Ride 2 on Chapuys the Akhal-teke mare. We are much further than ride two now, I’m just bad about editing and posting videos everyday.
I’m a a bit behind but here’s my first ride on akhal-teke mare Chapuys with my very first voice over video! I hope to make this into a sort of series where I can explain what and why I am doing during my colt starting sessions.
Ellie girl had her first ride the very last day of September. This is how she’s going! Is it perfect? Nope but after all the trauma she’s been thru I am so proud of not only her, but her owner too for sticking it out.
You see, Ellie was a training drop out. They never got to the point of climbing aboard her because after she flipped over for the second time during a hobbling training session, she broke the vertebrae in her neck.
Her owner was warned this horse is “so smart she is dangerous” and between the behavioral troubles and the serious injury she was even urged to euthanize this beautiful 3yr old mare.
During the course of her treatment her behavior continued to decline as she became extremely adverse to the medical interventions, not allowing a paste in her mouth or needle in her neck and growing increasingly impatient. They got thru all that and once medically cleared, they found me.
And I’m so glad they did! I adore Ellie! Yes, she is incredibly smart, very sensitive, and a touch reactive but with some solid guidance keeping her brain and body busy, she’s really turned a new leaf. We also still had some vet work left to do to clear some residual soreness from her body but now she’s on the up and up. Not only can you worm her now, she’s also improving with needles, improving accepting a bit, and riding pretty solidly under saddle. She really wants to be fancy! Elllie’s owner has had numerous very successful rides with her, and even though she does love to give me some sass, she’s never tried to hurt me.
We are hopeful this summer we will be able to start getting her out to some shows for seasoning and maybe if we are lucky even try our hand at some ranch classes or cattle sorting
THE D A R K HORSE
oh sweet Ellie Bellie! I’m so thankful for the time I’ve been allowed to get to know you and help you develop! This mare is brilliant! Albeit spunky, reactive, sensitive, and smart she is SO much fun and I cannot wait to see where all she can go. This is just a teaser video for a bit of a longer one coming soon!
2023 AQHA roan gelding by VS CODE BLUE getting started under saddle. This boy is smooth, quiet, and willing and he is FOR SALE.
Chapuys got her wolf teeth pulled yesterday, as well as floating off a few hooks. I require all horses in my training program to have an up to date dental. Dental exams should be performed yearly but in some cases may need to be more frequent. Issues with the teeth can cause problems properly grinding food leading to weight loss or poor condition as well as behavioral problems like head tossing, mouth gaping, or rearing. Imbalances in the teeth alignment can cause imbalances throughout the entire body. A dental float helps keep me safe by eliminating this potential for issue and helps your horse have a positive, pain free experience while in training.
Can you guess what rare breed sweet Chapuys is? Google says there is fewer than 300 in North America. This will be my first experience with this breed. How lucky am I to have one in my program?!
It’s cold, I’m bundled like the Michelin man, but coming 3yr old Jorgie and I are still hard at work!
Even in my colorful leggings - I was able to do the job 🤯
I get some flack for my outfit choices, especially from the older male populous, but here’s the thing; it doesn’t affect my performance. I struggle with fibromyalgia which causes painful sensations on my skin, so anything I can do to help reduce that, I will do. At the end of the day, in your home barn, wear what makes you comfortable!
Anyways done with that rant - here is Ellie! She’s a 3 year old AQHA filly with some reactivity issues and needing started. So reactive she actually flipped over and broke several bones in her withers. Yikes!
Due to these past injuries that required a lot of sedation and management she developed strong aversions to oral pastes, needles, etc. This is day two of attempting my applesauce “dewormer” and I just know she’s going to come along!
Magnum the mustang has finished his first 30 days and is about 2 weeks into his second. This previously fractious, nervous boy has settled in so well and really impressed me with his willingness to develop new, more positive relationships with humans. I love how he is seeking contact with my hand now, and becoming more balanced. I love how he decided to show me his extra gear, a pace, he kept hidden until almost the end of the first 30 days. We were riding around and surprise! Suddenly we were pacing. Still some baby bobbles here and there but he tries so hard. He is one cool dude and is being offered for sale! Message if interested!
Magnum the mustang: day 1 - day 21
Magnum arrived with severe scarring from an ill fit saddle and girth, perhaps left on way too long or way too tightly, there is no way to be sure and a bad case of distrust. He was, and still is, very skittish on the ground. Let a rope wrap around a leg and you’re in for a rodeo show. Move too quickly and he’ll jump out of his skin. Funny thing is, if you throw a bag or hoolahoop over him, he will stand perfectly still. Many mistake this for quietness, but the reality is, he’s just learned to shut down and shut out the outside world. He’s frozen in fear. If you bring him back to reality and move the object and his feet, he sets off like a stick of dynamite. 🧨
This horse was sold as child safe and bomb proof. Which is a shame and it is a testament to his kind and gentle spirit that no one has been seriously injured.
The owners main complaint was he would refuse and run backwards under saddle. It’s clear to see why that was his go to - self preservation and no desire to hurt his rider, but with no understanding of what was being asked, that was his easiest option.
Now that he is working on a feel with his ground work, and learning humans can be consistent and fair, moving forward under saddle is coming easily. We are looking for him to find balance and relaxation moving forward with a human on his back. My pivo lost battery before his canter today unfortunately, but we are steadily achieving that goal and soon it will be time to start adding in all of the other fun buttons.
While I don’t feel this horse is likely ever to meet the criteria of child safe and bomb proof, I do think he holds a promising future for a calm and confident rider who is able to understand his formerly feral aptitudes and put in the time to build a solid relationship with him.
Kayleigh and Paisley are gearing up for their first show this upcoming weekend.
I’m so proud of this 4yr old mare. I’ve put a lot of time into her over the last year as her sole rider up until this point and it’s so lovely to see the ease in which she goes around with 13yr old Kayleigh. Doesn’t she just look darling under English tack?! So grateful to also have such a talented young rider in the barn to take the horses in new directions.
Good luck showing this weekend!
Offering horse training, lessons, and sales from Kittanning, Pa
