A challenge for you all.
Hi folks, I need some help now. I want not to ride until July 18th, so I have 11 days to fill, only three of which are fully accounted for so far. So here's your challenge - what can I do with the horses that will be fun for them and me and no risk of pulling at my elbow? I can lunge, I think, but I can't do anything that would risk anyone pulling at my right arm, so no long reins. Do you accept the challenge to try and keep me off a horse ... :-) ... ?
I'm tired a lot of the time at the moment, so the temptation is not too great right now. And I've just researched the problem of calcium phosphate buildup in tendons when damaged tendons are associated with a bone break. It's not good news, so I'm not taking risks with that! I'll just sit back now and see what you all might be able to come up with to keep me amused.
C.
posted by cptrayes @ 4:14 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Phooey. Gotta think on this one. I did long line with one hand when my wrist was broken. That's in interesting challenge, but you do need a horse that doesn't pull too much.
Pole grids, leading the horse through. Taught Russell R. to heel, stay, back, just with voice command so I could work him at liberty. If you could mark off a round pen--with a good escape route for you, round pen work does help develop submission.
Obstacles for Jazz. The famous blue tarp to walk over. Strips of stuff to walk under. Balloons, umbrellas.
Teach George to come when called. Might be an interesting challenge.
You could try some horse intelligence tests. I'll see if there are any on the 'Net. I seem to remember a site years ago.
General yield to the bit work with George. You only need one hand. You can also teach him to step to the side, back, etc. with just one rein. It's a bunch of John Lyons's exercises. Basically, placing your hand in different positions near the neck, you get the horse to step. Have to see if there is something on the 'Net about that too.
I'll be back later.
NH ground work. If you were closer I will post you my horse behaviour & liberty course, plenty of idea there.
I know I will email you the blog of a lady who spent 6 weeks at the Parelli centre. The first two weeks were working on the ground and NO it is NOT the 7 games !
I send that mail.
Clicker training ... beuh but I have to say I do not like to give treats to horses ...
Voila ^-^
Ah, Jean, obviously I forgot to tell you that George has been coming when he has been called for about two weeks now :-)))
Phew, that blog's heavy going to get to the actual tasks Muriel, but I'll try!
C
loose schooling with lots of jumping over weirdo fences for Jazz until he stops being an arse about it.
i was going to say clicker training as well but beaten to it.
i've used it successfully for picking feet up and loads of people have used it successfully for many other things.
i like the round pen idea as well! actually, you might find that a very useful tool even once your arm is better, will help George get his balance etc. and will help you loads with the other two as well.
you could easily have one in the barn!
Found the John Lyons exercise. It really is good, I've done it with Toby.
http://www.infohorse.com/groundtraining.asp
Also, horse intelligence tests:
http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/dingosBreakfastClub/IQ/EquineSmarts.html#BeginTests
Whoops, the intelligence tests address only half loaded...try this, no spaces.....
http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/dingosBreakfastClub/IQ/
EquineSmarts.html#BeginTests
Well according "dear Pat Parelli" horses need in this order ::
- safety,
- comfort,
- play,
- food
Food is the last thing of a horse mind until he feels safe and comfortable, he has played then he will eat. It is easy he just has to lower his head to the ground!
That is why I am not keen on clicker training. This technique was developped with predators for predators training such as killer whales, delphins, dogs etc ..
If Jazz is panicky because he feels unsafe he won't give a toss about a carrot.
Dominant horses with lots of play-drive such like Zip, my mare Linda and the little Appy ( I worked with) want to play! Adding treat make them more bullies and mouthy.
They want to play, not eating.
I feel strongly about it, because it comes from MY experience with my big bully of mare.
Rant over about CT !
Hope you are fine C! ^-^
All interesting stuff everyone, thanks. The huge problem that I have is that it is just so darned "fixed". It's not, of course, it just feels like it. And if I go near the horses at all, I am just going to end up using it when I shouldn't, so SH is begging me to stay away from them completely. He has a very good point. Tomorrow we are picking up a new pickup from Oxford, Thursday I am going withmy friend to her trainer, so I can stay clear until Friday.....
Meanwhile, the bruising is almost gone, the swelling is almost gone, the rotation of my wrist is almost back, the scar is completely sealed and I have taken off the strips and the bandage. I simply do not understand where I get these healing powers from, but I am a long long way from complaining.
C
When I say new pickup I mean new to us, it's over 10 years old and done 150,000 miles!
C
Sounds like a pretty brand new pick up to me :-) Is SH going to customise it ?!?!
Glad to hear the arm is healing so fast, and will remember not to seize it when we meet next week (you ARE still coming, aren't you? At least it accounts for some horse free days!)
N
Well I couldnt think of anything so I reckon resist all temptation and 'do' other things.
Dont think there's really anything you could do horse wise without risk so go shopping...do lunches {{{darling}}}:)))
Intellectual argument - animals can be trained by food. I have seen clicker training once and I was impressed at how quickly the horse caught on! I wouldn't like to try it without an experienced trainer nearby in case I taught the horse to mug me.
Animals can be trained to food, even if there is grass all around. Our cattle can be enticed through a gate or follow a bag of feed to another field, rather than be driven through a gate - it is much easier. Also sheep can be taught to come to call with feed at the end of it. Yet both sheep and cattle have abundant feed (grass) in front of them at all times, so they can't be following the feed bag becuase they are hungry, but because they like it.
As for what you are going to do Caroline - rest and wait for it to heal I think would be the best option. You could try poles and ground work etc, but what if one of them spooked or did something silly, you could end up mashed up again.
Best wishes
Judith
Judith I'm coming to the same conclusion myself that it might be best just to stay away from them. Zippy refused to move aside for me today, though he will back up just because I come into his space. The temptation to get a bridle and give him a "move over" lesson was too strong, and I did, making sure not to hold him with my right hand. But one day I'm going to forget, someone's going to pull, and out my elbow will pop, or worse!
Nicola, mwah, mwah, I didn't know you cared :-)
Ronald Pickup is a great buy Nic, runs really well, does what he says on the tin.
Of course I'm still coming - you have to ooh and ahh over my livid red scar!! I'm just hanging on day by day to get to the follow up appointment on Tuesday without riding, then I can get away to the UKNHCP conference Weds and Thurs, and start riding again on the Friday when it will be a whole lot stronger than it is now.
Mind you, it feels absolutely fantastic, as if I could do anything with it! It's very difficult to believe that it was only mashed and double dislocated 10 days ago :-0
C
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