Happy Independence Day!!
#4thofJuly #IndependenceDay #fireworks #USA
Just messing around 🤪💃
This horse is such a character! (You'll know what I mean if you watch the whole thing) 😂
#horsemanship #horsetraining #libertywork #horses
We were loping down the gravel road today and the idea popped into my head to take a slow-motion video of it. 😆
Slow-motion is so dramatic its hilarious! 🤣
Stetson is coming along nicely, walk, trot, canter, leg cues, trailriding, and he even showed at one of our local open-shows a couple of months ago!
#horsemanship #pony #drama #stetson #horses #horsebackriding #mustang #morganhorse
Lucky is coming along nicely! Today was my second ride on him. He can be a bit finicky when he gets moving under saddle, so we are working on relaxing a little more, which he is doing well with. 😊
I just love the fall colors in the background!! 🍂 🍁 💛🤎
#horses #essiahshorseranch #horsebackriding #horsemanship #painthorse #slowandsteady
"Consistently is your greatest ally.
Inconsistency is your greatest enemy."
Liberty work is one of my favorite things to do with my horses. When I don't have a ton of time, but still want to get my horse out, I can just do some liberty! It adds a little spice to just your simple, everyday groundwork, it helps you fine-tune your body language and cues with your horse, it's great for when you aren't able to ride, and it's a ton of fun!
Something I love about groundwork is that it transfers to your time in the saddle!
Just me and Pixie playing a few days ago 😉✨️
#groundwork #libertywork #Essiahshorseranch #horsemanship #horses #morganhorse
The new guy I started working this week! His name is Lucky.
Lucky is in for starting under saddle, which of course starts with groundwork, so that's what we are working on right now. He struggles with his inside turns while round-penning, but as we work on that, he is getting tons better. He is going to make a fun western pleasure and trail horse!
#horsemanship #Essiahshorseranch #groundwork #painthorse
Groundwork, desensitizing, and now riding with Stetson!
Stetson got his hooves trimmed for the first time in— who knows how long! He was pretty bad about his back feet, kicking and throwing a big fit in general, but he needed to be trimmed and my farrier was a huge help in getting him over that right away. After that first initial attitude he gave, Stetson has been much better picking up his feet.
Stetson is not spooky or anxious, so it didn't take long to desensitize him from the lead rope, whip, and saddle (he didn't mind the saddle pad much). He naturally picks up on my body-language really well, so groundwork has been a breeze with him!
He took the bit for the first time today, and he did great.
Before getting on, I got him responsive to the bit, giving and disengaging his hindquarters when I put pressure on his face. After that, I was able to get on and Stetson did great, very calm and relaxed.
A little side note— Stetson is the first stud I've ridden! 😄
Keep an eye on my stories during the week for more short updates!
#horsemanship #stetson #morstangpony #studcolt #Essiahshorseranch
This video is longer than what I usually do, but I just couldn't make it any shorter! It turned out backwards from what I wanted it to, but please enjoy. 😊
Callie just went back home after being here at the ranch since April. I am so pleased with the progress this sweet mare made. She started out timid and skittish, yet she had a curious and willing demeanor to her, so I knew she would be confident in no time with plenty of desensitizing and teaching her to use her energy in a way that both she and her rider can enjoy! She turned into a super easy-going, calm and sensible little horse. Since Callie was here for a longer period than most horses, I was able to work on a lot of finishing work with her, so she has a good walk, trot, canter, leg-cues, neck-rein, lots of miles on the trails, and even a start on liberty work, as you can see in the video below!
This sweet little mare is pure gold ✨️ 💛
We've been working on a lot of cantering this week!
Callie is looking fancy in those red boots! 😍 Besides cantering with Callie, we've also been having fun with neck-reining, pivoting on her haunches, and a little liberty work. 😁
Cami may look like she doesn't like to work, but really, she does– she just doesn't like being told to work! 🙃🤪 But of course I make her do it anyway. 😉 I've been enjoying working on Cami's canter this week. Cami hates it when I tell her to do anything, especially canter, she will pin her ears, swish her tail, and then kick out, trying intimidate me. I don't stop to get after her when she throws a tantrum, because that would be slowing her feet down, which would be rewarding bad behavior. Instead, I ignore her attitude and push her into the canter anyway. Cami has been one of the more challenging horses I've worked with, but I enjoy the challenge. 😉 😊
I have been working on getting Callie to consistently pick up her leads the past couple of weeks, especially her right lead, which she struggles with most. We are still pretty rough, but she is putting some thought and effort into getting the correct lead now!
When I first start working on leads with a horse, I usually focus on getting control of their hindquarters. But I changed it up a bit with Callie. Since she tends to block her hindquarters off with moving her shoulders to the inside of our circle, it's obvious that focusing on hindquarters wouldn't help at all until I got control of where her shoulders go. So I worked with her a lot on moving those shoulders to the outside.
#horsemanship #horsebackriding #equestrian #EssiahsHorseRanch #bodycontrol #stickwithit #patience
Quick update on Dexter!
I've been able to ride him a few times now (video from his second ride)!
Some horses are all-around good horses, some are better on the ground than under saddle, and some are better under saddle than on the ground (strangely enough). So far Dexter is more calm and easy going under saddle than on the ground! 😃
We are currently working on responding to leg and rein pressure, and desensitizing to the spray bottle since he is not a fan. 😅 Dexter also got his first bath today and did really well!
It was hot yesterday, but Callie did great!
She is gaining confidence in her canter this week, and her lope is so smooth once she gets going!
Below is just some short clips of yesterday's session. 😊
