Freesia - rearing instead of backing

Freesia was a twin filly. She just turned 10 yo. She is very smart. When she was a foal she would whinny when all her siblings were having their ground work saying "me, me, let me do it" She would then proceed to do all the exercises with out being asked. During saddling I would take a saddle into the pasture and put it on a horse. Freesia would come in between for the saddle to be on her. So it would go, saddle on Freederic, saddle on Freesia, saddle on Wondermann, saddle on Freesia...
She had a bad experience when she was young on tying to the rail and this has persisted. She can not be tied up especially to that rail. Applying the Clinton Anderson method I was amazed to find she would not back up. For the last few days we have been working on taking a few steps back. Yesterday she started rearing and bolting off when I asked her to back. This is surprising. In the dwindling evening light we resolve the backing issue by patience and repetition. I should have stopped there but I decided I would desensitize her to the whip whacking the ground 12-15 feet from her side. FREAK OUT!! It was like she was attacked to a 10,000 Volt line. Fifteen minutes later she finally stood and relaxed with the whip whacking the ground on the L, R and in front of her. OK it is dark now! When you start something make sure you have time to finish it.
It is fascinating and interesting to find the holes in the older horses training.

Clinton Anderson and a supple horse

I watched Clinton Anderson's advanced ground work and riding. It blew me away. In the ground work the horse is totally obedient and quick. Crossing fluidly demonstrating a remarkable relationship between horse and rider. Wow I want to do that. Similarly under saddle he is basically demonstrating leg yield, half pass, tempi changes, backing, pirouettes, turn on the 4 hand and turn on the haunches... all dressage movements and all very fluid. It made me realise my older horses all need improved suppleness and submission. Don't get me wrong, Kalae is a awesome horse but she could be better. The reason I am having trouble with my flying changes will be solved with improved suppleness and submission. I need to ask for more fluidity. I have started all my horses back to the beginning of ground work using the Clinton Anderson method.
The herd:
Freesia wont back up reliably and drops her shoulder in toward the person on the ground. She pulls back when tied up and doesnt tie.
Freederic has a very stiff neck and is difficult to bend. He is sensitive but could be quicker off the leg.
Divine needs to be more supple laterally.
Kalae needs improved fluidity and suppleness in lateral work. Fine tuning for more submission in transitions. More collection and control of 4 hand and HQ for improved flying changes.
Rupert is just in the colt starting stage.
Darlene needs respect on the ground. She tends to mow you over.
Pueo is very timid and can use desensitizing.

Rupert June 21-29

Every day gets better! Free in the round pen Rupert reliably goes left and right around the round pen and turns to the inside to change direction. Walk, trot and canter. One the line he is super. I even lunged him in the pasture a few times and he was really good. Who would have thought just 2 weeks ago he could do that. Backs up well. Worked more on turning the 4 hand and can almost do 360 degree turn. I can helicopter the whip next to his side and in front of him and he stands relaxed. He can disengage the HQ for a 360 degree turn. Started putting the lead line around his barrel and pulling it taught in increments with no problem. I introduced Hanging off his withers on both sides with no problem.
Added jumping up and down next to him to simulate getting on "OMG she is going to eat me" - he had heart failure. You know when you initiate the stimulus you can not remove it until he calms down and stands still and relaxes. His head is up, he is snorting and bolting left and right. I direct his head and 2 eyes to keep looking at me. There I was bouncing up and down for 10 minutes. My thoughts were "I'm too old for this, where is the neighborhood kid I can pay to bounce. I tell you my thigh muscles are both sore today.
Every day we work on the hose and water at the end of the lesson. Yesterday he was just dipping his nose in the fringing spray of the hose. He would jerk back his head and put his nose back down to touch the water. I could water the grass on each side of him and about one foot in front of his front feet. I refrained from squirting his hoofs. :)

One Rein Stop - Every rider needs to know this!

I went trail riding with Linda and Bambino a few weeks ago. Linda has introduced me to Clinton Anderson. At the end of the ride, as we came out of the pineapple field and approached my house, my herd all ran to the road. It wouldn't have been so bad if they just stopped but they slammed on the brakes, rolled back, bucked, squealed and took off. Kalae and Bambino bolted forward on the asphalt. Linda instantly grabbed mane with one hand and applied a one rein stop effectively planting her Clyde in place. Mean while we bolted forward, head high, not yielding to the reins but stopped after 30 feet because Kalae is a awesome horse.

Well I saw the video on the one-rein stop just a few days ago. Clinton shows how you practice sliding a hand 2/3 the way down the rein. You just ride around, slide left hand, slide right hand so it is second nature. From the halt slide the left hand and bring it to your hip, bringing the head around, release and do it again. Then do the right rein.  Then try at the walk. I practice this on Kalae 13 yo and Freederic. 10 yo.

It really helps with Freederic because he wont stop. This is the one thing I have been working on for a few months. I ride him toward the fence and do a down transition so the fence helps. He is too stiff in the neck and he sets his jaw when you try to stop. The one rein stop has worked wonders. He is a really huge guy at 17h and when he spooks and darts off in just a few strides you are across the arena. I actually shut down a spook. Yipee.

Every rider needs to know the one-rein stop. It is just amazing no one has taught me this after 30+ years riding. This is what I love about horses. I am always learning, there is so much to learn. It is so exciting to have this new opportunity to train a youngster.

Scared to death of that water hose - amazing result

Rupert is scared to death of the water hose. I have tried to sponge bathe his neck and front legs over the years but it has not worked. For sure I can not get a hose near him.

I saw the video of Clinton Anderson about introducing a scary object. You put your plastic bag on the end of the handy stick and walk straight forward with the stick pointing in front of you, leading the horse behind you. The scary object isn't scary when it is going away from the horse. So I did this with the hose, turned it on and walked forward with it in a big circle. Within just minutes he was trying to touch the water with his nose. He didn't mind the hose dragging along behind him. It was so simple and totally amazing.

June 14-21 Rupert is doing better

I have now watched Clinton Anderson Video's 1-10. Added to Rupert's routine is desensitizing with a rope, backing, disengaging the HQ, touching the nose to his barrel, yielding the 4 hand and leading turing 90 degrees L and 90 degrees right. I am still doing round pen work "off line"

Interestingly his mom whinnies initially but goes back to grazing quickly. What has helped as Clinton said is working a few days in a row. Each day he gets better. I have a video and some photo's to download tomorrow. Stay tuned.

June 7-13 Rupert's Progress

Worried start, blasting around - More relaxed in top photo at the end

I put Rupert in the round pen "off the line"and followed the steps in Clinton's First episode #1.

#1 Get him to go in one direction.

#2 Then Get him to turn to the inside

#3 Get him next to turn consistently to the inside

#4 Follow and look at you with 2 eyes

Well as you know he isn't weaned. So mom is whinnying 20 feet away, He is flying around the arena, trying to stop and turn when he gets half way to the far side. After about 5-10 minutes he starts to not stop and goes all the way around. He goes well to the Left (more comfortable side) so that's all I do on Day 1. On Day 2 we start off line going to the Left. He is still calling and Mom is racing back and forth along the fence. Rupert is looking out at his mom. He settles slightly quicker and I get some turns to the inside. I do get him to go reliably to the right. Good boy

Day 3 I try to lead him but he puts his head up, prances ahead of me dragging me back toward his mom. Yup that was intimidating. I didn't find the CA video about that until a few days later and the solution is so simple. Just walk in a small circle until his feet quiet down. Wow I have been handling horses 30 years and no one taught me that.Day 4 Big break through he did everything like a dream and stopped, gave me 2 eyes and took a step forward.

I Worked for 2 days so Rupert got a break.

Day 7 : Nightmare on Elms street: Sweaty all over and totally blowing me off, not licking and chewing, not giving me 2 eyes. I cant just stop and reward this disrespect. I keep hearing Clinton's voice, "I canter them right off because it just all takes so much longer if you don't." So I am having him go, change directions and I keep trying to stop and offer him the chance to stop moving but he is looking out and concerned about his mom. After 45 minutes he finally licks and chews and sort of comes to me. Hummm I had better stop here, he is a baby and out of shape and I don't want to blow any tendons.

Yes at 4 yo he is a 16.2h warmblood. They do not stop growing until they are 5.5-6 yo which is why I have waited until he is 4. Research has found TB and QH joints are closed at 3 yo, Warmblood joints close at 4 yo and WB/TB cross's at 3.5 yo.

Clinton Anderson - "No worries club"

I am excited to have found www.noworriesclub.com. This gives me access to all Clinton Anderson's TV shows ( 200 episodes) on ground training and colt starting via my computer. I just watched show #1 -3. It is a progressive series which is exactly what Rupert and I need. Now I can see what Linda was telling me. There are forums, articles and you get a discount on his shop. I am always amazed how the information I need finds me.

Rupert - advice for next step

Linda is helping Rupert and I. It has been 10 years since I backed my last batch of foals. Linda has a big half clyde mare named Bailey. Years ago when she got Bailey as a 4 yo Premarin Mare, she could barley be haltered. She worked her on the ground for years and now has a nice riding horse. Now Bailey's foal is a 5 yo colt named Bambino who Linda has worked extensively on the ground. She is up on all the different ground training methods and watches RFD TV video of Clinton Anderson.
She had recommended that Ruperts initial round pen work be on the lunge line. This worked very well. My previous foals (8 of them) all went into the Round pen w/o a line attached and worked free. The big difference is they had all been weaned. They learned to turn to the outside, turn to the inside and joining up. Back then I was very fortunate to be introduced to a young man from Colorado named Tyler McCann. I had just returned from visiting my sister in England. While we where camping one of her friends daughters was reading a book by Monty Roberts. "What you haven't heard of Monty Roberts?" There I was in Scotland sitting by Loch Linne reading a fascinating story. Wow it made so much sense. I had been a horse person for 20+ years and I had never been introduced to this. When I got home I was telling my friend about it when her daughter who was visiting said; " My boyfriend does that. I will bring him by tomorrow." Tyler had be en raised with Ray Hunt as his mentor. He showed me so much in the few days he was on Maui that I invited him back for a clinic. Little did I know he was still in High school. A nice young man with a wonderful feel for horses. This lead me to study Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, John Lyons and Monty Roberts. This all happened around 1997-2003.

Linda advises don't forget to use your body language to send him out on the lunge. Point to the direction you want him to go. Bend forward at the waist toward his hip that you want him to go.
Wave the wand 3 times in the air over his hind quarters, If he doesn't go you tap him 3 times. Usually they will go on the first tap. If he goes well on the large circle good. If he doesn't then you make the line shorter to the middle range, if that doesn't work then you walk him on the short line just out of the kicking zone at the walk. Don't be afraid to let him know with the wand he needs to stay out of your space. The Reason is, you can not have a 1200 lb animal in your lap. He must respect your space. I am constantly having to remind Bambino to stay out of my space.

Yes I remember years ago I could not lunge Divine. She would drag me all over the arena. John Lassetter watched us for about 5 minutes, took hold of the lunge and shortened it to 15 meters and she lunged like a dream. "When you have control on the shorter circle, then you can let her out a little longer. The moment she starts dragging you around you shorten her up and put her to work."

Linda says once he lunges well, next we have to work on changing eyes. On the lunge I can send him forward along the rail, then ask to change directions, send him past me as I stand in the middle of a figure 8. I remember doing this with Tyler.

Then free work in the Round Pen
Then Trailer Loading and Unloading. He does this but has never had the doors closed or the trailer moved.

Rupert - The training begins Week 1-3

Rupert will be 4 yo on June 16th. This is a log of his training adventures.

3 weeks ago Rupert entered Kindergarten. He has not been weaned and all prior work over his life has been done in the proximity of his mom. When he was young he learned how to wear a halter, lead fairly well, back up on command, move his haunches L or R, Stand for trimming, go in and out of a trailer, and wear a blanket.
He does not know how to tie. Does not like water at all!, has never had a surcingle or girth on, Has not been away from his mom.
Previous attempts to have him separate from his mom result in all out pandemonium on both their parts. Rupert can not focus on anything else, trys to get out of the round pen or arena and becomes unleadable.
I was encouraged by Linda who said Bambino, her 17+ hand part Clyde was never weaned either. He is 5 and still with his mom but goes out on his own now. "I just put him to work and in 2 weeks he got over it."
I started leading Rupert in the evenings. It was obvious I needed to establish his trust and become the leader. I always make sure he has at least 30 min to 1 hour to gallop and play before I start work. Week 3 he does basic leading, stopping, backing, labyrinth work before going out of his pasture.
Week 1: We stop, back, turn haunches L or R and lead going in any direction.
Week 2: A ground labyrinth is added. A series of poles he has to walk through, stop, back and
turn in. This went quite well and he was very relaxed.
Week 3:- Now to expand his boundary and remove him from the pasture with his mom into
the adjoining area. This went well the first day as he was just 10-15 feet away going
up and down the fence line. The next day I ventured further, up to 30 feet away.
As soon as I went around a tree he became anxious. Suddenly 18 h tall and dancing
on the end of the line trying to run over me. I was trying to halt and back him w/o
success. Yikes he is big. Closer to the fence he settles down and is good the remainder
of the time.
- This evening I intend to repeat the further away scenario but want him to be more
comfortable so I turn out a calm mare into the pasture he will be in. This works very
well. He is calm, does all his ground work and it was a success even w/ his mom
calling and pacing the fence line.
- Today Rupert enters the round pen to lunge. I have a halter on and a 25 foot soft
nylon line. I walk, back and halt around the pen. Then I ask him to walk forward to
the left. He stops to eat grass. I tap him on the quarters and he bolts forward.
He stops 50 feet later and eats grass, repeat scenario and by the 3rd time he doesn't
try it again. Very calmly he trots and walks. He is licking his lips. Great I will stop
here. I am very happy and scratch his belly and lead him calmly back to his mom
who had been whinnying and running up and down the fence. The round pen is
approximately 20 feet from the fence line. Using the line in the pen helped prevent
him from sticking his head through the open rails and from frequently changing
directions and running willie nilly.
- Today I will try to lunge both directions if he goes well initially. Yes he lunges well to
the left. It is way more difficult to the R. He immediately turns around to go L. After
3 attempts I realise I have not lead him from the R side. I try to lead him but he
keeps trying to put me on his Left. I shorten the line up and manage to get him to
walk around the track of the RPen with me just out of the kicking range. This seems
to work. He walks and trots well to the Left. I am introducing words walk and Trot,
and burrrp for stop. A kiss for forward. He is very sensitive and I make sure I lightly
touch him with the whip. I put a saddle blanket all over his back and neck, face with
no problem, he is calm. Belly scratches for a reward.
-Today I work him at noon, just before feeding, All the horses are out of their
paddocks into the pastures. I did not hand walk him thought the labyrinth. I halter
him and walk, open and go through a gate, halt, walk 10 feet, halt and back and right
into the RP. He lunges well to the L but has much more energy. Calling occasionally
to his mom who is calling and running down the fence. To the right he keeps turning
around quickly. I try to get the line low so it goes back half way between his hock
and tail dock. He knows the exercise where you but the lead behind his butt and pull
on it and he has to turn toward the pressure and turn facing you. This works on the
lunge line. However sometimes he is quicker than I am and gets the line high and it
wraps to the middle of his neck. The first couple of times he shakes and lowers his
head and slaps his front feet down in a little tantrum like activity. He is pulling me
around the R.pen. I don't want to let go of the rope and have him get scared of it
dragging behind him. I do drop the whip and hang on with both hands. Lucky I have
long legs. Then I get smart. Instead of trying to stop him I just cut him off at the
pass and get big ( hands up) and have him turn to the outside to go Right and thus
unwrapping the rope from his neck. Of course because he is excited and animated
everything is happening quickly. This goes on for 10 minutes. Finally he walks and
licks his lips. So we accomplished a lunge to the right. Walk, trot and halt on
command to the left.

John Lassetter clinic report

It is always exhausting to put on a big clinic. You have the preparation which starts 2 weeks out. Trimming hedges, getting the footing right. General cleaning and arena maintenance. This time I hired a young man to do the heavy trimming. Then there is the more domestic shopping, planning meals and house prep for John. Scheduling the clinic, flyers and emails. Marilee from the Big Island and my parents are the ones who help the most. I could not do it without them. Carole loaned her house right across the street which was a big help.

This time Marilee and John arrived within hours of each other. Perfect timing and no lost luggage for John. The next day John will be teaching. He has been gone from England for weeks teaching in Canada and the US. He has to have clothing for the cold and the heat. He has had no days off.

We have dinner at Mom and Dad's catching up on the past 6 months and laughing. John fades quickly due to the time zone change. In the evening the final arena grooming is done by tractor headlights. The watering of the arena is started. 2 hours this evening.

I am up at 5 am. More arena watering for the next 3 hours right up to the start of the clinic. Set up the chairs, sound system and the arena cones and poles. Marilee is tasked with cooking John's breackfast. She laughs saying "I will give it a shot" as she treks down my hill with a large picnic basket in hand.

I am usually the first to ride but today I trailer Ann from the Horse Center for the first ride. She and Reinbeau have really improved over the last 6 months. They look great. Ann is smiling. The biggest thing I took away from the lesson is the technique John uses on this particular big horse to get the horse forward and reacting to the leg. He does not use it for other horses. You have to be a good balanced rider who is able to ride the big forward gaits you will generate and who will not be afraid and pull back on the reins. He asked no one else to do this ( he did tell me to think about the symbols but I think he knew I was not brave enough yet to do this with Freederic). He wants you to eventually get to the spot where when you just slightly take your leg away the horse will power forward. It eventually becomes a very subtle aid. He attaches the word "Symbols" to this exercise. When you use the symbols in music you take your hands apart and then clap the symbols together when you use them. This is what your legs will be like. If you clap him the first time and nothing happens the next time you use leg and whip. If he reacts great, go forward. Then at next long side try again. If he doesn't react you can use a double clap. It doesn't take long and he is jumping forward when she takes away the leg slightly. "Check the symbols" John says at times through out their work.

Reinbeau is 5 yo, 17h+ This clinic he was doing his counter canter. 10m canter circles where you could really see him sit down. He got more balanced in the canter and had some great extended canters.