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Post by harleydales on Sept 12, 2009 19:26:18 GMT -1
Tonight I caught Elle, saddled her up (with neck strap) and we went off down the road together to the next croft. Before I go any furhter, ours is a dead end and there's virtually no traffic, especially in the evenings! She was great! She got a fright at some fence posts lying in a heap and we did a bit of sideways....backwards.... but I insisted it was forward or nothing, and eventually she went forward. When she was thinking about turning for home and I held her staight, all she did was kisk with one hind!! Not sure what she thought she'd achieve doing that LOL! We went into a field that was open and walked round it and that was all fine until a dead piece of broom threatened to kill her so we went a bit off target at that point, but she just did a loop round it and that was it. Back on to the road, past the scary fence posts (equally scary second time round) and back up the road. She veered straight towards the shedand bucket, but I made her walk on past it for another 50 metres before we turned and went back. Because she had more to think about and look at, and concentrate on (esp going downhill!) she forgot to mess around with her head. She still chews the bit a lot but I've ordered a sweet iron one to see if she might prefer that. She did a bit of head flailing when the posts were threatening her, and when we turned back to the shed but otherwise she was excellent. Absolutely delighted with her!!! She's so different to Harley, but feels somehow familiar at the same time? Tomorrow Mike is going to walk out with me past the other horses and along the road the other way, just so make sure we don't have any moments as we try to pass the others. Sometimes it's just safer to have someone with you than be a hero!!  . Can't ask for better than that really can I? |
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Post by olivia on Sept 12, 2009 19:43:25 GMT -1
Wow - her progress sounds amazing Jane  I look forward to lots of updates of how she comes along Olivia |
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Post by harveydales on Sept 13, 2009 5:15:37 GMT -1
That's brilliant Jane! What a star she is proving to be.  |
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Post by dalesponyrider on Sept 13, 2009 6:04:35 GMT -1
That's marvellous progress Jane. Well done both of you, and good idea taking Mike along next time just to make sure.
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Post by leannwithconnie on Sept 13, 2009 14:47:18 GMT -1
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Post by carolinec on Sept 13, 2009 15:33:16 GMT -1
Well done, that sounds like huge progress  |
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Post by harleydales on Sept 13, 2009 19:44:07 GMT -1
Well, we had another trip out tonight. I decided in the end to go it alone with my phone in my boot - rather than Elle get to thinking she always has a security blanket, I said i would phone Mike if we got stuck. The main worry was getting past the other horses. Anyway, saddled her up no problem so we've really sorted that problem out. She takes the bridle and saddle without any fuss now. She's so bored with it she turns her back on me! She moves away nicely from the leg, no booting required, just a nudge and a click and off she goes. Off we went down the road,and of course the boys were delighted and very excited to see Elle and came along the fence with her - but did they walk? No. They pronced and trotted and waggled their heads. Oo-er!! Elle joined in a bit, but only head waggling and waving a front leg (she does this in the field too, it's odd!). She kept stopping, but would walk on when asked, then they would pronc and she would wave and stop and this went on to the end of their field, at which point she kept walking calmly!! Goal number one achieved. Onwards down the road and the next scary thnig was my neighbours flowerbed. it has grates and green fence on it but all she did was stop and stare. When I asked her to walk she took a step and stopped, and there were a few half-hearted attempts to turn, but no inclination to spin and run. Got past there, and past the lambs who all ran off, then she spotted a very scary telegraph pole and a fence post that was whiter than the others. Well this was a different story altogether, she was NOT going on. And her back came up, and she was kicking (but not bucking). After about 5 minuted of walk one step, stop, reverse, hump, kick - but no snorting, and no tenseness I did start to think she was maybe trying it on a bit. Plus the boys were neighing to her... so my leg nudge got somewhat stronger coupled with a STONG walk ON! and she did. I think it was a bit of both - a bit wary but also wanting back to the boys and security. Fair enough, lots of patting and good girleis and we got to the end of the road without issue. She forgot all about the scary telegraph pole and fence post on the way back! and boy oh boy, was she walking! She has got such a L O N G walk! She was offering to trot but I felt she was a bit on her toes to up the pace so kept her back with half-halts with the neck strap. Back to the boys - more proncing from them and a small pronc from her too  ! But she did stop afterwards - and every time she does anything like head waggling, head sharply down to the ground she gets a NO and a halt on the neck strap. She stretches down 'officially' to stretch too, but there is this other head down that's an evasion. So we walked, waggled, stopped and walked along the fence line and left theboys to go back up to the shed. Past the shed and on a bit the otehr way, then back to the shed for cuddles and a feed. I took her heart rate for interest - 50 beats per minute, not bad for straight after an exciting half hour!! She's probably got the week off now to contemplate things as I struggle to ride through the week but we'll see. Delighted with her again - OK it wasn't all plain sailing, but there was nothing hideous either so very happy!! |
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Post by valerie n scout on Sept 14, 2009 19:29:41 GMT -1
never mind her heart rate, wot was yours ? mine was racing just reading this xxx wow well done sounds really brill xxx
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Post by harveydales on Sept 14, 2009 19:41:24 GMT -1
lol My heart was racing too reasing this! Well done both of you!  |
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Post by dalesponyrider on Sept 18, 2009 5:59:04 GMT -1
Well done Jane and Elle! You really are very brave Jane and are doing so well with her.
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Post by olivia on Sept 18, 2009 6:37:31 GMT -1
It's sounding great Jane - you over came some real potential issues on that hack!
Interesting thing with the front leg thing. Tilly is the same - I've only ever know Tilly kick with a back leg once. She ALWAYS strikes out with a front leg and will turn around to try and strike with it when she feels threatened. I have to be EXTREMELY careful letting her sniff other horses as she always follows that up with a front leg wave or kick. Sadly other owners don't always understand why I won't let T sniff other horses that we meet and she's caught more than one. Although the owners only get a 'told you so' from me if they're daft enough not to listen!!!
Olivia
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Post by harleydales on Sept 18, 2009 12:53:03 GMT -1
All mine will kick out with a front ans squeal when they meet new horses.
Elle does lash out with a hind under saddle instead of bucking - and infinitely preferable - but does the front leg thing when she's excited or playing. It comes out at almost 90 degrees to her body LOL!
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Post by Debbie on Oct 2, 2009 12:47:06 GMT -1
Mmmmm.... when I introduced Blossom to LadyBear, both Toni (who was holding LadyBear) and I expected the girls to squeal and strike out with that front leg. To our utter shock, neither girl did. I think the striking with the fronts is very much in keeping with being a girlie. Blossom will also strike out, or stamp trying to get dogs.  Jane I think its wonderful how you have so much experience to be pages ahead and can support Elle through her beginning wobbles This is the beginnings of a truly wonderful relationship. The more like this, the more she'll rely on you and realize you're a rider she can really trust. I bet she'll adore eating up the miles on her future endurance rides.  |
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Post by lucydales on Oct 11, 2009 11:29:32 GMT -1
Fantastic! Can I send you Celt to do??  What a great start for her, really well done to you both. |
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Post by harleydales on Oct 11, 2009 18:14:36 GMT -1
Mais oui!! That's the limit of my French She's been amazing, she's just got such a good attitude to everything - so far anyway! |
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! But she did stop afterwards - and every time she does anything like head waggling, head sharply down to the ground she gets a NO and a halt on the neck strap. She stretches down 'officially' to stretch too, but there is this other head down that's an evasion.
