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09/17/2025

Problem solving on the left lead continues today. And of course, something low-stress like playing "touch-chicken" after we're done!

Keegan is really phenomenal for lunging. He is obedient, relaxed, attentive, stops immediately (and no longer turns around from the right to the left).

But once again today we could not get the left lead. So, we're going to listen to the horse, and back off from that for a bit and focus on other things!

I think Keegan has some soreness and really just needs the winter off to play with his new owner, Juliann. He also will start some joint supplements which I think will help. I did notice that since arriving here Keegan has devoured an entire trace-mineral stall size salt block! I think he has had some nutritional deficiencies in the past that Juliann will also address. That would explain his brittle hooves that chip right after a trim.

My advice to anyone seeing a one-lead horse is to watch them in play; does this happen all the time or is that lead being used when turned out? Does this happen on a lunge line as well (as it does for Keegan), or smaller circles? Analyze the walk and trot (this video is great for that), do you see any asymmetries?

My plan at this point is to discuss options with Juliann and NOT force that lead until we have thoroughly reviewed any potential physical issues!

09/16/2025

Now that we have a good whoa, going both lunge directions, and pretty much stressless walk/trot/whoa transitions in general, we're adding the lope!

Working to the right, the former high-anxiety direction for Keegan, the lope is quite nice! He takes the lead willingly and is not rushed or nervous!

Working to the left, Keegan's favored side for lunging, he is not taking the correct lead at all....and it's intentional.

Some horses just have a lope lead that they prefer (a habit), in other cases, it's a matter of a physical issue. I'm not certain yet why he has not taken the left lead yet, BUT never punish the wrong lead! Some people will push the horse in a smaller space to force the correct lead. I don't feel like that's what Keegan needs right now. Instead, when he takes the incorrect lead, I will just ask him to trot again (as you see in the video) and then re-ask for the lope. After three times, he was still taking the incorrect lead...every time to the left.

This is why you don't just start loping a horse and expect correct leads without doing the groundwork first! We need to get to the bottom of Keegans choices and not push him to do something he's not ready to do yet with a rider on his back!

More to come!

09/16/2025

2-horse bumper pull for sale.
Posting for a friend. Reply if interested and I will connect you!
$3900

09/16/2025

I love ponies....💕

09/14/2025

N I C K L E !!!!!!!!!!

09/13/2025

So lucky to be on a hill, where all the water runs off!
We had over an inch of rain this morning, and I squeezed a ride in between two major thunderstorms!
This was a great test for Keegan; how strong is his sense of self-preservation? IT'S STRONG!
You can see him slip and slide while just walking around me in the pen, but he is very careful and does nothing stupid to hurt himself. I'm impressed!
Then, for the ride, he was just as careful with his passenger on-board.
What a good boy!

09/13/2025

UPATE on Cady!
This is her new best friend, "Gunnar", Cat's gelding, enjoying time with his best girl, "Cady", on their pasture in Colorado!

Send a message to learn more

09/13/2025

I have so much to say about today's work!

Keegan was getting disrespectful of boundaries in liberty work. He can be a very bratty pony (he is half Shetland after all) when he wants something and doesn't get his way! He is also smarter than most horses, think's he's 16H, and is quite immature still at age four. Plus, he had a dysfunctional reward system...never a good thing!

So, it's back to work with a halter and lead, cleaning up his pushiness, lack of respect for the whoa and inability to stand quietly for any length of time.

You see video highlights of our sessions, but you don't always see the naughtiness or pushiness of a horse that is smart and a leader. Keegan is both and he lets you know ALL THE TIME that he is! He constantly challenges me, wants to be in charge, so I have to be super strict with my expectations, clear with my body language and help him to understand what the expectation is AND that listening (and waiting) will result in the best outcome. CONSISTENCY MATTERS! Some of this will improve as he matures, BUT some will get worse if clear boundaries are not made now. I also believe Keegan had short-cuts in his groundwork and was pushed too far, too fast, before Juliann bought him.

If you watch the video, you'll see a few things Keegan does that need continued work:
1. He tries to get ahead of me. His head belongs at my right hand, period. Not two steps in front of it. He should be in that "position" whether being led or walking at liberty. I use my body to correct him when he invades my space or tries to get ahead of me.

2. He doesn't stay straight. Stopping and walking straight is important...anything else at this point is avoidance and I teach him that it's not what I am asking for.

3. I expect him to yield/give to pressure. Sometimes he just gets pushy and decides to get in my space and/or not give. I use my body to teach. I do not slap him or pop him with the rope!

4. When we get to liberty practice at the end of the video, he still attempts to get in front of me! I just stop and wait....no punishment.....but ZERO reward until he gets into the correct position and complies. It's very subtle pressure and he is not thrilled with it...he'd rather just get the reward and do what he wants. THAT is how ponies become monsters, so be consistent! Remember, he could leave me at any time if he wanted to. It is HIS job to watch me, not my job to watch him! I don't want to beg him to work with me, I want him to WANT to work with me!

5. We do a LOT of standing, waiting, teaching patience. He fidgets still, but he is able to stop his feet from moving for longer periods of time. We're also delaying rewards.

6. Rather than get in a fight and yank on a horse's head, I just use turns to cut Keegan off and put him back in position. There is nothing gained from pulling on a horse's head!

7. At one point (4:58) Keegan gets mad because I won't respond to his tantrum and instead ask him to go back to "position"...he actually kicks out, then decides to participate again.

Is there "baggage" with Keegan? Absolutely! I am just glad that he's only four, and has a new owner willing to step back from the show ring and invest in this important work!

09/11/2025

Keegan is riding in the big-horse arena today, and he is sooo proud!

He still gets a little nervous with the trot, and you'll see his head raise a bit. My response is to soften and ask for his long and low, like he does regularly in the walk.

Breed "headsets" can't be forced. Back strength and frame come first, always! Don't be afraid of long-and-low, especially in your warm-ups!

Keegan will get there. He tries so hard!

09/11/2025

Quiet, steady, relaxed, confident Keegan!

No more frantic racing around the pen. No more major anxiety!

The whoa to the left is very good. The whoa to the right, the side where he was so very nervous and fearful, is almost there! He stops ok, but then turns 180 to the left!

I think that change of direction brings him some comfort, so for now, it's fine. He'll stop this behavior and not turn around when he's ready.

09/10/2025

Today is a ground work day for Keegan!
We did some lovely lunging and whoa work, but not on video; helps to turn the phone on.
But we did get video of day two of "touch cone". I think he would play this game all day if I'd let him!
As I move the cone farther away, he has to actually look for it...he NEVER gives up and finds it every time, touches it, and comes back for the reward! I need to make this harder!

09/09/2025

Smart boy learned to "touch" an object today!

Juliann, Keegan's owner told me I could "do-whatever-I want" with Keegan so today was advanced learning day after our ride!

I first taught Keegan to simply "touch" an object to get a reward. He can't bump my hands or my arms or pockets; he must actually touch the object itself.

I used a rubber chicken with a duct-taped head (Nickle bit the head off). Then, I moved on to using the word "touch" AND the name of the object, like "chicken".

The second object was a cone. I used the word "touch" and added the name of the object; "cone". He figured this out REALLY fast!

Then, I got the chicken back out and offered two objects, using the word touch and the object name. He chose the correct one every time, even when I switched hands!

Finally, I move the object away from me and tell him to touch it. He does, every single time!

He is just so smart, and so very motivated. Not all horses are as smart or as motivated. But every horse is smart enough to be taught something!

The video is speeded up because it was nine minutes long.....