ride this horse until you get ALL the resistance
out of him on the ground". If he learns to "brace" he will brace when
ridden.

The good news is the cinician thinks he'll be a "Steady Eddy" IF he is
brought along properly :-D

The bad news is I've gotten myself "stuck" with another horse, who has
the time???


Splash
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Relevant Pages

  • English vs Western Att: JRW
    ... post under the "English vs Western" post from last week. ... Sox was intended to be an "english" horse. ... In my last western clinic ago, the clinician ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: Good clinic
    ... have a pet peeve about horse stepping on me! ... Sox is back to full schooling and myself to weekly lessons. ... than anything that represented a BIG change in Cree. ...  The clinician was adamant that you ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Fall Update
    ... Suffice to say I have pics of Sox at seven, ... horse and became my three times a week trail horse! ... Sox and Cree wear neon fuzzies on ... on the duty of being herd "stallion" although he is a gelding. ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Re: Good clinic
    ... than anything that represented a BIG change in Cree. ... circle he walked around and once he was going nicely in the circle ... an emergency brake for any horse. ... "go forward" cues in the round pen. ...
    (rec.equestrian)
  • Whats the deal with two year olds?
    ... Cree turned two on April 15. ... "mature" earlier than the average horse. ... While the BO's and myself are content to let Cree mature another year ... What do you all think about rushing training on two year olds? ...
    (rec.equestrian)