Working with Lissi has been a lot of going backwards. Basically to the start. Because is concerned and worried about just about everything. Running her through standard training systems doesn’t leave her feeling seen and heard. So I’ve stripped things right back. More on that another time.
But the takeaway is that acknowledging where she’s at mentally has been the most important thing to her and has fostered so much more trust.
Lissi came to me unwilling to have her hinds handled. It was a problem, she’s had some professional training around this and now we can trim her and handle her hind legs in the paddock without restraints. However, this doesn’t mean she is free from anxiety around this.
So my wonderful farrier came to have a look at both Lissi and Tourn mid cycle to address a few things that had come up and we found a hole in her sole on a hind. And I have to give everyone here full credit because we were a cohesive team and we packed it.
Yesterday, I unwrapped it and then had to repack. And Liss was Concerned™️. This has been a lot of hind foot handling for her and she’s not happy about it. But instead of panicking and/or trying to leave she really worked through her stress to stay with me and let me wrap her up.
She gave me all her try. Because she knows I’m listening.
Unless they like it - and some really do froth a head hose! - then have at it 👍🏻 But hosing a horse in the head who doesn’t like it doesn’t exactly give them collaboration vibes does it?
I’m repeatedly struck by how little some people who have horses, or work with them, seem to like them. Just these little actions where we treat our horses like less than.
I know for a fact I wouldn’t want to be sprayed with a cold hose, much less in the head with it. Get a cloth. Love your horse a little bit more 🦄
The most important and life changing thing you will ever do for your horse is ask ‘why?’
Because you’ll realise the reason for the way we do things for horses systematically is actually obscure and at times, non sensical.
The systems we have for trainer are for a human world. Let’s start thinking ‘horse first.’ And even beyond that; the individual in front of me, first.
Oh Tourniquet, you are truly a gift from the equine gods 🤣 Despite his face, he did make it very easy for me to soak and then pack his hoof. Not sure how we’ll go as he’s got a shoe and pad on but 🤞🏻 #thoughtsandprayersplease
TL;DF
1/ I don’t want to change your mind
2/ The main anti-racing charity is a front for a couple of people’s political dreams. Do not give them money. They’ve spent, of hundreds of thousands of donations, maybe $500 max on real, live horses.
3/ Please consider helping a real rescue, or better still any of the hundreds of retrainers who are struggling to put food on the table and feed the horses they are re-educating for life after racing.
4/ We are all poors in this economy and horses are a luxury. If you have money to give to CPR, just please give it to someone who will actually use it to change a horse’s life.
TL;DF
1/ we should be asking moral and ethical questions about the use of animals in sport
2/ The Melbourne Cup is my least favourite race on the calendar
3/ the Cox Plate is Australia’s best race
4/ EU trainers don’t do their due diligence in preparing their horses to race in Australia
5/ Some amazing research and innovations are available to the entire horse world because of racing
6/ “thousands” of horses Do Not “disappear” every year from the industry. Unraced horses, average horses, slow horses, horses retired with injury are all out their in the domestic populations turning up at pony club, ARC, show rings, doing trail rides, at western events, teaching people to ride and mowing lawns.
Groundwork comes in all shapes and sizes. The whole objective, I feel, is to help our horses learn to regulate themselves from within and feel okay in different situations.
We bought a toy for Flip, honestly as a social media gag that she didn’t participate in, and it’s actually been a really great tool for Lissi. ‘Mr Frog’ lives in the paddock and he’s okay is he’s on the ground, but as soon as you bring him into Lissi’s space she is worried. It takes very little pressure to up Liss’s concern, but that’s a dissection for another day.
Flip, being the curious and bold pony she is, decided to join in. And after she pulled Mr Frog off of Lissi’s back I popped it on hers to give her something to think about. Seeing as, you know, she wanted something to do 😉
To be clear, I strongly believe just turning your young horse out is a big mistake in raising them. I have been bringing Flip in for mini sale preps where we practice being bathed, groomed, tied and in hand walking. She spends a lot of time just horsing about. Sometimes I put her in situations (paddocked solo while riding another) so she has the opportunity to learn to be okay with herself. Mr Frog on her back will eventually be a rider.
The point of groundwork is to give your horses the tools they need to thrive in a human world. And it’s so important to me that Flip goes to the HTBA sale next year and beyond, ready for her racing life and then whatever comes after.
I didn’t even know I was doing it wrong, but now that I know - allow me to share with you how to correctly tie a rope halter 🫡
If you find yourself pulling against your horse’s hoof or leg as you try to wrap, there is a better way 👀 unroll that bandage and then reroll that sucker. It’s going to be a breeze wrapping after that, as there’ll be no surprise sticking points. Share to save a life, or horse’s tolerance ✌🏻
It’s something all horse people unilaterally hate to see - lame horse greeting you at the paddock 😖
Personally, my most common lameness issue tend to be abscess related. I have become adept at identifying, treating (packing and poulticing hooves) and just generally relaxing into ‘I’m doing all that I can’ short of getting the farrier out to find and drain it.
Lissi presented lame on Saturday morning and showed the typing signs
✅ lame and walking toe first
✅ swelling in the fetlock
✅ heat in the region
✅ strong digital pulse
There was not much to see on her sole, but enough for me to at least understand the contributing factors. Her pulse presented on both sides, which meant I had to focus on the whole hoof.
So she has been wrapped and remained lame. Interestingly, she started heel first walking once wrapped up. Which made me think for sore it would (hopefully) burst through the toe.
Today we have started to get some discharge and hopefully over the next few days it will burst and drain.
But here in this video what I really wanted to do was demonstrate taking the digital pulse. It was one of the hardest things for me to nail down. I would miss it every time. And it really is something you have to get your own feel for. But I hope this clip helps!
Flip (Nicconi x Diploma 23) is really hitting her stride now. Bum high and all 🤭
I’m biased as hell, but she is just something special. She is bold and confident - and she takes her attitude and presence to new places and situations. She’s keen to interact and learn. She’s smart and willing. And her movement 🤤 she absolutely floats.
Not to be missed at auction next year 🫡
*Dan Andrews voice:* I can’t make it any clearer than that 📣
