Just another day on The Farm. A cool day though. We have Horse Team and Cow Team. This day Horse Team played Cow Team and mustered in the cows from back blocks.
#horses #Horse #Rider #Equestrian #Horseriding #Horsesofinstagram #Equine #Equestrianlife.
Meet Teddy. Teddy is a big boy, 11 months old, but he has not been haltered or led before. He was out with his mum and two other mares until he was 10 months. We put him with a herd of in work horses and removed the mares, just in case. He had about a month of learning the ropes of coming in for work and some basic manners. He was already friends with humans and loved a scratch and to spend time, so we just began to show him how to follow a soft feel, and then he was ready to halter, and to lead!
It was super easy to put on, the mood and the opportunity was right. Because he felt like he could understand humans and trust them he didn’t need to feel panicked or restricted, so there we go the first time is done!
Dramatically bring the horses in 😂
Pony’s first ride.
So this little mare came to us, 3 years ago when we first went to pick her up with her mother and her brother. She was unhandled very flighty 3 year old.
We have a unique opportunity here to work with a lot of unhandled and feral horses, which brings some problems….but soooo many opportunities for learning!
Anyway, three years later, she’s had a foal. She’s been part of a few different herds, gotten all the other normal things of life here, moving, trucks, tractors and motorbikes, all your health stuff and basic training. Now she is ready for the big step….. drum roll…… backing!
I have my son Ben helping. I like to back horses with another person to help, when I can. I think horses prefer the group dynamics.
All the good things we’ve done together, all the mistakes, all the things her personality and natural disposition bring, and countless other things come together for this moment. Let’s see how it goes.
If you have any questions, I’ll answer if I can.
Jules horsing it like a pro!
A nearly 5 minute video, this shows how well things can go sometimes.
Third time haltered
First time led out of the yard
First lead down the road
First time led out of the back of a car!
For those of you who are interested in my training thoughts:
I chose to put Jules up the crush for her first real training, because although she was friendly and liked scratches when free, once she felt like maybe something was “happening”, she felt less secure.
The crush can give a horse security and protection, like a compression blanket, almost, but only if done in a specific way, and only if that is what the horse needs for comfort.
It doesn’t work well at all if it’s used to keep them still, or trap them, so we can get them “used” to touch or for desensitising.
Things to notice in the video.
- when I step up on the railing next to the crush Jules immediately moves back to be close to me. I was super stoked with that. I didn’t ask for it at all. She just must have come back because her memory from a few days before was positive. I had only handled her once there, previously, and while I thought it had gone well for her, that stepping back was such a nice surprise.
- I really like how she really leans into my hand for the scratches and rubs she gets. So nice.
- I love how the other horses in the yard are so engaged with the process. They are not tied up and the yards have lots of other places for them to be. I very often find horse hang around closely when I’m working with their friends.
- I do a lot of waiting for the moment to be right for her before progressing with things, like the haltering moment for instance. I’m not asking for her to turn in to me, I’m just telling her what the plan is and waiting for her to soften in on her own. This was the third time she’s been haltered, ever, and the first time was over nine months ago. Obviously, I was so happy that she was so comfortable with it!
- After she is halte
You know when things just go right?
The job was: get two nearly completely unhandled mares from a huge paddock on a hill, up a dirt road to a set of yards so they can get handled and leading. Should take some time… Maybe an hour?
I have made this 6 minute long video because it all just went sooooo right!
One mare has been scratched before and haltered once 5 months ago.
Watch for relaxation.
Thirsty???
#horse #funnyhorse #happyhorse #horselife
Drenching day for babies….
One of our team just sent me this video… I had to share!
Crappy weather a few weeks back.
Thank you guys!
And this was the Clean Up Team! They were amazing!
Love the intensity of this guy as he…
“boldly goes where no horse has gone before”……
In his mind anyway… he is Cruz. I love riding out looking between his ears.
He really strides off into the unknown. I love the balance of helping him find his own natural bravery, and then going along for the ride, trusting that he’s got this ❤️
Kinda sounds cheesy when I read back over this… but actually… that’s what it’s like, and I do love it!! So, yeah
Buka and Flint coming in from the back block for the trekking season and our Horsemanship Riding & Yoga Retreat this weekend! Watch in stories for the full adventure 🐎
Look forward to riding lessons, and trekking through 'Easy Stream' on our Horsemanship Riding & Yoga Retreat @The Farm next weekend, 24th-26th September.
Bring your own horse, or borrow one of ours! Event details: https://fb.me/e/2wkpJZCEr
Really cute video showing how going out alone really works.
Took our beloved, green as grass horse, Cookie out to get the cows in for the first time.
At some stage she comes up the brow of a hill and needs a minute to check things out. Listening to her at that moment and letting her check the situation out keeps her nice and confident. She is looking to me for some reassurance, but my general communication with her is that she needs to lead the way and I’ll come along. That feeling really inspires confidence. You can’t make that happen through pressure. It only comes through trust in you and in themselves.
Later she feels like she knows the job, and wants to move, when I would rather she stays still.
It’s cool to see the discussion. and it’s cool to see it as a discussion. Not a disrespect or disobedience…but what it was…. a discussion, where she is suggesting something, but can also accept my thoughts on it. I ask her to wait and as soon as she relaxes a little I say, right… let’s keep going. Finding the right balance of asking for a wait yet giving permission to go ahead can be tricky, but if you get it right you can set your horse up for life! They can be settled and able to wait in almost any situation, with no big dramas.
We don’t like dramas!!!❤️
Three jobs at once!
- First time saddle blanket “free time” for Frodo!
- Video of Paco moving out for a perspective new home.
- Lesson with one of my fantastic volunteers!
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