Receiving some appreciation.
Taika's Driving Lesson with Brittany Beaupied. Taika is lame so until that is figured out, we're going to work on some driving both for her mind and her body. Brittany demonstrated how patience and persistence are key to preparing a horse to safely pull a cart. I'm not sure if a cart is in her future or not but we approached the lesson the way Brittany works with any driving client's horse. Taika was started under saddle years ago so she accepts the gear well but she is jiggy and falls apart when she gets uncomfortable and nervous. Ground driving is a safe way to work on the same behaviors she exhibits under saddle.
Brittany is asking her to stay in one direction, walk forward even if its through the water, and turn or stop as requested. In the early part of the video Taika seems to be doing well. Some people may want to attach the horse to a cart at that point; but you can see a minor melt down a few minutes later. Brittany asks for Taika to stay in one direction and keeps asking until she gets the answer she was looking for. She doesn't get angry, she stays calm, and she waits for Taika to give her the 'yes' answer.
You definitely don't want to have to work through this when the horse is attached to the cart! Brittany says the time to put the horse with the cart is when the horse can come calmly and safely through a stressful situation.
After the meltdown you can see each Taika relax, offer some releases by blowing and become calmer at the end of the lesson.
The trainer didn't get hurt, the horse didn't get hurt, and the horse was calmer at the end of the lesson. Success.
In giving an equine sport massage I am looking for the horse to release the tension in the stress points. It took a while for Taika. She was holding a lot in but we finally got there with this licking, chewing and yawning. Appointments starting in October. Call Shelley 305.495.2486
In giving an equine sport massage I am looking for the horse to release the tension in the stress points. It took a while for Taika. She was holding a lot in but we finally got there with this licking, chewing and yawning. Appointments starting in October. Call Shelley 305.495.2486
Taika moved in with her roomie last weekend. We weren't sure how it would go since Sandia can be a big meanie sometimes. They spent 2 weeks next to each other before we attempted putting them together. We can't help but wonder if Taika smells Luna in the pasture and if Sandia recognizes something of Luna in Taika; because it was uncanny how calm they both were, as if they have been together for years.
Merry Christmas to my family, friends and every one!
How I will remember Luna - as a very clear communicator and a bossy brat. ❤
It's hard to believe that about a year ago I thought our riding days might be over due to Luna's bout of laminitis and a Cushing's PPID diagnosis. But since then we've explored trails, rode around the neighborhood, and last weekend we cantered. Everything was so perfect it brought tears of joy. Luna felt soft and forward and eager to go but without rushing. And of course, there was no camera anywhere so here's a video of us enjoying the beautiful Florida weather - finally!
But I am glad there was no camera yesterday when I fell off Luna when she spooked and turned so fast she unseated me. It wasn't her fault. The neighbors crazy ponies rushed the fence and popped out of the bushes (still wondering why a "rescue" has a stallion). It wasn't a bad fall. Just hurt my pride since she has never gotten me off with all her bucks and kicks and silliness. It's always the stupid stuff. 🙄
But even that makes me happy because Luna is doing better than she has been for years. She's a bit skinny. Not the easy-keeper she used to be but it's better for her arthritic joints.
It's hard to believe that about a year ago I thought our riding days might be over due to Luna's bout of laminitis and a Cushing's PPID diagnosis. But since then we've explored trails, rode around the neighborhood, and last weekend we cantered. Everything was so perfect it brought tears of joy. Luna felt soft and forward and eager to go but without rushing. And of course, there was no camera anywhere so here's a video of us enjoying the beautiful Florida weather - finally!
But I am glad there was no camera yesterday when I fell off Luna when she spooked and turned so fast she unseated me. It wasn't her fault. The neighbors crazy ponies rushed the fence and popped out of the bushes (still wondering why a "rescue" has a stallion). It wasn't a bad fall. Just hurt my pride since she has never gotten me off with all her bucks and kicks and silliness. It's always the stupid stuff. 🙄
But even that makes me happy because Luna is doing better than she has been for years. She's a bit skinny. Not the easy-keeper she used to be but it's better for her arthritic joints.
Beautiful day for a trail ride. Luna seems to love the trails. For a while there I wasn't sure if I would be able to ride her again but she has been feeling good and I am loving our time together. ❤️
