THE LAST CHALLENGE!!! AUGUST CURTAIN CHALLENGE!
If you don't already have a curtain obstacle they are easy to make. I use pvc pipes and just taped a plastic shower curtain liner to it and cut into strips. When hanging still, there should not be too much room between the strips and almost look solid.
In this challenge the horse is to enter the curtain and STOP HALF WAY through. Handler does not go through curtain. Then the horse is to finish going through the curtain, then BACK UP through the curtain.
This is a big challenge so take your time and break it down into baby steps. Remember--the video entry does not have to be perfect. Send me what ever you can accomplish by the month's end. Top score gets the Grand Prize Tractor Supply Gift Card so every point helps!! I have not tallied scores so far but I do know they are very close!!!
Deadline is August 31st. Send the videos to my HANE messenger!!
WATCH FLOYD'S DEMO VIDEO (WITH MULIE HELPING! ugh)
MULIE'S DEMO VIDEO FOR THE JULY CHALLENGE! THE BEST WORST DEMO AND I AM SO PROUD!!
Mulie's demo gets off to a not too smooth start and I really wanted you all to watch this as it validates HA and the respect, trust and willingness I talk about!
Mulie has never been in an arena before and had entered the indoor only minutes before the video was taken. She was cautious and nervous and we walked around it. I then went to the task at hand. HA helps to get the horse to focus and therefore calm them.
The video starts with the Mule looking toward the gate. She does not have a lead on and is thinking! I ask her to line up at the maze, she turns and continues to look at the gate and think. "Should I disconnect and take off toward those doors and try to get out of here?? Or should I trust my Safe Leader and respectfully do what is asked, knowing she will keep all well??"
You can see in the video the second she makes up her mind--turns to the maze and goes right to work!!!!! I am so proud of this "Best Worst Video!!"
MAKING PROGRESS! My gang is mingling with the farm horses. After close to a month apart, no one seemed concerned when allowed together. They have acclimated to the pasture and the time is regulated. Afternoons are spent in the shady cool run in barn .
Video shows 2 of the 5 farm horses with my guys. So funny how the Appys hang together!
July Challenge coming soon!!!
FLOYD'S DEMO VIDEO FOR JUNE
MULIES DEMO VIDEO FOR THE "YOU GO FIRST" CHALLENGE ON LEAD.
In this demo I raised my right elbow so you could see that my lead is not directing the animal. She is responding to my verbal cues, pointing and body language.
MULIE'S DEMO VIDEO FOR THE "YOU GO FIRST" CHALLENGE This is her Liberty video. An On Lead video will also be posted.
MANNY'S DEMO VIDEO! ALL CHALLENGE INFO IS POSTED BELOW THE VIDEO POST!
PRANKED BY THE EASTER BUNNY!!!
We hope that everyone has a Healthy, Happy and Safe Easter. A day of Rejoicing and counting Blessings!
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!
The March Challenge is CRAZY DISTRACTIONS!! Here is TWINK'S DEMO VIDEO! All info on the challenge is posted below. As always--HAVE FUN!!
NEED TO BOOST YOUR HORSE'S CONFIDENCE OR HELP TO OVER COME FEAR? ENTER THE MAGIC WAND FEBRUARY CHALLENGE!
So nice to have a challenge you can do in the barn!! Still cold out as you can tell by my layers and the Abominable Snowman look going on but better than outside in the snow! This challenge is soooo helpful too!!
Info all in the video. Deadline Feb. 29th. Message me with any questions. Send video entry to Horsin Around New England messenger. It will be judged with an award and comment sheet sent back. As always HAVE FUN!!!!
ENTER THE JANUARY "NO MOOCH" CHALLENGE! Do you sometimes use a food reward to communicate to your horse they have done correctly? I do if my animal is fearful or confused. But a problem with food rewards is the possibility of creating a "Moochy Horse!" All the info and tips on the challenge are posted a bit below. Here is a Demo Video of Mulie showing she is very polite and respectful when receiving her food reward! The task goal was to step in the hoop and step over the pole without front feet hitting either. Mulie nicked the hoop which I was not aware as a large truck was passing, but she still nailed the polite respectful goal!!
I was so happy to get some really nice December Challenge videos. Horses and handlers working beautifully together!
Here is a video from Amanda and her horse Anna that I loved and wanted to share!
CUING CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE DEMO VIDEO
The rain held off yesterday and Jody was able to be camera man! All of the info on the challenge is posted below! Have Fun!!
BLOOPERS ARE BEST!! MEET JACK THE BUCKSKIN WHO SELF ENTERED HIMSELF IN THE AUGUST CHALLENGE!!
Sue from Vermont sent along with her challenge entry of Ophelia, a blooper video that is priceless.
Sue is trying to work with Ophelia but it is crazy! Winnie the dog is in the middle of it looking for those food rewards!! Another horse enters and Ophelia says "Forget This!" and walks away.
Amidst all of the drama in the video frame enters Jack! He's like "Fine then, I will enter and show you all how it's done as he rolls the ball across the frame!" Just yet another video of horses lovin Horse Agility! LOL
DEMO VIDEO ON THE TARP WAIT AND SIDE PASS
There was a huge response to the WATER OBSTACLE CHALLENGE! This was a tough challenge to many as they had to acclimate their animal to the tarp before adding the water!!
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON. But I could not wait to showcase LIZ AND MIDNIGHT FROM CANADA!! As you have heard a million times me say that Horse Agility is about communicating and working as a team to do the task. So what if the challenge is not a big challenge for your animal?? Not much to get excited over if it isn't! What is there to accomplish? Liz increased her challenge by leaps and bounds to make it a task for her horse to learn and accomplish. She does everything right as a handler--Smile in the lead with the horse working on his own; verbal cues; non-verbal cues and rewarding.
BUT THE COURSE!!! There is no puddle there is a Lake! After midnight executes the lake this big horse goes through a super narrow maze!! I loved this video!
CHALLENGE 2 TIPS AND DEMO VIDEO
SOME TIPS FOR CHALLENGE # 2 AND A DEMO VIDEO!
Everyone should start practice at difficulty level 1. Weave with your horse at his side and focus on teaching cues. This is what Horse Agility is about , communicating with the animal. Use verbal cues like "Walk" and "Turn" and Non-verbal cues like pointing, leaning, or tipping your head to indicate direction.
Horses are prey animals and they watch anyone around them very carefully. Once they figure out you are communicating with them, they will watch for those cues. They love it! Work your way to practice at difficulty level 2. At first your animal may be confused that you are not weaving but they will catch on, and learn to follow the cuing.
Floyd was the 2019 North American Liberty Champion in his division. He loves Liberty work and so do I!! Here is a video showing the weave. Watch my cuing. Note how I step up my pace on the last cone to stay in position to get him to make a nice turn. At the finish note that as I cue for him to turn around the cone and join me, I turn around and stand and he walks up and stops next to me.
Most IMPORTANT is to have fun! Do not focus on the points. You should be super proud of any cuing taught and learned. You will find out how rewarding it is to accomplish agility tasks!!!
MULIE AND I WILL DEMO THE CHALLENGE FOR YOU! I was going to use Floyd for the demo but the Mule insisted I play with her. Then she acted bored because apparently I wasn't asking her to do enough! LOL You pick the cone to stand at. I am going the distance and standing at the farthest cone for the demo. I'm at Liberty but a long lead is just fine. Make sure you do a solid 3 second count once at the cone of choice. I will provide tips for this challenge in the future. GOOD LUCK!!
