True to Satin's nature, she still wants to play! She's pathetically lame even on 2 grams of daily bute. I feel terrible for her and wish we had a deep pond or stream to swim in to give her some relief. She loves water and being able to just float would probably feel great to her right now. Her hocks are sticking and popping, her muscles are sore. Augh, I wish there was more I could do for her!
But she is still in excellent spirits! Yesterday I went to visit her in the pasture with intentions of giving her a bath. But I didn't have expectations - if she didn't want to come with me, I wasn't going to force her. Keeping that mindset before I even ventured to her pasture was KEY to staying positive. No expectations.
I approached her at the round bale. Satin is a food hog and nothing moves her away from her food, hence the numerous bite and kick marks across her body. She lifted her head when I approached, ears forward, but then dropped back down to continue eating. I stood in zone 2/3 and tapped her lightly in zone 4 with the end of the 12' line. Absolutely NO response. So I did it again... and again... and - she looked at me! So I turned away and hummed to myself.
She started eating again. So I tapped her once, then again... This time she moved her hind end away from me and faced me, asking "Yes????" I approached and rubbed her all over, letting her eat more hay. As I rubbed up towards her shoulder she turned and gave me her head. I haltered her (my new horse-size halter is very snug on her huge head) and asked her to come with me. She immediately left her hay and followed!
Yay! I was thrilled! Satin likes me more than hay (I hope)!
We walked slowly (she's very lame) up to the barn where I had all the bathing supplies ready. I hosed her down with warm water (it was a gorgeous 70 degrees outside!) and started suds-ing her up. She was not tied and kept walking in circles (out of boredom, not anxiety like Dancer does). I was getting annoyed (my usual first response to her "misbehaving"). I jerked her halter to get her to stand still - I felt frustrated that I "had" to resort to that, and then kept getting more frustrated. But then I stepped back and thought the situation through:
There is never a reason to get frustrated. Using PNH helps to avoid these moments. I am still learning. Satin is not the problem here, the "problem" is that I don't know how to respond to her behavior to get what I want while keeping us both happy. I realized that it's not Satin's fault that she's getting a bath - I'm the one who wanted to do this. She was bored and had energy to burn. So I dropped the hose and asked her to follow me down the driveway to some jumps. She was covered in suds, but that wasn't important!
We worked on the porcupine game and I was impressed at how responsive she was. Then we worked on Yo-Yo, and wouldn't you know, after 3 times she was backing at phase 1! That's my girl! We ran around (her limping) and she tossed her head playfully, stopping when I stopped, moving away from my energy. It was really a lot of fun and I realized she needed that.
When were done playing I finished her bath and she stood like a champ. Aw. See, she is a good girl and I should never have a reason to get frustrated with her!
She had manure crusted to her forhead and forlock and ear and the side of her face (obviously she must've used a pile of poo as a pillow), so we worked on approach & retreat to get her face scrubbed. One thing I love about Satin is she is not afraid of anything. She's not afraid of getting sprayed in the face, she just doesn't like it in her eyes. Working with her is more challenging because she already has the confidence and is trying to 'win' the game and get her way. But she was good and in the end allowed me to scrub and rinse her nasty head.
She cleans up well! She hasn't had a bath in, oh, 6 months at least. I don't like to strip the oils from their coats, but she was pig pen and needed her bi-yearly bath!
She's still getting picked on in the pasture, so I kept her out today. It's raining now so I may go play with her in the barn. Last time we backed in and out of the stalls and she really got into it.
Keep focused, don't get frustrated, remember 'how interesting' any behavior can be!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Satin's Radiographs...
The other horses have been picking on her, even submissive Dancer! Amazing.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Satin gets Equicasts
It was a gorgeous, windy Florida January at 70 degrees. Satin was a wonderful girl and kept her manners while she got her hooves trimmed before we applied the casts.
Here is the casting tape ^. It is extremely sticky, but extra glue still needs to be applied to the front of the hoof in order for the wraps to stay on. They should stay on for 3 weeks before they wear out and fall off. Pictured below is the equipment: bucket of water to soak the rag in - this was used to trigger the chemicals in the casting tape to harden. The feed bag went under her hoof after it was scrubbed clean.
CEquicast on her front right (the more painful hoof). The material is coated with antimicrobial goodness and we also used thrush buster. I didn't get pictures of the left hoof process because Satin was so uncomfortable having to stand on her painful hoof that I had to keep encouraging her not to give up. I felt so bad for her! She kept leaning and stretching and trying to pull away but was such a good girl!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Another play day
Satin is on daily bute to help alleviate some the discomfort from the lameness in her front leg as well as the 'sticky' hocks in the back. She looks for an excuse to be lazy, so I just naturally assumed that she would use her leg issues to prey on my soft side.
I decided that I would start the porcupine game with her in the pasture and if she showed signs of discomfort then I would stop and just spend undemanding time with her. But she had more energy than usual (which just means she MOVED when asked). I used a cross-country jump (big log) and a smaller log jump that form an 'L' shape to keep her from walking forward when I ask her to move her forhand away from me. It worked! Just 2 or 3 times using the jumps and I took her to the middle of the pasture. She didn't try to walk away this time! Maybe before it was miscommunication - perhaps she didn't know I wanted her to move away, but stay with me. She could have thought I just wanted her to get out of my space. Either way, she gets it now!
To reward her I took her to the barn and let her sniff around (her favorite thing to do is knock stuff around) while I groomed her. She kept trying to pull away from me and when she would forget I existed I would give her a little tap on the rump with the tip of the rope. I only had to annoy her a few times before she turned back towards me.
I started getting creative and drove her into a stall, then drove her out, then backed her in and backed her out. Then we worked on Yo-Yo and she's progressing very well. We played with some jumps doing the squeeze game and used the porcupine game to side-pass over some jumps.
She really seemed to have fun and was getting into it!
I wasn't planning on working with Dancer but she was excitedly waiting for me at the gate when I put Satin back out. Satin wanted to come back with me when I turned her out! I brought Dancer to the barn for a good brushing - she's got some kind of fungal thing going on across her entire body. Her hair came out in patches! She looks silly with spots of exposed skin.
Dancer was so relaxed while I brushed her. She stood perfectly still, leaning into the curry. I played the friendly game with her and she's nervous about the stick on her back legs (zone 4). I used approach and retreat and she quickly relaxed. We played the yo-yo game in the barn and she did well! I wasn't sure how she would respond to the wiggling rope and because she's such a nervous ninny I expected she might get spooked and try to pull away. But I was quiet and smiling and she was being responsive and not completely right-brained! It was great! She backed up at PHASE 1 after only 3 tries. What a good girl!
I got my Level 1 Partnership set in the mail last night. I have the DVDs but didn't have the handbooks. The Handbooks seem very helpful. I also got 2 new halters, a 12' line with a snap and a 22' line without a snap. Any idea how to put a snap on?
Still waiting on the vet to email me Satin's radiographs... The farrier is coming out today to pad her feet.
I decided that I would start the porcupine game with her in the pasture and if she showed signs of discomfort then I would stop and just spend undemanding time with her. But she had more energy than usual (which just means she MOVED when asked). I used a cross-country jump (big log) and a smaller log jump that form an 'L' shape to keep her from walking forward when I ask her to move her forhand away from me. It worked! Just 2 or 3 times using the jumps and I took her to the middle of the pasture. She didn't try to walk away this time! Maybe before it was miscommunication - perhaps she didn't know I wanted her to move away, but stay with me. She could have thought I just wanted her to get out of my space. Either way, she gets it now!
To reward her I took her to the barn and let her sniff around (her favorite thing to do is knock stuff around) while I groomed her. She kept trying to pull away from me and when she would forget I existed I would give her a little tap on the rump with the tip of the rope. I only had to annoy her a few times before she turned back towards me.
I started getting creative and drove her into a stall, then drove her out, then backed her in and backed her out. Then we worked on Yo-Yo and she's progressing very well. We played with some jumps doing the squeeze game and used the porcupine game to side-pass over some jumps.
She really seemed to have fun and was getting into it!
I wasn't planning on working with Dancer but she was excitedly waiting for me at the gate when I put Satin back out. Satin wanted to come back with me when I turned her out! I brought Dancer to the barn for a good brushing - she's got some kind of fungal thing going on across her entire body. Her hair came out in patches! She looks silly with spots of exposed skin.
Dancer was so relaxed while I brushed her. She stood perfectly still, leaning into the curry. I played the friendly game with her and she's nervous about the stick on her back legs (zone 4). I used approach and retreat and she quickly relaxed. We played the yo-yo game in the barn and she did well! I wasn't sure how she would respond to the wiggling rope and because she's such a nervous ninny I expected she might get spooked and try to pull away. But I was quiet and smiling and she was being responsive and not completely right-brained! It was great! She backed up at PHASE 1 after only 3 tries. What a good girl!
I got my Level 1 Partnership set in the mail last night. I have the DVDs but didn't have the handbooks. The Handbooks seem very helpful. I also got 2 new halters, a 12' line with a snap and a 22' line without a snap. Any idea how to put a snap on?
Still waiting on the vet to email me Satin's radiographs... The farrier is coming out today to pad her feet.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The prognosis
The vet came out on Thursday evening for a lameness exam on Satin. Satin has been significantly favoring her front right, but also appears lame in the other front as well as both back! Her hocks have started 'sticking' more frequently.
Dr. Lacher started by watching Satin trot. She was a very good girl and even as she struggled through the discomfort, she trotted for me. We used hoof testers on both fronts and Satin didn't have ANY pain response, which lead Dr. Lacher to believe it wasn't an abscess like we both originally thought. So we blocked her right heal with lidocaine and trotted her off again. She showed significant immediate improvement. We knew the pain was in the hoof. Since we kind of ruled out an abscess, Dr. Lacher's next step was to x-ray the hoof to see if the pain was caused by something else; navicular disease, bone spur, etc. She shots 4 radiographs and Satin was wonderful! She stood perfectly still on slats of wood while we took the pictures. She's usually Miss Movey-All-Aroundy. Maybe the pain was making her mellow!
The good news:
The radiographs showed healthy, normal navicular bone. Nice and straight.
No fluid accumulation or swelling in any joints, including stifles and hocks.
The bad news:
Her pastern joint had mild-moderate arthritis.
Both her hocks have severe arthritis.
The doctor's orders:
Step one - treat with Bute for 7 days and see how she responds. It is possible that the lameness is due to something minor like bruising of her sole and that the arthritis in her pastern joint is not an issue (yet). If she responds to Bute then we can tentatively keep her on a maintenance dose.
Step two - She doesn't respond to Bute or continues to come up lame in that leg. Corrective shoeing to alleviate the pressure she puts on that joint. I will be having my wonderful, conservative farrier out in the next day or two to put on temporary "equiflex" pads which will cushion her sole for about 2-3 weeks. If it is a bruise than these pads will help it heal with less pain. I really don't want to resort to shoes. She has been barefoot her entire life.
Step 3: Symptoms worsen. Surgery to sever the nerve. Unfortunately, because she is so young the potential for regrowth of the nerve is high, meaning she's likely have to undergo the surgery a second or even third time.
My thoughts?
Siiiiigh.
I want to do what it takes to keep Satin comfortable and happy. The vet also recommended do lots of backing and exercise with hills to build up her quads. This will help with the stifles and hocks.
Needless to say I haven't worked with Satin in a few days. I think today she'll be up to some playing.
On another note, I have not yet played with Dancer. I have been so focused on progressing with Satin that I have not even haltered Dancer! I keep telling myself "Dancer will be easy" and I keep putting it off. The truth is I don't like Dancer's personality. She's a wimp. Don't get me wrong, she's as sweet as they come, but she's terribly anxious and nervous and ... I don't click well with that personality. BUT...
On Friday evening at feeding time Satin was already in the stall. Dancer and her two pasture mates were galloping like crazy across the pasture. Dancer and her twin TB mare (the alpha) we carrying on for more than 15 minutes! I brought the alpha mare in first, then went back to get Dancer who was still trotting the fence line. I thought, "You know, right now would be the perfect time to play with Dancer. She's all anxious, has lots of energy..."
So I grabbed my halter and 12' rope and stick. I approached quietly and paused about 5 feet from her. She's used to standing still for the halter, so she stood there, eyes wide, nostrils flared, ears half pinned, just waiting for me to come and take her into the barn. But I waited. It only took like 15 seconds and she turned towards me and asked a question, "What are you doing?"
I held out the halter for her to smell and was amused at her curiosity and confusion. Her little hot-wired brain was going a million miles a minute - "HUH? Why is she showing me this? Why isn't she putting this on me? What's GOING ON?!"
I stood there, smiling to myself, and she took 3 steps towards me a smelled the halter, ears SUPER forward, "Yes? What do you want? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
I applied gentle pressure on her poll and she gave me her head. I haltered her and walked away from the gate and away from the barn, her grain, and her pasture mates. I haven't worked with Dancer AT ALL yet this year. I have only done gentle training with her, Not Parelli NH.
But she is so submissive and so responsive. I have only to apply pressure with my energy and she moves quickly out of my way. I did a little Friendly Game to soothe her. She siiiighed and licked her lips. I pointed and she trotted in the direction away from my energy. I did this with her for about 5 minutes, asking her to go over jumps and through some obstacles.
Oh My Goodness! It was SO FUN! She has so much energy and is so responsive. It is like NIGHT AND DAY between her and Satin. Satin is like moving a dead body. If you breathe too hard Dancer jumps out of your way. Wow! I am so lucky! I new that Dancer would be "easy" but I did not realize I would enjoy her so much. With just a little time this girl is going to be confident and will really relax in our herd of two.
Here's to the future for both Satin and Dancer!
Dr. Lacher started by watching Satin trot. She was a very good girl and even as she struggled through the discomfort, she trotted for me. We used hoof testers on both fronts and Satin didn't have ANY pain response, which lead Dr. Lacher to believe it wasn't an abscess like we both originally thought. So we blocked her right heal with lidocaine and trotted her off again. She showed significant immediate improvement. We knew the pain was in the hoof. Since we kind of ruled out an abscess, Dr. Lacher's next step was to x-ray the hoof to see if the pain was caused by something else; navicular disease, bone spur, etc. She shots 4 radiographs and Satin was wonderful! She stood perfectly still on slats of wood while we took the pictures. She's usually Miss Movey-All-Aroundy. Maybe the pain was making her mellow!
The good news:
The radiographs showed healthy, normal navicular bone. Nice and straight.
No fluid accumulation or swelling in any joints, including stifles and hocks.
The bad news:
Her pastern joint had mild-moderate arthritis.
Both her hocks have severe arthritis.
The doctor's orders:
Step one - treat with Bute for 7 days and see how she responds. It is possible that the lameness is due to something minor like bruising of her sole and that the arthritis in her pastern joint is not an issue (yet). If she responds to Bute then we can tentatively keep her on a maintenance dose.
Step two - She doesn't respond to Bute or continues to come up lame in that leg. Corrective shoeing to alleviate the pressure she puts on that joint. I will be having my wonderful, conservative farrier out in the next day or two to put on temporary "equiflex" pads which will cushion her sole for about 2-3 weeks. If it is a bruise than these pads will help it heal with less pain. I really don't want to resort to shoes. She has been barefoot her entire life.
Step 3: Symptoms worsen. Surgery to sever the nerve. Unfortunately, because she is so young the potential for regrowth of the nerve is high, meaning she's likely have to undergo the surgery a second or even third time.
My thoughts?
Siiiiigh.
I want to do what it takes to keep Satin comfortable and happy. The vet also recommended do lots of backing and exercise with hills to build up her quads. This will help with the stifles and hocks.
Needless to say I haven't worked with Satin in a few days. I think today she'll be up to some playing.
On another note, I have not yet played with Dancer. I have been so focused on progressing with Satin that I have not even haltered Dancer! I keep telling myself "Dancer will be easy" and I keep putting it off. The truth is I don't like Dancer's personality. She's a wimp. Don't get me wrong, she's as sweet as they come, but she's terribly anxious and nervous and ... I don't click well with that personality. BUT...
On Friday evening at feeding time Satin was already in the stall. Dancer and her two pasture mates were galloping like crazy across the pasture. Dancer and her twin TB mare (the alpha) we carrying on for more than 15 minutes! I brought the alpha mare in first, then went back to get Dancer who was still trotting the fence line. I thought, "You know, right now would be the perfect time to play with Dancer. She's all anxious, has lots of energy..."
So I grabbed my halter and 12' rope and stick. I approached quietly and paused about 5 feet from her. She's used to standing still for the halter, so she stood there, eyes wide, nostrils flared, ears half pinned, just waiting for me to come and take her into the barn. But I waited. It only took like 15 seconds and she turned towards me and asked a question, "What are you doing?"
I held out the halter for her to smell and was amused at her curiosity and confusion. Her little hot-wired brain was going a million miles a minute - "HUH? Why is she showing me this? Why isn't she putting this on me? What's GOING ON?!"
I stood there, smiling to myself, and she took 3 steps towards me a smelled the halter, ears SUPER forward, "Yes? What do you want? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
I applied gentle pressure on her poll and she gave me her head. I haltered her and walked away from the gate and away from the barn, her grain, and her pasture mates. I haven't worked with Dancer AT ALL yet this year. I have only done gentle training with her, Not Parelli NH.
But she is so submissive and so responsive. I have only to apply pressure with my energy and she moves quickly out of my way. I did a little Friendly Game to soothe her. She siiiighed and licked her lips. I pointed and she trotted in the direction away from my energy. I did this with her for about 5 minutes, asking her to go over jumps and through some obstacles.
Oh My Goodness! It was SO FUN! She has so much energy and is so responsive. It is like NIGHT AND DAY between her and Satin. Satin is like moving a dead body. If you breathe too hard Dancer jumps out of your way. Wow! I am so lucky! I new that Dancer would be "easy" but I did not realize I would enjoy her so much. With just a little time this girl is going to be confident and will really relax in our herd of two.
Here's to the future for both Satin and Dancer!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Getting the 'back'
Satin is still lame. The vet is scheduled to come out tomorrow afternoon. Even if she has a simple abscess in the front, I hope we'll find out what's going on in her back legs.
Needless to say, we took it easy again. No trotting. Just yielding to pressure for the porcupine game and learning to back up. Satin has a very lazy personality, but I know she can have energy when she wants to. Today she was made of molasses and her hooves were filled with lead. Her responses are sooo slow. I can't decide if I should be asking for quicker responses or if I should wait until she starts to get the basics. I'm conflicted because I want to be angry with her that she's so bored with me and responds with such laziness, but I catch myself and ask, "Why be angry? What will that accomplish?" So I take a deep breath and keep on going, one step at a time.
Maybe to help with my impatience I should set some short term goals, but without having expectations. Something like this:
Goal:
After 5 play sessions, hope that she's responding at phase 1 at least 50% of the time.
I may be expecting too much from Satin. Maybe I go out there hoping she'll do back flips just to make me happy. I'm trying to be satisfied just with the fact that we're spending quality time together whether or not we are accomplishing anything. But I so badly want to excel! I want her to get into shape and move off my pressure and be a happy horse! Hah! I guess I need to manage my eagerness.
My new motto should be "We'll get somewhere, at some point." And just enjoy the ride!
Needless to say, we took it easy again. No trotting. Just yielding to pressure for the porcupine game and learning to back up. Satin has a very lazy personality, but I know she can have energy when she wants to. Today she was made of molasses and her hooves were filled with lead. Her responses are sooo slow. I can't decide if I should be asking for quicker responses or if I should wait until she starts to get the basics. I'm conflicted because I want to be angry with her that she's so bored with me and responds with such laziness, but I catch myself and ask, "Why be angry? What will that accomplish?" So I take a deep breath and keep on going, one step at a time.
Maybe to help with my impatience I should set some short term goals, but without having expectations. Something like this:
Goal:
After 5 play sessions, hope that she's responding at phase 1 at least 50% of the time.
I may be expecting too much from Satin. Maybe I go out there hoping she'll do back flips just to make me happy. I'm trying to be satisfied just with the fact that we're spending quality time together whether or not we are accomplishing anything. But I so badly want to excel! I want her to get into shape and move off my pressure and be a happy horse! Hah! I guess I need to manage my eagerness.
My new motto should be "We'll get somewhere, at some point." And just enjoy the ride!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
It's so hard!
I love it! It is such a challenge and I love it! You know why? Because once we accomplish this, we are going to be so much happier! I have to keep focused on the results that will come.
The challenging parts:
1) Not babying Satin! She so huggable and sweet. I'm in the habit of babying her and I need to be aware of that. For example, I ask her to back up in phases. She's so used to being right up in my space that she doesn't understand that I am asking her to move away. So I start to shake the rope, phase 1, phase 2, phase 3... she's still trying to come forward. If I don't respond quickly enough then she gets into my space and I would either have to back up (which I can't do or I am losing the dominance game) or I have to stop shaking the rope. So before this happens I have to resort to phase 4 - popping her with the snap in the jaw. It works. The problem is, while I am asking her to back up and she approaches me, ears forward, I feel like I am punishing her for being sweet. I make myself be dominant and get her to back, and as soon as she steps back I am RELIEVED to stop "beating" her (I know I am not hurting her, she has such a high pain tolerance!) and I start telling her "Good girl! That's what I want!" And she looks at me, ears forward, all sweet and cute and like "What did I do wrong, Mom? Why don't you want me in your space?"
Aaah! I need to stop thinking like that! She's a horse, not a human infant! She wants a kind, strong alpha leader and that's who I need to be. *sigh* With time!
2) My first response is frustration! It's hard NOT to get frustrated with Satin when I KNOW she knows what I am asking and she's being obstinate. I must keep in mind that I am no longer "demanding" behaviors from Satin, I am "asking". And eventually she will WANT me to ask and will happily oblige. Right now she still doesn't get that I'm alpha. We're still working on that. She's still not immediately responding to pressure and especially fights the pressure on her front end (neck, shoulders) during the porcupine game.
Good points of our play session:
1) We had a good start to the back-up game. It only took three or four phase 4's to make her realize what I was asking when I shook the rope. By the 5th or 6th try she was thinking about backing up at phase 2 and finally backed at phase 3. Progress!
2) I spent about 20 minutes just standing with her out in the pasture before I haltered her. She came immediately up to me, ears forward, and hung out with me while I stood there. She even fell asleep standing next to me. Although this is not new to our relationship, I have to say that I haven't been taking special time like this for her in a while. Parelli NH reminded me of how important this aspect of our friendship is.
She's still a bit stiff and lame but the bute seemed to take the edge off. The vet should be out this week.
The challenging parts:
1) Not babying Satin! She so huggable and sweet. I'm in the habit of babying her and I need to be aware of that. For example, I ask her to back up in phases. She's so used to being right up in my space that she doesn't understand that I am asking her to move away. So I start to shake the rope, phase 1, phase 2, phase 3... she's still trying to come forward. If I don't respond quickly enough then she gets into my space and I would either have to back up (which I can't do or I am losing the dominance game) or I have to stop shaking the rope. So before this happens I have to resort to phase 4 - popping her with the snap in the jaw. It works. The problem is, while I am asking her to back up and she approaches me, ears forward, I feel like I am punishing her for being sweet. I make myself be dominant and get her to back, and as soon as she steps back I am RELIEVED to stop "beating" her (I know I am not hurting her, she has such a high pain tolerance!) and I start telling her "Good girl! That's what I want!" And she looks at me, ears forward, all sweet and cute and like "What did I do wrong, Mom? Why don't you want me in your space?"
Aaah! I need to stop thinking like that! She's a horse, not a human infant! She wants a kind, strong alpha leader and that's who I need to be. *sigh* With time!
2) My first response is frustration! It's hard NOT to get frustrated with Satin when I KNOW she knows what I am asking and she's being obstinate. I must keep in mind that I am no longer "demanding" behaviors from Satin, I am "asking". And eventually she will WANT me to ask and will happily oblige. Right now she still doesn't get that I'm alpha. We're still working on that. She's still not immediately responding to pressure and especially fights the pressure on her front end (neck, shoulders) during the porcupine game.
Good points of our play session:
1) We had a good start to the back-up game. It only took three or four phase 4's to make her realize what I was asking when I shook the rope. By the 5th or 6th try she was thinking about backing up at phase 2 and finally backed at phase 3. Progress!
2) I spent about 20 minutes just standing with her out in the pasture before I haltered her. She came immediately up to me, ears forward, and hung out with me while I stood there. She even fell asleep standing next to me. Although this is not new to our relationship, I have to say that I haven't been taking special time like this for her in a while. Parelli NH reminded me of how important this aspect of our friendship is.
She's still a bit stiff and lame but the bute seemed to take the edge off. The vet should be out this week.
How interesting...
So poor Satin is lame. In her 12 1/2 years she's only been lame about 3 times. She rarely has abscesses.
Her current lameness started a few days ago. When I let her walk to her pasture in the morning (we let her and her 3 pasture mates "free-walk" to their pasture) she was very mellow and didn't keep up with the herd. When she got too far behind she started to trot, immediately throwing her head in the air with discomfort, limped a few steps, and broke back down to the walk.
For the past few weeks I've noticed her 'popping hock' appearing to bother her a bit more. I can tell by her expressions and body language that it seems to be affecting her more than usual. Then her other leg - the stifle - starting to show signs of 'catching'. I spoke with a DVM friend about it and her advice suggested that I shouldn't worry - but she reminded me that she hasn't looked at Satin and that her advice was strictly just advice, not a diagnosis.
I figured I would work with her for two weeks, stretch her out and get her into better shape then assess her issues from there. But we had freezing weather, then rain, then cold, so I haven't worked with her like I planned. But now she seems worse! My guess is that she's abscessing in the front and because she's favoring the front she's putting excess weight on her back legs which are already comprised, exacerbating the back leg issues.
I plan to have Satin's vet out very soon to get to the bottom of her issues.
In the mean time I'll just be hanging out with her & probably soaking her foot.
When I approach her in the pasture she looks at me, ears forward, even as I reach her face. She's obviously 'glad' to see me. But if I stand 5 feet from her she still just stares, curious. But she doesn't approach. Maybe it's because her feet are bothering her and she doesn't want to move or maybe it's because she's lazy. But at this stage in the game, should I be expecting her to 'come to me'?
Your thoughts?
Her current lameness started a few days ago. When I let her walk to her pasture in the morning (we let her and her 3 pasture mates "free-walk" to their pasture) she was very mellow and didn't keep up with the herd. When she got too far behind she started to trot, immediately throwing her head in the air with discomfort, limped a few steps, and broke back down to the walk.
For the past few weeks I've noticed her 'popping hock' appearing to bother her a bit more. I can tell by her expressions and body language that it seems to be affecting her more than usual. Then her other leg - the stifle - starting to show signs of 'catching'. I spoke with a DVM friend about it and her advice suggested that I shouldn't worry - but she reminded me that she hasn't looked at Satin and that her advice was strictly just advice, not a diagnosis.
I figured I would work with her for two weeks, stretch her out and get her into better shape then assess her issues from there. But we had freezing weather, then rain, then cold, so I haven't worked with her like I planned. But now she seems worse! My guess is that she's abscessing in the front and because she's favoring the front she's putting excess weight on her back legs which are already comprised, exacerbating the back leg issues.
I plan to have Satin's vet out very soon to get to the bottom of her issues.
In the mean time I'll just be hanging out with her & probably soaking her foot.
When I approach her in the pasture she looks at me, ears forward, even as I reach her face. She's obviously 'glad' to see me. But if I stand 5 feet from her she still just stares, curious. But she doesn't approach. Maybe it's because her feet are bothering her and she doesn't want to move or maybe it's because she's lazy. But at this stage in the game, should I be expecting her to 'come to me'?
Your thoughts?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
What is an alpha horse?
I grew up on natural horsemanship, starting with Monty Roberts' tail of his childhood watching feral horses in the American West. I remember reading those lines, each work creating this amazing picture of a young boy peering over into a ravine at an unsuspecting herd of Mustangs. He was alone and yet in perfect company. When I read those lines as a 10 year old, my mind screamed "That's me!". All I wanted to do was observe the natural horse.
When my family would go to the mall I would always make it to the bookstore, sit on the floor, and stare at page after page of horse images. Every book from the Encyclopedia of the Horse to Horse Care 101 to coffee table picture books - no 'horse book' was left unread.
When I finally had he opportunity to take horse back riding lessons, "thrilled" does not begin to describe my girlish excitement! But as soon as I was shoved up into a saddle, my feet forced into stirrups, my hands perfectly placed on the leather ropes connecting to a piece of metal meant to case discomfort, I felt immediately wrong. I thought, "This isn't how I imagined it." I was taught equitation before anyone ever tried to explain why a horse reacts the way they do. Horse behavior was never mentioned. It was always the horses' fault - Always. So honestly, I never enjoyed lessons. Every Saturday I would get a stomach ache on the way to lessons. I didn't know why. So I stopped eating breakfast before we went. I still felt ill. Every time, guaranteed.
My stomach didn't settle until I was in the barn cleaning my trainer's hideous stalls, listening to the horses munch their hay, snort and move about. This is where I was happiest.
My first job as a 13 year-old was cleaning stalls at Churchill Farm - an Appaloosa breeding farm and lesson barn. I cleaned 40 stalls a day, fed, and even exercised some horses. After I showed my natural abilities with horses, the owners allowed me to handle their stallion (which, thinking back, was stupid to allow a young girl to do such a thing!). But my time spent surrounded by their smells and sounds are among my fondest memories. I continued spending more time with horses, taking lessons, riding on a mounted drill team, and working at different barns.
It wasn't until September of 1997, I was 14, that I really got to spend countless hours observing and spending undemanding time with horses. This was the month I met my baby, Satin. Oh, my, God. I NEVER left the pasture. I would feed her in the morning, go to school and write her name on all my notebooks, then come home and play with her until I HAD to go inside. I didn't do my homework or study, I hung out with my bestest bud.
Satin came with me to college in May of 2001. We moved in with a British dressage trainer - I worked in the barn to keep my board fee low. I lived in a 6x8 bedroom in a mobile home with my friend. It wasn't the best living conditions and was a 45 minute drive to campus, but I had my horse with me and that's all that mattered. I would throw a towel over her back and lay across her, my test book open across her rump. Many times I fell asleep, only to be jarred awake by her movement.
My point? I've never strayed from my natural horsemanship roots and I'm totally in love with my horse! But I feel we've started losing touch. Or maybe our relationship is absolutely the same it has always been - which isn't as good as it could be. I have realized that with Satin I am a pathetic excuse for an alpha horse. If I want a better relationship than I need to quit babying her like a human child and treat her like the horse she is. She will love me even more for that!
But what, exactly, constitutes an alpha horse? All my years observing herd hierarchy has shown me that any horse can be alpha. The question is, what kind of alpha do I want to be? I don't want to be my gelding, Vice, who viciously attacks new herd members, bloodying them until they are forced to submit. I also don't want to be the alpha horse that is constantly making angry threats, making all the subservient horses' lives miserable. I want to be the benevolent dictator. Alpha horses are on a continuum, depending on their personalities. There is not one response to define an alpha. You can look at a situation between two horses and no two horses would behave identically the same - they are individuals, just like any living creatures. So I need to keep in mind exactly what kind of alpha I want to be. I don't want to be emotional, I want to be effective. I want to be compassionate, yet dominant, forgiving, yet structured. I want to be the horse that all the horses desperately want to follow.
I just have to keep in mind that Satin doesn't want to be coddled, she wants a strong, dependable leader!
When my family would go to the mall I would always make it to the bookstore, sit on the floor, and stare at page after page of horse images. Every book from the Encyclopedia of the Horse to Horse Care 101 to coffee table picture books - no 'horse book' was left unread.
When I finally had he opportunity to take horse back riding lessons, "thrilled" does not begin to describe my girlish excitement! But as soon as I was shoved up into a saddle, my feet forced into stirrups, my hands perfectly placed on the leather ropes connecting to a piece of metal meant to case discomfort, I felt immediately wrong. I thought, "This isn't how I imagined it." I was taught equitation before anyone ever tried to explain why a horse reacts the way they do. Horse behavior was never mentioned. It was always the horses' fault - Always. So honestly, I never enjoyed lessons. Every Saturday I would get a stomach ache on the way to lessons. I didn't know why. So I stopped eating breakfast before we went. I still felt ill. Every time, guaranteed.
My stomach didn't settle until I was in the barn cleaning my trainer's hideous stalls, listening to the horses munch their hay, snort and move about. This is where I was happiest.
My first job as a 13 year-old was cleaning stalls at Churchill Farm - an Appaloosa breeding farm and lesson barn. I cleaned 40 stalls a day, fed, and even exercised some horses. After I showed my natural abilities with horses, the owners allowed me to handle their stallion (which, thinking back, was stupid to allow a young girl to do such a thing!). But my time spent surrounded by their smells and sounds are among my fondest memories. I continued spending more time with horses, taking lessons, riding on a mounted drill team, and working at different barns.
It wasn't until September of 1997, I was 14, that I really got to spend countless hours observing and spending undemanding time with horses. This was the month I met my baby, Satin. Oh, my, God. I NEVER left the pasture. I would feed her in the morning, go to school and write her name on all my notebooks, then come home and play with her until I HAD to go inside. I didn't do my homework or study, I hung out with my bestest bud.
Satin came with me to college in May of 2001. We moved in with a British dressage trainer - I worked in the barn to keep my board fee low. I lived in a 6x8 bedroom in a mobile home with my friend. It wasn't the best living conditions and was a 45 minute drive to campus, but I had my horse with me and that's all that mattered. I would throw a towel over her back and lay across her, my test book open across her rump. Many times I fell asleep, only to be jarred awake by her movement.
My point? I've never strayed from my natural horsemanship roots and I'm totally in love with my horse! But I feel we've started losing touch. Or maybe our relationship is absolutely the same it has always been - which isn't as good as it could be. I have realized that with Satin I am a pathetic excuse for an alpha horse. If I want a better relationship than I need to quit babying her like a human child and treat her like the horse she is. She will love me even more for that!
But what, exactly, constitutes an alpha horse? All my years observing herd hierarchy has shown me that any horse can be alpha. The question is, what kind of alpha do I want to be? I don't want to be my gelding, Vice, who viciously attacks new herd members, bloodying them until they are forced to submit. I also don't want to be the alpha horse that is constantly making angry threats, making all the subservient horses' lives miserable. I want to be the benevolent dictator. Alpha horses are on a continuum, depending on their personalities. There is not one response to define an alpha. You can look at a situation between two horses and no two horses would behave identically the same - they are individuals, just like any living creatures. So I need to keep in mind exactly what kind of alpha I want to be. I don't want to be emotional, I want to be effective. I want to be compassionate, yet dominant, forgiving, yet structured. I want to be the horse that all the horses desperately want to follow.
I just have to keep in mind that Satin doesn't want to be coddled, she wants a strong, dependable leader!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Watch and learn
I've been watching my Level 1 DVD to get prepared for our ext play session. I have the older Level 1 version and I don't have the handbooks that comes with the DVDs. I got my DVDs through a Craigslist Barter so I'm not even sure I have ALL the DVDs. So I am not as fully equipped as I'd like to be, but I'm thankful to have something!
I will be getting the Parelli hackamore next Tuesday from a woman who is making a trade with me (again, through Craigslist). She no longer uses her Parelli hackamore and I no longer use much of my leather English tack (since becoming vegan several years ago, I am trying to get rid of all my leather tack and replace with synthetic, non-animal gear). So I will be trading her a dressage bridle, bit, reins, and martingale for the hackamore. It's a great trade, in my opinion!
I am also potentially purchasing some other Parelli gear from one of my boarders here at the farm. She has all the Parelli equipment and most of the DVDs and is happy to sell them to me. I am THRILLED! She's going to go through all of what she is to determine what she wants to sell, but is definitely going to sell me a carrot stick (possibly a savvy string?), Parelli bareback pad, and possibly a halter and 12 foot lead (maybe the 22 foot lead as well). We'll see! I'm very excited to have found some great, local deals!
In the mean time I have been using my homemade carrot stick, constructed from a thin tree limb. The savvy string is just some similar type rope I purchased from a rope dealer. I also bought the 12 foot line from a rope dealer and added my own snap. It works, but it is certainly not as nice as the genuine Parelli gear. The boarder who is selling me her equipment has allowed me to use her halter, lead, and carrot stick until I buy it from her (just waiting to see which pieces of equipment she wants to sell).
I never thought I would be this excited about NH training! I've been working with horses most of my life, enjoying undemanding company with them, using natural cues and communicating in a language they can understand. Parelli makes Natural Horsemanship exciting by offering "Levels", and different tasks within each level. It is thrilling to "pass" a task and move on to the next one. Me and Satin feel accomplished every time we figure something out - and we're having lots of fun!
I am glad to be working on the ground with Satin as opposed to in-saddle. After our last ride when she threw me, I decided that I wasn't going to ever ride her again. It wasn't safe and she wasn't happy. I only want the best for Satin and if she didn't enjoy being ridden, well then I wasn't going to force her! But her situation wasn't black and white. She did enjoy our time spent together, even while I was on her back. But sometimes she would explode is amazing acrobatic bucks. She would saaave up her energy, wait for an excuse, then BLOW! I only came off her 3 times in 10 years under saddle - twice I made a safe dismount on my feet, but the last time (about 2 months ago) I jumped off and landed on my side. NOT SAFE. NOT HAPPY.
But Satin doesn't buck all the time. As a matter of fact, it is a rare event! She's very bombproof, doesn't spook at ANYTHING, and is generally a mellow, lazy girl. I would love to get the Horsenailities DVD so I could accurately describe your brain.
I can't wait until our next play time!
I will be getting the Parelli hackamore next Tuesday from a woman who is making a trade with me (again, through Craigslist). She no longer uses her Parelli hackamore and I no longer use much of my leather English tack (since becoming vegan several years ago, I am trying to get rid of all my leather tack and replace with synthetic, non-animal gear). So I will be trading her a dressage bridle, bit, reins, and martingale for the hackamore. It's a great trade, in my opinion!
I am also potentially purchasing some other Parelli gear from one of my boarders here at the farm. She has all the Parelli equipment and most of the DVDs and is happy to sell them to me. I am THRILLED! She's going to go through all of what she is to determine what she wants to sell, but is definitely going to sell me a carrot stick (possibly a savvy string?), Parelli bareback pad, and possibly a halter and 12 foot lead (maybe the 22 foot lead as well). We'll see! I'm very excited to have found some great, local deals!
In the mean time I have been using my homemade carrot stick, constructed from a thin tree limb. The savvy string is just some similar type rope I purchased from a rope dealer. I also bought the 12 foot line from a rope dealer and added my own snap. It works, but it is certainly not as nice as the genuine Parelli gear. The boarder who is selling me her equipment has allowed me to use her halter, lead, and carrot stick until I buy it from her (just waiting to see which pieces of equipment she wants to sell).
I never thought I would be this excited about NH training! I've been working with horses most of my life, enjoying undemanding company with them, using natural cues and communicating in a language they can understand. Parelli makes Natural Horsemanship exciting by offering "Levels", and different tasks within each level. It is thrilling to "pass" a task and move on to the next one. Me and Satin feel accomplished every time we figure something out - and we're having lots of fun!
I am glad to be working on the ground with Satin as opposed to in-saddle. After our last ride when she threw me, I decided that I wasn't going to ever ride her again. It wasn't safe and she wasn't happy. I only want the best for Satin and if she didn't enjoy being ridden, well then I wasn't going to force her! But her situation wasn't black and white. She did enjoy our time spent together, even while I was on her back. But sometimes she would explode is amazing acrobatic bucks. She would saaave up her energy, wait for an excuse, then BLOW! I only came off her 3 times in 10 years under saddle - twice I made a safe dismount on my feet, but the last time (about 2 months ago) I jumped off and landed on my side. NOT SAFE. NOT HAPPY.
But Satin doesn't buck all the time. As a matter of fact, it is a rare event! She's very bombproof, doesn't spook at ANYTHING, and is generally a mellow, lazy girl. I would love to get the Horsenailities DVD so I could accurately describe your brain.
I can't wait until our next play time!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Another session under our belt
Satin and I played some games today. Her attitude towards pressure yielding is definitely improving.
It was the middle of the day when I stole her away from her round bale, so she was feeling sleepy and very lazy. But she willingly came with me to the arena where we worked on the porcupine game. Her head, neck, and shoulders are becoming more sensitive to my pressure. Her hindquarters are moving away without physical pressure.
I'm excited to see how she improves with consistency.
I asked her to back up with the first phase - gently wiggling the rope. She just stood there with ears forward at me. The more I wiggled the rope, the more she came toward me instead of away! So I backed up the rope wiggling with an encouraging push with the stick on her chest. It only took a few times before she realized I was asking her to GET OUT OF MY SPACE! This really seemed to get her juices flowing because up until the back-up game she was falling asleep.
She started to become more responsive to my request for her to back up, but she kept moving to her right (instead of straight back). So I went to her right side and asked her to back... and she came forward.
Every horse has a dominant side, and for many horses it has been drilled into them that the left side is the side they should present to the human. But in Satin's case, I've been mounting and dismounting from both sides her entire life. She doesn't have that excuse. But she has always been right-dominant with her leads, so it makes sense. I'll have to try to spend equal amounts of time on both sides to encourage balanced suppleness.
I decided to try to get her excited, because for the majority of our play session she seems SO bored. Again, it could have been the time of day, but she's a smart horse. I know she's trying to express her lack of interest. "Mom, this is sooo not exciting enough. Booooring. Let's go make some prank calls!"
So I started to run backwards, letting the rope slide through my hands as she got further from me. She first followed at a quick walk, but the more I encouraged with my attitude - "C'mon Satin, Come play! You know you want to!" She finally tossed her head side-to-side and trotted after me. Poor girl is fat and out of shape!
My hope is that the more we play, the more she'll "get into it". I want her to join in on the fun - I see that she wants to, but she may be holding a grudge against me.
After our play session we walked to the barn and I gave her a nice grooming - her favorite! She played with the trash and knocked buckets over and kept herself occupied while I brushed her tail. When she forgot I was there I'd just remind her with a little push with a single finger.
I can't wait until out next playtime!
It was the middle of the day when I stole her away from her round bale, so she was feeling sleepy and very lazy. But she willingly came with me to the arena where we worked on the porcupine game. Her head, neck, and shoulders are becoming more sensitive to my pressure. Her hindquarters are moving away without physical pressure.
I'm excited to see how she improves with consistency.
I asked her to back up with the first phase - gently wiggling the rope. She just stood there with ears forward at me. The more I wiggled the rope, the more she came toward me instead of away! So I backed up the rope wiggling with an encouraging push with the stick on her chest. It only took a few times before she realized I was asking her to GET OUT OF MY SPACE! This really seemed to get her juices flowing because up until the back-up game she was falling asleep.
She started to become more responsive to my request for her to back up, but she kept moving to her right (instead of straight back). So I went to her right side and asked her to back... and she came forward.
Every horse has a dominant side, and for many horses it has been drilled into them that the left side is the side they should present to the human. But in Satin's case, I've been mounting and dismounting from both sides her entire life. She doesn't have that excuse. But she has always been right-dominant with her leads, so it makes sense. I'll have to try to spend equal amounts of time on both sides to encourage balanced suppleness.
I decided to try to get her excited, because for the majority of our play session she seems SO bored. Again, it could have been the time of day, but she's a smart horse. I know she's trying to express her lack of interest. "Mom, this is sooo not exciting enough. Booooring. Let's go make some prank calls!"
So I started to run backwards, letting the rope slide through my hands as she got further from me. She first followed at a quick walk, but the more I encouraged with my attitude - "C'mon Satin, Come play! You know you want to!" She finally tossed her head side-to-side and trotted after me. Poor girl is fat and out of shape!
My hope is that the more we play, the more she'll "get into it". I want her to join in on the fun - I see that she wants to, but she may be holding a grudge against me.
After our play session we walked to the barn and I gave her a nice grooming - her favorite! She played with the trash and knocked buckets over and kept herself occupied while I brushed her tail. When she forgot I was there I'd just remind her with a little push with a single finger.
I can't wait until out next playtime!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Both girls
You'll notice that I talk most about Satin in my blog. There are a few reasons!
Satin has been my closest friend for 12 years. We've grown up together, gotten into trouble together, learned together. I saw Parelli on tour in 1999 in Kentucky at the Horse Expo (I went with our mounted drill team). At that point I was already in love with Monty Roberts and practiced "join up" and natural horse communication. Parelli took natural horsemanship up a notch and got my attention!
Even though I had a part-time job when I was 16 years old, I didn't have the money to buy the Parelli products. I just played around with what I saw on that tour and I had just a single Parelli book.
But I had no support! My horse trainer was an aggressive, traditional trainer. Everyone around me thought I was a wimp for being gentle. It was very disappointing.
I've always used natural horse communication in my training. If you speak like a horse, a horse will understand. Seemed simple to me!
But I never delved deep into Parelli (again, financial constraints), so I continued to mix gentle, traditional dressage training with my 'horse talk'.
Satin and I have 12 years behind us. She's always been a playful girl - even if it means bucking under saddle. And man can she buck!
But I want to manage that playfulness in a safe way. No more just "riding her through the bucks". I want her to respect me and in turn have a healthier relationship with her. I want her to be happy!
Dancer has been a wonderful friend for about 2 years now. She was a rescue. She's sensitive and easy to work with, although she's very anxious. Dancer will not be a challenge, but I do plan to document our Parelli journey with her on this blog as well.
I am excited for both mares -- their whole lives should change in a positive way!
Thanks for reading!
Satin has been my closest friend for 12 years. We've grown up together, gotten into trouble together, learned together. I saw Parelli on tour in 1999 in Kentucky at the Horse Expo (I went with our mounted drill team). At that point I was already in love with Monty Roberts and practiced "join up" and natural horse communication. Parelli took natural horsemanship up a notch and got my attention!
Even though I had a part-time job when I was 16 years old, I didn't have the money to buy the Parelli products. I just played around with what I saw on that tour and I had just a single Parelli book.
But I had no support! My horse trainer was an aggressive, traditional trainer. Everyone around me thought I was a wimp for being gentle. It was very disappointing.
I've always used natural horse communication in my training. If you speak like a horse, a horse will understand. Seemed simple to me!
But I never delved deep into Parelli (again, financial constraints), so I continued to mix gentle, traditional dressage training with my 'horse talk'.
Satin and I have 12 years behind us. She's always been a playful girl - even if it means bucking under saddle. And man can she buck!
But I want to manage that playfulness in a safe way. No more just "riding her through the bucks". I want her to respect me and in turn have a healthier relationship with her. I want her to be happy!
Dancer has been a wonderful friend for about 2 years now. She was a rescue. She's sensitive and easy to work with, although she's very anxious. Dancer will not be a challenge, but I do plan to document our Parelli journey with her on this blog as well.
I am excited for both mares -- their whole lives should change in a positive way!
Thanks for reading!
Monday, January 11, 2010
The start
Satin and I have officially embarked on the Parelli Natural Horsemanship journey. We have our halter, rope, and homemade carrot stick. We've begun to play the seven games and I am already amazed at her responses to things like simple yielding to pressure.
While playing the porcupine game for the first time, Satin did NOT want to yield to pressure. I started with the tiniest pressure and slowly built up in phases the amount of pressure. She pinned her ears and angrily bit at the stick. I was shocked! Satin has never shown a propensity to bite or be unyielding to pressure... so I thought!
With consistency she started to disengage her hindquarters. But her shoulders, head, and neck were a totally different story. I can't believe my girl doesn't respect me! WOW! I am truly blown away that I have gone this far with her and have not had her respect. I must have been in such denial!
I demand respect from all horses... except my little baby girl. But I see how that has had such a negative impact on our relationship. Satin WANTS me to be alpha, but I have not been performing up to good alpha standards.
On Sunday I went to a Parelli Play Group board members meeting. I am now a board member of the North Central Florida Parelli Play Group. I am hopeful that this group will offer the social support that I need but often deny myself. John came with me and actually enjoyed it! He said it was reassuring to hear that one of the members, Danny, didn't 'get into' horses until he was 39! And another member, Barb, didn't have horses until her 40's. So John feels better about being able to build a strong foundation even though he's started handling horses late in life.
Now if only this darn cold spell would go away! I hate playing with horses in the frigid cold!
And one last little note: Satin jumped a 4 foot round bale this morning! John said she cleared it but tipped it with her back hooves and made a clean landing. She was just being silly and really had no reason to jump it! She is such a playful girl!
While playing the porcupine game for the first time, Satin did NOT want to yield to pressure. I started with the tiniest pressure and slowly built up in phases the amount of pressure. She pinned her ears and angrily bit at the stick. I was shocked! Satin has never shown a propensity to bite or be unyielding to pressure... so I thought!
With consistency she started to disengage her hindquarters. But her shoulders, head, and neck were a totally different story. I can't believe my girl doesn't respect me! WOW! I am truly blown away that I have gone this far with her and have not had her respect. I must have been in such denial!
I demand respect from all horses... except my little baby girl. But I see how that has had such a negative impact on our relationship. Satin WANTS me to be alpha, but I have not been performing up to good alpha standards.
On Sunday I went to a Parelli Play Group board members meeting. I am now a board member of the North Central Florida Parelli Play Group. I am hopeful that this group will offer the social support that I need but often deny myself. John came with me and actually enjoyed it! He said it was reassuring to hear that one of the members, Danny, didn't 'get into' horses until he was 39! And another member, Barb, didn't have horses until her 40's. So John feels better about being able to build a strong foundation even though he's started handling horses late in life.
Now if only this darn cold spell would go away! I hate playing with horses in the frigid cold!
And one last little note: Satin jumped a 4 foot round bale this morning! John said she cleared it but tipped it with her back hooves and made a clean landing. She was just being silly and really had no reason to jump it! She is such a playful girl!
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